The main thing: 1. The K3 2. Wayne and Eric 3. Everybody else (most everybody) on this list.
73, phil, K7PEH On Feb 21, 2011, at 3:51 PM, Jeff Cochrane - VK4BOF wrote: > Hi Wayne, Eric & everyone on the list, > I thought that perhaps it was time to ask one of the most important questions > ever for this mailing list, > That is: What made you decide on purchasing an Elecraft transceiver? > > For me it was participating in the local (all VK) 'Shires' HF contest with my > good friend Gary - VK4FD and his K3 #679. > I was using my Yaesu FT847 during that contest sitting next to Gary and I > could not help but notice that whilst my FT847 was handling the 2 lower bands > (80 & 40M) fairly well it was still being desensed by Gary whenever he > transmitted on 20M and up. > > Whilst it was bareable for me I also noticed that Gary did not have any such > issues with his K3, he simply got on with the job at hand. > (In fact he could listen on the same band I was on and have no issues at all, > it was a real eye opener for me!) > > Now, I know that the FT847 is not a contesters radio on HF at all but it > didn't do such a bad job, after all we got second place in the rover category > that year with quite a large amount of the points scored being done by me and > the FT847 but when I saw the performance of the K3 in comparison to the FT847 > I thought, "maybe it is time for a change of radio". > > So, the seeds of change were now sown, the sticking point at the time was > that I would lose the capability of operation on two bands that I was active > on (2M and 70cm). > (The 2M transverter wasn't available when I first started to entertain the > idea of a K3 in my shack) > The clincher for me was the announcment of the K144XV internal 2M transverter > with it's impressive spec, I now HAD to have me one of those K3 radio's! > I was willing to forego the 70cm band as it get's very little use in Nth > Queensland except for contests but 2M was a must have. > > I knew that had to sell my beloved FT847 as well as my 2 other radios > (Kenwood TS480SAT, Yaesu FT897D) to afford the K3 as the other half had said > "No extra cost to the family, you pay for it with the proceeds of the sale of > your other radio gear". (I miss the FT847 and the TS480SAT but not the > FT897D, it was a pile of junk!) > > I pored over the options list and asked for Gary's advice on filters and > options as well as looking at my own operating habits before settling on the > radio's current configuration. (K3 #4257, DVR, ATU, 100W, KXV3A, TCXO, KBPF3, > 13KHz, 6KHz, 2.8KHz, 2.1KHz, 400Hz, PR6, K144XV) > > Now that I have had my K3 for awhile I can say that I am very happy with my > choice of not only the radio but the options that I had fitted. > It has performed pretty much faultlessly since I got it with the exception of > a faulty microphone and the original K144XV failing. > (Both of which were replaced ASAP by Elecraft) > > If I had a choice, wouuld I change anything? > The answer is: > A resounding NO!, I would not change anything with the K3, Though I would > encourage Elecraft to fit the PR6 internally in the K3, the external PR6 is a > right royal PITA because it hangs out too far behind the radio! > (I'd also like so firmware changes to be made to accomodate the saving of > modes etc into the VFO memories for 2M FM Repeater operations but that > apparently needs a complete firmware code rewrite) > > What's next on my list of things to have? > I have tried out the P3 at Gary's (VK4FD) place and whilst it is a nice > addition, I cannot see a real use for it here with my style of operating but > I can see a real use for a KPA500 so I think that i will next set my sights > on sidling one of those up beside my K3. > (Added to the fact that I am losing my vision, which makes it kinda pointless > to have a visual aid to help operate the radio) :-) > > So, there you have it, my reasons for owning one of the finest Amateur Radio > transceivers on the market today, such as they are. > > PS: Wayne and Eric, You'll get no finer Australian ambassador for Elecraft > than Gary VK4FD, he's singularly resposible for getting most the Aussie K3's > owners to be, well........K3 owners! > Cut him a good deal on his KPA500 (and mine too please!) :-) > > Thanks for taking the time to read my drivel...... > > Jeff Cochrane - VK4BOF > Innisfail, QLD, Australia > Elecraft K3# 4257 + PR6 - K144XV = multiband goodness! > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
