[Elecraft] New K3 #8858 on the air.

[Dave Olean]

Thanks to the Elecraft crew. I just assembled K3 #3 and after unwrapping all those anti static bags and plugging everything in, the darn thing worked great!! (as usual) I did not get the 100 watt amp or a second receiver, as this radio will be used on the higher VHF bands. I just wanted to thank Eric and Wayne for running such a great outfit. There was a lot of thought I am sure,  put into how to test and calibrate each board. The fact that someone can assemble such a complex piece of electronic equipment out of subassemblies and have it all work like a well oiled machine is testimony to a lot of hard work. I appreciate it. I also can’t wait to check out the new and improved synthesizer.  One thing that threw me off, however, was the loss of the dual passband filter feature in the latest firmware release. I thought I had a problem! Luckily, I only wanted to use the APF anyway. I got confused when the menu item looked broken!

   There is so much snow here in Maine now that I can hardly reach my VHF shack, so I think the only band I could make a contact on is 160 M, which is the only band operating at the house. I made my first QSO this evening!  10 watts? 160 M? a K3? No problem! Worked K4EJQ in Kentucky 599!
    Thanks again Elecraft.

Dave K1WHS

K2 #915
K2 #1247
K2 #----- (It’s a long story)
K3 # 1504
K3 # 3504
K3 # 8858