Elecraft

Re: More K3 mojo

Classic

List

Threaded

15 messages Options

w7aqk

Re: More K3 mojo

Hi All,

I will claim a little "K3 Mojo" here too. I've worked Ducie
Island now on all modes from 10 meters through 40 meters.
Not a great accomplishment you might say, considering that
they are stronger than horseradish on just about every band
and mode. But the real tricky part when I decided to
venture down further. I listened on 80 CW, and there they
were--nice signal too. But I only have an R8 Vertical,
which doesn't cover anything beyond 40 meters--supposedly.
Ah, but the K3 has a pretty good ATU in it. Pushed the
button to tune, and it said 1:1 at the low end of 80 meters.
Called the VP6 on CW and bingo! Pretty amazing I thought,
but have to give credit to their end more than mine.

This morning I thought I would listen on 160 just for kicks.
There they were again, and very Q5. You don't suppose
there's enough Mojo in this thing to tune on 160 do you?
Pushed the button, and it said 2.5:1. Well, with 100 watts
into that R8 it might be akin to QRP at the other end. So I
called on 1821 khz. Two calls was all it took to get them
on 160 CW! Amazing--at least to me!

I have now concluded that with K3's at both ends, you can
work them on any band with anything slightly better than a
wet piece of string! I sure hope they write a good article
for QST or whatever which describes their antenna setup in
some detail. Pretty impressive, not to mention that they
are all superb ops. I better start listening on 6 meters!

Dave W7AQK

----- Original Message -----
From: "K1DWZ" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2008 8:08 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] More K3 mojo

>
> The K3 mojo is still working. I worked Ducie Island
> again, this time on 20
> meters SSB with my K3 and an Elecraft MH2 mic running 10
> watts to a G5RV
> antenna.
>
> Ken K1DWZ
> K3 #167
> --
> View this message in context:
> http://www.nabble.com/More-K3-mojo-tp15673244p15673244.html
> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

W6NEK

Re: K3-Latest K3 Review on EHAM

Hi Mike,
I agree with you that, from his prospective, Solardx feels like he has
posted an honest review. However, I further feel that without any feedback
to Elecraft, to allow them to participate with Solardx, to confirm that he
has a defective unit, is a rush to judgment and a premature post to eHam.
In his review, Solardx states (and I quote) "I might have a faulty unit and
I am not really sure". At that point I would expect Solardx to contact
Elecraft and turn over the problem for them to resolve. This would have
provided Elecraft engineering with valuable information and would also
remove the burden from Solardx to eventually get his K3 transmit problem
fixed. A premature post on eHam will not bring the quickest response from
Elecraft. However, an email to [hidden email] will.

I know this to be true because of a problem I had with my K3/100 (SN312).
When I finished assembly of my K3 I had no receive audio from the built-in
speaker and I also had no Line Out audio either. All other modes and
functions on the K3 worked fine. I emailed Elecraft support, at the link
above, and got a quick response from Gary Surrency. I described my problem
and it was though that I had a faulty KIO3 assembly. I requested the
replacement and Scott King sent a new KIO3 assembly immediately.
Unfortunately, the new KIO3 did not fix my problem. I updated Gary and he
arranged for me to receive an RSA # and I returned the unit to Elecraft for
their inspection. Once the unit arrived at Elecraft I received an email
from Rene Morris. He did preliminary tests and then called me on the
telephone to discuss his findings and to ensure that once they returned my
K3 that everything was going to be 100% operational. He replaced the DSP
board and the unit will be given a full factory alignment. I should receive
the repaired radio back by the middle of this week. The point is that
unless you bring a failure, or suspected failure, to the attention of
Elecraft then all you're doing is making yourself frustrated. Making
frustrated eHam posts is not really helping to FIX the problem. Given the
fantastic response I experienced from Elecraft Support there is no excuse to
not call upon them to take the lead and provide the final solution to your
problem. Weather it's a simple repair or a change to the design/firmware,
give Elecraft a chance to participate!

Given the fact that Solardx admitted: "I might have a faulty unit and I am
not really sure", tells me he made a frustrated, disappointed, premature
eHam post.

