[Elecraft] SO2R thoughts

[Don Wilhelm]

Steve,

I would suggest the KX3 + KXPA100 as the best solution (since you also 
want a portable rig).  The display and controls of the KX3 are similar 
to those on the K3, so you don't have to concentrate as much on the 
differences between the 2 radios.

If it were not for your statement about portable, I would say the 2nd K3 
would be your best solution to SO2R operation.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 3/27/2014 10:25 PM, Stephen Bloom wrote:
> Hey all:
>
> I've been the owner of a K3, KAT500, and KPA500, and a Microham MK2R+  for
> about 9 months now.  Love em all.  The one additional thing I wanted was a
> Legal Limit amp (I'm a fairly active contester).  Bought an Expert 2K-FA and
> just put that online.  So far so good.  The one clear downside to the 2K-FA
> is ...that it is loud (actually quieter than most High Power amps but still
> loud).
>
> With that said ...and given the fact that the Expert Amp SO2R isn't really
> SO2R (second antenna is rx only) ...I'm going to pair a second rig with the
> KPA500 and use it as a backup contest rig and as main for non contest Qs
> where I don't need the extra 3DB.  Right now the second rig is a Kenwood
> TS2000 ...which isn't really a contest or DX quality transceiver.  The three
> options I'm mulling over are ..
>
> 1)  another K3 ...Upside:  SO2R is most intuitive with identical xcvrs,
> plays well with KPA500/KAT500, identical cabling  ...Downside:  Expensive,
> It's more fun to have different rigs to play with, and like others, I find
> the K3 can be kind of "harsh" to listen to for many hours.
>
> 2)  Kenwood TS590 ...Upside:  Biggest bang for the buck (IMO) contest
> capable xcvr, Good audio ..Downside:  Looks like it has a weird audio codec
> (meaning not the standard Kenwood).  I see that N1MM works with it ...but I
> wonder about other software plus the MK2R+.
>
> 3) KX3+KXPA100(+existing KAT/KPA500) ..Upside:  The KX3 really intrigues me.
> In a perfect world ...the Second Rig would be one I could easily take
> portable.  The Sherwood reviews seem to indicate that the KX3 rcv
> performance is comparable to the K3, and I'm a real fan of Elecraft in
> general.  Downside:  Clearly there is no technical reason one couldn't chain
> all this together, but I wonder if anyone actually has done it, and if there
> were any configuration issues
>
>
>