[Elecraft] K3 filter performance

[Brett Howard]

Ok so I've been reading about all this group delay stuff and the what not...
But still don't get what the best option of a CW/Digital filter is going to
be...  I'd like to have as much flexibility as possible and my main use for
the radio would be for contest use.  But I want to be able to participate
with equal performance in CW SSB and Digital modes.  

So I'm considering the 1.8Khz 8 pole to be the perfect SSB contesters
filter.  I've been contemplating the notion of going with the 2.8Khz - 8pole
for the upgraded transmit filter not sure how much better the steeper skirts
are going to help for TX I'm assuming a barely noticeable cleaner TX with
fewer spurs but that's probably about it.  

So that fills 2 holes.  The next one is a toss up in my mind...  Do I get
the 400 - 8 pole or go with the 500 - 5 pole?  Right now the narrowest
filter in my Kenwood is 500 and that seems really wide but that's the second
IF with a first of 6kc.  The 500 often is just really noisy and there are
times when its not enough to separate out nearby stations on a ragchew type
day.  Thankfully the K3's second filter will let me down to 50Hz even though
the front filter is still 500Hz.  

So next I've been looking at the transverter idea.  If I get a 2M
transverter and an FM XTAL can the K3 be used to do standard FM repeater use
or could it be used that way some day when all the bells and whistles are
added?  I noted that the elecraft transverters say that the rig has to
operate from 28 to 30Mhz.  Well if 28Mhz = 144Mhz then 30 only gets you to
mid band in 2M and doesn't really get you into the repeater realm.  So I'm
confused as to if this is just for using the other modes at the bottom end
of the 2M band or what.....  I guess I'm just interested to know what all
goes on down there as to if that is worth going that route.  

The main reason I'm interested in the transverter stuff and if I can do FM
is if that is true then my next two filters are the 6kc one for doing essb
and for better audio on strong AM stations and the FM one for 2M repeater
operations so that I only have to have one rig in the shack for everything
from 1.8 to 148 Mhz (or beyond with the purchase of more xverters).  

If this is not the case would there be a significant gain in CW performance
when wanting to get ultimate narrow widths by buying the 200Hz 5 pole or the
250Hz - 8 pole?  I find that I usually have my FL3 setting in my K1 set to
250 because anything below that starts to attenuate the signal that I'm
trying to catch.  From what I've been reading the K3 actually compensates
for the slight attenuation in the filter by increasing gain for the narrower
filters.  Essentially I'm going for maximum flexibility with the rig and
looking for filter selection suggestions.  I think I'd also be interested in
keeping an open slot for the mentioned possibilities of the adjustable rock
that has been mentioned.  

I've kept telling myself that I'm going to wait until I'm done with this
bloody masters degree to buy a K3 but screw it....  All you gentlemen so
happy with your rigs has me wanting one too badly!!! :)