[Elecraft] Curious -- why is KXFL3 roofing filter an option on KX3 ?

[Phil Hystad]

Jim,

I don't do a lot of contesting but often will reply to contesting stations if they are DX or if they are from an unusual place for me (e.g. Rhode Island).  But, with DX, and in particular when a DX station is popular such as the DXpeditions (e.g. TX6G) they will have a pileup (and, often operating split).  I operate CW on all of these kinds of contacts so filtering to me is indeed important.  So, without thinking of the price, I bought the filter for the KX3 in order to get the best they have to offer.

I have yet to chase any kind of DXCC or WAS award certificate.  I have no room on my walls for certificates so having such a thing means nothing to me as I know that I have worked all states for example (with the exception of Rhode Island but Rhode Island is smaller than some counties so I will pick that up if I decide to count counties).

phil


On Apr 10, 2014, at 8:48 AM, Jim Bennett <w6jhb at mac.com> wrote:

> Hi Phil -
> 
> I've had my KX3 since Christmas of last year. Also have a fairly well decked-out K3. My KX3 does NOT have the optional KXFL3 roofing filter. However, in the time that I've had the KX3 and been able to compare it's receive performance to that of the K3 - I have to say that I don't see any need (in my case) for the added expense. Granted, I don't do that much contesting, although I have dipped my toes into a couple here and there, as I was trying to pick off a few states to close out my 5BWAS. I've also used the KX3 in a number of fairly big pileups and the little rig has performed very well. It would be nice to have two of them, just to be able to compare having or not having the roofing filter. I know that you can "turn it on or off" in the menu but that might not be a valid way to compare.
> 
> Anyway, I'm quite pleased with the receive performance of my KX3 w/o the filter.
> 
> Jim / W6JHB
> 
> 
> On   Thursday, Apr 10, 2014, at  Thursday, 7:56 AM, Phil Hystad wrote:
> 
>> I have a curiosity question.  Why is the KXFL3 roofing filter an option on the KX3?  I mean, why is it not a built-in feature of the KX3?  First, I already own a KX3 with the KXFL3 filter so I am not asking this in order to choose to buy or not.  Caveat:  I am also a neophyte (philistine, ignorant, or troglodyte) in this sort of radio technology and still in learner mode.
>> 
>> But, it seems to me that the KXFL3 roofing filter is almost required with a radio as nice as the KX3.  Without it, as I understand the function, any crowded band interval like a pileup or close-in CW signals and such would render a KX3 (without the roofing filter) with less than the usual Elecraft stellar RX performance.
>> 
>> My guess, and this is only a wild guess, is that maybe the option leads this space open to future improved roofing filters?  Or, maybe even leave it open to a 3rd party market supplied filter (although, I think this filter is particularly different from other typical 3rd party filters).
>> 
>> 73, phil, K7PEH
>> 
>> 
>> 
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