[Elecraft] 6M Preamp

[Ian White GM3SEK]

gd0tep wrote:
>As some one who bought the K3 purely for it's RX performance on 6m, can 
>some one tell me once and for all if it is as good as, or better/worse 
>than, other radios like the Icom 756 pro etc... It was my understanding 
>from information provided that it was, is this not the case??

The K3's sensitivity specification corresponds to a noise figure of 
about 13dB. My K3 meets its sensitivity spec almost exactly, but at this 
site it can barely hear antenna noise on 6m.

By contrast, the old IC-746 hears 6m antenna noise easily because it has 
a VHF-optimized preamp built in. Even that ageing mid-range rig has a 
choice of two different preamps (and a third dedicated to 2m).

Of course it's still possible to work lots of weak DX on 6m using the 
standard K3 receiver; but in the limit, some QSOs will be lost that 
could have been completed with a more sensitive receiver.

The K3 with a preamp is probably the best 6m receiver available; but 
this high-end rig should have included a competent 6m preamp and bypass 
relays on the original KVXV3 board, and not as a clumsy afterthought.



-- 

73 from Ian GM3SEK