[Elecraft] [K3] Portable Fit: K3 versus K2

[Don Wilhelm]

Phil,

I don't have a crisp answer that applies to your own situation, so you 
will have to 'fill in the blanks'.

The K2 was designed initially as a QRP transciever with low receive 
current drain - great for operating from batteries,  That is only 
applicable for the QRP K2 and is not a direct parallel for the K2/100.

The K2 (either QRP of 100 watt version) has a small footprint, so it 
will fit nicely into physically tight places.   It is lightweight (but 
then the K3 is lightweight too), so the cost of transport to DXpedition 
areas is smaller than many other transceivers.

The K3 makes a very nice portable transceiver, but if you want to leave 
the K3 at the home station, and do not want to purchase a 2nd K3 for 
portable ops, then the K2 may be a better fit for you.

The K3 has more features than the K2, but whether those features are 
needed depends on you particular portable operating aspirations.

As a "for instance", I have the K3/100, but I take the K2/10 with the 
KAT2 and the KBT2 along when I want to do portable operation at QRP 
levels - If I wanted to operate at the 100 watt level, I would take the K3.

Bottom line - no real answer, but consider your own desires and 
anticipated operating scenarios, and you will have the answer that most 
closely matches your needs and desires.

73,
Don W3FPR

Phil Hystad wrote:
> When I got my K3/100 I had been thinking that I would use it in portable operations at times.  The kind of portable I mean is one that does not necessarily operate on just battery power.  I am thinking of grid connected power too.
>
> But, now that I have so much hooked up to my K3 here in my shack and more to be added when the P3 arrives that it might be good to get something in addition to this K3 for portable ops.
>
> A lot of guys talk about buying a K3 and using their K2 for portable ops.  I am curious -- other then the obvious cost difference and the fact that I don't have a K2, is there any reason why a K2 would be a better portable ops rig then a K3?   Is this a silly question?  It is just that I hear so many here comment about a K2 being a good portable rig but I don't know if I have heard the same comments about a K3.  I am thinking it would be a better portable rig.
>
> phil, K7PEH
>
>