Re: [Elecraft] Need help making K3 purchase decisions

2010-02-13 Thread Phil Hystad 
Jeff,

Your proposed K3 configuration is close to mine.  I would strongly submit that 
you
should consider the KXV3A, the transverter interface as this allows you to feed 
devices
dependent on an IF signal as it includes an IF port.  And, it is relatively 
cheap, less then
any single filter.

I do mostly CW on my K3 and I also opted for the 400 Hz 8-pole filter but I also
got the 1 KHz too.  I have been operating my K3 now for a little over a month 
and I
would say that the DSP filtering on the K3 does a pretty good job too.  My 
filters
are:  AM-6 KHz,  2.7 KHz (default), 1 KHz, and 400 Hz.  I will probably add a 
15 KHz
filter when I get the 2-meter (K144XV) option.  Then, I will be fully populated 
with
my five filters.

I have the KDVR3 but I have not used it yet.  In fact, I was going to use it 
just a
few days ago when a friend of mine wanted to know what he sounded like on his 
new
mic since we had told him that it sounded like the lows were being cut out.  I 
would
have recorded his signal and played it back for him but at the time I had not 
even
read how to use the DVR.  I still need to do that.

My future plans are to purchase the K144XV, the P3, and eventually the 
sub-receiver
(KRX3).

My K3 order (ordered the day before Christmas, received January 4th) options:

K3/100
KAT3
KBPF3 (general coverage RX)
KDVR3
KTCX03-1 TCXO
KXV3A
6 MHz 8-pole filter
1 KHz 8-pole filter
400 Hz 8-pole filter

I subsequently ordered the MH2 hand-microphone as I decided I would do some SSB 
on the K3.

You will really like your K3 -- I hardly use my Icom 756 Pro III anymore.

73, phil, K7PEH
K3 #3799



On Feb 13, 2010, at 10:37 AM, Jeff Hall, W6EZY wrote:

 Greetings all,
 
 This is my first submission to the Elecraft reflector.  I intend to place an
 order for my K3 today, but I need some help making the final decisions of
 which options I should purchase at this time.  First, let me describe my
 antenna setup so the experts here can hopefully offer more specific advice.
 
 I am presently using a 40-10m wire dipole (DX Engineering) elevated to about
 32 feet, with an apex angle a little over 90 degrees (maybe 95).  The
 ICOM-729 w/ 100W that I have been using the past month has gotten the signal
 out as far as Seattle (S9) and New York (S9) from my QTH in SoCal.  I have
 heard from all over the country, parts of Canada, Alaska, and can get faint
 signals from Central/South America and the Caribbean.  Also hear from Japan
 occasionally. So I expect this antenna to get even better when the sunspots
 start making a comeback in a few years.  In the future (5-10 years) I will
 probably move to a QTH that allows a nice 100' tower, but until then, I have
 to make do with my dipole.
 
 I just passed my Extra license test and these are my goals for the next
 couple of years:
 
 - Work as many locations I can (SSB/CW/PSK31)
 - Learn CW and become proficient at 20-30 WPM (will be purchasing a K8RA
 P-4)
 - Full computer integration and rig control with a MicroHAM MicroKeyer II
 - Participate in contests (once I understand how that works)
 - Work towards some awards (WAS for starters)
 - Work DX (someday, when I can put up a tower or as band conditions allow
 with my dipole)
 
 Now that you know a bit about my setup and what I want to accomplish, here
 are the options I am considering:
 
 - K3/100 kit
 - KAT3 100W internal tuner (no plans to buy a bigger amplifier for awhile;
 want to be proficient with 100W first)
 - KDVR3 (Not sure if this overlaps with features offered by the MKII) -- How
 useful do people find this?
 - KFL3A-400 400Hz 8-pole filter for CW (I'm anticipating I'll want this for
 contests/noisy conditions)
 - KFL3A-2.1K 2.1 KHz 8-pole filter for SSB (I'm anticipating I'll want this
 for working faint signals during noisy conditions)
 - KFL3A-2.8K 2.8 kHz 8-pole filter for the majority of operating
 
 I'm going with 8-pole filters to make it easier to add the sub-receiver
 someday should I want that.  My main question is whether these are the right
 filters for my needs.  Would I be better off with 1.8 kHz instead of 2.1
 kHz?  I know it's subjective, but I'm just trying to be practical and not
 waste money.
 
 Now, I also need recommendations on a boom-mic/headset.  I see a lot of
 people here use the Yamaha CM500.  Is this totally plug and play or do you
 have to make any mods to get it working with the K3?
 
 Thanks for the forthcoming recommendations and opinions!
 
 -Jeff, W6EZY
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Post:

Re: [Elecraft] Need help making K3 purchase decisions

2010-02-13 Thread Dave, G4AON 
Welcome to the Reflector Jeff!

The K3 will work with almost any microphone or headset, you will benefit 
from trying a few cheap ones before splashing out. Depending on your 
voice you will probably find the ordinary computer headsets work great. 
Hook up another receiver to your computer and transmit into a 50 Ohm 
load with your K3 and make a few test recordings and hear the results 
for yourself. My favourite headset is a cheap Labtec Axis 302 with the 
electret insert replaced by a Heil HC5 insert, which in turn is covered 
by a sponge windshield. However, it's only marginally better than the 
original electret insert with my voice. I wired it to fit the front 
panel 8 pin socket for convenience. For a fist microphone, the Kenwood 
MC-43S is low cost and works without modification (and sounds good too).

Computer integration and rig control is built into the K3, it doesn't 
need any additional interface. Programs such as Ham Radio Deluxe will 
directly control a K3 via the serial lead doing the transmit/receive 
control via a serial command. The line in/out of the K3 connects 
directly to a computer sound card line in/out, a pair of stereo 3.5mm 
leads from an electronics store are all you need (the line in is mono, 
but a stereo cable works just fine).

You can route the receive signal via a KXV3 to an external receiver with 
a home made ferrite splitter, if you are going to use just a pan 
adapter, such as LP-Pan, it's not really necessary to use the 
transverter interface to have the IF presented on the rear panel, a 
single hole BNC socket will fit the blanking panel and just needs a 
single coax to the underside of the main RF board (the KXV3 has a direct 
connection between the IF out socket and the main RF board).

I have the general coverage board and a 6 KHz filter, I hardly use 
either so they were a bit of a waste of money for me. The image 
rejection of the K3 receiver is up to 10 dB worse when operating outside 
the ham bands (when using the general coverage board), which may or may 
not be an issue for yourself.

Happy shopping!

73 Dave, G4AON
http://www.astromag.co.uk/k3/
-
This is my first submission to the Elecraft reflector. I intend to place an
order for my K3 today, but I need some help making the final decisions of
which options I should purchase at this time.

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