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Author Topic: Any Elecraft K4 and/or Apache-Labs Andromeda users out there?  (Read 641 times)

K7JQ

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Re: Any Elecraft K4 and/or Apache-Labs Andromeda users out there?
« Reply #15 on: May 13, 2021, 09:24:43 AM »

I replaced my K3 (with most updates) with an IC-7300 and never looked back.
Frame of reference question -

Do you work much DX or operate on CW?

Don,

Have you ever operated a IC-7300?

Bob K7JQ

Yea, I bought one about 1year ago given the price. Didn’t last long. Seemed decent for SSB but completely inadequate for CW which is my primary mode. Whereas the 7300 is a great starter radio, it wasn’t designed to be a CW rig which  I suspect you already know. If I operated only SSB or digital modes, the 7300 would serve that limited purpose well in my opinion.

Fair enough...then your opinion is valid. So many people denigrate something without first hand experience to competently compare.

However, our opinions differ. As a ham of 62 years (if that has anything to do with it ;D), and 90% of my operating as an avid CW contester, I find the 7300 to be very competent in that mode. I was surprised as hell that when I originally bought it as a backup to a IC-7600, and after comparing the two in heavy contesting, I wound up selling the 7600. Simply put, I found the 7300 to be superior in almost every way. No APF or Dual Watch, but I rarely used those features anyway. But to my ears and eyes, the sensitivity, selectivity (DSP can go to 50 Hz), noise reduction, noise floor, display brightness/resolution and panadapter speed more than met my needs as a primary radio. I bought another one to use in SO2R contesting. I don't use QSK (just semi-breakin), so the relay clacking doesn't bother me.

I've operated a K3 at a multi/two contest station several times, and it do anything for me to justify it giving four to five times the utility/performance for four to five times the price over a 7300. I think many people are clouded by the fact that its a $1,000 radio, and advertised as "entry level". If you're a follower of Sherwood's receiver analysis, it's #21 (#19 if you eliminate two samples each of the K3 and K3S). It used to be #12 when it first came out...above many far more expensive radios at the time. Then again, how much can human ears/brain really interpret the minute differences in specs? 

I guess different strokes for different folks ;).

Bob K7JQ
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K7JQ

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Re: Any Elecraft K4 and/or Apache-Labs Andromeda users out there?
« Reply #16 on: May 13, 2021, 09:47:50 AM »

Whoops...the above comment, ...the K3 DIDN'T do anything for me to justify...

Bob K7JQ
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KX2T

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Re: Any Elecraft K4 and/or Apache-Labs Andromeda users out there?
« Reply #17 on: May 14, 2021, 10:40:51 AM »

Bob, when I built my K3 the bare bones rig and 100w module was just about $2200 and then you build it, no optional filters or anything else so I built it and had it for 3 months, never could warm up to the RX side audio, maybe if I just did cw mainly I would not have that complaint but I am talking about threw good headphones not some crappy internal speaker. A buddy came over with a TS590S and we compared the two side by side, three days later I sold the K3 for what I paid for it and bought the TS590S, it sounded soo much better plus it was far easier to use, it made the K3 look like a real PITA plus no filters to buy, I was happy. A few years later Yaesu introduced the FTDX3000, I waited till the ARRL lab review and then bought one, between the Yaesu and Kenwood it was an almost dead heat but the Yaesu had more up front controls so three month later I sold the 590s but I did really like that rig.
FF to about 2017 and everyone and there brother was raving about the 7300, well I had to try this under $1500 dollar at that time SDR with knobs rig and for 6 months I used it plus compared it to the 3K and although the 3K had more features the 7300 had dead nuts on selectivity and I mean on CW were you would see a 20" over S0 meat grinder with what would be key clicks on the Yaesu as you tuned 1 Khz away but do the same on the 7300 and look no key clicks, it almost seemed like there was anywhere between 20-30db better ultimate channel selectivity in the Icom. ON SSB it did not mater but as far as transmit audio the Icom was soo easy to get sounding right. I ended up selling the 3K, I had that radio for a few years but I liked the simplicity of the 7300 and the fact that I never really used the Pre Amp until I was on 6 meters, that dam radio was almost overly sensitive and the RF gain controls could easily be used as a adjustable attenuator. Once you mater the use and understand the 7300 its a very good rig.
I liked it soo much I had to go for the 7610 but I first sold the FTDX3K and then a 746Pro I had and then the 7300 and pony up more cash to buy it in 2018, I still have it and did buy another 7300 for back up cause of the dam display issue Icom had and the 7610 had had three display, over $300 in shipping since then but its still the number one radio on my desk. I did sell the 7300 and try the new Yaesu FTDX10, this little rig is still in the testing stage but it does give the 7610 a run on CW but SSB the Icom always wins, the Pass Band Tuning on the Icom with three programable filter selections just blows away rotating the shift and width on the Yaesu, when your in the heat of the battle during a contest you really don't have the time to dick around with controls, just a button away and your were you wanna be. I also wanted to try the 10 cause I have heard lots of good things about there FTDX101D so I figured this would give me a taste without spending $3K. The Ten is a very good backup but I still like the 7610 better plus always liked that 7300.
Last Year at the Orlando Hamfest I played with the K4, it was not like operating at home and it was threw a $200 plus modified speaker and enclosure that they sell for allot of money so it didn't sound that bad but I was no blown away and the display was kind of squirrely looking the way you set up the spectrum part and her again the menu's were not really set up for every day UI, clearly allot of money for an overpriced version of the 7610 and who knows how many bug there will be down the road.
« Last Edit: May 14, 2021, 10:46:17 AM by KX2T »
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K7JQ

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Re: Any Elecraft K4 and/or Apache-Labs Andromeda users out there?
« Reply #18 on: May 14, 2021, 01:52:40 PM »

James KX2T,

I agree with you that in the heat of a CW contest, I don't want to fiddle with a confusing myriad of knobs and buttons on a crowded faceplate. Filter control is essential, and when the bands get really crowded, the ability to hit the touch screen once and go, for instance, from 500Hz to 250Hz is critical. I was blown away by the 7300's side to side rejection of close in stations, and how signals pop out of the mess as you tighten up the filters, down to 50Hz if necessary. I find the controls on the 7300 face to be the most important, and just enough to see and reach them efficiently without searching all over.

I've read a bunch of reviews from those that have both the 7300 and 7610, and (tell me if I'm wrong) the majority say that the receiver sections, to their ears, are almost on a par in sensitivity and selectivity, with the 7610 having maybe a little lower noise floor and  CW APF. But if two receivers in one cabinet, the ability to show the screen on an external monitor, more I/O flexibility, and multiple RF outputs are not in your list of essentials, why not a 7300 if it works for you? Or two 7300's to get that 2nd receiver, and an extra xmtr to boot ;)? And have $1K left over.

I could buy a 7610 or K4. But I think in many cases people aren't satisfied unless they have a big-box, high $$ radio with tons of front panel controls, despite never using 80-90% of its features. And that's OK...it's their money, and as long as they're happy with it. I just don't subscribe to that way of thinking.

Bob K7JQ

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KB6DYA

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Re: Any Elecraft K4 and/or Apache-Labs Andromeda users out there?
« Reply #19 on: May 15, 2021, 08:10:12 AM »

HI if you decide to get the Apache-Labs Andromeda. Please let me know or do a write up on it. I have got a ic 7610 now and saving up for the Andromeda. Thank you 73

Oren Davis  KB6DYA
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