Elecraft › [K3]

OT: K440XV?

Classic

List

Threaded

8 messages Options

K2QI

OT: K440XV?

Hello group,

Is there any hardware limitation preventing the design and implementation of
an internal UHF transverter? In this day and age of DC to Daylight boxes,
I'm surprised that Elecraft only has a VHF module available for the K3. For
me, 2 meters isn't so useful in NYC. If given the option, I would rather
have a UHF module in order to take advantage of the many active repeaters
near me.

I know it's a long shot, but it would be nice to have an all-in-one K3 that
can go from 160 to 1.2Ghz. Wishful thinking perhaps?

--
73 de James K2QI
President UNARC/4U1UN
______________________________________________________________
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

--... ...-- -.. . .--- .- -- . ...

Gary Gregory

Re: OT: K440XV?

Yep, wishful thinking I reckon.

There are two options I would not contemplate, 2M and 70CM and for that
matter any higher frequencies.

DC to Daylight radios might be attractive until something goes wrong, then
your 'all in one box' system CAN take you off air completely and that for me
would be kinda bad...no, make that a disaster...I just gotta have my daily
HF 'fix' :-)

YMMV

Gary

On Sat, Nov 13, 2010 at 4:26 AM, James Sarte <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hello group,
>
> Is there any hardware limitation preventing the design and implementation
> of
> an internal UHF transverter? In this day and age of DC to Daylight boxes,
> I'm surprised that Elecraft only has a VHF module available for the K3.
> For
> me, 2 meters isn't so useful in NYC. If given the option, I would rather
> have a UHF module in order to take advantage of the many active repeaters
> near me.
>
> I know it's a long shot, but it would be nice to have an all-in-one K3 that
> can go from 160 to 1.2Ghz. Wishful thinking perhaps?
>
> --
> 73 de James K2QI
> President UNARC/4U1UN
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

--
Gary
VK4FD - Motorhome Mobile
http://www.qsl.net/vk4fd/
K3 #679, P3 #546
For everything else there's Mastercard!!!
______________________________________________________________
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

K2QI

Re: OT: K440XV?

That's a good point Gary. One big difference and advantage with the K3
though is its modular construction. If an internal transverter were to go
kaput, I imagine that one could just disable it in the settings until its
repaired or replaced. HF would still work fine. That may not be the case
with something like the TS-2000 or Icom's upcoming IC-9100.

Personally, a UHF rather than VHF option would have been better for me. I
could see myself using the K3 as a UHF base station if that option were made
available. There really isn't that much activity on 2m in my neck of the
woods except for the local hams who hang out on 146.520. There are several
2 meter machines in close proximity, but I've never heard anything on them
except for the occasional broadcast ID. On the other hand, NYC has a lot of
activity on 440. More so than in any other part of the US I've been in.

Anyway, I may still purchase the K144XV for experimentation. I've got good
height at my location, and a small log-periodic for 2m on the balcony might
be fun to play around with.

73,
James K2QI

On Fri, Nov 12, 2010 at 11:56 PM, Gary Gregory <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Yep, wishful thinking I reckon.
>
> There are two options I would not contemplate, 2M and 70CM and for that
> matter any higher frequencies.
>
> DC to Daylight radios might be attractive until something goes wrong, then
> your 'all in one box' system CAN take you off air completely and that for me
> would be kinda bad...no, make that a disaster...I just gotta have my daily
> HF 'fix' :-)
>
> YMMV
>
> Gary
>
> On Sat, Nov 13, 2010 at 4:26 AM, James Sarte <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> Hello group,
>>
>> Is there any hardware limitation preventing the design and implementation
>> of
>> an internal UHF transverter? In this day and age of DC to Daylight boxes,
>> I'm surprised that Elecraft only has a VHF module available for the K3.
>> For
>> me, 2 meters isn't so useful in NYC. If given the option, I would rather
>> have a UHF module in order to take advantage of the many active repeaters
>> near me.
>>
>> I know it's a long shot, but it would be nice to have an all-in-one K3
>> that
>> can go from 160 to 1.2Ghz. Wishful thinking perhaps?
>>
>> --
>> 73 de James K2QI
>> President UNARC/4U1UN
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Gary
> VK4FD - Motorhome Mobile
> http://www.qsl.net/vk4fd/
> K3 #679, P3 #546
> For everything else there's Mastercard!!!
>

--
73 de James K2QI
President UNARC/4U1UN
______________________________________________________________
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

--... ...-- -.. . .--- .- -- . ...

