[Elecraft] 897 vs K3

[Bill W4ZV]

Here's a recent eHam review of the K3 by a former 897D owner:

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WA9VEE:
I have had my K3 #2717 for over 2 months now. I came from a FT897D, so I was
easy to impress.

I’m only adding this review to highlight the Diversity Receive feature that
links the 2 receivers together to use 2 independent antennas (only one way
of many that the 2nd receiver can be used). I must say that of all the rich
features of this radio, I rate Diversity Receive the best. Very seldom does
it happen that using 2 antennas does not improve the reception. And since
the antennas tend to QSB at different times, a solid copy, especially on
weak signals, happens very often where switching between antennas proves I
would have lost contact in QSB with either antenna individually.

Some K3 folks I’ve talked to have a mental picture that the 2nd antenna must
be substantial. Constrained to an apartment, my 2nd antenna is just a floor
to ceiling vertical wire fed through a small old MFJ tuner. Someday a
substantial 2nd antenna would make me very happy. But for now, this little
vertical wire in additional to my main outdoor horizontal 200’ long wire
make 2-antenna receive something I would sorely miss if I didn’t have it.
Something like 20% of the time, the short indoor wire receives better than
the outdoor antenna, especially if the other station is using a vertical.

And from what I understand, the K3 is the only rig that does this Diversity
2-antenna Receive thing right. Thank goodness.
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I agree that True Diversity is the primary feature of the K3 that sets it
apart from other rigs (the Flex 5000 may be the only other rig with it
today).  Even the $10k rigs (IC-7800 and FT9000) do not have it.  Whether
this feature is worthwhile to you is something only you can decide.  For
myself, having used it extensively for the past year, I will never use
another rig without it.  A K3/KRX3 is probably well above your budget now,
but one of the nicest things about the K3 is that you have a very easy
upgrade path if you want to add features in the future.

73,  Bill  W4ZV

P.S.  One of the reasons you may not be finding "good deals" on used K3s is
that the market recognizes its value compared to other rigs.
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