K3 or K3S: Whadayathink?

[dhhdeh]

Hi All,

 

I’m the owner of a 7½ year old K3 fitted with a sub-receiver, DVR, TCXO option, 100W PA, Auto-tuner and probably too many IF filters (as I have belatedly discovered).

 

I added the two new KSYN3A boards back in the spring which has produced an excellent improvement to both receivers….then a few weeks after that Elecraft announces the K3S….grrrrrr

 

My K3 has been updated with all the hardware mods. Its appearance is like new. So far it has given me flawless service though not at all stressed (no contesting, field days, SOTA, motocross mobile, lending to friends, pawn shops, etc.)

 

Here’s my dilemma. Do I keep it and retrofit what I can as new K3S options become available? Do I sell it outright (along with a lot of other stuff to raise the $$) and buy a completely new, comparable K3S or do I buy a new bare-bones K3S-10 and transplant the options I can from my older K3 to a new K3S?

 

There’s a big $$ consideration in this decision. But first, I am interested in opinions on any K3S performance improvements.

 

For those of you who have gone from a K3 to a K3S, I would be interested in your observations and opinions of the following:

    1. Does the new K3S DSP board significantly improve the audio coming out external speakers?
    2. Aside from new attenuator steps, what improvements do you notice improvement with the revised main RF board? I’m really curious about this as it’s the biggest piece of the K3 that cannot be updated.
    3. Aside from a new ATU bypass relay, is there any different performance with the KAT3A auto-tuner?
    4. Aside from new PA devices, any noticeable changes/improvements to the 100w PA?
    5. Is the only thing revised in the KRX3A sub-receiver the addition of the new KSYN3A board?



The KIO3B, KXV3B and KBPF3A upgrades are of lesser importance to me in this decision process because of my operating style.

 

BTW, I liked the old K3 bezel appearance better than the K3S especially after I had my K3 bezel custom engraved by WB2ART (just razzing you Wayne).

 

I’d be interested in hearing about your experiences and/or opinions on the above.

 

To keep the mail volume low, perhaps replying to me off list would be best. [hidden email] I’ll let you decide on how to proceed.

 

Thanks and 73 de N1LQ-Dave
______________________________________________________________
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
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[Don Wilhelm-4]

Dave,

You will have to consider your ham budget on that question.

As far as swapping the options into a new K3S-10, I would suggest that
although the KPA3 may swap over, I would not attempt it.
The new KPA3 is a total redesign forced because the PA transistors used
originally are no longer available, and the new RF board was optimized
to work with the new KPA3A.  So if you are swapping, I would recommend
that you start with the K3S-100 rather than the 10.
Besides you will probably find more buyers for your K3-100 than if you
offer it as a K3-10.

The subreceiver has not changed from the K3 to the K3S, so you can
easily swap it.
If you have found you have too many filters, then you can leave some of
the filters in your K3 for whomever would buy it.

For the KAT3A, if you do not have resonant antennas that would benefit
from the bypass relay, then you could swap your existing KAT3 to the new
K3S, but for sale of your K3, many potential buyers would want the KAT3,
so if it were mine, I would be reluctant to remove it.

The decision is yours to make, but if it were mine, I would simply
upgrade to the KXV3B (I already have done that) and wait until the KIO3A
is available if you want the USB interface (I am happy with the existing
RS-232 interface), then upgrade your existing K3. Since you have already
changed to the KSYN3A, you have already achieved the major part of the
performance improvement.

