Re: KX3 vs. FT817 (comparing apples+oranges)

[Bill K9YEQ]

Steve,

I enjoyed your analysis.  I own the FT817 with the SSB filter, upgraded
battery pack that has great shelf life and the Analog DSP device  all added
a number of years ago.  I am most unhappy with the battery life and the much
too tiny controls and display.  A bit taller profile would have allowed so
much more.  I badgered Wayne in 2004 before taking a trip to Antarctica to
come up with a KX1 style device that had SSB, single band would be just fine
as long as I could have band selection.  

He also expressed  similar discontent.  Unbeknownst,  he must have had the
idea for a  KX3-like device in the mental works.  I like the form factor of
the FT-817 for walkabouts with an antenna attached to the face of the radio
with my carry case and sling over shoulder while dragging my counterpoise.
Great for operating as long as there wasn't much noise or much close
interference.  I also found the radio's rejection of noise was poor even
with the DSP working, unless I turned it to an aggressive position which
then created digital artifacts which are also annoying.  The FT-817 does
have the walkabout benefit.  I like to operate at 2 watts SSB. I do this on
my KX1 and K2 as well.  I go to < 1.00 watt on the K3 on CW as I can use a
fixed station antenna.  I love SSB and only occasionally work CW.  The
better receiver on the KX3 will be a huge benefit in my opinion.

I had an FT-857 in my mobile for all band.   It was horrible on HF for me
because of the noise in metro areas, etc.  When I moved to an IC7000 it was
like day and night.  (The FT-817 and 857 were too similar for my liking.)  I
can work HF without issue and have lots of power for V/U and the audio is
very good.  My dilemma for the KX3 as a mobile is the lack of FM
features/bands common with the competition.  I think I will remove the 7000
and get the KX3 with amplifier and add an FM transceiver.  I like having a
tuner to load whatever I can come up with for an antenna on my electric fold
over mount and not have the SUV look like a porcupine mobile ground plane.
(No offense intended for those who have porcupines,  I don't like the look
on my vehicle, my wife doesn't like what I already have which is very low
profile and I cannot disagree to a point.)  

We'll see what Wayne and Eric come up with.  Right now I will just sit and
wait.

73,
Bill
K9YEQ


-----Original Message-----

I do agree with some of what Doug says. I see the numbers side with the
pricing - you are more than double the original price Doug outlined with a
KX3. The FT-817ND now is in the $700+ range. Going off that number a base
KX3 is $300 more - not a double in price.

Regarding the "apples to oranges" comment - I entirely agree. In fact, I
find it hard to compare the KX3 to a lot of radios because there is so much
under the cover (and on the cover). My potable radio for years has been the
FT-857D. That is my every day rig in the mobile (160-6m, 2m, 70cm) and is my
"grab'n'go" rig. I have a K2 also and that is nice when car-camping, but at
that point the FT-857D is along too - it has VHF/UHF capabilities the K2
does not. Adding in the 2m module to the KX3 will let me grab that instead
of un-installing the FT-857D. I am anxious to throw it in the backpack and
head out to the Appalachians for a few days. My pack weight will drop
substantially and my back will thank me!

For what the FT-817 is - it is a neat little rig. That satisfied a niche for
years in the HFPack community. It is really hard to knock the useability of
the rig. For those that currently have them maybe, as Doug alludes to, it
will remain a staple in their portable arsenals. My FT-857D will be a staple
in my arsenal in some instances I would assume, but there is some
versatility in that rig that the KX3 will replace, no doubt. At the time I
got the FT-857D I considered other rigs - and the FT-817 was one of them.
Where I use my FT-857D most of the time is as my every-day mobile rig, and
to that point there still is no radio on the market that satisfies that
niche to the same capacity - the FT-857D, as heavy as it is, still has made
its way in to my backpack for trips around southern Ohio and the Appalachian
mountains. It is compact and the receive current is low (500-550mA = low
enough to run on batteries). Try that with an IC-7000 (one of the better
mobile rigs on the market). That rig's current consumption is at least 2
amps (2000mA) and it is also heavier. Or, conversely, try putting an FT-817
in the mobile... Doesn't work too well - the faceplate doesn't remote and
the power output is low.

Who knows - maybe the KX3 will make it in to my mobile station with the
KXPA100... Then the FT-857D for VHF/UHF and the KX3 for HF? HI. The
possibilities are endless.

We are all entitled to our own opinions. What the base of those opinions is
can vary, but we're the ones that choose our "tools". What we want our tools
to do or have change, but guess what? They all do the same job. All radios
let you communicate. Do you want CW only? SSB only? Both? HF only? A few
bands or all bands? Is VHF important to you? Do you travel? Do you operate
from home?


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