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

Sat Dec 6 10:08:27 EST 2014

I agree that a less expensive rig may be a better way to go for a beginning 
ham. That being said, I'm surprised the option of a K2 hasn't been mentioned. 
It's a nice clean easy to use layout with an excellent RX in a compact 
package which can be obtained (especially used) without breaking the budget.

73, Al

On Sat December 6 2014 6:57:55 am Eric Ross wrote:
> I think it's almost better to get a much cheaper older rig first.  In my
> latest run as a ham I started with an old Kenwood TS140 for about $350.  
> It worked fine for what it could do.  It couldn't break apart pileups but
> it allowed me to make many QSOs.  However, when I got my K3--wow!  I don't
> think I could really appreciate the K3 unless I had first used a basic rig
> first.  I still get a thrill when I narrow the bandpass down to 50hz.
>
> I still have the TS140 which is perfect for using in high risk environments
> and/or lending to the next new ham.
>
> Eric
> WB7SDE
>
> On December 5, 2014 11:29:13 PM PST, Gary Gregory <vk1zzgary at gmail.com> 
wrote:
> >Don
> >
> >You should add that the K3 has been around for quite awhile now so it
> >has
> >proven not just its performance but adoption by many knowledgeable hams
> >around the world and has also proven very reliable operating in less
> >than
> >ideal conditions....ask me how i know this....:-)
> >
> >No better advertisement than customer satisfaction i suppose....grin
> >Gary
> >Vk1ZZ
> >K3, KX3, KPA500-FT, KAT500-FT,P3.
> >
> >On 06/12/2014 3:48 PM, "Don Wilhelm" <w3fpr at embarqmail.com> wrote:
> >> Yes, simple is better, but if that new ham is interested in having a
> >> top-notch station, he will be well advised to consider Elecraft gear.
> >
> > If
> >
> >> for no other reason than the Elecraft gear is upgradable -- one does
> >
> >not
> >
> >> have to buy the "whole ball of wax" at the initial purchase time, it
> >
> >can be
> >
> >> upgrades as operating needs arise.
> >>
> >> My typical response to new hams is that they do not yet know what
> >
> >they
> >
> >> will want for whatever type of operation they might eventually become
> >> interested in, so yes, they should get some operating experience
> >
> >under
> >
> >> their belts before deciding on which rig they would want for their
> >> station.  That can be simply a borrowed transceiver to get that new
> >
> >ham on
> >
> >> the air.
> >>
> >> However, if the new ham does not have  locals who will loan him
> >> transceivers to "get on the air", the KX3 offers a great receiver,
> >
> >and a
> >
> >> limited number of options, which I believe will serve the novice
> >
> >operator
> >
> >> well for a very long time.  The only question is "do you want higher
> >
> >than
> >
> >> 15 watts power"?  If yes, then the KXPA100 is available and if you do
> >
> >not
> >
> >> have resonant antennas, the KXAT100 is a good wide range auto tuner.
> >>
> >> The K3 is also a good choice for beginning hams.  Many get hung up on
> >
> >what
> >
> >> filters to purchase with the K3, but my recommendation to the new ham
> >
> >is to
> >
> >> purchase no optional filters - the DSP provides gppd filtering except
> >
> >in
> >
> >> crowded band conditions such a contests and extreme DXing.  As
> >
> >operating
> >
> >> experience is gained, that new ham who has now been seasoned may want
> >> additional filters, and they are easily added to the K3.  Likewise
> >
> >the
> >
> >> SubRX may be useful in some operating scenarios, but the new ham
> >
> >would not
> >
> >> know the advantages provided by the SubRX until he "gets his feet
> >
> >wet".
> >
> >> The price of a basic K3 or a basic KX3 is within the realm of other
> >
> >high
> >
> >> end transceivers on the market (and in fact may be priced less than
> >
> >many
> >
> >> other comparable transceivers).
> >>
> >> Bottom line, I would not hesitate to recommend a basic K3 or KX3 to
> >
> >any
> >
> >> new ham.  He will have a great receiver, and the options offered by
> >> Elecraft can allow that new ham to customize his station by adding
> >
> >options
> >
> >> as his needs and operating experiences dictate.
> >>
> >> 73,
> >> Don W3FPR
> >>
> >> On 12/5/2014 10:55 PM, Doug Person via Elecraft wrote:
> >>> I really have to agree.  Simple is better to start with.  I don't
> >>> consider the KX3 to be simple by any means.  Having some immediate
> >
> >success
> >
> >>> is the best way to keep a new ham interested.  I keep several
> >
> >loaners
> >
> >>> around that aren't worth very much on the used market but serve very
> >
> >well
> >
> >>> as starter rigs.  At least twice those loaners have gone to young
> >
> >men with
> >
> >>> an interest that eventually led to getting licensed. (Both now
> >
> >Extras).
> >
> >>> On the other hand, if a new ham has an accessible Elmer and has an
