[Elecraft] Which way to steer a new ham K2-KX3

Gerald Manthey kc6cnn at gmail.com
Mon Jun 16 18:44:27 EDT 2014


Yeah Don
That is what I was just thinking.
This group is a bunch of middle aged business owners who were feed with a
silver spoon. I brought up used equipment and was told they buy only the
best.
Then we all walked out to the parking lot and my Toyota truck was
surrounded by $50,000 trucks. Hihi.
Okay they got the money but was wanting to teach a more hands on ham.

We start antennas this week so hopefully they will want to make them. One
guy already had a company come out and install a 50 foot tower on his
farm/ranch.

Thanks
Gerald.
On Jun 16, 2014 5:34 PM, "Don Wilhelm" <w3fpr at embarqmail.com> wrote:

> Gerald,
>
> I believe the KX3 is the better general choice for new hams.  They can get
> it in kit form so they can have the pride of making it themselves, even
> though there is no soldering.
>
> For those who are experienced with soldering as well as properly following
> written instructions, and really want to solder their kit together from
> thru-hole components, the K2 is an excellent choice.
>
> Yes, the price difference is minimal and the extra features offered by the
> KX3 (data modes, FM, AM, dual receive, etc.) make it more flexible than the
> K2.
>
> If the new ham wants only a basic CW QRP transceiver, then the K2 price is
> much lower.
>
> The other point to be made is that the cost of expanding the K2 to a 100
> watt transceiver is less than a KX3 with the KXPA3 and KXAT3.
> For a 100 watt transceiver, the basic K3/100 and KX3 with KXPA100 are
> priced within the same ballpark, so you may want to add the K3 to your list
> of suggestions.
>
> New hams may not have resonant antennas, so an antenna tuner may be an
> asset.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 6/16/2014 5:53 PM, KC6CNN wrote:
>
>> I have been training new hams to pass their test and get licensed.
>> During one of the classes we looked at my rigs K3, KX3, K2, Drake TR-4.
>> I was telling them how proud they would feel having built their own rigs
>> and
>> that the K2 was a good radio. It is hard to push the K2 to them when the
>> price difference is so minimal between the K2 and the KX3. The KX3 also
>> has
>> so many more features that it is hard to get them to put that a side for
>> the
>> pride in making it themselves.
>> What would you guys suggest?
>> Features verses the pride in making it yourself. Price difference is
>> minimal.
>> Thanks
>> Gerald - KC6CNN
>>
>>
>


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