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| Reviews Summary for Elecraft K3 |
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Reviews: 134
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Average rating: 4.8/5
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MSRP: $1,399
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Description: ELECRAFT K3 Transceiver
High Performance • 160-6 Meters • 100 W
Dual 32bit DSP, "switched mode mixer"
Factory Assembled or No-Soldering Kit
160-6 meter ham-band coverage; optional general-coverage filters
• High-contrast, full-custom LCD with with alphanumeric text display
• 100-W or 10-W (upgradeable) models
• 32-bit I.F. DSP
• Rich I/O complement (see rear-panel drawing above)
• All modes: SSB, CW, Data, AM, FM
• Built-in PSK/TTY decode/encode allows data mode operation with or without a PC — use CW keyer paddle to send PSK/TTY too!
• High performance DDS/PLL Synthesizer with TCXO reference
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More info: http://www.elecraft.com
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K2MK
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 27, 2009 06:47
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An excellent purchase decision. No regrets.
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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The K3 is a fine transceiver. Mine will be one year old in a few days. I will try to list some items that may have not been mentioned in previous reviews. The K3 replaced my FT-1000D which gave me 17 years of trouble free service. I have not regretted making the switch.
You would think it a big change to go from a huge front panel to a small one. It is for a day or two and then the K3 feels right at home. The knob and button sizes are fine. The controls and their proximity to each other (spacing) is really not much different from the 1000D. And in fact, some of the buttons along the bottom row of the 1000D were difficult to read due to the main tuning dial. All controls on the K3 are easy to read and access. The only control change I would have liked is if they switched the two filter adjustment knobs. I don’t use the “shift” knob too frequently but I’m always using the “width” knob. I operate the radio with my left hand which puts my thumb close to the main VFO tuning dial when I adjust the filter width. So there is a risk of bumping the main tuning dial. More during the first month of use then now. I suppose my coordination improved with practice.
The dual purpose buttons become second nature after a few days of use. The 1000D had individual band buttons which was a nice feature. On the K3 it is easy to set up quick access memories but it does take two button pushes to access those memorized frequencies. Not a problem for me, just different. A very nice feature permits you to set up 4 in-band buttons for each and every band. I have a quick access memory button set up for each of the 10 bands and 2, 3, or 4 in-band buttons to get to my favorite CW, RTTY, and SSB frequencies. It quickly changes the frequency, mode, and filter width to suit the mode. And of course after you do this there are still 90 more memories available for other uses. And memories can have a unique text description displayed on the screen.
The optional K3 sub receiver is excellent. The 1000D sub receiver wasn’t the same as the main receiver. The available filter widths were not quite the same as the main receiver and you could not use the audio peak filter or the width and shift control on the sub. Also, the sub frequency didn’t have the capability of tracking the main frequency. The K3 sub receiver is exactly the same as the main receiver. You can have the sub receiver frequency linked to (tracking) or unlinked from (non-tracking) the main receiver. And a third option is to use the sub receiver as a diversity receiver where the frequency and the filter settings follow the main receiver. And working split while still using diversity is possible because in diversity the VFO B dial and display are now free to be set to another frequency and do not have any effect on the sub receiver frequency. Sounds complicated but it’s not. And of course you can have the same or different antennas for each receiver with the push of a button. And if you don’t purchase the sub receiver you can still configure the main receiver to use a separate receive antenna using the front panel RX ANT button. Just chose your options correctly when you order.
Speaking of options, you only have to order what you need. Configure the radio to meet your needs and if your needs change you can order different modules later.
Digital modes are a pleasure. No external device is required between the K3 and your PC. Other conveniences like two separate key jacks, two separate headphone jacks (plus a separate PC output jack), and two separate microphone jacks (plus a separate PC input jack) make interfacing and cabling very easy. And the same serial cable you use to connect the K3 to your PC for contest software, digital modes, or rig control is used to download new firmware. A simple K3 utility program (free) makes firmware upgrades easy.
I operate mainly CW and the auto spot feature is excellent. It works in conjunction with the sidetone frequency that you choose. Auto spot works very well for both strong and weak received signals. A press of the button and the received signal will be centered in your filter passband and you will be perfectly zero beat.
You can easily set max power levels individually for each band. This works so well I have not found the need to use an ALC line to my amplifier. The 4 multi-purpose knobs that control power output, filter width, filter shift, keyer speed, mic level, compression level, vox & keying delay, and monitor level are all on encoders which means they have many turns. So making very fine adjustments is easy.
Customer support is incredible as everyone has mentioned. Send an e-mail and get a response the same day. Make a suggestion and it might just become a feature in the next firmware release. And there are two very active user reflectors. One from Elecraft and one on Yahoo.
