[Elecraft] K3: options to buy: a summary of what I learnt from you all...

[VK7JB]

Hello All,

A couple of people have asked me to post a summary to share what I learnt
from my question about options for a new K3.  I received 25 replies, many
were off-list emails, offering well considered ideas and advice.  I was 
surprised at how generously people offered their time and their thoughts on
this question, often sharing considerable detail about their own experience
of loading their K3.

People tailored their responses to my situation - I'm a casual operator of
CW/SSB/data modes, working in a location where I rarely, if ever, have to
contend with crowded bands and heavy QRM.  

So bearing that in mind, here's what I learned:

# Unanimously, folks suggested I NOT bother with the high stability
reference oscillator.

#The auto ATU option was thought a good investment - for various reasons.

# There was strong support for the Digital Voice Recorder option and for
putting in the KXV3A option during the initial build, to avoid significant
dis-assembly of the K3 when/if I want to add on the P3 panadapter in the
future.  Several folks mentioned how useful they'd found their DVR,
especially as a "voice saver" calling CQ.

# About filters options:
There was a concensus of opinion that the 2.8 8 pole / 2.7 5 pole swap
wouldn't be of benefit in my situation and that I should just go with the
2.7 / 5 pole stock filter.  Several people suggested I should invest in the
6khz filter to allow AM TX and broadcast band RX and ESSB.  A couple of
people volunteered they had installed the 15khz FM filter, but rarely used
it and thought I could do without that option.  Many people commented on the
effectiveness of the DSP filtering in the K3 and suggested that for the
casual CW I do, that would be enough.  Several others suggested I go with a
400 or 500hz filter, but that I could wait and add them later if I found I
needed them.  I got the feeling that the narrower 2.1/1.8 khz filters for
SSB weren't seen to be a big priority in my situation:  only a couple of
folks mentioned them in passing and only one K3 owner said he found them
very useful for everyday SSB.  

All this seemed like very sensible advice to me.

So what am I going to do?

Well,  I've decided to NOT take the TCXO high stability ref oscillator.  I
WILL install the DVR and General coverage BPF options.  

I've decided NOT to put in the KXV3A until I'm ready to get the panadapter. 
I don't mind dismantling the K3 when that day arrives and I'd like to invest
that money in other features initially.  Having the KXV3A in the K3 from the
beginning won't give me any more immediate enjoyment of the K3, nor any
extra bits to play with, so I've decided it will wait.

As for the filters:

I've decided that I probably WILL do the 2.8 for 2.7 swap and install 8 pole
filters from the beginning.  One K3 owner pointed out that if I do that, I
won't have to swap out, or worry about matching, the 5 pole filters in the
future if/when I come to install the subreceiver.  That seemed sensible to
me, so I'll put in the 8 pole Inrad filters from the beginning and be done
with it.  The only additional filter I'll order initially is the 6khz, 8
pole, to allow better SW broadcast reception and to allow me to experiement
with wider-bandwidth SSB Tx.  I'll see,  over time, whether or not I need a
400hz filter for CW.

So that's it.  Thanks again everyone.  I just have to sell a rig here to
generate some extra funds, then I'll plant my paw on the "Add to Cart"
button and the deal will be done.

73,

John
VK7JB






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