Howard. I recently had a problem with noise. I got an MFJ-1026. You can read my experiences of it and even listen to an audio sample here: http://www.g4ilo.com/mfj1026.html. It fits nicely between the RX in and out sockets of the KXV3 interface so you can easily switch it in and out of circuit. The K3 takes care of the TX/RX switching so your transmitted signal does not have to go through the appalling messy wiring inside the MFJ-1026. It does the job for me, but Dave G4AON has one and it sits on a shelf because it didn't work for him, so YMMV.
As for your comments on the K3, I think you got off amazingly lightly considering some of the vitriol that has been sent in my direction and even requests to have me banned from the reflector for making comments that were considered critical of Elecraft. I think Don was pretty well spot on with the review he posted on eHam. The K3 will probably never be "100% finished" but what he said was that all the modes and the subreceiver are working 100% which I believe is true (though I don't have the subreceiver, so as far as that goes it is not a personal observation.) As for the hardware mods, well it is frustrating as an owner of an early model (S/N 222) to see it becoming "outdated" by improvements that are made as the product evolves, but that is something that happens with any electronic product. The difference with Elecraft is that they don't keep quiet about it, and even make the information available so those who are able can update their rigs to the latest specification. For those who can't, there is always the option of selling the rig and buying a new later model, which is no less than you'd have to do if you'd bought a Yaesu or Icom, or a computer come to that which is generally obsolete a couple of months after you bought it. If you can afford to wait a year or two for the improved model, you probably don't need it in the first place. I agree with your thoughts about the 2m 10W module. Personally I would have preferred to have seen an updated range of KXV external transverters, styled to match the K3 and with uprated heat sinking to handle FM mode. I would have thought that was more in keeping with the K3's high end aspirations. Because that wasn't available I ended up getting a third party transverter of even higher spec (and greater cost.) But the 10W 2m module is only an option. You don't have to buy it if you don't need it. So if people buy it then I guess it filled a need, whatever you or I think about it. I also think you have a fair point with regards to the transmitter. A radio with the K3's receive performance is going to be used very often to drive some high powered linears. It may be used in preference to some big desktop radios with high voltage PAs offering better linearity. But the K3 was also designed to be a portable radio that could run off a 13.8V supply. That I believe is the real limiting factor to the TX performance. It's all about compromise. If the K3 had been made with a PA that required a dedicated 40V or whatever supply that would have put off some people. You can't please everybody. The choice Elecraft made suits me personally. The thing so many people forget is that there are so many different ways to take part in this hobby, that may require different emphases in the design of a radio. The great thing is that there is a choice available. If you make an intelligent buying decision, you can get the perfect radio for your needs, or as near perfect as you can expect. I have certainly been critical of Elecraft in the past for taking longer than I expected to fulfil the expectations I had of the K3, but I believe, like Don, that they have finally made it. I'm glad I "hung in there" through the various issues. I'm sorry I upset some people by some of my criticisms, but I do believe that they - and the criticisms made by others - have helped make the K3 the radio it is today. And at this moment in time I'm very pleased to be a K3 owner. ----- Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392 K3 #222. * G4ILO's Shack - http://www.g4ilo.com * KComm - http://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html * KTune - http://www.g4ilo.com/ktune.html -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-eHam-review-after-2%2B-years-tp3202931p3209003.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
