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Kit or factory assembled K3?

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N0AZZ

Re: Kit or factory assembled K3? and what options?

They can be used in contests as most CW is all macro's and DXpedition's 2-3
macro's all that is needed. Those are about the only times CW is needed for
most ops as digital has replaced it for many uses.

73,
Fred/N0AZZ
K3 Ser #'s 6730/5299--KX3 # 2573--K2/100--KAT100
P3/SVGA--KPA500--KAT500--W2

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Tim Hague
Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 12:10 AM
Cc: <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Kit or factory assembled K3? and what options?

Hi Bill and congratulations.

Just a point before you get frustrated, computers reading CW, I wouldn't
rely on it!, OK if both sides are using machine morse but if one is using
the traditional way.....

Best regards, Tim Hague, M0AFJ
Skype m0afj.Tim
Sent on my iPad

On 28 May 2013, at 03:56, "Peter Hedberg" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> For a Nano second I thought about a self-build but when I considered
> time verses cost it was a no brainer for me. My new K3 and P3 will be
> delivered in a couple of days and a couple of hours after that I will
> have it on the air. I wasn't at all concerned about my ability to
> assemble the parts and pieces but I really like instant gratification so
for me to pay the little
> extra to have the factory do the assembly and testing made sense for me.
I
> pretty much knew what I wanted in the way of accessories but I wasn't
> real clear on the filter choices. Their customer service guru Harold
> knew the questions to ask and he walked me through what would be best for
my type of

> operating. In the end he even saved me some dollars over my original
> choices.
>
> Congratulations Bill on passing the general and extra in one sitting
> and welcome to our world. It's a fantastic place!
>
> 73 - Pete - K7WTG
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bill Blomgren [mailto:[hidden email]]
> Sent: Monday, May 27, 2013 2:52 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] Kit or factory assembled K3? and what options?
>
>
> I've built LOTS of electronics over the years... but frankly I'm not
> sure I have enough time to build a K3.. (which is what I'm currently
> looking
> at..) - or a KX3.
>
> My problem: deciding which options will be useful. I've never "done"

hf...

> I've been a broadcaster (with 20kw into 4" heliax with an antenna "way
> up thereeeeee.." or a pile of verticals that I never have to touch
> because the tuning was done correctly N years ago.... I had the Tech
> for 2 months, and with my background splurged on taking both the
> general and extra.. and somehow managed to pass both. (Thanks to the
> DurHamFest and their VE's!)
>
> I'm not sure what will be needed at this point. Right now, I don't 'do'
> code. Never learned it. I will eventually pick it up, but not right
> at first... Computer? but of course... That's the sort of stuff I do
> for a living, so morse from keyboard? No issue. Reading what comes
> back? The computer can handle that.
>
> Pactor? Shoot.. I'm a tcp/ip junkie... it's not IP, but it is a
> packet from point A to someplace else.. Can do.
>
> Other that that.. I'm really not sure what options will be required in
> a 100 watt/living in an apartment with resulting ugly antenna issue
> world will need. Obviously the antenna tuner, but what else is
> everyone finding useful. (I can skip the 2 meter add on for the time
> being... probably can find a 6 meter antenna I can fudge into
> functionality.. SOMETHING for 20 to
> 6 meters perhaps...or 20 through 10... Again, not sure what will be

needed.

>
> Naturally, if you ask Elecraft, you will get a system with every
> possible bell and whistle.. but.... is it all something a newb will use?
>
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Arie Kleingeld PA3A-2

Re: Kit or factory assembled K3?

In reply to this post by w7aqk

Kit!
Definitely.

73
Arie PA3A
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Hisashi T Fujinaka

Re: Kit or factory assembled K3?

In reply to this post by george fritkin

I agree with George. I'd jump at the chance to build another kit like
the K2, but the K3 really didn't do all that much for me. It made me
more familiar with the various parts, but I have plenty of projects
around the house that I can do with a screwdriver that satisfy my need
to do assembly.

I made the same comment after I put my K3 together (with most of the
bells and whistles, that for $5000 I should've had it put together and
burned in at the factory and spent the extra time to learn the radio.

That's just my own opinion. Last time I made it people told me I was a
lazy appliance operator or some sort of non-kit-building freak. Oh,
well.

