[Elecraft] Considering a K3
This echoes my method of entry into the Elecraft line exactly. Two nearby K3 owners responded and I met them both since they lived within blocks of each other. I arrived with specific questions and characteristics that I was hoping to see demonstrated and I suggest others do this as well if they are contemplating meeting someone and seeing their station. That was 5 years ago and I don't regret my decision in buying a K3. John AE5X http://www.ae5x.com/blog >When I was considering a K3, I asked for volunteers on the Elecraft e-mail list to host a visit for me to try a K3 up close. I got dozens of replies >and visited three different guys who had K3s -- even though after playing with the first K3 on my first visit I was sold. I ordered my K3 about a week >later after I figured out exactly what I wanted to 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Considering a K3
David, I ran an Icom 756 Pro III prior to purchasing my K3. I really liked the ProIII, but some things that come to mind about my decision roughly 1.5yr ago are: - Repair on the ProIII would have been difficult as compared to the K3 where I built the kit and am comfortable swapping parts. I had started to worry about the TFT display on the ProIII and how I would replace it. - P3 with the SVGA option is great on an external monitor. Much more readable and configurable than the scope on the ProIII. - Elecraft products are made in the USA and they still provide parts for their old radios. I visited their office and toured the production area. I was really impressed with how welcoming they were. I got see and try a K-line prior to purchasing. - K3 is user upgradeable for both firmware and accessories. You can grow the radio as you choose. Not so with the ProIII. - Filters on the K3 and the ability to easily add/change/upgrade filters easily. I'm fortunate to not have any active hams, running a KW at least, real close that cause me issues. Or maybe I just don't notice. My K3 performs excellent and works great with my Heil PR-781 and footswitch I had used with the ProIII. Also worked well with my AL-80B before I switched to the KPA500. As for learning the new radio, I had no issues. My opinion is that the menus are laid out well and there are just enough buttons/knobs for the things I use. I rarely find myself fiddling with settings. I'm a simple person so I'm sure I don't leverage all of the capabilities of my K3. But it works very well for me. Between the Elecraft utilities for controlling my KPA500 and the rig control offered to me through my logging software, I can operate without touching the K3/KPA500. I do find myself pushing buttons and using the knob on the P3. I have no regrets and am extremely happy with my transition. Tighe NK4I On 4/5/14, 11:58 AM, David Cole wrote: Hi, Can anyone point me at some resources to better understand why I want a K3, as opposed to keeping my Icom 756 Pro III? I am considering the purchase of a K3/100, I saw a presentation on it at our club meeting, liked what I saw very much and would like to get more input from people actually using the rig. I am doing the due diligence part of a new rig purchase here, and am looking for just about any input regarding the K3. So far I have spent a number of hours looking at everything on the net I can find for the rig. What initially caught my eye is the blocking specs... Something like 140 db! I have 4 active hams living within 1/2 mile of me, and while the Pro III works well, I can tell from de-sense that others are on when one of them operates. The band scope of the PRO III will show an increased base line across the entire scope... All 4 run a KW. The blocking specs alone may be enough to force the switch, but, I am wondering if anyone has gotten a K3 running with MixW, how easy is it to point and click tune the rig via a PC interface, etc., do you like the rig, etc. If you have used a 756 PRO III, and switched to the K3, I would be very interested in contacting you via phone to discuss your thoughts on the K3. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Considering a K3
They planned the creation and evolution of Elecraft over the last 15 years very well. I suspect they've done some succession planning, too. Anyway, I'm not too concerned: Wayne is a tad over 20 years younger than I :-) 73, Phil W7OX On 4/5/14, 4:22 PM, Oliver Dröse wrote: Don is certainly right. But what I've been wondering already is what will happen to Elecraft if Wayne & Eric will retire? I know there's a real great crew at Elecraft now but hey, they are the master minds, aren't they? ;-) 73, Olli Contest, DX & radio projects: http://www.dh8bqa.de Am 05.04.2014 20:40, schrieb Don Wilhelm: Dave, Elecraft is in good financial shape and is *not* running on borrowed money. Consider also that Elecraft still sells and supports every product that they have developed, and that includes their first product, the K2 first available in 1999. I am certain the K3 will be around for a very long time too. So other than a natural disaster that would completely wipe out the Watsonville area and much around it as well, I can forsee no reason for Elecraft to go away. Even a total natural disaster in the Watsonville area would not likely to shut things down for long - the engineering/development staff is spread out over a lot of the US and communicate via email and other internet methods, and the support staff is similar. That indicates to me that any interruption would be temporary, and more likely only result in a slowdown while Watsonville would recover quickly. 73, Don W3FPR On 4/5/2014 1:09 PM, David Cole wrote: Hi Robers, Thanks for the nice overview, Is there any issue you might be aware of that might cause Elecraft to cease production of the K3, or go away as a company? __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Considering a K3
