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K2 vs. K3 Rcvr

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WA2SI

K2 vs. K3 Rcvr

I'm contemplating replacing my K2/100's desktop companion, a Ten-Rec Jupiter, with a K3/100. I operate 100% casual CW.

Does anybody feel that the K2's rcvr is equal to or better than that of the K3, additional bells and whistles notwithstanding?

Vy 73 de Bert
WA2SI

"...and all the pieces matter."
-- Det. Lester Freamon, BPD

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4GLTE smartphone

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Rick Stealey

Re: K2 vs. K3 Rcvr

> Does anybody feel that the K2's rcvr is equal to or better than that of the K3, additional bells and whistles notwithstanding?
>
Bert - There probably are some people, but if so they have never operated a K3. I have had a K2 as
well as my K3 and in my opinion there are only 3 advantage of the K2, size, weight, and current drain.
And the first two are only advantages if you are considering portable operation. As far as performance,
the K3 wins in every category I can think of. But what do you mean by "better?"

Rick K2XT

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ny4g

Re: K2 vs. K3 Rcvr

In reply to this post by WA2SI

Bert
The specs say it all. The K2 is no slouch compared to the K3 in terms of MDS (Minimum discernable signal), BDR (Blocking Dynamic Range) and such. The K3 begins to have an edge in terms of IMD (intermodulation distortion) and phase noise. In that sense I believe the K3 is a better contesting rig specially when you add the bells and whistles. There are other advantages to a K2 - such as current draw - as low as 200mA versus the K3's 800mA which makes it better for portable ops using batteries - better at conserving energy and it is much smaller - even as a K2/100. Plus you have the bragging right of having almost as good a receiver as a K3 which you soldered together.
See the ARRL and Sherwood specs on the Elecraft page.
Ariel NY4G

> Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:11:52 -0500
> From: [hidden email]
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] K2 vs. K3 Rcvr
>
> I'm contemplating replacing my K2/100's desktop companion, a Ten-Rec Jupiter, with a K3/100. I operate 100% casual CW.
>
> Does anybody feel that the K2's rcvr is equal to or better than that of the K3, additional bells and whistles notwithstanding?
>
> Vy 73 de Bert
> WA2SI
>
> "...and all the pieces matter."
> -- Det. Lester Freamon, BPD
>
> Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4GLTE smartphone
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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WA2SI

Re: K2 vs. K3 Rcvr

In reply to this post by WA2SI

Hi Rick,

By better, I mean very quiet receive that's pleasing to the ear (Subjective, I know.) That can dig the weakest dige out from the noise floor. My unit is strictly a desktop rig, no portable operation. Tnx for the reply.

73, Bert

"...and all the pieces matter."
-- Det. Lester Freamon, BPD

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4GLTE smartphone

----- Reply message -----
From: "Rick Stealey" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>, <[hidden email]>
Subject: [Elecraft] K2 vs. K3 Rcvr
Date: Mon, Feb 20, 2012 06:21
> Does anybody feel that the K2's rcvr is equal to or better than that of the K3, additional bells and whistles notwithstanding?
>
Bert - There probably are some people, but if so they have never operated a K3. I have had a K2 as
well as my K3 and in my opinion there are only 3 advantage of the K2, size, weight, and current drain.
And the first two are only advantages if you are considering portable operation. As far as performance,
the K3 wins in every category I can think of. But what do you mean by "better?"

Rick K2XT
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Andrew Moore-3

Re: K2 vs. K3 Rcvr

In reply to this post by WA2SI

Bert - From a purely technical / functional standpoint (i.e. numbers), and
aside from current drain and bells/whistles, the K3's receiver has the
edge, and I think most would agree.

The K2's receiver is superb, and I occasionally try to make it my only rig
by putting the K3 aside for a few days at a time, as I prefer the K2 for
its analog signal path, size, current drain, simplicity, fewer
bells/whistles, through-hole design, etc. I usually last only about a day,
because for some reason I prefer the sound of the K3's receiver - it just
sounds "smoother," more refined, whatever that means. This could be
influenced by user interface, controls, display, for all I know.

Like you, I operate 100% casual CW (and an occasional QRP sprint) and it
took me a while to hear the differences between the two receivers. A
contester or DXer might hear the differences faster.

Bottom line - yes I think the K3 receiver has the edge, but to a casual op,
the differences might not jump out at you, but after a while, you might
find yourself preferring it. Everything in life's a tradeoff - the K2
still wins for a lot of other reasons (see above) and its receiver is right
up there among the best.

I find the advantage of the K3's receiver to be not so much in the
sensitivity, but in the selectivity, noise reduction and what you can do
with the DSP.

There's an op in my area who enjoys working DX and uses only a K2 at 5
watts to do it, and very successfully - after spending an afternoon in his
shack watching and learning, I saw he could do more with a K2 at 5 W than
I'll ever do with a K3 at 100. It was a humble reminder that it's more
about the op, patience, persistence and the antenna. Of course you can do
that too with the K3.

--Andrew, NV1B

On Mon, Feb 20, 2012 at 5:11 AM, Bert Craig <[hidden email]> wrote:

> ...
> Does anybody feel that the K2's rcvr is equal to or better than that of
> the K3, additional bells and whistles notwithstanding?
>
> Vy 73 de Bert
> WA2SI
>
>
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Gary D Krause

Re: K2 vs. K3 Rcvr

In reply to this post by WA2SI

Hi Bert,

I have both the K2 and K3. I also operate almost 100% CW and in a casual
manner. I don't contest but, I work a lot of QRP. I had the same question
before I bought the K3. So, to answer your question based on casual
operating, I would say that there is little difference. I seem to able to
hear weak signals just as well with the K2 using it's filters and the audio
DSP filter.

Gary,
N7HTS

On Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:11:52 -0500
Bert Craig <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I'm contemplating replacing my K2/100's desktop companion, a Ten-Rec
>Jupiter, with a K3/100. I operate 100% casual CW.
>
> Does anybody feel that the K2's rcvr is equal to or better than that of the
>K3, additional bells and whistles notwithstanding?
>
> Vy 73 de Bert
> WA2SI
>
> "...and all the pieces matter."
> -- Det. Lester Freamon, BPD
>
> Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4GLTE smartphone
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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