John, It sounds like you've made some very good choices. I have 2 K3s sitting on my desk. One has the high-stability oscillator, one doesn't. I don't see any noticeable difference in stability or frequency accuracy between them. As for filters, one has a 2.7 KHz and the other a 2.8 KHz. Once again, I don't really see any difference but with your idea of potentially adding the second receiver, then the 8-Pole filters make good sense. I would strongly urge you to go ahead with the KXV3A, it isn't just for the P3. You need this if you want to use the external 6M preamp or a transverter, it gives you an IF output, adds a dedicated receive antenna input which can be useful at times, and gives you the possibility to have a low-level RF output that isn't band limited so you can use the K3 as an HF signal generator. Just a thought, no matter what you'll love your new toy!
73 and hope to catch you on the air, Chuck - AA3CS On 07 Jan 2011, at 07:50, VK7JB wrote: > > Hello All, > > A couple of people have asked me to post a summary to share what I learnt > from my question about options for a new K3. I received 25 replies, many > were off-list emails, offering well considered ideas and advice. I was > surprised at how generously people offered their time and their thoughts on > this question, often sharing considerable detail about their own experience > of loading their K3. > > People tailored their responses to my situation - I'm a casual operator of > CW/SSB/data modes, working in a location where I rarely, if ever, have to > contend with crowded bands and heavy QRM. > > So bearing that in mind, here's what I learned: > > # Unanimously, folks suggested I NOT bother with the high stability > reference oscillator. > > #The auto ATU option was thought a good investment - for various reasons. > > # There was strong support for the Digital Voice Recorder option and for > putting in the KXV3A option during the initial build, to avoid significant > dis-assembly of the K3 when/if I want to add on the P3 panadapter in the > future. Several folks mentioned how useful they'd found their DVR, > especially as a "voice saver" calling CQ. > > # About filters options: > There was a concensus of opinion that the 2.8 8 pole / 2.7 5 pole swap > wouldn't be of benefit in my situation and that I should just go with the > 2.7 / 5 pole stock filter. Several people suggested I should invest in the > 6khz filter to allow AM TX and broadcast band RX and ESSB. A couple of > people volunteered they had installed the 15khz FM filter, but rarely used > it and thought I could do without that option. Many people commented on the > effectiveness of the DSP filtering in the K3 and suggested that for the > casual CW I do, that would be enough. Several others suggested I go with a > 400 or 500hz filter, but that I could wait and add them later if I found I > needed them. I got the feeling that the narrower 2.1/1.8 khz filters for > SSB weren't seen to be a big priority in my situation: only a couple of > folks mentioned them in passing and only one K3 owner said he found them > very useful for everyday SSB. > > All this seemed like very sensible advice to me. > > So what am I going to do? > > Well, I've decided to NOT take the TCXO high stability ref oscillator. I > WILL install the DVR and General coverage BPF options. > > I've decided NOT to put in the KXV3A until I'm ready to get the panadapter. > I don't mind dismantling the K3 when that day arrives and I'd like to invest > that money in other features initially. Having the KXV3A in the K3 from the > beginning won't give me any more immediate enjoyment of the K3, nor any > extra bits to play with, so I've decided it will wait. > > As for the filters: > > I've decided that I probably WILL do the 2.8 for 2.7 swap and install 8 pole > filters from the beginning. One K3 owner pointed out that if I do that, I > won't have to swap out, or worry about matching, the 5 pole filters in the > future if/when I come to install the subreceiver. That seemed sensible to > me, so I'll put in the 8 pole Inrad filters from the beginning and be done > with it. The only additional filter I'll order initially is the 6khz, 8 > pole, to allow better SW broadcast reception and to allow me to experiement > with wider-bandwidth SSB Tx. I'll see, over time, whether or not I need a > 400hz filter for CW. > > So that's it. Thanks again everyone. I just have to sell a rig here to > generate some extra funds, then I'll plant my paw on the "Add to Cart" > button and the deal will be done. > > 73, > > John > VK7JB > > > > > > > -- > View this message in context: > http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-advice-about-options-to-buy-tp5891397p5899075.html > Sent from the [K3] mailing list archive at Nabble.com. > ______________________________________________________________ > 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
