K3 owners
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Hello to all K3 owners. I would like your opinions of the K3 if you
have the time to post. I have never had an Elecraft before, but I am thinking of a K3 for portable use. My Ten-Tec Argo is just a little short on power for my dx vacations and it's a little hard to separate the folks in the cw pileups. The technical specs look great, but I am concerned about ergonomics. For example, is the tuning knob weighted? Does it spin well? Can you adjust the drag on the knob? How is the readability on the display? Can you adjust the brightness on the display? Can you change the display backlight color? Overall, how satisfied are you with the ergonomics? What would you like to change? Here's your chance to sound off if you want and I appreciate you sharing your experience. Thanks and 73, _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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[hidden email] wrote:
> The technical specs look great, but I am concerned about ergonomics. > For example, is the tuning knob weighted? Yes. > Does it spin well? Yes. > Can you adjust the drag on the knob? Yes, in a low-tech way, by changing the knob's pressure on a felt washer. I found it easy to make it the way I like it (very little drag). > How is the readability on the display? Excellent. > Can you adjust the brightness on > the display? Yes. Also the brightness of the LED indicators on the panel. > Can you change the display backlight color? No. > Overall, how satisfied are you with the ergonomics? What would you like > to change? I'm very satisfied. I would like dedicated band buttons, a built-in panadapter, more space for the text decode window, but there isn't room, and I am happy with the overall size/shape. Adding this stuff would make it more expensive, too. Engineering is the art of compromise. I think they made the right decisions. -- 73, Vic, K2VCO Fresno CA http://www.qsl.net/k2vco K3 no. 00007 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by k4elo
The mailing list archives are a goldmine.
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Jerry W4UK At 10:03 PM 11/27/2007, [hidden email] wrote: >Hello to all K3 owners. I would like your opinions of the K3 if you >have the time to post. > >I have never had an Elecraft before, but I am thinking of a K3 for >portable use. My Ten-Tec Argo is just a little short on power for my dx >vacations and it's a little hard to separate the folks in the cw >pileups. > >The technical specs look great, but I am concerned about ergonomics. >For example, is the tuning knob weighted? Does it spin well? Can you >adjust the drag on the knob? >How is the readability on the display? Can you adjust the brightness on >the display? Can you change the display backlight color? >Overall, how satisfied are you with the ergonomics? What would you like >to change?... _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by k4elo
>Hello to all K3 owners. I would like your opinions of the K3 if you >have the time to post. > Hey - who has the time with such a great rig sitting in front of him? >I have never had an Elecraft before, but I am thinking of a K3 for >portable use. My Ten-Tec Argo is just a little short on power for my dx >vacations and it's a little hard to separate the folks in the cw >pileups. I've used the K3 as a portable. It's a bit large for hiking, etc. but isn't heavy (8 lbs or so). You'd want to protect it from getting banged up, and because of its size (4" x 10" x 10" approx) this might be difficult. But could be done. I built a special case for the radio and took it to the local mountains (Mount Baldy Village area in SoCal) and operated it from 6500' MSL. Got surprisingly good results on CW using 10W and a 400 foot sloper. Even worked a couple new countries.... At the bottom of the sunspot cycle. Operated it on my car battery. > >The technical specs look great, but I am concerned about ergonomics. >For example, is the tuning knob weighted? Does it spin well? Can you >adjust the drag on the knob? The tuning knob has enough inertia to turn 12 times or so with a light touch, maybe 30 times with a little more wrist action. This would be pretty loose for most, but I like a light touch. You can adjust the knob friction, and there are good instructions for setting it. >How is the readability on the display? It is excellent. You adjust both the backlight and display separately. I think there are 8 steps or so for each. >Can you change the display backlight color? No. It's amber though. No color-blindness issues with that color, or not many. >Overall, how satisfied are you with the ergonomics? What would you like >to change? The operation of the radio is primarily geared towards right-handed people. I'm ambidextrous, but a lefty might find himself a little clumsy at first. The main settings that are on/off and most useful are right-hand thmb operated. Keypad is on the right (finger operated usually). I find the layout of the K3 more easily memorized than the K2. With something like this, YMMV. Best to check it out first-hand, so to speak. > >Here's your chance to sound off if you want and I appreciate you sharing >your experience. > I'd recommend that you go to a hamfest and take a try on the K3 yourself. Many of the early production run types did that. I got lucky and saw it at SW Convention in Torrance [after I ordered mine] this last year, but hadn't see one before face-to-face. I didn't get any real time on a K3 until mine arrived and I built it up. I have a lot of personal faith in Elecraft that wouldn't necessarily extend to every one of their customers. Don't let all of the squirming over delivery on this list bother you too much. These guys have been waiting awhile, and they're early adopters. They *like* new stuff, especially the best. All the specs on this radio can't do it justice. Take a chance. I can only guarantee that you will not be sorry. Good luck, matt - WA6EGJ K3 s/n 24 >Thanks and 73, > >_______________________________________________ >Elecraft mailing list >Post to: [hidden email] >You must be a subscriber to post to the list. >Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > >Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm >Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by k4elo
> For example, is the tuning knob weighted? Does it spin well?
Yes and yes. > Can you adjust the drag on the knob? You can do this by adjusting its position on the shaft and the degree to which it comes in contact with the felt washer underneath it. > How is the readability on the display? FB > Can you adjust the brightness on the display? Yes. > Can you change the display backlight color? No. > Overall, how satisfied are you with the ergonomics? What would you > like to change? I'd like separate mode buttons instead of one button that rotates through modes. I'd like it to pick a mode based on frequency. If it can do that, I haven't figured it out yet. There's no place to engrave my callsign on the clear plastic LCD cover like there is on the K1 and K2. :-( When going from 100+ watts down to 5 watts you have to turn the power knob several revolutions. It would be nice if there was a "QRP" button. That's about it. I'm not a heavy-duty user so my needs are simple. But that's what I've found so far. Overall I really like it. Craig NZ0R K3/100 #25 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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Please see some notes below........
-----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]]On Behalf Of Craig Rairdin Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 9:56 PM To: [hidden email] Subject: RE: [Elecraft] K3 owners > How is the readability on the display? FB -- There's a great LCD adjustment that can be optimized for different viewing angles. Whenever I demonstrate this eye's really light up...WOW! > Overall, how satisfied are you with the ergonomics? What would you > like to change? I'd like separate mode buttons instead of one button that rotates through modes. This is one of the reason Wayne setup quick memories 0-9. Easier to recall the bands you want. This is seperate from the Mx per-band memories. I'd like it to pick a mode based on frequency. If it can do that, I haven't figured it out yet. This is on the list for a possible feature update at a later date. There's no place to engrave my callsign on the clear plastic LCD cover like there is on the K1 and K2. :-( When going from 100+ watts down to 5 watts you have to turn the power knob several revolutions. It would be nice if there was a "QRP" button. This should change in an upcoming firmware update soon. 73 Greg AB7R _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.9/1155 - Release Date: 11/27/2007 8:30 PM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.9/1155 - Release Date: 11/27/2007 8:30 PM _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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