Steve, I think you should go to www.radioworks.com and spend some time reading about wire antennas. The reading is free, but buying the antennas takes some bucks. It is worth the reading time even if you decide to buy the antenna somewhere else or build one. The antenna that is best for you depends a lot on what you want to do and your installation limitations.
You don't say why you want to use battery power. The K3 is more forgiving of slightly low voltage than most rigs. It will operate pretty well down to 11.0 volts, but it operates better at 13.8 volts or so. You might be happier with a power supply. I have used a couple of Jetstream switching supplies with mine and found them satisfactory. You might find a birdie or two somewhere, but in 5,000 or so QSOs with my K3 I don't believe that I have lost a single QSO due to a birdie. I am currently using a Jetstream JTPS35BVCMA that will furnish 30 amps continuous and will float charge a battery. I am using a lead acid boat battery which seems OK. I have it in a plastic boat battery box. It will generate some hydrogen, so don't keep it in a closed cabinet. A gell cell would be better, but a 100 amp gel cell is pretty pricy. But I use the battery strictly as a back up and operate from the power supply as a rule. The advice that someone gave you to back off to 50 watts or less when operating on battery is good advice. Willis 'Cookie' Cooke K5EWJ ________________________________ From: KC2VNI <st...@smarrano.com> To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Mon, January 4, 2010 7:19:39 PM Subject: [Elecraft] New K3 User and New Ham Folks: I am a new ham. I just purchased a K3 100W radio with an auto-tuner. Several basic questions: 1) Wire antennas- Do you guys have suggestions for a multi-band wire antenna pre-made by someone like MFJ or similar that I could hang in a tree? 2) Battery based power: From speaking with the fellow from customer support from elecraft, a 100 Amp-Hr battery is what is required to operate at 100W. What type of battery do I use? Is sealed-lead acid acceptable? What size fuses do I want on the line running from the radio to the battery? I recognize that this radio has orders of magnitude of capability that I don't understand yet. I also recognize that reading the manual will be of a help here. If you have further resources and/or suggestions, please advise. 73, KC2VNI. -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/New-K3-User-and-New-Ham-tp4253024p4253024.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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
