Buying a Used K3(S) - any things to consider?
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Sorry but I just need a little help with this - I'm in the K4 Group 3
list and know it will be a while before I get the call, so considering buying a used K3(S) in the mean time. This would be my first Elecraft and I am hesitant to jump in knowing the support has ended. Are there any guidelines to consider if I do purchase one? Things like: 1) Find the KIOB3 card that has ACC/RJ45/USB or doesn't that matter? 2) What's the deal with the SPEAKER jack always looking like a horseshoe with the chrome ring missing? Is that an easy part replacement or does it mean something else? I tend to see this a lot in listings and that concerns me. 3) Why on some radios the ANT jacks are different colors? I'd like to have both teflon white but also see the old brown bakelite color in pictures. 3) Any serial number above range to pick from? I know these are all 5-15 years old but I'm still running a 33-year old Icom Superhet with a 250hz xtal filter; not a real fan of visual eye-candy waterfalls or the Pan adapters - call me crazy but it seems distracting. Maybe the K3 with a regular screen would be better for me long term than the fancier K4 (although it's beautiful). 4) Does the CW decoder display work when you have the second RX installed/enabled? The going used rate for a K3 is around $1500-$2500 and $3000-$4000 for a K3S (which is the K4's starting price but less than 5 years old). I don't want to have to beg for boards if something goes wrong after an unseen online purchase. I've ruled out the other SDR alternatives from Icom, Kenwood and Flex as I know I want an Elecraft due to their heritage. Being an SDR noobie I'd love to try one first but that's not going to happen. Appreciate any pointers... Thanks, Tony - KX3H ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] |
Re: Buying a Used K3(S) - any things to consider?
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I don't know the answer to all your questions but I will note the following: The KIOb3 board is not essential. You just need to have a serial port or a USB adapter for connecting with a computer. I never bothered to upgrade mine when I upgraded the synthesizers on my K3. Many of us have found the panadapter to be very helpful. The P3 panadapter is a pretty sophisticated device and many of us have found it really helpful particularly in contest situations. It is kind of like moving around the band with your eyes open instead of operating blind. I -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On Behalf Of Tony KX3H Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 2020 9:06 PM To: [hidden email] Subject: [Elecraft] Buying a Used K3(S) - any things to consider? Sorry but I just need a little help with this - I'm in the K4 Group 3 list and know it will be a while before I get the call, so considering buying a used K3(S) in the mean time. This would be my first Elecraft and I am hesitant to jump in knowing the support has ended. Are there any guidelines to consider if I do purchase one? Things like: 1) Find the KIOB3 card that has ACC/RJ45/USB or doesn't that matter? 2) What's the deal with the SPEAKER jack always looking like a horseshoe with the chrome ring missing? Is that an easy part replacement or does it mean something else? I tend to see this a lot in listings and that concerns me. 3) Why on some radios the ANT jacks are different colors? I'd like to have both teflon white but also see the old brown bakelite color in pictures. 3) Any serial number above range to pick from? I know these are all 5-15 years old but I'm still running a 33-year old Icom Superhet with a 250hz xtal filter; not a real fan of visual eye-candy waterfalls or the Pan adapters - call me crazy but it seems distracting. Maybe the K3 with a regular screen would be better for me long term than the fancier K4 (although it's beautiful). 4) Does the CW decoder display work when you have the second RX installed/enabled? The going used rate for a K3 is around $1500-$2500 and $3000-$4000 for a K3S (which is the K4's starting price but less than 5 years old). I don't want to have to beg for boards if something goes wrong after an unseen online purchase. I've ruled out the other SDR alternatives from Icom, Kenwood and Flex as I know I want an Elecraft due to their heritage. Being an SDR noobie I'd love to try one first but that's not going to happen. Appreciate any pointers... Thanks, Tony - KX3H ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] |
Re: Buying a Used K3(S) - any things to consider?
