Phil, i use my K3 portable all the time. I am permanantly Portable in the Motorhome and so I am constantly moving it in and out of the Motorhome to operate almost on a daily basis.
Don has explained the differences between the K2 and K3 admirably, as he always does and his caveat at the end is spot on. >From my perspective (YMMV) I use many of the features of the K3 daily. For example, I run DSP full time (CW & Phone), I sometimes need the NB and because my wire antenna is a 40M double extended Zepp for all bands, I use the tuner. I like to set my filtering up on 1.6 to 1.9 on SSB and 400 or less on CW. When EU is running on 15/15/20/40M bands, there are many stations squeezed together that we hear in VK and so the filter selection on my K3 is of great benefit to me. I am in a remote area most of the time so close in stations to me are rare to say the least. I cannot comment on the feasilbility of me using a K2 as I have never even seen one and certainly not used one. I bought the K3 to do exactly what I am doing and it is a superb radio that filled my every expectation plus a whole lot more. I am still learning new tricks with it two years (yep, slow learner) down the track. If it was me and I had both, I would take both out and have a play to help decide, my preference would be the K3 I believe. I do operate PSK31 and SSTV also, but not often. 73's On Sun, May 9, 2010 at 11:39 AM, Don Wilhelm <[email protected]> wrote: > Phil, > > I don't have a crisp answer that applies to your own situation, so you > will have to 'fill in the blanks'. > > The K2 was designed initially as a QRP transciever with low receive > current drain - great for operating from batteries, That is only > applicable for the QRP K2 and is not a direct parallel for the K2/100. > > The K2 (either QRP of 100 watt version) has a small footprint, so it > will fit nicely into physically tight places. It is lightweight (but > then the K3 is lightweight too), so the cost of transport to DXpedition > areas is smaller than many other transceivers. > > The K3 makes a very nice portable transceiver, but if you want to leave > the K3 at the home station, and do not want to purchase a 2nd K3 for > portable ops, then the K2 may be a better fit for you. > > The K3 has more features than the K2, but whether those features are > needed depends on you particular portable operating aspirations. > > As a "for instance", I have the K3/100, but I take the K2/10 with the > KAT2 and the KBT2 along when I want to do portable operation at QRP > levels - If I wanted to operate at the 100 watt level, I would take the K3. > > Bottom line - no real answer, but consider your own desires and > anticipated operating scenarios, and you will have the answer that most > closely matches your needs and desires. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > Phil Hystad wrote: > > When I got my K3/100 I had been thinking that I would use it in portable > operations at times. The kind of portable I mean is one that does not > necessarily operate on just battery power. I am thinking of grid connected > power too. > > > > But, now that I have so much hooked up to my K3 here in my shack and more > to be added when the P3 arrives that it might be good to get something in > addition to this K3 for portable ops. > > > > A lot of guys talk about buying a K3 and using their K2 for portable ops. > I am curious -- other then the obvious cost difference and the fact that I > don't have a K2, is there any reason why a K2 would be a better portable ops > rig then a K3? Is this a silly question? It is just that I hear so many > here comment about a K2 being a good portable rig but I don't know if I have > heard the same comments about a K3. I am thinking it would be a better > portable rig. > > > > phil, K7PEH > > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > -- Gary VK4FD - Motorhome Mobile http://www.qsl.net/vk4fd/ K3 #679 For everything else there's Mastercard!!! ______________________________________________________________ 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