Best 73,
Frank - W6NEK

----- Original Message -----
From: "AD6XY - Mike" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2008 10:38 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3-Latest K3 Review on EHAM

>
> My goodness - this is absolutely terrible. Someone posts an honest review
> of
> their experience and loads of people attack them for criticising their
> baby
> by not giving it full marks? I really expected more of the Elecraft
> community.
>
> Perhaps the transmitter is faulty - it is entirely possible the PA bias
> has
> failed or there is a problem with the driver, in the alignment or
> elsewhere.
> Perhaps solardx really has a point. Whatever, their experience is still
> just
> as valid as anyone elses.
>
> I am really concerned now that all the good reviews of the K3 might not be
> as honest and unbiased as I thought.
>
> Mike

Bruce Bowman

Re: K3-Latest K3 Review on EHAM

I have no doubt that Elecraft will make-right anything that is wrong
with hardware they delivered whether to Solardx or any other owner. The
important point, assuming the failure info is right, is that either a
unit got thru final test that shouldn't have, or a unit failed in
transit. Yeah, he/she needs to work it out with Elecraft, but this is an
indication of what might be a procedural smoking gun.

Once the problem is resolved, and I have no doubt it will be, it would
sure be nice to hear a follow-up.

Bruce, NM5B
Santa Fe, NM

> Hi Mike,
> I agree with you that, from his prospective, Solardx feels like he has
> posted an honest review. However, I further feel that without any
> feedback to Elecraft, to allow them to participate with Solardx, to
> confirm that he has a defective unit, is a rush to judgment and a
> premature post to eHam...

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

Bill Steffey NY9H

Re: K3-Latest K3 Review on EHAM

In reply to this post by W6NEK

as far as "audio crunch".... I agree the current iteration is not
as penetrating as a good RF clipper could give it ....albeit it IS
distortion.... but deem favorable by many. KEY WORK : CURRENT.

Hard to believe that solardx contributes to Eham , yet is not on the reflector.
Perhaps by another moniker ??

Perhaps someone should find him and invite him aboard.....

bill

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

Alexander Ponomarenko-5

Re: K3-Latest K3 Review on EHAM

In reply to this post by w7aqk

"The speech processor, mic gain and ALC circuits need some design attention.
The transmitter in the K3 is very poor. The RF speech processor produces a
lot of IMD on the signal. It's a raspy and nasty kind of product that bleeds
from the transmit signal. What I was hearing was not pleasant. The K3 has
the infamous ALC induced leading edge splatter/IMD problem. Even the older
K2 is better in this area. If you test the K2 under same conditions at
5,10,15 and 20khz you get almost no IMD or splatter. As you reduce the power
level on the K2 between 50 and 70 watts there is no detectable splatter with
the speech processor set to 2:1 or 3:1 compression ratio. In contrast the
moment you turn the K3's speech processor on you can hear leading edge
splatter at 10,15 and 20khz. I might have a faulty unit and I am not really
sure."

======================================

I think, that the SOLARDX is really not K3 user.

And it IMD-problems are from another HAM-RIG - not K3.

All these problems I read in opinion for other radio.

73! Alex de UR5LAM

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

DW Holtman

Re: K3-Latest K3 Review on EHAM

In reply to this post by w7aqk

Hello,

About a week ago, I asked the group what they thought about several bad
comments on E-Ham about SSB on the K2. I received a bunch of great E-Mail
telling me that it is probably an alignment problem. But, I also received
several E-Mails bordering on hate mail. It was strange to read some of the
responses I received. This rig almost has a cult type following by some of
the true believers.

I'm not saying there is anything wrong with really appreciating a quality
radio with an unheard of support from the factory. That is why I'm sold on
them. I know these rigs are the best money can buy, I operate a K1, in the
process of building a K2 and have a K3 on order. With this kind of support I
really hope Electraft does very well and continues to come out with products
of this quality.