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G4ILO
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 24, 2009 01:53
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Now truly merits a 5 for all modes
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Just over two months ago I posted a review of the K3 in which I stated my opinion that while the K3 was outstanding in many respects, in others it was a bit of a let-down, with some features implemented awkwardly and others not yet implemented at all. Yesterday Elecraft released a full (not beta) firmware release that addresses all the issues I raised (and a lot more besides.) I am happy to report that my K3 now performs in every respect and in all modes as well as I always hoped it would.
In fact, within two weeks - yes TWO WEEKS - of my last review being published I had been sent beta firmware that addressed my two biggest criticisms. Try to beat that Kenwood, Icom and Yaesu.
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N1DZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 23, 2009 19:01
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With SDR-IQ amazing!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I am using the K3 for 3 months now. My main interest is VHF/UHF weak signal DX. I use the the K3 to drive elecraft transverters for 50/144/222/432.
The K3 integrates fully with these transverters and gives you the ultimate strong signal capable receiver. Not only can the K3 receiver handle crowded band conditions well, it also sounds very good too. The receive audio, filtering and DSP are just excellent. These are very important for VHF/UHF weak signal work too.
I also use the RFspace SDR-IQ with Spectravue 3.02 software as a panoramic receiver. This combination is amazing and gives me full 200KHz band view. On 2m I can visually monitor the calling frequency and at the same time monitor the beacons. The SDR-IQ fully integrates with the K3 and provides point and click tuning and a second receiver.
The K3 integrates better with transverters than any transceiver on the market. Combined with the SDR-IQ panoramic display it is the ultimate software defined radio. I used a Flexradio SDR1000 for over 3 years and found the K3 with SDR-IQ better. The K3 gives rock solid basic receive performance and I am not anymore fully dependent on the stability of a windows computer.
This combination plays very well on HF too.
From a cost and performance perspective I don't think one can find a better transceiver.
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WA6RIV
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 17, 2009 05:47
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Working better every day
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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The evolution of the K3 has been impressive. The radio has given a new meaning to Ham Radio. In the pass, we fiddled with tubes, antennas, and tuners. We moved over to rice boxes, losing a lot of the enjoyment of building and experimenting. The upgrade solution was expensive, replacing your current radio with a newer model.
Elecraft provided a solution. They designed a radio with the capability of upgrading by firmware and hardware. You can build QRP, upgrade to 100 watts, install an ATU, add a second RVCR, add filters, and many other options. Their firmware and hardware support are second to none.
Technical data sheets have shown the radio to be on top of technology. Customer support has been unrivaled. Communication has been but a mouse click or phone call away. Their technical help is always online and that includes Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays. Should I include “Vacation days”? Yes!
I recommend this radio. I’ve owned many new up-to-date transceivers. My K3 is a keeper.
Tnx Agn “Elecraft”
Ted WP4CW
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AA1LN
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 15, 2009 05:03
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The Best
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I am an early adopter of the K3 with a serial number in the low 400's. I have owned it for 18 months working mostly CW with it. I am a casual contester, a "serious" dxer and rag-chewer.
I have good things only to say about this rig. The performance and ease of use are second to none.
I don't understand why all the talk about ergonomics in the reviews. This is a radio that once setup rarely needs to be touched. The most used controls are right at the fingertips of your left hand. One does not need to keep twirling knobs to bring out a weak signal - or try to eliminate interference that is close by. Just narrow the roofing filter to where it sounds good to you and operate!
This is the simplest radio I have ever used. I have owned the Icom 751, 761, Yaesu Ft1000MP, and Ten Tec Orion.
If you like to twirl knobs, buy a radio with big ones. If you like to operate and be on the air, buy this radio.
I can not see ever needing or wanting another radio ever again. Enough said!
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VE1RGB
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 16, 2009 10:07
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International Product Support; Adding the KRX3
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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As one of the early adopters of the Elecraft K3 (#095) it did not take me long to confirm my expectations, based on my two K2s, that this radio would be ideal for contesting (among other things). I wrote an early eHam review based on my first experiences in that activity. Since that time, tonnes of other folks have discovered the same thing and I suspect that the K3 now represents the gold standard for contesters.
Since those early days, a couple of more things have transpired with my K3 that justify an additional review. They cover factors and features that I have only experienced recently, and both are worthy of comment because they are important considerations for those evaluating this radio for use in their stations.
