[Elecraft] K3 & M/M Contest stations

[Jim Brown]

On 4/14/2014 11:58 AM, XE3/K5ENS wrote:
> I never said anything about whether or not changes should be made.  I just
> stated that without making some changes to a stock K3 the station would be
> at a disadvantage to stations that have configured the K3 to take advantage
> of the settings under contest conditions.  In most M/M stations using K3's
> the operators know how to use and setup the K3.

Where do you do your contesting, Keith?  And what do you mean by 
"stock?"  Do you mean without additional roofing filters, as someone 
suggested? With only one RX?  With all the EQ set flat? With audio input 
only from the microphone?

I mostly operate M/M at CQP and FD, but I also host M/2 at my own 
station, using K3s. It's been my experience that if the person who sets 
up the radio(s) understands the radio and the needs of a contesting 
environment, the only changes likely to be required would be for things 
like mic gain, compression, and VOX (if that's what you use). And the 
only one of those that isn't on the front panel is VOX.

I count five K3s in the shack photo for the W7RN superstation. google to 
see a station description.  KH6LC's webpage says that operators bring 
their own radios, which mostly seem to be K3s. When I last operated at 
N6RO about six years ago, it was N6BV's Orion and five MPs, some of 
which were brought by the operators.  I suspect some or all of the MPs 
are now K3s, and at least one of those is remoted. I operate FD and CQP 
(California QSO Party) with serious contesters, and our setups are all K3s.

I noted a comment that the rigs at D4C are all K3s, and all are set up 
the same. IMO, that's the best way to do it.  In my experience, that's 
one of very best contesting setups anywhere -- from my QTH near San 
Francisco, I can nearly always work them with very little effort on 
every band (including 160M), and have made multiple QSOs QRP (not on 
160). :)

73, Jim K9YC