Elecraft K3 - Anyone Built One Yet?

[W1UJR]

I've heard a number of these on the air, even in AM, and they sound very nice.

Wonder if anyone has built up the kit and offer some insight into the details and experience with the rig?
I enjoyed building the K1/K2, but they were complete kits, understand that this one is different as it is sold as modules.
Elecraft has some good info on their website, but hearing it first hand would be ideal.

Thanks,
Bruce W1UJR

[WA1GFZ]

I think AA1O just built one and K1BF has one also but not sure if he built it.

[n2bc]

Hi Bruce, I've built two.   Super easy, takes about 8 hours.  You'll miss the soldering tho.

Construction is simply fastening the cabinet pieces, plugging in boards, etc.   All the docs are on Elecraft's website.

Awesome RX.  I've got the 2nd RX in mine, diversity receive is really helpful on the low bands.

TX is quite tailorable. There's a built-in 8-band EQ (one for RX too).  Soon the EQs will be expanded to associate by mode instead of just TX/RX.

The K3 is a work in progress.  Just did a quick count, +/- 40 firmware updates in the last year.  These are a combo of bug fixes and enhancements - mostly enhancements.   

There's a group of old farts here that meet weekly for coffee and lie-swapping, the K3 count is now 6 out of 7. 

Hollar if you have any questions

73, Bill  N2BC

[nq5t]

I built the 100 watt version late last year with general coverage receive module and auto antenna tuner, and just last week added the KRX3 (subreceiver) and DVR, and while the radio was in pieces, made some Service Bulletin changes on the circuit boards I hadn't gotten around to (minor stuff, adding a discreet - not SMD -  resistor or jumper here and there).  So my radio is pretty well fully loaded.  In new production radios, the Service Bulletin changes are already installed.  Already have the new 2M module on order, and based on the looks of the circuit board, there's at least a hint that there may a 440 plug-in module at some point.

I replaced a Ten-Tec Orion I and II with the K3.  Absolutely fantastic radio.  Easy and relatively foolproof to assemble as long as you can read.  And super support from Elecraft and/or the reflector.

Supposed to be a SAM detector some day, already some panadapter/sweep options from 3rd parties (LP-PAN), and Elecraft is releasing a sweep unit as well later this year with a feature set as yet to be published.

Even with some recent changes in the audio section (on the Main DSP board) it lacks the beefy receive audio on AM of an SP-600 or R-390.  I guess that's not all that surprising ...

Grant/NQ5T 

[W8IXY]

I built my K3 up last fall, and it worked the first time I powered it up, and has been flawless since.  The previous commenters have it right on....its one great radio.   

I was amazed at how good the receiver was, even after reading all the reviews.  The proof of its superiority is in using it.  The Noise Blanker is quite effective with most "buzzy" noise.  I am eagerly awaiting the software for the Synchronous AM detector to be developed.

I don't usually do contesting, but I can see how the contesters also like the K3. 

In my opinion, until you spend close to $10,000 or more, you'd not be able to get a better performing radio than a K3.

Having said that, I still also like my boatanchors and near boatanchors, such as a Kenwood TS940 and TS830, as well as a Valiant, DX-100, and some old Hammarlund HQ 145's and HQ180.  I like the mix of the old and the new.

73 Ted  W8IXY

[W1UJR]

Thanks fellows, that is what I needed to hear.

I was more interested in the kit building experience, but from what Bill described, sounds
like it is all bolt together, no soldering. I enjoyed the process of building the K2 as
much as operating it, sure wish Elecraft would have released the K3 as a kit,
but understand that it uses a number of SMDs, so that would be a challenge.

I've heard Bill K1BF's K3 on the air, sounds great, thought it would be a fun rig
to build. Elecraft sure builds some great products, amazed how well my K2 works,
super quiet RX.

Have been really impressed with the Elecraft products, and customer service so far, great
people to deal with. I just wish they had more kits out!

Surprised at the number of replies, now I wonder how many AM brethren are running or have used Elecraft gear!

[n1ps]

Bruce,

Never built a K3, but did build a K1 several years ago.  I would place the K1 as the best kit I have built to date.  A fun project all around.  It currently is my "night-table" radio.  As I understand it the K3 is not so much a kit as a modular radio, per the other posts and others.  But I too have heard it on AM and it sounded quite good.  No idea about the RX though.  Nice to see a USA radio company doing well and contributing to the art.

Cheers,

Pete

[nq5t]

No idea about the RX though. 

http://www.sherweng.com/table.html

[n2bc]

Bruce... WATCH one being built!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD8QNVkIirc

;-)

[W1UJR]

Bruce... WATCH one being built!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD8QNVkIirc

;-)

Very cool Bill!
I ran it on fast forward, its quite a treat!
Start to finish in 7 minutes, 30 seconds!

Video quality was good, and looking closely at the boards, don't see as much SMD parts as I thought.
Lots of room inside that rig, and the boards don't appear to be too densely populated.
Sure wish they'd offer it as a kit!

I'm cleaning out some things from the shack, perhaps I'll use the proceeds for a K3, we'll have to see.
Then again, given what you shared about the improvements, maybe I'll let them work out all the updates then look at it again in 6 months.

I've got the audio filter board coming for the K2 tomorrow, should be a nice Friday night project, then we'll move on. Of course the Antique Wireless Conference is coming up, sure that more than a few projects will follow me home and result from that trip. Lately I've kinda of got this "really old" vs "really new" dichotomy going on, the new rigs fascinates me for small size and technology factory, while the old gear fascinates me for its appearance, and fun of operation.

Thanks for the posting the link!

No idea about the RX though. 

http://www.sherweng.com/table.html

Fellows,
Found this interesting gem when reviewing the info on the Sherwood site Grant had posted.
Deals with DSP in new radios, K3 is mentioned.
Not a flattering review of the new DSP tech used in Icom, etc.

http://www.sherweng.com/documents/Dayton2007w.pdf

-Bruce

[Pete, WA2CWA]

Bruce:
You might want to read these too:
http://sherweng.com/documents/Barc2008.pdf
http://sherweng.com/documents/NC0B-Contest-U-2008-9.pdf

And, it wouldn't be complete if you didn't review Rob's "Receiver Test Data" http://www.sherweng.com/table.html

[W1UJR]

Bruce:
You might want to read these too:
http://sherweng.com/documents/Barc2008.pdf
http://sherweng.com/documents/NC0B-Contest-U-2008-9.pdf

And, it wouldn't be complete if you didn't review Rob's "Receiver Test Data" http://www.sherweng.com/table.html

Yes, lots of info there Pete, thanks!
I've heard for Sherwood before, but never stumbled across these presentations, very informative, I had some real misconceptions as to receiver performance, he does an excellent job explaining the basics.

I've never really cared for the sound of digital audio as per the output of my Icom DSP and know I have an answer why! I like cutting back the RF gain or switching in attenuation, never found DSP to be the magic bullet.