Re: [Elecraft] FT-5000
No doubt true - but the radio WAS shipping within a few months and was not vaporware. Wes Stewart wrote: > > > --- On *Mon, 11/23/09, Bob Locher //* wrote: > > > Actually it is a pretty simple choice - you can wait for a box of > promises or buy a proven radio today. > > I seem to remember Elecraft taking orders and shipping a year later. > I know I waited a year, until delivery times were down to a month, > before I placed an order. > > __ 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] FT-5000
It surely looks like it will be a nice radio some day if you like a big bruiser with loads of knobs. I don't. Yaesu has a design philosophy of "when in doubt, add a knob". But that's OK. I don't plan to buy one. I would cheerfully bet a significant sum of money that the radio will not be available at the very earliest before July of next year, and more likely 2011. So why is it being advertised now? It is an attempt to stop the K3 parade - to freeze sales. The term in the software industry is "Vaporware" and for our European brethren, "Vapourware". And it serves the same purpose. Yaesu did the same for the FT-9000 - it was announced and advertised a year or more in advance of delivery in order to slow down the Icom 7800. (And I bet the FT-9000 will now quietly go away. The 7800 is eating the 9000's lunch, and dealers hate the 9000 order policies.) On the other hand Yaesu was shipping FT-2000's very shortly after it was announced. Why the difference? The FT1000 was selling well and Yaesu did not want to cannibalize sales of the FT-1000 until stock was pretty well depleted and the FT2000 was ready. They pulled off the transition rather neatly. I think it a very safe assumption to say that the photos of the FT5000 are of one very expensively hand-built prototype that is an empty box inside the panels, that there are lab models of the radio that do pretty much meet specs, and a furious design effort going on to deliver the promises. I predict that the radio WILL be shown at Dayton - inside a screwed together acrylic box. Actually it is a pretty simple choice - you can wait for a box of promises or buy a proven radio today. 73 de Bob Locher W9KNI __ 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] New K3 Synthesizer
Wayne - thanks - news of the new K3 Synthesizer is very exciting! And I will be very interested in the Sherwood testing of the K3 with the new board. Question: how hard is it to install it in the K3? And how hard to install in the sub receiver? You say a K3 with Sub-receiver needs both to have the new board. Is this only so that dual diversity reception capability is retained? Do both receivers need the new synthesizers if the user does not use dual-diversity? Anyhow, it is a wonderful thing that Elecraft is offering such an improvement for units in the field. I am aware of no other transceiver supplier offering a major upgrade for units already in the field. Elecraft's willingness to do this and its loyalty to its customers is unmatched! What a wonderful gift for us K-3 owners! Cheers/73 Bob Locher W9KNI __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] Ten-Tec and Alpha are sold
Ten-Tec aand Alpha Amplifiers have been sold. See the press release at: http://tentec.com/ 73 Bob W9KNI __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] TS-990
I see that the TS990 has been reviewed by Rob Sherwood at: http://www.sherweng.com/table.html Interesting reading! Cheers/73 Bob W9KNI __ 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] K3 + SPE 2K-FA Amplifier hook-up problems
I just purchased an SPE 2K-FA linear. I have a cable I bought that is supposed to have the K3 control the amplifier much like the cable between the K3 and the KPA-500. The control is not working. The linear manual is a bit lacking in clarity on the matter of the cable, and I find a lot of conflicting advice on the internet. If someone who is using a K3 and the SPE 2K-FA, or the the K3 and the SPE 1K-FA, which has an identical interface, could contact me with advice I would very much appreciate it. I am otherwise very pleased with the amp so far - it effortlessly puts out 1500 watts with about 32 watts drive, and is rather quiet. 73 Bob Locher W9KNI __ 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] Follow-up: K3 + SPE 2K-FA Amplifier hook-up problems
