[Elecraft] RE: [OT] K3 and MARS

[list1]

The K3 requires a firmware mod that Elecraft will give you upon request and
verification.

[OT]
HF MARS frequencies are many and distributed from 2 mHz to 28 mHz.  This
makes dynamically moving the net to the critical frequency possible.  So you
must be frequency agile.  When I applied to MARS I told them I had a K2 and
they said NG.  Although the K2 can hit a few MARS frequencies near the
amateur band edges you need a radio that can be used on all the frequencies.
The bandpass filters in the K2 are simply too good, and performance several
hundred kHz away from the amateur band edges is not good enough. You will
also need to get your antenna hardware working on all those MARS
frequencies. AN 80M dipole with 450 Ohm ladder line and a really good
balanced line tuner works well.  The IC706, TS480, and FT857 are popular
radios for MARS.  Remember that you don't have hams on either side of your
signal blanking out your receiver with MARS channels so these radios work
fine. The K3 works superbly as a MARS radio.

MARS has many advantages.  Unlike ARES and RACES there is a requirement for
heavy training and certification (at least in Texas). The assumption is that
merely having a ham license is not enough to actually be of any value during
an emergency.  Also you can transmit digital at the center of the voice
frequencies making mixed mode nets very efficient.  I am simply amazed of
all that I have learned about EMCOMM since joining MARS a few months ago.
To apply for Army MARS go to:
<http://www.netcom.army.mil/mars/join.aspx>

Sorry for the blurb on MARS, but the K3 is a very nice MARS radio.  And
because of the mass destruction from Hurricane Dolly and Ike down here in
Texas more hams need to join MARS.

73,
Steve, W2MY, AAR6CX
PS: There is also Navy/Marine and Air Force MARS