K3 - Should I buy simple now or save for loaded rig?

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K3 - Should I buy simple now or save for loaded rig?

Stan AE7UT
OK... I assembled a KX3 about 2 weeks ago and I'm finding it to be a better receiver for me than my Orion II.
A noise blanker and noise reduction that actually work!
CW/PSK/FSK decoding!  I'm just floored by how nice this little rig sounds.
I am assuming the K3 would be as nice or nicer.  So I'd like to get one.

I only have $2K at the moment to spend but could save another $1-2 K in the next 2 months.

The quesiton is should I get a K3 now (hoping to beat the price increase) or wait and buy the
fully loaded version in a couple of months?  How difficult is it to keep adding modules on?
I would be buying the kit form.  

Thanks for being my sounding board on this one.  I just don't want to make a big mistake with
that much money.

73
Stan AE7UT
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Re: K3 - Should I buy simple now or save for loaded rig?

Don Wilhelm-4
Stan,

While everyone has their "clippoints", I would suggest that you purchase
the base K3 now before the price increase, and then ponder what
additional options you might want (even though the price increase may
have gone by).  OTOH, if you already know what K3 features you want,
order them now to take advantage of the prices.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 9/12/2012 11:21 PM, Stan AE7UT wrote:

> OK... I assembled a KX3 about 2 weeks ago and I'm finding it to be a better
> receiver for me than my Orion II.
> A noise blanker and noise reduction that actually work!
> CW/PSK/FSK decoding!  I'm just floored by how nice this little rig sounds.
> I am assuming the K3 would be as nice or nicer.  So I'd like to get one.
>
> I only have $2K at the moment to spend but could save another $1-2 K in the
> next 2 months.
>
>

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Re: K3 - Should I buy simple now or save for loaded rig?

Matt Zilmer
In reply to this post by Stan AE7UT
Adding modules is a breeze.  My advice: Buy the K3 with the options
you can afford or want to spend on, now.  Upgrade later.

73,
matt W6NIA

On Wed, 12 Sep 2012 20:21:57 -0700 (PDT), you wrote:

>OK... I assembled a KX3 about 2 weeks ago and I'm finding it to be a better
>receiver for me than my Orion II.
>A noise blanker and noise reduction that actually work!
>CW/PSK/FSK decoding!  I'm just floored by how nice this little rig sounds.
>I am assuming the K3 would be as nice or nicer.  So I'd like to get one.
>
>I only have $2K at the moment to spend but could save another $1-2 K in the
>next 2 months.
>
>The quesiton is should I get a K3 now (hoping to beat the price increase) or
>wait and buy the
>fully loaded version in a couple of months?  How difficult is it to keep
>adding modules on?
>I would be buying the kit form.  
>
>Thanks for being my sounding board on this one.  I just don't want to make a
>big mistake with
>that much money.
>
>73
>Stan AE7UT
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Re: K3 - Should I buy simple now or save for loaded rig?

Jim Brown-10
In reply to this post by Stan AE7UT
On 9/12/2012 8:21 PM, Stan AE7UT wrote:
> The quesiton is should I get a K3 now (hoping to beat the price increase) or
> wait and buy the fully loaded version in a couple of months?  How difficult
> is it to keep adding modules on? I would be buying the kit form.

Not difficult at all.  The only tricky part about building a fully
loaded K3 is that the sub-RX is a real shoe-horn job, and you have to
remove it to add stuff to either it or the main board, even filters.
Thus, I would suggest that you make it the last thing you add.
Everything else is a piece of cake.

Another alternative.  The KX3 is a real nice radio.  For about the price
of a not-loaded K3  you could add a KPA500 to it and have a 250W radio.  
It all depends on what you want to do with it when you're done. :)  
Later, buy the K3 with the KAT500 high power antenna tuner, drive the
amp with that, and you've got a real nice 600W station.

73, Jim K9YC

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Re: K3 - Should I buy simple now or save for loaded rig?

Don KA1KU
In reply to this post by Stan AE7UT
I just went through a very similar scenario.  A few months ago I bought a base K3 with one extra filter, the KAT2 and KXV3A.  I purchased the kit version.  A couple of weeks ago  I decided to add two 200 matching filters, the gen coverage rcv, the sub rcv and the 100 watt kit.
This is a fairily major upgrade since the sub requires removal and some disassembly of the front pannel to install the sub's DSP.  
I first studied the original assembly manual to see the order of adding these at the time of original build.  I then proceeded with the manuals for each of the three new modules, sub DSP front panel firsr, then gen cov, then 100watt, and finally the actual sub rcv.
Although it seemed a little overwhelming at first, when looking at all the parts and instructions, the process was very straightforward, almost too easy.  The instructions are excellent as expected.  The best part was that everything worked.
The only difficult part was getting the sub installed, in particular, getting those darn cables positioned correctly and out of the way.  This has nothing to do with adding it later.  It's why you don't want to remove the sub too often.  Hint, get any other modules you want first, including filters.
One last point...by building the K3 kit to start with, you won't be intimidated to do some add-ons later.
Good luck with your purchase.
73,
Don KA1KU
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Re: K3 - Should I buy simple now or save for loaded rig?

Don Wilhelm-4
Don,

That is good information for prospective kit builders.  Yes, the
Elecraft instructions are very good - follow the instructions given in
the manual and you will have success.

73,
Don W3FPR


On 9/26/2012 8:54 PM, Don KA1KU wrote:

> I just went through a very similar scenario.  A few months ago I bought a
> base K3 with one extra filter, the KAT2 and KXV3A.  I purchased the kit
> version.  A couple of weeks ago  I decided to add two 200 matching filters,
> the gen coverage rcv, the sub rcv and the 100 watt kit.
> This is a fairily major upgrade since the sub requires removal and some
> disassembly of the front pannel to install the sub's DSP.
> I first studied the original assembly manual to see the order of adding
> these at the time of original build.  I then proceeded with the manuals for
> each of the three new modules, sub DSP front panel firsr, then gen cov, then
> 100watt, and finally the actual sub rcv.
> Although it seemed a little overwhelming at first, when looking at all the
> parts and instructions, the process was very straightforward, almost too
> easy.  The instructions are excellent as expected.  The best part was that
> everything worked.
>

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