Re: [Elecraft] K2 vs K3
I agree with Keith's comments, but I'll contribute my two cents' as well. My background, such as it is -- I got my ticket about 20 months ago, spent 4 months just on 2 meters, and got my K3 a year after I got on HF. That experience leads me to point out four things: 1. Used rigs are widely available, and rigs can be resold. While it might slow down the process, you can get a starter rig, and then resell it later to help finance the purchase of a K3. 2. Several months on a starter rig taught me that the things I actually enjoyed and spent time pursuing on the air were different than what I might have expected before getting on HF. Also learning to use working through the quirks of my starter rig I learned a few things...and that in turn is what lead me to seek out a K3, and to make more informed decisions on how I might want it equipped. 3. As an alternative to getting a starter rig, you might look around to see if there is a club station available in your area to operate. You get experience and fun while you save up to set up your own station. 4. I do not want to discourage you from considering an Elecraft, but if money is tight, remember that antennas are the most important part of your station. I love my K3, but I would have had no second-thoughts about postponing my transceiver upgrade if there were any way I could have put up a beam in a spouse-tolerated manner. There's nothing wrong with cheap wire antennas; but if you have space and approval from the spouse and your town, invest in good antennas before worrying about picking the perfect rig. -- Michael D. Adams (AB1OD) Poquonock, Connecticut | m...@ab1od.org On Wed, Aug 8, 2012 at 2:26 PM, Keith Heimbold ag...@hotmail.com wrote: Lee, I would pick up a beginners HF rig from an old ham in the neighborhood for cheap and save up for the K3. Look around and find a couple Elmers where you live and see what they can help you put a system together. Hang dipole and have some fun. A QRP rig could be a nice option but personally I would go crazy waiting two years to get on the air. You should be able to get something going as you save for the K3. Good luck! Keith AG6AZ __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Firmware upgrades using Ubuntu 12.04
On Tue, Jul 10, 2012 at 12:24 AM, Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com wrote: Let me give one OT RANT, and then I will shut up on this subject. Suffice it to say that I have been extremely disappointing in all Linux distributions because of the lack of any organized support fort the users - the attitude seems to be if you don't already understand the nuances of Linux, we will shame your questions and be very unhelpful. Check out the various forums and FAQ lists to verify this attitude. I can bring the (understandable) OT rant back a bit closer to relevance, if not all the way back to on-topic. ) I am a relative newcomer to amateur radio. I also dabbled with Linux once upon a time (actually, I was acquainted with Linus back in the early days of Linux). I can actually see a number of parallels between Linux and amateur radio, insofar as the challenges interested folks may face when climbing the learning curve. In my day job, I'm an actuary. I don't have an electronics or communications background...or much of a science background at all, in fact. When it comes to computers and radio, I'm definitely a power user rather than a developer/programmer/builder. In some AR circles, I would be criticized or ostracized as being a mere appliance operator... and that probably isn't too far wrong. As an outsider / newcomer, both Linux and amateur radio have fairly steep learning curves. Most of the material available beyond the ground-floor bare-bones basics can be confusing, written by people who assume too-much knowledge and/or are not professional writers of documentation. Perhaps there's something about both pursuits that tends to attract people who enjoy doing a lot more than writing about having done. And, perhaps such people are more prone to either having a little arrogance about their success, or to having a preference to spend time with others who have been initiated into the fraternity, rather than mere muggles. Honestly, part of the fun of amateur radio to me is that I'm having to learn a lot from areas outside my traditional areas of expertise/interest, and I'm enjoying the mental exercise. To be successful in both pursuits, it is helpful to be a self-starter, to have a thick skin. It's a heckuva lot easier to make progress in both Linux and amateur radio, if you can find a few folks willing to offer some tips. Perhaps it would be helpful for hams who have struggled with Linux to keep that frustration in mind when it comes to leaving a few breadcrumbs around for potential new hams. And remember: if Linux were easy and more digestible to the mass market, it would be OS/X. Similarly, if amateur radio were easy and more digestible to the mass market, it would be CB/FRS/GMRS. -- Michael D. Adams (AB1OD) Poquonock, Connecticut | m...@ab1od.org __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Best add on for K3
I would be extremely interested in seeing what the CAT commands or N1MM macros look like if both banks are in use. That kind of knowledge might postpone the day when my wife decides to murder me for being too noisy during a phone contest. :) -- Michael D. Adams (AB1OD) Poquonock, Connecticut | m...@ab1od.org On Wed, May 23, 2012 at 12:04 PM, Lyle Johnson kk7p4...@gmail.com wrote: The KDVR3 has eight (8) message memories. They are stored in two banks of four. To toggle between the banks, HOLD the REC button. Use M1..M4 to access message memories 1..4 (bank 1) or 5..8 (bank 2). 73, Lyle KK7P __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K4
Even though I'm still a couple of days away from receiving my K3, I can think of one possible enhancement for a K4: license Siri from Apple. Imagine the possibilities: Siri, where in the pile-up is that DX station working? Siri, find me a good run frequency. -- Michael D. Adams (AB1OD) Poquonock, Connecticut | m...@ab1od.org __ 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
