[Elecraft] KX3: How much space inside?

[David Yarnes]

Tim and All,

The Icom 703 was not a flop--far from it.  No, it wasn't as popular as the 
FT-817, and in large part due to the reasons you state.  However, the 703 
was/is a very nice radio.  For what it did do, it was superior to the 
FT-817.  It had a better RX (even better than the 706, which is it's higher 
power look-alike), an internal ATU, a bit more power, and was ergonomically 
a lot easier to use.  I don't know if you ever got to use a 703, but if you 
did, then you would see what I mean.

There is still a lot of interest in the 703, although that may wane a bit 
with the KX3 now in the works.  Icom ceased production of the 703 just a few 
months ago, and their timing was impeccable!  It's as if they knew the KX3 
was coming!

Right now it looks like the KX3 is a "slam dunk" replacement for the 703, 
and maybe even the 817 (except for the VHF/UHF capability there, but which 
Wayne has alluded might be a later option), provided the price is right.  I 
have both rigs, so I'm fairly familiar with each one's capabilities, and how 
they compare.

But don't sell the 703 short.  It's a very competent little radio, and 
fairly widely available on the used market.  This will still be an 
"alternative", particularly for the dollar conscious hams out there--we all 
know hams are among the most tight fisted people on the planet!  Although 
not advertised as such, the 703 was actually an improved version of the 706, 
albeit at a lower power output capability.

I'm also hearing very strong rumors that some other manufacturers are also 
planning some new QRP type radios.  So, the KX3 may actually have some 
stiffer competition than what's out there at the moment.

Dave W7AQK


------------------------------------------
Tim Tucker, AE6LX said:

Remember, Icom had a HF only QRP rig - the 703.  It was a flop.  The KX3
won't suffer the same fate because it's so much more, but it would
absolutely crush the competition (Yaesu FT-817D) if both 2m and 440 were
incorporated 





=======
Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found.
(Email Guard: 7.0.0.18, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.17590)
http://www.pctools.com/
=======