Elecraft and Ten Tec
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It is time for a new rig; actually my first "new" rig in many years since I
typically buy a used rig from someone. I own both Elecraft and Ten Tec; K-1 and Omni 6 among others. The choice I am working on now is that of either the K-3 or the Eagle. The K-3 with one filter for CW will be more expensive than the Eagle with one filter (not by much) and of course the Eagle is not a kit. I operate mostly CW for rag chew, occasional contest, and DX. I do not think that I need all the options shown on the Elecraft website order form. I have never seen a K-3 up close, but I am concerned about the menu that some say takes a lot of getting used to. So several questions: is the menu concern not really an issue (?) or is it ; do I need anything else in the way of options (I have a good ATU) (?); and does the physical size of the control face pose a problem in your opinion. Please feel free to reply directly offline since I am sure the list has heard these questions many times. I would like to hear from you. 73s Roger W7RIP ______________________________________________________________ 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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Roger,
I went through the same decision process as you a few years ago. I had a Ten-Tec at the time. I bought my K3 kit sight unseen. As for the radio, I can't imagine anything better that my ears would notice. (I use a CM500 headset/boom mike.) I bought the 8-pole filters to give it the steepest skirts. I bought a few extras, but I did not stuff it full. I find the K3 QSK is excellent if you are wondering. Pretty much, everything about CW is user tailored. The CWT feature is great. I find operating conveniences are excellent. The chassis size has been fine for me. As for the menu question, it gives me no trouble, and using a menu is seldom needed. IMHO, the menu system is easy to use, and affords versatility to the radio. Your decision should include the future possibility of adding a P3 pan adapter. It adds flexibility and control to operating. Even if you only ragchew, it will show interference on the band and is a valuable aid for trouble shooting. All things are relative. I recommend you consider your vision if your plans are to build a kit. Dick, n0ce ----- Original Message ----- From: Rip R To: [hidden email] Sent: Saturday, June 22, 2013 6:30 PM Subject: [Elecraft] Elecraft and Ten Tec It is time for a new rig; actually my first "new" rig in many years since I typically buy a used rig from someone. I own both Elecraft and Ten Tec; K-1 and Omni 6 among others. The choice I am working on now is that of either the K-3 or the Eagle. The K-3 with one filter for CW will be more expensive than the Eagle with one filter (not by much) and of course the Eagle is not a kit. I operate mostly CW for rag chew, occasional contest, and DX. I do not think that I need all the options shown on the Elecraft website order form. I have never seen a K-3 up close, but I am concerned about the menu that some say takes a lot of getting used to. So several questions: is the menu concern not really an issue (?) or is it ; do I need anything else in the way of options (I have a good ATU) (?); and does the physical size of the control face pose a problem in your opinion. Please feel free to reply directly offline since I am sure the list has heard these questions many times. I would like to hear from you. 73s Roger W7RIP ______________________________________________________________ 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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Anyone else noticed that TenTec has ceased advertising in QST?
-W4SK -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Richard Fjeld Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 10:18 AM To: Rip R; [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft and Ten Tec Roger, I went through the same decision process as you a few years ago. I had a Ten-Tec at the time. I bought my K3 kit sight unseen. As for the radio, I can't imagine anything better that my ears would notice. (I use a CM500 headset/boom mike.) I bought the 8-pole filters to give it the steepest skirts. I bought a few extras, but I did not stuff it full. I find the K3 QSK is excellent if you are wondering. Pretty much, everything about CW is user tailored. The CWT feature is great. I find operating conveniences are excellent. The chassis size has been fine for me. As for the menu question, it gives me no trouble, and using a menu is seldom needed. IMHO, the menu system is easy to use, and affords versatility to the radio. Your decision should include the future possibility of adding a P3 pan adapter. It adds flexibility and control to operating. Even if you only ragchew, it will show interference on the band and is a valuable aid for trouble shooting. All things are relative. I recommend you consider your vision if your plans are to build a kit. Dick, n0ce ----- Original Message ----- From: Rip R To: [hidden email] Sent: Saturday, June 22, 2013 6:30 PM Subject: [Elecraft] Elecraft and Ten Tec It is time for a new rig; actually my first "new" rig in many years since I typically buy a used rig from someone. I own both Elecraft and Ten Tec; K-1 and Omni 6 among others. The choice I am working on now is that of either the K-3 or the Eagle. The K-3 with one filter for CW will be more