A message from N5DG gave me the tip I needed. As had been suggested earlier to me, I had tried the Yaesu setting on the amplifier menu. When you bring up Yaesu on the SBE menu it asks for what rig and lists a number of their radios - and at the bottom of the list - which I did not notice until N5DG pointed me at it - an entry for "Band Data". I set to that and voila! It works exactly as expected. My early impressions of the amp are very good. The manual is "difficult" but once you ave waded through that and get it going it is very nice. It effortlessly puts out 1500 watts with about 30 watts of drive. The fan noise is blessedly low until you transmit; then the fan speeds up but as soon as you stop transmitting it drops to low again presuming the temperatures are OK. So far they have been. Again, thanks to ED, N5DG and to all on the relector. Cheers/73 Bob W9KNI __ 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] K3 12 volt current modification
I had the same problem - that the switched output of the K3 is limited. I have my shack set up so that turning on the K3 turns on several other functions including a P3, and a W2 watt meter. Also, I turn on a 12 volt coax relay that attaches the antenna to the rig. Everything was fine until I went about adding the P3 - that blew me well past the half amp limit. I solved the problem a completely different way. Out of my junk box, I took a small project box, some RCA connectors and an automotive 12 volt 20 amp relay designed for PC board mounting. I mounted six RCA jacks first - two on one side and four on the other. I mounted the relay upside down inside the project box, using a generous dollop of hot melt glue. I wired it as follows - one of the RCA jacks goes to the relay coil. This jack is connected to the switched output of the K3, and only pulls about 70 ma. The second jack goes to my 30 amp Astron power supply, and feeds the 12 volts DC supply to the relay common pin. (I used a pair of #16 wires from the Astron to the jack.) The switched output of the relay goes to the other four RCA jacks. If you do this be sure to get everything right, and to label out inputs and outputs.I would have liked to have different connectors for the K3 input and the supply input to prevent mixups but my junk box came up short. I contented myself with good labels. Anyhow the system works perfectly. I turn on the K3 and everything comes on, and I still can add more outputs to the box without fear of overloading anything. Cheers/73 Bob Locher W9KNI __ 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] Major Flaw in the K3
I have found a really major flaw in the K3. It can be fixed with an accessory but it will be very expensive. The flaw can be a great frustration. Fortunately, I have been able to fully document what causes it. Here it is - the receiver hears entirely too well. I am hearing all sorts of DX, particularly on 40 and 20 meters, where I spend most of my time. I am hearing a lot of rare DX stations that no one else is calling. The frustration is that when I call them they can't hear me. Often not at all, while at other times they try to get my call but do not manage it. Just because they are S0 or S1 in the K3 is not an excuse; they are solid Q5 copy. This is not a single isolated incident; this has happened to me repeatedly. Of course, once these stations have K3's the problem will probably go away; then they will be able to hear me. But in the mean time this issue must be dealt with. I see two possible solutions. One is to turn off the receiver preamp and turn on the attenuator that Elecraft has so thoughtfully provided - this makes me suspect that Wayne knew all along that this would be a problem - the other is to add a 1500 watt solid state linear with built in antenna tuner and full QSK. I suspect that this is the fix that Eric has in mind. 73 Bob W9KNI ___ 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
[Elecraft] Random thoughts from a K3 Field Tester
I received my K3 several months ago; one of the very last in the group. I still am not sure why I was selected for field testing - I am an operator, not the sort of person who loves to "break" software and do the detective work to see where a bug is. It is interesting to see the Field Test work. Various bugs are found and dispatched, and operator options smoothed and streamlined. What really amazes me and says so much for the K3 design team is that thus far there have been only four hardware changes in the radio that Field Testers have had to make, all of them trivial. Anyhow, that said, I can happily report that the K3 has exceeded my expectations - and they were high. The receiver is incredibly quiet. The crystal filters are the best I have ever had - and over the years I have had some top line expensive radios, though none of the recent series such as the 7800. The K3 is an absolute joy to tune a band with. When I built my K2 I was so delighted with its performance that it became my station transceiver for the last 7 or 8 years. One of the things I really loved about the K2 was the superb performance while retaining a very simple interface. There were a number of "set and forget" menu entries in the firmware