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Are you satisfied with your K3?

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Bill Clarke

Are you satisfied with your K3?

I AM!!!! As my K3 operates today, it is the best receiver I have ever
used - and the list is over fifty years long. The settings I use were
posted here several days ago. They are directed towards armchair copy
use - I doubt if they would do much to enhance a DXer's or contester's use.

I have posted a lot of questions, complaints, and barbs regarding my K3
- which I built in February of this year. However, with the posts and
emails I received (that were constructive in nature), I gained enough
knowledge about the K3 and its menus, to send me in the right direction
to correct what I perceive as K3 deficiencies.

Along the way, I have found the Cady Manual to be top notch and totally
necessary for understanding the K3. I keep a file of posts made here and
on the Yahoo Group that have been informative.

I make all my settings the "hard" way using the K3 menus, as I have
experienced failures when making changes via K3 EZ (possibly related to
Win7).

Anyway, the long and short is that I am now very pleased with my K3 - it
is a keeper.

Bill W2BLC

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k4tmc

Re: Are you satisfied with your K3?

Ditto here too!

73,
Henry - K4TMC
K3/100 #98

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Clarke <[hidden email]>
To: elecraft <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wed, Dec 5, 2012 2:25 pm
Subject: [Elecraft] Are you satisfied with your K3?

I AM!!!! As my K3 operates today, it is the best receiver I have ever
used - and the list is over fifty years long. The settings I use were
posted here several days ago. They are directed towards armchair copy
use - I doubt if they would do much to enhance a DXer's or contester's use.

I have posted a lot of questions, complaints, and barbs regarding my K3
- which I built in February of this year. However, with the posts and
emails I received (that were constructive in nature), I gained enough
knowledge about the K3 and its menus, to send me in the right direction
to correct what I perceive as K3 deficiencies.

Along the way, I have found the Cady Manual to be top notch and totally
necessary for understanding the K3. I keep a file of posts made here and
on the Yahoo Group that have been informative.

I make all my settings the "hard" way using the K3 menus, as I have
experienced failures when making changes via K3 EZ (possibly related to
Win7).

Anyway, the long and short is that I am now very pleased with my K3 - it
is a keeper.

Bill W2BLC

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Keith Heimbold

Re: Are you satisfied with your K3?

I am doing cartwheels in my mind at work. That is how happy i am with my two K3s. Totally stoked with them!!!

Keith
AK6ZZ

Sent from my iPhone please excuse typos

On Dec 5, 2012, at 11:34 AM, [hidden email] wrote:

> Ditto here too!
>
> 73,
> Henry - K4TMC
> K3/100 #98
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bill Clarke <[hidden email]>
> To: elecraft <[hidden email]>
> Sent: Wed, Dec 5, 2012 2:25 pm
> Subject: [Elecraft] Are you satisfied with your K3?
>
>
> I AM!!!! As my K3 operates today, it is the best receiver I have ever
> used - and the list is over fifty years long. The settings I use were
> posted here several days ago. They are directed towards armchair copy
> use - I doubt if they would do much to enhance a DXer's or contester's use.
>
> I have posted a lot of questions, complaints, and barbs regarding my K3
> - which I built in February of this year. However, with the posts and
> emails I received (that were constructive in nature), I gained enough
> knowledge about the K3 and its menus, to send me in the right direction
> to correct what I perceive as K3 deficiencies.
>
> Along the way, I have found the Cady Manual to be top notch and totally
> necessary for understanding the K3. I keep a file of posts made here and
> on the Yahoo Group that have been informative.
>
> I make all my settings the "hard" way using the K3 menus, as I have
> experienced failures when making changes via K3 EZ (possibly related to
> Win7).
>
> Anyway, the long and short is that I am now very pleased with my K3 - it
> is a keeper.
>
> Bill W2BLC
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

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N0AZZ

Re: Are you satisfied with your K3?

In reply to this post by Bill Clarke

Bill

Win7 is "not" the problem. I have found it is usually operator malfunction
in my case 8>)

Fred/N0AZZ

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Bill Clarke
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2012 1:25 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] Are you satisfied with your K3?

