I just think the bar was raised dramatically when Elecraft released the K3. When I think back to ALL the transceivers I have owned, I distinctly recall that none of them were able to win me over and I was constantly searching for the "Best of the Best" and I spent enough money to prove that I failed.
The list is long, the model numbers are impressive, and even the model numbers were long enough to give the buyer a warm fuzzy feeling while the bank account dwindled to historical levels...:-) One day I got so frustrated with the current pair of transceivers sitting up taking space and not doing what I wanted so i turned to Google (Google is your friend) and Google threw up Elecraft...after I figured out this was not Halicraft or some furfy, I spotted the model # K3 and I got hooked, big time. So the FTdx9000D and FT-2000D went out the door in a heartbeat and I sat with an older TS-450SAT and waited.....the K3 started to ship and good Ol #679 rolled into the shack and my journey began. Now most folks that know me probably think I may not be the sharpest knife in the draw, and to prove they are right, I phoned Elecraft, spoke to Wayne I believe, and grumbled that my new K3 came without the Microphone...what kind of operation were they running?. yes, he asked me did I order one, order one I repeated...yep, the penny dropped and I realised I had not read the FULL list of what was needed. So the TS-450 gave up the microphone as it disappeared out the door. Is the K3 the best out there?....well in my opinion yes it is, after all, mine is going nowhere soon of that I am sure. I had a pair of PROIII's and a bunch of others that rate on the Sherwood list but nowhere near the top and I reckon the FTdx9000D was better than the PROIII's, BUT, what I premium price! I am portable 24/7 and the K4 or whatever folks like to think will be an Elecraft Base Transceiver will most likely not put in an appearance for me, I have had my share of these types and now I prefer the convenience of the K3 and the superior performance it gives me. If Wayne is reading this and smiling at the memory of the indignant call from Australia questioning why he did not personally ship every K3 with a Microphone I glad I made him smile. Thanks Wayne, the K3 is truly a remarkable transceiver that does pretty much everything to perfection for me. I have about given up on the RF Sensor for the P3. I have asked about it so many times I am sure Wayne and company think I have lost the plot or fixated on it, but, it would be a great addition for me at least. Well that's my story I guess.............. 73's to all, Gary On 17 April 2014 14:03, Richard S. Leary <w7...@comcast.net> wrote: > Right on Doug. I love my K-Line. Best rig I've ever had, and like you, > until > the K4, I won't have another. Unless I add a KX3, or K1. Nothing like > having > a rig you can tailor to your personal operating preferences. Thank you > Elecraft!! Now, I, for sure, would buy that new K3 transmit signal monitor > that would fit in my P3. Hint, Wayne... > 73, Rick, W7LKG > > -----Original Message----- > From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net > [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Doug Person > Sent: Monday, April 14, 2014 19:51 > To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] 756ProIII vs K3 > > In 1964 I had the same setup: HQ-170A, Eico 720 and a VFO. In those days, > the HQ-170 was like science fiction come true for me. It was wonderful > stuff. But, one day, I visited another ham who had just gotten a Drake 'B' > line. Don't remember what year it was. But I was very impressed. I > think, > even today, the 'B' line would be a very usable pair of rigs. Because of > them, I owned a 'C' line for many years with every modification I could > find > for them. Eventually, someone offered me a price that made me gasp. I > turned that money into a 756-Pro. > > I too tend to "rent" rigs. I have a closet full right now. I doubt any of > them will see anymore desk time. I've proven to myself over and over that > the K3 is the real keeper. Until there's a K4, I doubt anything else will > ever be front and center on my desk. > > 73, Doug -- K0DXV > > On 4/14/2014 12:56 AM, Richard S. Leary wrote: > > Nostalgia trip. Built my Eico 720 in 62, but splurged with an HQ-170A > rcvr. > > After spending around 5 hours a day (average) for 6 1/2 years doing CW > > intercept, spinning the knobs on an SP-600, Hammarlund seemed a good > > way to go. > > Still have a couple of 40 mtr xtals for the 720. The big jump was the > > VFO for the 720. Went from the 720 to Heathkit SB-300/400, to Collins > > 75s3/32s3, to Kenwood TS870S, then to presently the K3/100, KPA500, > > and P3 (all kits, and no hardware/software failures, except those of > > the operator induced kind.). I would have loved a K3 during my > > intercept days. Ever try changing bands from 10m to say 40m or 80m on > > an R-390. Not my idea of "fun". Sounds like a few Keesler "Thompson Hall" > folks out there. Right Fred. > > OK, enough OT. Thanks for the memories. Good luck on that 720 Phil. > > 73, > > Rick, W7LKG > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net > > [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Phil Hystad > > Sent: Sunday, April 13, 2014 22:14 > > To: Milt -- N5IA > > Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] 756ProIII vs K3 > > > > Actually, I am in the slow process of rebuilding an Eico 720 right > > now. I am doing from scratch with all new parts except for the > > transformers, switches and inductors. I am even putting new tube > > sockets in the chassis and also new terminal strips. I am still in > > the process of collecting everything before I start. I have two Eico > 720s > from which I am starting. > > I think one of them was a factory built unit because a number of parts > > like tube sockets and the modulator socket on the rear as well as the > > VFO switch on the back were mounted with rivets rather than pan head > screws and nuts. > > > > It is a slow background project though. But, I do have some 40-meter > > crystals all ready for when it is finished. > > > > 73, phil, K7PEH > ______________________________________________________________ > 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.htmlMessage > delivered to w7...@comcast.net > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > Message delivered to vk1zzg...@gmail.com > -- *Gary - VK1ZZ, K3NHLSkype: Gary.VK1ZZhttp://www.qsl.net/vk1zz <http://www.qsl.net/vk1zz>Motorhome Portable* *"Grumpy's House"* *Elecraft K3KPA500FTKAT500FT* ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
