[Elecraft] New ham but seasoned CW r/o, between classic K2 and progressive KX3

[Tommy Mitchell]

Arno,

I'll be a bit contrarian here.  My first Elecraft rig was the KX3 which I wanted for portable work.  I've since built a K2 with the PA and ATU, but it's CW only. The KX3 goes in the field with me and the K2 stays on my desk as my primary rig.  There are a couple of reasons for this:

1) I built my K2 and I'm proud of that. I enjoy knowing that I understand how it works and how to troubleshoot it when things have gone awry. Its my baby.
2) As you put it, the K2 is sort of a classic type of radio, at least compared to the other things on offer today. CW is a beautifully simple mode and that's why I like it and it fits with how I want to spend my time in the hobby.

That said, the KX3 is a phenomenal CW rig and I don't think anyone could say you'd be wrong to get one.  The display is exceptional and presents all the information you could want in an easy to understand manner.  Though it does more stuff than the K2, the primary functions for CW on the KX3 are almost as easy to manipulate as with the K2. I spend my working life in Information Technology.  While I've used the I/Q on the KX3 to prove I could do it, I don't find myself wanting to use it very much. I steer away from that in my hobby.  See #2 above.  Same goes for digital modes.

The K2, for now, remains my rig of choice when I'm not portable.

Have fun!

Tommy W4TZM


On May 30, 2013, at 1:23 PM, Arno Dienhart <ad at broadweave.net> wrote:

> 
> 
> Hello,
> 
> 
> 
> I am a new ham, retired, and this is a kind of bucket list thing: I might
> have one or two years left and want to get back into CW that I know well
> from my time in the (German) Navy. I have been looking hard at a K2 and
> would be able to build it but that would not be the reason to get it. Life
> is short and I'd prefer to just assemble a KX3. What I like about the K2 is
> that it is designed for CW, and I would not add SSB, nor the amp, but the
> ATU. 
> 
> 
> 
> I also own a dual band HT, which I use for local ARES volunteer work and
> scanning the PD band. Other than that, I'm not really into verbal rag
> chewing, be it local or DX (blame my snotty CW attitude).
> 
> 
> 
> Only today did I realize what the KX3 is. Assembling it would be just fine.
> While the smaller size is not necessarily a buying point for me, I wouldn't
> mind it (I will take it outdoors). What I don't really need or want are the
> other modes (SSB, data, and SDR), so I wonder whether I am getting the wrong
> radio with a KX3 that is not a dedicated CW machine.
> 
> 
> 
> If all I did were CW, with DX ambitions nevertheless, which do you think
> would be the better radio for me? 
> 
> 
> 
> Thank you in advance for your suggestions and ideas, and also further
> questions, if you have them.
> 
> 
> 
> 73,
> 
> 
> 
> Arno
> 
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> 
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html