Flex 3000 or KX3

[smhamon]

O.K.  I know this is a personal decision, but I'm on the horns of a serious dilemma.  I've heard rave reviews for both the Flex 3000 and the KX3 Elecraft.  But my major concerns are that although both are about the same in price (that is, when you add the filter, tuner, mic, etc. to the KX3), the KX3 is still only capable of 10 watts.  I want a unit for my base and one I can travel with and I can't afford to purchase a separate rig for each purpose.  (It seems many Hams are independently wealthy!)  If I wait for the KX3 100 watt amp, will that be another thousand?  I would appreciate any sage Elmer advice you can spare.

Thanks and 73s--Steve (a newbie)

KI6GRT

--
Steve Hamon 

[4Z5TO]

Hi Steve,

Not a sage Elmer, but it would seem to me that the KX3 would bee your better choice and this is why since you mentioned "travel"...

The Flex3000 is 90 more watts, but you will also need an outboard computer of some sort to go with it, there is no other way to really control it from my understanding- (maybe there's a smart phone/tablet app you could use).

While on the other hand, the KX3 is totally self-dependent requiring nothing else except an antenna (the Flex will need an antenna too) as there is a control panel attached to it - no extra laptop/desktop w/monitor required.

At any rate for either rig I would invest in a good antenna system so you can take advantage of max wattage should you decide to do so. Amazingly enough, you can make a lot of good contacts with 10 watts.

So it seems to boil down to this, how much traveling do you do where you really expect to operate your rig?

73,
Douglas

[4Z5TO]

When I wrote, "While on the other hand, the KX3 is totally self-dependent..." that would include all the given "extras" you mentioned. You will also need some of those with the Flex don't forget.

73,
Douglas

[wayne burdick]

Steve is taking me up on the IC-730S, which I just dusted off and  
tested this afternoon.

It's a bit of a shock to see the KX3 sitting next to the IC-730 and  
realize just how far we've come. Six KX3s would fit inside the IC730,  
yet the KX3 has a much better display, more bands, more modes, DSP  
features, internal ATU and batteries, and much better dynamic range.

Best of all, there's no multi-section band switch :)  Steve is going  
to have to hit it with some contact cleaner.

73,
Wayne
N6KR


On Apr 4, 2012, at 1:59 PM, 4Z5TO wrote:

> Hi Steve,
>
> Not a sage Elmer, but it would seem to me that the KX3 would bee  
> your better
> choice and this is why since you mentioned "travel"...
>
> The Flex3000 is 90 more watts, but you will also need an outboard  
> computer
> of some sort to go with it, there is no other way to really control  
> it from
> my understanding- (maybe there's a smart phone/tablet app you could  
> use).
>
> While on the other hand, the KX3 is totally self-dependent requiring  
> nothing
> else except an antenna (the Flex will need an antenna too) as there  
> is a
> control panel attached to it - no extra laptop/desktop w/monitor  
> required.
>
> At any rate for either rig I would invest in a good antenna system  
> so you
> can take advantage of max wattage should you decide to do so.  
> Amazingly
> enough, you can make a lot of good contacts with 10 watts.
>
> So it seems to boil down to this, how much traveling do you do where  
> you
> really expect to operate your rig?
>
> 73,
> Douglas
>
> -----
> In Italy for 30 years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror,  
> murder, bloodshed - they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci  
> and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love, 500  
> years of democracy and peace and what did that produce? The cuckoo  
> clock.  - Orsen Welles
> --
> View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Flex-3000-or-KX3-tp7422850p7438046.html
> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
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[Don Baucom]

Dont worry about 1,000 more. If you really get into this hobby there many more 1,000 dollar decisions down the road. I have yet to see a Flex on a SOTA activation video

73
Don
K4YND

[Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ]

Folks, this thread was closed earlier today in the interest of reducing
the list noise level due to its high number of postings.

73,

Eric
List Moderator
---
www.elecraft.com


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[Bob Hinkle]

I have the Flex 3000 and it and the KX3 are two different critters.  The KX3 (10 watts max) is basically self contained. Small outboard power supply or battery needed if you're running it all day, probably.

The Flex (100 watts max) requires a computer (works fine on a laptop, but you need a FireWire port) or a desktop (still need that FireWire port). You also need a larger power supply for the Flex (unless you run that at low power with batteries) and external POWERED speakers too (or headphones)

So.... the Flex is more powerful of course, but requires a lot of peripheral equipment. The KX3 is basically self-contained, but low power. As you've investigated, prices are about the same.

In the end, I'm keeping the Flex and have ordered the KX3. It's going to be a fun summer in the parks!

Just one quick opinion.. Bob  KK8ZZ