[Elecraft] Elecraft and Ten Tec

[Jim Brown]

On 6/24/2013 8:18 AM, Richard Fjeld wrote:
> As for the radio, I can't imagine anything better that my ears would notice. (I use a CM500 headset/boom mike.)  I bought the 8-pole filters to give it the steepest skirts.  I bought a few extras, but I did not stuff it full.  I find the K3 QSK is excellent if you are wondering.  Pretty much, everything about CW is user tailored.  The CWT feature is great.

Agreed on all counts.
>
> I find operating conveniences are excellent. The chassis size has been fine for me.

Yes

> As for the menu question, it gives me no trouble, and using a menu is seldom needed. IMHO, the menu system is easy to use, and affords versatility to the radio.

Yes. The menu system is needed ONLY for changing the setup of the radio. 
Everything you need on a day to day basis is on the front panel.  There 
are two levels of menus. The top level, the simplest, does adjustments 
like VOX level.  We used two K3s on FD, and as far as I know, never 
touched the menus while putting 1,002 QSOs in the log running QRP.

> Your decision should include the future possibility of adding a P3 pan adapter.  It adds flexibility and control to operating. Even if you only ragchew, it will show interference on the band and is a valuable aid for trouble shooting.

Yes, quite nice. But you can make that decision later -- just call up 
and order it.

> I recommend you consider your vision if your plans are to build a kit.

The K3 series of kits are essentially "screw together" kits of 
pre-tested boards and chassis parts, mostly with 4-40 screws.  The only 
tricky part with respect to vision is mating the front panel board to 
the main board at the end of the process.  My 71-year old eyes aren't 
great, but I've done two of them with no difficulty.

A thought with respect to filters.  The filters are ROOFING filters, not 
IF filters.  All the IF filtering that in the old days were done with 
crystal filters are done in DSP in the K3. The primary function of a 
roofing filter is to protect the DSP from getting blown away by VERY 
strong signals. The stock K3 comes with a 2.7 kHz 5-pole roofing filter 
that is also used for TX.

I suggest that you buy the K3 without an additional filter and use it 
for a while before spending the bucks on another filter. You are 
unlikely to need it for ragchewing or DXing, and even for casual 
contesting.  And it is VERY easy to add later if you should decide that 
you need it.

I've long been a Ten Tec fan, have owned two of their transceivers, and 
still own four of their power amps. I know nothing about the Eagle, but 
the differences between the two companies are night and day. Both are 
good US companies, but Elecraft is FAR more in touch with their 
customers, who are, in general, a lot smarter and far more demanding.   
That has a lot to do why their products are so "right" for hams.

73, Jim K9YC