[Elecraft] K3s pre-purchase question

[Bernie and Cheryl]

Tom:

Since you've not been on HF before, I recommend that you make sure 
your K3s is as robust as you can make it in terms of RF capability, 
and leave off the frills until you've been on the air for a while and 
know what you like.  At the beginning, you want contacts to come 
easy.  I do a fair amount of QRP, but I've been on HF for 
decades.  At the beginning, when I fumbled around a lot (people would 
argue I fumble around now ;-)), it would have been nice to have a rig 
that made up for my fumbling.

For this reason, I suggest that you get the 100 watt PA and the auto 
antenna tuner (it's very fast, efficient and easy to use) and nothing 
else.  I agree with the earlier poster who said that, although the 
400 or 500hz roofing filter is nice (I have the 500hz), the DSP does 
fine unless you're in a contest environment.  Given your antenna 
system, you'll find that this setup will get you plenty of contacts 
with a relative degree of ease.

I wouldn't bother with the general coverage receiver 
filter.  Shortwave listening was a lot of fun when I was a kid but 
today, I find myself doing none of it.  So I have never missed that 
filter.  As for the 2 meter option, I don't have it in mine, since I 
have a fully capable FT-736R that I use for satellite work.  However, 
I'd focus on making your K3s functional for HF before you decide to 
make it functional on VHF (I realize the K3s has 6 meter capability).

Good luck and hope to see you on the air.

73 de Bernie, KF0QS, K3s/100 sn 10323