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Re: [Elecraft_K3] K3 Shipping Status Update
Paul@...
I have a suggestion about the PCB headers. It would be nice if you could send with each new K3 kit a small tube of Caig. www.caig.com For plated connectors, you may want to use Caig's ProGold instead of Caig's DeoxIT. |
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Re: [Elecraft_K3] K3 Shipping Status Update
Eric and Wayne,
I have a suggestion about the PCB headers. It would be nice if you could send with each new K3 kit a small tube of Caig. www.caig.com
I recommend treating each PCB header pin with Caig >> “DeoxIT” >> in the K3 build.
This will keep contact resistance low; lubricate the pins; and most importantly prevent Oxidation.
I have found over the years that Caig products are the best at what they do, in the market place.
I plan to do this on my K3 build. J Thank you.
From: Elecraft_K3@...
[mailto:Elecraft_K3@...] On Behalf Of Eric C. Swartz
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007 7:26 PM To: Elecraft_K3@... Subject: [Elecraft_K3] K3 Shipping Status Update
Our field testers are a very diligent and
experienced bunch. They've
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K3 Shipping Status Update
Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft
Our field testers are a very diligent and experienced bunch. They've
been working hard (on your behalf, as well as theirs) to exercise every possible K3 feature and uncover opportunities for refinement. The firmware development team (Wayne, N6KR, and Lyle, KK7P) has been putting in very long hours to keep up, and we've made some minor component changes as well. As a result, important features like FSK mode, text decode/display, flexible VOX control, KRC2 support and many others are being optimized under real-world conditions. We've also verified our performance on multiple K3s both in the lab and on the air. The field testers have really pounded on the user interface, and the tweaking we've done has made the radio both easier to use and more versatile. The same engineers who are doing firmware and hardware development are also heavily involved in completing the user documentation. This is why we haven't been able to release a draft owner's manual or assembly manual. We've got a lot of catching up to do on these tasks, so we're revising our target shipping date for the first K3 production run to start at the end of August. K3 materials purchasing and manufacturing is well underway and our staff has been working hard to make sure all of the key K3 components arrive in Aptos at the right time. This is a tremendous task, as you might imagine, and they have done an excellent job hunting down every problem supplier and component. Our production staff will use the extra time to build inventory and refine our automated K3 testing. This will allow us to minimize any delay to the second and later production runs. Our goal is to ship a stable, and high quality, product starting with the first one out the door. We think you will be pleased with our results. We appreciate your patience as we transition into full K3 production. We'll keep you informed of our progress, and look forward to your feedback on the manuals as they near completion. We've already had many offers to proofread -- thanks! 73, Wayne, N6KR Eric, WA6HHQ |
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(No subject)
Jos� Nunes
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Re: K3 Specifications (.pdf) posted on Elecraft website <eom>
bill_w4zv <w0zv@...>
--- In Elecraft_K3@..., "CR" <vk3he@...> wrote:
I agree with you, its an excellent result for the K3. I would ratherCraig you prompted me to go read the FT-2000 list. I had not seen Rob Sherwood's recent measurements. Here are the key results for anyone who has not seen them yet (not yet on his website but will be added soon): Dynamic Range 20 kHz 6k roofing 90 dB Dynamic Range 20 kHz 3k roofing 81 dB Dynamic Range 2 kHz 6k roofing 61 dB Dynamic Range 2 kHz 3k roofing 63 dB Blocking above noise floor at 100 kHz spacing, AGC On 120 dB Phase noise (normalized) at 10 kHz spacing: 122 dBc Noise floor, SSB bandwidth 14 MHz, Preamp Off -117 dBm Noise floor, SSB bandwidth 14 MHz, Preamp 1 On -124 dBm Noise floor, SSB bandwidth 14 MHz, Preamp 2 On -134 dBm These results are generally consistent with previous measurements by Inrad (W2VJN) and ARRL. There is surely some serious arm-waving going on trying to justify why these results are "superior regardless of what the numbers say"! :-) What a hoot to read. 73, Bill |