OTOH, if you are into 'eye candy' and like the new bezel and the feel of
the new knob, there is only one choice - get the K3S.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 9/10/2015 9:33 AM, [hidden email] wrote:
>   Here’s my dilemma. Do I keep it and retrofit what I can as new K3S options become available? Do I sell it outright (along with a lot of other stuff to raise the $$) and buy a completely new, comparable K3S or do I buy a new bare-bones K3S-10 and transplant the options I can from my older K3 to a new K3S?
>
> There’s a big $$ consideration in this decision. But first, I am interested in opinions on any K3S performance improvements.
>
>

______________________________________________________________
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
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[ae4pb]

I'm a soon to be future owner of a K3S. My logic of getting a new K3S vs a pre-owned K3 was primarily driven by the USB interface and wanting the "newer" version. I paid a premium for that decision but had the cash in hand. Personally were it me who owned a K3 the decision to upgrade vs sell/buy comes down to my cashflow and wants. I personally don't see a huge difference between a fully upgraded K3 over a K3S. The advantage of having the K3 is you can incrementally do the updates.
The question I'd ask is what does the K3S do that your K3 doesn't that you want?

That doesn't directly answer your question but I hope that helps. If you have the cash then keep your K3 as a backup and get the K3S as your primary :D

Jer
AE4PB, K3S SN# TBA soon!!



-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of [hidden email]
Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2015 9:33 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 or K3S: Whadayathink?



Hi All,

 

I’m the owner of a 7½ year old K3 fitted with a sub-receiver, DVR, TCXO option, 100W PA, Auto-tuner and probably too many IF filters (as I have belatedly discovered).

 

I added the two new KSYN3A boards back in the spring which has produced an excellent improvement to both receivers….then a few weeks after that Elecraft announces the K3S….grrrrrr

 

My K3 has been updated with all the hardware mods. Its appearance is like new. So far it has given me flawless service though not at all stressed (no contesting, field days, SOTA, motocross mobile, lending to friends, pawn shops, etc.)

 

Here’s my dilemma. Do I keep it and retrofit what I can as new K3S options become available? Do I sell it outright (along with a lot of other stuff to raise the $$) and buy a completely new, comparable K3S or do I buy a new bare-bones K3S-10 and transplant the options I can from my older K3 to a new K3S?

 

There’s a big $$ consideration in this decision. But first, I am interested in opinions on any K3S performance improvements.

 

For those of you who have gone from a K3 to a K3S, I would be interested in your observations and opinions of the following:

    1. Does the new K3S DSP board significantly improve the audio coming out external speakers?
    2. Aside from new attenuator steps, what improvements do you notice improvement with the revised main RF board? I’m really curious about this as it’s the biggest piece of the K3 that cannot be updated.
    3. Aside from a new ATU bypass relay, is there any different performance with the KAT3A auto-tuner?
    4. Aside from new PA devices, any noticeable changes/improvements to the 100w PA?
    5. Is the only thing revised in the KRX3A sub-receiver the addition of the new KSYN3A board?



The KIO3B, KXV3B and KBPF3A upgrades are of lesser importance to me in this decision process because of my operating style.

 

BTW, I liked the old K3 bezel appearance better than the K3S especially after I had my K3 bezel custom engraved by WB2ART (just razzing you Wayne).

 

I’d be interested in hearing about your experiences and/or opinions on the above.

 

To keep the mail volume low, perhaps replying to me off list would be best. [hidden email] I’ll let you decide on how to proceed.

 

Thanks and 73 de N1LQ-Dave
______________________________________________________________
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 Message delivered to [hidden email]

______________________________________________________________
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
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[Phil Wheeler-2]

Jer, re "a soon to be future owner of a K3S":
Sounds like you soon will transition to being a
future owner of a K3S :-)

My thoughts. First I have a K3 fully configured,
including the new synth board, and have no plans
to go to a K3S.

It seems to me that currently the K3S will not do
much more than a K3 with the new synth board (in
particular!) and perhaps some of the other options
of the K3S.

But the future may show something different. I
suspect there may be future K3S enhancements which
are not compatible with the K3. Only Elecraft can
possibly know if that is true, but I suspect that
will be the case.

At this point my K3 does all I need in a
main-station transceiver. So I'm standing pat.

