I've been a CW proponent for 52 years, now, and have done my share of DXing, contesting, and rag chewing. I just sold two FT-1000s (one D; one non-D) that I've been using for about 10 years in an SO2R station. I replaced them with a pair of K3s. If I did a time-motion study of my actions during a contest, my hand would more than likely be either on the keyboard or the VFO A knob. What matters, though, is what I'm hearing. In the recent ARRL DX contest, the signals just sounded more crisp and discernible with the K3 compared with my FT-1000s. Only when I had four or more JAs piling up on me was it sometimes hard to pull out a call. I probably operate 99 percent CW, 0.8 percent RTTY, and 0.2 percent SSB. I don't need AM, FM, full coverage, etc. And, I didn't have to pay for them, either. Try that with an IC or FT radio. In the end, though, we're all individuals. One of my buddies who owns a K3 and IC-7800 told me he likes the Icom better. I hope so. It cost him $7,000 more. I've never used a panadaptor, but I'm looking forward to playing with a P3. After clearing the space taken up by the two FT-1000s, I certainly have the room for one (or two) of them.
73, Rob K6RB ______________________________________________________________ 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
