[Elecraft] K3 or K3S - HIGH LEVEL simple "how to" for Field Day

[Bob McGraw]

Sounds like a good plan.

My Field Day story.  I set up my Tentec Eagle, a manual ATU with written 
pre determined values for each band, a power supply, a Bird 43 power 
meter, a laptop computer and a multi-wire all band antenna.   The intent 
for that station was to work digital modes, AFSK, Packet, FT-8, etc.  
Now mind you, there was an 8.5" x 11" page on the table in a plastic 
protector sheet with all of the tuner settings for the digital segments 
of the bands, 160M - 10M. All was working nicely, contacts were rolling 
in.  About midnight I retreated to my travel trailer for a nap.  About 
2AM I was awaken by a knock on the door.  The fellow said there was 
something wrong and they couldn't make any contacts.  I went to the 
station location.  There I found 2 EXTRA Class hams pushing buttons and 
turning knobs.  Sure enough there was no output indicated on the Bird 
meter when in the TX mode.  Then I noticed the radio was on 20M and the 
values for the antenna tuner were clearly those for 80M.  When I pointed 
that out, one of the fellows state "well my tuner changes when I change 
my radio". That only cost me a set of final PA devices and about an hour 
of my time.

For that reason and others, I detest the VE program where a person walks 
into an exam session with no license and walks out with an EXTRA Class 
license.  Yes, I know the Field Day and club activities are to teach and 
get less experienced hams accustomed to the ham radio environment.  But 
it just isn't happening. Never has, never will.   The folks on the air 
today only know what they think they know, few will ever read a manual, 
and most will always believe "old ham lore" most of which is incomplete 
or incorrect.    In the same light, I was asked to teach a segment of a 
class for new ham prospects.  When I asked what I would be teaching, the 
answer came back "the test".  No thank you, I want no part of that 
exercise.

As long as you have operators clearly familiar with Elecraft radios, the 
methods, the terminology and such, you'll be OK. But with the first 
comment "that doesn't work like my bla bla bla radio" you're in 
trouble.  I know as I worked with (not for) Tentec and did both hardware 
and firmware beta testing for 3 of their last models.  When I decided to 
go with an Elecraft radio, it was indeed a learning experience.  For 
sure, the Elecraft did not operate like any Tentec I'd ever had on the 
desk.

73

Bob, K4TAX

On 5/18/2025 11:39 AM, bemeier at bellsouth.net wrote:
>
> Bob and everyone that has responded!
>
> I couldn’t agree more.  I really appreciate all the comments and 
> suggestions that have come my way, but even with the best data sheet, 
> as you say – there are always going to be the “I know how to do 
> “EVERYTHING on ANY RADIO” folks.
>
> So, I am currently going to take a picture of the front of my K3S and 
> circle / number ONLY the controls that should be touched…. Assuming 
> one has to touch anything.  The areas that I will explain are the 
> following:
>
> Topics:
>
>  1. General overview:  Push / push hold (yellow markings) differences
>  2. ON / OFF
>  3. Band change
>  4. Filter adjustments (shift / width)
>  5. Notch Filter
>  6. AF / RF gain
>  7. Mode
>  8. RIT
>  9. VOX / PTT
> 10. Antenna selection
> 11. ATU
> 12. Lock VFO
>
> The first instruction to all users will be “DON’T TOUCH ANYTHING 
> UNLESS IT IS ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CONTROLS”
>
> Fortunately, my K3S will be used ONLY for CW and all CW ops have a K3, 
> K3s or a K4 😊
>
> 73,
>
> Bruce N1LN
>