Don, I totally agree that a KX3 or K3 would be an excellent choice for any new licensee who can afford to spend $2000 to $4000 on his/her "first ever" radio. I absolutely love mine. But there are many "newbees" who simply cannot afford that luxury, and they need to know that there are suitable used transceivers available that are capable of providing all of the on-air enjoyment they need .. at about ONE TENTH of the new rig cost... which will likely allow them to invest more into their antenna system, which we all know is much more important than any transceiver.
Don, N5LZ -----Original Message----- From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Gary Gregory Sent: Saturday, December 06, 2014 12:29 AM To: d...@w3fpr.com Cc: Elecraft List Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Is the KX3 a good choice for a new General? Don You should add that the K3 has been around for quite awhile now so it has proven not just its performance but adoption by many knowledgeable hams around the world and has also proven very reliable operating in less than ideal conditions....ask me how i know this....:-) No better advertisement than customer satisfaction i suppose....grin Gary Vk1ZZ K3, KX3, KPA500-FT, KAT500-FT,P3. On 06/12/2014 3:48 PM, "Don Wilhelm" <w3...@embarqmail.com> wrote: > Yes, simple is better, but if that new ham is interested in having a > top-notch station, he will be well advised to consider Elecraft gear. > If for no other reason than the Elecraft gear is upgradable -- one > does not have to buy the "whole ball of wax" at the initial purchase > time, it can be upgrades as operating needs arise. > > My typical response to new hams is that they do not yet know what they > will want for whatever type of operation they might eventually become > interested in, so yes, they should get some operating experience under > their belts before deciding on which rig they would want for their > station. That can be simply a borrowed transceiver to get that new > ham on the air. > > However, if the new ham does not have locals who will loan him > transceivers to "get on the air", the KX3 offers a great receiver, and > a limited number of options, which I believe will serve the novice > operator well for a very long time. The only question is "do you want > higher than > 15 watts power"? If yes, then the KXPA100 is available and if you do > not have resonant antennas, the KXAT100 is a good wide range auto tuner. > > The K3 is also a good choice for beginning hams. Many get hung up on > what filters to purchase with the K3, but my recommendation to the new > ham is to purchase no optional filters - the DSP provides gppd > filtering except in crowded band conditions such a contests and > extreme DXing. As operating experience is gained, that new ham who > has now been seasoned may want additional filters, and they are easily > added to the K3. Likewise the SubRX may be useful in some operating > scenarios, but the new ham would not know the advantages provided by the SubRX until he "gets his feet wet". > The price of a basic K3 or a basic KX3 is within the realm of other > high end transceivers on the market (and in fact may be priced less > than many other comparable transceivers). > > Bottom line, I would not hesitate to recommend a basic K3 or KX3 to > any new ham. He will have a great receiver, and the options offered > by Elecraft can allow that new ham to customize his station by adding > options as his needs and operating experiences dictate. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > On 12/5/2014 10:55 PM, Doug Person via Elecraft wrote: > >> I really have to agree. Simple is better to start with. I don't >> consider the KX3 to be simple by any means. Having some immediate >> success is the best way to keep a new ham interested. I keep several >> loaners around that aren't worth very much on the used market but >> serve very well as starter rigs. At least twice those loaners have >> gone to young men with an interest that eventually led to getting licensed. (Both now Extras). >> >> On the other hand, if a new ham has an accessible Elmer and has an >> opportunity for a short course in KX3 operating AND happens to be >> able to erect a decent antenna, it might indeed be a fine choice. >> >> Like a lot of things in life - it all depends... >> >> 73, Doug -- K0DXV >> >> On Thu, 04 Dec 2014 09:27:06 -0700, Don Butler <n...@comcast.net> wrote: >> >> There seems to be unanimous agreement here, but I beg to differ. In >> my >>> opinion, the KX3 is not ideal for a typical beginning general class >>> operator. I own a KX3 myself, and I think it's wonderful, and I doubt >>> that >>> I will ever part with it. It shines when it comes to portable >>> operation .. >>> That's why I bought it, that's what I use it for, and it's by far >>> the best portable rig I've ever owned. I also have two K3s in my >>> shack, and I use them when I'm operating there, which is the vast >>> majority of the time. >>> But >>> let's face it, most beginning hams are forced to deal with budget >>> limits, and a new KX3 is expensive. The last time I checked, the >>> cost of a loaded >>> KX3 with an outboard KXPA100 setup for HF only is well over $2300 >>> plus tax and shipping, and that's without a power supply. >>> >>> We know that the antenna system is the most important part of any >>> station, and that an average transceiver with a great antenna will >>> always outperform a state of the art transceiver with a bare bones >>> wire antenna. Some will disagree, but I believe that a beginner will >>> obtain more enjoyment and success with a 100 watt transmitter versus >>> a 10 watt transmitter .. >>> He'll be >>> able to work most of the stations he can hear, which will not happen >>> when he's QRP. QRP operation can be very, very frustrating (you >>> know the saying .. "life is too short ...") >>> >>> There are many transceivers readily available on the used market . >>> some for as little as $200 to $300. and, of course, they go on up >>> from there. >>> Forget about all of those high tech bench testing numbers.. a >>> beginner simply needs a transceiver that works! I happen to have a >>> $200 TS-520S (with internal power supply) in my shack that I fire up >>> every once in awhile. I really doubt that most listeners can >>> distinguish its 130 watt signal from that of my 100 watt KX3/KPA100. >>> I would suggest that a beginner buy something like that and use the >>> rest of his budget to build a good station and antenna system. He >>> will likely opt to buy a new KX3, K3 or another excellent top of the >>> line transceiver somewhere down the line, but by that time he'll >>> have a much better idea about what he really wants, and the >>> direction he wants to go in this wonderful hobby of ours. >>> >>> Don, N5LZ >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf >>> Of Edward R Cole >>> Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2014 2:47 PM >>> To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Is the KX3 a good choice for a new General? >>> >>> Actually, I would say its a good choice for any new ham (Tech or >>> General License). >>> >>> It has both 10m and 6m for the Tech at 8w output which can work >>> quite well when bands are open, and locally if not. Add the 2M >>> module and you have 2m at 3w which will work nearby repeaters. But >>> both 6m and 2m SSB or digital modes can also be used which offers >>> increased diversity of operating. >>> >>> First step to increase usability is get a good antenna for any band >>> considered, then maybe an amplifier. I have a HB 140w HF amp, a >>> Mirage 125w 6m amp, and RFConcepts 35w 2m amp which the KX3 can >>> drive. The whole lot can go mobile. >>> >>> The good part is when you advance in ham radio the KX3 has the >>> capabilities to advance with you, so its not just a starter rig. >>> Firmware improvements and additions preclude it becoming outdated >>> technology. Quality and performance it is hard to beat for the >>> bucks! Had I now already had a K3, the KX3 would probably be my >>> first purchase. >>> >>> Of course I am not a new ham (56-years since I got my Novice: a week >>> from tomorrow). So its a good new radio for an old timer - too! ;-) >>> >>> 73, Ed - KL7UW >>> http://www.kl7uw.com >>> "Kits made by KL7UW" >>> Dubus Mag business: >>> dubus...@gmail.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 Message delivered to >>> n...@comcast.net >>> >>> ______________________________________________________________ >>> 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 Message delivered to >>> k0...@aol.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 Message delivered to > vk1zzg...@gmail.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 Message delivered to n...@comcast.net ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