The trick is to be older than either Wayne and Eric. I am older than both of them so no worries on my part. Besides, I am already retired and I am pretty sure that neither Wayne nor Eric are thinking of retiring in the next couple of years. If that happens though, there are so many excellent resources on this forum that I am not concerned at all. In the worst case, if Elecraft disappeared tomorrow and all my Elecraft gear vaporized instantly like something from The Twilight Zone, there are always other second tier vendors out there. 73, phil, K7PEH On Apr 5, 2014, at 4:22 PM, Oliver Dröse wrote: > > Don is certainly right. But what I've been wondering already is what will > happen to Elecraft if Wayne & Eric will retire? I know there's a real great > crew at Elecraft now but hey, they are the master minds, aren't they? ;-) > > 73, Olli > > Contest, DX & radio projects: http://www.dh8bqa.de > > > Am 05.04.2014 20:40, schrieb Don Wilhelm: >> Dave, >> >> Elecraft is in good financial shape and is *not* running on borrowed money. >> Consider also that Elecraft still sells and supports every product that they >> have developed, and that includes their first product, the K2 first >> available in 1999. I am certain the K3 will be around for a very long time >> too. >> >> So other than a natural disaster that would completely wipe out the >> Watsonville area and much around it as well, I can forsee no reason for >> Elecraft to go away. Even a total natural disaster in the Watsonville area >> would not likely to shut things down for long - the engineering/development >> staff is spread out over a lot of the US and communicate via email and other >> internet methods, and the support staff is similar. That indicates to me >> that any interruption would be temporary, and more likely only result in a >> slowdown while Watsonville would recover quickly. >> >> 73, >> Don W3FPR >> >> On 4/5/2014 1:09 PM, David Cole wrote: >>> Hi Robers, >>> Thanks for the nice overview, Is there any issue you might be aware of >>> that might cause Elecraft to cease production of the K3, or go away as a >>> company? >>> >> >> __ >> 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 dro...@necg.de >> > > __ > 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 phys...@mac.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] Considering a K3
Hi Oliver. Succession is always a problem for a company which needs 'creativity'. Wayne, a clever and brilliant engineer, and Eric, an excellent marketing profession, are the key personnel. I trust there is still some time and no immediate hurry for them to think about succession. Anyway, I don't want the current situation with Apple happens in Elecraft. 73 Johnny Vr2XMC 寄件人︰ Oliver Dröse 收件人︰ elecraft@mailman.qth.net 傳送日期︰ 2014年04月6日 (週日) 7:22 AM 主題︰ Re: [Elecraft] Considering a K3 Don is certainly right. But what I've been wondering already is what will happen to Elecraft if Wayne & Eric will retire? I know there's a real great crew at Elecraft now but hey, they are the master minds, aren't they? ;-) 73, Olli Contest, DX & radio projects: http://www.dh8bqa.de/ Am 05.04.2014 20:40, schrieb Don Wilhelm: > Dave, > > Elecraft is in good financial shape and is *not* running on borrowed > money. > Consider also that Elecraft still sells and supports every product > that they have developed, and that includes their first product, the > K2 first available in 1999. I am certain the K3 will be around for a > very long time too. > > So other than a natural disaster that would completely wipe out the > Watsonville area and much around it as well, I can forsee no reason > for Elecraft to go away. Even a total natural disaster in the > Watsonville area would not likely to shut things down for long - the > engineering/development staff is spread out over a lot of the US and > communicate via email and other internet methods, and the support > staff is similar. That indicates to me that any interruption would be > temporary, and more likely only result in a slowdown while Watsonville > would recover quickly. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > On 4/5/2014 1:09 PM, David Cole wrote: >> Hi Robers, >> Thanks for the nice overview, Is there any issue you might be aware of >> that might cause Elecraft to cease production of the K3, or go away as a >> company? >> > > __ > 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 dro...@necg.de > __ 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 vr2...@yahoo.com.hk __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Considering a K3
Don is certainly right. But what I've been wondering already is what will happen to Elecraft if Wayne & Eric will retire? I know there's a real great crew at Elecraft now but hey, they are the master minds, aren't they? ;-) 73, Olli Contest, DX & radio projects: http://www.dh8bqa.de Am 05.04.2014 20:40, schrieb Don Wilhelm: Dave, Elecraft is in good financial shape and is *not* running on borrowed money. Consider also that Elecraft still sells and supports every product that they have developed, and that includes their first product, the K2 first available in 1999. I am certain the K3 will be around for a very long time too. So other than a natural disaster that would completely wipe out the Watsonville area and much around it as well, I can forsee no reason for Elecraft to go away. Even a total natural disaster in the Watsonville area would not likely to shut things down for long - the engineering/development staff is spread out over a lot of the US and communicate via email and other internet methods, and the support staff is similar. That indicates to me that any interruption would be temporary, and more likely only result in a slowdown while Watsonville would recover quickly. 73, Don W3FPR On 4/5/2014 1:09 PM, David Cole wrote: Hi Robers, Thanks for the nice overview, Is there any issue you might be aware of that might cause Elecraft to cease production of the K3, or go away as a company? __ 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 dro...@necg.de __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Considering a K3
Hi, Thanks for the tip, I just ordered it. -- Support better RFI practices, please sign this petition: at Whitehouse.gov http://wh.gov/lpz5Y On Sat, 2014-04-05 at 15:03 -0400, Slava Baytalskiy wrote: > Hi Dave! > A few months before i bought my K3 i bought the K3 book by KE7X. > That is probably the main reason that i subsequently bought the rig. > > Slava, W2RMS > > On Apr 5, 2014, at 11:58 AM, David Cole wrote: > > > Hi, > > > > Can anyone point me at some resources to better understand why I want a > > K3, as opposed to keeping my Icom 756 Pro III? I am considering the > > purchase of a K3/100, I saw a presentation on it at our club meeting, > > liked what I saw very much and would like to get more input from people > > actually using the rig. > > > > I am doing the due diligence part of a new rig purchase here, and am > > looking for just about any input regarding the K3. > > > > So far I have spent a number of hours looking at everything on the net I > > can find for the rig. > > > > What initially caught my eye is the blocking specs... Something like > > 140 db! I have 4 active hams living within 1/2 mile of me, and while > > the Pro III works well, I can tell from de-sense that others are on when > > one of them operates. The band scope of the PRO III will show an > > increased base line across the entire scope... All 4 run a KW. > > > > The blocking specs alone may be enough to force the switch, but, I am > > wondering if anyone has gotten a K3 running with MixW, how easy is it to > > point and click tune the rig via a PC interface, etc., do you like the > > rig, etc. If you have used a 756 PRO III, and switched to the K3, I > > would be very interested in contacting you via phone to discuss your > > thoughts on the K3. > > > > -- > > Support better RFI reporting practices, please sign this petition: > > at Whitehouse.gov > > > > http://wh.gov/lpz5Y > > > > > > > > > > > > __ > > 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 sla...@nullserv.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Considering a K3
