[Elecraft] The K3 in comparison to the Big Guns

[Nelson Moyer]

I've been following the 'big gun' thread with interest. I'm astonished that
this group seems to imply that 'big gun' status depends upon the radio you
own, rather than the amplifiers and antennas you use. Most rigs today put
out between 100-200 watts, regardless of price. DX'ing and contesting
success seems to me to be related to your amplifier and your antennas, not
your radio. The radio only comes into play on the low bands, where being
able to hear the weak ones through the noise becomes important.

All this begs the question, Who is a 'big gun'? Is it someone with a 5
figure radio, someone who breaks all the pile-ups with one call, someone who
wins all of the contests, someone who is on top of the Honor Roll and has
5BWAZ, or someone who has 160 acres of antenna farm with full wavelength
beverages every 22.5 degrees? Maybe it's all of the above, but I doubt it.

I'm a little pistol by most definitions, but I'm #1 Honor Roll, have 2507
band-entities toward the Challenge, and hold the WPX Award of Excellence
endorsed for 160, 30, 17, 12, and digital modes. I lack 8 entities on 160
for 9BDXCC, lack 6 zones for 5BWAZ. I've been DX'ing since 1981, and I use
an FT-100 (FT-707 before that), 600 watts of amplifier power, a TH-11 at 48
ft. (since 1996, a HF6V before that), a side mounted 5 element yagi on 6
meters, and a HF2V with 30 meter coil. I have a flag, mag loop, and low 80
meter dipole to help me hear better on 160. My entire antenna farm is
crammed into a back yard in town that measures 60x70 ft.

So why did I order a K3? Because I can't hear the DX very well on 80 and
160, and I'm betting that the K3 will enable me to improve my low band
Challenge score and finish 5BWAZ from my sub-optimal location. Besides, I'm
retiring, and it's time for my dream radio.

Maybe 'big gun' is more about what you do than what you have, but I'm really
looking forward to my K3.

Nelson, KU0A