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
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