Hi Dave! A few months before i bought my K3 i bought the K3 book by KE7X. That is probably the main reason that i subsequently bought the rig. Slava, W2RMS On Apr 5, 2014, at 11:58 AM, David Cole wrote: > Hi, > > Can anyone point me at some resources to better understand why I want a > K3, as opposed to keeping my Icom 756 Pro III? I am considering the > purchase of a K3/100, I saw a presentation on it at our club meeting, > liked what I saw very much and would like to get more input from people > actually using the rig. > > I am doing the due diligence part of a new rig purchase here, and am > looking for just about any input regarding the K3. > > So far I have spent a number of hours looking at everything on the net I > can find for the rig. > > What initially caught my eye is the blocking specs... Something like > 140 db! I have 4 active hams living within 1/2 mile of me, and while > the Pro III works well, I can tell from de-sense that others are on when > one of them operates. The band scope of the PRO III will show an > increased base line across the entire scope... All 4 run a KW. > > The blocking specs alone may be enough to force the switch, but, I am > wondering if anyone has gotten a K3 running with MixW, how easy is it to > point and click tune the rig via a PC interface, etc., do you like the > rig, etc. If you have used a 756 PRO III, and switched to the K3, I > would be very interested in contacting you via phone to discuss your > thoughts on the K3. > > -- > Support better RFI reporting practices, please sign this petition: > at Whitehouse.gov > > http://wh.gov/lpz5Y > > > > > > __ > 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 sla...@nullserv.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Considering a K3
Dave, Elecraft is in good financial shape and is *not* running on borrowed money. Consider also that Elecraft still sells and supports every product that they have developed, and that includes their first product, the K2 first available in 1999. I am certain the K3 will be around for a very long time too. So other than a natural disaster that would completely wipe out the Watsonville area and much around it as well, I can forsee no reason for Elecraft to go away. Even a total natural disaster in the Watsonville area would not likely to shut things down for long - the engineering/development staff is spread out over a lot of the US and communicate via email and other internet methods, and the support staff is similar. That indicates to me that any interruption would be temporary, and more likely only result in a slowdown while Watsonville would recover quickly. 73, Don W3FPR On 4/5/2014 1:09 PM, David Cole wrote: Hi Robers, Thanks for the nice overview, Is there any issue you might be aware of that might cause Elecraft to cease production of the K3, or go away as a company? __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Considering a K3
* On 2014 05 Apr 12:55 -0500, David Cole wrote: > Joe, > > Have you, (or anyone else), anything to say about the Noise Filtering > the K3 has? I have a VERY noisy environment on 40 meters here, we live > in Oregon, and lots of farmers and their lights in the area... How does > the K3 deal with that sort of RFI? I've just moved out of a town where the past several months I had severe noise that I wasn't sure just what its source was. The K3's noise blankers allowed me to continue operating even though some nights it really put those blankers to the test. One is a "normal" type of IF blanker and the other is incororated into the DSP. Each will be effective on a different sort of noise and sometimes better results will be found with each enabled or separately. I've yet to get a wire up at the present QTH but so far things should be much better than I endured in town. 73, de Nate >> -- "The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears this is true." Ham radio, Linux, bikes, and more: http://www.n0nb.us __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Considering a K3
Highly unlikely, Dave. Elecraft started in 1998 or so and has grown by measured steps, well planned from all appearances, vs. a flash in the pan. The K3 was preceded by the K2, K1, KX1 and several other products, all introduced slowly and with great support. As a result Elecraft has a very dedicated customer base. I'm an amateur astronomer and companies there are a bit unstable -- even the biggies like Meade. Not to worry! 73, Phil On 4/5/14, 10:09 AM, David Cole wrote: Hi Robers, Thanks for the nice overview, Is there any issue you might be aware of that might cause Elecraft to cease production of the K3, or go away as a company? The reasons I ask is I just had a friend who spent $5K on a CCD camera for his telescope, only to find the company got bought days after he spent the cash... Things do not look good for that company keeping that item in their lineup. That is why I am asking. I have heard nothing indicating that Elecraft has any issues of any kind like that. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Considering a K3
Dave, You might want to review the method used by the ARRL for their blocking and IMD testing. For these tests they use an extremely narrow bandwidth, maybe as narrow as 10 or 20 Hz. Completely unrealistic for any normal use. What you want to look at is the *lower* of BDR/IMD *or* 'reciprocal mixing dynamic range'. For the K3 the RMDR is much lower than IMD/BDR. You might also want to check Sherwood Engineering's site. His 'receiver test data'. He does not use such unrealistic test methods. The K3 is still better than the Pro3 but not as much as ARRL numbers indicate. And note that what you are seeing is likely TX phase noise from the other transmitters. There is nothing you can do about that. The TX has to clean up their act. 73 de dave ab9ca/4 On 4/5/14 11:51 AM, David Cole wrote: Hi Dave (K6LL), Thanks for that thought, but I am pretty sure it is not their rigs... Here is my reasoning for why I think that: One rig is a K3, and an AL-1500, about 1/2 mile from me, and line of sight. One of the the others is a 756 PRO III, and I don't know what amp, about a half mile from me, while the third is an older Collins rig, with an older Henry amp, about 100 yards from me. All three rigs, and my mobile rig in the driveway, cause exactly the same effect when they are transmitting, the band scope, (set to something like 200 KC wide), shows perfectly straight increase across the entire 200 KC's of scope, along the bottom, as a raised noise floor would. It looks like phase noise, but I would expect that to roll off, and not be as flat as this is. I also live close to an AM station, 100KW, and about a mile and a half away, and I see almost the same thing, as I approach the station frequency. I can see the entire noise floor raise as I get closer to the station. I have an inrad roofing filter installed to the PRO III. Does this still sound like Phase Noise to you? __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Considering a K3