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Phase Noise Comments
bill_w4zv <w0zv@...>
Bob here are some comments by KI6WX on phase noise:
http://marc.info/?l=elecraft&m=117778876516891&w=2 http://marc.info/?l=elecraft&m=117798482609318&w=2 http://marc.info/?l=elecraft&m=117778132307209&w=2 http://marc.info/?l=elecraft&m=117778132307209&w=2 |
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Re: K3 Specifications (.pdf) posted on Elecraft website <eom>
bill_w4zv <w0zv@...>
--- In Elecraft_K3@..., "n7ua" <n7ua@...> wrote:
So far the K-3 looks good. The spec I would like to see now is phaseBob, I've seen two different comments on phase noise. One said it was at least 10 dB better and the other said something like 15-20 dB better. Someone asked if that was -140 dBC and whichever person responded (don't remember if Eric or Wayne or KI6WX) said they did not want to be pinned down at this time. KI6WX apparently designed the synthesizer and I believe he is the one who said it was at least 10 dB better than the K2. You might search phase noise on the main Elecraft reflector and find the actual comments, but I believe we will be pleasantly surprised. 73, Bill |
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Re: K3 Specifications (.pdf) posted on Elecraft website <eom>
n7ua <n7ua@...>
--- In Elecraft_K3@..., "bill_w4zv" <w0zv@...> wrote:
So far the K-3 looks good. The spec I would like to see now is phase noise. The K2 was limited by phase noise (according to the Sherwood Measurements) with otherwise a very strong front end. I hope the K-3 is as good as the Orion, which is very good in phase noise performance. Bob N7UA |
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Re: K3 preliminary Specs
N1EU <barry.n1eu@...>
--- In Elecraft_K3@..., "CR" <vk3he@...> wrote:
Actually, Wayne mentioned (http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/elecraft/2007-July/071030.html) a 10dB falloff in IMD from 5Khz to 2Khz, which would bring it in about the same as the Orion I/II at 2Khz. 73, Barry N1EU |
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K3 IRC
Thom LaCosta <lacosta@...>
I've created an IRC channel for K3 folks....one of the plusses is that you don't need an IRC client to access it. There's a web based access at
http://www.zerobeat.net/qrp/k3chat.html if you do have an irc client, you can reach the channel at irc.icq.com - /join #k3 IRC is a lot like the bands...if no one is logged on, there is no activity. Unlike radio, if someone is there, you'll see them. Enjoy 73,Thom-k3hrn www.zerobeat.net Home of QRP Web Ring, Drakelist home page,Drake Web Ring, QRP IRC channel, Drake IRC Channel, Elecraft Owners Database www.tlchost.net/hosting/ *** Web Hosting as low as 3.49/month |
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Re: [Elecraft_K3] Re: K3 preliminary Specs
Thom LaCosta <lacosta@...>
On Fri, 20 Jul 2007, CR wrote:
That's one reason the equipment rental business is healthy (g) 73,Thom-k3hrn www.zerobeat.net Home of QRP Web Ring, Drakelist home page,Drake Web Ring, QRP IRC channel, Drake IRC Channel, Elecraft Owners Database www.tlchost.net/hosting/ *** Web Hosting as low as 3.49/month |
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Re: K3 Specifications (.pdf) posted on Elecraft website <eom>
bill_w4zv <w0zv@...>
Even if the K3's IMD3 only equals Orion it will still be "good enough"
(i.e. excellent...as Orion is). In my opinion the real differentiator between the two rigs boil down to be ergonomics and firmware (plus the fact that the K3 has Sub RX performance equal to the Main RX, which is a major weakness of Orion). 73, Bill |
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Re: K3 Specifications (.pdf) posted on Elecraft website <eom>
bill_w4zv <w0zv@...>
--- In Elecraft_K3@..., "Simon Brown" <simon.brown@...> wrote:
http://radio.tentec.com/Amateur/Transceivers/TT565Simon, ARRL always measures IMD3 with any 500 Hz optional filters installed. For some reason, either due to measurement technique or equipment differences, Ten-Tec's IMD3 specs for both Orion and Orion II have always been optimistic by 6 to 8 dB. IMD3 performance at 2 kHz is typically 92 dB for Orion and 95 dB for Orion II, as measured by ARRL, Sherwood Engineering, RSGB (G3SJX in Radcom Magazine) and W8JI. Elecraft may have the same problem but we won't know until one of the independent testers posts some results. 73, Bill |
