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

[Tom McCulloch]

Just my two cents before Eric shuts this thread down:

I haven't been following this thread too closely so I'll assume you're 
talking about a base station.   I'd say to put your money in the best 
and highest antenna you can find and erect, this is by far the most 
important component of a base station.  Whatever funds you have left in 
your budget, put towards a rig with a good receiver (K3 or K2 are 
excellent).

Tom, wb2qdg
K2 #1103



On 12/6/2014 4:50 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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