Re: [Elecraft] K3: options to buy: a summary of what I learnt from you all...
Hello All, A couple of people have asked me to post a summary to share what I learnt from my question about options for a new K3. I received 25 replies, many were off-list emails, offering well considered ideas and advice. I was surprised at how generously people offered their time and their thoughts on this question, often sharing considerable detail about their own experience of loading their K3. People tailored their responses to my situation - I'm a casual operator of CW/SSB/data modes, working in a location where I rarely, if ever, have to contend with crowded bands and heavy QRM. So bearing that in mind, here's what I learned: # Unanimously, folks suggested I NOT bother with the high stability reference oscillator. #The auto ATU option was thought a good investment - for various reasons. # There was strong support for the Digital Voice Recorder option and for putting in the KXV3A option during the initial build, to avoid significant dis-assembly of the K3 when/if I want to add on the P3 panadapter in the future. Several folks mentioned how useful they'd found their DVR, especially as a voice saver calling CQ. # About filters options: There was a concensus of opinion that the 2.8 8 pole / 2.7 5 pole swap wouldn't be of benefit in my situation and that I should just go with the 2.7 / 5 pole stock filter. Several people suggested I should invest in the 6khz filter to allow AM TX and broadcast band RX and ESSB. A couple of people volunteered they had installed the 15khz FM filter, but rarely used it and thought I could do without that option. Many people commented on the effectiveness of the DSP filtering in the K3 and suggested that for the casual CW I do, that would be enough. Several others suggested I go with a 400 or 500hz filter, but that I could wait and add them later if I found I needed them. I got the feeling that the narrower 2.1/1.8 khz filters for SSB weren't seen to be a big priority in my situation: only a couple of folks mentioned them in passing and only one K3 owner said he found them very useful for everyday SSB. All this seemed like very sensible advice to me. So what am I going to do? Well, I've decided to NOT take the TCXO high stability ref oscillator. I WILL install the DVR and General coverage BPF options. I've decided NOT to put in the KXV3A until I'm ready to get the panadapter. I don't mind dismantling the K3 when that day arrives and I'd like to invest that money in other features initially. Having the KXV3A in the K3 from the beginning won't give me any more immediate enjoyment of the K3, nor any extra bits to play with, so I've decided it will wait. As for the filters: I've decided that I probably WILL do the 2.8 for 2.7 swap and install 8 pole filters from the beginning. One K3 owner pointed out that if I do that, I won't have to swap out, or worry about matching, the 5 pole filters in the future if/when I come to install the subreceiver. That seemed sensible to me, so I'll put in the 8 pole Inrad filters from the beginning and be done with it. The only additional filter I'll order initially is the 6khz, 8 pole, to allow better SW broadcast reception and to allow me to experiement with wider-bandwidth SSB Tx. I'll see, over time, whether or not I need a 400hz filter for CW. So that's it. Thanks again everyone. I just have to sell a rig here to generate some extra funds, then I'll plant my paw on the Add to Cart button and the deal will be done. 73, John VK7JB -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-advice-about-options-to-buy-tp5891397p5899075.html Sent from the [K3] 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3: options to buy: a summary of what I learnt from you all...
