Posted: 4/4/2014 8:22:08 PM EDT
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I saw this on another board. What do you think?
Just saw this pop up on the elecraft site a few hours ago. PX3 panadapter.
$499 kit $589 built 
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I like it!
Combined with the KX3-2M & ATU you could have a very nice grab and go pelican box. Add a 7 or 10 inch tablet in the mix and you could have a very compact and portable digital station. I would have loved to have had something like this back when I was spending 3 months at a time outside the states. |
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Quoted:
WOW......kind of blows the idea of a QRP being a grab and go radio all to hell. That was my first thought as well. I'm guessing they are trying to sell the whole setup as a modular system. Use the KX3 + amp + panadapter at home. Then unplug the KX3 and go? I have to admit it looks like a regally fun setup...but the price of that whole package is a no-go for me. 
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Quoted:
That was my first thought as well. I'm guessing they are trying to sell the whole setup as a modular system. Use the KX3 + amp + panadapter at home. Then unplug the KX3 and go? I have to admit it looks like a regally fun setup...but the price of that whole package is a no-go for me. Quoted:
Quoted:
WOW......kind of blows the idea of a QRP being a grab and go radio all to hell. That was my first thought as well. I'm guessing they are trying to sell the whole setup as a modular system. Use the KX3 + amp + panadapter at home. Then unplug the KX3 and go? I have to admit it looks like a regally fun setup...but the price of that whole package is a no-go for me. The Elecraft Kool-Aid is tasty, but a bit expensive to say the least. I own a KPA500 HF amp and it was not a cheap purchase. The modular approach may appeal to some, but to me it looks a bit clunky. Having said that.....if you ever get a rig with a "Fish Finder" you won't ever want to operate radio blind again. 
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Quoted:
That was my first thought as well. I'm guessing they are trying to sell the whole setup as a modular system. Use the KX3 + amp + panadapter at home. Then unplug the KX3 and go? I have to admit it looks like a regally fun setup...but the price of that whole package is a no-go for me. Quoted:
Quoted:
WOW......kind of blows the idea of a QRP being a grab and go radio all to hell. That was my first thought as well. I'm guessing they are trying to sell the whole setup as a modular system. Use the KX3 + amp + panadapter at home. Then unplug the KX3 and go? I have to admit it looks like a regally fun setup...but the price of that whole package is a no-go for me. Elecraft makes nice gear, and they sure seem to have no trouble getting their asking price. Amateur radio has always been a little pricey (as most hobbies are). I actually like the modular system on the KX3 lineup, You could have a full blown station at home then just grab the KX3 or all of it and hook it up how you want as conditions allow. |
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The modular approach may appeal to some, but to me it looks a bit clunky. I agree. Having options is great, and different strokes for different folks. But I just don't see the appeal of trying to turn a portable QRP radio into a base station. Just buy the K3 and be done with it. And I think a lot of people forget just how small the K3 is. It is only 10" X 10" X 4". It makes a pretty good portable radio by itself. And that's one of the reasons so many DXpeditions use it. |
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I agree. Having options is great, and different strokes for different folks. But I just don't see the appeal of trying to turn a portable QRP radio into a base station. Just buy the K3 and be done with it. And I think a lot of people forget just how small the K3 is. It is only 10" X 10" X 4". It makes a pretty good portable radio by itself. And that's one of the reasons so many DXpeditions use it. Quoted:
Quoted:
The modular approach may appeal to some, but to me it looks a bit clunky. I agree. Having options is great, and different strokes for different folks. But I just don't see the appeal of trying to turn a portable QRP radio into a base station. Just buy the K3 and be done with it. And I think a lot of people forget just how small the K3 is. It is only 10" X 10" X 4". It makes a pretty good portable radio by itself. And that's one of the reasons so many DXpeditions use it. The 100W K3 is $2100, the KX3 is $900. That's a pretty sizable difference to me. Even the 10W K3 is $1600, that's still a big chunk of change for me. All prices are for kits. |
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Quoted:
I agree. Having options is great, and different strokes for different folks. But I just don't see the appeal of trying to turn a portable QRP radio into a base station. Just buy the K3 and be done with it. And I think a lot of people forget just how small the K3 is. It is only 10" X 10" X 4". It makes a pretty good portable radio by itself. And that's one of the reasons so many DXpeditions use it. Quoted:
Quoted:
The modular approach may appeal to some, but to me it looks a bit clunky. I agree. Having options is great, and different strokes for different folks. But I just don't see the appeal of trying to turn a portable QRP radio into a base station. Just buy the K3 and be done with it. And I think a lot of people forget just how small the K3 is. It is only 10" X 10" X 4". It makes a pretty good portable radio by itself. And that's one of the reasons so many DXpeditions use it. I see lots of appeal to it. If I didn't have a base station that I was happy with I would use that setup in a heart beat. I plan on getting a KX3 in the future anyway to take hiking and camping. The amp that goes with it is really impressive. It is a small modular package that wouldn't take up much desk space and since the components are separate they can be arranged around. If you don't plan on doing any /p stuff then it would make since to just get a K3 but unless you can drop $4k on both the KX3 seems like it would make a decent base station. 
There are some wires, but none of them are anything crazy that you couldn't cut to fit your own install. At around $2k you would have a very good base station and top of the line /p station.. |
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Sitting next to the laptop it really shows just how small the KX3 really is.
I can see using it for QRP/Portable, but I don't think it would be something that I could enjoy as the daily driver. The small form factor is just not good for me.....now take that KX3 SDR concept and upscale it to a K3 size radio and I would be all over it. 
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fify 
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Touche. |
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Maybe not, but I did 
ETA - I'm going to need a bigger Pelican Case and I hope I get this in time for Field Day... Quoted:
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So the question is has BD ordered one yet? Maybe not, but I did
ETA - I'm going to need a bigger Pelican Case and I hope I get this in time for Field Day... I'm sure you will enjoy it. I really like my P3, and the PX3 looks very similar |
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Maybe not, but I did
ETA - I'm going to need a bigger Pelican Case and I hope I get this in time for Field Day... Quoted:
Quoted:
So the question is has BD ordered one yet? Maybe not, but I did
ETA - I'm going to need a bigger Pelican Case and I hope I get this in time for Field Day... What size? |
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What size? Quoted:
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SNIP ETA - I'm going to need a bigger Pelican Case and I hope I get this in time for Field Day... What size? Honestly, I don't know just yet. The problem is I've been designing this box for two years - I need a clean way of getting to the radio without it being like 6 inches above the desk or sunk 6 inches in the case. I'll probably start another thread on this topic so as not to steal BD's thunder! |
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Quoted:
Maybe not, but I did
ETA - I'm going to need a bigger Pelican Case and I hope I get this in time for Field Day... Quoted:
Quoted:
So the question is has BD ordered one yet? Maybe not, but I did
ETA - I'm going to need a bigger Pelican Case and I hope I get this in time for Field Day... LOL! No, I didn't order one. I have to play with the toys I already have for now.
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I'll probably start another thread on this topic so as not to steal BD's thunder! Be my guest, echomancer. I have no thunder invested.
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