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Best add on for K3

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Wayne-2

Best add on for K3

I have a K3 and it is time to upgrade it, I do not need anymore filters
so what is the best step for here it was a bare bones when I got it and
I added the tuner and filters that is all. What would be the best next
add on for it?
Thanks for reading and any suggestions.

Wayne AA5JJ

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Pierfrancesco Caci

Re: Best add on for K3

>>>>> "Wayne" == Wayne <[hidden email]> writes:

Wayne> I have a K3 and it is time to upgrade it, I do not need
Wayne> anymore filters
Wayne> so what is the best step for here it was a bare bones when I
Wayne> got it and
Wayne> I added the tuner and filters that is all. What would be the
Wayne> best next
Wayne> add on for it?
Wayne> Thanks for reading and any suggestions.

Well, you don't say what your preferences are, so not much that I can
suggest you. I have the 100W ampli in mine, I added also the general
coverage bandpass filter (for those rare times that I want to listen to
some volmet or similar). The KXV3A is an obligatory step if you want to
give yourself the P3, or even just to add the PR6 if you like the 6m
band.

Pf

--
Pierfrancesco Caci, ik5pvx
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Gary Gregory

Re: Best add on for K3

*He didn't say what he had but if not installed already I would order the
DVR.

Calling CQ is never easier, contesting is easier with the DVR to do the
calling.

You can record incoming audio for review......you can even play recorded
audio back to the station but I find this pretty useless unless you set you
EQ Tx/Rx to flat and therefore I am not a user of this feature but others
have a different view of course.

I use mine daily and wouldn't be without it.

*
On 23 May 2012 17:55, Pierfrancesco Caci <[hidden email]> wrote:

> >>>>> "Wayne" == Wayne <[hidden email]> writes:
>
>
> Wayne> I have a K3 and it is time to upgrade it, I do not need
> Wayne> anymore filters
> Wayne> so what is the best step for here it was a bare bones when I
> Wayne> got it and
> Wayne> I added the tuner and filters that is all. What would be the
> Wayne> best next
> Wayne> add on for it?
> Wayne> Thanks for reading and any suggestions.
>
>
> Well, you don't say what your preferences are, so not much that I can
> suggest you. I have the 100W ampli in mine, I added also the general
> coverage bandpass filter (for those rare times that I want to listen to
> some volmet or similar). The KXV3A is an obligatory step if you want to
> give yourself the P3, or even just to add the PR6 if you like the 6m
> band.
>
> Pf
>
>
>
> --
> Pierfrancesco Caci, ik5pvx
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--
Gary
VK4FD - Motorhome Mobile
Elecraft Equipment
K3 #679, KPA-500 #018 KAT-500#??
Living the dream!!!
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Pierfrancesco Caci

Re: Best add on for K3

>>>>> "Gary" == Gary Gregory <[hidden email]> writes:

Gary> He didn't say what he had but if not installed already I would
Gary> order the DVR.
Gary> Calling CQ is never easier, contesting is easier with the DVR
Gary> to do the
Gary> calling.

True. I forgot about that. I've added it recently and it has become so
natural using it that I give it for granted. Definitely an useful add
on, not just for contests, but for general dx too.

--
Pierfrancesco Caci, ik5pvx
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Randy Lake

Re: Best add on for K3

In reply to this post by Wayne-2

The 2nd receiver would be my first choice
Randy N1KWF

On Wed, May 23, 2012 at 3:06 AM, Wayne <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I have a K3 and it is time to upgrade it, I do not need anymore filters
> so what is the best step for here it was a bare bones when I got it and
> I added the tuner and filters that is all. What would be the best next
> add on for it?
> Thanks for reading and any suggestions.
>
> Wayne AA5JJ
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>

--
Randy Lake N1KWF
73 Gunn Rd.
Keene,NH
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Dick Dievendorff

Re: Best add on for K3

In reply to this post by Wayne-2

I was in several conversations on this topic at Dayton discussing how often owners found the P3 helpful vs the KRX3 second receiver option. It ended up being some of each. Contesters tended to find more frequent use for the P3, some DXers, having used a 2nd receiver, never want to be without it again.

Dick, K6KR

On May 23, 2012, at 0:06, Wayne <[hidden email]> wrote:

wayne burdick

Re: Best add on for K3

Administrator

Interesting recon. Of course many end up with both.

