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New K3s

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James Rogers

New K3s

I just got my UPS tracking number and my new K3s will arrive on
Wednsday. So now the decision of whether to keep my K3 100 as a backup
or sell it.

It is s/n 8164 and was purchased in April of 2014. It is a basic K3. Has
the KTCX03-1 1ppm TCXO and the 2.8kHz 8 pole filter, KANT3 (no antenna
tuner). It currently has the K144XV-100-K 2M module installed but my
plans are to transfer that to the new unit. I do not use the K3 for 2M
FM so there is no FM filter.

I use a Timewave Navigator for a one USB connection to the confuser.
The Navigator has a very low noise USB Codec and six serial ports, CAT,
PTT, CW Winkey, RTTY (sure enuff FSK), Aux RS232 (full RS232 great for
checking/installing new firmware in the KPA500) and a configuration port
for the Navigator itself. Using the Navigator I have never had to
re-cable to do firmware updates to the K3 or the P3.

Together, the K3 and the Navigator integrate so well together, I am
anxious to see if the K3s with its new interface does it all as well as
the current setup.

Jim W4ATK
K-Line
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Phil Wheeler-2

Re: New K3s

Re "I am anxious to see if the K3s with its new
interface does it all as well as the current
setup.": Please give us a full report, Jim.

73, Phil W7OX

On 8/28/15 5:39 PM, Jim Rogers wrote:

> I just got my UPS tracking number and my new K3s
> will arrive on Wednsday. So now the decision of
> whether to keep my K3 100 as a backup or sell it.
>
> It is s/n 8164 and was purchased in April of
> 2014. It is a basic K3. Has the KTCX03-1 1ppm
> TCXO and the 2.8kHz 8 pole filter, KANT3 (no
> antenna tuner). It currently has the
> K144XV-100-K 2M module installed but my plans
> are to transfer that to the new unit. I do not
> use the K3 for 2M FM so there is no FM filter.
>
> I use a Timewave Navigator for a one USB
> connection to the confuser. The Navigator has a
> very low noise USB Codec and six serial ports,
> CAT, PTT, CW Winkey, RTTY (sure enuff FSK), Aux
> RS232 (full RS232 great for checking/installing
> new firmware in the KPA500) and a configuration
> port for the Navigator itself. Using the
> Navigator I have never had to re-cable to do
> firmware updates to the K3 or the P3.
>
> Together, the K3 and the Navigator integrate so
> well together, I am anxious to see if the K3s
> with its new interface does it all as well as
> the current setup.
>
> Jim W4ATK
> K-Line

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Bob McGraw - K4TAX

Re: New K3s

I can't comment about the K3S vs. the K3 but with my K3S I find it works
well with all my applications running under Windows 10. I do have an
issue with WSJT and CAT control. It doesn't like the TX DATA mode on
the K3S. Other than one issue, all seems quite well with the others.

73
Bob, K4TAX
K3S s/n 10,163

On 8/28/2015 8:01 PM, Phil Wheeler wrote:

> Re "I am anxious to see if the K3s with its new interface does it all
> as well as the current setup.": Please give us a full report, Jim.
>
> 73, Phil W7OX
>
> On 8/28/15 5:39 PM, Jim Rogers wrote:
>> I just got my UPS tracking number and my new K3s will arrive on
>> Wednsday. So now the decision of whether to keep my K3 100 as a
>> backup or sell it.
>>
>> It is s/n 8164 and was purchased in April of 2014. It is a basic K3.
>> Has the KTCX03-1 1ppm TCXO and the 2.8kHz 8 pole filter, KANT3 (no
>> antenna tuner). It currently has the K144XV-100-K 2M module installed
>> but my plans are to transfer that to the new unit. I do not use the
>> K3 for 2M FM so there is no FM filter.
>>
>> I use a Timewave Navigator for a one USB connection to the confuser.
>> The Navigator has a very low noise USB Codec and six serial ports,
>> CAT, PTT, CW Winkey, RTTY (sure enuff FSK), Aux RS232 (full RS232
>> great for checking/installing new firmware in the KPA500) and a
>> configuration port for the Navigator itself. Using the Navigator I
>> have never had to re-cable to do firmware updates to the K3 or the P3.
>>
>> Together, the K3 and the Navigator integrate so well together, I am
>> anxious to see if the K3s with its new interface does it all as well
>> as the current setup.
>>
>> Jim W4ATK
>> K-Line
>
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>

Jim Brown-10

Re: New K3s

In reply to this post by James Rogers

On Fri,8/28/2015 5:39 PM, Jim Rogers wrote:
> So now the decision of whether to keep my K3 100 as a backup or sell it.

