I recently built the barebones K3 after cancelling my order about two years ago. Instead, I went from a Ten Tec Orion to a Ten Tec Omni VII due to the backlog in orders and wanting to wait and see how the radio developed. As I stated in a review, the Omni VII was the the best and friendliest radio I have owned in almost six years as a ham. I have built and still own a K2/100, KX1 and K1--all great rigs for the purposes they are meant to serve.
After operating the K3 QRP CW for several weeks, I went ahead and ordered (and have installed) the Power Amp and internal Auto Tuner along with some roofing filters for CW. While Ten Tec is a great American company with great staff and equipment, for my purposes of casual operating and contests with a little DX and lots of QRP, Elecraft is the best in my book. Being a retired clergyperson and part-time CPA, I am not a technical ham operator (probably like most people reading this reflector). Reading the postings about the "noisy" K3 were helpful in some ways and frightening in others. But the crucial part of my posting here is that my K3 was noisier than my Ten Tec rigs until I installed the roofing filters. Now, it is either as quiet or quieter than either the Orion or the Omni VII. If you are reading this note and have been scared off by other postings by more technical members of the group, rest assured the K3 is an absolutely wonderful radio and well worth the money invested in it. You can trust both the technical folks here, and especially the folks at Elecraft. When the geniuses at Elecraft figured out how to make my KX1 function on 80 meters after having been compactly designed for 20, 30 and 40 meters, I knew I was hooked and would probably own at least one of each of their kits. I have nothing but appreciation and admiration for such as wonderful company of people as Elecraft.....73, Ci Ci Jones, WU7R SKCC #22T K3/100 - #3720 K2/100 - #4615 K1 - #2668 KX1- #957 ______________________________________________________________ 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
