Re: [Elecraft] CQWW SSB observations
On Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:37:09 -0700, gdaug...@stanford.edu wrote: >I DO KNOW FOR SURE that several very serious >multi-op contest stations have converted to 100% K3's. YES. N6RO has been all K3s for nearly a year. Before that it was MPs. They probably still have N6BV's Orion. W7RN had a bunch of FT2000s. Received one K3 last month. His FT2000s are now for sale. K6XX has a bunch of K3s. So do N6TV and W0YK. I have two. Of the contesters I know, there are mostly guys who own and use K3s, and there are guys who want to own one (or two). :) The user interface of the K3 is quite well designed for contesting and DX chasing, and easy to learn. While there have been many software and firmware updates, nearly all are ADDING functions, rarely fixing or changing things. My only complaints are related to the second RX, which I still find a bit clunky to use (although it's a spectacularly good RX), and the lack of a complete, coherent manual for those ongoing upgrades. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] CQWW SSB observations
Hi Jeff, That's OK. I'd read about the Caribbean Contesting Consortium before and knew it was a group effort...and what an effort! If you ever need a K2 as a backup to your backup just let me know. My only condition is that I come with it!! I know nothing can beat being there, but have any of you tried operating one of the rigs remotely via the internet? 73 - Ken --- On Fri, 10/30/09, Jeff Maass wrote: > From: Jeff Maass > Subject: RE: [Elecraft] CQWW SSB observations > To: "'Ken Alexander'" , elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Received: Friday, October 30, 2009, 12:25 AM > > > > -Original Message- > > From: Ken Alexander [mailto:k.alexan...@rogers.com] > > > Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 5:00 PM > > To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net; > jma...@k8nd.com > > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] CQWW SSB observations > > > > > At PJ2T, we have four permanent stations and > thirteen transceivers > > > either in use or as spares (seven FT-1000MP, > FT-2000, two IC-765, > > > Omni-VI, TS-930, TS-940). Changing direction at > this point is a > > > financial decision, as we are not a "deep > pockets" operation. > > > > Ha! I'm sure if I did the math I'd find I'm > still paying > > Visa for my now 5-year-old K2, which is why I don't do > the > > math anymore! 8-) > > > > They're plenty deep OM. > > > > 73, > > > > Ken Alexander > > VE3HLS > > > > I guess I should make clear that PJ2T, as a club > operation, > is dependant on the kindness of our members. I think that > only two of those listed radios are actually owned by the > Caribbean Contesting Consortium (CCC), the club that has > built, maintains, and operates PJ2T. All the other radios > are on loan - short term, long term, or permanent. > > Most of our dues and rental money goes to maintenance > expenses. It's very costly to keep towers and antennas > standing on a cliff 37-feet above the ocean! For example, > the three towers each get re-painted with (very expensive) > 2-part epoxy marine paint once per year, partly by Club > members and partly by a commercial company. It's touch > getting things done when you live 2100 miles from your > station! > > 73, Jeff K8ND > > > __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] CQWW SSB observations
> -Original Message- > From: Ken Alexander [mailto:k.alexan...@rogers.com] > Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 5:00 PM > To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net; jma...@k8nd.com > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] CQWW SSB observations > > > At PJ2T, we have four permanent stations and thirteen transceivers > > either in use or as spares (seven FT-1000MP, FT-2000, two IC-765, > > Omni-VI, TS-930, TS-940). Changing direction at this point is a > > financial decision, as we are not a "deep pockets" operation. > > Ha! I'm sure if I did the math I'd find I'm still paying > Visa for my now 5-year-old K2, which is why I don't do the > math anymore! 8-) > > They're plenty deep OM. > > 73, > > Ken Alexander > VE3HLS > I guess I should make clear that PJ2T, as a club operation, is dependant on the kindness of our members. I think that only two of those listed radios are actually owned by the Caribbean Contesting Consortium (CCC), the club that has built, maintains, and operates PJ2T. All the other radios are on loan - short term, long term, or permanent. Most of our dues and rental money goes to maintenance expenses. It's very costly to keep towers and antennas standing on a cliff 37-feet above the ocean! For example, the three towers each get re-painted with (very expensive) 2-part epoxy marine paint once per year, partly by Club members and partly by a commercial company. It's touch getting things done when you live 2100 miles from your station! 73, Jeff K8ND __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] CQWW SSB observations
> At PJ2T, we have four permanent stations and thirteen > transceivers either in use or as spares (seven FT-1000MP, > FT-2000, two IC-765, Omni-VI, TS-930, TS-940). Changing > direction at this point is a financial decision, as we > are not a "deep pockets" operation. Ha! I'm sure if I did the math I'd find I'm still paying Visa for my now 5-year-old K2, which is why I don't do the math anymore! 8-) They're plenty deep OM. 73, Ken Alexander VE3HLS __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] CQWW SSB observations
