[Elecraft] Cost of Fully loaded K3

[Bill Tippett]

I wrote:
 >You could buy 2 fully K3s outfitted for SO2R for less than one IC-7700

KK7SS:
 >I started wondering just how much a FULLY loaded K3 would cost...
Stuffing a K3 with EVERYTHING(!) including 10 top-of-the-line roofing
filters in Kit-form I came up with $4469.65 + shipping....
Or about $2,000 less than one IC-7700

         Outfitted for SO2R does not mean fully loaded.
For starters you don't need a KRX3 in either radio since
SO2R means you have two separate radios.  You definitely
don't need 10 filters...more like 2 extra per radio beyond
the standard 2.7k (e.g. a 1.8k for SSB and a 500 for CW).
Most serious contesters don't need an ATU because they
use amplifiers with tuned inputs and/or resonant antenans.
And most don't need a KDVR3 because they use DVK in their
computer.

         So what would a SO2R capable rig cost?

K3/100 - $2090 assembled ($1850 kit)
KXV3 - $100 (necessary for RX ANT & IF OUT)
KFL3A-500 $100 (500 Hz for CW)
KFL3A-1.8k $125 (1.8k for SSB)

Total - $2415 ($2175 kit)

Double for SO2R - $4830 ($4350 kit)

IC-7700 - $6300 (Ham Radio Outlet online price)

         But you don't have a bandscope?  On
one K3 add $200 for N8LP's LP-PAN IF buffer
and add Rocky or WU2X's PowerSDR (both free).
Add $1000 for a dedicated P4 computer and
LCD display.  This provides a true SDR display
(like Flex 5000) which will run circles around
traditional bandscopes.  Now we're up to $6030
or $5550 kitted.

         Want a bandmap of mults for your S&P band?
Add another $75 for VE3NEA's CW Skimmer.  Now
you have a contest package of incredible
performance for $6100 or $5600 kitted...about
the same as the street price of one IC-7700...
but it's pretty!  :-)

                                 73,  Bill  W4ZV

P.S.  IMHO "Pretty is as pretty does."