Best,
DW Holtman
WB7SSN

----- Original Message -----
From: "AD6XY - Mike" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2008 2:47 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3-Latest K3 Review on EHAM

>
> Funny isn't it. I suggest that we should not put down people who don't
> like
> what we do and I become attacked myself by many Emails.
> --
> View this message in context:
> http://www.nabble.com/K3-Latest-K3-Review-on-EHAM-tp15661902p15669831.html
> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

w6jd

Re: K3-Latest K3 Review on EHAM

Anyone who has spent anytime at all listening to the VP6DX operaton
knows that "solardx"'s eham review is either bogus or he happened
to get a bad radio. I suspect he is an ICOM "operative".

Doug
W6JD
-------------- Original message --------------
From: Tom AK2B <[hidden email]>

>
> There are over 475 K3's sold and only 30 reviews on eHam. If this one bad
> review bothers you, write your own!
>
> Tom, AK2B
> --
> View this message in context:
> http://www.nabble.com/K3-Latest-K3-Review-on-EHAM-tp15661902p15671173.html
> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

Matt Zilmer

Re: K3-Latest K3 Review on EHAM

I was wondering when someone would bring that possibility up...

It happens all the time.

matt, W6NIA

On Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:19:32 +0000, you wrote:

>Anyone who has spent anytime at all listening to the VP6DX operaton
>knows that "solardx"'s eham review is either bogus or he happened
>to get a bad radio. I suspect he is an ICOM "operative".
>
>Doug
>W6JD
>-------------- Original message --------------
>From: Tom AK2B <[hidden email]>
>
>>
>> There are over 475 K3's sold and only 30 reviews on eHam. If this one bad
>> review bothers you, write your own!
>>
>> Tom, AK2B
>> --
>> View this message in context:
>> http://www.nabble.com/K3-Latest-K3-Review-on-EHAM-tp15661902p15671173.html
>> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Post to: [hidden email]
>> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
>> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
>> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
>> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>_______________________________________________
>Elecraft mailing list
>Post to: [hidden email]
>You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
>Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
>Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

IK4YNG

R: K3-Latest K3 Review on EHAM

>Anyone who has spent anytime at all listening to the VP6DX operaton
>knows that "solardx"'s eham review is either bogus or he happened to
>get a bad radio. I suspect he is an ICOM "operative".
>

To me, it sounds like an Icom retailer with a LARGE stock.

E-ham should not accept anonymous reviews, and request the serial number to
be stated in it.

BTW, just worked VP6DX on 40 meters from Italy, barefoot (100W) with my
vintage Drake S line and a cushcraft vertical. They heard me on my third
attempt, and i got them S5 while i was expecting S2. I just sold my Icom
781, since my K3 is on the way. I paid for it on Friday.

Cheers,
IK4YNG Paolo

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

Jan Erik Holm

Re: R: K3-Latest K3 Review on EHAM

Not that I know what a Drake S line is but strange you could work
VP6DX with it.
From reading this list I have got the impression that to work
VP6DX you indeed need a Elecraft K3 radio.

Jim SM2EKM
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
paolo.gramigna wrote:

>
>
>> Anyone who has spent anytime at all listening to the VP6DX operaton
>> knows that "solardx"'s eham review is either bogus or he happened to
>> get a bad radio. I suspect he is an ICOM "operative".
>>
>
>
> To me, it sounds like an Icom retailer with a LARGE stock.
>
> E-ham should not accept anonymous reviews, and request the serial number to
> be stated in it.
>
> BTW, just worked VP6DX on 40 meters from Italy, barefoot (100W) with my
> vintage Drake S line and a cushcraft vertical. They heard me on my third
> attempt, and i got them S5 while i was expecting S2. I just sold my Icom
> 781, since my K3 is on the way. I paid for it on Friday.
>
> Cheers,
> IK4YNG Paolo
>
>

Simon (HB9DRV)

Re: R: K3-Latest K3 Review on EHAM

In reply to this post by IK4YNG

It doesn't matter how good or expensive the product is, every high-tech
solution can break. My neighbour's Mercedes SLK 500 broke down after 3 days
and had to be shipped off the Isle of Man to England to be repaired. My
mother's Metro 1000 City (1989) has never had a problem despite being 18
years old and costing 10% as much as the Merc.

This 3/5 review shows that the K3 is a real radio produced by a real company
and used by real people. 100 glowing reviews giving 5/5 would be too good to
be true.