73, Phil W7OX

On 9/10/15 7:32 AM, [hidden email] wrote:

> I'm a soon to be future owner of a K3S. My logic of getting a new K3S vs a pre-owned K3 was primarily driven by the USB interface and wanting the "newer" version. I paid a premium for that decision but had the cash in hand. Personally were it me who owned a K3 the decision to upgrade vs sell/buy comes down to my cashflow and wants. I personally don't see a huge difference between a fully upgraded K3 over a K3S. The advantage of having the K3 is you can incrementally do the updates.
> The question I'd ask is what does the K3S do that your K3 doesn't that you want?
>
> That doesn't directly answer your question but I hope that helps. If you have the cash then keep your K3 as a backup and get the K3S as your primary :D
>
> Jer
> AE4PB, K3S SN# TBA soon!!
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of [hidden email]
> Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2015 9:33 AM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 or K3S: Whadayathink?
>
>
>
> Hi All,
>
>    
>
> I’m the owner of a 7½ year old K3 fitted with a sub-receiver, DVR, TCXO option, 100W PA, Auto-tuner and probably too many IF filters (as I have belatedly discovered).
>
>    
>
> I added the two new KSYN3A boards back in the spring which has produced an excellent improvement to both receivers….then a few weeks after that Elecraft announces the K3S….grrrrrr
>
>    
>
> My K3 has been updated with all the hardware mods. Its appearance is like new. So far it has given me flawless service though not at all stressed (no contesting, field days, SOTA, motocross mobile, lending to friends, pawn shops, etc.)
>
>    
>
> Here’s my dilemma. Do I keep it and retrofit what I can as new K3S options become available? Do I sell it outright (along with a lot of other stuff to raise the $$) and buy a completely new, comparable K3S or do I buy a new bare-bones K3S-10 and transplant the options I can from my older K3 to a new K3S?
>
>    
>
> There’s a big $$ consideration in this decision. But first, I am interested in opinions on any K3S performance improvements.
>
>    
>
> For those of you who have gone from a K3 to a K3S, I would be interested in your observations and opinions of the following:
>
>      1. Does the new K3S DSP board significantly improve the audio coming out external speakers?
>      2. Aside from new attenuator steps, what improvements do you notice improvement with the revised main RF board? I’m really curious about this as it’s the biggest piece of the K3 that cannot be updated.
>      3. Aside from a new ATU bypass relay, is there any different performance with the KAT3A auto-tuner?
>      4. Aside from new PA devices, any noticeable changes/improvements to the 100w PA?
>      5. Is the only thing revised in the KRX3A sub-receiver the addition of the new KSYN3A board?
>
>
>
> The KIO3B, KXV3B and KBPF3A upgrades are of lesser importance to me in this decision process because of my operating style.
>
>    
>
> BTW, I liked the old K3 bezel appearance better than the K3S especially after I had my K3 bezel custom engraved by WB2ART (just razzing you Wayne).
>
>    
>
> I’d be interested in hearing about your experiences and/or opinions on the above.
>
>    
>
> To keep the mail volume low, perhaps replying to me off list would be best. [hidden email] I’ll let you decide on how to proceed.
>
>    
>
> Thanks and 73 de N1LQ-Dave

______________________________________________________________
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
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT]

On 9/10/2015 8:20 AM, Phil Wheeler wrote:
> Jer, re "a soon to be future owner of a K3S": Sounds like you soon
> will transition to being a future owner of a K3S :-)
He already owns it -- it's on a brown truck somewhere.  :-)
______________________________________________________________
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
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[Grant Youngman]

I thought about it for minute.  I have serial 2091.  Every mod and update that’s been made available for the radio is in it.  I do plan to to add the rest as they become available this year (well, I don’t plan to upgrade the 100W amp/tuner module unless the current boards crater).

Yes, I know the new RF board won’t be made available for the K3.  And I suppose if someone shows an order of magnitude improvement in some essential performance number attributed to that I might reconsider.  But for now,  I see no reason to sell off what I have and spend more money purchasing what is essentially the same radio.