I would add the new K3SYNA board and hang onto it. It makes a great
second rig, you can leave it set up for your VHF station, it's a spare
for when you need to send the K3S in for service, and you can take it
out to FD without tearing down your station. I've chosen to upgrade my
early serial K3s with synth and KXV3B rather than buy the new ones.

73, Jim K9YC
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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: New K3s

In reply to this post by Phil Wheeler-2

Phil,

RF wise, it should be the same as the K3.
Computer-wise, it all depends on the computer and the equipment between
the computer and the K3S. Unfortunately "Universal Serial Bus" is not
so 'universal' when applied to the user.
With the variety of computer and other gear between the K3S and the
computer, the number of questions seem to expand exponentially as the
list of devices and applications expand. USB offers a new set of
"challenges" that are not present with RS-232, and the unfortunate
answer is that it is computer dependent. Not a good situation for
Elecraft support, but it is reality. USB is not as "universal" as the
originators would have hoped it to be - it does have OS and device
dependencies.

Yes, the K3S USB connection should behave much the same as a K3 with a
USB to serial adapter. The K3 simply moves the adapter inside the K3S,
but the FTDI driver does have its limitations. In the computer world,
things are OS dependent, Browser dependent, Com port assignment
dependent, and a host of other dependencies. Since the K3S has entered
the world of USB dependencies the OS and the K3S relationship tightens.
No longer do we have to simply determine which "USB" Com port is
connected to the K3S, but we must be able to dig down onto the chaos of
USB port assignment that is being used by the particular OS you are
running on your computer.

IMHO, RS-232 interface is much more straightforward, and more usable by
those who are not "computer geeks".

73,
Don W3FPR

On 8/28/2015 9:01 PM, Phil Wheeler wrote:
> Re "I am anxious to see if the K3s with its new interface does it all
> as well as the current setup.": Please give us a full report, Jim.
>

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Jim Low man

Re: New K3s

In reply to this post by Jim Brown-10

Pretty much what I plan to do with my K3.
Another fellow brings his K3 to our all-QRP Field Day, so I can add mine
to the fray.

Prior to ordering my K3S at the Huntsville Hamfest I had ordered and
received my two K3SYNA cards, so my "old" K3 will have the newer
synthesizer card and the older bandpass module.

I would have my K3S by now, but I asked Lisa to defer shipment until I
return home from vacation.

73 de Jim - AD6CW

On 8/28/2015 9:26 PM, Jim Brown wrote:

> On Fri,8/28/2015 5:39 PM, Jim Rogers wrote:
>> So now the decision of whether to keep my K3 100 as a backup or sell it.
>
> I would add the new K3SYNA board and hang onto it. It makes a great
> second rig, you can leave it set up for your VHF station, it's a spare
> for when you need to send the K3S in for service, and you can take it
> out to FD without tearing down your station. I've chosen to upgrade my
> early serial K3s with synth and KXV3B rather than buy the new ones.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC

Bob McGraw - K4TAX

Re: New K3s

In reply to this post by James Rogers

My take on this.........a fellow can't have too many radios.

73
Bob, K4TAX
K3S s/n 10,163

On 8/28/2015 7:39 PM, Jim Rogers wrote:

> I just got my UPS tracking number and my new K3s will arrive on
> Wednsday. So now the decision of whether to keep my K3 100 as a
> backup or sell it.
>
> It is s/n 8164 and was purchased in April of 2014. It is a basic K3.
> Has the KTCX03-1 1ppm TCXO and the 2.8kHz 8 pole filter, KANT3 (no
> antenna tuner). It currently has the K144XV-100-K 2M module installed
> but my plans are to transfer that to the new unit. I do not use the
> K3 for 2M FM so there is no FM filter.
>
> I use a Timewave Navigator for a one USB connection to the confuser.
> The Navigator has a very low noise USB Codec and six serial ports,
> CAT, PTT, CW Winkey, RTTY (sure enuff FSK), Aux RS232 (full RS232
> great for checking/installing new firmware in the KPA500) and a
> configuration port for the Navigator itself. Using the Navigator I
> have never had to re-cable to do firmware updates to the K3 or the P3.
>
> Together, the K3 and the Navigator integrate so well together, I am
> anxious to see if the K3s with its new interface does it all as well
> as the current setup.
>
> Jim W4ATK
> K-Line
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]
>
>
>