[Elecraft] K3S VS: IC-7300

[Doug Person]

On 7/4/2018 10:40 AM, Doug Turnbull wrote:
> Friends,
>      There are some other points not mentioned.   Yes, I agree the K3 is
> pricy but the performance is there.   However for most things the IC-7300
> does a grand job as does the TD590s.    For now and for some considerable
> time in the past though the K3 has had a superior receiver good in contests
> and with high power neighbours.
As I said - I agree that the K3 has a superior receiver. It's noticeable 
but not a dramatic difference however.
>       Other K3/S advantages:
> 1)Modular construction allows one to only purchase what is relevant to your
> needs and to build the radio up over time if desired.   This also
> facilitates repair as modules can be swapped or sent back to California.
> No need to send the entire radio.   Elecraft if you make a new radio in the
> future try to maintain this modular approach.
Modular has its advantages. However, the IC-7300 comes well featured 
already, e.g., 100 watts, spectrum display, built-in tuner ( mine does 
much better than 3:1), effective digital filters, voice recorder for 
receiving and sending.
> 2) Just what type of support does one get from Icom?   I very much doubt
> there is an equal forum with the designers involved.    Support from the
> factory in getting questions answered is also excellent.
Perhaps you haven't had an opportunity to need support from Icom - thus 
you are speculating.
> 3)More attention should be given to the clean output signal of the K3.
>
> 4)I wonder if the facilitation of digimodes by the 7610 is the equal of the
> K3/S.
>
> 5) There is a very full line of accessories for the Elecraft line and again
> all of this is modular.
>
> 6) The ability to at least assemble the radio gives the owner of a kit built
> radio a better understanding as to operation and trouble shooting if ever
> needed.   It also saves on import duties into the EU.
One can describe the K3s as a kit if they like. The K2 is a real kit.
>        Maybe Wayne should toot Elecrafts horn for these advantages as well.
> Again though you can work DX with an old FTDX 100 or Drake 2B with Johnson
> Ranger at much lower cost it will not be so well facilitated.   The fully
> equipped K3 is not an inexpensive radio it is a Porsche of the radio world.
I have, in fact, done that with those. As well as operated a K3 since it 
was first released. Mine was one of the first 2000 or so. I'm not 
knocking it.
>         I can not imagine a company better than Elecraft to deal with though
> I understand that Flex is pretty good and so to has TenTec been in the past.
> Are they as good - this is hard for me to believe.
Ten-Tec has been (past tense since they pretty much don't exist at the 
moment) great. No argument regarding the involvement of Wayne and Eric 
in this group. Flex engineers are also pretty active and responsive. But 
they are just following Elecraft's lead.
>                     73 Doug EI2CN
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Doug Person
> Sent: 04 July 2018 17:11
> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [Elecraft] K3S VS: IC-7300
>
> I didn't see any comparison chart for the K3S and the IC-7610.  I did
> see the comparison of the K3S with the IC-7300. This made me laugh. By
> the time you add up the required options for the K3S to achieve feature
> parity with the IC-7300 it costs 3 times as much. This actually makes
> the IC-7300 look like a really good deal. The IC-7300 is, after all, an
> entry level radio.
>
> I'll never stop being impressed by the ability of the K3/K3S. But, to
> me, it is no longer cost competitive. The only advantage the K3S has
> today is it has one of the best receivers. I doubt this advantage will
> last much longer.
>
> Doug -- KJ0F
>
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