[Elecraft] K3 and CQWW

[DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL]

1.  Number of K3's in the contest: I believe that many (most?)
participants using a K3 do not list their rig, so the "count" is
misleading.

2.  Be sure to observe the "caliber" of many of the entrants using the
K3.  These are not "Joe Ham" guys....most from the "top ten" boxes in
all categories.  I know that K3WW and N3RS were using K3s.  KT3Y is
using a K3.  I'm sure there are many, many others.  The GOLD STANDARD
on contesting used to be the FT1000 series, especially the D and MP.
Later versions seem to have had negative progress in contest
performance.  There is little doubt (IMHO) that the K3 is the new GOLD
STANDARD.

3.  AGC popping:  I noticed it too.  And yes, it happens on qsk when
the station I'm calling comes back to someone and ONLY after I stop
sending (not during QSK operation...at least not here).  Yes, it blows
your eardrums out...but I came to ignore it.  Yes, it would be GREAT
if Wayne would address this.  Since I am using a VERY old FW version,
I thought it was already fixed and that it was "just me"...guess not.

4.  I think that the K3 is the BEST radio (for contesting) that I have
ever used (I have two of them...and a K2), and I've been a serious,
competitive contester since I was 14 (a long time ago - hint: I have
been a member of the CQWW Contest Committee for over 30 continuous
years).  I love the complete lack of IMD on the low bands.  This radio
is a JOY to operate.

5.  Some folks talks about the "tiny rig" ergonomics.  Frankly, (a) I
don't have a problem and (b) I don't use anything during the contest
other than the VFO knob.  Well, this time I did tweak the Width
control now and then (mostly then) and I was using the XIT quite a
bit...the pileups on 20 were HUGE (due to not much propagation on
10/15) and I needed to call up/down to be heard.

I operated QRP (as usual).  717 Qs, 79 total zones, 277 total
countries, final score = 695,624.  I am thrilled to have worked 107
countries on 20m alone!  QRP DXCC in one weekend on ONE BAND.  :-)

de Doug KR2Q