I’ll more likely than not bite at whatever the “next gen” Elecraft radio turns out to be, and maybe spend $$ on a KX3 and an AlexLoop for some very portable fun ;-)

Grant NQ5T

> On Sep 10, 2015, at 8:33 AM, [hidden email] wrote:
>
>
>
> Hi All,
>
>  
>
> I’m the owner of a 7½ year old K3 fitted with a sub-receiver, DVR, TCXO option, 100W PA, Auto-tuner and probably too many IF filters (as I have belatedly discovered).
>
>  
>
> I added the two new KSYN3A boards back in the spring which has produced an excellent improvement to both receivers….then a few weeks after that Elecraft announces the K3S….grrrrrr
>
>  
>
> My K3 has been updated with all the hardware mods. Its appearance is like new. So far it has given me flawless service though not at all stressed (no contesting, field days, SOTA, motocross mobile, lending to friends, pawn shops, etc.)
>
>  
>
> Here’s my dilemma. Do I keep it and retrofit what I can as new K3S options become available? Do I sell it outright (along with a lot of other stuff to raise the $$) and buy a completely new, comparable K3S or do I buy a new bare-bones K3S-10 and transplant the options I can from my older K3 to a new K3S?
>
>  
>
> There’s a big $$ consideration in this decision. But first, I am interested in opinions on any K3S performance improvements.
>
>  
>
> For those of you who have gone from a K3 to a K3S, I would be interested in your observations and opinions of the following:
>
>    1. Does the new K3S DSP board significantly improve the audio coming out external speakers?
>    2. Aside from new attenuator steps, what improvements do you notice improvement with the revised main RF board? I’m really curious about this as it’s the biggest piece of the K3 that cannot be updated.
>    3. Aside from a new ATU bypass relay, is there any different performance with the KAT3A auto-tuner?
>    4. Aside from new PA devices, any noticeable changes/improvements to the 100w PA?
>    5. Is the only thing revised in the KRX3A sub-receiver the addition of the new KSYN3A board?
>
>
>
> The KIO3B, KXV3B and KBPF3A upgrades are of lesser importance to me in this decision process because of my operating style.
>
>  
>
> BTW, I liked the old K3 bezel appearance better than the K3S especially after I had my K3 bezel custom engraved by WB2ART (just razzing you Wayne).
>
>  
>
> I’d be interested in hearing about your experiences and/or opinions on the above.
>
>  
>
> To keep the mail volume low, perhaps replying to me off list would be best. [hidden email] I’ll let you decide on how to proceed.
>
>  
>
> Thanks and 73 de N1LQ-Dave
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

______________________________________________________________
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
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[Jerry Moore]

I just need longer cables!!

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Lynn
W. Taylor, WB6UUT
Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2015 11:38 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 or K3S: Whadayathink?

On 9/10/2015 8:20 AM, Phil Wheeler wrote:
> Jer, re "a soon to be future owner of a K3S": Sounds like you soon
> will transition to being a future owner of a K3S :-)
He already owns it -- it's on a brown truck somewhere.  :-)
______________________________________________________________
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 Message
delivered to [hidden email]

______________________________________________________________
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
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[Arie Kleingeld PA3A-2]

What do I think?

I think (repeat: THINK) that many K3 owners want the best performing
transceiver, for whatever reason or just want to have the transceiver
that's at the top of the chart of 'he whose name must not be mentioned'.
I upgraded my K3 -1255 with the SYN3A for future LF-reception and good
QRQ-QSK in the present time.

Elecrafts strategy is unknown to me, and I don't care. But to stay in
this business, they'll have to stay making the best stuff one can buy.
The K3S could well be the interim TRX to keep the cash coming in,
funding the development of the new direct digital sampled K4, that will
blow every other comparable DSP-rig out of the water. Elecraft has the
technology and know how for that.

So make your choice.

73
Arie PA3A



______________________________________________________________
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
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[Jim Low man]

It will depend on one's financial situation, but I'm hanging onto my
original K3, with the upgraded K3SYN boards, for use at Field Day.

