[Elecraft] K3 eHam review after 2+ years

[Toby Deinhardt]

Hi Julian,

 > I also think you have a fair point with regards to the transmitter. A 
 > radio with the K3's receive performance is going to be used very often
 > to drive some high powered linears.

Full ack.

 > But the K3 was also designed to be a portable radio that could run off
 > a 13.8V supply.

And it does a wonderful job doing so.

 > That I believe is the real limiting factor to the TX performance. 
It's > all about compromise.

Again full ack.

But this got me wondering, especially as Elecraft apparently has not 
fully abandoned QRO PAs, according to mail from Wayne shortly after 
Dayton. Could the low power transverter output be usable (with minor 
modifications) to excite a highly linear, higher supply voltage, low 
noise, QRO TX amplifier chain and might this be a possible Elecraft 
product for K3s being used in a "fixed" fashion?

Also one must not forget that the IMD at c. 20W generally speaking will 
be markedly better than at c. 80W. So the decision process of which 
external high power amplifier is to be used, should not only include how 
much driving power it requires but, more importantly, imho, how well the 
exciter behaves at the required drive level.

vy 73 de toby
-- 
DD5FZ
K2 #885, K2/100 #3248, K3/100 #67