On Mon, 27 May 2013, george fritkin wrote:

> I have two K3s. One was a kit the other factory built. I really did not get much out of building the kit. It is simple, all mechanical, and some stages require caution.
>
> FYI I am a 74 year old retired EE with lots of bread boarding and kit experience. Also I have a KX3 which I bought factory build as well my KAT500
>
> George, W6GF

--
Hisashi T Fujinaka - [hidden email]
BSEE(6/86) + BSChem(3/95) + BAEnglish(8/95) + MSCS(8/03) + $2.50 = latte
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Phil Hystad-3

Re: Kit or factory assembled K3?

To me, building the non-soldering kits is preferred over factory but not because of some need to do kit building. I do the kits to have a more intimate hands on (whatever that may be) knowledge if the internals of the box.

Also, I enjoy the feeling of the appreciation of the design and engineering skills that went into boxes we call K3, KX3, and so on.

73, phil, K7PEH

PEH's iPad

On May 28, 2013, at 10:52 AM, Hisashi T Fujinaka <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I agree with George. I'd jump at the chance to build another kit like
> the K2, but the K3 really didn't do all that much for me. It made me
> more familiar with the various parts, but I have plenty of projects
> around the house that I can do with a screwdriver that satisfy my need
> to do assembly.
>
> I made the same comment after I put my K3 together (with most of the
> bells and whistles, that for $5000 I should've had it put together and
> burned in at the factory and spent the extra time to learn the radio.
>
> That's just my own opinion. Last time I made it people told me I was a
> lazy appliance operator or some sort of non-kit-building freak. Oh,
> well.
>
> On Mon, 27 May 2013, george fritkin wrote:
>
>> I have two K3s. One was a kit the other factory built. I really did not get much out of building the kit. It is simple, all mechanical, and some stages require caution.
>> FYI I am a 74 year old retired EE with lots of bread boarding and kit experience. Also I have a KX3 which I bought factory build as well my KAT500
>> George, W6GF
>
> --
> Hisashi T Fujinaka - [hidden email]
> BSEE(6/86) + BSChem(3/95) + BAEnglish(8/95) + MSCS(8/03) + $2.50 = latte
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Millerhill

Re: Kit or factory assembled K3?

In reply to this post by Hisashi T Fujinaka

I'm with you, the building without solder smoke didn't appeal too much to me so I ordered my KX3 factory built ;-)

Steve
W1SFR

On May 28, 2013, at 1:52 PM, Hisashi T Fujinaka wrote:

Jim Brown-10

Re: Kit or factory assembled K3? and Hard Part of Building a K3

On 5/28/2013 11:19 AM, Stephen Roberts wrote:
> I'm with you, the building without solder smoke didn't appeal too much to me so I ordered my KX3 factory built

Yes, but saving the difference in cost always appeals to me. :)
Everything I've bought from Elecraft has been a kit for that reason
alone. Also, as I understand it, all the boards ARE burned in at Elecraft.

Someone asked about "the hard part" of building a K3. I've built two.
The only tricky parts are 1) fitting the front panel to the rest of the
radio -- it's a little tricky, but no problem if you proceed carefully
and follow the instructions. 2) shoe-horning the assembled Sub-RX into
the case -- it's a very tight fit. Nothing else about building a K3
could be described as even slightly challenging.

73, Jim K9YC
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Keith Heimbold

Re: Kit or factory assembled K3? and Hard Part of Building a K3

When I get past the raising of my son and working 70-80 hours a week I will consider kit building as a honor, but until then i focus my little spare time on operating and messing with antennas (which are my number one fascination in this hobby). Freedom of choice is way cool!

Keith
AK6ZZ
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KE6BB

Re: Kit or factory assembled K3? and Hard Part of Building a K3

Keith summed it up well. Elecraft gives us a choice, and that is really cool! In reality, it probably takes more effort to offer a kit than a fully assembled radio...at least initially. I am really glad Elecraft offers that choice. As a retired engineer, my KX3 kit gave me a huge appreciation of the efforts of Elecraft's engineers in packaging everything into the final radio. I can't speak to the K3, but I am really glad I my KX3 was a kit, but I understand it isn't for everyone.

Mark
KE6BB

________________________________
From: Keith Heimbold <[hidden email]>

Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Kit or factory assembled K3? and Hard Part of Building a K3

...Freedom of choice is way cool!

Keith
AK6ZZ
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