P3 or KRX3
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I need some advice about my next upgrade. My K3 (4380) does not have the sub-Rx, which was my next planned addition. However, the P3 has attracted my attention, and may be a better choice.
The KRX3 seemed like a natural next step. I am a "casual" DXer and contester, so it made sense to gain the features it would add, especially for SPLIT operation. But the K3 really has a good split system without the sub-RX - at least for my level of seriousness. When I consider the P3, it would seem that the ability to spot (visually) and quickly (click?) the best frequency would be a powerful feature. My problem; I have no experiience with either a sub-receiver, or a spectrum display - my most advanced tranceiver before the K3 was my K2 (which will continue to have a place on my operating table!). So, considering that I want to upgrade with only one or the other for now, what is the expert advice? Thanks, Bill K6IFF |
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I have a KRX3, P3 and LP-PAN/CW Skimmer. KRX3 (cost $600-650 plus $125 for second CW filter) Advantages: True Diversity (mainly useful for low banders with good RX antennas) Simultaneous RX on same band (big split pileups, S&P while running, etc). Simultaneous RX on different bands Easy set up Easy to use Disadvantages: No big picture P3 ($700-750, assumes you have a KXV3A) Advantages: 200 kHz bandscope (find DX freqs, CQing holes, etc) Flexible display (Fixed spans...not just around K3's IF OUT, VFO A and/or VFO B control) Very easy set up Very easy to use Disadvantages: No zero-beat QSY No decoding CW Skimmer ($75 + LP-PAN $185-235 + soundcard $75 + 3 GHz P4 computer $100, assumes you have a KXV3A) Advantages: Best waterfall including true zero-beat decoder dots See where "599" was last sent in humongous pileup Text/call decoding (OK for assisted contesting) "Blind Mode" (OK for unassisted contesting) Keyboard QSY (no mouse click, no knob push) Disadvantages: Medium difficulty set-up (but much easier than PowerSDR) 24 kHz Span (when using K3's IF OUT) Span always centered on K3's IF OUT VFO A control only It really depends on what you're mainly interested in. For low band DX-ing with a good set of RX antennas, I'd choose the KRX3 because of diversity. For general bandscope use, the P3. For serious pileup-busting and contesting use, CW Skimmer. Regarding what I meant above about decoding "599" in a huge split pileup, see the last screen shot below: http://dxatlas.com/CwSkimmer/ 73, Bill P.S. Soundcard and computer costs above are what I paid. |
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In reply to this post by Bill Myers
Good question, Bill. I recently added both the sub RX and the P3 to my K3
SN 608, so am in a position to offer at least an opinion on the added utility of each. It was also my first experience with either capability. I'm mostly a CW contester but do some DXing and MW/SW listening. In a nutshell, both are very powerful additions in terms of new functionality. But I'd say the sub RX is more of a refinement over what is already in the K3 whereas the P3 provides a completely new capability. Price is of course a consideration also. $700 is the full price of the P3, whereas the sub RX can run you over $1000 with the addition of roofing and bandpass filters. I've only used the P3 for a few days now, and not yet in a contest. However I can say that its ability to see the entire band at a glance is wonderful. You can't do this with the sub RX. I've already found DX with it before it was spotted on the clusters. Sure beats tuning up and down the band! For contesting, the sub RX ability to simultaneously monitor a second band for S/P Qs is something you can't do with the P3. And, for working DX split and diversity it has the obvious advantages. If I could only afford one, I'd go for the P3 in a heartbeat. My prediction is that 6 months from now you will have both ;>) 73 Craig AC0DS ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by Bill Myers
Go for the KRX3 this year and a P3 next
73 de M0XDF, K3 #174 (with KRX3), P3 #108 -- One glance at a book and you hear the voice of another person, perhaps someone dead for 1,000 years. To read is to voyage through time. -Carl Sagan, astronomer and writer (1934-1996) On 13 Aug 2010, at 18:44, Bill Myers wrote: > > I need some advice about my next upgrade. My K3 (4380) does not have the > sub-Rx, which was my next planned addition. However, the P3 has attracted > my attention, and may be a better choice. > > The KRX3 seemed like a natural next step. I am a "casual" DXer and > contester, so it made sense to gain the features it would add, especially > for SPLIT operation. But the K3 really has a good split system without the > sub-RX - at least for my level of seriousness. > > When I consider the P3, it would seem that the ability to spot (visually) > and quickly (click?) the best frequency would be a powerful feature. My > problem; I have no experiience with either a sub-receiver, or a spectrum > display - my most advanced tranceiver before the K3 was my K2 (which will > continue to have a place on my operating table!). > > So, considering that I want to upgrade with only one or the other for now, > what is the expert advice? ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by Craig Smith
I added the second receiver for one reason ... monitoring six meters for openings. In fact, it has only an antenna connection on the rear of the K3 with no means to use the other methods of feeding antennas to it's input. As another poster has already pointed out, the K3 works split well, and ... for me ... using the two VFO's for working split is much easier that using the 2nd receiver. I also have just received the P3 and it's great, even though I'm not "skilled" with it ... yet. (:-) In summation ... unless you have a reason to listen on another band, the P3 is better spent money. Besides, you'll likely end up with both ... eventually. (:-) 73! Ken Kopp - K0PP [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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How about a K3 + SUBRX plus SDR/ROCKY or SDR/SKIMMER combo. Either SDR
has very easy to setup software. Much cheaper than P3. For cracking a big pileup, one needs some way of ID'ing the frequency of the last N stations the DX worked. A panadapter might or might not work well-- guys calling constantly. You might get lucky some percent on the time. It generally almost requires IDing the stations last worked. Options are: ears (sub-rx- a one knob approach) or SKIMMER in the CW mode. QSK helps too. 73 de Brian/K3KO Ken Kopp wrote: > I added the second receiver for one reason ... monitoring > six meters for openings. In fact, it has only an antenna > connection on the rear of the K3 with no means to use > the other methods of feeding antennas to it's input. > > As another poster has already pointed out, the K3 works > split well, and ... for me ... using the two VFO's for working > split is much easier that using the 2nd receiver. > > I also have just received the P3 and it's great, even though > I'm not "skilled" with it ... yet. (:-) > > In summation ... unless you have a reason to listen on > another band, the P3 is better spent money. Besides, > you'll likely end up with both ... eventually. (:-) > > 73! Ken Kopp - K0PP > [hidden email] > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by Bill Myers
Hi Bill,
I have the Sub RX and have found it to be something that I occasionally use. If I operate an hour or two a day, I might use it continuously one day and then not at all for the next three days. But I love it and would not want to ever be without it. I haven't yet ordered a P3 but can see how it would be something that I would use 100% of the time. And it would be fun to own during this early stage as firmware upgrades add new capabilities. So my vote would be to get the P3 first. Also by your serial number I can see that you are a new K3 owner. Write down the filters you think you would get with your Sub Rx. There's a very good chance you will actually order different filters when the time comes. 73, Mike K2MK
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In reply to this post by Bill W4ZV
Hi. I just want to mention re KRx3, good antennas on the 2nd receiver are not needed to make diversity the best feature on my K3. 2nd antenna here just a floor to ceiling wire stuck to the wall using a little MFJ tuner. Main antenna a 200' stealth end fed wire. 80% of the time diversity improves the overall signal especially on QRP sprint weak signal work.
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