There used to be a larger number of "serious weak signal VHF operators, but
the serious VHF operators are all dying off with no young ones to replace
them. I use three K3s and three K2s in my VHF station. I have one Ten Tec
OMNI V as well on 432. The big difference between a great HF vs VHF radio is
that LO purity and reciprical mixing performance is paramount on VHF, while
HF requires the close in dynamic range to be exemplary. I have yet to see a
good multi mode or "do all" radio from any manufacturer. I have never used
one in my station as a result. Strong signals on VHf can be a huge problem
when giant antennas and high locations are in use. Stations 60 or 70 miles
away can clobber you very easily. ERP levels can approach 150 KW.
I have always been intrigued by the Sherwood numbers for the Kenwood
TS-820S and TS-830 with YK88 filters. They don't look so bad in the listing,
but they were awful on VHF in strong signal environments with high gain (20
dBd) antennas. Local oscillator noise did not cut it. The K3 with the new
synthesizer is about 40 db or more better. I had the Kenwoods back in the
90's and dumped them for K2s and Ten Tec radios. What a difference. The K3
is icing on the cake. I started using them soon after they came out. They
are great on VHF and not too shabby on 160 meters also. (heh heh) I don't
think I can recall an overload problem with the Elecraft radios or the Ten
Tec OMNI for that matter. The OMNI V used crystal oscillators in the 1st LO,
so it was pretty clean. The new K3 synthesizer is awesome. It can handle a 0
dBm signal next to a -135 dBm signal and live to tell about it!
I have the 144 built in transverter in one of my K3's, but have not used
it as it is too low power to drive my big amplifier. Someday I'll resolve
that situation and it should work great. Of course VHF contesting is
different in different parts of the country. I live in rural Maine about 250
or 275 miles from New York City. I am on the edge of the golden activity
corridor. From my place, it is unwise to use multi mode Japanese rigs for
serious contesting. Between the deafness and LO phase noise problems, you
would have your hands full. Another ham 50 miles away could have a KW and
large antenna that was line of sight or almost line of sight, and squash
your receiver like a bug. Every VHF band here has a good HF radio for the
receiver. K3s, K2s, and one OMNI V from Ten Tec
Dave K1WHS
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob McGraw - K4TAX" <rmcg...@blomand.net>
To: <elecraft@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2015 12:03 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] On VHF & UHF radios
I don't view there are many serious VHF and UHF operators today, i.e.
sufficient to warrant a high performance radio. Most are repeater users.
Seems that a $39 radio model has been proven to be satisfactory to most.
The SAT users do require some unique applications to cross band, split
frequency and address Doppler shift. The Tropo users need big antennas
and lots of power and the EME group even more so. Oh yes, the digital
modes make things less complex but still, big antennas, good receivers and
clean transmitters is still mandatory.
I don't find the current breed of "do it all" radios to have outstanding
performance on VHF and UHF.
73
Bob, K4TAX
K3S s/n 10,163
On 9/16/2015 6:35 AM, ae...@carolinaheli.com wrote:
I still believe it may be possible with the K3S, KRX3 and transceivers to
do Full cross band duplex. I'll look more closely after my rig is built
and on the air. Makes for an expensive stand alone UHF/VHF rig tho unless
you want HF too. But then it's probably overkill just to work SATs. I'll
bet with the correct transverter we could hear the mars rovers tho.
Jerry Moore
AE4PB, K3S SN# ARRIVES TODAY!!!!!!!
-----Original Message-----
From: Andy McMullin [mailto:a...@rickham.net]
Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2015 7:22 AM
To: Jerry Moore
Cc: Jim Lowman; elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft SP3 External Speaker details
I’d be interested in that spec too!
Built-in soundcard for digital modes (with one USB connection for it and
rig control) would be nice as well.
Regards
Andy, G8TQH
On 16 Sep 2015, at 12:06, Jerry Moore <je...@carolinaheli.com> wrote:
If they did a stand alone UHF/VHF I'd suggest it have dual receivers,
cross band tx/rx capability and VFO tracking based on Doppler built in
for SAT work.
[deletia]
My one request to Eric, last year at his presentation at Pacificon,
was for a standalone, all-mode transceiver for 2m and above.
My rationale was that, since Elecraft sells transverters for 2m, 220
MHz and
432 MHz, they already have the technology to make this possible.
It came down to the fact that there may not be a large enough market
for such a transceiver. Makes sense.
73 de Jim - AD6CW
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