I agree that a less expensive rig may be a better way to go for a beginning ham. That being said, I'm surprised the option of a K2 hasn't been mentioned. It's a nice clean easy to use layout with an excellent RX in a compact package which can be obtained (especially used) without breaking the budget.
73, Al On Sat December 6 2014 6:57:55 am Eric Ross wrote: > I think it's almost better to get a much cheaper older rig first. In my > latest run as a ham I started with an old Kenwood TS140 for about $350. > It worked fine for what it could do. It couldn't break apart pileups but > it allowed me to make many QSOs. However, when I got my K3--wow! I don't > think I could really appreciate the K3 unless I had first used a basic rig > first. I still get a thrill when I narrow the bandpass down to 50hz. > > I still have the TS140 which is perfect for using in high risk environments > and/or lending to the next new ham. > > Eric > WB7SDE > > On December 5, 2014 11:29:13 PM PST, Gary Gregory <[email protected]> wrote: > >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" <[email protected]> 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 <[email protected]> > > > >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:[email protected]] On Behalf > > > >Of > > > >>>> Edward > >>>> R Cole > >>>> Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2014 2:47 PM > >>>> To: [email protected] > >>>> 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: > >>>> [email protected] > >>>> > >>>> ______________________________________________________________ > >>>> 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 > >>>> Message > >>>> delivered to [email protected] > >>>> > >>>> ______________________________________________________________ > >>>> 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 > >>>> Message delivered to [email protected] > >> > >> ______________________________________________________________ > >> 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 > >> Message delivered to [email protected] > > > >______________________________________________________________ > >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 > >Message delivered to [email protected] > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > Message delivered to [email protected] ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [email protected]
