Lee... Welcome to the hobby and to Elecraft. Several years ago I assembled K2 # 5957 and immediately added the SSB, noise blanker, DSP and 100W modules. This past spring I put together K3 #6232 with the 100W module and three additional filters. I chase DX, operate contests [casually], and rag chew, just about all on CW.
There is no doubt in anyone's mind that the K3 is the better radio. That said, what's really amazing is that the K2 is so close to the K3. My K2 was the station radio from the moment it lit up. I never felt limited by any aspect of the radio, and the K2's mojo can't be questioned. Also, knowing that you've built it will be just about enough satisfaction all by itself. Trust us on this point! It performed flawlessly in all aspects of operating and was/is far and away better than its two predecessors. I still have it, won't sell it, and have all sorts of plans for its future use. The K3 is just superb in all aspects. It has completely satisfied any curiosity that I had about "high end" radios. At my age I don't plan on buying another rig this time around. So, either one will be a treasure. The suggestion to get a second hand rig at an easy price or on loan makes good sense. Get a loaner, get your feet wet, and then make a more informed decision based on your own experience. Any rig will do for this phase of your ham radio education. You may not be able to get a K3 loaner, but with average luck you may be able to get your hands on a K2 and try it out. Experience is the best teacher [trite yet true]. There is no "correct" path through/up the ham radio hobby. Every ham's story has unique chapters mostly unlike anyone else's. Either of these two Elecraft radios will be fun and satisfying in its own way. Get started and one or the other will find its way on to the table and into your heart. ...robert On 8/8/2012 17:41, Lee Herbst wrote: > My situation is this, single income family with 4 kids. I have to save > for anything I want. I just got my ticket in June. I am currently not > on the air, but saving for a 2m mobile to get me started. > > Realistically I can only save for one HF xcvr. I chose Elecraft based > on lurking on this reflector and learning about their excellent > support - I don't think I can go wrong buying from these guys. > However, I don't know if I should save for a K2 or a K3. I think it > will take me about a year to save for the base K2 kit or about 2 years > to save for the base K3 kit. I need to make sure that whichever I get, > it will be something I am happy with for a long time as I would not be > able to afford to replace it. > > I would like to operate cw and ssb, but cw only would be fine until I > could afford the ssb option if I went for the K2. I am intrigued by > building a K2 (I am handy with a soldering iron), but on the other > side of the coin it seems like you get a lot more radio with the K3. > So, if you were in my shoes, which would you save for? On the air > sooner with a K2 or waiting longer for a K3? All input is most > welcome. > > 73, > -- Robert G. Strickland, PhD, ABPH - KE2WY rc...@verizon.net Syracuse, New York, USA ______________________________________________________________ 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
