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

[Rich]

I bought my K3 and KX3 in stages because I could not afford all at 
once.  I owned an IC-718, IC-706mkII and an IC-746 (all previously used) 
as first radios.  I decided to buy the K3 because of my first experience 
with it.  I got a late night shift during a contest and suddenly had to 
figure it out with no introduction, and was up and running shortly.  No 
worries.  I did have guest op experience with Yaesu, Kenwood, TenTec and 
Icom radios.  I found the K3 easy to set up and adjust. If you can 
afford one, it will save you much pain and frustration.  On the other 
hand, starting with a less expensive radio will teach life lessons 
regarding the value of a well designed radio system.

For a new ham that has some interest in contesting and dxing with CW, 
the feature that would sell me is APF:
http://www.elecraft.com/KX3/tips/Using%20APF%20for%20weak%20signal%20CW%20work%20the%20K3%20and%20KX3.pdf

APF makes learning CW much more comfortable than I expected.  I am 
unaware of a similar feature on other radios, but may just be ignorant.  
It is critical for my hearing weak signals, but also critical for 
hearing good signals in bad conditions.

There are many great features, but for someone learning CW, APF is 
wonderful.

Richard Hill
KG6JOT, AE6JW, NU6T (Tech to Extra in 2002)

On 12/6/2014 1:50 PM, Nick Kemp wrote:
> Something new hams wrestle with is ... how much do I want to spend 
> given that I don't know where this will take me or if I'll even stick 
> with it?  So the entry point price makes a difference.  So does 
> resell-ability in case I want out.
>
> The question of QRP operation is pertinent but not the whole discussion.
>
> Antennas are very important but any antenna a new ham puts up will 
> likely be the same regardless of what unit they are operating from and 
> as such the focus goes back to the equipment usability.
>
> A problem with the question ... Is the KX3 (/or any other model/) a 
> good choice for a new General (/ham/)? ... is that it is _/*toooooo*/_ 
> broad.  It is kinda like asking if someone is pretty/handsome.  It all 
> depends on the observer. For either question, there is no one answer!
>
> Relative to _usability _for a new ham (as opposed to flat out 
> comparing equipment spec) mode of operation makes a huge difference to 
> the question:
>
> If you are operating from home base (not mobile or portable) then the 
> options increase and are different than the next modes. Now there are 
> more options relative to used, new and power.
>
> If you are operating from vehicle mobile then the options change as well.
>
> If the ham wants portable (not mobile) then the options are severely 
> reduced.  For example, what if the final three are the 817ND, 857D and 
> the KX3.  Now the applicability to a new ham questions include:
> - Which of the three is a better new ham choice without any options?
> - If I add a $150 amp (not Elecraft) to the 817ND or the KX3 now how 
> does it compare to the 857D (given that final power out is not 
> identical) as it applies to usability by a new ham
> - If I add a antenna tuner to the 817ND, 857D & KX3 and the $150 power 
> amp, how do they compare relative to usability to a new ham.
> - If I take out the 817 & 857 then what units should be considered in 
> addition to the KX3?  And how does operation compare relative to a new 
> ham.
>
> - What if the new ham only is interested in CW?  Or Digital?  Now is 
> the KX3 a good choice?
>
> If you follow my drift, the permutations and combinations of the 
> question explode.  And note that I'm not trying to explode the 
> discussion/question:-)
>
> Here are some variations on the original KX3 question:
> For fixed base, mobile, portable, Other?:
> - Where/why is the KX3 a good choice for a new ham?
> - Where/why is the KX3 a bad choice for a new ham?
> - What things/actions/options/etc can make a new ham successful with a 
> KX3?
>
> Nick
> N1KMP
>
>
>
>
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