[Elecraft] Elecraft K4 Vs. Flex 6400
Kurt Pawlikowski
kurtt at pinrod.com
Sun Mar 6 09:14:26 EST 2022
Dave,
Very interesting and useful experiential info! It's much appreciated.
k WB9FMC
On 3/6/22 06:45, David Bunte wrote:
> Kurt -
>
> I am sending this just to you because I don't want to get into the
> middle of a battle over which radio is the best. We are fortunate that
> there are a LOT of very fine radios from which we can choose. Clearly
> only you can decide which radio is best for you. I am writing because
> a very good friend of mine has owned some of the finest. He currently
> has an IC-7851, which replaced the '7850 he used for many years. He
> bought an Elecraft K3 when they were first introduced. He had that set
> up next to his '7850 and alternated between them. He thought they were
> both excellent radios, but preferred the Icom... because the audio
> sounded better on receive. He and I are both CW operators so when
> evaluating rigs phone performance does not matter to us at all... but
> I preferred his K3 because I use QSK, which was flawless with the K3.
> About 11 years ago he loaned me his K3/P3 combination when I installed
> an antenna at my new house. I had been operating mobile for 5 years
> and finally could operate from the comfort of my own shack. I liked
> the k3 so much that at Dayton in 2011 I was made the first purchase of
> the weekend when I bought my K3 in kit form.
>
> I am still using that radio today. I have made several upgrades and
> have NEVER second-guessed my decision. I now also have the KPA500 and
> KAT500.
>
> Now, to the heart of my email. My friend bought an FTDX101MP (I think
> that is the nomenclature) and put it next to his '7851. He used one
> for a week, and then the other for a week... he alternated like that
> for months. He was very impressed with the radio in many regards...
> but stopped using it because in a few small ways he felt it did not
> measure up to the Icom. The thing I most clearly remember him not
> liking was the noisy relays when operating semi-breakin on CW. I
> played with the radio for just a little bit and could not stand the
> relay noise. The relays in the '7851 don't bother him at all. Because
> I use full QSK I could not stand the Yeasu and felt the Icom was only
> a little better. Also... I lived just under 4 miles from him. When he
> was on the air I could glance at my P3 and knew which radio he was
> using because the CW waveform was wider on the Yaesu... it was pretty
> good but the Icom was clearly better. When he was using his Icom we
> could be chewing the rag 2 kHz from each other and not even notice
> that the other was on the band. When he used the Yaesu I had to be at
> least 4 or 5 kHz away.
>
> I have recently moved to a new QTH and am now just under 1.5 miles
> from him. We had a rag chew last Monday on 40 meters. We exchanged 40
> db over S9 reports, but at 2 kHz away from his new K4D I could have
> had a QSO... although I am pretty sure I could hear slight evidence of
> when he was transmitting.
>
> I have no idea if any of my meanderings are helpful or not, but for
> me... a CW operator who loves QSK, I have a hard time considering
> anything other than Elecraft.
>
> I wish you the very best as you consider what to do in the future.
>
> 73 de Dave - K9FN
>
>
> On Sat, Mar 5, 2022 at 10:45 PM Kurt Pawlikowski <kurtt at pinrod.com> wrote:
>
> Scott,
>
> Well, yes: The "numbers" say one thing (or several things!),
> but,
> like I said, I'm in love with Elecraft... So, yes, I'm prejudiced! Of
> course the "top radio (FT-DX101D)" is somewhat more expensive then
> the
> 6400, and does seem to have some nice whistles and bells. Who knows?
> Maybe I'll do a switch to Yaesu... {'-)
>
> k WB9FMC
>
> On 3/5/22 18:46, Scott Manthe wrote:
> > Actually, the Yaesu FTDX101D/MP has the best receiver numbers on
> > Sherwood's list. That doesn't mean that it's the best radio for
> you,
> > but the Flex and the K4 aren't "far and away" better receivers than
> > anything else in the amateur market. Ironically, Rob seems to
> really
> > like Icoms...
> >
> > 73,
> > Scott N9AA
> >
> >
> >
> > On 3/5/22 7:26 PM, Kurt Pawlikowski wrote:
> >> Rich, Et Al,
> >>
> >> Thanks for the comments.
> >>
> >> Yes, I'm aware that this might bring up some sort of issues
> >> people have with the manufactures or personal experience. My
> own is
> >> that when I was ordering the radio, I could afford the 6400.
> But what
> >> I was hoping for, maybe in vain, is some information about how the
> >> rigs perform comparatively. I know that either of them are
> >> far-and-away better receivers than anything else on the amateur
> market.
> >>
> >> I my situation, I'm up against a lot of noise (live in a
> condo).
> >> The Flex seems to mitigate some of that. I was hoping that the K4
> >> would be at least comparable.
> >>
> >> CW delay: Well, I wired my key and headphones directly to the
> >> Flex. My control PC would be way too slow to operate CW through it.
> >>
> >> Well, I'm not sure which way to go at this time. I like the
> Flex,
> >> but I'm "in-love" with Elecraft! Just wish I had a more
> experiential
> >> based opinion to consider!
> >>
> >> Thanks all for your comments! I'll keep my eye on this
> thread...
> >>
> >> k WB9FMC
> >>
> >>
> >
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