I AM!!!! As my K3 operates today, it is the best receiver I have ever used
- and the list is over fifty years long. The settings I use were posted here
several days ago. They are directed towards armchair copy use - I doubt if
they would do much to enhance a DXer's or contester's use.

I have posted a lot of questions, complaints, and barbs regarding my K3
- which I built in February of this year. However, with the posts and emails
I received (that were constructive in nature), I gained enough knowledge
about the K3 and its menus, to send me in the right direction to correct
what I perceive as K3 deficiencies.

Along the way, I have found the Cady Manual to be top notch and totally
necessary for understanding the K3. I keep a file of posts made here and on
the Yahoo Group that have been informative.

I make all my settings the "hard" way using the K3 menus, as I have
experienced failures when making changes via K3 EZ (possibly related to
Win7).

Anyway, the long and short is that I am now very pleased with my K3 - it is
a keeper.

Bill W2BLC

______________________________________________________________
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Ralph Parker

Re: Are you satisfied with your K3?

In reply to this post by Bill Clarke

>I AM!!!! As my K3 operates today, it is the best receiver I have ever used -
> and the list is over fifty years long....

Me too, over a similar time period.
I was uncertain until I did the DSP upgrade, and installed 4.51.
So I just sold my 'backup' FT-1k Mk.V.

And my Super-Cmos III keyer from Idion Press is the best keyer I've ever used.

Ralph, VE7XF

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RobertG

Re: Are you satisfied with your K3?

In reply to this post by Bill Clarke

Completely satisfied here. More radio than I can use by far. Can't imagine
investigating another buy.

On 12/5/2012 19:25, Bill Clarke wrote:

> I AM!!!! As my K3 operates today, it is the best receiver I have ever used - and the
> list is over fifty years long. The settings I use were posted here several days ago.
> They are directed towards armchair copy use - I doubt if they would do much to
> enhance a DXer's or contester's use.
>
> I have posted a lot of questions, complaints, and barbs regarding my K3 - which I
> built in February of this year. However, with the posts and emails I received (that
> were constructive in nature), I gained enough knowledge about the K3 and its menus,
> to send me in the right direction to correct what I perceive as K3 deficiencies.
>
> Along the way, I have found the Cady Manual to be top notch and totally necessary for
> understanding the K3. I keep a file of posts made here and on the Yahoo Group that
> have been informative.
>
> I make all my settings the "hard" way using the K3 menus, as I have experienced
> failures when making changes via K3 EZ (possibly related to Win7).
>
> Anyway, the long and short is that I am now very pleased with my K3 - it is a keeper.
>
> Bill W2BLC
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

--
Robert G. Strickland, PhD, ABPH - KE2WY
[hidden email]
Syracuse, New York, USA
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Mike Furrey

Re: Are you satisfied with your K3?

In reply to this post by Bill Clarke

Nate Bargmann

Re: Are you satisfied with your K3?

In reply to this post by Bill Clarke

I will second your motion.

My K3 is a solid performer after a bit over two years of near daily use
including phone and CW along with a smattering of digital modes. I have
yet to add the sub receiver since adding the P3 a bit over a year ago.
Having the visual element just hasn't gotten old.

This past weekend I operated as one of the Union Pacific Railroad 150th
anniversary special event operation stations. Most of the afternoon on
20m phone I was using a CM500 headset, which drives the K3 very easily,
and the ALS600 amplifier. I received many unsolicited reports of good
to excellent audio. I figure that any combination that makes me sound
good is a winner in my book. Also, using the K3's VOX is a pleasure,
especially with the noise gate enabled.

With the 2.1 kHz filter in slot 2 once I use the high cut to take out a
group that is 2 kHz below our 75m section nets in the morning, I simply
don't hear them and yet the audio fidelity of our net is still very good
from my speakers.

Perhaps it is my use of the receive equalization to roll off everything
above 3 kHz as much as I can and my use of the RF Gain control that I
have no fatigue at all listening to my K3. My backside gets tired of
the chair long before anything else!

