[Elecraft] Is the KX3 a good choice for a new General?
Mike Reublin NF4L
nf4l at comcast.net
Sat Dec 6 10:25:08 EST 2014
I tend to try to save a few bux by buying used older gear. My XYL always tells me that's false economy because at some point I'll want newer/better and won't get much out of the dented scratched boat-anchors.
She's SO wise.
73, Mike NF4L
> On Dec 6, 2014, at 10:08 AM, Al Gulseth <wb5jnc at centurytel.net> wrote:
>
> 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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>>>
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>>
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