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K3/100 or KX3 with all the options?

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David Stratton

K3/100 or KX3 with all the options?

This question has been going around in my head

and I would like some feedback from Elecraft owners

for I have never had any Elecraft radio equipment.

Which is better to have a K3/100 kit or a KX3 with all

the options including the forthcoming 100 watt PA?

I'm assuming the cost will be about the same.

Dave - KO4KL

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Dave Johnson

Re: K3/100 or KX3 with all the options?

I don't have, nor have seen, the KX3. But from what I read it looks
more like competition for the K2. In the basic 10W version (ie without
a 100W external PA) the KX3 looks good to take with you on holiday,
camping trips etc. A KX3 will take up a lot less space in your hand
luggage than the K2 and offers quite a lot in that package too.

On the other hand, the K3 is a very capable contest, DXpedition and
shack "system" radio with a lot of interfacing capability and a darn
good receiver too. I have a nearly fully loaded K3 and bought the
basic K3/100 back in 2007. I don't see anything competing with the K3,
when you add in the superb 2nd receiver, P3 panadapter and matching
KPA500 amp you have a line up that is hard to beat for use at home or
on serious DX trips.

With my K3 I have a few extras added externally, such as a ferrite
splitter on the RF IN/OUT to give a 3rd receive capability with a
Perseus SDR (mostly used with CW Skimmer since getting the K3 2nd RX),
an SCS PTC-IIex Pactor/Amtor modem with switching of the K3 line audio
in/out between sound card (fldigi) and the SCS modem (how many other
ham transceivers offer a transformer isolated line in/out?), plus of
course the P3 that doesn't need a computer to use.

Compared to the above setup, I just don't see the KX3 competing in the
shack at home... Your requirements may be different.

73 Dave, G4AON
---------------------------
This question has been going around in my head and I would like some
feedback from Elecraft owners for I have never had any Elecraft radio
equipment.

Which is better to have a K3/100 kit or a KX3 with all the options
including the forthcoming 100 watt PA?

I'm assuming the cost will be about the same.

Dave - KO4KL
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Re: K3/100 or KX3 with all the options?

In reply to this post by David Stratton

David, I don't have a KX3, but I do have a K3, a TS-480, a TS-850SAT and a TS-440. I depends on what you want to do. If you want to set up a base station for general purpose operation and DX I would buy the K3/100 and if possible include the second receiver and the KAT-3. If your primary desire is mobile and or back packing you will be better served by the KX3. (I have my TS-480SAT in my truck and it is the closest thing to the KX3 that I know. I bought it before the KX3 was announced.) Every one of these rigs is a great choice for its day, but the K3 and probably the KX3 are better choices for today. (I say probably for the KX3 because I have never laid hands on one, just looked at the pictures and specs.) Unfortunately, there is no rig that is best for everything, I would guess that is why Elecraft sells five different transceivers and there are buyers for each one of them.

Willis 'Cookie' Cooke
K5EWJ & Trustee N5BPS, USS Cavalla, USS Stewart

________________________________
From: David Stratton <[hidden email]>
To: Elecraft Reflector <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2012 12:33 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] K3/100 or KX3 with all the options?

This question has been going around in my head

and I would like some feedback from Elecraft owners

for I have never had any Elecraft radio equipment.

Which is better to have a K3/100 kit or a KX3 with all

the options including the forthcoming 100 watt PA?

I'm assuming the cost will be about the same.

Dave - KO4KL

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Nr4c

Re: K3/100 or KX3 with all the options?

In reply to this post by David Stratton

A tuff question.

First, what are you going to so with the radio?

Second, the cost will most definately NOT be the same.

The K3 as a full featured contest radio capable of suporting multi
roofing filters, has a built-in 100 W PA and an ATU with two ant
outputs/inputs. It can be configfured with a second rec of equal spec
to the main reciever. It has easy out to computer for many digital
modes, has band decoding and easy connection to powerful linear amps for
up to legal limit output.