>> At PJ2T, we have four permanent stations and thirteen >> transceivers either in use or as spares (seven FT-1000MP, >> FT-2000, two IC-765, Omni-VI, TS-930, TS-940). Changing >> direction at this point is a financial decision, as we >> are not a "deep pockets" operation. >> 73, Jeff K8ND Hm! This sounds pretty "deep pockets" to me! With a first class setup like that, surely you don't fly "economy" when you go down there do you? Just kidding! Sounds like a heck of a nice arrangement. Nonetheless, you could sell most, if not all, of that stuff down there, and finance most of what you need in K3's for your 4 positions. The K3 is so portable, you wouldn't even have to leave them down there. I think it's time for your team's finance committee to have a meeting. Dave W7AQK >> 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 > > __ > 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] CQWW SSB observations
Jeff, I agree completely. I'm about to take my K3 to P49Y for CQWW for about its fifth trip there. I love taking it in a backpack. We started that station with FT1000's but they were so difficult to transport that we standardized on PRO2s, but the K3 is far easier to deal with. And regarding the firmware updates, bear in mind that the radio has always been usable. I ran my first contest two years ago with firmware 0.45 or so. It worked then, and still does, some 300 (!!) updates later. Hope to cu on 6 bands. 73, andy, ae6y - Original Message - From: "Jeff Maass" To: Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 7:40 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] CQWW SSB observations > >> Rumor has it (second hand) that some Contesters are now >> shying away from the K3 due to it's complexity, but not >> necessarily it's performance. As a relatively experienced >> owner I had no problem running what I consider to be >> excellent radio. I've owned or operated most of the >> modern rigs sold in the last 15 years, and find the K3 >> (and my IC-765) to be the best of the group. >> >> 73, Gary NL7Y > > My K3 is about to make it's second trip down to the > PJ2T Contest Station, this time for the CQWW CW > contest. It's first test under "true fire" was for > CQWW 160 CW in January, where W8WTS and I finished as > the #3 Worldwide station. That's on 160 Meters from > 12-degrees North of the Equator! > > At PJ2T, we have four permanent stations and thirteen > transceivers either in use or as spares (seven FT-1000MP, > FT-2000, two IC-765, Omni-VI, TS-930, TS-940). Changing > direction at this point is a financial decision, as we > are not a "deep pockets" operation. > > I see the nature of the K3 as an advantage rather than > disadvantage, performance aside. If a radio needs repair > on the island, it must be carried back in someone's luggage, > repaired, and then returned to the island. When a piece > of equipment is returned to the island, there is the very > real possibility that the island's Customs folk might > charge 10% duty on it - this has happened multiple times > to us. > > With a fleet of K3 radios, a stock of replacement boards > could be maintained and all the moving of radios eliminated. > Plus, if a radio *does* need returned to the USA, it weighs > much, much less and is considerably smaller than an > FT-1000MP! > > Any radio seems complex until you become familiar with it. > > 73, Jeff K8ND > > > __ > 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] CQWW SSB observations
> Rumor has it (second hand) that some Contesters are now > shying away from the K3 due to it's complexity, but not > necessarily it's performance. As a relatively experienced > owner I had no problem running what I consider to be > excellent radio. I've owned or operated most of the > modern rigs sold in the last 15 years, and find the K3 > (and my IC-765) to be the best of the group. > > 73, Gary NL7Y My K3 is about to make it's second trip down to the PJ2T Contest Station, this time for the CQWW CW contest. It's first test under "true fire" was for CQWW 160 CW in January, where W8WTS and I finished as the #3 Worldwide station. That's on 160 Meters from 12-degrees North of the Equator! At PJ2T, we have four permanent stations and thirteen transceivers either in use or as spares (seven FT-1000MP, FT-2000, two IC-765, Omni-VI, TS-930, TS-940). Changing direction at this point is a financial decision, as we are not a "deep pockets" operation. I see the nature of the K3 as an advantage rather than disadvantage, performance aside. If a radio needs repair on the island, it must be carried back in someone's luggage, repaired, and then returned to the island. When a piece of equipment is returned to the island, there is the very real possibility that the island's Customs folk might charge 10% duty on it - this has happened multiple times to us. With a fleet of K3 radios, a stock of replacement boards could be maintained and all the moving of radios eliminated. Plus, if a radio *does* need returned to the USA, it weighs much, much less and is considerably smaller than an FT-1000MP! Any radio seems complex until you become familiar with it. 73, Jeff K8ND __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] CQWW SSB observations
