[Elecraft] New Eham.net K3 review by QRPNEW

[Paul Christensen]

> I too would have bought a K4 variant were it available - the K3 with a
> full-sized front panel.

One future possibility is to merge K3 and TS-480 technologies to allow the 
end-user the purchase of a control panel as a remote head -- and offer it in 
small, medium and large sizes.  The data to/from the base unit to the panel 
remains the same, regardless of the panel.    One base module fits all. 
It's the panel that picks off the appropriate data based on number of panel 
knobs, switches and display type.

The technology and feasibility are already here: The TS-480 has allowed many 
of us to plug the '480's remote head into our laptop USB jacks (through a 
simple FTDI data converter) and control the station from thousands of miles 
away -- and yet still have the look and feel of the real rig sitting in 
front of you, complete with panel switches and a VFO knob to spin.   I take 
a small Pelican case with me on my travels that contains the TS-480 control 
head, WinkeyUSB keyer (w/ local CW sidetone injection), Begali Traveler 
paddle, and a collapsible set of Sony headphones.  That, together with my 
Dell notebook PC allows for all-mode operation, including the use of CW 
paddles from anywhere I can find a Wi-Fi connection.

In the case of the TS-480, there's not a whole lot inside the control head 
and I could see three inexpensive panels being offered into a future 
Elecraft product at a reasonable price.  Then, as you go from mobile, to 
portable, to base operation, one just picks the appropriate panel size.

Allowing the selction of economical panel sizes is an untapped feature with 
an awful lot of powerful capabilities.

Paul, W9AC