David, If you have enough hams setting up and using enough of anything, eventually they will do everything wrong. :-)) So far, all the "bad transmit audio" threads on this list that I can remember were problems external to the K3, and to the best of my knowledge, Elecraft has done nothing to correct "it" because there hasn't been anything to correct. A good friend [K9YC] who made his living in the professional audio business suggested some settings on the TX equalizer for me. I set them up, and in the small number of SSB contests I enter I never fail to get at least one unsolicited, "Great audio" comment, usually more than one. I use a Heil headset with the electret mic that I got from Elecraft. There is a huge amount of great advice from the Elecraft user community on this list but just like everything else in life, everyones' mileage will vary and one person's "horrible thumping on QSK" is not a problem for others [like me, QSK works just fine for me, better than any full break-in radio I've ever used]. You will see comments that the *only* way to get the K3 AGC to work right is to "ride the RF gain." It works for that person but not so for everyone, I never touch the RF gain and, once I got the AGC parameters set, I've never needed to. You will find occasional posts about "awful" hiss from the K3. Possibly for him but again, not a problem with K3/100 #642 and never has been. I've learned to filter the list some, pejorative adjectives [horrible, awful, terrible, and the like] are one clue that I probably don't need to spend a lot of time on this one. You will also begin to identify those who actually know the answers and you can give them more weight. Periodically, Don [W3FPR] will patiently explain how to adjust the line level for AFSK RTTY ... it's always the same simple explanation. :-) You will be hard pressed to find customer service anywhere else like we all get from Elecraft. I was born with no color vision and when I got the P3, I couldn't see weaker signals in the color waterfall, no contrast with the background. I mentioned it in a post. The next P3 FW update from Alan included a monochrome option in the menu. There are several good transceivers out there. The K3 is one of them. 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014 - www.cqp.org On 4/5/2014 9:58 AM, David Cole wrote: In my wanderings across the net looking for data on the K3, saw reference to bad audio on transmit from the K3, these were 2 year old posts. Was there an issue, or was it user setup, and if an issue, did Elecraft correct it? I saw some changes were made two the transmit audio, was this done to correct the issue, if there was an issue. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Considering a K3
Joe, Have you, (or anyone else), anything to say about the Noise Filtering the K3 has? I have a VERY noisy environment on 40 meters here, we live in Oregon, and lots of farmers and their lights in the area... How does the K3 deal with that sort of RFI? -- Support better RFI practices, please sign this petition: at Whitehouse.gov http://wh.gov/lpz5Y On Sat, 2014-04-05 at 13:42 -0400, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: > > One thing I was not clear on in the demo, just how wide can the > > panadaptor be made to show? > > 200 KHz. > > > 73, > > ... Joe, W4TV > > > On 4/5/2014 1:36 PM, David Cole wrote: > > Hi Bill, > > > > Thanks for your insight, the pro/con list helps a lot. Yes, the > > Panadaptor is a wonderful selling point, and something I can not live > > without anymore. The Pro III spoiled me in that way. > > > > One thing I was not clear on in the demo, just how wide can the > > panadaptor be made to show? > > > __ > 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 d...@nk7z.net __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Considering a K3
> One thing I was not clear on in the demo, just how wide can the > panadaptor be made to show? 200 KHz. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 4/5/2014 1:36 PM, David Cole wrote: Hi Bill, Thanks for your insight, the pro/con list helps a lot. Yes, the Panadaptor is a wonderful selling point, and something I can not live without anymore. The Pro III spoiled me in that way. One thing I was not clear on in the demo, just how wide can the panadaptor be made to show? __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Considering a K3
Hi Joe, Thank you for that, I have wondered what it was for years! -- Support better RFI practices, please sign this petition: at Whitehouse.gov http://wh.gov/lpz5Y On Sat, 2014-04-05 at 13:32 -0400, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: > > I have an inrad roofing filter installed to the PRO III. Does this > > still sound like Phase Noise to you? > > Yes, phase noise in your 756ProIII. The phenomena is called reciprocal > mixing - the phase noise from your own synthesizer appears on any strong > signal within the passband. > > Icom rigs are known for terrible phase noise - I have a neighbor about > 1/2 mile away whose transmitted phase noise and spurs from an Icom rig > and amp wipe out a substantial portion of any band he's on. > > 73, > > ... Joe, W4TV > > > On 4/5/2014 12:51 PM, David Cole wrote: > > Hi Dave (K6LL), > > Thanks for that thought, but I am pretty sure it is not their rigs... > > > > Here is my reasoning for why I think that: > > > > One rig is a K3, and an AL-1500, about 1/2 mile from me, and line of > > sight. One of the the others is a 756 PRO III, and I don't know what > > amp, about a half mile from me, while the third is an older Collins rig, > > with an older Henry amp, about 100 yards from me. > > > > All three rigs, and my mobile rig in the driveway, cause exactly the > > same effect when they are transmitting, the band scope, (set to > > something like 200 KC wide), shows perfectly straight increase across > > the entire 200 KC's of scope, along the bottom, as a raised noise floor > > would. It looks like phase noise, but I would expect that to roll off, > > and not be as flat as this is. I also live close to an AM station, > > 100KW, and about a mile and a half away, and I see almost the same > > thing, as I approach the station frequency. I can see the entire noise > > floor raise as I get closer to the station. > > > > I have an inrad roofing filter installed to the PRO III. Does this > > still sound like Phase Noise to you? > > > __ > 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 d...@nk7z.net __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Considering a K3