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In reply to this post by Tony KX3H
Tony,
The K3/K3S is a very good transceiver. I can't answer your question about the speaker jack, but I assume it is because of the lighting in the photos. You can easily replace the SO-239 jacks with the connector of your choice, but IMHO it will not make any difference. I once changed those connectors to type N because that customer did not trust the UHF connectors. Support of the K3 and K3S will not end just because they are not shipping. I worked Elecraft Support for the Legacy Gear from 2004 until Feb 2019, and every product that Elecraft has produced is supported as long as parts are available. My experience with Elecraft goes back to the start of the company in 1998. The CW decode will work with SubRX on or off. The KIO3 or KIO3A is adequate if you connect to RS-232 ports or a good USB to RS-232 adapter (FTDI chipset). If something happens and it fails, you will have to upgrade to the KIO3B. Similarly, the synthesizers - the old ones are no longer available from Elecraft, and in case of failure, the new synthesizers would have to be used as replacements. If your K3 has the old synthesizers, replacing them would give a big advantage - the K3S already has the upgraded synthesizers. So as long as the parts are available, Elecraft will continue to support their older products. The only products that are no longer supported (for lack of replacement parts) are the K1 4 band board (should the trimmer capacitors fail) or some of the parts for the XV50, XV222, and XV432 transverters - again only for lack of some replacement parts. Even those older units that have parts availability problems may be sent in for service, and will be repaired unless the failure is because of a no longer available part. I expect this practice to continue for many years with the K3 and K3S as well as the Legacy Products. I am quite pleased with my K3 upgraded with the new synthesizers, and it will likely be my last transceiver, although I also have my original Field Test K2 (fully upgraded) and a KX3/PX3/KXPA100 and KX2 for field work. All carry SN 000020 except for the KX2. Both the K3 and the KX3 have been sent through the Elecraft repair facility, while I upgraded my K2/100 myself because it was the same as I was doing for customers. 73, Don W3FPR On 12/17/2020 12:05 AM, Tony KX3H wrote: > Sorry but I just need a little help with this - I'm in the K4 Group 3 > list and know it will be a while before I get the call, so considering > buying a used K3(S) in the mean time. This would be my first Elecraft > and I am hesitant to jump in knowing the support has ended. Are there > any guidelines to consider if I do purchase one? > > Things like: > 1) Find the KIOB3 card that has ACC/RJ45/USB or doesn't that matter? > > 2) What's the deal with the SPEAKER jack always looking like a > horseshoe with the chrome ring missing? Is that an easy part replacement > or does it mean something else? I tend to see this a lot in listings and > that concerns me. > > 3) Why on some radios the ANT jacks are different colors? I'd like > to have both teflon white but also see the old brown bakelite color in > pictures. > > 3) Any serial number above range to pick from? I know these are all > 5-15 years old but I'm still running a 33-year old Icom Superhet with a > 250hz xtal filter; not a real fan of visual eye-candy waterfalls or the > Pan adapters - call me crazy but it seems distracting. Maybe the K3 with > a regular screen would be better for me long term than the fancier K4 > (although it's beautiful). > > 4) Does the CW decoder display work when you have the second RX > installed/enabled? > 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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Thank you Don, this is good information, especially eliminating the
support worry. I am pleased at the possibilities ahead and have some leads on a few radios. I need a decent CW decoder to help me as my speed increases; I'm using a soundcard decoder with N1MM but it's hit and miss with my current setup. 73, Tony On 12/19/20 6:07 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: > Tony, > > The K3/K3S is a very good transceiver. I can't answer your question > about the speaker jack, but I assume it is because of the lighting in > the photos. You can easily replace the SO-239 jacks with the > connector of your choice, but IMHO it will not make any difference. I > once changed those connectors to type N because that customer did not > trust the UHF connectors. > > Support of the K3 and K3S will not end just because they are not > shipping. I worked Elecraft Support for the Legacy Gear from 2004 > until Feb 2019, and every product that Elecraft has produced is > supported as long as parts are available. My experience with Elecraft > goes back to the start of the company in 1998. > > The CW decode will work with SubRX on or off. > > The KIO3 or KIO3A is adequate if you connect to RS-232 ports or a good > USB to RS-232 adapter (FTDI chipset). If something happens and it > fails, you will have to upgrade to the KIO3B. > > Similarly, the synthesizers - the old ones are no longer available > from Elecraft, and in case of failure, the new synthesizers would have > to be used as replacements. If your K3 has the old synthesizers, > replacing them would give a big advantage - the K3S already has the > upgraded synthesizers. > > So as long as the parts are available, Elecraft will continue to > support their older products. The only products that are no longer > supported (for lack of replacement parts) are the K1 4 band board > (should the trimmer capacitors fail) or some of the parts for the > XV50, XV222, and XV432 transverters - again only for lack of some > replacement parts. Even those older units that have parts availability > problems may be sent in for service, and will be repaired unless the > failure is because of a no longer available part. I expect this > practice to continue for many years with the K3 and K3S as well as the > Legacy Products. > > I am quite pleased with my K3 upgraded with the new synthesizers, and > it will likely be my last transceiver, although I also have my > original Field Test K2 (fully upgraded) and a KX3/PX3/KXPA100 and KX2 > for field work. All carry SN 000020 except for the KX2. Both the K3 > and the KX3 have been sent through the Elecraft repair facility, while > I upgraded my K2/100 myself because it was the same as I was doing for > customers. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > > > On 12/17/2020 12:05 AM, Tony KX3H wrote: >> Sorry but I just need a little help with this - I'm in the K4 Group 3 >> list and know it will be a while before I get the call, so >> considering buying a used K3(S) in the mean time. This would be my >> first Elecraft and I am hesitant to jump in knowing the support has >> ended. Are there any guidelines to consider if I do purchase one? >> >> Things like: >> 1) Find the KIOB3 card that has ACC/RJ45/USB or doesn't that matter? >> >> 2) What's the deal with the SPEAKER jack always looking like a >> horseshoe with the chrome ring missing? Is that an easy part >> replacement or does it mean something else? I tend to see this a lot >> in listings and that concerns me. >> >> 3) Why on some radios the ANT jacks are different colors? I'd >> like to have both teflon white but also see the old brown bakelite >> color in pictures. >> >> 3) Any serial number above range to pick from? I know these are >> all 5-15 years old but I'm still running a 33-year old Icom Superhet >> with a 250hz xtal filter; not a real fan of visual eye-candy >> waterfalls or the Pan adapters - call me crazy but it seems >> distracting. Maybe the K3 with a regular screen would be better for >> me long term than the fancier K4 (although it's beautiful). >> >> 4) Does the CW decoder display work when you have the second RX >> installed/enabled? >> 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 Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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