[Elecraft] Is the KX3 a good choice for a new General?

[Bill Frantz]

I must admit, my experience was quite different. I started as a 
tech doing mostly 2M repeater contacts. When I upgraded my 
license, I had an Icom 706M2G which I used with full size 
dipoles. I discovered PSK31 at field day and started using the 
Icom at QRP levels making many contacts on 20, 40, and 80M. My 
log does show a very few excursions to 30-50 watts when QRP 
didn't get through.

I also built a Small Wonders Labs PSK-20 kit and made many QRP 
PSK 20M contacts with it. In a moment of weakness, my YL let me 
buy a K3/10 and my first SSB contact in my log was the Elecraft 
net.  After using the K3/10 with compromise antennas during the 
California QSO party, the YL said, "Yes, you need more power." 
So I got the 100w amp, which is how it stands today.

I still use QRP levels for digital (except RTTY which is a high 
power mode).

I would say, what a new to HF ham needs is:

   Clean audio to help hear and be heard with digital modes and SSB
   Flexible bandwidth control to limit noise and QRM
   A good UI to avoid always needing to go to the manual
   Good antennas. Wire dipoles up high are fine.

If you can't have a good antenna, 100w is an OK substitute, but, 
"If you can't hear um, you can't work um."

IMHO, clean audio is worth several S units in getting your 
signal through and understanding the other end. The Icom is 
rather poor in this area, while the K3 and KX3 are excellent.

73 Bill AE6JV

On 12/4/14 at 8:27 AM, n5lz at comcast.net (Don Butler) wrote:

>There are many transceivers readily available on the used market . some for
>as little as $200 to $300. and, of course, they go on up from there.
>Forget about all of those high tech bench testing numbers.. a beginner
>simply needs a transceiver that works!  I happen to have a $200 TS-520S
>(with internal power supply) in my shack that I fire up every once in
>awhile.  I really doubt that most listeners can distinguish its 130 watt
>signal from that of my 100 watt KX3/KPA100.

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