AmateurRadio.com

Just heard about this little puppy. Need to save my spare pennies…

KX3 STANDARD FEATURES

• 160-6 meter ham bands; general coverage from 1.6-30 MHz (optional broadcast-band filter module covers 0.5-1.6 KHz)
• All modes: SSB, CW, Data (four sub-modes), AM FM
• Ultra-compact size: 3.4″H x 7.4″W x 1.7″D; 18 oz. (less options)
• Rear tilt feet fold up for transport
• Custom high-contrast LCD with alphanumeric text display
• Current drain as low as 150 mA in receive mode
• High-performance 32-bit floating-point DSP
• Built-in PSK/TTY decode/encode allows data mode operation without a PC; transmit in data modes using CW keyer paddle
• Low-noise synthesizer with 1-Hz tuning resolution
• Firmware updateable via provided application software

RECEIVER

• Quadrature down-sampling mixer compatible with PC-based SDR (software-defined-radio) applications
• Receiver I/Q outputs for use with PC soundcard
• Narrow roofing filter option with four bandwidths (500Hz, 1500Hz, 2700Hz, 3800Hz) for excellent dynamic range
• Switchable preamp (2 levels) and attenuator (2 levels)
• 8-band receive audio equalizer
• Dual watch over ±10kHz range; uses applicable roofing filter
• Easy-to-use PassBand Tuning (PBT) for shift/width/hi-cut/lo-cut; roofing filters automatically track DSP filter settings
• Automatic and manual notch filtering; adjustable noise reduction and noise blanking; binaural audio effects for enhanced receive
• Center-tuning indicator for CW and data modes
• Built-in speaker; stereo jack for headphones/external speakers

TRANSMITTER

• Adjustable output, 0.1 to 10W+ (100W+ with KXPA100 amp)
• Rugged, SWR and temperature-protected final amplifier stage
• Optional MH3 microphone with PT and UP/DOWN functions
• Optional attached keyer paddle with spacing adjustment
• Switchable PA output impedance for efficient 5-W or 10-W use
• Fast, silent, PIN-diode T-R switching – no relays
• DSP speech processing for excellent “punch”
• 8 band equalizer tailors passband to your voice and microphone

OTHER FEATURES

• Built in digital voice recorder (DVR) with two message buffers
• Internal CW keyer with 8-50 WPM range
• Six CW/DATA message memories
• 100 general-purpose memories store VFO A/B, modes, etc.
• Accessory/RS-232 port for computer control using supplied cable
• Full remote-control command set works with most amateur radio software applications (emulates Elecraft K3)
• One-click firmware upgrades via the web (with free PC software)
• Optional mobile bracket compatible with RAM-mounts
• Tutorial-style manual ideal for new hams

OPTIONS and ACCESSORIES

• KXFLE Roofing Filter Module (500/1500/2700/3800 Hz)
• KXAT3 Internal, Wide-Range 20-W Automatic Antenna Tuner
• KXAM3 Broadcast Band Filter Module (0.5-1.6 MHz)
• KXBT3 Internal 8-AA Cell Battery Pack with NiMH Charger (Batteries not supplied; nonrechanrgeable batteries can also be used)
• KXPD3 Precision Keyer Paddle
• KXMM3 Mobile Mount Bracket
• MH3 Hand Microphone with UP/DN Controls
• KUSB RS232 to USB Adapter
• KXPA100 High-Performance 160-6 meter, 100-W Amplifier; usable with most 5 to 10 W transceivers KXAT100 Wide-Range 100-W ATU with Dual Anenna Jacks (attaches to KXPA100 module)

Just heard about this little puppy. Need to save my spare pennies…

KX3 STANDARD FEATURES

• 160-6 meter ham bands; general coverage from 1.6-30 MHz (optional broadcast-band filter module covers 0.5-1.6 KHz)
• All modes: SSB, CW, Data (four sub-modes), AM FM
• Ultra-compact size: 3.4″H x 7.4″W x 1.7″D; 18 oz. (less options)
• Rear tilt feet fold up for transport
• Custom high-contrast LCD with alphanumeric text display
• Current drain as low as 150 mA in receive mode
• High-performance 32-bit floating-point DSP
• Built-in PSK/TTY decode/encode allows data mode operation without a PC; transmit in data modes using CW keyer paddle
• Low-noise synthesizer with 1-Hz tuning resolution
• Firmware updateable via provided application software

RECEIVER

• Quadrature down-sampling mixer compatible with PC-based SDR (software-defined-radio) applications
• Receiver I/Q outputs for use with PC soundcard
• Narrow roofing filter option with four bandwidths (500Hz, 1500Hz, 2700Hz, 3800Hz) for excellent dynamic range
• Switchable preamp (2 levels) and attenuator (2 levels)
• 8-band receive audio equalizer
• Dual watch over ±10kHz range; uses applicable roofing filter
• Easy-to-use PassBand Tuning (PBT) for shift/width/hi-cut/lo-cut; roofing filters automatically track DSP filter settings
• Automatic and manual notch filtering; adjustable noise reduction and noise blanking; binaural audio effects for enhanced receive
• Center-tuning indicator for CW and data modes
• Built-in speaker; stereo jack for headphones/external speakers

