KX3 Field Test Initial Impressions

[Rick Tavan N6XI]

[This is a re-post of a reply I sent to a friend's inquiry and cc:'ed to
the reflector, neglecting to change the original, uninformative Subject:
string.]

Hi, Bill. Good to hear from you. Yes, I'm field testing the KX3 now. It's
an amazing accomplishment - big rig performance in a QRP portable. I made
about 400 Qs in nine hours in the ARRL DX CW with the KX3 driving an
external amp to about 170 watts. It was mainly S&P but I had one good 130 Q
hour running JA. I never felt handicapped by the radio, never felt hemmed
in by QRM. It has many of the features of the K3 with comparable
performance, although I've not yet done any serious A-B testing. I'm sure
the K3 will beat it in some areas but the KX3 has an undeniably good
receiver, the first direct-conversion rx I've used in decades. Like the K3,
it sounds like an analog radio even though it's doing all demodulation in
the DSP.

I've made a handful of SSB QSOs with good audio reports, some unsolicited.
Contacts prefer the sound of the MH3 hand-held mic to the Yamaha CM-500 but
I haven't tried optimizing the latter with the tx equalizer yet. I'm also
eager to try an Apple ear bud with dangling mic, the lightest two-way
headset imaginable, when I take it out on the trail.

I've confirmed that it runs FSK and PSK but haven't yet made any contacts
on those modes. Other field testers have and are reporting good results. I
haven't been using it very much QRP because I understand the difference
between 12w and 170w and feel that I get more evaluation opportunities with
the latter. But I do plan to take it outdoors soon and use it as its
designers intended. ;-)

I've confirmed that the internal ATU is fast and effortlessly corrects
minor mismatches. I haven't run it yet with a portable or badly mismatched
antenna. The attachable paddle is remarkably easy to use - although I
prefer the feel of my big, heavy paddles, I find that I can send quite well
with this little feller from Elecraft. The big advantage of an attached
paddle is that it can be weightless, relying on the radio to hold it in
place.

If you're considering getting one, I can't recommend it highly enough. It's
not only the best small rig I've ever used but also comes from Elecraft,
the best ham radio company with which I've done business. (No, I'm not a
shareholder!) You just can't beat the combination of quality equipment,
responsive company support and hundreds of experts monitoring the
reflectors, eagerly waiting to answer questions 24x7!

73,

/Rick  N6XI

On Fri, Feb 24, 2012 at 11:26 AM, billc wrote:


>
> Hi Rick,
>
> Saw you on the KX-3 list. did you order one?
>
--
Rick Tavan N6XI
Truckee, CA
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