Elecraft K3/100 s/n 1055

[W3VR]

Looking to make trade for Ten Tec Orion II, or other suitable trade/sale. Those with interest contact me by email tlp1@vzavenue.net for details and copies of original invoice and other documents that define the units current configuration and other information. This unit also listed on QRZ, eham, QTH. Not a desperation sale/trade. All offers considered, all questions welcome.

thx-w3qj

[a71an]

I like this rig, I am sure who buy it will enjoy long years of smooth operation as it is made with very high quality in mind.

[4Z1UF]

Originally Posted by W3QJ

Looking to make trade for Ten Tec Orion II, or other suitable trade/sale. Those with interest contact me by email tlp1@vzavenue.net for details and copies of original invoice and other documents that define the units current configuration and other information. This unit also listed on QRZ, eham, QTH. Not a desperation sale/trade. All offers considered, all questions welcome.

thx-w3qj

You are the MAN whom I'm was looking for! I'm considering to buy a new radio and actually my doubts are between K3 and OrionII. May I ask you to write few words WHY are you trading one for other?
I'm signed for both Elecraft and TT forums but people are not comparing these rigs anymore, may be some time in the past...
Will really appreciate your time!
73!

[W3VR]

Sorry I did not answer sooner. I forgot about this posting until I visited the site today.

I ended up finding a ham in my town that traded me even for his 566AT Orion II with all the internal options.

To me I believe the K3 may have one of the best receivers at this time as far as selectivity in crowded bands with many strong signals close by. As far as CW is concerned, there may be none better at this time. Elecraft has fixed the AGC problems in the recent firm ware upgrades. For such a small light weight XCVR, it's raw performance is truly astonishing. From many years working in commercial electronics (mostly aviation electronics, where two way radio communications is only a small part of what encompasses avionics), I understand the results of the various laboratory performance tests that have established the performance of the Elecraft K3 and many other radios. The real test is how the radio performs in the hands of the person operating it. My comments on the K3 and any of the other radios I own are based on real hands on use. I do not make a final decisions based on a performance test someone else does and publishes in any technical periodical.

If I operated only CW, I would have kept the K3. I was not pleased with the RCVR voice audio of the K3, and the DSP NR even at it's lightest setting. I could not like it no matter how hard I tried. I think contesting is great, but I do not contest, so much of the sterling qualities of the K3 is wasted on me. As far as the antennas used, I use a Bencher Skyhawk, and various wire dipole and loop antennas. I may wait a couple of years and see how much the K3 has changed, and try one again. Right now, its quite a different radio, than it was when first introduced due to the hardware and firmware updates, mostly firmware updates.

I'm sure I could do with much less performing radios than the ones I have now. But part of the fun for me is trying different equipment. To each their own, right? All the people on this forum are friendly and peaceful, which is why I come here to visit. But in some of the other places, the same people aren't so nice. They appear at times to have almost a condescending indifference to expensive equipment. They know who they are. I don't understand that attitude. Also many of them will automatically assume if you've only been licensed for a short time you know nothing about radio or electronics. They don't realize that some of us got all our basic experience in the commercial world, and not the ham world. I'm glad I don't have to deal with those attitudes here.

I'm much happier with my Orion II, than the K3. The only bad thing with the Orion is that they have not had a lot of firmware upgrades. But I'm sure they will come around. I trust Ten Tec much more than Elecraft because Ten Tec has been around much longer, and I believe they are a much more experienced company. Plus, they are here in America. At least you can talk directly to their designers and support personnel. You don't have direct access to the Japanese company principles. They are a different culture. They will not admit to mistakes.

Hope this helps.

Terry