The K3 and KX3 have many similar features, and share operational
proceeddures, but they are not the same radio. The items I listed in
the above paragraph are things the K3 has that the KX3 will not have.
These are important to many users.

Now, the KX3 will have a builtin 10 W PA, and a 20 W ATU. And it will
sport internal batteries, it weighs but 16-20 oz, supports attached
paddles/key, has I/Q output for direct input to soundcard for SDR
recieve and panadapter use. It will have a very nice 100 external amp
with available ATU for remote mounting as in a mobile ienvironment.
These are but some of the things a KX3 will have that the K3 will not
have.

If you want the best base station for DX and contesting, with a
sub-rec, great filtering and want to drive a legal limit amp, get a K3.

However, if you are more likely to want to travel with a small, almost
pocket sized radio and operate from the trail or summit and not carry a
big battery and enjoy QRP, then the KX3 is right up your alley.

Now, all that being said, you could probably get a fully loaded KX3 for
around $2000 (with external amp and ATU when available). Or you can get
a 100W K3 with out the ATU for about the same price. If this is what
you want, take your choice, but if you buy the K3, you can expand it as
your needs(wants) grow.

OR, you can do what a lot of us are doing, and buy them both. They are
two different radios and many of us enjoy different aspects of the hobby
so each will have it's place. I do a lot of outdoor special events, and
the KX3 will be perfect, while I still like my K3 for my day to day
DXing and contesting. I would not like to have to make the choice of
one OR the other.

...bill nr4c

On Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:33:27 -0400, David Stratton wrote:

> This question has been going around in my head
>
> and I would like some feedback from Elecraft owners
>
> for I have never had any Elecraft radio equipment.
>
> Which is better to have a K3/100 kit or a KX3 with all
>
> the options including the forthcoming 100 watt PA?
>
> I'm assuming the cost will be about the same.
>
>
>
> Dave - KO4KL
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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David Gilbert

Re: K3/100 or KX3 with all the options?

In reply to this post by David Stratton

The only place I see the KX3 having an advantage is where size is an
absolute priority, such as for portable use. For all other applications
I can think of it is my opinion that the K3 beats the KX3.

73,
Dave AB7E

On 3/13/2012 10:33 AM, David Stratton wrote:

N0OKS

Re: K3/100 or KX3 with all the options?

In reply to this post by David Stratton

Just because the KX3 is small and light does not mean it would not be an ideal home rig.

Most of the subscribers to this email list appear to be pretty serious, competent, first class operators who are able to take full advantage of the features and abilities of the K3. The other 99.95% of the operators in the world, including me, would not be slowed down or disadvantaged very much with a K1 for QRP CW or a tricked out K2 / 100 watts for a home rig.

There is a real difference in price. The KX3 / 10 watts is $900 as a kit and $1,000 ready to go. Compare this to $1,550 & $1,750 for a K3 / 10, kit or ready to go. The cost of the 100 watt amp and tuner for the KX3 should be comparable to the 100 watt amp and tuner for the K3.

Save $650 by buying the KX3 and lose the opportunity to have a second, independent receiver; have performance numbers that are lower, but not significantly lower; miss out on some other add-ons that may not be all that important; and smile all the way to the bank.

Mark, NØOKS
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Edward R Cole

Re: K3/100 or KX3 with all the options?

In reply to this post by David Stratton

Well my answer is get them both! I have the K3/10 and ordered the
KX3 with KXFL3, KXAT3, and MH3. I left off the CW paddle and NiMH
charger as I will use an external key and battery for portable
use. I will order the KX3-2M and KXMM3 when available.

I might have been tempted to get the KX3 instead of K3/10 if it had
been available in 2010 when I bought the K3. It will be less
expensive and provides almost all that I desire. But having dual-Rx
and transverter I/F is essential for my activities ...so I'm keeping
the K3! The K3 really is a keeper!

73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45
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