[Elecraft] K3 SO2R Question

[K5WA]

Jim,

 

As a long time SO2R guy (currently a pair of K3s, previously a pair of K2s
and originally a pair of IC-765s), I'd save up your money and get the ICE
(individual bands or the 401 multiband unit) or K3NQN filters so you won't
be saying things like "the K3 receiver goes strangely quiet".  Those words
scare the fire out of me because I'll bet you are on the edge of blowing up
your K3's front end.  While you are saving up your money, you can build some
coax filters that can be teed into your monoband coax (the complexity and
expense goes up if you have a multi-band antenna rather than monobander).
I'd have to look up the exact construction details, but I know they can be
found with minimal Google searching.  The idea is to cut a length of coax
that, for example, nulls 20M (electrical 1/4 wave open at the end, I think?)
and insert that into your 40M line.  Same idea for keeping 80M out of 40M.
You really don't want to be asking how much power the K3 receiver can
handle...just assume it is 50-100 mV and build or buy some filters.  You'll
be happily SO2R contesting rather than repairing your K3s.  I have used the
ICE 401 multiband units for several years and have been very happy even when
my antenna system consisted of individually fed multi-quad loops. Imagine
happily SO2R contesting at 1.5 KW with quad loops only separated by a few
feet.  Filters work! 

 

Also, save up your money and get the KRX3 for your K3s if you want to have
"dual watch" because you will have defeated every SO2R control box and
software program I know of if both SO2R rigs are on the same band.  

 

Have fun!

 

Bob K5WA   

 

 

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Message: 1

Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 17:08:42 +0000

From: Jim Harris <w0em at q.com>

Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 SO2R Question

 

Bob,

 

I live on a postage size lot so big antennas and lots of separation is not
possible.  I usually run an ALS-500M amp.  My initial thought is to run both
K3's on the same bands.  However, digging out mult's on different bands
might be the way to go.  The same band idea came from my days with duel
watch radio's.  It's all a growing and learning experience.  

 

I've looked at the ICE filters plus those from other companys.  I'm guessing
at this point the more isolation (expensive) filters would be better.  I've
discovered in the last day or so that when signal levels are over about
S9+30/40 the K3 receiver goes strangely quiet and no bars on the S-meter are
light.  It takes from a few seconds to a minute or so to recover.

 

Thank you for your suggestions.

 

CU in the Colorado QSO Party Sept 4th, 2010.

 

73,  Jim, W0EM