This is a great post Fred, and really goes to the heart of the entire "I bought a cat when I really wanted a dog, and now I can't the cat to act like a dog" issue that I have just been waiting for to appear here.
I have had the good fortune to use WB8AZP's KX3 at a hamfest, and I think it performs great as a portable radio. It wouldn't make a great base radio FOR ME, but then I'm pretty sure that the KX3 wasn't designed for base use. Every device that I know of is the sum total of a set of design compromises. The design paradigm of the KX3 was clearly "portable operation", so it shouldn't be any surprise that the speaker is small and doesn't sound like an Apogee Scintilla. It's the same thing with boats - you "can fish from any boat", but don't get mad if the speedboat you bought isn't great for casting into lily pads for bass. Mike Alexander amsct...@comcast.net ----- Original Message ----- From: "FredJensen" <k6...@foothill.net> To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Saturday, August 4, 2012 11:49:08 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Unhappy With Your KX3? On 8/4/2012 2:36 PM, Rich wrote: > I'm curious, where has Elecraft advertised or marketed the KX3 as a > "base station" radio? My quick review only finds portable operation > references. The only references to base station use I find is from user > comments. Am I missing something? > > Rich > NU6T Don't think so Rich. I too have looked and don't think Elecraft has ever *marketed* the KX3 as a home station radio, although it could certainly be used that way. So could an FT-817, K2 [I know of several in that sort of service], or even a K1. An ATS3x could be used that way too ... not its design goal however. If "it" receives and makes RF, you can use it at home. Everything I've heard from Elecraft, both in print [QST ads] and in person [Pacificon and elsewhere] have put the KX3 in the class of a "highly portable transceiver with a lot of K3-like performance and features." I've also never heard or seen it promoted as an "extreme backpacking trail radio" either, however it probably could be used as such under at least some trail conditions, although the KX1 comes to mind as a better choice at night in a tent. Every time I see a KX3, real or in a photo, it calls out to me, Business Traveler Radio, followed closely by Leisure Traveler Radio. I'm retired, I no longer do business travel, and my KX1, K2, K3/P3/KPA500/KAT500 are likely going to be it for me in the realm of Elecraft radios. But I've never seen the KX3 *marketed* as a home station radio, just that you can use it there as well as elsewhere. And to the discussion regarding loudspeaker quality: Folks, have you even bothered to look at the size of the KX3 speaker? Has everyone forgotten the physics of audio transducers? If you want incredibly full and great [near-broadcast quality] audio, I refer you to http://www.radioblvd.com/Pre-WWII%20Ham%20Gear.htm ... scroll down near the bottom of the page to "Hallicrafters SX-28 and R12 Bass Reflex Speaker." I inherited this receiver from the family of "Woody," W6ANX [SK], some years ago. The audio quality was incredibly good reminding me of the AM days when you could still hear the clang of the relays reverberating in his shack as your QSO buddy brought up his carrier. I used it in one Sweepstakes single band CW with an ARC-5 TX. Very nostalgic and fun ... for a couple of hours. :-) And, the SX-28 was great insurance against the possibility of gravity outages as well. I finally donated it to the museum so others could see and hear it and I highly recommend a visit if you find yourself in historic Virginia City NV. > > On 8/4/2012 6:42 AM, Oliver Dröse wrote: >> Nevertheless I would still expect from a rig marketed (not designed!) as a >> base station rig to provide sufficient audio from it's internal speaker. And >> it's nothing new or magic, even the now 11 years old FT-817 provides enough >> "oomph" from it's internal speaker if wanted. ;-) Can you point me at any Elecraft advertisements that overtly *market* the KX3 as a home station transceiver? 73, Fred K6DGW/7 Sparks NV ______________________________________________________________ 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
