[Elecraft] K2 v K3

[David Wilburn]

I still like my K2, but I am very happy with the K3.

I had never gotten around to setting the K2 up to work digital modes, 
or so I could use N1MM and send CW from the computer during a contest. 
  All those have already been done on the K3 in a short period of time.

In the past, I was often running with the pre-amp on in my K2, and 
until I got lower impedance headsets, and kicked up the audio gain on 
the DSP, I was always at a want for audio.  I have yet to turn the AF 
much above half on the K3, and the RF gain tends to stay at about 2 
o'clock.

I can quickly and easily change the sidetone frequency if I like 
without having to re-align the rig.

After most of a week of playing with the K3, last night (the bands 
were noisy) I broke down and played with the NR.  I haven't even 
turned it on up to this point.

Before getting the K3, I could never of considered parting with the 
K2.  It will now be a travel rig.  While it is now conceivable to part 
with the K2, it would only be done to replace it with another K3. 
Something I'm sure I won't be able to accomplish in the near future.


Dave Wilburn
K4DGW
K2/100 - S/N 5982
K3/100 - S/N 766

"For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will 
never know."


Gary D Krause wrote:
> Hi Bill,
> 
> That's a good point.  I guess I didn't really think about that since 
> I've rarely noticed it.  Both of my other HF rigs are from the 80's and 
> my K2 #6113 is the newest that I have.  I'm use to fighting QRM. Hi! 
> Hi!  To me, the K2 is way better than my other rigs.  Now it makes me 
> wonder what I'm missing or perhaps I should say, not missing, when it 
> comes to QRM.  I love to work weak signals and QRP.  I did own Ten Tec 
> rig with DSP for a short time and then sold it before buying my K2.  I 
> didn't like the DSP.  If I had a radio that made it easier, I might get 
> bored with ham radio.
> 
> I keep looking at the K3 but, that little voice inside keeps telling me 
> to wait.  I'm not sure why.  I'm widowed, I have not children, I can 
> afford it, and if my xyl were still here, she would tell me to get it.  
> I think I've become my own worse enemy! Hi!
> 
> Gary, N7HTS
> 
> 
> On Wed, 7 May 2008 09:09:05 -0700 (PDT)
>  Bill W4ZV <btippett at alum.mit.edu> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> Gary Krause N7HTS wrote:
>>>
>>> It's funny you should post at this time.  I don't have a K3 but, I was
>>> looking at the test results on the Elecraft web site just yesterday.  
>>> I was
>>> wondering how much difference there really is since the numbers are 
>>> pretty close.
>>>
>>
>> Gary the numbers might be close at 5 kHz but the K2 (I have #4119) badly
>> falls apart at less than 5 kHz spacings.  I remember the first time I 
>> tried
>> using mine versus my Orion on 160m and it was a HUGE disappointment.  
>> I was
>> listening to an extremely weak YA8G on 1814.0 and could not believe my 
>> ears
>> when I began to hear W1AW code practice on 1817.5 leaking through from 
>> 3.5
>> kHz away.  Check out the closer spaced test results by independent 
>> testers
>> like Sherwood and ARRL. 
>> Sherwood's IMD results at 2 kHz:
>>
>> K2 S/N 1140 - 70 dB
>> K2 S/N 3170 - 80 dB
>> K3 (S/N in the 100s) - 95 to 101 dB (depending on XFIL)
>>
>> http://www.sherweng.com/table.html
>>
>> The K2 is a great little rig but it's frankly out of its league when you
>> start prowling 160 for weak signals in the presence of very strong local
>> signals.
>> 73,  Bill  W4ZV
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -- 
>> View this message in context: 
>> http://www.nabble.com/K2-v-K3-tp17106006p17108421.html
>> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>>
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