that allowed the operator to tailor the radio to his or her desires. Well, at first blush the K3 has more controls, and there really is a bit more to learn, but they are intuitive once one understands the philosophy of the radio - much the same as the K2, and in return offer a lot of additional power and flexibility. I regularly used the RIT and XIT in the K2 - well, let me tell you, the RIT and XIT of the K3 is a clear generation ahead. It was a useful capability in the K2 - is a powerful tool in the K3. The A/B VFO capabilities exceed that of the K2. An example - you are chasing a DX station who is operating in a lot of QRM, so you sharpen up the filters making copy a lot easier. But, the split pileup the DX operator is working is spread out all over the place, and looking for the station he is working is really tough with the narrow filter. With the K3, if you want, it is easy to set VFO "A" to a 200 hertz bandwidth (or whatever) and have VFO "B" set at say 800 hertz bandwidth so that you can easily look for the station the DX is working. One of the things I loved about the K2 was the AGC - in the passband you could easily tell who was strong and who was weak, while having perfect copy on both of them. But a lot of operators prefer a flatter. more processed signal so that all signals, weak and strong, sound alike. No problem - the menu lets you set the AGC gain so you can have it your way. The hardware noise blanker has not yet been distributed to most field testers except for two who have both reported great results with electric fence or power line problems. However, we all have the DSP noise blanker function available. I have had some personal experience with this. CW DX'er on 40 meters are sadly aware of the over the horizon radar popularly called :"The Dragon", apparently radiating from China. It comes on about one out of three mornings, and when it comes on it simply kills the band. Well, I tried the K3 DSP noise blanker, which allows the operator to set the level of intensity. I started cranking it in and lo and behold, the Dragon virtually disappeared. I could still tell it was there but it was no longer a factor in copying weak stations, and with no noticeable artifacts. I switched it out and the Dragon was right back there obliterating the band. Trouble is, other people on the band lacking the K3 Noise Blanker still get chased off the band. After it came on all the DX disappeared, except for two Japanese stations ragchewing, obviously with strong enough signals for each other to not have a problem. They were S4 here and perfect copy with the K3 DSP noise blanker. I switched it off and they got blasted away. Back on and they were easy copy. I am anticipating great things this winter from the noise blanker when North American stations are typically suffering from the Dragon while long path European and Middle East stations are not hearing it at all. The K3 definitely will require a bit of study to use the huge number of operator options in it - it is indeed a feature rich radio. But it can be used in a simplistic manner if desired, or the operator can exercise all the bells and whistles. Wayne has promised to write Quick Start guides for each mode to get the operator up and running quickly, and has also promised an extensive tutorial to accompany the manual. I think these items will be a great help to all new owners, no matter what their level of experience. My comments here only scratch the surface of what is a marvelous operating tool. I know I am thoroughly delighted with mine. 73 Bob Locher W9KNI
[Elecraft] K3 occurance
I am a K3 field tester. Yesterday morning I had an interesting situation. I live half a mile from a serious SSB DX'er. I am a CW DX'er. We both use Bencher Skyhawks, and each antenna can easily see the other. I was tuning 20 CW, and Rich came on on 20SSB. He is presently using a Kenwood TX480 because he can easily remote it. There was some sort of contest on, and Rich was making a few contacts. I talked to him later; he was running his Alpha at 1500 watts out, and had his antenna pointed right over me. Every time Rich started transmitting, my noise level went from S0 to about S5, the noise being a sort of hash, clearly the synthesizer in his TX480. But that was all I heard! I never heard any sign at all of his SSB! It simply wasn't there. Earlier, when Rich came on and I was using my K2, he pretty much made the band unusable. This was very interesting - and pleasing to me. The K3 handled his signals with aplomb. The problem I had yesterday was strictly due to the broadband noise transmitted by his TX480. Since Rich has ordered a K3, I am looking forward to a purely peaceful coexistence. 73 Bob Locher W9KNI ___ 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