Hi Bill, Thanks for your insight, the pro/con list helps a lot. Yes, the Panadaptor is a wonderful selling point, and something I can not live without anymore. The Pro III spoiled me in that way. One thing I was not clear on in the demo, just how wide can the panadaptor be made to show? -- Support better RFI practices, please sign this petition: at Whitehouse.gov http://wh.gov/lpz5Y On Sat, 2014-04-05 at 10:25 -0700, Bill Turner wrote: > ORIGINAL MESSAGE: (may be snipped) > > On 4/5/2014 8:58 AM, David Cole wrote: > > Hi, > > > > Can anyone point me at some resources to better understand why I want a > > K3, as opposed to keeping my Icom 756 Pro III? > > REPLY: > > Pro: My favorite thing about the K3 is actually the panadaptor, the P3. > Beats the pants off my previous IC-756Pro3 or my IC-7600. > > Con: Very expensive for what you get. Other rigs with comparable > features are much cheaper. Steep learning curve. The first week or two > you'll have the radio in one hand, the manual in the other. It is overly > complex, IMO, way too many menu options, half of which you won't > understand and the other half you'll never use. OK, a slight > exaggeration, but not that much. > > Download the manual and read it over carefully first. > > I don't have the blocking issue you have, so can't comment on that. > > 73, Bill W6WRT > > __ > 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 d...@nk7z.net __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Considering a K3
> I have an inrad roofing filter installed to the PRO III. Does this > still sound like Phase Noise to you? Yes, phase noise in your 756ProIII. The phenomena is called reciprocal mixing - the phase noise from your own synthesizer appears on any strong signal within the passband. Icom rigs are known for terrible phase noise - I have a neighbor about 1/2 mile away whose transmitted phase noise and spurs from an Icom rig and amp wipe out a substantial portion of any band he's on. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 4/5/2014 12:51 PM, David Cole wrote: Hi Dave (K6LL), Thanks for that thought, but I am pretty sure it is not their rigs... Here is my reasoning for why I think that: One rig is a K3, and an AL-1500, about 1/2 mile from me, and line of sight. One of the the others is a 756 PRO III, and I don't know what amp, about a half mile from me, while the third is an older Collins rig, with an older Henry amp, about 100 yards from me. All three rigs, and my mobile rig in the driveway, cause exactly the same effect when they are transmitting, the band scope, (set to something like 200 KC wide), shows perfectly straight increase across the entire 200 KC's of scope, along the bottom, as a raised noise floor would. It looks like phase noise, but I would expect that to roll off, and not be as flat as this is. I also live close to an AM station, 100KW, and about a mile and a half away, and I see almost the same thing, as I approach the station frequency. I can see the entire noise floor raise as I get closer to the station. I have an inrad roofing filter installed to the PRO III. Does this still sound like Phase Noise to you? __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Considering a K3
ORIGINAL MESSAGE: (may be snipped) On 4/5/2014 8:58 AM, David Cole wrote: Hi, Can anyone point me at some resources to better understand why I want a K3, as opposed to keeping my Icom 756 Pro III? REPLY: Pro: My favorite thing about the K3 is actually the panadaptor, the P3. Beats the pants off my previous IC-756Pro3 or my IC-7600. Con: Very expensive for what you get. Other rigs with comparable features are much cheaper. Steep learning curve. The first week or two you'll have the radio in one hand, the manual in the other. It is overly complex, IMO, way too many menu options, half of which you won't understand and the other half you'll never use. OK, a slight exaggeration, but not that much. Download the manual and read it over carefully first. I don't have the blocking issue you have, so can't comment on that. 73, Bill W6WRT __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Considering a K3
David, Just checked out your QTH -- with your 7 area call sign I was wondering if you were nearby. Well, Eugene is not that nearby for a casual trip over. I am in Kirkland, WA. A friend of mine lives in that area and maybe you know of him. His name is Riley and his call sign is W7RIL. We both took our Novice tests together back in 1966 (North Bend, Oregon). When I was considering a K3, I asked for volunteers on the Elecraft e-mail list to host a visit for me to try a K3 up close. I got dozens of replies and visited three different guys who had K3s -- even though after playing with the first K3 on my first visit I was sold. I ordered my K3 about a week later after I figured out exactly what I wanted to order. If you order a K3, make sure you read the Wayne and Eric note on their website about choosing filters. Even though I got advice from others on the filters, I think I could have done better. In fact, I will be buying another filter soon (either the 200 or the 250 Hz filter, my narrowest right now is 400 Hz). 73, phil, K7PEH On Apr 5, 2014, at 8:58 AM, David Cole wrote: > Hi, > > Can anyone point me at some resources to better understand why I want a > K3, as opposed to keeping my Icom 756 Pro III? I am considering the > purchase of a K3/100, I saw a presentation on it at our club meeting, > liked what I saw very much and would like to get more input from people > actually using the rig. > > I am doing the due diligence part of a new rig purchase here, and am > looking for just about any input regarding the K3. > > So far I have spent a number of hours looking at everything on the net I > can find for the rig. > > What initially caught my eye is the blocking specs... Something like > 140 db! I have 4 active hams living within 1/2 mile of me, and while > the Pro III works well, I can tell from de-sense that others are on when > one of them operates. The band scope of the PRO III will show an > increased base line across the entire scope... All 4 run a KW. > > The blocking specs alone may be enough to force the switch, but, I am > wondering if anyone has gotten a K3 running with MixW, how easy is it to > point and click tune the rig via a PC interface, etc., do you like the > rig, etc. If you have used a 756 PRO III, and switched to the K3, I > would be very interested in contacting you via phone to discuss your > thoughts on the K3. > > -- > Support better RFI reporting practices, please sign this petition: > at Whitehouse.gov > > http://wh.gov/lpz5Y > > > > > > __ > 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 phys...@mac.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Considering a K3