73 de Jim - AD6CW
______________________________________________________________
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
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[Doug Turnbull]

Arnie,
    Elecraft has already blown every other DSP based radio out of the water.
They keep improving to stay that way.   No doubt in some instances while the
specification numbers look great we could even get by with less and not
suffer one lost QSO.   However, viva engineering and the improvements
brought forward.  Is this jingoistic enough?

              73 Doug EI2CN

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Arie
Kleingeld PA3A
Sent: 10 September 2015 17:33
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 or K3S: Whadayathink?

What do I think?

I think (repeat: THINK) that many K3 owners want the best performing
transceiver, for whatever reason or just want to have the transceiver
that's at the top of the chart of 'he whose name must not be mentioned'.
I upgraded my K3 -1255 with the SYN3A for future LF-reception and good
QRQ-QSK in the present time.

Elecrafts strategy is unknown to me, and I don't care. But to stay in
this business, they'll have to stay making the best stuff one can buy.
The K3S could well be the interim TRX to keep the cash coming in,
funding the development of the new direct digital sampled K4, that will
blow every other comparable DSP-rig out of the water. Elecraft has the
technology and know how for that.

So make your choice.

73
Arie PA3A



______________________________________________________________
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
Message delivered to [hidden email]

______________________________________________________________
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
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[Guy Olinger K2AV]

I have heard comments in the following categories as payoff for doing
the KSYN3A upgrade, now at this point all from trusted sources or
documented in some clear, valid fashion.

1) clearer sound and separation in pileups.
2) lower noise level in quiet locations and upper bands.
3) P3 presentation has a lot less spectrum noise and junk with
terminated antenna jack.
4) P3 presentation has less phase noise on steady carriers and they
appear much more like lines.
5) much better QSK through typical contest CW speeds, up to 40/45 WPM,
all without changing into QRQ mode which has to turn off functionality
that is important in contests.
6) allows listening down to 100 kHz when the LF mods are done concurrently.
7) a staged conversion of both a local K3 doing TX and separate K3
doing RX, first one then the other, when both are done showed
elimination of an enormous width of phase noise seen on a P3, from +/-
10 kHz down to 50 Hz. This would be a FURTHER improvement to the
already common field day "one K3 on CW, one K3 on SSB, on the same
band, don't hear each other", etc. Practically, this might mean
operation at multi/x contest stations to within 5/10 kHz or less with
some attention to RX antenna separation from TX antenna and not
burning up K3 front ends. We will know more about this during/after
the upcoming 2015/16 contest season.
8) NB and NR are better/clearer. (Egads, but I understand why.)

I have not gotten the open time to get all the "S" mods done. I have
them on hand, but I have to finish it all in a single stretch of bench
time to keep from losing and forgetting stuff. But given the above, I
fully expect diversity to improve. Any ole week now, I expect to be
able to show P3 display of new birdies displayed at 160m high noon.
There is a full depth, an ocean deep layer of discreet cr*p from
Raleigh environs, and I expect to be able to hear that discreet crap a
lot clearer. Why should anyone care?

I will also expect to be able to hear a little farther down into the
stuff coming in on the EU oriented 5 element monster quad at NY4A.
Maybe that largely uncopiable layer of Russian "peepers" on 40 will
wind up in the log. We will see.

Going forward, my money is on the idea that after a while, the first
question asked about a used K3 will be whether they have the SYN3A
board(s), or have the "S" mods. A "yes" will command a higher price.
Face it folks, the old syns are obsolete. If that doesn't affect your
personal operations, that's cool, save your money, but the main deal
will be whether the K3 has the SYN3A board(s) and the new DSP/audio
board.

Just my opinion, but with Yakencom, something the level of the SYN3A +
DSP/audio improvements will ALWAYS cost you the bucks of a brand new
model, maybe a new model line. There is actually very little of the
K3S change lineup that will not ultimately be available for a K3
owner. Elecraft has done it so you can pursue EITHER path, as you
wish, and pick and choose. And there are some who are complaining this
makes it too difficult to figure out.

Ah, serving the public...always the tanner of hides and progenitor of
thick skins.