W

----
http://www.elecraft.com

On May 23, 2012, at 6:08 AM, Dick Dievendorff <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I was in several conversations on this topic at Dayton discussing how often owners found the P3 helpful vs the KRX3 second receiver option. It ended up being some of each. Contesters tended to find more frequent use for the P3, some DXers, having used a 2nd receiver, never want to be without it again.
>
> Dick, K6KR
>
> On May 23, 2012, at 0:06, Wayne <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> I have a K3 and it is time to upgrade it, I do not need anymore filters
>> so what is the best step for here it was a bare bones when I got it and
>> I added the tuner and filters that is all. What would be the best next
>> add on for it?
>> Thanks for reading and any suggestions.
>>
>> Wayne AA5JJ
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
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VE3GNO Daniel

Fw: Best add on for K3

In reply to this post by Dick Dievendorff

>From my experience, buy both, once you'll get used with 2nd RX you cannot go back to singleRX, same with spectrum scope, I am using both P3 and LP-PAN, creates addiction

VE3GNO Daniel

________________________________
From: Dick Dievendorff <[hidden email]>
To: Wayne <[hidden email]>
Cc: "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 9:08:01 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Best add on for K3

I was in several conversations on this topic at Dayton discussing how often owners found the P3 helpful vs the KRX3 second receiver option. It ended up being some of each. Contesters tended to find more frequent use for the P3, some DXers, having used a 2nd receiver, never want to be without it again.

Dick, K6KR

On May 23, 2012, at 0:06, Wayne <[hidden email]> wrote:

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Barry Pfeil-2

Re: Best add on for K3

In reply to this post by Wayne-2

Wayne AA5JJ, asked about favorite K3 add ons.

My personal favorite added after initial purchase was/is the KDVR3 Digital
Voice Keyer. It's the cat's meow if you are a phone contester. Messages
can be activated by macros from your logging software and the best part is
you eliminate the audio cable from the computer and also have zero concern
about matching the message audio with the "live" mic audio. I know many
who need more than four messages (the KDVR3 limit) and/or who spend a lot
of time tweaking their computer-stored messages and I know that works to
their benefit, but for KISS crowd (that includes me) I think the KDVR is
great.

It sounded like you meant internal add-ons, but if you include external
equipment, the P3 has to be the first choice, IMHO.

73, Barry K6RM
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Jim Brown-10

Re: Best add on for K3

In reply to this post by Wayne-2

On 5/23/2012 12:06 AM, Wayne wrote:
> ve a K3 and it is time to upgrade it, I do not need anymore filters
> so what is the best step for here it was a bare bones when I got it and
> I added the tuner and filters that is all. What would be the best next
> add on for it?

It depends a bit on your operating style. I have both the P3 and the
second RX, and would hate to be without either, but I find the P3
especially useful. The second RX lets you HEAR what's on your TX
frequency when operating split. The P3 lets you SEE the entire pileup
and think about how to place your call. The P3 also lets you look at the
bandwidth of various signals, chase RF noise sources, look for activity
on a dead band (like openings on 6M and 10M), and so on.

If you can only buy one, my first choice would be the P3.

73, Jim K9YC
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Lyle Johnson

Re: Best add on for K3

In reply to this post by Barry Pfeil-2

The KDVR3 has eight (8) message memories. They are stored in two banks
of four. To toggle between the banks, HOLD the REC button. Use M1..M4
to access message memories 1..4 (bank 1) or 5..8 (bank 2).

73,

Lyle KK7P

> ... I know many who need more than four messages (the KDVR3 limit) ...

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kevinr@coho.net

Re: Best add on for K3

In reply to this post by Wayne-2

You may want to add the 100 watt amp.
Kevin. KD5ONS

On 5/23/2012 12:06 AM, Wayne wrote:
> I have a K3 and it is time to upgrade it, I do not need anymore filters
> so what is the best step for here it was a bare bones when I got it and
> I added the tuner and filters that is all. What would be the best next
> add on for it?
> Thanks for reading and any suggestions.
>
> Wayne AA5JJ
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Michael D. Adams

Re: Best add on for K3

In reply to this post by Lyle Johnson

I would be extremely interested in seeing what the CAT commands or
N1MM macros look like if both banks are in use.

That kind of knowledge might postpone the day when my wife decides to
murder me for being too noisy during a phone contest. :)

--
Michael D. Adams (AB1OD)
Poquonock, Connecticut | [hidden email]

On Wed, May 23, 2012 at 12:04 PM, Lyle Johnson <[hidden email]> wrote:
> The KDVR3 has eight (8) message memories. They are stored in two banks
> of four. To toggle between the banks, HOLD the REC button. Use M1..M4
> to access message memories 1..4 (bank 1) or 5..8 (bank 2).
>
> 73,
>
> Lyle KK7P
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Jim Sheldon

Re: Best add on for K3

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

It is as Wayne said, many like me that chase DX AND contest besides general operating, find that, after using the 2nd receiver along with the P3, would be lost without them.

Seriously, the K3 is the first transceiver I've owned that had an auxiliary receiver installed that was identical to the main one. The only drawback in my setup is that I have to use the same antenna for both receivers and have to put up with a 3db reduction in signal strength due to the internal splitter.