expensive than the Eagle with one filter (not by much) and of course the Eagle is not a kit. I operate mostly CW for rag chew, occasional contest, and DX. I do not think that I need all the options shown on the Elecraft website order form. I have never seen a K-3 up close, but I am concerned about the menu that some say takes a lot of getting used to. So several questions: is the menu concern not really an issue (?) or is it ; do I need anything else in the way of options (I have a good ATU) (?); and does the physical size of the control face pose a problem in your opinion. Please feel free to reply directly offline since I am sure the list has heard these questions many times. I would like to hear from you. 73s Roger W7RIP ______________________________________________________________ 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 ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by Richard Fjeld
On 6/24/2013 8:18 AM, Richard Fjeld wrote:
> As for the radio, I can't imagine anything better that my ears would notice. (I use a CM500 headset/boom mike.) I bought the 8-pole filters to give it the steepest skirts. I bought a few extras, but I did not stuff it full. I find the K3 QSK is excellent if you are wondering. Pretty much, everything about CW is user tailored. The CWT feature is great. Agreed on all counts. > > I find operating conveniences are excellent. The chassis size has been fine for me. Yes > As for the menu question, it gives me no trouble, and using a menu is seldom needed. IMHO, the menu system is easy to use, and affords versatility to the radio. Yes. The menu system is needed ONLY for changing the setup of the radio. Everything you need on a day to day basis is on the front panel. There are two levels of menus. The top level, the simplest, does adjustments like VOX level. We used two K3s on FD, and as far as I know, never touched the menus while putting 1,002 QSOs in the log running QRP. > Your decision should include the future possibility of adding a P3 pan adapter. It adds flexibility and control to operating. Even if you only ragchew, it will show interference on the band and is a valuable aid for trouble shooting. Yes, quite nice. But you can make that decision later -- just call up and order it. > I recommend you consider your vision if your plans are to build a kit. The K3 series of kits are essentially "screw together" kits of pre-tested boards and chassis parts, mostly with 4-40 screws. The only tricky part with respect to vision is mating the front panel board to the main board at the end of the process. My 71-year old eyes aren't great, but I've done two of them with no difficulty. A thought with respect to filters. The filters are ROOFING filters, not IF filters. All the IF filtering that in the old days were done with crystal filters are done in DSP in the K3. The primary function of a roofing filter is to protect the DSP from getting blown away by VERY strong signals. The stock K3 comes with a 2.7 kHz 5-pole roofing filter that is also used for TX. I suggest that you buy the K3 without an additional filter and use it for a while before spending the bucks on another filter. You are unlikely to need it for ragchewing or DXing, and even for casual contesting. And it is VERY easy to add later if you should decide that you need it. I've long been a Ten Tec fan, have owned two of their transceivers, and still own four of their power amps. I know nothing about the Eagle, but the differences between the two companies are night and day. Both are good US companies, but Elecraft is FAR more in touch with their customers, who are, in general, a lot smarter and far more demanding. That has a lot to do why their products are so "right" for hams. 73, Jim K9YC ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by Richard Fjeld
Roger, I considered an Omni VII or the K3. The K3 won out for me because it
was so modular that I could add to it as I grew my interests. I don't find the menu system a problem because I rarely go that deep into it. If you're not computer friendly, the K3 may not be your cup of tea. Over all, I hear stuff I couldn't hear before and its flexibility is amazing. As a friend said, you can change everything but the size of the box. I've had it about six months and I'm still learning things about the radio. Elecraft Tech support is the best I have seen in the field. 73, Ron, K5HM [hidden email] www.qrz.com/db/k5hm -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Richard Fjeld Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 10:18 AM To: Rip R; [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft and Ten Tec Roger, I went through the same decision process as you a few years ago. I had a Ten-Tec at the time. I bought my K3 kit sight unseen. As for the radio, I can't imagine anything better that my ears would notice. (I use a CM500 headset/boom mike.) I bought the 8-pole filters to give it the steepest skirts. I bought a few extras, but I did not stuff it full. I find the K3 QSK is excellent if you are wondering. Pretty much, everything about CW is user tailored. The CWT feature is great. I find operating conveniences are excellent. The chassis size has been fine for me. As for the menu question, it gives me no trouble, and using a menu is seldom needed. IMHO, the menu system is easy to use, and affords versatility to the radio. Your decision should include the future possibility of adding a P3 pan adapter. It