Would I buy it again? Absolutely, without hesitation.

73, de Nate, N0NB >>

--

"The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all
possible worlds. The pessimist fears this is true."

Ham radio, Linux, bikes, and more: http://www.n0nb.us
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Matt Zilmer

Re: Are you satisfied with your K3?

In reply to this post by Bill Clarke

Short answer: Yes, it is my Dream Machine.

Having owned a K2 since 2003 or so, I put in an order for K3 #24 while
Elecraft was in Visalia, 2007 (April or May). K3/10 #24, as a kit,
arrived in October, 2007. As far as I know #24 was the first or
second kit off the line.

I worked CQ WW using SSB and 10W right away. Nine new countries for
W6NIA right off the bat. To make sure credit goes where it should,
the receiver was so solid that I could hear a lot of the low-level DX
the big guns weren't copying. Most of it was in between, where the K3
excels.

My XYL gets the best friend award here, but the K3 would run a real
close second. It's fully loaded now, SubRX and a buncha filters,
every add-on available except for the PR-6. All mods are up to date
too.

I wouldn't have it any other way. Like another later poster, my list
of rigs runs on from about 1973 to present. About forty years. As
far as I'm concerned the K3 is the best value proposition in the HF
Amateur Radio industry, historically and present-day.

There is a lot more here about the high quality of tech and customer
support, and Elecraft's is legendary in our community (almost unhead
of across several consumer product sectors that I know well, also).
But this is very well known by now, and even newbies are aware that if
they buy their first rig from Elecraft they will have support that no
other manufacturer can possibly match.

73,
matt zilmer
W6NIA
K3 #24, P3 #14, KX3 #6, etc.

On Wed, 05 Dec 2012 14:25:08 -0500, you wrote:

>I AM!!!! As my K3 operates today, it is the best receiver I have ever
>used - and the list is over fifty years long. The settings I use were
>posted here several days ago. They are directed towards armchair copy
>use - I doubt if they would do much to enhance a DXer's or contester's use.
>
>I have posted a lot of questions, complaints, and barbs regarding my K3
>- which I built in February of this year. However, with the posts and
>emails I received (that were constructive in nature), I gained enough
>knowledge about the K3 and its menus, to send me in the right direction
>to correct what I perceive as K3 deficiencies.
>
>Along the way, I have found the Cady Manual to be top notch and totally
>necessary for understanding the K3. I keep a file of posts made here and
>on the Yahoo Group that have been informative.
>
>I make all my settings the "hard" way using the K3 menus, as I have
>experienced failures when making changes via K3 EZ (possibly related to
>Win7).
>
>Anyway, the long and short is that I am now very pleased with my K3 - it
>is a keeper.
>
>Bill W2BLC
>
>
>______________________________________________________________
>Elecraft mailing list
>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
>This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

w7aqk

Re: Are you satisfied with your K3?

In reply to this post by Bill Clarke

Hi All,

Obviously most of the responders here are either K3 owners, or K3 potential
owners, who have experienced the quality of this radio. So, am I totally
satisfied? No! Am I reasonably satisfied? Absolutely!

The K3 is a wonderful radio, and something all of us who own one can be very
proud of having. However, it is not the "perfect" radio, nor will it ever
be such. But then, again, I never expected it to be the perfect radio!

I don't care how much money you spend, you will never own the perfect radio.
No radio will ever have the complete (or even nearly complete) compliment of
features and performance that we seek. If that were possible, then most, or
all, companies would go out of business! More importantly, it just isn't
achievable.

I don't care how many features you put in the K3, or any other radio,
someone will have an issue--or ten issues! What Elecraft achieved with the
K3 is a top quality radio at a greatly reduced cost. That's extremely
significant!

