Just about any microphone will work with the K3. Kenwood mics will work great and they connect to the radio without rewiring.

Spending some money on the auto tuner en 1 or 2 extra filters (2.1 kHz is great foor SSB) is not bad.

You could build it your self with some help of an Elmer. Maybe someone in your local club can help you out. That´s how I got mine put together. It is great to get to know your radio.

73, Maarten
PD2R

I can't find new tubes either, only NOS.
Your probably wright about the new tubes ending up in Russian gear.

From what I understand from Vinecom.co.uk they will start production of new tubes when the prices are higher to make it profitable.

Not sure what to do, I do like the Acom amp's.

Svetlana still produces the 4CX800A tube and after a quick google search I found these web sites:
http://www.rutubes.com/index.php?productID=271
http://qro-parts.com/product_info.php?products_id=88

The dealers I have contacted all stated they could still deliver these tubes, even in the foreseeable future.
Why inform people otherwise?

Audio quality also depents on what speaker you are using. Most mobile/portable transceivers use a small low quality speaker.
If you want to compare RX audio you should use a good external speaker or even better, use headphones.

Oeps, my bad... The IC 817 is hardly menu driven. SRY.

The only advice I can think off is to try both radio´s before buying. Even if you can only try them for 10 to 20 minutes, you will be able to tell wich one feels better for you and the (X)YL.

That being said, I bought a Elecraft K3 without ever seeing one other than from a picture, HI!

Have you considered the use of a build in ATU?
Both radio´s are menu driven, you need to figure out if that is going to be a problem for you.
What about customer support?

In Holland the DARES uses VHF/UHF most of the time. I have a FT 857D wich dan do HF/VHF/UHF.

Lots of things to consider, hope this helps a bit.

Good luck,

Maarten
 

I never tried this but I do ride my BMW R 1150 GS almost every day. Here in Holland most of the time it isn´t wise to pay attention to anything else other than the traffic around you.
So I would never consider operating any bands whilst driving my motor bike.

But i can imagine that in some parts of the USA the traffic conditions can be very different allowing to safely operate while driving your motor bike.

As for the antenna system, maybe you could look at the motor cycles the police uses. They will be most likely be using VHF but it could point you in the right direction.

Police motor cycles here in Holland use some sort of Ground plane antenna system. I think you could also use antenna systems that are used on non metal car roofs or non metal boats.

On the other hand, why not try a normal mobile HF whip or a small Screwdriver? I think that using such a system would be difficult on a KaYaHonSu ZXGSXCBRRYZRR1 kind of motorcycles. On other bikes you should be able to mount something on the back of the bike.

Good luck and I would like to hear what you came up whit.

73, Maarten

Take a look at this website: http://www.pa0fri.geerligs.com/

Go to "ANT" and then look for the FD-3 and FD-4 windom antennas. You will find a load of info on the antenna you wish to make.

73, Maarten
PD2R

I second the ICE filters, they work great and are not all that expencive.
Good Luck with your station

I never thought I'd say this....; Buy American!
Ten Tec and Elecraft for instance, have spare parts in stock even for their older products.

This is exactly why I always want to know just how good a companies customer support really is.

I feel that they should be able to repair a 10 or 12 year old radio, it's not a frikkin' refrigerator!

Steve, thanks for putting things into perspective, I overlooked the fact that you did your testing at the peak of the last sunspot cycle. These days (at the beginning of a new sunspot cycle) a 20 dB loss is unacceptable.

I apologize for the bad information.

73, Maarten
PD2R

Well, the EH antenna might not be such a bad idea.
As WB2WIK described in his article on the antenna, he was able to make some great QSO's over considerable distance.

OTOH, if you could string a thin dipole (vertical or horizontal, doesn't matter) you would be better off.

the article: http://www.eham.net/articles/5002

Ignore the previous post, N6AJR already commented on that.

N0MUD, The MA5B does indeed have 3 elements, 2 for 20, 15 and 10, and just one for 12 and 17.

So you could say it's a two element Yagi and a rotary dipole combination.

Congreatulations!

I hope you had a nice QSO with a understanding opp at the other side. My first QSO using my own call was with a Spanish station. I tried to explain that it was my first QSO but he only replied by wishing me 73.

My very first HF DX contact was in at a contest station. I was alowed to use the club call and worked several DX stations. I don´t remember the first QSO but I do remember that I had a hart rate of 160! I only managed to run for 15 min, after those 15 minutes the adrenalin wore of ;-)

I know for a fact that you will get another buzz from this QSO when you receive your first DX QSL card, that is, if the other opp will send you one.

73

Maarten
PD2R