At some point I decided to wind up with a pair of K3's. As it stands
now, it will be my fully modded kit K3 #1239 and a new factory K3S,
both with diversity equipping. The K3 will be the take-with rig and
the "S" will never leave the shack. I will be selling some stuff to
get that done. Never been motivated that way before.

Not doing 160-40 without diversity ever again. With the SYN3A and
DSP/audio board upgrades, I expect an improvement in clarity in
diversity mode. 8) above is the final clue to that. If a significant
degree of fully random phase noise is eliminated with circuit
improvements elsewhere, the depth of NR, NB must improve. That is
because the SYN phase noise is FM style **modulation** of ALL the
frequency converted signals. The old synthesizer phase noise MODULATES
the band noise and makes the result broader and harder to process to
depth. The SYN3A mod will remove a layer of stuff at the noise level
that our brains will NOT have to discern their way through in
resolving the diversity sound stage.

There are a lot of K3 owners that seemingly would be as well served by
lesser rigs given their description of typical use. Some I know
personally and they are NOT latest and greatest hounds. One fella
simply said "I always buy quality. Always works out best in the end."

A historical summary of operators at the NY4A multi/multi indicated
that their 11 FT1000MP's all the rage at one time were gradually
replaced by 14 K3's and one Orion II. Now it would seem the Orion is
about to be replaced by a K3S. Although there certainly is a "latest
and greatest" crowd here on the reflector, that does not explain the
remarkable coincidence of the NY4A ops, none of whom will ever put up
with being told what to do and buy, and who to a man despise KoolAid.
That particular crowd and their close buddies have tried TS590x,
various Flex models, Ten Tec, the Icoms, but not the Yaesu 5000. I
asked the most prolific rig sampler why not the Yaesu 5000 and he said
too big, too expensive, and only Elecraft has Elecraft philosophy and
service.

All taken together, the collection of mods is spectacular. I do note
that those who have NASCAR grade conveyances parked in their driveway
probably will not notice this grade of improvement in the weekly 3/4
mile trip to the local Target for groceries. But those who push K3's
to the limit are already seeing a lot of improvement in the mods/K3S.

And what is the K3S? It is the inheritor of eight years of fix-it,
improve-it, and new feature water under the bridge, both hardware and
firmware, and some of them really serious fixes. I could always say
you should buy a K3. When all they are now selling new is a K3S with
all that stuff already done, just do it.

73, Guy K2AV



On Thu, Sep 10, 2015 at 2:28 PM, Doug Turnbull <[hidden email]> wrote:
> Arnie,
>     Elecraft has already blown every other DSP based radio out of the water.
> They keep improving to stay that way.   No doubt in some instances while the
> specification numbers look great we could even get by with less and not
> suffer one lost QSO.   However, viva engineering and the improvements
> brought forward.  Is this jingoistic enough?
>
>               73 Doug EI2CN
______________________________________________________________
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
Message delivered to [hidden email]

[Jim Brown-10]

On Thu,9/10/2015 6:33 AM, [hidden email] wrote:
> I’m the owner of a 7½ year old K3 fitted with a sub-receiver, DVR, TCXO option, 100W PA, Auto-tuner and probably too many IF filters (as I have belatedly discovered).
>
> I added the two new KSYN3A boards back in the spring which has produced an excellent improvement to both receivers….then a few weeks after that Elecraft announces the K3S….grrrrrr

I have no grrrrr feeling at all. Two of my K3s date from 2007 and have
two RX, a third from about 2009 with single RX. I put the new synth
boards in all three. For convenience, I changed out the transverter
boards in the older radios to get the new preamp.  For an investment of
about $1K, I have upgraded three 8 year old rigs to 90% of their latest
model.

I have no intention of selling anything. I have no interest in the new
KIO3B unless they have fixed the Pin One Problems. The USB port doesn't
interest me. I'll wait to hear about the other upgrades.

73, Jim K9YC


______________________________________________________________
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
Message delivered to [hidden email]