[Elecraft] Happy But Very Sad

[Robert Vargas]

Love my K3 as I know I will love my KX3 on order and I love Elecraft customer support and the fact that the owners stand behind their products and are real gentlemen. However, if I had $5K to spend and the difference between a fully loaded K3 and the FT-5000 was around $500-$700, I would blindly go with the FT-5000. The specs are close for me and I have operated the FT-5000 and believe that it also has a great receiver. The difference I believe lies in the construction/workmanship of both radios and I'm reminded about that every time I turn the K3 VFO. I believe that the KX3 pricing is more inline with what you are getting but the K3 is IMHO slightly overpriced for a kit. But, I then have to realize that someone has to pay for the magnificent intellectual work that Wayne and Eric have done in the development of the K3's firmware, and that is worth the money. I really look forward to better construction/workmanship for the K4...

Robert, KP4Y  


________________________________
 From: Scott Manthe <scott.manthe at gmail.com>
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net 
Sent: Friday, June 22, 2012 6:54 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Happy But Very Sad
 
I said the K3's transmitter was superior to the FT-5000, not perfect. 
The ARRL review lists the 3rd order TX IMD numbers at -30db for the 5000 
and -29 dB for the K3, but those numbers alone don't tell the whole 
story. Take at look at the ARRL's phase noise numbers and spectral 
display characteristics for the FT-5000's transmitted signal and compare 
them to the K3 and then get back to us. To be fair, the K3 tested does 
seem to have an issue with inferior 9th order IMD numbers, though.

These figures were without the FT-5000's processor turned on, which of 
course, dirties up the 5000's signal quite a bit, unless that "feature" 
has been fixed. If it has, many contesters will be tearing up, because 
that and the key clicks help FT5000 ops get higher scores.

Re: your other post, my K3 is rated at 100 watts output, so I'm sure 
someone running one at 120 watts will notice that the performance does 
degrade. I find the slightly higher PS voltage an intriguing idea.

The FT-5000 is a fine rig, and is fairly clean in class A mode, with the 
processor turned off, but most people don't run them that way.

73,
Scott, N9AA


On 6/22/12 5:48 PM, Adrian wrote:
> K3 a superior transmitter in imd product results? Your kidding right?
> Out in the real world the K3 has a bad rep for splatter and imd3 product.
> See;
>
> http://www.eham.net/ehamforum/smf/index.php/topic,75182.0.html
>
> Those of us with K3's running 15v PS with heavy cable inputs, driving clean
> amps escape the wrath of the imd police.
> The 5000 is way better esp in class A operation.
>
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