Elecraft K3 #128
Elecraft K3
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I ordered my Elecraft K3/100 on 1st May 2007 and #128 arrived after some production delays on 6th December 2007. The wait was worth it as it's the best HF transceiver I have used to date. The radio is 160m to 6m with 100W output (there is also a 10W version available) and mine has the following options:
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K3 Build
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The Elecraft K3 is sold as fully assembled radio or as a non-solder kit. I opted for the kit version to save import duty charges (0% for kits) as well as the enjoyment of building the radio. I have never built an Elecraft kit before but I found the installation guide easy to follow and the radio worked first time. The build process is supposed to take 7 hours but I ended up taking around 10 hours to complete mine. Only standard tools are required plus a multimeter for continuity tests prior to switch on. All calibration is achieved using the radio's firmware which is impressive. The kit is supplied as several SMD boards plus all required cables, switches, knobs, screws, bolts etc. The picture shows the start of the build process - RF board with Roofing Filters installed. |
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Next the Low Power Amplifier is installed in the rear of the RF board and the side and front panels installed. Note that an anti-static mat is required for ESD protection whilst building the kit. Mine only cost 10 pounds from Ebay although it ended up being a little on the small side.. Also note the Green Tea which is essential for kit building. The installation manual pages can also be seen in this photo showing close-in photos of each step.
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Starting to look like a radio now with all panels attached to the RF board. The ATU has also been installed in the far right. |
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This photo shows the rear IO card and transverter interface installed. The rear IO card is impressive as it allows direct audio connection to a PC/laptop for Data modes. The IO card has the neccessary transformers built in so no external interface is required. This coupled with the inbuilt RTTY, CW and PSK decoders make the radio excellent for data modes. Next the front panel and 100W modules were installed. Sadly there are no photos as I was in a rush to try the radio out on the air... |
Pros
Early days with the radio but my first impressions are very good:
- The Roofing Filters and width control make for impressive selectivity. I plan to purchase a final 200/250 Hz Roofing Filter for CW/Data.
- SSB reception with narrow filters is also very impressive once a 1 kHz shift is applied. The intelligibility of SSB using narrow filters is better than either my FT1000MP or Icom 756 Pro.
- The Noise Reduction (NR) filter is the best that I have used. In my suburban QTH I often have S7 noise levels. Once NR is engaged the band noise is reduced and signals are readable. Careful adjustment of the NR level is required.
- The Audio Effects (AFX) - quasi-stereo and binaural - are interesting. I am now using a 2 second delay (quasi-stereo) and the effect is very listenable.
- Portability - the radio is compact and light (3 KG) compared to my FT1000MP.
- Upgradable firmware via the Internet.
Cons
- I miss direct access to the bands and modes as per my FT1000 and Icom 756 Pro. However I need to program some memories to allow quicker access to each band. Also as most of my operating is contests I use a PC to change bands on the radio using RS232 control.
- Having never used an Elecraft radio I am taking some time to get used to the tap and hold front panel controls.
Conclusion
This is the best HF transceiver that I have used to date. The most impressive features are the RX and DSP facilities.