1. International Support
For anyone who lives outside the United States, you do not need to be told that moving ham radio gear across international boundaries can be fraught with problems. We all have our own horror stories. Some of these problems are caused by us customers who fail to take preparatory steps to protect themselves in international transactions, but most of these problems are caused by USA vendors who do not understand the intricacies of international shipping and who fail to provide adequate documentation. In addition to potentially expensive trans-border snafus, there is also the issue of maintaining control of your radio and the work to be done to it while it is in transit and while it is in a vendor’s plant, and feedback about the work actually performed.
I accumulated a long list of mods I wanted done to my K3, so many that ultimately I reached the tipping point and decided I would send my K3 back to Aptos to have the second receiver installed and a host of other things done while it was there. This was my first exposure to what Elecraft calls their Return Service Authorization. Once more I found myself pleasantly surprised by the company.
The Elecraft RSA is a controlled document which is very comprehensive in terms of explaining what the customer needs to do prior to shipping a radio across the border and makes definition of the work requirements very easy. It covers a number of topics including warranty considerations. The process, if this were a company registered to a quality management program such as ISO 9001, would be found compliant in all respects. One releases this document to Elecraft with a good deal of confidence that there will be no surprises between the time the radio leaves and the time it returns.
My radio came back from Aptos under a controlled shipping process with tracking capability. The shipping documentation precisely said all the right things so far as import taxes and duties are concerned. The radio was accompanied by a detailed test report from the bench at Aptos and left no question in my mind about what had been done to the rig, or its condition after their 24-hour burn-in test and subsequent function test, or its configuration. The only hiccup I experienced was that the radio had been left with TX INH turned on, a condition that leads to surprises if one is unfamiliar with that setting especially when the K3 is connected to a computer and a logging program. A quick review of the CONFIG menu sorted that out for me.
International customers should have no concern about dealing with this company. They have the process down cold.
2. Diversity Receive
Never having owned a radio with two receivers let alone a rig with identical receivers with matched filters, I was quite unprepared for the goose-bumps that I got when I first used the K3 in diversity receive.
The second receiver, of course, makes working split easy but to me that is a minor advantage compared with what happens to an operator’s ability to manage their antennas. With three prime transmitting/receiving antennas (wires and verticals) and two receive-only antennas here, it is not always easy nor quick to assess the optimum mix of antennas for any given situation. And of course there are so many variables affecting antenna operation from day –to-day that the right mix of antennas is never the same twice in a row. Diversity receive, however, makes it dead simple to do A/B/C/D antenna comparisons and grab the right combo with a couple of button pushes. I see this as a major advantage in my small contest station.
Probably the most dramatic of all the things one can do with a K3 is diversity receive with two different receiving antenna types. Being able to listen to a signal’s level decay on the Beverage while simultaneously rising on the K9AY loop, or being able to listen to signals from one part of the world in one ear on one antenna connected to the main receiver, and at the same time signals from another part of the world on the second receiver using a different antenna and heard in the other ear, is a thrill not easily described. It is very dramatic. And very, very useful to a DX-er or contester. Adding the KRX3 and a set of filters to match the main receiver is not inexpensive, but it is an improvement worth saving up for. The K3 with a second receiver becomes an entirely different, and an order of magnitude better, radio.
Count me among those who have been captivated by the Elecraft experience.
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AB3EN
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 14, 2009 04:26
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UPDATE 1yr
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Well after one year of use I would like to add not only have the controls become second nature but the frequent firmware revisions have added significant new features and refined previous operations providing me with a radio I consider one of if not the best on the market today.
The NR and filter flexibility features are outstanding and I find that I can usually hear, without straining, really weak folks that can't hear me even with the amp going. Really an outstanding receiver with razor sharp bandwidth, a joy in a crowded band condition.
This is one of the few purchases I have ever made where the president/owner of the company answers email on weekends and actually dialogs with the end user to improve the product. That alone makes this a truly unique radio.
There are several what I consider top line radios on the market today (Flex, TenTec, etc) but the "K3 experience" puts it on the top of my list not only in performance but service.
73
Dan
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K4VUD
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Rating: 4/5
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Oct 4, 2009 22:15
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after time, use, and thought
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Elecraft K3, I got #309F, 100w with several filters and other add-ons. This was one from the second production run. Mine went back to factory for AGC fix and was good afterward. Factory paid shipping.
Elecraft set the customer service bar so far above others as to be out of sight in the clouds, and that includes every vendor I have ever contacted of every kind of product I have ever had!
After struggling with learning to adjust and operate this radio, being frustrated with its small size panel, and its small read-outs, I have finally come to terms with Elecraft's achievement:
THEY HAVE CREATED "THE" BARGAIN RADIO FOR HAMS... HIGHEST PERFORMANCE IN A NO-FRILLS BOX. When serial #1 was released, I said the K3 would be the IC-706 of the next generation of radios... and it is. If Elecraft had them on the shelf upon first release, they wouda sold 5,000 of them in the first year. As it is, rumor says they are selling into the mid 3,000 now.