Hi Robers, Thanks for the nice overview, Is there any issue you might be aware of that might cause Elecraft to cease production of the K3, or go away as a company? The reasons I ask is I just had a friend who spent $5K on a CCD camera for his telescope, only to find the company got bought days after he spent the cash... Things do not look good for that company keeping that item in their lineup. That is why I am asking. I have heard nothing indicating that Elecraft has any issues of any kind like that. -- Support better RFI practices, please sign this petition: at Whitehouse.gov http://wh.gov/lpz5Y On Sat, 2014-04-05 at 16:58 +, Robert G Strickland wrote: > David... > Obviously, virtually everyone here has an Elecraft product, with the K3 > being the big item. So, you'll no doubt get lots of feedback from > different perspectives, emphasizing different specs. All will no doubt > be helpful in making your decision. My comments... > > - the company: you just won't find any manufacturer of anything, and I > do mean 'anything,' that backs their product(s) more effectively than > Elecraft. > > - user community: the community of Elecraft/K3 users are knowledgeable, > quick to help, and good natured. Put up a question and within minutes > you'll get useful answers [and not just K3 related]. > > - the radio: I like the small size [some dislike 'small' for reasons of > their own]; you just can't find the K3's performance in anything > approaching its size. Most of the recent DXpeditions are K3 equipped, i > imagine for reasons of size and performance. I like the ease of > operation. Its performance is superb. I operate mostly CW in contests > and DXing, and I have not found an operating situation in which the K3 > did not deliver all that I needed. A regular comment is, "This is the > last radio I'll ever buy." Perhaps overstated, but the sentiment is real. > > People have different likes and dislikes with respect to radio > equipment. If you like the K3 enough to buy it, then pretty sure you'll > never look back. > > ...robert > > On 4/5/2014 15:58, David Cole wrote: > > Hi, > > > > Can anyone point me at some resources to better understand why I want a > > K3, as opposed to keeping my Icom 756 Pro III? I am considering the > > purchase of a K3/100, I saw a presentation on it at our club meeting, > > liked what I saw very much and would like to get more input from people > > actually using the rig. > > > > I am doing the due diligence part of a new rig purchase here, and am > > looking for just about any input regarding the K3. > > > > So far I have spent a number of hours looking at everything on the net I > > can find for the rig. > > > > What initially caught my eye is the blocking specs... Something like > > 140 db! I have 4 active hams living within 1/2 mile of me, and while > > the Pro III works well, I can tell from de-sense that others are on when > > one of them operates. The band scope of the PRO III will show an > > increased base line across the entire scope... All 4 run a KW. > > > > The blocking specs alone may be enough to force the switch, but, I am > > wondering if anyone has gotten a K3 running with MixW, how easy is it to > > point and click tune the rig via a PC interface, etc., do you like the > > rig, etc. If you have used a 756 PRO III, and switched to the K3, I > > would be very interested in contacting you via phone to discuss your > > thoughts on the K3. > > > __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Considering a K3
Hi Phil, Thanks for the tip, I am still sorting through them all... It is difficult to sort out the "I love this rig because I just spent 5K on it", vs., the "I love this rig because I understand it posts". :) -- Support better RFI practices, please sign this petition: at Whitehouse.gov http://wh.gov/lpz5Y On Sat, 2014-04-05 at 09:45 -0700, Phil Wheeler wrote: > Have you read the reviews at eHam, Dave? They seems to represent a > broad spectrum of users. > > I upgraded (from a K2/100) to K3/P3 a month ago or so and really enjoy > it. But I don't have your local situation. My one active nearby ham > uses a K3/P3/KPA500/KAT500 -- and I've now upgraded to match him :-) > > 73, Phil > > On 4/5/14, 8:58 AM, David Cole wrote: > > > Hi, > > > > Can anyone point me at some resources to better understand why I want a > > K3, as opposed to keeping my Icom 756 Pro III? I am considering the > > purchase of a K3/100, I saw a presentation on it at our club meeting, > > liked what I saw very much and would like to get more input from people > > actually using the rig. > > > > I am doing the due diligence part of a new rig purchase here, and am > > looking for just about any input regarding the K3. > > > > So far I have spent a number of hours looking at everything on the net I > > can find for the rig. > > > > What initially caught my eye is the blocking specs... Something like > > 140 db! I have 4 active hams living within 1/2 mile of me, and while > > the Pro III works well, I can tell from de-sense that others are on when > > one of them operates. The band scope of the PRO III will show an > > increased base line across the entire scope... All 4 run a KW. > > > > The blocking specs alone may be enough to force the switch, but, I am > > wondering if anyone has gotten a K3 running with MixW, how easy is it to > > point and click tune the rig via a PC interface, etc., do you like the > > rig, etc. If you have used a 756 PRO III, and switched to the K3, I > > would be very interested in contacting you via phone to discuss your > > thoughts on the K3. > > > __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Considering a K3
