[Elecraft] KRX3 - What am I missing?

[Jim Sheldon]

Bill, 
You've already pretty much answered your own question.  Hearing that faint "599" is a BIG help in finding the place you need to be in a pile-up.  Especially on 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meters where a lot of the time you are in the "skip zone" where you don't see the pip from the station the DX is working on the P3's screen.  If you put the same filter(s) in it, the KRX3 is an exact duplicate electronically of the main receiver.  The one drawback is you lose 3dB when you have them both connected through the ATU as there's a 3dB splitter inserted in the chain when the subreceiver is switched in.  If you have the luxury of separate antennas, you can alleviate that.  If the incoming signal is S5 or stronger, it becomes a non-issue anyway unless there's a bunch of QRN from a thunderstorm in the vicinity and then all bets are off - LOL.

I was thinking sort of like you when I ordered my K3, but decided to go ahead with the sub receiver and I have been super glad I did.  Example, this afternoon on 17 meters, XR0YG (Easter Island) was fairly strong and using the P3 plus the second receiver, it took me about 30 seconds to determine where he was listening and which way he was tuning.  One call and he was in the log.  I didn't even have the amplifier on and the K3 was set to about 60 watts.  Antenna was a fan dipole up about 35 feet at the apex.

Jim Sheldon - W0EB

> I'm trying to resolve a conflict: is the KRX3 sub receiver a "must
> have", or a "must have with good reasons" option?
>
> I understand it's uses.  In my case, I am mostly considering it as
> an added resource for working dx split pileups.  I have the P3, and
> have found it very useful in many ways, and especially for dx - so
> useful, that I question how much the KRX3 will add.  You more-
> experienced dxers maybe can help point out what I am missing.
>
> I usually can develop a reasonable "pile-up strategy" using the P3 -
> and that seems to work most of the time.  I must lack the
> dexterity to make the REV routine add anything.  Even with the sub-
> rx, I estimate that it would help in only a small percentage of the
> situations, particularly in those large (and ill-mannered) pile-ups
> where the P3 shows a solid wall of signals.  (Maybe the ears might
> catch a faint "599" that the P3 won't show?)
>
> Most of the dxers I talk to say the KRX3 is a must.  I'll probably
> get one anyway, but what am I missing here?
>
> Bill K6IFF