> >>> opportunity for a short course in KX3 operating AND happens to be
> >
> >able to
> >
> >>> erect a decent antenna, it might indeed be a fine choice.
> >>>
> >>> Like a lot of things in life - it all depends...
> >>>
> >>> 73, Doug -- K0DXV
> >>>
> >>> On Thu, 04 Dec 2014 09:27:06 -0700, Don Butler <n5lz at comcast.net>
> >
> >wrote:
> >>>  There seems to be unanimous agreement here, but I beg to differ.
> >
> >In my
> >
> >>>> opinion, the KX3 is not ideal for a typical beginning general class
> >>>> operator.   I own a KX3 myself, and I think it's wonderful, and I
> >
> >doubt
> >
> >>>> that
> >>>> I will ever part with it.  It shines when it comes to portable
> >
> >operation
> >
> >>>> ..
> >>>> That's why I bought it, that's what I use it for, and it's by far
> >
> >the
> >
> >>>> best
> >>>> portable rig I've ever owned.  I also have two K3s in my shack, and
> >
> >I use
> >
> >>>> them when I'm operating there, which is the vast majority of the
> >
> >time.
> >
> >>>>  But
> >>>> let's face it, most beginning hams are forced to deal with budget
> >
> >limits,
> >
> >>>> and a new KX3 is expensive.  The last time I checked, the cost of a
> >>>> loaded
> >>>> KX3 with an outboard KXPA100 setup for HF only is well over $2300
> >
> >plus
> >
> >>>> tax
> >>>> and shipping, and that's without a power supply.
> >>>>
> >>>> We know that the antenna system is the most important part of any
> >>>> station,
> >>>> and that an average transceiver with a great antenna will always
> >>>> outperform
> >>>> a state of the art transceiver with a bare bones wire antenna. Some
> >
> >will
> >
> >>>> disagree, but I believe that a beginner will obtain more enjoyment
> >
> >and
> >
> >>>> success with a 100 watt transmitter versus a 10 watt transmitter ..
> >>>> He'll be
> >>>> able to work most of the stations he can hear, which will not
> >
> >happen when
> >
> >>>> he's QRP.  QRP operation can be very, very frustrating (you know
> >
> >the
> >
> >>>> saying
> >>>> .. "life is too short ...")
> >>>>
> >>>> 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.  I would suggest that a
> >>>> beginner
> >>>> buy something like that and use the rest of his budget to build a
> >
> >good
> >
> >>>> station and antenna system.  He will likely opt to buy a new KX3,
> >
> >K3 or
> >
> >>>> another excellent top of the line transceiver somewhere down the
> >
> >line,
> >
> >>>> but
> >>>> by that time he'll have a much better idea about what he really
> >
> >wants,
> >
> >>>> and
> >>>> the direction he wants to go in this wonderful hobby of ours.
> >>>>
> >>>> Don, N5LZ
> >>>>
> >>>> -----Original Message-----
> >>>> From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf
> >
> >Of
> >
> >>>> Edward
> >>>> R Cole
> >>>> Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2014 2:47 PM
> >>>> To: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> >>>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Is the KX3 a good choice for a new General?
> >>>>
> >>>> Actually, I would say its a good choice for any new ham (Tech or
> >
> >General
> >
> >>>> License).
> >>>>
> >>>> It has both 10m and 6m for the Tech at 8w output which can work
> >
> >quite
> >
> >>>> well
> >>>> when bands are open, and locally if not. Add the 2M module and you
> >
> >have
> >
> >>>> 2m
> >>>> at 3w which will work nearby repeaters.  But both 6m and 2m SSB or
> >>>> digital
> >>>> modes can also be used which offers increased diversity of
> >
> >operating.
> >
> >>>> First step to increase usability is get a good antenna for any band
> >>>> considered, then maybe an amplifier.  I have a HB 140w HF amp, a
> >
> >Mirage
> >
> >>>> 125w
> >>>> 6m amp, and RFConcepts 35w 2m amp which the KX3 can drive.  The
> >
> >whole lot
> >
> >>>> can go mobile.
> >>>>
> >>>> The good part is when you advance in ham radio the KX3 has the
> >>>> capabilities
> >>>> to advance with you, so its not just a starter rig.  Firmware
> >>>> improvements
> >>>> and additions preclude it becoming outdated technology.  Quality
> >
> >and
> >
> >>>> performance it is hard to beat for the bucks!  Had I now already
> >
> >had a
> >
> >>>> K3,
> >>>> the KX3 would probably be my first purchase.
> >>>>
> >>>> Of course I am not a new ham (56-years since I got my Novice: a
> >
> >week from
> >
> >>>> tomorrow).  So its a good new radio for an old timer - too! ;-)
> >>>>
> >>>> 73, Ed - KL7UW
> >>>> http://www.kl7uw.com
> >>>>      "Kits made by KL7UW"
> >>>> Dubus Mag business:
> >>>>      dubususa at gmail.com
> >>>>
> >>>> ______________________________________________________________
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> >>
> >> ______________________________________________________________
> >> Elecraft mailing list
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> >
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