Here are some first impressions after three (3) days of casual operation with my KX3-F (Serial #112) received on Thursday May 10, 2012:
Ordering, Acknowledgement, and Shipping experience - excellent in all respects. All date targets were hit precisely. UPS 3-Day Select delivered the KX3 on time with no external damage. Elecraft packaging is outstanding. Manual, Instructions, Documentation - Excellent. I had already read the Preliminary manual so there were no surprises. The power cord provided already had the free ends stripped and tinned so all that was required was to connect to my power supply binding posts. Familiarization with Functions, Features - Went through the manual Basic Operation section while operating the radio. No surprises. Everything was logical and orderly. Decided to make a few QSOs before continuing with Advanced Operating Features. On the Air - Decided to use my G5RV at 30 feet (Inverted V config) and paper logging to more nearly approximate field conditions. Heard AB0DZ in MN calling CQ on 20M CW. He came back immediately and gave me a 589 report. Had a nice 20 minute QSO. Plugged in the mike and setup for SSB on 20M. Called W7AAZ in Twin Falls, ID as he concluded a QSO. He was running a K3 and said I was initially 58 and then 59 plus when he turned his beam on me. Said my audio was excellent. Had a couple of additional CW QSOs, one on 80M and one on 17M. Excellent reports from both. Set up for PSK31 and had a QSO with WV on 20M. Kinda spooky to be having a PSK QSO without a waterfall. Paddles to PSK is very interesting and works well. Gotta be fast since the screen scrolls by quickly. Interesting to hear the PSK warble superimposed with the CW monitor of what you're sending. Two more CW QSOs, including first DX, with Ukraine, on 20M CW and second DX with FG8NY on 17 meters. Set up for RTTY and worked 3 QSOs in the VOLTA RTTY Contest, one with an EA2. Again interesting to hear the mark and space tones superimposed on my CW monitor. Works well. Lots of other CW QSOs, including busting a moderate pileup on 5N7M in Nigeria on 17M CW. OK, I did have to call him 3 times to get through, but it was a solid QSO. Also checked in to the Missouri CW Traffic Net (MON) on 3.585 Mhz. NCS said I was 599 after cranking up his RF gain. Other Impressions - ATU and Advanced Operating Features ATU - really outstanding! Quick and remembers tuning solutions. Freq Memories - I was worried how I'd react to the absence of band- stacking registers that I'm familiar with on my FT-5000. Not to worry. Four (4) "quick memories" per band allowed me to set band segments for CW, PSK, RTTY, and SSB, Easy and nice! Audio Effects - really like the delay and pitch effects. Always use them, mostly delay. Human Factors - although my prior bias was for lots of single-function knobs and buttons, Elecraft has really hit a home run with ease of use with intelligent grouping of controls and labeling of functions. I would not hesitate to recommend this radio for an HF newbie as far as navigating the functions. The 100 watt amp might be a good idea for newbies to improve their success rate until they become familiar with QRP tricks of the trade. Summary - this radio is a wonderful combination of features and takes me back to my roots 57 years ago when my first homebrew transmitter ran 10 watts. For those still awaiting delivery, hang in there. It is well worth the wait. 73, BILL W4RK Jefferson City, MO Elecraft KX3 S/N 112 ______________________________________________________________ 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