TRANSMITTER

• Adjustable output, 0.1 to 10W+ (100W+ with KXPA100 amp)
• Rugged, SWR and temperature-protected final amplifier stage
• Optional MH3 microphone with PT and UP/DOWN functions
• Optional attached keyer paddle with spacing adjustment
• Switchable PA output impedance for efficient 5-W or 10-W use
• Fast, silent, PIN-diode T-R switching – no relays
• DSP speech processing for excellent “punch”
• 8 band equalizer tailors passband to your voice and microphone

OTHER FEATURES

• Built in digital voice recorder (DVR) with two message buffers
• Internal CW keyer with 8-50 WPM range
• Six CW/DATA message memories
• 100 general-purpose memories store VFO A/B, modes, etc.
• Accessory/RS-232 port for computer control using supplied cable
• Full remote-control command set works with most amateur radio software applications (emulates Elecraft K3)
• One-click firmware upgrades via the web (with free PC software)
• Optional mobile bracket compatible with RAM-mounts
• Tutorial-style manual ideal for new hams

OPTIONS and ACCESSORIES

• KXFLE Roofing Filter Module (500/1500/2700/3800 Hz)
• KXAT3 Internal, Wide-Range 20-W Automatic Antenna Tuner
• KXAM3 Broadcast Band Filter Module (0.5-1.6 MHz)
• KXBT3 Internal 8-AA Cell Battery Pack with NiMH Charger (Batteries not supplied; nonrechanrgeable batteries can also be used)
• KXPD3 Precision Keyer Paddle
• KXMM3 Mobile Mount Bracket
• MH3 Hand Microphone with UP/DN Controls
• KUSB RS232 to USB Adapter
• KXPA100 High-Performance 160-6 meter, 100-W Amplifier; usable with most 5 to 10 W transceivers KXAT100 Wide-Range 100-W ATU with Dual Anenna Jacks (attaches to KXPA100 module)

Sorry to have to do this, but since I’m not a multi-billion dollar corporation I’m not on the list for a government bailout; and a particular deadbeat client of mine is apparently not hip to the most basic of free-market principles, that of monetary remuneration for services rendered (promptly, I might add…) by your faithful correspondent. And so my shack becomes even more desolate.

Let the bidding begin…

Sorry to have to do this, but since I’m not a multi-billion dollar corporation I’m not on the list for a government bailout; and a particular deadbeat client of mine is apparently not hip to the most basic of free-market principles, that of monetary remuneration for services rendered (promptly, I might add…) by your faithful correspondent. And so my shack becomes even more desolate.

Let the bidding begin…

Starting a new job this month has really cut into my quality ham radio time, but these are the sacrifices we make. Other than a few PSK contacts early in the month, all of my operation took place during the two major March phone tests. Only 6 QSO in the ARRL DX SSB, but was able to spend a little more time at the mic for the CQ WPX SSB in which I logged 69 QSOs during a few short operating stints (4.5 hours total), all on 15m which was alive and kicking. For once I was able to work damn near every station I could hear, most of them on one call, and didn’t have to repeat my callsign or report too often. In the end, 62 WPX prefixes in 23 DXCC countries for a somewhat lame total score of 8,494.

More important: I finally got to give N1MM Contest Logger a good shakedown and I’m happy to report that it worked flawlessly with the K3. I still like HRD’s logbook for general usage, but for contesting it’s a kludge. N1MM is super fast by comparison and obviously better suited for contesting. I may comment more on this later.

So… despite a limited amount of radio time, March put three new DXCC in the log –Uruguay (CX), Luxembourg (LX), and Haiti (HH) — and 16 new DXCC + 9 new WAZ on 15m. I’ll take it.

	All	80m	40m	30m	20m	17m	15m	Ph	CW	Dig
DXCC	83	2	43	10	67	13	38	59	5	63
WAS	50	28	49	7	48	19	21	43	1	50
WAZ	26	3	21	8	23	9	18	22	5	22

Starting a new job this month has really cut into my quality ham radio time, but these are the sacrifices we make. Other than a few PSK contacts early in the month, all of my operation took place during the two major March phone tests. Only 6 QSO in the ARRL DX SSB, but was able to spend a little more time at the mic for the CQ WPX SSB in which I logged 69 QSOs during a few short operating stints (4.5 hours total), all on 15m which was alive and kicking. For once I was able to work damn near every station I could hear, most of them on one call, and didn’t have to repeat my callsign or report too often. In the end, 62 WPX prefixes in 23 DXCC countries for a somewhat lame total score of 8,494.

More important: I finally got to give N1MM Contest Logger a good shakedown and I’m happy to report that it worked flawlessly with the K3. I still like HRD’s logbook for general usage, but for contesting it’s a kludge. N1MM is super fast by comparison and obviously better suited for contesting. I may comment more on this later.

So… despite a limited amount of radio time, March put three new DXCC in the log –Uruguay (CX), Luxembourg (LX), and Haiti (HH) — and 16 new DXCC + 9 new WAZ on 15m. I’ll take it.

	All	80m	40m	30m	20m	17m	15m	Ph	CW	Dig
DXCC	83	2	43	10	67	13	38	59	5	63
WAS	50	28	49	7	48	19	21	43	1	50
WAZ	26	3	21	8	23	9	18	22	5	22