[Elecraft] [Elecraft_K3] SO2R thoughts

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

> 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+.

With MK2R+ you ignore the internal CODEC and the USB connection - use
RS-232 for CAT and the normal ACC/Mic jacks for audio connections. The
overall issue with Kenwood is that it does not have a separate "mode"
for AFSK/PSK31 - you need to rely on the "digital band map" in microHAM
Router to distinguish between phone and digital.  Sometimes that can be
a bit of an issue - e.g. 40 meters.

> 3) KX3+KXPA100(+existing KAT/KPA500) ..Upside: The KX3 really
> intrigues me.

The KX3 is most certainly *not* a contest radio.  Since it lacks FSK,
and dedicated line out/line in connections, microHAM does not support
the KX3 (or any other radio that lacks one or more required connections
like a serial CAT port, or separate analog line out, and analog line
in).

If it were me, the choice would be between the K3 and TS-590 ... and I
would lean toward the K3 due to the availability of P3 and KRX3.

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV


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
>
>
> Any input would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks and 73
> Steve KL7SB
>
>
>
>
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