Hello Stan. I am an avid CW enthusiast and spend 100% of my time, usually around 4-6 hours a night on 20/40m CW. I have 2 identical loaded to the the max K3/100's and P3's purchased late this year. I have been very happy with my filter choices:
1. 13KHz FM 2. 6KHz AM INRAD 3. 2.8KHz INRAD 4. 400Hz INRAD 5. 200Hz 5-pole (lowest INRAD was 250Hz I think and I wanted the scalpel) I have all 5 filters populated on MAIN RX. I only have one filter, 2.8K on SUB. I almost never use the sub, so figured I could add them later if necessary. Only ordered the SUB's in the event I ever sold the rigs the next guy would probably want them. This is my order printout for both K3's: Item Ref. Price ea. Qty. Description 144OPT100 $0.00 1 K144XV Panel Kit for K3 /100 K144RFLK $89.95 1 K144XV REFLOCK K144XV-F $349.95 1 K3 Int. 2 M Module; Assm. K3/100-F $2249.95 1 K3 100W Xcvr. (Assembled) K3SSKT $19.95 1 K3 Stainless H/W Kit KAT3-F $339.95 1 K3 ATU (Fact. Installed) KBPF3 $149.95 1 K3 Gen. Cov. RX Module KDVR3 $129.95 1 K3 Dig. Voice Recorder KFL3A-2.8_2.7sw $129.95 2 2.8 for 2.7 kHz swap KFL3A-200 $89.95 1 K3 200 Hz, 5 pole filter KFL3A-400 $139.95 1 K3 400 Hz, 8 pole filter KFL3A-6K $139.95 2 K3 6 kHz, 8 pole filter KFL3B-FM $139.95 1 K3 FM b/w filter KRX3-F $659.95 1 K3 2nd RX (Fact. Assm.) KTCXO3-1 $99.95 1 K3 TCXO (0.5ppm) KUSB $39.95 1 Univ. Ser Bus Adapt. KXV3A $119.95 1 K3 RX Ant, IF Out & Xvrtr Int MH2 $59.95 1 Hand Mic. for K2/K3. P3-F $749.95 1 P3-F Panadapter -Assembled- P3SVGA $259.95 1 P3 Video/FFT Adapt. In case you're wondering, this order shows an extra 6KHz because I didn't originally include it on the first K3. I added it so both K3's would match in the event I wanted to do some SSB in the future. Both the MAIN and SUB filters were upgraded at order time from the 2.7K to the 2.8K. I personally LOVE the sharper skirts of the INRAD's. I was a total Icom guy before this summer when I got behind a K3. Since then I have sold 4 of the 5 Icom radios, including a brand new (2 weeks use) IC-7600. The 5th is for sale on QRZ. Icoms are very well built and have fancy displays, however, their receivers leave much to be desired when it comes to the filtering aspects. Very noisy. IMO, I buy a rig for the RX quality, quietness, sensitivity, and versatility. My choice to go Elecraft was based on a 30 day comparison of the K3 vs. the FTDX5000MP. I tried a few other rigs during that time including TnT and Kenwood, but the K3 and 5K were tops. Yes, tried the TnT, awesome break-in, but preferred the K3 and 5K over TnT. In short, here's the scoop: If you're mainly sideband, the Yaesu wins. If you're mainly CW, the K3 wins. The K3 is better on the lower bands and the 5K is better on the higher bands. However, the K3 is no slouch on SSB either. I'm sure people differ in opinions and appreciate taking their entire desk to house a big rig that weighs about 50# with tons of knobs to clean, but unless you have $12K to throw at both of them to test personally, I'd go Elecraft. That's my honest opinion. I was lucky to have a couple of friends that have them both side by side at the same time. I prefer the 8# loaded K3 that leaves room for my KPA-500, P3, paddle, and accessories as well. Anyway, for what it's worth, those are my filters and opinions on the two best rigs on the market this summer. Take care and 73 de Scott - n0nuf -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-Filter-suggestions-for-new-builder-tp7563280p7563337.html Sent from the Elecraft 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
