[Elecraft] Help sell me on the K3S

[Clay Autery]

Listen to Phil, Reuben...  wise man; good advice.

Seriously, get your license...  you're missing so much without it... 
Just ain't that hard...  Study up for all three and take them all in one
day...

Had I NOT been in the middle of a gall bladder attack on test day, I
would have passed all three at once instead of having to go back for
Extra...


73,

______________________
Clay Autery, KY5G
MONTAC Enterprises
(318) 518-1389

On 7/17/2016 6:44 PM, Phil Wheeler wrote:
> Reuben,
>
> Since you say you have the K2, I'd get your license before adding any
> new rig and use the K2 to start out. Even without the amp you can run
> 10 Watts or so and get your feet wet.
>
> After you've operated for a while you'll have a better idea of what
> you want.
>
> OTOH, if you plan to operate SSB 100% of the time (I tend to forget CW
> is no longer required!), then perhaps you should start with a 100 W
> rig; 10 Watts on SSB might be a bit discouraging on 20 meters
> particularly with our current band conditions.
>
> If you are willing to start with 10 Watts on SSB, then you might be
> well advised to add the SSB module to your K2 (assuming it has none
> now) and get your feet wet with the rig you already own vs. buying the
> 10W K3s immediately.
>
> I consider the K3s/100 to be your best choice if money is no issue.
> Great rig and great support, both from Elecraft and the user base
> here. But you should start with it minimally configured (e.g., don't
> add a bunch of roofing filters -- but do add the ATU because you have
> a G5RV and will need a good tuner).
>
> Below you say "In the past week I found out about the Icom 7300, which
> for all intents and purposes is one heck of a nifty radio too.". While
> the IC-7300 has some shortcomings it's a good radio that you could
> probably be satisfied with for years. So that might be a very good
> option for you as you first get into ham radio.
>
> Whatever you decide, give highest priority to getting your license,
> Reuben. Then you can start having fun :-)
>
> 73, Phil W7OX
>
> On 7/3/16 2:44 PM, Reuben Popp wrote:
>> Hey everyone, happy early 4th to you and yours!
>>
>> I'm looking for a bit on input here.  I've had my K2 now for quite some
>> time now; built it myself and love it still to this day.  But, because
>> every guy and gal needs a new radio every now and then, I've got that
>> itch.
>>
>> I've had my eye on a K3 probably since I first saw the advertisement
>> in QST
>> some years back.  I'm not a contester.. heck, I *still* don't have my
>> ticket, so my main use is SWL and running up and down the bands to
>> listen
>> in on some of the nets.  My antenna is just a half size G5RV slung along
>> the apex of my roof.... but I've wanted to get my hands on the K3...
>> that
>> is until now.
>>
>> In the past week I found out about the Icom 7300, which for all
>> intents and
>> purposes is one heck of a nifty radio too.  And at $500 less than
>> what the
>> 10W K3S.  That's a nice chunk of cheddar in these days and times,
>> doubly so
>> as Popp #2 will be arriving here come September (on my birthday no less,
>> hah).  The downsides are (at least to me) is that there's little in
>> the way
>> for adding on new features to the set short of via software updates.
>> There's no second antenna option, etc, etc.
>>
>> Granted, I'm not looking at getting either one anytime in the immediate
>> future.  Or, if I miraculously get one somehow, something is seriously
>> wrong, and someone has replaced my XYL with the Stepford model... come
>> please make sure I'm okay, lol.  But in all seriousness, help me decide
>> here.  Which is the better bang for the buck in the long run?  I'm
>> willing
>> to bet that this will be the last rig I get for quite some time yet,
>> so I
>> had best make it count.
>>
>> Thanks in advance to all and 73
>> Reuben
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to cautery at montac.com