[Elecraft] K3 mods by I7SWX

[Vic K2VCO]

I have a hard time not wanting to make my K3 be "in the top 0.1%!"

Practically speaking, I would never experience the improved MDS that was reported because 
I live in the middle of town, with neighbors a few feet away on all sides. Man-made noises 
mask receiver noise on all bands most of the time (except perhaps on 6m). In other words, 
the stock K3 is better than my QTH. I couldn't use a Maserati on the freeway here, either.

But of course, what about Field Day?

On 3/1/2013 5:40 AM, Giancarlo Moda wrote:
>
> Dear Twan,
>
> thank you very much for your comment.
>
> Wayne is right with his reply.
>
>
> Also right is the comment from Keith, XE3/K5ENS
>
> Then again if you want your K3 to be one of the top .1% these mods will help.
>
>
> Certainly these are not mods for "normal" user, but those "looking for the hair in the egg" any little improvement can make a difference.
>
> Please let me explain how the idea to modify the K3 started. I have dome mods for many commercial equipments from the 70's to the beginning of this century.
>
>
> I was very curious to see if it could be possible to squeeze out some additional performances from the K3. Certainly, I was not expecting any "flashing results" like obtained on the above equipment. I discovered that the K3 had a removable mixer... what a chance, a way to fiddle with a nice system without going to impair a warranty or damage the radio.
>
> One Italiam OM, IT9BLB, of well known Contest stations IT9BLB, IH9P and IR9Y, told me that they had some difficulties to copy week station with the K3 while their modified FT1000MP (more complex mods) was making easier the copy. That pushed me to do a trial and  I went ahead with my friend Sergio, IK8TNG. From what we thought interesting results we designed  a swappable H-Mode Mixer  and made it available assembled and tested to operators without the need to use a soldering iron. Then I studied some additional changes, experimented already in all the other modified radio.
>
>
> If you do really like to see changes, and you have no money for a K3 but you possess a K2, then you will need to use a soldering iron and apply similar mods to it. The problem is space availaibility.
>
> You asked  Elecraft "Are there any plans in the near future to build a new mixer module  with this technology? " I am not the one to answer, but I do not see any problem why Elecraft could not use the H-Mode Mixer in their expected (?) new "K4" in the 2 transformer I7SWX configuration or in the original 3 transformer G3SBI, using the FST3125 or the FSA3157 switches.
>
> Note for Eric and Wayne, my configuration is available for you,  I will request only a few million $$$$$ ... hi
>
> The H-Mode Mixer is in the public dominium, probably the only "legal" aspect is reference to the inventor, G3SBI, and maybe to me for the 2 transformer one.
>
>
> Best 73
>
> Gian
> I7SWX
>
>
> Message: 17
> Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2013 13:00:12 -0800
> From: Wayne Burdick <n6kr at elecraft.com>
> To: "Twan at pa0kv.nl" <pa0kv at pa0kv.nl>
> Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 mods by I7SWX
> Message-ID: <461DACC5-6AAE-49D4-8C8A-B93DAB3B6AAE at elecraft.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>
> Twan,
>
> The K3 is one of the highest-performance radios available (very high
> on everyone's list, including Sherwood's). A small additional
> improvement in one or two parameters may be of interest to a few
> operators. The other 99.9% of K3 owners do not need to make any
> modifications.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
> On Feb 28, 2013, at 12:33 PM, Twan at pa0kv.nl wrote:
>
>> Hi!
>> I just read all about the I7SWX mods and I was wondering what
>> Elecraft's point of view is in this?
>> Are these mods really a major improvement? (Are is it 'crap'..)
>> Are there any plans in the near future to build a new mixer module
>> with this technology?
>> What about the other mods;
>> - terminating the filter bank
>> - PSU voltage regulator noise
>>
>> As allways.. very interested in K3 improvements 8-)
>>
>> 73's  Twan - PA0KV
>>
>> K3 - 1770
>>
>
> Message: 20
> Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2013 13:32:03 -0800 (PST)
> From: Keith-K5ENS <keith at kathyandkeith.mx>
> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 mods by I7SWX
> Message-ID: <1362087123842-7570520.post at n2.nabble.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> Then again if you want your K3 to be one of the top .1% these mods will help.
>
>
> 73,
>
> Keith, XE3/K5ENS
>
>

-- 
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/