This can be a bit of a problem when trying to hear a weak DX station come back to you on the main while using the sub RX to find out just where he is listening in the pileups. (Especially with all the "UP cops QRM'ing the frequency.) Unlike some of the big gun stations, I don't have the real estate to put up a useful second antenna dedicated to the sub receiver, so I have to live with the 3db degradation of signal when it's on. Small price to pay for the versatility.

Jim - W0EB

> Interesting recon. Of course many end up with both.
> W
> http://www.elecraft.com
>
> On May 23, 2012, at 6:08 AM, Dick Dievendorff <[hidden email]>
> wrote:
>
>> I was in several conversations on this topic at Dayton discussing
>> how often owners found the P3 helpful vs the KRX3 second receiver
>> option. It ended up being some of each. Contesters tended to find
>> more frequent use for the P3, some DXers, having used a 2nd
>> receiver, never want to be without it again.
>>
>> Dick, K6KR

Tony Estep

Re: Best add on for K3

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

On Wed, May 23, 2012 at 9:40 AM, Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:

> ....Of course many end up with both....

=========
If your main interest is chasing DX, you just have to have 2 receivers,
because you gotta listen to the pileup.

Now let's say you're tuning through the pile, looking for the guy he's
working -- where is he? Hard to find him because the pile is sooooo wide.
This is where a bandscope is valuable. The wider the pile, the more
potential value the bandscope offers. Sometimes you can spot the guy right
away, get the subreceiver on him, and hear him, and boom! The scope can be
invaluable when the pile is very wide and you are tuning and tuning but
never finding the station who is working the DX. However, the bandscope
alone will not do this job; you gotta hear what's going on. You can't tell
just from looking at the pips who is doing what. So the second receiver is
a must.

OTOH, in a contest you can tune through the pile with the RIT, because
everybody is packed together. Then the bandscope is more valuable,
especially for search & pounce, because you can just cruise along the band
spotting signals and picking 'em off. Receiver #2 doesn't necessarily add
anything that you can't get with RIT.

For the best of both worlds, get both.

73, Tony KT0NY

--
http://www.isb.edu/faculty/facultydir.aspx?ddlFaculty=352
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k6dgw

Re: K3DVR banks [was Best add on for K3]

In reply to this post by Michael D. Adams

On 5/23/2012 11:34 AM, Michael D. Adams wrote:
> I would be extremely interested in seeing what the CAT commands or
> N1MM macros look like if both banks are in use.

The devil is in the details, which probably doesn't surprise anyone.
N1MM easily accesses Bank 1, just program an F-key macro to emulate
REC-Hold [of course you can always just hold REC too :-)] The bank
switch is a toggle and thus, N1MM needs to know the current bank before
switching since it might not need to switch. I thought about starting
and ending a Bank 2 macro with a REC-hold macro, but that kills the
playback immediately.

I've never figured out a practical way to use Bank 2 from N1MM except
dedicate an F-key to emulate a REC-hold and try and remember what state
the DVR is in. I forgot about 50% of the time. It's not a problem for
me because I don't operate many phone contests, and when I do, except
for ARRL SS, my CQ is the only thing I record in the DVR. Even for SS,
4 is plenty.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2012 Cal QSO Party 6-7 Oct 2012
- www.cqp.org

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Jim Brown-10

Re: Best add on for K3

In reply to this post by Jim Sheldon

On 5/23/2012 11:51 AM, Jim Sheldon wrote:
> so I have to live with the 3db degradation of signal when it's on.

Although I have multiple antennas, I often have the second RX on the
same antenna as the main RX. I've never run into a situation where
adding the load of the second RX made it more difficult to copy the DX.
For this to be true, internal noise would have to be as great as noise
coming in on the antenna. My QTH is fairly quiet, but it isn't that
quiet. :) Perhaps the attenuator is on and you don't know it? Or the
preamp should be turned on and it isn't?

73, Jim K9YC
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Rick Johnson-2

Re: Best add on for K3

The best....by far... add-on I have gotten for my
K3 is the KPA500.. ;c )

73,
Rick W3BI

> Date: Thu, 24 May 2012 09:44:01 -0700
> From: [hidden email]
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Best add on for K3
>
> On 5/23/2012 11:51 AM, Jim Sheldon wrote:
> > so I have to live with the 3db degradation of signal when it's on.
>
> Although I have multiple antennas, I often have the second RX on the
> same antenna as the main RX. I've never run into a situation where
> adding the load of the second RX made it more difficult to copy the DX.
> For this to be true, internal noise would have to be as great as noise
> coming in on the antenna. My QTH is fairly quiet, but it isn't that
> quiet. :) Perhaps the attenuator is on and you don't know it? Or the
> preamp should be turned on and it isn't?
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
> ______________________________________________________________
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