[Elecraft] Is Elecraft K3 NTIA compliant?

[HowardZ at howardz.com]

Hello Ron,

I forwarded the apparent discrepancy to the authors of the CAP / AF MARS 
web site.
I received an amazingly fast and friendly response which basically says 
that section 5.2.2.2 in the Redbook are "General Standards" which only 
apply when no other standard applies.

The CAP/MARS standard is specified in section 5.3.1.1.A and specifies to 
use PEP transmitting wattage in the equation - thus the 63db for a 100 
watt transmitter.

You want to get out a calculator and try 50 watts.  You'll find the 
equation yields 60db.
Maybe 10 watts will do it? Yes, that yields 53db which is a maybe for 
the elecraft K3.

Anyway, my goal was not to bash the K3 in anyway, but to discover if it 
meets the NTIA specifications which is a looming problem for MARS/CAP 
members.  From your response, I conclude the answer is no NTIA 
compliance for the K3 at this time.  And yes, I know this only affects 
only a very small number of potential K3 purchasers.

If you are interested, please find below the nice clarification response 
I received from CAP/AF:
-----

Hello Howard,

 Paragraph 5.2.2.2 in the Redbook are "General Standards", which 
pertains to: "Below 29.7 mHz, the following standard applies when no 
other standard applies".
 CAP's HF-SSB operations, however, are covered by Paragraph 5.3.1 A.: 
"Fixed and mobile Stations"; "HF Single Sideband and Independent 
Sideband Equipment (2-29.7 MHz)"; "Transmitter Standards", which states 
that the formula for fixed and mobile transmitters unwanted emissions: 
f(d) > 250% BW  is 40+10log(Px) and for the land mobile service (which 
we believe applies to CAP)  the formula for unwanted emission:  f(d) > 
8.75 kHz is 43+10log(pX).

 The difference between these two is small, but measurable, and we have 
never been able to get the NTIA to clarify what the differences really 
mean to us.  FWIW, some of CAP's HF authorizations say "Land Mobile", 
others do not.

 At any rate, the 40+10log(pY) formula contained in 5.2.2.2 clearly does 
NOT apply to CAP's operations.

 Please feel free to ask questions!   It keeps us honest, and sometimes 
we learn things..:-)

73 DE Hartley Gardner
Deputy Comm Team leader