[Elecraft] Soon to be an Elecraft(er)!

[Barry]

Brian,
     I would say the KX3 and KXPA100 is a good choice. I have this setup 
now, and I use it for everything, QRP Field Day to contesting, and 
everything in between. I have used mine on CW, SSB, and various digital 
modes. It's been amazing. In my opinion, it is the most flexible radio 
being sold today, and its performance is limited more by the environment 
than the radio itself.

     I have mine set up to use spectrum display using Win4K3 by way of a 
good sound card that is driven by the radio's I&Q output that Elecraft 
so thoughtfully provided. I use this same output for CW Skimmer that 
gives me local spotting over ~130 KHz of spectrum in the band I'm on. I 
also have Ham Radio Deluxe connected for cluster spots and logging.

     Digital modes are handled via a SignaLink USB interface that takes 
the audio from the KX3 and uses its own sound card. I use the aux out on 
the back of the SignaLink to drive a pair of powered computer speakers. 
This way I never need to change anything when going from SSB to digital 
except to remove the mic and plug in the SignaLink in its place.

     To address your concerns about interfacing to the KX3 with a 
SignaLink USB, it's pretty easy. You will need a cable for the radio and 
reset the jumpers, or get the prewired header plug. The SignaLink USB 
does control the radio, no problem. I would say go for it.



73,
Barry
K3NDM

------ Original Message ------
From: "Brian ve3bwp Pietrzyk" <ve3bwp at gmail.com>
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Sent: 9/12/2016 3:39:11 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] Soon to be an Elecraft(er)!

>Hello All,
>
>Not an Elecraft owner yet but making plans to be one soon. I’m just 
>starting the research.
>
>A close friend is all Elecraft and I'm impressed. Even meeting the 
>company owners and designers at Dayton has me sold on them.
>
>My QRP rig today is an FT817 which I love (I have been known to sleep 
>with it under my pillow lol) and have had a few memorable QRP 
>mini-expiditions on vacation trips to Central America, France and 
>around the province.
>
>Currently my primary base rig is a Kenwood TS590 no complaints about it 
>so far. I have been approached by prospective buyers with reasonable 
>offers to sell both these rigs. So I am giving serious thought to using 
>this opportunity to get a KX3 and the KXPA100 100W amplifier/tuner 
>combo to replace my TS590 as a base radio. I would then use the KX3 on 
>its own instead of the FT817 for my QRP trips.
>
>I am playing now with the HF digital modes such as FreeDV, PSK31, JT65, 
>WSPR so hopefully CAT and audio interfacing to a computer is easy. 
>Today I use a SignaLink USB.
>
>I like the idea of getting to know one radio really well (the kx3) by 
>using it as my primary rig on the road AND at home (maybe even in the 
>mobile at some point). I would then save my pennies for the PX3 and 
>even a KX2 for lighter travels at some point.
>
>Is it safe to assume i won't be loosing any performance by making this 
>chance and even gain some?
>
>Hopefully no trolls on this group.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Ve3bwp
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