Johnny Siu

Re： OT: K440XV?

Hello James and Gary,

It is a good idea of K440XV. However, we have to look at the price as well. If
you just want something in the FM mode, any price near the K144XV could be
expensive. Any FM mobile rig will give you the answer.

If you go for a real UHF based station, the frequency and power stability of
K440XV are of primary importance.
cheers,

Johnny VR2XMC

----- 郵件原件 ----
寄件人﹕ James Sarte <[hidden email]>
收件人﹕ Gary Gregory <[hidden email]>
副本(CC) Elecraft <[hidden email]>
傳送日期﹕ 2010/11/13 (六) 1:10:01 PM
主題： Re: [Elecraft] OT: K440XV?

That's a good point Gary. One big difference and advantage with the K3
though is its modular construction. If an internal transverter were to go
kaput, I imagine that one could just disable it in the settings until its
repaired or replaced. HF would still work fine. That may not be the case
with something like the TS-2000 or Icom's upcoming IC-9100.

Personally, a UHF rather than VHF option would have been better for me. I
could see myself using the K3 as a UHF base station if that option were made
available. There really isn't that much activity on 2m in my neck of the
woods except for the local hams who hang out on 146.520. There are several
2 meter machines in close proximity, but I've never heard anything on them
except for the occasional broadcast ID. On the other hand, NYC has a lot of
activity on 440. More so than in any other part of the US I've been in.

Anyway, I may still purchase the K144XV for experimentation. I've got good
height at my location, and a small log-periodic for 2m on the balcony might
be fun to play around with.

73,
James K2QI

On Fri, Nov 12, 2010 at 11:56 PM, Gary Gregory <[hidden email]> wrote:

______________________________________________________________
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

Gary Gregory

Re: Re： OT: K440XV?

Um, guy's, I am surrounded by millions of acres of real estate and one 2M
repeater...:-)

I would need an eleventeen element yagi on a massive boom to just key it
sometimes from some of the places I frequent...not a worth while investment
for a three thousand dollar radio when my trusty old Yucksu 2M set get's
used once in a blue moon..:-)

On a more serious note though, I know of one K3 out here with the 2M module
and it works quite well but Oz is not really the place where a 70cm option
would sell well..I think

Now if you guys were asking for 4 antenna inputs (tx/rx) that would sure get
my attention...hence I am eagerly awaiting the desktop/remote tuner that is
coming. Wouldn't that be nice to be able to squeeze inside a K3...wow!!!

That would get me running for the check book...:-)

