[Elecraft] SO2R thoughts

[Phil Wheeler]

Steve, re "Have I mentioned just how much of a 
money suck this hobby is!", we all know -- and 
also that this email reflector is dangerous :-)

Other things happen, too. A local ham recently 
replaced his FTdx5000 with a K3/P3, then a week 
later added KPA/KAT500. I had to go look at it 
yesterday, so now I must have the amp, too.

Oh well, it's a great hobby!

73, Phil w7ox

On 3/28/14, 10:45 AM, Stephen Bloom wrote:
> Hi Richard:
>
> It sounds like we are on about the exact same page :)  The biggest issue
> here of course is money ...I've spent ..well I don't even want to guess how
> much in the last year or so on ..the K3 Line ..plus the Expert Amp, plus an
> IRLP Micronode and so on and so on.  Sooner or later I'm going to end up
> with another K3 for the remoting possibilities  ..if nothing else.  I'm not
> patient enough I guess to order a basic model ..then pull the cover off and
> add things as I go ...so my only option on that is to go as loaded as I'm
> going to be and that's gonna end up costing 4 to 5K.  KX3 is out for the
> reasons you described.  I've heard about the same issues you have as far as
> ALC spikes.  Supposedly there is a partial fix in firmware, and a promised
> hardware fix ..but that promise has been out there for a couple of years.
> I'm gonna try and dig up a contester or two who uses the 590 with a solid
> state amp and see if they have issues.
>
> I expect that ultimately ..I'll end up buying all three ..I want the KX3 to
> play with for "holiday dxpedition" kinds of things (I operate from J7 once
> in awhile, and in general travel a fair amount) and a K3 for general backup
> and remoting).  If the chances look good that I can reliably drive the amps
> with the TS590 ..that will probably be the first purchase ...since ...well
> ..I can afford it!
>
> BTW, I hate you! :)  Now I'm looking at the 4O3A Triplexer and thinking
> "Hmmm ..I wonder if there is enough RF isolation for it to work with my Log
> Periodic."  I don't have room for a second tower ..and really am pushing the
> Wind Load Capacity of my guyed 70 feet of Rohn 25 with the LPDA and a
> VHF/UHF beam.  If I had a triplexer, it would make SO2R a lot more helpful
> ..since for now ..Radio 2 can only use my various wire antennas.
>
> Have I mentioned just how much of a money suck this hobby is!
>
> 73
> Steve KL7SB
>
>