>And finally: consider the K3. The K2 was designed as the ideal Field Day radio, and I think it is. However, the 100-watt version is less elegant than the 10-watt (my opinion only, of course), and the K3 has several advantages: it's more modern technology, it's more capable, and it isn't much more expensive for comparable features. The CW-only K2 is an incredible value, but if you add SSB, KAT2, KIO2, and 6 meters the K3 is cheaper (? is that true? pretty close, anyway.) <
This was actually the route I took instead of decking out my K2. So I would also second this recommendation if your end goal is a fully featured rig that supports all the modes, all bands, DSP etc. I.e. the base 10 watt K3 comes stock with SSB/RTTY/PSK31, etc support, audio I/O, an RS-232 interface, 160 and 6M, DSP and other creature comforts that make life really nice for certain things. When you actually push the pencil across the piece of paper on it, the K3 actually ends up being the better option in that case. It also has other things you can't get in the K2 such as a high-stability reference osc., QRO internal ant. tuner (i.e. you don't have to ditch the internal tuner when you install the 100W module), and generally higher performance in the RX. However, the K3 doesn't offer the same kit building experience as the K2 because it's a modular, no-soldering kit. The K2 is a true box-of-parts to fully functional rig experience, which I found to be great fun when building mine. I was a first-time kit builder never having built a kit of any kind before, so I had to go slow and prepare carefully by buying all the correct tools etc. I even wound my own toroids, which I still recommend even tho it's tedious at times. You actually learn some things in that process that you probably wouldn't otherwise... But then again, my K2 is still bare bones with the noise blanker and internal ant. tuner as the only options I've installed. I've pretty much stopped there as that's the most glorious form for the K2, IMO. So, IMO, I say do both! I'm a lot more broke now than I would have been if I'd only done one of them, of course, but then again I'll never have to buy another rig again if I don't want to. 73, LS W5QD -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/A-few-questions-before-ordering-the-K2-kit-tp5251717p5253119.html Sent from the [K2] mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ______________________________________________________________ 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
