[Elecraft] Need help making K3 purchase decisions

[Phil Hystad]

Jeff,

Your proposed K3 configuration is close to mine.  I would strongly submit that you
should consider the KXV3A, the transverter interface as this allows you to feed devices
dependent on an IF signal as it includes an IF port.  And, it is relatively cheap, less then
any single filter.

I do mostly CW on my K3 and I also opted for the 400 Hz 8-pole filter but I also
got the 1 KHz too.  I have been operating my K3 now for a little over a month and I
would say that the DSP filtering on the K3 does a pretty good job too.  My filters
are:  AM-6 KHz,  2.7 KHz (default), 1 KHz, and 400 Hz.  I will probably add a 15 KHz
filter when I get the 2-meter (K144XV) option.  Then, I will be fully populated with
my five filters.

I have the KDVR3 but I have not used it yet.  In fact, I was going to use it just a
few days ago when a friend of mine wanted to know what he sounded like on his new
mic since we had told him that it sounded like the lows were being cut out.  I would
have recorded his signal and played it back for him but at the time I had not even
read how to use the DVR.  I still need to do that.

My future plans are to purchase the K144XV, the P3, and eventually the sub-receiver
(KRX3).

My K3 order (ordered the day before Christmas, received January 4th) options:

K3/100
KAT3
KBPF3 (general coverage RX)
KDVR3
KTCX03-1 TCXO
KXV3A
6 MHz 8-pole filter
1 KHz 8-pole filter
400 Hz 8-pole filter

I subsequently ordered the MH2 hand-microphone as I decided I would do some SSB on the K3.

You will really like your K3 -- I hardly use my Icom 756 Pro III anymore.

73, phil, K7PEH
K3 #3799



On Feb 13, 2010, at 10:37 AM, Jeff Hall, W6EZY wrote:

> Greetings all,
> 
> This is my first submission to the Elecraft reflector.  I intend to place an
> order for my K3 today, but I need some help making the final decisions of
> which options I should purchase at this time.  First, let me describe my
> antenna setup so the experts here can hopefully offer more specific advice.
> 
> I am presently using a 40-10m wire dipole (DX Engineering) elevated to about
> 32 feet, with an apex angle a little over 90 degrees (maybe 95).  The
> ICOM-729 w/ 100W that I have been using the past month has gotten the signal
> out as far as Seattle (S9) and New York (S9) from my QTH in SoCal.  I have
> heard from all over the country, parts of Canada, Alaska, and can get faint
> signals from Central/South America and the Caribbean.  Also hear from Japan
> occasionally. So I expect this antenna to get even better when the sunspots
> start making a comeback in a few years.  In the future (5-10 years) I will
> probably move to a QTH that allows a nice 100' tower, but until then, I have
> to make do with my dipole.
> 
> I just passed my Extra license test and these are my goals for the next
> couple of years:
> 
> - Work as many locations I can (SSB/CW/PSK31)
> - Learn CW and become proficient at 20-30 WPM (will be purchasing a K8RA
> P-4)
> - Full computer integration and rig control with a MicroHAM MicroKeyer II
> - Participate in contests (once I understand how that works)
> - Work towards some awards (WAS for starters)
> - Work DX (someday, when I can put up a tower or as band conditions allow
> with my dipole)
> 
> Now that you know a bit about my setup and what I want to accomplish, here
> are the options I am considering:
> 
> - K3/100 kit
> - KAT3 100W internal tuner (no plans to buy a bigger amplifier for awhile;
> want to be proficient with 100W first)
> - KDVR3 (Not sure if this overlaps with features offered by the MKII) -- How
> useful do people find this?
> - KFL3A-400 400Hz 8-pole filter for CW (I'm anticipating I'll want this for
> contests/noisy conditions)
> - KFL3A-2.1K 2.1 KHz 8-pole filter for SSB (I'm anticipating I'll want this
> for working faint signals during noisy conditions)
> - KFL3A-2.8K 2.8 kHz 8-pole filter for the majority of operating
> 
> I'm going with 8-pole filters to make it easier to add the sub-receiver
> someday should I want that.  My main question is whether these are the right
> filters for my needs.  Would I be better off with 1.8 kHz instead of 2.1
> kHz?  I know it's subjective, but I'm just trying to be practical and not
> waste money.
> 
> Now, I also need recommendations on a boom-mic/headset.  I see a lot of
> people here use the Yamaha CM500.  Is this totally plug and play or do you
> have to make any mods to get it working with the K3?
> 
> Thanks for the forthcoming recommendations and opinions!
> 
> -Jeff, W6EZY
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