[Elecraft] [K3] decisions, decisions

[Jim Brown]

On 3/13/2011 8:57 AM, Pierfrancesco Caci wrote:
> I also have a cg3000, so the main reason I was thinking about the ATU is
> the second antenna input

That's not a good enough reason to buy the ATU.  It IS a good ATU 
though.  As Wes noted, it really depends on your station.  I bought the 
ATU, but rarely use it, first because I usually run a power amp, and 
second because I have several very good antenna tuners, each of which 
has very good antenna switching ahead of the tuner (I use the Ten Tec 
229 and 238 tuners).

As to the 6M preamp -- yes, it's important if you work 6M from a 
reasonably quiet QTH, but it's easy to add later, and 6M isn't open 
miuch of the time. :)  I like to work 6M when it's open, and the K3 is 
great on 6M.  So the preamp is one thing I'd wait for.

Even if you don't plan to use the K3 with transverters, you need the 
KXV3 to hook up an external RX antenna (like a Beverage or K9AY loop). 
This is a big deal if you hope to work DX on 160M or 80M.

As to roofing filters -- the K3 works VERY well with only the stock 2.7 
kHz filter as a roofing filter. You only need the more narrow roofing 
filters for contest situations, and perhaps for massive DX pileups.

So my list of priorities would be 1) K3/100 with 2.7 kHz filter; 2) KXV3 
ONLY  if you have an external antenna to hook up or want to use the PR6; 
3) PR6 if you have the KXV3, are serious about 6M, and don't hear the 
noise increase on 6M when you connect an antenna;. 4) ATU if you need it 
in your station (and maybe a higher priority, depending on your station  
5) IF you're a serious DXer, the 2nd RX or the P3 should be next on your 
list.  Both let you see/hear the pileup. If you're a serious contester, 
the P3 is probably more useful than the second RX!

IF you're a contester, you'll want roofing filters for the modes you 
operate.  250 Hz or 400 Hz is what you want for CW, PSK, and RTTY, and 
1.8 kHz or 2.1 kHz for SSB.

You should DEFINITELY buy you K3 as a kit. That saves about 15% of the 
cost, letting you buy more options, and burns about 10 hours of your 
time.  Once you do that, you'll realize how easy it is to add any of the 
options later on.

The 2nd Rx is a real shoehorn job (that is, a real tight fit) and you 
must remove it to add even the simplest of options (like a roofing 
filter), so it makes ANY option much more difficult to add later. It can 
be done, but you'll curse a lot. :) For that reason, I strongly 
recommend that it be the last thing you add to the inside of the K3.

73, Jim K9YC