I think you have made wise choices. I purchased my K3 one bit at a time, starting with the K3/10. It was a lot of fun opening the boxes each wek for the next couple of months and installing the latest purchase. And, this is the real beauty of the K3 design. You can add any feature you want at a later time. This is the beggining of a great adventure. ...bc nr4c Quoting VK7JB zen...@netspace.net.au: Hello All, A couple of people have asked me to post a summary to share what I learnt from my question about options for a new K3. I received 25 replies, many were off-list emails, offering well considered ideas and advice. I was surprised at how generously people offered their time and their thoughts on this question, often sharing considerable detail about their own experience of loading their K3. People tailored their responses to my situation - I'm a casual operator of CW/SSB/data modes, working in a location where I rarely, if ever, have to contend with crowded bands and heavy QRM. So bearing that in mind, here's what I learned: # Unanimously, folks suggested I NOT bother with the high stability reference oscillator. #The auto ATU option was thought a good investment - for various reasons. # There was strong support for the Digital Voice Recorder option and for putting in the KXV3A option during the initial build, to avoid significant dis-assembly of the K3 when/if I want to add on the P3 panadapter in the future. Several folks mentioned how useful they'd found their DVR, especially as a voice saver calling CQ. # About filters options: There was a concensus of opinion that the 2.8 8 pole / 2.7 5 pole swap wouldn't be of benefit in my situation and that I should just go with the 2.7 / 5 pole stock filter. Several people suggested I should invest in the 6khz filter to allow AM TX and broadcast band RX and ESSB. A couple of people volunteered they had installed the 15khz FM filter, but rarely used it and thought I could do without that option. Many people commented on the effectiveness of the DSP filtering in the K3 and suggested that for the casual CW I do, that would be enough. Several others suggested I go with a 400 or 500hz filter, but that I could wait and add them later if I found I needed them. I got the feeling that the narrower 2.1/1.8 khz filters for SSB weren't seen to be a big priority in my situation: only a couple of folks mentioned them in passing and only one K3 owner said he found them very useful for everyday SSB. All this seemed like very sensible advice to me. So what am I going to do? Well, I've decided to NOT take the TCXO high stability ref oscillator. I WILL install the DVR and General coverage BPF options. I've decided NOT to put in the KXV3A until I'm ready to get the panadapter. I don't mind dismantling the K3 when that day arrives and I'd like to invest that money in other features initially. Having the KXV3A in the K3 from the beginning won't give me any more immediate enjoyment of the K3, nor any extra bits to play with, so I've decided it will wait. As for the filters: I've decided that I probably WILL do the 2.8 for 2.7 swap and install 8 pole filters from the beginning. One K3 owner pointed out that if I do that, I won't have to swap out, or worry about matching, the 5 pole filters in the future if/when I come to install the subreceiver. That seemed sensible to me, so I'll put in the 8 pole Inrad filters from the beginning and be done with it. The only additional filter I'll order initially is the 6khz, 8 pole, to allow better SW broadcast reception and to allow me to experiement with wider-bandwidth SSB Tx. I'll see, over time, whether or not I need a 400hz filter for CW. So that's it. Thanks again everyone. I just have to sell a rig here to generate some extra funds, then I'll plant my paw on the Add to Cart button and the deal will be done. 73, John VK7JB -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-advice-about-options-to-buy-tp5891397p5899075.html Sent from the [K3] 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3: options to buy: a summary of what I learnt from you all...
John, It sounds like you've made some very good choices. I have 2 K3s sitting on my desk. One has the high-stability oscillator, one doesn't. I don't see any noticeable difference in stability or frequency accuracy between them. As for filters, one has a 2.7 KHz and the other a 2.8 KHz. Once again, I don't really see any difference but with your idea of potentially adding the second receiver, then the 8-Pole filters make good sense. I would strongly urge you to go ahead with the KXV3A, it isn't just for the P3. You need this if you want to use the external 6M preamp or a transverter, it gives you an IF output, adds a dedicated receive antenna input which can be useful at times, and gives you the possibility to have a low-level RF output that isn't band limited so you can use the K3 as an HF signal generator. Just a thought, no matter what you'll love your new toy! 73 and hope to catch you on the air, Chuck - AA3CS On 07 Jan 2011, at 07:50, VK7JB wrote: Hello All, A couple of people have asked me to post a summary to share what I learnt from my question about options for a new K3. I received 25 replies, many were off-list emails, offering well considered ideas and advice. I was surprised at how generously people offered their time and their thoughts on this question, often sharing considerable detail about their own experience of loading their K3. People tailored their responses to my situation - I'm a casual operator of CW/SSB/data modes, working in a location where I rarely, if ever, have to contend