[Elecraft] New Sherwood Report

David Yarnes w7aqk at cox.net
Wed Dec 1 22:44:58 EST 2010


Wayne said it very succinctly.  However, most folks seem to overlook the 
fact that the K3 is a modestly priced radio (comparatively), and it is 
bucking some very high dollar radios.  Look folks, you can spend a lot more 
money, and maybe, just maybe, you can get something special out of those 
extra dollars.  The K3 is NOT the most EXOTIC radio out there.  It's up to 
you to define just what "exotic" means.  For crying out loud!  Quit trying 
to compare the K3 to $5K or $10K radios, at least by emphasizing what you 
don't get with the K3.  Obviously those radios have at least some features 
that the K3 doesn't!  Get over it!  If you think you hear stations better 
with one of those high end radios, good for you!  I doubt it, but that's 
your personal opinion, and I don't criticize you for thinking you do.  I 
doubt it, but I don't criticize you!

To be honest with you, I can hear almost everything on my $1K radios that I 
hear with my $2K K3.  Not everything though!  The K3 is a real breakout from 
the norm, and just about everything above it lacks something essential as 
far as really dealing with QRM, QRN, etc.   Sometimes it requires a very 
unique situation on the band, but the features on the K3 are significant and 
real.

Let me put it another way--one that isn't based on my personal preferences! 
If the Ducie expedition, and now the Kermadec expedition, felt there was 
something better to use, I think they would have figured out a way to go 
that route!  What they were looking for may not be what you were looking 
for, but it speaks volumes about the competence of the K3.  If you want more 
glitz, and big "gee whiz" features, by all means spend the extra $3k to$10K 
to get them.  My guess is, though, that you won't work a single station with 
those high end rigs that you couldn't work just as easily with the K3.

So, please quit trying to compare apples and oranges, at least dollar wise, 
unless you find some really significant defect in what the K3 does.  So far, 
it's all been about nonsensacle comparisons, which are strictly related to 
dollars rather than performance.  If I had spent $5K or $10K on a radio, I'd 
be embarrassed to come on this reflector and tout my radio unless I had 
something significant to crow about except the glitz factor.  Good grief!  I 
hope you got something for all those extra bucks!

Dave W7AQK




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