adds flexibility and control to operating. Even if you only ragchew, it will show interference on the band and is a valuable aid for trouble shooting. All things are relative. I recommend you consider your vision if your plans are to build a kit. Dick, n0ce ----- Original Message ----- From: Rip R To: [hidden email] Sent: Saturday, June 22, 2013 6:30 PM Subject: [Elecraft] Elecraft and Ten Tec It is time for a new rig; actually my first "new" rig in many years since I typically buy a used rig from someone. I own both Elecraft and Ten Tec; K-1 and Omni 6 among others. The choice I am working on now is that of either the K-3 or the Eagle. The K-3 with one filter for CW will be more expensive than the Eagle with one filter (not by much) and of course the Eagle is not a kit. I operate mostly CW for rag chew, occasional contest, and DX. I do not think that I need all the options shown on the Elecraft website order form. I have never seen a K-3 up close, but I am concerned about the menu that some say takes a lot of getting used to. So several questions: is the menu concern not really an issue (?) or is it ; do I need anything else in the way of options (I have a good ATU) (?); and does the physical size of the control face pose a problem in your opinion. Please feel free to reply directly offline since I am sure the list has heard these questions many times. I would like to hear from you. 73s Roger W7RIP ______________________________________________________________ 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 ______________________________________________________________ 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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Guys,
The comparison made is interesting and I understand the simple rig versus the higher performance rig. The real comparison is the K3 and Orion II and the K3 wins this comparison. I own both rigs. 73 Doug EI2CN -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of K5HM Sent: 25 June 2013 17:43 To: 'Richard Fjeld'; 'Rip R'; [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft and Ten Tec Roger, I considered an Omni VII or the K3. The K3 won out for me because it was so modular that I could add to it as I grew my interests. I don't find the menu system a problem because I rarely go that deep into it. If you're not computer friendly, the K3 may not be your cup of tea. Over all, I hear stuff I couldn't hear before and its flexibility is amazing. As a friend said, you can change everything but the size of the box. I've had it about six months and I'm still learning things about the radio. Elecraft Tech support is the best I have seen in the field. 73, Ron, K5HM [hidden email] www.qrz.com/db/k5hm -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Richard Fjeld Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 10:18 AM To: Rip R; [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft and Ten Tec Roger, I went through the same decision process as you a few years ago. I had a Ten-Tec at the time. I bought my K3 kit sight unseen. As for the radio, I can't imagine anything better that my ears would notice. (I use a CM500 headset/boom mike.) I bought the 8-pole filters to give it the steepest skirts. I bought a few extras, but I did not stuff it full. I find the K3 QSK is excellent if you are wondering. Pretty much, everything about CW is user tailored. The CWT feature is great. I find operating conveniences are excellent. The chassis size has been fine for me. As for the menu question, it gives me no trouble, and using a menu is seldom needed. IMHO, the menu system is easy to use, and affords versatility to the radio. Your decision should include the future possibility of adding a P3 pan adapter. It adds flexibility and control to operating. Even if you only ragchew, it will show interference on the band and is a valuable aid for trouble shooting. All things are relative. I recommend you consider your vision if your plans are to build a kit. Dick, n0ce ----- Original Message ----- From: Rip R To: [hidden email] Sent: Saturday, June 22, 2013 6:30 PM Subject: [Elecraft] Elecraft and Ten Tec It is time for a new rig; actually my first "new" rig in many years since I typically buy a used rig from someone. I own both Elecraft and Ten Tec; K-1 and Omni 6 among others. The choice I am working on now is that of either the K-3 or the Eagle. The K-3 with one filter for CW will be more expensive than the Eagle with one filter (not by much) and of course the Eagle is not a kit. I operate mostly CW for rag chew, occasional contest, and DX. I do not think that I need all the options shown on the Elecraft website order form. I have never seen a K-3 up close, but I am concerned about the menu that some say takes a lot of getting used to. So several questions: is the menu concern not really an issue (?) or is it ; do I need anything else in the way of options (I have a good ATU) (?); and does the physical size of the control face pose a problem in your opinion. Please feel free to reply directly offline since I am sure the list has heard these questions many times. I would like to hear from you. 73s Roger W7RIP ______________________________________________________________ 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 ______________________________________________________________ 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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