The K3 is NOT the perfect radio for everyone, but it is the perfect radio
for most of us. There are too many variables, and personal preferences, to
satisfy the entire ham community. Many of the shortcomings are well
founded, but not necessarily reasonable, for all that many users. I see all
this Sturm und Drang" about this feature or that feature, and I have to
wonder whether or not it really matters! Performance wise the K3 is near
the absolute top end. Ergonomically, it also is near the top. Nonetheless,
some folks are not happy, and never would be, with something specifically
designed along the line of the K3. To those folks I simply say "go ahead"
and buy whatever better meets your wants and desires. However, you won't
achieve much, if any, improvement in performance. If you can detect a
significantly better performing radio, then your ear is much better than
mine.

Elecraft has an incredible advantage over other manufacturers because they
have a support team that is second to none. If you have a problem, they
will fix it--one way or another!!! Other manufacturers will somewhat
similarly "fix your radio", but not necessarily to the extent of making it
better than it was when you bought it. Elecraft will "fix it", and it all
probability make it even better!

Some features are lacking in the K3, and some are very significant.
However, just about everything that could be crammed into the K3 has been.
If it isn't there now, it very well may be with software upgrades. No other
manufacturer is so dedicated to keeping their "top line" radio so forward
capable. Even though other manufacturers have adopted the "firmware
upgrade" capability, nobody is doing more with that capability than
Elecraft! Pure fact!

If the K3 doesn't meet your expectations, sell it! I seriously doubt you
will replace it without spending a great deal more. You won't gain much, if
anything, in performance, but you might get something that "fits you" more
appropriately. If your problem with the K3 was a specific performance
attribute, then possibly you will solve that, but somewhere there will be
some compromise!

Right now I don't anticipate ever needing more than what the K3 provides me.
That feeling may change, but I would bet large amounts of money that it will
take a very serious "up scaling" cost wise to achieve that. In the
meantime, so many of the "deficiencies" in the K3 are being addressed by
software upgrades, I can't imagine why I would become less convinced that I
now have the right radio. Who else is doing so much to achieve perfection
than Elecraft? They won't get there, but they keep trying!!!!

All you need to do, to truly see the value of a K3, is to compare features
and cost. If another manufacturer gets closer to your wants and needs, by
all means go for it! Somehow, though, I think you would be part of a very
small minority. The K3 was too well planned, and too well designed to be
easily outdone. Yes, something will come along that exceeds it, but not
anytime soon. When that happens, will it be enough better to justify my
switching? I doubt it. Either the cost, or the marginal improvement will
probably make that be unnecessary. Unless I do something stupid, and blow
up my K3, I'm probably set for a very long time!

Dave W7AQK

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Dr. William J. Schmidt, II

Re: Are you satisfied with your K3?

In reply to this post by Matt Zilmer

Seriously? Asking this qustion of the "K3 Reflector" is like asking a drug
addict if he likes drugs... or a drunk if he likes booze... I suppose that
is as obvious as the question is.

Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ / J68HZ/ 8P6HK/ ZF2HZ

Owner - Operator
Big Signal Ranch
Staunton, Illinois

email: [hidden email]

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N0AZZ

Re: Are you satisfied with your K3?

I think it was fair question there are people who sell their K3's and other
Elecraft equipment to buy other radios. There is one on QTH.COM right now
wanting to trade his K3, P3, KAT500 for an FTDX-5000MP. I do see them for
sale all the time and always check to see the price and call on them if
there is a phone number. One of my first asked questions is why do you want
to get rid of the radio, you might be surprised at some of the answers. I'm
always looking for a deal on any Elecraft gear I don't have or my friends
might want.

Many of those selling are for a single reason they want a full size radio,
where I wanted to downsize and still have a SO2R setup. Elecraft can't be
beat for that, now if they would just bring out a legal limit ++ amp I would
need 2 of those.

I went from several different brands of radios down to 4 now including my
Elecraft as my "Main" HF gear and a Kenwood in the mobile for another.

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Dr. William J.
Schmidt, II
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2012 11:33 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Are you satisfied with your K3?

Seriously? Asking this qustion of the "K3 Reflector" is like asking a drug
addict if he likes drugs... or a drunk if he likes booze... I suppose that
is as obvious as the question is.

Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ / J68HZ/ 8P6HK/ ZF2HZ

Owner - Operator
Big Signal Ranch
Staunton, Illinois

email: [hidden email]

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N0AZZ

Re: Are you satisfied with your K3?

In reply to this post by w7aqk

Dave

A statement that I have been making for a very long time for the same
reasons as you "There is NO perfect radio nor will there Ever Be one" many
have made exception to my statement.

Here at least several times and on the FTDX-5000 reflector I lost count.

Now if people could just bring themselves to realize this is the truth a lot
more could be discussed at times.

Thank You!

Fred/N0AZZ

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Dyarnes
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2012 10:33 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Are you satisfied with your K3?

Hi All,

Obviously most of the responders here are either K3 owners, or K3 potential
owners, who have experienced the quality of this radio. So, am I totally
satisfied? No! Am I reasonably satisfied? Absolutely!

The K3 is a wonderful radio, and something all of us who own one can be very
proud of having. However, it is not the "perfect" radio, nor will it ever
be such. But then, again, I never expected it to be the perfect radio!

I don't care how much money you spend, you will never own the perfect radio.

No radio will ever have the complete (or even nearly complete) compliment of
features and performance that we seek. If that were possible, then most, or
all, companies would go out of business! More importantly, it just isn't
achievable.

I don't care how many features you put in the K3, or any other radio,
someone will have an issue--or ten issues! What Elecraft achieved with the
K3 is a top quality radio at a greatly reduced cost. That's extremely
significant!

The K3 is NOT the perfect radio for everyone, but it is the perfect radio
for most of us. There are too many variables, and personal preferences, to
satisfy the entire ham community. Many of the shortcomings are well
founded, but not necessarily reasonable, for all that many users. I see all
this Sturm und Drang" about this feature or that feature, and I have to
wonder whether or not it really matters! Performance wise the K3 is near
the absolute top end. Ergonomically, it also is near the top. Nonetheless,
some folks are not happy, and never would be, with something specifically
designed along the line of the K3. To those folks I simply say "go ahead"
and buy whatever better meets your wants and desires. However, you won't
achieve much, if any, improvement in performance. If you can detect a
significantly better performing radio, then your ear is much better than
mine.

Elecraft has an incredible advantage over other manufacturers because they
have a support team that is second to none. If you have a problem, they
will fix it--one way or another!!! Other manufacturers will somewhat
similarly "fix your radio", but not necessarily to the extent of making it
better than it was when you bought it. Elecraft will "fix it", and it all
probability make it even better!

Some features are lacking in the K3, and some are very significant.
However, just about everything that could be crammed into the K3 has been.
If it isn't there now, it very well may be with software upgrades. No other
manufacturer is so dedicated to keeping their "top line" radio so forward
capable. Even though other manufacturers have adopted the "firmware
upgrade" capability, nobody is doing more with that capability than
Elecraft! Pure fact!

If the K3 doesn't meet your expectations, sell it! I seriously doubt you
will replace it without spending a great deal more. You won't gain much, if
anything, in performance, but you might get something that "fits you" more
appropriately. If your problem with the K3 was a specific performance
attribute, then possibly you will solve that, but somewhere there will be
some compromise!

Right now I don't anticipate ever needing more than what the K3 provides me.

That feeling may change, but I would bet large amounts of money that it will
take a very serious "up scaling" cost wise to achieve that. In the
meantime, so many of the "deficiencies" in the K3 are being addressed by
software upgrades, I can't imagine why I would become less convinced that I
now have the right radio. Who else is doing so much to achieve perfection
than Elecraft? They won't get there, but they keep trying!!!!

All you need to do, to truly see the value of a K3, is to compare features
and cost. If another manufacturer gets closer to your wants and needs, by
all means go for it! Somehow, though, I think you would be part of a very
small minority. The K3 was too well planned, and too well designed to be
easily outdone. Yes, something will come along that exceeds it, but not
anytime soon. When that happens, will it be enough better to justify my
switching? I doubt it. Either the cost, or the marginal improvement will
probably make that be unnecessary. Unless I do something stupid, and blow
up my K3, I'm probably set for a very long time!