with crowded bands and heavy QRM. So bearing that in mind, here's what I learned: # Unanimously, folks suggested I NOT bother with the high stability reference oscillator. #The auto ATU option was thought a good investment - for various reasons. # There was strong support for the Digital Voice Recorder option and for putting in the KXV3A option during the initial build, to avoid significant dis-assembly of the K3 when/if I want to add on the P3 panadapter in the future. Several folks mentioned how useful they'd found their DVR, especially as a voice saver calling CQ. # About filters options: There was a concensus of opinion that the 2.8 8 pole / 2.7 5 pole swap wouldn't be of benefit in my situation and that I should just go with the 2.7 / 5 pole stock filter. Several people suggested I should invest in the 6khz filter to allow AM TX and broadcast band RX and ESSB. A couple of people volunteered they had installed the 15khz FM filter, but rarely used it and thought I could do without that option. Many people commented on the effectiveness of the DSP filtering in the K3 and suggested that for the casual CW I do, that would be enough. Several others suggested I go with a 400 or 500hz filter, but that I could wait and add them later if I found I needed them. I got the feeling that the narrower 2.1/1.8 khz filters for SSB weren't seen to be a big priority in my situation: only a couple of folks mentioned them in passing and only one K3 owner said he found them very useful for everyday SSB. All this seemed like very sensible advice to me. So what am I going to do? Well, I've decided to NOT take the TCXO high stability ref oscillator. I WILL install the DVR and General coverage BPF options. I've decided NOT to put in the KXV3A until I'm ready to get the panadapter. I don't mind dismantling the K3 when that day arrives and I'd like to invest that money in other features initially. Having the KXV3A in the K3 from the beginning won't give me any more immediate enjoyment of the K3, nor any extra bits to play with, so I've decided it will wait. As for the filters: I've decided that I probably WILL do the 2.8 for 2.7 swap and install 8 pole filters from the beginning. One K3 owner pointed out that if I do that, I won't have to swap out, or worry about matching, the 5 pole filters in the future if/when I come to install the subreceiver. That seemed sensible to me, so I'll put in the 8 pole Inrad filters from the beginning and be done with it. The only additional filter I'll order initially is the 6khz, 8 pole, to allow better SW broadcast reception and to allow me to experiement with wider-bandwidth SSB Tx. I'll see, over time, whether or not I need a 400hz filter for CW. So that's it. Thanks again everyone. I just have to sell a rig here to generate some extra funds, then I'll plant my paw on the Add to Cart button and the deal will be done. 73, John VK7JB -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-advice-about-options-to-buy-tp5891397p5899075.html Sent from the [K3] 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3: options to buy: a summary of what I learnt from you all...
VK7JB wrote: # About filters options: There was a concensus of opinion that the 2.8 8 pole / 2.7 5 pole swap wouldn't be of benefit in my situation and that I should just go with the 2.7 / 5 pole stock filter. SNIP I've decided that I probably WILL do the 2.8 for 2.7 swap and install 8 pole filters from the beginning. One K3 owner pointed out that if I do that, I won't have to swap out, or worry about matching, the 5 pole filters in the future if/when I come to install the subreceiver. That seemed sensible to me, so I'll put in the 8 pole Inrad filters from the beginning and be done with it. One comment on this. Matching the 2.7k filters is not critical at all. For example if they vary by 100 Hz total (which is more than I've seen in building 4 units), you can set the offset to half the difference in each (e.g. one is -0.79 and the other is -0.89, so you set -0.84 for both). With an actual 6 dB bandwidth of about 2800 Hz, you will never notice a 50 Hz offset. 2.72.8k swap fee = $121, plus second 2.8k for $131, results in $252 more expensive versus two stock 2.7k filters at no additional charge. However, as they say It's your money! 73, Bill -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-advice-about-options-to-buy-tp5891397p5899769.html Sent from the [K3] 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3: options to buy: a summary of what I learnt from you all...
Another justification for not swapping for the 2.8Khz filter is that even the 8 pole filters will need to be adjusted if you want exact alignment with any other filters. Not a really big deal, but if you're a perfectionist... 73, Tom Childers Radio Amateur N5GE Licensed since 1976 QCWA Life Member 35102 ARRL Life Member Retired Professional C# Software developer http://www.n5ge.net On Fri, 7 Jan 2011 08:11:12 -0800 (PST), Bill W4ZV btipp...@alum.mit.edu wrote: One comment on this. Matching the 2.7k filters is not critical at all. For example if they vary by 100 Hz total (which is more than I've seen in building 4 units), you can set the offset to half the difference in each (e.g. one is -0.79 and the other is -0.89, so you set -0.84 for both). With an actual 6 dB bandwidth of about 2800 Hz, you will never notice a 50 Hz offset. 2.72.8k swap fee = $121, plus second 2.8k for $131, results in $252 more expensive versus two stock 2.7k filters at no additional charge. However, as they say It's your money! 73, Bill __ 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