But, this radio is a significant achievement for hams. For a good price point, any ham can own the highest performance rig that can be today. And, the "add on features" design allows a ham to get into a K3 and expand it later. Important note... the expansions are FEATURES, not performance enhancements.
So, get one!
(and, if u have a car to sell, like me, also buy a FT-9000d to satisfy your need for many many knobs and features.)
de K4VUD
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K4LVR
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 2, 2009 14:08
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High performance Rig by High Performance people
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I recently built Elecraft K3 SN 3192 from several boxes of parts. During the course of my evaluation of the radio, I had complained to the company regarding the ergonomic feel of the controls.
Both CEO Eric Swartz WA6HHP and CTO Wayne Burdick N6KR listened to my complaints at two Orlando Hamcations over 18 months of consideration and assured me that they would take care of them
completely.
With these assurances, I jumped off the high dive, spent what to me are big bucks and purchased the rig in June as my gift to myself for losing 100 pounds. All of my issues with
control ergonomics had been fixed, except for the four "QUAD" encoders to the left of the main VFO. They were still sloppy.
I complained to the factory, going through the trouble to create a video of the issue for them to look at.
Wayne Burdick contacted me personally via email and gave me the choice of receiving a complete new front panel for me to install or sending the radio in to the factory and having them replace the encoders at no charge to me. The second process would take three weeks to do, the first one week.
I chose the second option.
Three weeks ago, I sent 3192 via UPS ground to Aptos. It arrived in 5 days on a Wednesday. The following day, I received a personal email from Dale, K6ZP, the technician assigned to my radio relaying that he would be working on it and asking if I needed to relay any additional information regarding what I wanted done to the radio to him before he started work. I told him to check and see if the mods I had applied were up to the latest factory standard and to generally
go over the rig and assure me that I built it correctly.
I had not installed the IF buffer level mod (changing out one SMD resistor), Dale installed the mod for me. I then received the UPS ground tracking number for the package, as the radio was
shipped to me at the end of that day.
I received the radio today, in exactly three weeks, as promised, double boxed and packed in a factory new shipping carton, plastic wrapped and looking as if it had just come off the assembly line (they even wiped off my fingerprints!)
On top of the inner carton was a personally signed work order (in ballpoint, not a printout) from Dale that included a detailed report of the work that was performed on the rig and certifying that it meets or exceeds all factory specifications. Also attached are screen captures of filter gain adjustments and offsets for reference.
Dale also mentioned that I was free to contact him at his personal email address if I had any questions regarding the work that was performed on my K3.
The encoders are now perfect with almost unnoticeable backlash... As good as those on my former TS850 or my current TS570.
In today's business environment, its rare to find such attentive and personal service. Not only was the process handled in a very professional and efficient manner, but the encoders are now perfect, as they should be.
I must say that I am impressed by the care with which Elecraft handled my issues. I am now a completely satisfied customer!
Not only is the radio all that it is represented to be operationally, but the attention to customer service sets the bar at the same level as the radio's performance. These people truly care, not only about creating the highest
performance transceiver possible at ANY price, but also about treating their customers with the utmost quality in personal service.
If you are considering a new rig, I highly recommend the K3 for more than just the performance aspect alone.
Lu W4LT
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F6GYY
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Rating: 4/5
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Sep 7, 2009 08:09
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Update
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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hello again,
nobody talks bad about this radio, it has got some rough edges, but their are much more positive points than negatives ones.
Masterpiece of radio ? In what domain ?
- master piece what concerns the receiver.
yes, no doubt, unbeatable dynamic range, blocking , phase noise and selectivity...
-masterpiece what concerns the ergonomics.
not really, I really like to look at it, it is nice and I am proud of it... The famous bavarian DX CLub says that you can configurate the K3 to death, only experienced OM's can
put it right again... All these 3 function knobs and buttons do need time, as I said before.
Further, small knobs of bad quality... Their are already pictures ...
- masterpiece what concerns construction.
no, the rig remains unprotected during portable operation.. knobs... edges not protected by rubber material...like the ICOM IC-7200...
SSB modulation is marvellous, pleasant,
efficient... got again very good appreciations
from other stations ...some 600-800 km away..
Err AT3 error comes when I am starting the
receiver on the 20 m band but goes away when I am switching to another band...
Finally, it is a very good radio...I am using it every day now, instead of my TS-850.
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