Dave W7AQK

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Jim Leder

Re: Are you satisfied with your K3?

In reply to this post by Mike Furrey

Easily the best radio I have ever owned, and I've had a few in my 50+ years
of ham life. My last five have been 2 different TS-450SAT's (great radio for
it's day), a TS-2000 (misunderstood, but also a fine radio) and an Icom
IC-756 Pro 3 (very disappointing). Of course, number 5 is my K3. I also have
an FT-857D as backup and for UHF (pretty good radio). Prior to all of these
I've had 2 different Drake lines as well as TR3, TR4 in it's various
reincarnations.

The Drakes will also be fondly remembered. Great gear, and Miamisburg is
only 30 miles north of here. Easy to drive the Drake radios up for service.

But, IMO, the Elecraft K3 is by far, superior to any of the above. It will
be hard to beat in the future. I do think the K3 will be my last radio. Time
marches on and me along with it.

73 ... and Happy Holidays...

Jim ... K8CXM

--------------------------------------------------
From: "wa5pok" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2012 8:24 PM
To: <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Are you satisfied with your K3?

>
>> I AM!!!! As my K3 operates today, it is the best receiver I have ever
>> used - and the list is over fifty years long. The settings I use were
>> posted here several days ago. They are directed towards armchair copy
>> use - I doubt if they would do much to enhance a DXer's or contester's
>> use.
>
> YES! Best rig I have ever had! The Collins, Drake are loads of fun to
> tinker with these days but for DXing and light contesting ... I have had
> nothing better than the K3. My old FT1000 served me well but the K3, I
> could not be more pleased!
>
> 73, Mike WA5POK
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Bayard Coolidge, N1HO

Re: Are you satisfied with your K3?

Like many others here, I've been licensed for a long time (close to 45 years), and have had many decent
rigs, albeit not necessarily high-end multi-kilobuck ones. Most recently, I was using an Icom IC-746Pro.

Clearly, the K3 can run circles around the '746Pro in virtually all respects, and I knew that before I bought
my kit late this summer. But, there is one feature that is "missing" (solely in my opinion) - the capability to
control an external/remote tuner in the same sort of way that I could control my LDG IT-100 from the '746Pro.

My antenna configuration is a bit weird - I'm on a small south Florida home lot, with 24kV power lines running
parallel to both the back lot line and one (the east) side lot line, and the XYL wants to maintain "curb appeal".
I installed a 20m quarter wave vertical (~16.5 ft high) near the wooden fence on the west side and then ran
40ft of wire northward to a tree branch, and installed some counterpoise wires. Between January and June, I
used the IT-100 at the base of the vertical at the feed point, and controlled it from the 'Pro using the AH-4 protocol
over some 4 conductor wire. Band changes were virtually instantaneous, and I was able to work a surprising amount of DX.

With the K3, I'm having to tune the antenna system (antenna plus about 50 feet of RG8X) at the rig in the shack.
I'm a bit squeamish about this - it seems to be working OK, the internal tuner in the K3 is nice and fast, but I
still wonder how efficient it is compared to Pro/IT-100 configuration. Unfortunately, I'm not in a position to
gather definitive data to support or refute my qualms, but my sense is that, on some frequencies, there's a really
nasty looking impedance presented at the back of the rig.

I realize that Wayne and the rest of the design crew had to make some engineering design decisions, but I'm thinking
it would be real interesting if they could concoct a solution entailing replacing the KAT3 with some sort of small
interface/controller, which would then "talk" to a remote version of the KAT3 tuner itself over a cable, in the
same vein as (but not necessarily using) the AH-4 hardware/signaling protocol. This way, I could hit the 'ATU TUNE'
button, which would drop the K3/100 to low power, have the tuner do its thing but at the antenna feed point,
and then return the rig to full power and ready to operate. Yes, I know that they have bigger fish to fry at this point!

