[Elecraft] Amazed - Happy Dance - Smiles and Grins

[Lee Buller]

Guys and Gals.....

I am amazed at the K3.  I am not even sure yet how it will perform because I spent a total of two hours fiddling with the rig after building it.  But, with what I've seen so far, I am amazed.

The engineering that has gone into this rig is spectacular.  Just the physical engineering is awesome.  Everything fit..everything came together...and all of a sudden I had a complete box.  I had to read in the assembly manual three and four times that I was to now put power to it and start alignment.

The K3 started up without Errors!  Nada.  As I worked through the calibration the unit started coming alive.  Then I tuned in WWV - 20 over in Kansas.  Beautiful sound/audio!  Lots of volume too.  Then I did the WWV tuning procedure to set up the rig.  The learning curve is rather steep and it took me several tries to get what the manual was driving at.  Not knowing the controls...even after having read the book several times...is just frustrating.  I finally had to pull up the PDF and search for controls and what they did instead of flipping through the book.

The WWV procedure was amazing.  Like tuning a guitar and it worked very well for these old ears.

Filter set up took some time.  I still have to go through all this and re-read it to make sure that the set up is OK

The Tuner took some time to set up...then I read you have to "re-boot" the unit when you turn on devices in the system so the computer can read them.  Started working, but I am not sure how to operate the thing yet.  It matches so fast and it is very quiet in relationship to the K2 external tuner which sounds like a buzz saw.

I was on 40 meters CW just goofing around...and there was VP6DX pounding away.  Did not take me long to figure out split and tried to call with 10 watts.  Did not make it, but they sounded wonderful.

The VFO A and B works great.  I like the feel of both knobs.  

I had to force myself to go to bed and get some sleep.  Now I am at work trying to drink a gallon of coffee to keep my eyelids open.

I am amazed at the engineering and design of this rig.  Now, here is the real kicker......I wonder what the K4 will be all about?

Enjoy the day and be Blessed!

Happy Dance...

Lee - K0WA


In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short supply.  If you don't have any Common Sense - get some Common Sense and use it.  If you can't find any Common Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some Common Sense.  Is Common Sense divine?