[Elecraft] K3S Quick Review

[Rick WA6NHC]

If you read the FAQ page, it looks like most if not all of it will be 
retrofit-able.  Functionally it appears that the K3S will add little, 
with the exception of the improved DSP boards.

New Features:
The USB interface (control and audio) requires the new IO unit but uses 
RJ45 for serial data (and audio) so new cables are required. Most RJ45 
need to be occasionally exercised (un/re-inserted) to 'wipe' the 
connector pins, even with gold plus the locking pins tend to be fragile 
when exposed to extended warmth (the plastic dries out).  While this is 
of some interest to me, what I'm using now (external sound card) works 
flawlessly so I won't spend $xxx to simply reduce the cable count 
(delete RS-232 and audio cables, add USB).  If you do make the change, 
you'll need (available, another $xx) a cable to talk to the P3 to keep 
what you have.

New DSP board.  Safe bet says it'll fit the K3 too but $xxx (times two 
for KRX3)

It mentions the P3 TX monitor, so that's in RSN time frame (real soon 
now).  BIG want, hoping for a 100/ 750 watt sensor for K3/100 plus 
KPA500.  Then a 2k sensor for full legal power.

The K3 is no longer available, only the K3S, effective now.

The VFO A knob (presumably the bezel too) can be changed.  Softer feel knob.

So it's functionally the same as the K3, but most of the usual add-ons 
are now internal (the pre-amp).  Since I have most of them already, the 
only new item of interest to me is the TX monitor with perhaps the VFO 
knob (wish they had made it weighted, with a clutch for faster QSY).  
Swapping out the IO board simply to reduce cable clutter isn't worth the 
expense and with other cabling already there, it won't eliminate the 
cable clutter much.

Will it devalue the K3?  Since the essentials are the same, not likely 
but some will sell theirs to keep the latest, greatest thus creating a 
bump in the market.  On the plus side, making more (older) K3's 
available will keep the bands slightly cleaner since they transmit 
cleaner than most other brands.  ;o)

For remote ops, it would be nice(r) had they also added a command for 
power ON, but that violates the low power 'policy' of Elecraft (the CPU 
staying on would increase the drain in 'off' mode).  If the power fails 
while you're remote, an external means (IP switch or someone in the 
shack) is the only current means of turning the radio on.

**If the timer function were made 'sticky' (repeat every XX minutes) it 
would certainly help (minimum down time XX minutes) without requiring 
external sources for power on.**

The K3S is functionally the same as the K3 (with options made internal) 
but with different packaging.  The interesting point will be the price 
since some of those options (PR6-10) are not 'free' on the original K3.  
If the optional costs are incorporated into the K3S price, it means the 
entry level system is a higher price, perhaps enough to 'challenge' some 
budgets.  Knowing the folks at Elecraft, I'm sure the marketing has been 
fully examined, but a more basic K3S will cost more (they can't toss in 
the options for free).

That's the quick review, but won't likely stop the weeks of bantering 
about to occur.

73,
Rick wa6nhc

On 5/14/2015 6:25 AM, Mike Reublin NF4L wrote:
> That was disappointing on 2 levels. The UStream show failed badly and only bits of the K3 S are a retrofit.
> 73, Mike NF4L