Ah, but the K3 does a stellar job with WL2K, even with 100W set up as power out. Sometimes a single transmission takes 6 or 7 seconds, and there are lots of repeats (a typical HF email session is 2-3 minutes). My understanding is that WL2K and Pactor modes are very similar in terms of hard-driving the PA.
I actually think one could run the K3 in the high duty cycle range like this, for long periods. In MARS, we habitually run MT63 at 80-100W with no ill effects. This is a very high duty cycle mode, and a typical transmission lasts 4 to 5 minutes (if the broadcast is wordy). No problems with that either, at least in my case. And the K3 protects itself anyway. When I first started sending HF traffic as a MARS member, I remember monitoring the PA TEMP closely to see how much of a rise would occur. There was a bit of a blip, but the fans always came on and maintained the PA at < 48C. Actually, this is quite cool. I think Johnny's comment about salt air and corrosion is spot on . There was another gentleman that had his 8 MHz IF trap cooked by a nearby marine band transmission. There are clearly reasons not to operate the K3 as a marine band radio, legal and technical, however there are a number of maritime ops using the K3 in the ham bands, and I've met some of them. They keep the radio covered when not in use (or in a cabinet), and generally care for it like they should. Maybe this is a more apt use case - ham ops versus marine radio? matt W6NIA On Wed, 23 Mar 2011 22:12:10 +0800 (HKT), you wrote: >Hello Gentleman, > >Perhaps, this may not be relevant. Nowadays, HF email using PACTOR III is >very >popular in marine time. Most marine radio can stand for heavy duty cycle >PACTOR >transmission. However, ham gears are not designed for such a full duty cycle. > >So let the marine gears do the marine job. When I use K3 for PACTOR III, I >need >to low the power to say 30W. > cheers, > > >Johnny VR2XMC > > > > >________________________________ >???? Eugene Balinski <[email protected]> >???? George A. Thornton <[email protected]>; >[email protected] >????? 2011/3/23 (?) 8:54:10 PM >??? Re: [Elecraft] marine frequencies and k3 > >George, > > The ** best ** solution would be for her to get her ham >license. In that manner, she would be able to work the >14300 Maritime Mobile Service Net as well as a number of >other maritime nets throughout the world. It will also >give her access to other hams throughout the world. This >could save her life. There are a number of weekend >license courses that could help her along the way. > > I am sure that he HF radio and antenna coupler on her >boat will cover the complete 3 - 22 MHz band and may go to >30 MHz. It may have to be keyboard/reset enabled. That >would give her easy operation. > > Also, please DO NOT suggest that she use a ham rig for >her primary marine HF radio. Most ham rigs are not set up >for the rigors of marine operation and with the salt air >and moisture, corrode very easliy. Marine HF radio have >the commericial frequencies with correct T/R split already >in NV memories. This is especially important for distress >frequencies. These are normally a 1 button push. > > No it is not legal for you to communicate with her via >HF on the marine band with out getting a commercial station >license for you, and having a commercially certified radio >at your station. > >73 >K1NR > > > > > >On Tue, 22 Mar 2011 22:07:39 -0700 >"George A. Thornton" <[email protected]> >wrote: >> I know someone who is about to embark on an around the >> world sailboat >> cruise. She is not currently licensed on HAM frequencies >> but is going >> to have a marine operator license. She is about to >> acquire a marine SSB >> radio. Most of those radios are also capable of >> operation on HAM >> frequencies. >> >> >> >> I was trying to figure out if it was possible to legally >> communicate >> with her using my K3 from home. >> >> >> >> Can the K3 be modified to permit transmission on marine >> bands? >> >> >> >> I want to emphasize that I am not looking for an >> opportunity to use the >> radio for any illegal purpose. I am only interested in >> operating on >> marine frequencies for which I would have a valid >> license. >> >> >> >> Beyond this, it seems there is a potential marketing >> opportunity for >> Elecraft in the marine community. Ocean sailors use SSB >> and many of >> them also end up getting a HAM license so they can also >> use HAM >> frequencies on voyages. The Elecraft K2 and K3 are in >> some ways ideal >> for marine use because they are small and have relatively >> low power >> consumption. >> >> >> >> The stresses on a marine radio are huge and most of them >> have been made >> water and shock resistant. Also, marine radios require >> extreme >> simplicity of operation because they occasionally have to >> be used by an >> inexperienced operator during an emergency. >> >> >> >> Maybe none of this makes practical sense. >> >> >> >> Someone educate me, that is what this forum is about. >> >> >> >> de George AE7G >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >______________________________________________________________ >> 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 > >--------------------------------------------------------------------- >Web mail provided by NuNet, Inc. The Premier National provider. >http://www.nni.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 ______________________________________________________________ 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