Overall, though, I'm delighted with my K3/100 and am still learning about all of its features and how best to use them.

________________________________
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N0AZZ

Re: Are you satisfied with your K3?

I know nothing about future plans but I bet there may very well be a
"remote" KAT500 down the road. But this great product( love mine so far)
calls out for that version at some point in time........You could even do it
right now with a little work on your own and not really that hard if "you
really want it now" like they say on TV.

If memory serves me right I think someone on the reflector is/or has done
one already.

73,
Fred/N0AZZ

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Bayard Coolidge
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2012 9:21 AM
To: Elecraft
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Are you satisfied with your K3?

Like many others here, I've been licensed for a long time (close to 45
years), and have had many decent rigs, albeit not necessarily high-end
multi-kilobuck ones. Most recently, I was using an Icom IC-746Pro.

Clearly, the K3 can run circles around the '746Pro in virtually all
respects, and I knew that before I bought my kit late this summer. But,
there is one feature that is "missing" (solely in my opinion) - the
capability to control an external/remote tuner in the same sort of way that
I could control my LDG IT-100 from the '746Pro.

My antenna configuration is a bit weird - I'm on a small south Florida home
lot, with 24kV power lines running parallel to both the back lot line and
one (the east) side lot line, and the XYL wants to maintain "curb appeal".
I installed a 20m quarter wave vertical (~16.5 ft high) near the wooden
fence on the west side and then ran 40ft of wire northward to a tree branch,
and installed some counterpoise wires. Between January and June, I used the
IT-100 at the base of the vertical at the feed point, and controlled it from
the 'Pro using the AH-4 protocol over some 4 conductor wire. Band changes
were virtually instantaneous, and I was able to work a surprising amount of
DX.

With the K3, I'm having to tune the antenna system (antenna plus about 50
feet of RG8X) at the rig in the shack.
I'm a bit squeamish about this - it seems to be working OK, the internal
tuner in the K3 is nice and fast, but I still wonder how efficient it is
compared to Pro/IT-100 configuration. Unfortunately, I'm not in a position
to gather definitive data to support or refute my qualms, but my sense is
that, on some frequencies, there's a really nasty looking impedance
presented at the back of the rig.

I realize that Wayne and the rest of the design crew had to make some
engineering design decisions, but I'm thinking it would be real interesting
if they could concoct a solution entailing replacing the KAT3 with some sort
of small interface/controller, which would then "talk" to a remote version
of the KAT3 tuner itself over a cable, in the same vein as (but not
necessarily using) the AH-4 hardware/signaling protocol. This way, I could
hit the 'ATU TUNE'
button, which would drop the K3/100 to low power, have the tuner do its
thing but at the antenna feed point, and then return the rig to full power
and ready to operate. Yes, I know that they have bigger fish to fry at this
point!

Overall, though, I'm delighted with my K3/100 and am still learning about
all of its features and how best to use them.

________________________________
______________________________________________________________
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Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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ab2tc

Re: Are you satisfied with your K3?

Hi,

This thread is getting rather long and drifting off the original topic, but I'll risk these comments anyway. My to-be remote (2nd) KAT500 is on a brown truck somewhere in the Syracuse, NY area "out for delivery" as stated by the tracking site. I have already proved feasibility of remote controlling my 1st one over 100' of CAT6 cable using an Ethernet serial server by B&B. Initially I will run a 115V extension cord out to the little plastic house that has protected an MFJ indoor autotuner for more than 3 years. Eventually I am hoping to run a low voltage link (maybe 24V) over the speaker wire that's already in the ground feeding the 12V DC for the MFJ. Low winter emperature has never had much of an effect on the MFJ and I am hoping the KAT500 will tolerate it well, too.

AB2TC - Knut

Fred Smith wrote

I know nothing about future plans but I bet there may very well be a
"remote" KAT500 down the road. But this great product( love mine so far)
calls out for that version at some point in time........You could even do it
right now with a little work on your own and not really that hard if "you
really want it now" like they say on TV.

