Hi Jim, Well, I decided to upgrade to the K3S. The old K3 will replace my IC7200 as the "to-go" station. The 7200 is more than adequate for my use, but I have become so dependent on the panadapter with my K3(which the 7200 cannot support) that I decided on the upgrade. The "to-go" station is mostly used in the back yard deck on nice summer days.
The new USB port is wonderful. I use it both for control (with HRD) and audio. One surprise I got was that the factory setting (010) for the line output (yes, that setting affects the USB audio level) was driving the audio right into clipping. I had to reduce it to 002 to be comfortably below clipping level. The audio is fairly clean: ab2tc.com/new_k3s_usb.png There is still some junk around 3.9kHz (it's always there regardless of whether there is a signal in the passband or not.) The test signal is a -73dBm signal from the XG3. The radio is in USB mode with passband 300-2700Hz. So, Jim, I would recommend the KIO3B. The pin one problems should be gone since you don't need the RS232 port and the line out anymore. I agree that the new preamp helps a lot on 10m (and undoubtedly on 6m which I don't use). I have the S-meter set for "absolute", but it does not yet work with new preamp. Hopefully Elecraft will correct that soon. I am a happy camper with my new K3S. AB2TC - Knut Jim Brown-10 wrote > On Sat,12/5/2015 10:12 AM, Cady, Fred wrote: >> I've summarized some of my thoughts here: >> http://www.ke7x.com/home/guide-to-the-k3/should-i-update-my-k3-with-k3s-parts > > I've upgraded my K3s with the new synth board and the KXV3B board. You > don't need to buy a book to know what I think about it. > > I found both upgrades quite worthwhile. The synth board makes your > signal cleaner and reduces RX phase noise when the band is full of > strong signals. It can be a very big deal in contests and with big DX > pileups. The new synth board, combined with a mod to the KBPF3, also > enables high quality reception below 500 kHz. > > It's VERY easy to install. Guys running QRQ say that it improves high > speed CW significantly (I rarely work above about 34 WPM). If you have > the Sub-RX, you must install two of the new boards. > > The KXV3B includes the new preamp, which helps a lot with weak signals > on 12, 10, and 6M. Installation is more of a challenge mechanically, > because physical tolerances make it a bit of a "shoehorn job." > > That's as far as I've gone with upgrades -- I'll upgrade to the new > KIO3B only if it corrects the glaring Pin One Problems present in the > original KIO3, which I consider the biggest design mistake Elecraft ever > made. > > 73, Jim K9YC > <snip> -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Mods-to-K3-tp7611137p7611142.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:[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]
