[Elecraft] [Elecraft-K3] K3S to be discontinued

Bob McGraw K4TAX rmcgraw at blomand.net
Mon Nov 4 19:38:13 EST 2019


As stated earlier, a radio with internal power supply capable of 90V to 
250V and run the PA devices from 48 to 60 volts for a 100 watt radios.  
And for mobile or portable, a 12VDC to 120VAC converter, makes it a 12V 
radio.   I use a 1000 watt pure sinewave converter on our travel 
trailer.  The converter is about 1/2 the size of my P3 and cost about 
$300.   Thus not much more than the cost of a AC power supply and it is 
CLEAN.

73

Bob, K4TAX


On 11/4/2019 4:02 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:
> On 2019-11-04 4:44 PM, Scott Manthe wrote:
> > Elecraft's design philosophy dictates that their radio be capable of
> > portable/field operation, so that's how they design their radios.
> > They're lightweight, efficient, and operate off 12 volts.
>
> If that's the design philosophy, limit the power output to 60 W PEP.
>
> Elecraft already have *two* other 12V capable radios - the KX2 and KX3 -
> of one doesn't count the K2.  *WHY* create another dirty 12V radio
> ("active predistortion" is not the solution) when one can have a clean
> 60W radio at 12V or a clean 200W radio at 40V?
>
> Build a DC-DC supply for the 40V PA stage if one wants to run it from
> an automobile electrical system (or install a separate 48V alternator,
> regulator and battery specifically for the PA stage).
>
> Increasing transmit IMD by a factor of 40 just to operate the radio
> at 100 W PEP on a 12 battery is unconscionable given today's state
> of the art.  It was different when 48V transistors/FETs were not
> available but that ship sailed almost 20 years ago.
>
> 73,
>
>    ... Joe, W4TV
>
>
> On 2019-11-04 4:44 PM, Scott Manthe wrote:
>> Elecraft's design philosophy dictates that their radio be capable of 
>> portable/field operation, so that's how they design their radios. 
>> They're lightweight, efficient, and operate off 12 volts. Lots of 
>> other manufacturers love giant, heavy rigs. Elecraft doesn't.
>>
>> 73,
>> Scott N9AA
>>
>>
>> On 11/4/19 3:52 PM, David Gilbert wrote:
>>>
>>> I agree completely with all of that, but with the discontinuance of 
>>> the K3s it seems that Elecraft doesn't really consider the K4 to be 
>>> strictly a base station rig. Their continued insistence upon 
>>> everything being 12 volt capable is a bit of a puzzlement for me.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> Dave   AB7E
>>>
>>>
>>
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