K3 and whats next from Elecraft

[Arnie Grubbs-2]

Well, while everyone is putting out their wish lists......

While there is a glut of cheap FM HT and mobile VHF/UHF stuff, I don't think that 2M/430 is represented enough..
 FM is only one small bit of the upper bands, CW, SSB, Data (high speed mesh networks) and video are there too..
Cheap FM HTs are not what I would be all over...

 We used to have more options for VHF and up rigs,  lately all you see are multiband mobile rigs that do everything from
just about DC to daylight that while a jack of all trades, are master of none. You would need two of
them anyway, to do full duplex comms.  

 I used to have a Kenwood TS-790 that I used for SSB/CW and Satellite work.  It got damaged by lightning, not
from the antenna but in thru the power supply... I do miss it. and  Full Duplex...

Adding transverters to an HF rig, is an option, but that ties up your expensive HF rig.. is messy, and does not allow
you to run full duplex for an analog satellite.

At this moment, I see there is the Kenwood TS-2000 which is $1500, base,  to about $2000 with the 23cm  module. It does duplex.
Also I see the IC-9100 as something of a stand out as something newer that does the
higher bands, and does full duplex with VFO tracking.. but still has to deal with the cost of HF...
 at a cost of close to $3000.  Granted it does 6M and has an option of 1200 MHz.. which is
great.  But it has "icom" support, and not " **ELECRAFT** " support!

A radio that had a very good multi channel DSP mother board set up, with modules that you could select and
 add for the "less traveled" bands such as  6 and 2M, 430Mhz, 900 and 1200Mhz would be "Very Interesting"..
Maybe a 4M module for areas that have that as a band option too!  The ability to upgrade the DSP software
as time goes on, would be a great point..

 Also being able to add in the LoFer bands if/when made available, would be very nice option to be able to
stack inside and use all of the DSP power you have available in the main board....Diversity reception on LowFer?


Anyhow, just wishful thinking on my part...   What say Elecraft!   ;)

73 - Arnie KA0NCR

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 What would you be willing to pay?
 What would it have that current import units do not?
 (perhaps a manual you can understand or a set of controls
 that easily
 access the gazillion features?)
 
 Let's face it the current crop of 2m/440 are almost priced
 to be
 disposables.  What market share is left to go after?
 
  73
 Brian/K3KO
 
 End of Elecraft Digest, Vol 112, Issue 31
 *****************************************
 
 
______________________________________________________________
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

[Jim Low man]

I agree, Arnie.  While HF is my main motivation as an OT, I have always
been fascinated by the world above 50 MHz.
At one time I had the enjoyment of maintaining FAA-style air traffic
control radar systems in the 2 GHz and 9 GHz realms.

I can remember when the only options to get on 6m and 2m, other than
homebrewing, were things like the so-called "Benton Harbor Lunch Boxes"
sold by Heathkit.
Even then I longed to operate on those bands, if even only on AM.
When FM became popular on 2m, and especially when synthesizers and
synthesized transceivers were available, I was in my element.

One more band that I'd like to be active on is 222 MHz.  We know that
Elecraft has the technology available today, in the form of a transverter.
Can you imagine a 2m/222MHz/432 MHZ/1.2 GHz all-mode transceiver with
some decent power output?  Think of an updated FT-736.

Oddly enough, though, there is a dearth of 222 MHz activity in southern
California, given the population base.
Typically, there are only about a dozen stations operating on that band
during contests, and some of that activity is FM.  Nothing wrong with
that; better than a dead band.

I continue to be amazed that the JA manufacturers have made transceivers
available for 222 MHz, albeit pretty much FM-only, since operation in
that band is not authorized outside of North America.

So, what say, Wayne and Eric?

73 de Jim - AD6CW

On 8/22/2013 12:54 PM, Arnie Grubbs wrote:

> Well, while everyone is putting out their wish lists......
>
> While there is a glut of cheap FM HT and mobile VHF/UHF stuff, I don't think that 2M/430 is represented enough..
>   FM is only one small bit of the upper bands, CW, SSB, Data (high speed mesh networks) and video are there too..
> Cheap FM HTs are not what I would be all over...
>
>   We used to have more options for VHF and up rigs,  lately all you see are multiband mobile rigs that do everything from
> just about DC to daylight that while a jack of all trades, are master of none. You would need two of
> them anyway, to do full duplex comms.
>
> 73 - Arnie KA0NCR
>
>

______________________________________________________________
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

[W7GJ, Lance]

Hi Jim,

I also remember those days ;-)  My first QSO was on a Benton Harbor Lunch Box on 2m AM:

http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj/FirstQSO.jpg

I guess that is where the challenge of working DX on VHF started for me.   At first
it was the just the challenge of reaching outside the county, then it was the next
state, and soon it was working more distant states on meteor scatter and then the
other side of the world on EME.

Elecraft has provided amazing equipment to further DXing on 6m and 2m EME, with their
"digital ready" K3.  You might be surprised by the large percentage of serious EMEers
who use K3's now!  Although built as a great rig for HF, it is the "rig of choice"
for MANY on JT65 mode and VHF DXing and EME.

Hats off to Elecraft for making such a great tool for us!  VY 73, Lance

On 8/23/2013 6:30 PM, Jim Lowman wrote:
>
> I can remember when the only options to get on 6m and 2m, other than homebrewing,
> were things like the so-called "Benton Harbor Lunch Boxes" sold by Heathkit.
> Even then I longed to operate on those bands, if even only on AM.

--
Lance Collister, W7GJ
(ex WA3GPL, WA1JXN, WA1JXN/C6A, ZF2OC/ZF8, E51SIX, 3D2LR, 5W0GJ, E6M, TX5K)
P.O. Box 73
Frenchtown, MT   59834-0073
USA
TEL: [phone]
QTH: DN27ub
URL: http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj
Windows Messenger: [hidden email]
Skype: lanceW7GJ
2m DXCC #11/6m DXCC #815

Interested in 6m EME?  Ask me about subscribing to the Magic Band EME
email group, or just fill in the request box at the bottom of my web
page (above)!

______________________________________________________________
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