Bill, Thank you for your thoughts here! You inadvertently answered a question I was going to ask, about the K3 vs. the current Flex product. Thank you again! I have a request in the Yahoo groups to join as well, so I should be able to get more data as needed. In my wanderings across the net looking for data on the K3, saw reference to bad audio on transmit from the K3, these were 2 year old posts. Was there an issue, or was it user setup, and if an issue, did Elecraft correct it? I saw some changes were made two the transmit audio, was this done to correct the issue, if there was an issue. Thanks again for your help! -- Support better RFI practices, please sign this petition: at Whitehouse.gov http://wh.gov/lpz5Y On Sat, 2014-04-05 at 16:31 -0400, Bill W2BLC wrote: > No doubt the blocking abilities of the K3 should be of interest to you > under those circumstances. > > I went through what you are doing a couple of years ago. Wound up trying > a FLEX, which lasted about three weeks before it was returned to the > manufacturer. My reason for return was a lack of proper product support. > I then borrowed a friends big TenTec. Great rig and good support - just > way too big physically. > > Then I started looking at the K3. Watch the groups and reflectors and > went to try a couple of them nearby. I was impressed by the rig - it did > as was advertised. So I bought a kit and spent a couple of days putting > it together. Got the Kady book to go with it (needed, as the Elecraft > manuals are not really deep enough). I built a rig as I wanted it with > accessories I chose - not what some bean counter thought I should have. > > The rig has not been a disappointment. I also have the remainder of the > K-Line (P3, KAT500, and KPA500). I had some teething problems with the > latter devices, however the latest firmware sorted all of that. > > The K3 is so user customizable from the various menu setting available, > that you will end up having a rig designed to your choices. By the way, > all those settings are generally made once and not touched again. Mostly > I turn the rig on/off, use the volume control, VFO, band, mode, and once > in a while adjust hi or lo cut - pretty simple to operate. > > When you have questions - there is a Yahoo Group and a super > reflector(as you have found). Also, company support is always just an > email or phone call away. Those folks know their products well and are > quick to respond when you need help. > > Did I mention this is a Made in USA product??? > > I am very pleased with my K-Line and will recommend it to anyone > desiring a top of the line HF rig/station. > > Bill K-Line > __ > 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 d...@nk7z.net __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Considering a K3
David... Obviously, virtually everyone here has an Elecraft product, with the K3 being the big item. So, you'll no doubt get lots of feedback from different perspectives, emphasizing different specs. All will no doubt be helpful in making your decision. My comments... - the company: you just won't find any manufacturer of anything, and I do mean 'anything,' that backs their product(s) more effectively than Elecraft. - user community: the community of Elecraft/K3 users are knowledgeable, quick to help, and good natured. Put up a question and within minutes you'll get useful answers [and not just K3 related]. - the radio: I like the small size [some dislike 'small' for reasons of their own]; you just can't find the K3's performance in anything approaching its size. Most of the recent DXpeditions are K3 equipped, i imagine for reasons of size and performance. I like the ease of operation. Its performance is superb. I operate mostly CW in contests and DXing, and I have not found an operating situation in which the K3 did not deliver all that I needed. A regular comment is, "This is the last radio I'll ever buy." Perhaps overstated, but the sentiment is real. People have different likes and dislikes with respect to radio equipment. If you like the K3 enough to buy it, then pretty sure you'll never look back. ...robert On 4/5/2014 15:58, David Cole wrote: Hi, Can anyone point me at some resources to better understand why I want a K3, as opposed to keeping my Icom 756 Pro III? I am considering the purchase of a K3/100, I saw a presentation on it at our club meeting, liked what I saw very much and would like to get more input from people actually using the rig. I am doing the due diligence part of a new rig purchase here, and am looking for just about any input regarding the K3. So far I have spent a number of hours looking at everything on the net I can find for the rig. What initially caught my eye is the blocking specs... Something like 140 db! I have 4 active hams living within 1/2 mile of me, and while the Pro III works well, I can tell from de-sense that others are on when one of them operates. The band scope of the PRO III will show an increased base line across the entire scope... All 4 run a KW. The blocking specs alone may be enough to force the switch, but, I am wondering if anyone has gotten a K3 running with MixW, how easy is it to point and click tune the rig via a PC interface, etc., do you like the rig, etc. If you have used a 756 PRO III, and switched to the K3, I would be very interested in contacting you via phone to discuss your thoughts on the K3. -- Robert G Strickland, PhD ABPH - KE2WY rc...@verizon.net.usa Syracuse, New York, USA __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Considering a K3
Hi Dave (K6LL), Thanks for that thought, but I am pretty sure it is not their rigs... Here is my reasoning for why I think that: One rig is a K3, and an AL-1500, about 1/2 mile from me, and line of sight. One of the the others is a 756 PRO III, and I don't know what amp, about a half mile from me, while the third is an older Collins rig, with an older Henry amp, about 100 yards from me. All three rigs, and my mobile rig in the driveway, cause exactly the same effect when they are transmitting, the band scope, (set to something like 200 KC wide), shows perfectly straight increase across the entire 200 KC's of scope, along the bottom, as a raised noise floor would. It looks like phase noise, but I would expect that to roll off, and not be as flat as this is. I also live close to an AM station, 100KW, and about a mile and a half away, and I see almost the same thing, as I approach the station frequency. I can see the entire noise floor raise as I get closer to the station. I have an inrad roofing filter installed to the PRO III. Does this still sound like Phase Noise to you? -- Support better RFI practices, please sign this petition: at Whitehouse.gov http://wh.gov/lpz5Y On Sat, 2014-04-05 at 09:12 -0700, Dave Hachadorian wrote: > > I have 4 active hams living within 1/2 mile of me, and while > >the Pro III works well, I can tell from de-sense that others are > >on when > >one of them operates. The band scope of the PRO III will show > >an > >increased base line across the entire scope... All 4 run a KW. > > The increased base line sounds more like broadband phase noise > generated in THEIR radios. Phase noise is a background hiss that > stays relatively constant all the time their rig is in the > transmit position, regardless if they are speaking on SSB or > keying on CW. The noise will be there during speech pauses or CW > key-up periods. If that is the case, THEY are the ones who need > the K3's to clean up their transmitted signal. If their phase > noise covers the frequency that you are trying to hear, there's > not much you can do at your end. > > > Dave Hachadorian, K6LL > Yuma, AZ > > > > > > > > . > > __ > 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 d...@nk7z.net __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Considering a K3