Save and Restore configuration is intended to preserve those areas of storage that are changed by the EE INIT procedure. It includes many rig settings. But it does not capture the entire state of the K3. The K3 Utility Help page on Config Save describes what is and is not saved. Things like CW memories, frequency memories, K3 macro contents, CW memories, TCXO calibration data and RF Gain calibration data are not preserved by save config. Dick, K6KR -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Mike Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 5:37 AM To: Gary and Kathleen Pearse Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] CQWW SSB observations Interesting comments. I've had my K3 for less than a month, and I'm not sure I'll ever learn all there is to know about it, especially in light of it being software defined and in a constant state of flux. That's an item of considerable appeal for me. I don't have to wait for a new model to have quirks in the current one fixed, or whole new features added! I wonder if the load/save configuration function of the utility would answer your thought about having an op preference? 73, Mike NF4L Gary and Kathleen Pearse wrote: > I was offered a chair at the recent KL7RA M/M CQWW effort, so I drove > 550 miles > as quickly as possible to get set up with my K3. The other four rigs > were all > IC-781's. I had opped locally with them during the last Solar Cycle. > Since then, > Rich relocated and built a new station on the Kenai Peninsula to the > south. > There's much better propagation from KL7 from that location, and his > scores will > improve. > > We put my K3 on the 80M spot feeding an Alpha 87 into a 4-square > dipole array, > and ran it the full 48 hrs when propagation allowed without > malfunction. Most > of the ops (7) had no major problems interfacing with the rig. Some were > skeptical at first but learned the important controls, and a minority > just > passed it off as a one-owner radio not suitable for M/M Contesting > due to it's > initial complexity. > > The NB, and occasionally the NR, were required on a westerly heading > due noise > re-radiation from the nearby 160M vertical. They both worked very > well. I > adjusted the AGC slope and threshold, and we all set the filter > offset and width > to our own needs to provide best audio. Both of my 2.7 and 2.1 > filters were used > as required. We never used the second receiver with duplicate > filters. The > recently installed optional voice keyer worked perfectly, as did the > VOX, > providing the adjacent station noise was compensated for by setting > the VOX > floor in the CONFIG menu. The Manual was available for everyone to > refer to, as > was I. > > The biggest complaints and temporary problems arose from the Tap vs. > Hold > functions (how much is each, etc.), and inadvertently touching the wrong > button(s). Nobody really got too lost, but there were some anxious > moments as > they figured out what had happened. Most were used to bigger simpler > radios, so > the somewhat cramped controls gave some the fits. I wished to try it > on the more > crowed bands and in the huge pileups (especially JA's on 15), but > that was not > to be. > > What might be helpful for new ops would be a way to selectively > enable certain > functions, and lock/disable the unneeded. Also, an "OP preference" > control list > would be nice so one could quickly return to their favorite settings > after > following others in the chair. > > Rumor has it (second hand) that some Contesters are now shying away > from the K3 > due to it's complexity, but not necessarily it's performance. As a > relatively > experienced owner I had no problem running what I consider to be > excellent > radio. I've owned or operated most of the modern rigs sold in the > last 15 years, > and find the K3 (and my IC-765) to be the best of the group. > > 73, Gary NL7Y > > > __ > 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 > > __ 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 e
Re: [Elecraft] CQWW SSB observations
Interesting comments. I've had my K3 for less than a month, and I'm not sure I'll ever learn all there is to know about it, especially in light of it being software defined and in a constant state of flux. That's an item of considerable appeal for me. I don't have to wait for a new model to have quirks in the current one fixed, or whole new features added! I wonder if the load/save configuration function of the utility would answer your thought about having an op preference? 73, Mike NF4L Gary and Kathleen Pearse wrote: > I was offered a chair at the recent KL7RA M/M CQWW effort, so I drove > 550 miles > as quickly as possible to get set up with my K3. The other four rigs > were all > IC-781's. I had opped locally with them during the last Solar Cycle. > Since then, > Rich relocated and built a new station on the Kenai Peninsula to the > south. > There's much better propagation from KL7 from that location, and his > scores will > improve. > > We put my K3 on the 80M spot feeding an Alpha 87 into a 4-square > dipole array, > and ran it the full 48 hrs when propagation allowed without > malfunction. Most > of the ops (7) had no major problems interfacing with the rig. Some were > skeptical at first but learned the important controls, and a minority > just > passed it off as a one-owner radio not suitable for M/M Contesting > due to it's > initial complexity. > > The NB, and occasionally the NR, were required on a westerly heading > due noise > re-radiation from the nearby 160M