David,
Ordering direct from Elecraft, my understanding it that if you order the
K3S-F you will endure both customs fees and VAT.
If you order the kit version, it should not be subject to customs fees,
but VAT will still have to be paid.
I believe there are benefits to ordering from Waters & Stanton, or from
QRP Project in Germany. Extended warranty is one, and more local
warranty service without the expense of shipping back to Watsonville,
CA. I am lead to believe (but do not quote me), that W&S as well as QRP
Project service only what they sell. There is an Elecraft Service
Center in Italy that I believe services the full line.
David Shoaf at Elecraft acting in his role of pre-sales advisor
([email protected]) can give you full details and correct any
misconceptions that I may have injected into this email.
73,
Don W3FPR
On 2/22/2016 6:42 PM, David Anderson wrote:
Thanks Don,
On further internet searching I think I have answered my own question, but am
happy to be corrected.
I suspect that the K3 Transverter ports reflect the same frequency limits as programmed
into the radio as the main antenna port. The K3 is apparently software transmit ham band
limited as far as I have read. It can be unlocked for "MARS" use, and that
apparently gives general coverage transmit except around the IF and certain restrictions
on power on the 27 MHz band.
I don't have a K3 yet, I am thinking about one, but am also considering all
other options.
The KX3 with PX3 that I have performs exceptionally well on receive with my VHF
transverter, but the transmit wideband noise at 50 kHz offset and beyond and
some rather bad discrete spurious outputs are poor by comparison and I am not
particularly happy running it into a Legal Limit amplifier if there are
stations in close proximity (20km). I realise that the KX3 is really designed
as a QRP HF rig where such transmit noise and spurious outputs would be buried
in the RF pollution on HF, but on VHF that isn't the case and greater care has
to be taken.
So, armed with recently published figures comparing various transceivers I am
looking at alternatives, the K3S is the best of the bunch, then the K3. I am
excluding the top of the range Flex, as I prefer a real radio with knobs on.
See RadCom Magazine March 2016 p22-27 High Performance VHF/UHF contest stations
by Alwyn Seeds G8DOH.
Of course finding a used K3 with the right options that I need (and they
quickly add up) may be a problem.
Prices in the UK from the dealer are £ for $, so buying direct from Elecraft in
the USA is a still a better deal even with today's high shipping costs and 20%
VAT. At one time it was cheaper to take a transatlantic trip and bring a K3
back and still save money.
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