[Elecraft] Help sell me on the K3S

Sun Jul 17 20:36:12 EDT 2016

I hear ya... I was in the middle of studying for the general last.  The
tech is.. well, too easy (IMO), so I was going to sit for both tech and
general IF I can actually make it up to St. Louis before sunrise, or if I
can schmooze a few of the local VEs to do a one-off.

As to my K2, I thought about it, but even with the MAB board, the K2 isn't
exactly cut out for data modes.. at least, not very easily.  Unless I'm
completely missing something here.  AM BC bands are so-so in that you get
what's adjacent.  Not knocking my K2.. I _still_ love it, both for what it
is and the fact that it was one of the more fun projects I did while
working on my undergrad in CSc.  I built it with the audio filter module,
the SSB module, and the 160M module.  I did not purchase either antenna
tuner as it's my understanding that a tuner only really helps in TX, not
RX.  And to be frank, all the above was bought using my federal tax return
from my glorious year as a student worker ;).  The only other module I've
thought of adding is the serial port, if only to dig into the code some and
see if I could write some bits for further integration on a linux/BSD
system.

Right now, I'm looking at a budget of ~3500.  In my line of work, OT
doesn't come around much, but when it does, forty hours is a nice treat for
dad, although the XYL has laid claim to the next OT project's funds.

On Sun, Jul 17, 2016 at 6:51 PM, Clay Autery <cautery at montac.com> wrote:

> 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
> >
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