Depending on the money resources you can draw upon, I would suggest getting the built in tuner option for the KX3. It really frees you up in mobile and portable situations where you are merely stringing a wire up into a nearby tree with another wire laying on the ground as counterpoise.
And, CW rocks! Put the time into CW so you can get on the air and start operating even if you are limping along. Your CW speed will pick up when you operate -- more so then using some practice method. Always listen to stations on CW when you are learning even if you can only pick out a few letters. Definitely listen guys who are faster than you even if you can't pick out stuff. CW contests are great in practicing to pick out call signs at higher speeds. 73, phil, k7peh On Feb 26, 2014, at 6:18 AM, Sean Wall <seancw...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hi folks, > > I want to thank everyone who offered advice, it's invaluable to a new ham > like myself! > > I've settled on the KX3 -- I like the fact that it's versatile enough to be > a decent base station and it can go on the road with me. Plus, it seems > that it has a lot of features that you generally see on more expensive > rigs. The SDR aspect also appeals to me as I'm a nerd and I'd like to > experiment with SDR applications on my laptop. I do software development > with a masters in electrical engineering, so I'm not worried about the KX3 > being overly complex. I'll figure it out eventually, I think. :D > > > The one definite take-away which was clear to me is "it's all about the > antenna". I'm considering other antennas other than the Buddipole now. > The current front runner is the LNR End Fed 10/20/40 wire antenna. I like > it because you tune it for 40 m and 10/20 should fall into place. Also, > you can remove the supplied radiator and attach a new one to tune in other > bands. It's also a heck of a lot cheaper than a Buddipole. (Not to > disparage the BP -- I've read a lot of good reviews about it -- but I'd > rather go with something simpler and less expensive right now.) I haven't > looked into the magnetic loop antennas yet, but I'll get to that. One > question though -- the LNR site said no antenna tuner is needed or > recommended, which makes sense in this case. I was still considering > getting the optional antenna tuner for the KX3, but can you disable it in > the settings if you don't want to use it? > > I received about equal number of responses on either side of the 10w/100w > fence. Once again, it seemed to boil down to "it won't make a lot of > difference if you don't have a good antenna to start with". I'll stick > with 10w for now, and I can get the 100w amp later. > > BTW - I plan on initially using phone as I'm still learning Morse, but I > would like get to get into CW at some point. > > Also, I do plan on joining a local ham club. There are several in my area > so that should be no problem. If they're all as friendly and accommodating > as you folks, I should have no problem getting help. :) > > Thanks again everyone! > > 73 - Sean (call sign not in the ULS database yet - should be this week!!) > ______________________________________________________________ > 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
