[Elecraft] Flex 3000 or KX3

[Jim Brown]

On 4/3/2012 8:24 AM, Keith Heimbold wrote:
> If i had to make a recommendation, my choice would be the KX3.  I do think you should do as much due diligence before purchasing and check out as many different rigs as possible.

As an old timer, 55 years licensed, and more active now than I've ever 
been, I STRONGLY agree with others who have recommended a high quality 
pre-owned, vintage rig that runs 100W on the HF bands and includes an 
antenna tuner.  Most that fall into this category are designed to run on 
12VDC, so they will work fine in your car.  I've worked a lot of mobile, 
both CW and SSB, using four different rigs at various times. I simply 
put them on the passenger seat, tilted in such a way that I can read the 
tuning dial and access the knobs.  No, this arrangement doesn't work 
when you have a passenger, but hams who intend to keep their spouses 
don't work mobile when their spouse is in the car!

Two fine vintage100W rigs I've owned and loved are the Kenwood TS850 and 
Icom 746.  Either of them could be purchased used in the $700-$900 
range. The 746 is also a decent 6M and 2M radio. The TS950, mentioned by 
others, is also a fine rig.

> Make sure for your base to put up the best antenna possible. I am a new ham (15 months) and started with a vertical then quickly moved to a hex beam and am now about to install a SteppIR three element this June.  The antenna is 80-90% of the hobby.

I also strongly agree with this advice.  BUT -- before I did ANYTHING 
with antennas,you should buy  the ARRL Handbook and carefully study the 
chapters on antennas.  Very good antennas for the HF bands can be built 
very inexpensively with wire and insulators, thrown into a tree, or 
suspended between trees, buildings, even low cost TV mast if it's guyed 
properly.  For some ideas on how to build low cost antennas for limited 
space, see http://audiosystemsgroup.com/publish.htm

The KX3 would be an excellent choice for a mobile rig, but you will want 
the 100W amp and the 100W antenna tuner. Neither are yet available, and 
they will certainly add to the cost.  I'd let that be my second rig, 
selling the vintage rig to buy it if necessary.  QRP is fun with decent 
antennas, but less so with poor ones, and because they are shorter than 
full size antennas for the lower HF bands. You'll also do much better 
running QRP on CW or digital modes than on SSB.

73, Jim K9YC