[Elecraft] Product Suggestion Big Box K3

[Nick-WA5BDU]

I worked the NAQP-CW in multi-two (two stations) this weekend and we 
used my K3 and an FT1000, which was my former rig.  Operators went back 
and forth between rigs.  Of course I'm currently more familiar with the 
K3, but even the day I left the FT1000 for it, I found the K3 very easy 
to use and human engineered very well.  Easier to use for contesting 
than the FT1000.

I'm mainly a CW operator so I appreciate that everything I needed was 
right in front of me -- shift, selectivity, keyer speed, keyer memories, 
RIT, and main tuning, all dedicated controls with no menu access 
needed.  (Yes, the serial link screwed up and I used the built-in keyer 
for sending.)

The FT1000 was a great rig, but I wouldn't want my K3 to be inflated to 
FT1000 size.

I have fat fingers and am not the most dexterous, but I don't see how 
one could bump the width control while going for the main tuning knob.

Maybe one small suggestion for a tweak.  I used the auto-repeat memory 
function for CQing.  My impulse was to tap the paddle to stop message 
sending if someone would begin to respond.  But that would send a dit 
(or dah) and I'd miss part of his call.  Perhaps while in auto-send 
mode, the first tap of the paddle should stop sending but not be 
transmitted.

73-

Nick, WA5BDU