Elecraft K3 is sold as a "High Performance Radio", this is in print clearly stated on the web page.
The 6m RX in K3 can not be called high performance. With a NF of above 10 and MDS as it is. The transmitter on SSB has so poor IMD that it can not be called high performance. ARRL and many others has measured poor TX IMD. I hear K3´s on the air every day with poor SSB TX IMD. People do have problems with PSK and other digital modes due to poor TX performance. IMO 6m is fixed with the preamp, no big issue anymore. However it should be stated in advertisement that for high performance on 6m K3 needs a preamp. Then we have the transmitter, what to do?? The problem has been swept under the carpet and it doesn´t go away by itself, it is stil there, under the carpet. 73 Jim SM2EKM ---------------------- Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: > I can't speak for the engineering or product decisions that went into > offering 6 meters with the K3, but for an excellent low-noise 6 meter > capability Elecraft does offer the XV50 transverter which is well integrated > into the K3 and K2 rigs offering direct frequency readout, all of the > capabilities of the base K3 (or K2), and the 6 meter band becomes part of > the band selection just like the HF bands. > > The XV144, 222 and 432 round out the same capability, letting you cycle > through bands using the K2 or K3 bandswitch from 160 through 70 cm with one > rig, and each of the VHF/UHF transverters has a low-noise high-performance > receive front end designed specifically for that band. > > As Wayne's often mentioned here, the advanced up-conversion design of the K3 > is superior for HF but makes incorporating VHF a real challenge. Using an XV > transverter specifically designed for each VHF band keeps the K3 (or K2) > operating as a tunable I.F. in the HF (28 MHz) range. > > Ron AC7AC > > > > -----Original Message----- > > On Sun, 25 Jan 2009 12:34:03 -0500 > "Phil LaMarche" <plama...@verizon.net> wrote: >> I purchased a used FT 100 just to monitor 6 while using the other bands > with >> the K3. Today there is a great opening. Signals are screaming from the > FT >> 100 and hardly heard on the K3 using an antenna switch. Guess I better > get >> a Preamp in line quickly. >> >> Phil >> >> >> Philip LaMarche >> LaMarche Enterprises, Inc. >> <http://www.instantgourmetspices.com/> www.instantgourmetspices.com >> >> www.w9dvm.com <http://www.w9dvm.com/> >> 800-395-7795 pin 02 >> 727-944-3226 >> FAX 727-937-8834 >> NASFT 30210 >> W9DVM > **************************************************************************** > ***** > > Phil, > > You're right about the 6mtr. band being practically deaf in the K3!!! I did > order the 6m. preamp > because of > that short-coming! But you would have thought that the BOYZ @ Elecraft > would'nt have short-changed > 6m sensitivity as ALL THE OTHER BANDS HEAR WELL!!! > > Why build a quality rig if one-band is only added as a "after-thought"??? > > Jim/nn6ee > S/N 2406 > > > _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
