[Elecraft] CQWW SSB observations

[Andy Faber]

Jeff,
  I agree completely.  I'm about to take my K3 to P49Y for CQWW for about 
its fifth trip there.  I love taking it in a backpack.  We started that 
station with FT1000's but they were so difficult to transport that we 
standardized on PRO2s, but the K3 is far easier to deal with.
  And regarding the firmware updates, bear in mind that the radio has always 
been usable.  I ran my first contest two years ago with firmware 0.45 or so. 
It worked then, and still does, some 300 (!!) updates later.
  Hope to cu on 6 bands.
  73, andy, ae6y
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeff Maass" <jmaass at k8nd.com>
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 7:40 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] CQWW SSB observations


>
>> Rumor has it (second hand) that some Contesters are now
>> shying away from the K3 due to it's complexity, but not
>> necessarily it's performance. As a relatively experienced
>> owner I had no problem running what I consider to be
>> excellent radio. I've owned or operated most of the
>> modern rigs sold in the  last 15 years, and find the K3
>> (and my IC-765) to be the best of the group.
>>
>> 73, Gary NL7Y
>
> My K3 is about to make it's second trip down to the
> PJ2T Contest Station, this time for the CQWW CW
> contest. It's first test under "true fire" was for
> CQWW 160 CW in January, where W8WTS and I finished as
> the #3 Worldwide station. That's on 160 Meters from
> 12-degrees North of the Equator!
>
> At PJ2T, we have four permanent stations and thirteen
> transceivers either in use or as spares (seven FT-1000MP,
> FT-2000, two IC-765, Omni-VI, TS-930, TS-940). Changing
> direction at this point is a financial decision, as we
> are not a  "deep pockets" operation.
>
> I see the nature of the K3 as an advantage rather than
> disadvantage, performance aside. If a radio needs repair
> on the island, it must be carried back in someone's luggage,
> repaired, and then returned to the island. When a piece
> of equipment is returned to the island, there is the very
> real possibility that the island's Customs folk might
> charge 10% duty on it - this has happened multiple times
> to us.
>
> With a fleet of K3 radios, a stock of replacement boards
> could be maintained and all the moving of radios eliminated.
> Plus, if a radio *does* need returned to the USA, it weighs
> much, much less and is considerably smaller than an
> FT-1000MP!
>
> Any radio seems complex until you become familiar with it.
>
> 73,  Jeff  K8ND
>
>
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