[Elecraft] Why I bought a K3

[Brendan Minish]

On Thu, 2011-02-24 at 16:48 -0800, Bill W4ZV wrote:

> A few ex-IC7800 users:  EI6IZ, EI2CN, W2UP, K3WW (all avid contesters BTW).
> 73,  Bill

Actually I think EI2CN's (Doug) other radio is an orion 

My own progression may interest some, for a good number of years I had a
756Pro2 and a K2/100.
I found I preferred the K2 for CW operation and for contesting.
In one of my early serious efforts at CQWW cw contest I A/B'e the
756pro2 and the K2 extensively and kept preferring the k2, particularly
on the low bands as it was better at digging out weak stations between
the big guns. 
 
I did however prefer the Ergonomics of the 756pro2 for general
operating.

 
When the improved ('mk2') version of the 7800 came out I decided to buy
one as I liked Icom's ergonomics. 
I also really hoped that the two 'identical' receivers could be used for
diversity reception on the low bands as I had considerable experience
with diversity reception with my Racal RA3702 and knew how well it
worked for digging out hard to copy tropical band BC DX stations.
Regretfully, due to a design limitation the two 'identical' receivers in
the 7800 have their first (High) IF separated by 100KHz from each other.
This ensures that the 2 receivers are nearly always offset from each
other by a fraction of 1Hz (Due to DDS decimation limitations I suspect)
rendering the 7800 nearly useless for diversity.
 You can do diversity with the 7800 but it's incredibly fatiguing
because the signal is always rotating between ears in the headset.
In addition to this the 2 VFO's don't track. I assume this is so as not
to highlight the slight offset between the 2 receivers

For cw contesting the 7800 was a better radio than the K2 but the
difference was surprisingly small. 
The 7800 is a fine radio with good ergonomics and excellent basic
performance, as I am sure the 7700 is  

When the k3 was announced I placed my order pretty quickly, on the basis
that if it bettered the k2 then it was going to be a very fine radio.
Having had the k2 for 7 years I was also sure that elecraft would take
care to ensure that any improvements could be carried out on the earlier
models. 

When the K3 arrived I had initially considered keeping the 7800 but I
rapidly found I preferred the k3 and after doing quite a bit of A/B
testing in the CQ WW 160M cw contest I decided to sell the 7800. The
7800 is no bad performer but the K3 has the edge, at least for the kinds
of operating I do. 

When the k3 sub receiver came out I was really pleased with how well
diversity works and these days I use diversity nearly all the time. 
It's not just a superb tool for digging out weak ones on the low bands
but it's also a very useful tool for digging call-signs out of a pile
up.
Diversity also often helps with hearing 'around' QRM because the QRM
usually has a different phase relationship to the desired signal
relative to my antennas (usually my TX antenna and a beverage or
doublet)

Ergonomically the K3 and the Icoms are very different radios, Personally
I find the K3 ergonomics excellent and find it a very comfortable radio
to operate.
A big advantage of the k3 is it's modular design, this not only makes it
possible to tailor the configuration to suit your operating needs but
also greatly simplifies things should repairs ever be required. 
Elecraft have evolved the K3 since release (& are continuing to do so)
thus there will be no need to buy a K3 'Mk2' in a couple of years time
just to get the latest features and improvements.

Those considering buying a high performance HF radio should consider the
K3 very carefully in their decision making process. 

-- 
73
Brendan EI6IZ