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

[gt-i at gmx.net]

Arno,
I both own the K2 and the KX3. maybe you saw my recent post about using 
them in the WPX CW contest.
The great thing about the KX3 is that Elecraft is constantly working on 
software improvements.
You can disable FM and AM - just checked SSB cannot be disabled at the 
time but my be thats a new feature request :-)
I have not even yet connected a mike to my KX3 - I only plan to do this 
once the 2m module is in my hands. So far a 100% CW machine. CW 
memories, RIT/XIT, full or semi break-in, CW Rev, variable pitch all 
like the K2, extras are CW Auto SPOT (tuning aid), great filtering from 
50Hz to 2,8kHz just by turning the PBT knob, APF, noise reduction and 
even basic CW decoding (maybe not of interest to you but just to make 
the list complete). A general improvent over the K2 is the custom LCD 
display and all knobs and buttons are imho much better to use.

73 & have fun
Gernot, DF5RF

Am 30.05.2013 20:15, schrieb stan levandowski:
> Arno, I'm looking at your email and reading between the lines:  You 
> want to make the most of the time you have left and you want to 
> reconnect with a meaningful time in your life which is spelled "CW".  
> I am also a former US Navy RM and I operate 100% QRP CW.  I own (and 
> use) all the Elecraft transceivers and that's the problem:  They are 
> all so wonderful I can't bear to part with any of them.  Having said 
> all this, I find myself constantly reaching for my KX3.  It has the 
> performance, the all-important dual watch which makes DXing a split 
> incredibly efficient, and it's been working with no issues since I got 
> #0325.  The ATU can load anything.  The automatic spotting function is 
> outstanding. In my opinion the KX3 *is* designed for CW.  I just 
> totally ignore the SSB and other modes stuff.  If I were in your 
> situation I would buy the KX3. 73, Stan WB2LQF
>
> On Thu, May 30, 2013 at 1:23 PM, Arno Dienhart 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
>>
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