73's I gotta go do some DX on 20M

Gary

On Sat, Nov 13, 2010 at 6:36 AM, Johnny Siu <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hello James and Gary,
>
> It is a good idea of K440XV. However, we have to look at the price as
> well. If
> you just want something in the FM mode, any price near the K144XV could be
> expensive. Any FM mobile rig will give you the answer.
>
> If you go for a real UHF based station, the frequency and power stability
> of
> K440XV are of primary importance.
> cheers,
>
>
> Johnny VR2XMC
>
>
>
> ----- 郵件原件 ----
> 寄件人﹕ James Sarte <[hidden email]>
> 收件人﹕ Gary Gregory <[hidden email]>
> 副本(CC) Elecraft <[hidden email]>
> 傳送日期﹕ 2010/11/13 (六) 1:10:01 PM
> 主題： Re: [Elecraft] OT: K440XV?
>
> That's a good point Gary. One big difference and advantage with the K3
> though is its modular construction. If an internal transverter were to go
> kaput, I imagine that one could just disable it in the settings until its
> repaired or replaced. HF would still work fine. That may not be the case
> with something like the TS-2000 or Icom's upcoming IC-9100.
>
> Personally, a UHF rather than VHF option would have been better for me. I
> could see myself using the K3 as a UHF base station if that option were
> made
> available. There really isn't that much activity on 2m in my neck of the
> woods except for the local hams who hang out on 146.520. There are several
> 2 meter machines in close proximity, but I've never heard anything on them
> except for the occasional broadcast ID. On the other hand, NYC has a lot
> of
> activity on 440. More so than in any other part of the US I've been in.
>
> Anyway, I may still purchase the K144XV for experimentation. I've got good
> height at my location, and a small log-periodic for 2m on the balcony might
> be fun to play around with.
>
> 73,
> James K2QI
>
> On Fri, Nov 12, 2010 at 11:56 PM, Gary Gregory <[hidden email]>
> wrote:
>
> > Yep, wishful thinking I reckon.
> >
> > There are two options I would not contemplate, 2M and 70CM and for that
> > matter any higher frequencies.
> >
> > DC to Daylight radios might be attractive until something goes wrong,
> then
> > your 'all in one box' system CAN take you off air completely and that for
> me
> > would be kinda bad...no, make that a disaster...I just gotta have my
> daily
> > HF 'fix' :-)
> >
> > YMMV
> >
> > Gary
> >
> > On Sat, Nov 13, 2010 at 4:26 AM, James Sarte <[hidden email]> wrote:
> >
> >> Hello group,
> >>
> >> Is there any hardware limitation preventing the design and
> implementation
> >> of
> >> an internal UHF transverter? In this day and age of DC to Daylight
> boxes,
> >> I'm surprised that Elecraft only has a VHF module available for the K3.
> >> For
> >> me, 2 meters isn't so useful in NYC. If given the option, I would
> rather
> >> have a UHF module in order to take advantage of the many active
> repeaters
> >> near me.
> >>
> >> I know it's a long shot, but it would be nice to have an all-in-one K3
> >> that
> >> can go from 160 to 1.2Ghz. Wishful thinking perhaps?
> >>
> >> --
> >> 73 de James K2QI
> >> President UNARC/4U1UN
>
>
>
>
>

Oliver Dröse

Re: OT: K440XV?

In reply to this post by K2QI

James,

if your only interest is 440 FM then a handheld or mobile TRX should be a much
cheaper solution. ;-))

Having fitted the K144XV in my K3 I would not see any available space anymore to
also fit a 70 and/or 23 cm transverter inside, too. With all the options space
is getting rare inside. ;-))

And I don't think that lots of people would fit a "K440XV" instead of a K144XV
inside meaning you have 160 - 6 m coverage plus 440 in one box but skipping 144
MHz. Sure this is no good business model, at least to my mind. ;-))

But maybe you would like to use Elecraft's external transverters which integrate
nicely, i.e. besides the external box you completely control everything from the
K3 itself including frequency display. Can it get any better? ;-))

73, Olli - DH8BQA

______________________________________________________________
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

K2QI

Re: OT: K440XV?

Hi Olli,

My primary interest would have been for 70cm FM, but I'm open to
experimentation. I'm still haven't ruled out purchasing the K144XV just for
that reason. A small log-periodic and a 160 watt mirage 2m amplifier might
be fun to play with.

Anyway, I guess I should say that it would have been nice if it was
possible to have 2m/70cm internal transverter, rather than just 2m alone.
My original question was more or less leading to that; what sort of
limitations exist in the K3's hardware that prevented such a module from
being designed in the first place?

73 de James K2QI

On Sat, Nov 13, 2010 at 4:07 AM, Oliver "Olli" Dröse <[hidden email]> wrote:

> James,
>
> if your only interest is 440 FM then a handheld or mobile TRX should be a
> much
> cheaper solution. ;-))
>
> Having fitted the K144XV in my K3 I would not see any available space
> anymore to
> also fit a 70 and/or 23 cm transverter inside, too. With all the options
> space
> is getting rare inside. ;-))
>
> And I don't think that lots of people would fit a "K440XV" instead of a
> K144XV
> inside meaning you have 160 - 6 m coverage plus 440 in one box but skipping
> 144
> MHz. Sure this is no good business model, at least to my mind. ;-))
>
> But maybe you would like to use Elecraft's external transverters which
> integrate
> nicely, i.e. besides the external box you completely control everything
> from the
> K3 itself including frequency display. Can it get any better? ;-))
>
> 73, Olli - DH8BQA
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

--... ...-- -.. . .--- .- -- . ...

AB3EN

Re: OT: K440XV?

The 2M setup has connectors inside that lead me to think that a 70cm add on might be in the works for next year. If not then it was a funny way to set the 2M up ;-)
73
Dan

Dan AB3EN