vertical. They both worked very > well. I > adjusted the AGC slope and threshold, and we all set the filter > offset and width > to our own needs to provide best audio. Both of my 2.7 and 2.1 > filters were used > as required. We never used the second receiver with duplicate > filters. The > recently installed optional voice keyer worked perfectly, as did the > VOX, > providing the adjacent station noise was compensated for by setting > the VOX > floor in the CONFIG menu. The Manual was available for everyone to > refer to, as > was I. > > The biggest complaints and temporary problems arose from the Tap vs. > Hold > functions (how much is each, etc.), and inadvertently touching the wrong > button(s). Nobody really got too lost, but there were some anxious > moments as > they figured out what had happened. Most were used to bigger simpler > radios, so > the somewhat cramped controls gave some the fits. I wished to try it > on the more > crowed bands and in the huge pileups (especially JA's on 15), but > that was not > to be. > > What might be helpful for new ops would be a way to selectively > enable certain > functions, and lock/disable the unneeded. Also, an "OP preference" > control list > would be nice so one could quickly return to their favorite settings > after > following others in the chair. > > Rumor has it (second hand) that some Contesters are now shying away > from the K3 > due to it's complexity, but not necessarily it's performance. As a > relatively > experienced owner I had no problem running what I consider to be > excellent > radio. I've owned or operated most of the modern rigs sold in the > last 15 years, > and find the K3 (and my IC-765) to be the best of the group. > > 73, Gary NL7Y > > > __ > 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 > > __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] CQWW SSB observations
Gary wrote... > We put my K3 on the 80M spot feeding an Alpha 87 into a 4-square > dipole array, > and ran it the full 48 hrs when propagation allowed without > malfunction. I worked you with a K3 and an Alpha-76, feeding either a 4-sq or a switchable pair of 80m quads. > Rumor has it (second hand) that some Contesters are now shying away > from the K3 > due to it's complexity, but not necessarily it's performance. As a > relatively > experienced owner I had no problem running what I consider to be > excellent > radio. I've owned or operated most of the modern rigs sold in the > last 15 years, > and find the K3 (and my IC-765) to be the best of the group. I've never heard such a rumor. I DO KNOW FOR SURE that several very serious multi-op contest stations have converted to 100% K3's. 73, George T Daughters, K6GT CU in the California QSO Party (CQP) October 3-4, 2009 __ 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
[Elecraft] CQWW SSB observations
I was offered a chair at the recent KL7RA M/M CQWW effort, so I drove 550 miles as quickly as possible to get set up with my K3. The other four rigs were all IC-781's. I had opped locally with them during the last Solar Cycle. Since then, Rich relocated and built a new station on the Kenai Peninsula to the south. There's much better propagation from KL7 from that location, and his scores will improve. We put my K3 on the 80M spot feeding an Alpha 87 into a 4-square dipole array, and ran it the full 48 hrs when propagation allowed without malfunction. Most of the ops (7) had no major problems interfacing with the rig. Some were skeptical at first but learned the important controls, and a minority just passed it off as a one-owner radio not suitable for M/M Contesting due to it's initial complexity. The NB, and occasionally the NR, were required on a westerly heading due noise re-radiation from the nearby 160M vertical. They both worked very well. I adjusted the AGC slope and threshold, and we all set the filter offset and width to our own needs to provide best audio. Both of my 2.7 and 2.1 filters were used as required. We never used the second receiver with duplicate filters. The recently installed optional voice keyer worked perfectly, as did the VOX, providing the adjacent station noise was compensated for by setting the VOX floor in the CONFIG menu. The Manual was available for everyone to refer to, as was I. The biggest complaints and temporary problems arose from the Tap vs. Hold functions (how much is each, etc.), and inadvertently touching the wrong button(s). Nobody really got too lost, but there were some anxious moments as they figured out what had happened. Most were used to bigger simpler radios, so the somewhat cramped controls gave some the fits. I wished to try it on the more crowed bands and in the huge pileups (especially JA's on 15), but that was not to be. What might be helpful for new ops would be a way to selectively enable certain functions, and lock/disable the unneeded. Also, an "OP preference" control list would be nice so one could quickly return to their favorite settings after following others in the chair. Rumor has it (second hand) that some Contesters are now shying away from the K3 due to it's complexity, but not necessarily it's performance. As a relatively experienced owner I had no problem running what I consider to be excellent radio. I've owned or operated most of the modern rigs sold in the last 15 years, and find the K3 (and my IC-765) to be the best of the group. 73, Gary NL7Y __ 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
