[Elecraft] Some thoughts on the K3 as an emergency communications station

[Wayne Burdick]

Most of our customers choose the K3 for its contesting or DX  
performance. But with all the world-wide flooding, earthquakes, and  
heat waves and power-outages we've seen this year, I'm reflecting on  
how the K3 can serve as a flexible station for emergency communications.

Here's a brief list of K3 features that could help in such situations:

- Only about 9 pounds, and sized so it's easy to carry to any location.

- Bulletproof receiver--important for multi-transmitter environments.  
(If you have to set up more than one HF/VHF station in a small area,  
you'll want them not to interfere with each other.)

- Coverage of HF and SW broadcast, as well as two local/emergency  
bands (6 and 2 meters).

- Low receive-mode current drain (about 1 amp) for extended operating  
time when using batteries, solar panels, etc. Most radios with  
comparable performance have current drain three times higher, and even  
garden-variety radios are usually in the 2-amp-plus range. In transmit  
mode, current drain can be very low at QRP power levels (12 watts or  
less) because the PA is completely turned off.

- Runs from up to a 15-V supply, but usable down to as low as about 10  
V in a pinch, thanks to the use of low-dropout voltage regulators.  
Also, we selected the APP power connector specifically because it is  
as close to a standard as exists in the portable-comms world; you'll  
be able to "borrow" power when you need to.

- Wide-range ATU matches nearly any ad-hoc field antenna. Many built- 
in ATUs cover only a very small range, while the KAT3 can easily match  
loads with SWRs of 10:1, and in some cases (at QRP levels) far higher.  
The two antenna jacks allow instant A/B testing on individual signals.

- High-performance sub receiver with true diversity receive; could  
help copy traffic in difficult conditions.

- Built-ins that reduce the need for other equipment: real time clock  
(with alarm), calendar, digital metering (current, voltage,  
temperature, SWR, power).

- DVR and CW/DATA auto-repeating messages for beacon or net use, and  
built-in text decode/display for copying bulletins (PSK31, RTTY, CW).

- And if you have room for a P3 at your emergency operating position,  
you'll be able to find weak signals calling without endless tuning of  
the VFO :)

73,
Wayne
N6KR