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Re: [Elecraft_K3] K3 Specifications (.pdf) posted on Elecraft website <eom>
Simon Brown <simon.brown@...>
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From: "Simon Brown" <simon.brown@...> Elecraft: http://www.elecraft.com/K3/K3_specs_072007.pdf |
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Re: [Elecraft_K3] K3 Specifications (.pdf) posted on Elecraft website <eom>
Simon Brown <simon.brown@...>
Elecraft: http://www.elecraft.com/K3/K3_specs_072007.pdf
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OrionII: http://radio.tentec.com/Amateur/Transceivers/TT565 Interesting - IMD3 dynamic range - The filter used in the Orion is not stated (or I didn't see it). Simon Brown, HB9DRV ----- Original Message -----
From: "bill_w4zv" <w0zv@...> |
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K3 Specifications (.pdf) posted on Elecraft website <eom>
bill_w4zv <w0zv@...>
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K3 preliminary Specs
n6jw
Well, here is the first part of what we are all waiting for. I will
NOT be bothering Elecraft with questions (as per Wayne's request), but discussion here is quite appropriate. 73 John, N6JW ----------------- wayne burdick n6kr at elecraft.com Fri Jul 20 16:33:22 EDT 2007 * Previous message: [Elecraft] Finger Dimple For Sale ;-) * Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ] On our K3 page, you'll now find a link to a .pdf version of the K3's preliminary specs. We'll add an HTML version, too, probably next week. Any of these specs may change pending further testing or design changes. PLEASE don't call or e-mail with questions about the specs. We'll add or update specs as time permits. Discussion about the specs is fine, of course and we'll be diligently reading the reflector. But I'd like to ask in advance that any *arguments* about specs be taken off-line, so Eric (our reflector cop) doesn't have to put the hammer down :) Comment about RX specs: Receive dynamic range (IMDDR3) is shown for 5 to 20 kHz offsets at present, with the 400-Hz INRAD filter. We're trying to be conservative, because testing organizations may get slightly different results due to variations in equipment and procedures. Our own tests, conducted at three separate locations, consistently show 102 to 105 dB at 5 kHz. We also didn't list 2 kHz offset performance yet, because we're carefully characterizing all filters. Typically, we're seeing low to mid 90's on all filters. (Measuring the K3's dynamic range has been a challenge because it's higher than anything we've dealt with before. We've had to beef up our test gear to handle it.) Again, please, NO phone calls or e-mails about specs -- this will just slow down the engineering and support staff. We're dealing with many details right about now, as you can imagine. Thanks! 73, Wayne N6KR |
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Chat Room
Ian J Maude <ian@...>
Hi all,
Please feel free if you wish to use the following address for K3 related chat. There is a server password of sysopok on it. irc.pa4ab.net 6667 Channel #K3 Ian -- Ian J Maude G0VGS SysOp GB7MBC DX Cluster Member of RSGB, ARRL, GQRP K2 #4044 | K3 #? |
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Re: [Elecraft_K3] Re: Good news... or bad?
Simon Brown <simon.brown@...>
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From: "Julian" <julian@...> I agree 100% - having lived my life shipping software products which are notorious for last-minute hitches (and the K3 has a LOT of software inside) I am very happy to wait until the end of August or even September if it means a less stressed-out Elecraft crew shipping a product they are happier with. Simon HB9DRV |
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Re: [Elecraft_K3] Re: Good news... or bad?
Toby Deinhardt
Hallo,
I am one of the people who sent their order to Elecraft within the first 24 or so hours after the announcement, and also I prepaid. I see no reason to be worried that the shipping date has slipped or will slip. According to Eric's last shipping status update, they are still on schedule and still have ten days to go. OTOH, if Elecraft feels they need a couple of extra weeks to perfect the radio, then I'm all for them taking the extra time. vy 73 de de toby PS: Nonetheless I wish I could already be studying the manuals... ;-) |
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