[Elecraft] K3 eHam review after 2+ years

[HowardZ]

Ah Don,

You are so kind.  I expected to be labeled a troll.

Monte, yes, I got hid hard by the IT recession - and never recovered - and
now we have another recession.  I work at under half my last IT salary -
managing/leading squads of TSA screeners - making
sure they do their jobs by the book - to keep our country safe.  I do not
expect to ever get
another IT job.

I do save my pennies and like to buy quality equipment.
I have a Palstar auto-tuner - it's the best!
It can be computer controlled, but nobody wrote any software for it.
So I wrote a Java program to control it - it's available from the Palstar AT
AUTO yahoo group.
Java is easy, but all that reusable code that comes with it - took a bit of
reading/research.

I saved my pennies and purchased the SGC 500 amplifier.
It really has great self protection, has auto band switching, and operates
on 12 to 14 volts.

I deal with S5 to S9 noise every day on Mars nets.
They don't go find a quieter frequency - they just deal with it.
I'm close to having saved enough for a better radio.
I don't like the Flex approach - favoring the Elecraft design.

But alas - I don't feel the radio is finished - hardware wise.
Icom, Flex, Elecraft - they all have downloadable firmware/software - 
I'm not afraid of new software releases.
Hardware mods - yep - I don't want to deal with them.

And I only brought it up because the first poster showed us his eham review,
which seemed to be stating that the K3 is done/perfected/100%.

But I will wait a little longer.

BTW, maybe I don't need a better radio?
Maybe a MFJ 1026?
Maybe a beverage antenna?
Maybe if all the MARS members purchase a 500 watt transmitter?
Nosie noise nosie...

Howard


Howard writes thoughtfully and I like his style.  His comments are well 
thought out and cleverly put and I welcome them.  Thank you Howard.  The 
early K3 was not your cup of tea but it is exactly what I wanted .. we all 
have different needs.  So, what else is new?

I have had my K3 #195 for 18 months now and I am simply delighted.  It was 
perfect for *me*.

Don K7FJ

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