Have you read the reviews at eHam, Dave? They seems to represent a broad spectrum of users. I upgraded (from a K2/100) to K3/P3 a month ago or so and really enjoy it. But I don't have your local situation. My one active nearby ham uses a K3/P3/KPA500/KAT500 -- and I've now upgraded to match him :-) 73, Phil On 4/5/14, 8:58 AM, David Cole wrote: Hi, Can anyone point me at some resources to better understand why I want a K3, as opposed to keeping my Icom 756 Pro III? I am considering the purchase of a K3/100, I saw a presentation on it at our club meeting, liked what I saw very much and would like to get more input from people actually using the rig. I am doing the due diligence part of a new rig purchase here, and am looking for just about any input regarding the K3. So far I have spent a number of hours looking at everything on the net I can find for the rig. What initially caught my eye is the blocking specs... Something like 140 db! I have 4 active hams living within 1/2 mile of me, and while the Pro III works well, I can tell from de-sense that others are on when one of them operates. The band scope of the PRO III will show an increased base line across the entire scope... All 4 run a KW. The blocking specs alone may be enough to force the switch, but, I am wondering if anyone has gotten a K3 running with MixW, how easy is it to point and click tune the rig via a PC interface, etc., do you like the rig, etc. If you have used a 756 PRO III, and switched to the K3, I would be very interested in contacting you via phone to discuss your thoughts on the K3. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Considering a K3
No doubt the blocking abilities of the K3 should be of interest to you under those circumstances. I went through what you are doing a couple of years ago. Wound up trying a FLEX, which lasted about three weeks before it was returned to the manufacturer. My reason for return was a lack of proper product support. I then borrowed a friends big TenTec. Great rig and good support - just way too big physically. Then I started looking at the K3. Watch the groups and reflectors and went to try a couple of them nearby. I was impressed by the rig - it did as was advertised. So I bought a kit and spent a couple of days putting it together. Got the Kady book to go with it (needed, as the Elecraft manuals are not really deep enough). I built a rig as I wanted it with accessories I chose - not what some bean counter thought I should have. The rig has not been a disappointment. I also have the remainder of the K-Line (P3, KAT500, and KPA500). I had some teething problems with the latter devices, however the latest firmware sorted all of that. The K3 is so user customizable from the various menu setting available, that you will end up having a rig designed to your choices. By the way, all those settings are generally made once and not touched again. Mostly I turn the rig on/off, use the volume control, VFO, band, mode, and once in a while adjust hi or lo cut - pretty simple to operate. When you have questions - there is a Yahoo Group and a super reflector(as you have found). Also, company support is always just an email or phone call away. Those folks know their products well and are quick to respond when you need help. Did I mention this is a Made in USA product??? I am very pleased with my K-Line and will recommend it to anyone desiring a top of the line HF rig/station. Bill K-Line __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Considering a K3
I have 4 active hams living within 1/2 mile of me, and while the Pro III works well, I can tell from de-sense that others are on when one of them operates. The band scope of the PRO III will show an increased base line across the entire scope... All 4 run a KW. The increased base line sounds more like broadband phase noise generated in THEIR radios. Phase noise is a background hiss that stays relatively constant all the time their rig is in the transmit position, regardless if they are speaking on SSB or keying on CW. The noise will be there during speech pauses or CW key-up periods. If that is the case, THEY are the ones who need the K3's to clean up their transmitted signal. If their phase noise covers the frequency that you are trying to hear, there's not much you can do at your end. Dave Hachadorian, K6LL Yuma, AZ . __ 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] Considering a K3
Hi, Can anyone point me at some resources to better understand why I want a K3, as opposed to keeping my Icom 756 Pro III? I am considering the purchase of a K3/100, I saw a presentation on it at our club meeting, liked what I saw very much and would like to get more input from people actually using the rig. I am doing the due diligence part of a new rig purchase here, and am looking for just about any input regarding the K3. So far I have spent a number of hours looking at everything on the net I can find for the rig. What initially caught my eye is the blocking specs... Something like 140 db! I have 4 active hams living within 1/2 mile of me, and while the Pro III works well, I can tell from de-sense that others are on when one of them operates. The band scope of the PRO III will show an increased base line across the entire scope... All 4 run a KW. The blocking specs alone may be enough to force the switch, but, I am wondering if anyone has gotten a K3 running with MixW, how easy is it to point and click tune the rig via a PC interface, etc., do you like the rig, etc. If you have used a 756 PRO III, and switched to the K3, I would be very interested in contacting you via phone to discuss your thoughts on the K3. -- Support better RFI reporting practices, please sign this petition: at Whitehouse.gov http://wh.gov/lpz5Y __ 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
