[Elecraft] Is the K3 a "fun" radio to operate ?

[Phil Hystad]

I too agree that the notion of "fun" is in the eye of the beholder.  In some social gatherings, my wife might mention that I regularly take "math" books to bed at night for casual night time reading.  Things like differential geometry, topology, group theory, etc.  There are the obvious chuckles from others about my reading choices as most think that math is NOT fun.  But, too me it is very enjoyable and a passion.

So, fun is in the eye of the beholder but I was mostly looking for opinions (as has been shown so far) into what fun is in a radio because I had never thought that much about it.  But, I do agree that the multiple button pushes for band changing on the K3 is a hassle which is one reason I bought the KPA500 since the individual band push buttons erase that problem -- I also use it as an amplifier too.

About that K3 band press problem -- I have a fix for it but I wonder if Eric and Wayne would agree.  I would use the 12 buttons just to the right of the display on the K3 (the 12 button 3x4 grid) as band buttons with the help of an escape key.  That is, just two button pushes for any band.  Just push the escape key which holds the escape function for two seconds say and then press the appropriate button identified for the band.  For 160 thru 2 (2 meter option) you would need to use all 12 buttons.  The work of course would probably require re-labeling the buttons in a worst case besides firmware modification.  Possibilities for the escape key would maybe be the frequency enter but that would be problematic or maybe the SUB key button and then change that out to be a press/Hold style where the hold is either escape function or sub function.  This may need a hardware change for the button maybe.

phil


On Jan 16, 2013, at 10:26 AM, Ian Kahn <km4ik.ian at gmail.com> wrote:

> Sorry, all.  I had an extreme "fat finger" moment and accidentally sent my incomplete reply.
>  
> As I was saying, part of what makes a rig "fun" to operate is, quite simply, can I make the contact?  To make it a bit more complex, can I make the contact regardless of what band/mode I'm operating on.  With the K3, I can say, unequivocally, yes.  I had an FT-857D before my K3. I still think that is an excellent rig and, in fact, it is now installed in my car for mobile operating.  But, due to performance differences, there are simply contacts I've made on my K3, the first try, that I never would have gotten, or even heard, on the FT-857, all else being equal.
>  
> I appreciate the fact that the "set and forget" functions on the K3 are mostly in the menus and the functions I'm likely to use while operating are clearly labeled buttons or knobs on front of the transceiver.
>  
> To me, this combination of features absolutely makes the K3 a "fun" rig to operate.
>  
> 73,
>  
> --Ian
> Ian Kahn, KM4IK
> Roswell, GA EM74ua
> km4ik.ian at gmail.com
> K3 #281, P3 #688
> HRD v5.x/6.0 Test Team
> On Wed, Jan 16, 2013 at 1:20 PM, Ian Kahn <km4ik.ian at gmail.com> wrote:
> To me, part of what makes a rig "fun" to operate is, q
> 
> 
> On Wed, Jan 16, 2013 at 1:14 PM, Anthony Scandurra <anthony.scandurra at gmail.com> wrote:
> "Fun is in the eye of the beholder."
> 
> Pardon the wordplay, but I think it is clear that everyone has their own
> vision of fun.
> 
> It depends on the operating circumstances as well.
> 
> No easy answers...
> 
> 73, Tony K4QE
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> -- 
> Ian Kahn, KM4IK
> Roswell, GA  EM74ua
> km4ik.ian at gmail.com
> K3 #281, P3 #688
> HRD v5.x/6.0 Test Team
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
>