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

[Phil Hystad]

Fred says, "You're going to get a LOT of opinions, Phil!"


Well, I guess the good news for asking a question is that the various opinions and comments were all consistent with each other and even with those I received on my own e-mail address directly.

Unfortunately, there is not real big blooper that forces the decision one way or another so I need to decide based on my own personal choices.  Which is good as I would hate to make a choice and then later discover that I made some big blunder in choosing the wrong rig.

Thanks for all the comments though from everyone who chimed in.

73, phil, K7PEH

On May 8, 2010, at 6:58 PM, Fred Jensen wrote:

> Phil Hystad wrote:
> 
>> 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?
> 
> You're going to get a LOT of opinions, Phil!  I bought the K2/QRP 
> because it was the Elecraft top-of-the-line at that time, I had used one 
> and was stunned at the receiver, and I liked the weight, size, and low 
> RX current drain, I do some field events and contests in the summer.  I 
> used it for a couple or three years, augmented it with a KX1 for a 
> cruise through the Panama Canal, and was a pretty happy camper.
> 
> Then the K3 was announced and I got a couple of chances to try out early 
> S/N's and decided it would meet a big need ... I have two local friends 
> who run a lot of power within 4 km of me.  My TS-850 was essentially 
> unusable on the band they were on, so I got the K3 [#642].  I am hugely 
> happy with it, the TS-850 is gone, and the old TS-830 will be soon.
> 
> Like you, my K3 is fairly well shackled to the rack with lots of cables. 
>  I take the K2 for the field events.  It works great for me, YMMV.
> 
> 73,
> 
> Fred K6DGW
> - Northern California Contest Club
> - CU in the 2010 Cal QSO Party 2-3 Oct 2010
> - www.cqp.org
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