If memory serves me right I think someone on the reflector is/or has done
one already.

73,
Fred/N0AZZ

-----Original Message-----
<snip>

Lu Romero - W4LT

Re: Are you satisfied with your K3?

In reply to this post by Bill Clarke

In a word:

Yes!

Its everything I looked for and more. And I am very picky.

It just works. Im am confident opening up my $3000 radio
and/or $2000 amp and work on them because I built them from
a box of parts! And that was fun, too!

Plus: everything my 7800/7700 and FT5k owning friends with
bigger antennas than mine can hear and work, I can hear and
work at less than half the price. My wife and kids like
that.

And finally, it wont collapse my op table like the Icoms
would.

My chiropractor hates Eric and Wayne, however. My back is
much better since I dont have to move 80lb radios around.

Lu Romero - W4LT
K3/KRX3/P3/KPA500/K1

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Igor Sokolov-2

KAT500 and TX delay feature request

In reply to this post by ab2tc

I recently got THP HL1.1KFX amplifier to be used with KX3 and possibly other
transceivers when going on expeditions. The reason I got THP instead of
KPA500 is because I got this amp pretty cheap and it weights only 9 Kg. I
immediately started to consider various antenna tuner options. MFJ has got
994B but many users found it to be unreliable at 600W. Their more powerful
tuner (up to 1500W) is pretty expensive and heavy. Finally I have chosen
KAT500 and just have placed my order. But prior to that I had spoken to
Elecraft tech support and found out the following.
KAT 500 has PTT interrupt line that controls PTT of the amp.That is when
KAT500 has to retune it drops PTT of the amp to do the retune at reasonably
low power level. At the same time if I change the frequency to one where SWR
is high and tuner already "knows" the setting for this frequency, it
switches to a new setting without dropping amplifier's PTT. The switching
time of the relays used in KAT500 is (as I was told) 20-25msec. The
switching time of the TR relay in the amp (from specs) is less then 10 msec
That means hot switching of the relays in KAT500 every time I change
frequency from one sub band to another or from one band to another.
I think a provision of programmable TX delay in the firmware of KAT 500
would allow to avoid such a situations. I was told by tech support that this
feature is going to be implemented soon. Knowing that Elecraft always keep
their word I have light heartedly placed my order.
Thank you Elecraft for just one more excellent product which I hope will
find a lot of customers.

73, Igor UA9CDC

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Jim Leder

Re: Are you satisfied with your K3?

In reply to this post by Jim Leder

I don't think so. Seems that they got out of the amateur radio business some
time ago. But, I did find this for spare parts from Drake, I suppose:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/42156044/Drake-Partlist

73 ... Jim K8CXM

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Jim Lowman" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2012 1:38 PM
To: <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Are you satisfied with your K3?

> Jim,
>
> Drake still offers service?
> Just curious. I have an R-4C/T-4XC, TR-4C and a pair of 2-Bs.
>
> 73 and Happy Holidays to you!
> de Jim - AD6CW
>
> On 12/6/2012 6:41 AM, [hidden email] wrote:
>> Easily the best radio I have ever owned, and I've had a few in my 50+
>> years of ham life. My last five have been 2 different TS-450SAT's (great
>> radio for it's day), a TS-2000 (misunderstood, but also a fine radio) and
>> an Icom IC-756 Pro 3 (very disappointing). Of course, number 5 is my K3.
>> I also have an FT-857D as backup and for UHF (pretty good radio). Prior
>> to all of these I've had 2 different Drake lines as well as TR3, TR4 in
>> it's various reincarnations.
>>
>> The Drakes will also be fondly remembered. Great gear, and Miamisburg is
>> only 30 miles north of here. Easy to drive the Drake radios up for
>> service.
>>
>> But, IMO, the Elecraft K3 is by far, superior to any of the above. It
>> will be hard to beat in the future. I do think the K3 will be my last
>> radio. Time marches on and me along with it.
>>
>> 73 ... and Happy Holidays...
>>
>> Jim ... K8CXM
>