Simon Brown, HB9DRV

--------------------------------------------------
From: "paolo.gramigna" <[hidden email]>
>
> E-ham should not accept anonymous reviews, and request the serial number
> to
> be stated in it.
>

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

IK4YNG

R: R: K3-Latest K3 Review on EHAM

In reply to this post by Jan Erik Holm

Quote----------------------
Not that I know what a Drake S line is but strange you could work
VP6DX with it.
From reading this list I have got the impression that to work
VP6DX you indeed need a Elecraft K3 radio.
-----------------------

Pardon me for the typo. It was, quite obviously, a Drake C line of 1979
vintage. An I worked them on CW using a Vibroplex-like Vizkey bug handmade
by Tom, K4VIZ and modeled after a design produced by the late John Marachini
Merrick, VE3AUB/VE3AWA. No paddle, no keyer, no DSP, no computer-controlled
rig, no packet cluster, nothing besides a few vacuum tubes, a bug and a 1/4
vertical. And oh boy, how I liked that QSO!

But anyway, after building a KX1 (worked all Europe while hiking, on AA
batteries) and a K2 (worked all the continents with a string of wire up on a
tree, on internal batteries) I decided to sell my Icom 781; and my K3 is on
his way right now.

I still like the smell and warmth of my vacuum tubes (Real Radios Glow In
The Dark!) but I'll like to finally own a rig, whose receiver will finally
beat my vintage, perfectly calibrated R-390A (a late EAC production). And I
don't care a dime for the "punch" of the speech processor; first of all, I
work 99,9% on CW (when I want to go SSB I have to ask a friend to lend me a
microphone, since I don't own any) and second because I don't want a Robocop
voice; mine is already bad enough.

Cheers,
Paolo IK4YNG

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

Darwin, Keith

RE: R: K3 vs. C-Line (K3-Latest K3 Review on EHAM)

Paolo,

When you get the K3, please post your views on how it compares to the
R-4C. I'd love to know what you think of both rigs as you operate them
side by side.

- Keith N1AS -
- K2 5411.ssb.100 -
- K3 Wave 3 -

-----Original Message-----
From: Paolo Gramigna
... a Drake C line of 1979 vintage. An I worked them on CW
... I decided to sell my Icom 781; and my K3 is on his way right now.

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

AC7AC

RE: R: K3-Latest K3 Review on EHAM

In reply to this post by IK4YNG

CONTENTS DELETED

The author has deleted this message.

IK4YNG

R: R: K3-Latest K3 Review on EHAM

Quote----------------------------------
You have a LOT of company Paolo!
Unquote------------------------------

I'm glad I'm not alone. I say, for casual ragchewing nothing beats my old
and trusty Drake C-line.
But for the purpose of adding a rare, new one when I have just half an hour
before hurrying to business, well it's nice to fire up my PC, click and grab
a spot, click on it and let MixW operate my rig. I touch a button, and my
callsign goes out at 25. Another button, and "599 t u" goes out at horrible
speed. A click of the mouse, and the QSO is in the log, complete with all
the QRZ.COM details.
But when VP6DX is S5 on my R-4C while DXManager says it should be arriving
at S2, then I switch off my PC and the QSO comes out from my bug, or my
Amplidan.
The only microphone I own is indeed an astatic, how did you guess?
But when my K3 will arrive, (in a week, I hope) and that very special
occasion will arise when I'll need more power (the receiving station being
buried in QRM, for example) then my only linear will come to life: a trusty
Drake L-4B. And I'll have to tune up 3 knobs in the linear, 3 more in the
Transmatch (a Drake MN-2000), taking care not to overload by carefully
watching the Trapezoid on my Heathkit Station Monitor CRT... Oh boy, that's
life! The smell of the two 3-500Z frying up dust and moths, the humming of
the heavy transformers, all the lights in the house dimming in unison with
the CW of my callsign, myself yelling "stop the washer!" and my wife
scrambling to stop the dish-washer before the house breaker overloads and
trips... That's LIFE! No PC will ever be able to cause such an explosion of
Adrenaline, believe me!

Cheers,
IK4YNG Paolo

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com