On Fri, 2007-11-30 at 18:09 -0500, Dick Green WC1M wrote: > N1EU recently posted a query about the lack of a full-time bandwidth > display. Many replied that all you have to do is turn a knob to see the > current bandwidth. Evidently, this also applies to a number of other > operating parameters, including output power(!) > > > > This is all well-and-good for casual operating and DXing, but it's a real > liability for serious contesters. In a contest, the last thing I want to do > is take my hands off the keyboard. I need to be able to see certain > important transceiver setting with a quick glance in order to make a > decision whether or not to move my hands. Bandwidth is one of the settings I > need to know, and the roofing filter selection isn't sufficient -- I need to > know the ultimate selectivity provided by the DSP.
I used my K3 in anger in the CQWW CW contest last weekend. this was driving my Full KSK amp (Acom 1000) (Yes I did operate Full QSK for parts of the contest, the K3 QSK is very smooth indeed. ) Several times during the weekend I switched back to my Icom IC-7800, the K3 gave a better account of it's self particularly in European 40m conditions and was better ergonomically (please also bear in mind I have been using the 7800 for more than a year and am now well versed in using it but the k3 I have only had a couple of weeks) On Monday I Placed my 7800 on the market, it's far too much money to have tied up in my second radio slot. The K3 is a fine contest radio, best I have used to date. I don't understand why I would ever need to know my exact RX filter bandwidth in a contest, surely my ears will tell me that! The roofing filter display on mine makes plenty of sense when you have 1k 500hz and 250 hz roofing filters in there RIT (and any other operation that means you are TX and RX on differing frequencies) is indicated by a nice bright LED My logging software displays any RIT/XIT offset on the PC in front of me. Notch filter status (on or off) is clearly displayed on the K3 display but again, if there's a notch filter sized hole in my audio pass-band I expect my ears to be able to tell me it's on. Output power is displayed very accurately by my (external, post amp) LP-100 on a nice big fluorescent display, surely this is better than having it on a crowded LCD display on the radio, when your primary focus is the logging PC anyway My suggestion would be that if you already have K3 on order, wait till you get it, then try it out. if you don't like it then sell it on, If you do keep it. If you don't have one on order, ordering one is a small price in contesting terms to try out this fine radio. Until Elecraft get their shipping rate up to speed I suspect that second hand K3's would easily make retail price. Heck I might buy it to try out SO2R In the CQWW contest in 28 hours operating fitted in around family activities, food and sleep I managed the following claimed score Band QSOs Zones Countries ------------------------------ 160: 281 12 56 80: 408 13 55 40: 220 19 71 20: 348 15 58 15: 177 22 57 10: 79 5 16 ------------------------------ Total: 1513 313 86 Total Score = 994,707 This was single operator, single radio High power assisted. All antennas on one 60 foot tower Inv L(160m) Inv V dipole (80) M2 7-10-30 skip log 40 -10m power 400W 73's EI6IZ -- Don‘t complain. Nobody will understand. Or care. And certainly don‘t try to fix the situation yourself. It‘s dangerous. Leave it to a highly untrained, unqualified, expendable professional. _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
