[Elecraft] [K3]- K3 in NAQP SSB

[Brett Howard]

Very nice review and appreciate the objective report!  I'm very much looking
forward to getting to play with one!

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of kr7x1 at verizon.net
Sent: Monday, January 21, 2008 1:28 PM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] [K3]- K3 in NAQP SSB

List:

The new K3 was run through it paces as the 20/40m position at K7ZSD's
station for the NAQP SSB Test this last weekend. This was a 12 hour
Multi-Two operation at 100 watts power. The ops were KR7X(me),K7ZSD, W7ZB
and K7ZS. 

I was going to shake down the rig in the RTTY RU but that didn't materialize
due to work interference.

The K3 as set up has the ATU, latest mcu and dsp firmware, 2100, 400 and 250
roofing filters and the 100w PA.

Contest observations:

1. Receive audio is very nice, especially with noise cancelling headsets and
AFX set to midway. No listening fatigue and it seemed to be easier to pick
out calls in the pile-ups (subjective). All ops agreed on this, loved the
receive audio.

2. Transmit audio equalization was set up with the help of an audio expert
in Arizona. Turned out the best Contest type audio was with some midrange
boost and a Heil HC-5 cartridge and not the HC-4. Go figure.

3. Tne auto notch filter is your best contest friend. I was running 20
meters up around 14290+ when some dipstick took offense at contestors in
general. The offended station tried to jam me with and amplifier and solid
carrier. I just punched in the auto notch and worked 10 stations in a row
right through the attemped jam. Didn't even hear the jamming with the notch
on. Touche!

4. The roofing filters work just like you would want them to. As you dial
down the width in SSB the signal gets skrinched down and eventually loses
all intelligability. Works for me.

5. The noise reduction is especially helpful on 40m and we set it at the
first setting. It wasn't used much as the station is in a fairly quite
location. The noise blanker was not utilized for the same reason.

6. I will be ordering the KXV3 so the receive only beverages can be used on
80 and 160m.

7. The ergonomics are fine. The knobs could be larger, personal preference,
but did not cause any concern in the heat of the contest. The rig ran very
cool with no apparant heating at all for the whole test.

The final tally is that this is a keeper rig and will be the run radio in
one of the two SO2R positions at the station with a 1000MP Mark V as the
other rig in the setup. I plan on another shake down in the WPX RTTY test as
a SO2R operation.

Just thought a few hands-on observations would be nice for the list.

Ciao and 73

Hank / KR7X

We did over 1100 Q's with 500 plus on 20m and 300 plus on 40m


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