This seems similar to my situation last year. I had an FT-450, SGC tuners, and just couldn't get things to work; I didn't understand how the stuff in my shack functioned, what it was really for, and had no chance. The simplest contact was extremely frustrating.
My solution (which was right for me, your mileage may vary) was to sell almost everything except and HT and buy a K1. The build process forced me to pay attention to what the circuits were for (at a high level), and adding the feature modules was also very instructive. And fun! Having only a QRP CW rig also forced me to learn CW and listen. I spend a lot of time listening. QRP can be frustrating, but I think it has been good for me and for 2011, I'm considering a QRP K2 build and expect to learn a ton more. It's a hobby; spending a year or two climbing up the learning curve is the point, not the problem. The K3 is amazing (I use one periodically when contesting with friends) and I don't want to discourage anyone from diving in and learning all about it. I just thought I would point out that there are other approaches. 73, Byron N6NUL K1 #2799 Most all the mini-modules On Wed, Dec 8, 2010 at 7:02 AM, <[email protected]> wrote: > > > I am also a new General class licensee and my new K3 is my FIRST venture in > HF. It’s a world of difference from 2 meter. The current owner’s manual > assumes previous experience with HF radio operation. A tutorial/new owner’s > manual/video(s)/etc. would be most welcome as opposed to hours wasted in > trial and error learning this fantastic radio. > > > > It wasn’t just the QST/eHam.com reviews that prompted me to buy a K3, it was > the videos on youtube showing it in action that sealed the deal. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "don Swetzig" <[email protected]> > To: "Don Cunningham" <[email protected]>, "Wayne Burdick" > <[email protected]>, "Elecraft Reflector" <[email protected]> > Sent: Wednesday, December 8, 2010 7:09:20 AM > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Need for advice > > Dear Group > > This is a very good discussion and it is spot on for a new K3 owner. > > I have owned my K3 for about one month and I have struggled to learn how to > use this radio. So a fairly new ham and a high feature radio are not > necessarly a great fit. So yes for guys like me some tutorials would > be nice. > > That all stated above between elecraft support and this group I have a radio > that now is exceeding my expectations. But the early struggle for guys > like me can be lowered by some of the suggestions. > > The idea of online video makes a lot of sense to me as this type of info jump > started me for my mobile rig. > > That's all for now. > > Thx Don > Kd8nnu > > > > -- Sent from my Palm Pre > On Dec 7, 2010 10:00 PM, Don Cunningham <[email protected]> wrote: > > Wayne, > > Thanks SO much for listening to our "issues" and then taking positive action > > to address them. This is the main reason you are staying WAY ahead of the > > "major three" in amateur transceiver manufacturing. > > > > Those of us out here giving feedback ARE really trying to help, and although > > there are naysayers, I do believe this will help new buyers make the buying > > decision!! Keep up the good work. > > > > 73, > > Don, WB5HAK > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > > Elecraft mailing list > > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > > Post: mailto:[email protected] > > > > 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:[email protected] > > 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:[email protected] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html -- - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2011 Cal QSO Party 1-2 Oct 2011 - www.cqp.org ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
