[CQ-Contest] FTDX 3000 as a contest radio?

[Bill Mader]

Good question Dave,

 

I had the opportunity to bring my K3 to a local FD site where an IC-7600 was
the "primary" radio, used exclusively for SSB and PSK-31.  I ran CW
exclusively on the K3 with a short stint on SSB with the 7600 during a very
long op change.

 

I had some minor desense on the K3 from the 7600 and continued operating.
The 7600's receiver completely crashed if I keyed up on the same band, but
in the CW sub-band.  This is with the original K3 synthesizer which I have
yet to replace.  BTW, I kicked the other radio's butt in QSO's/hour, even
though there were about eight ops on that radio.

 

I experience similar symptoms at another station with the same radios.
We'll use the K-Line as the primary rig the last weekend of this month and
the 7600 for finding mults.  The K-Line integration makes band changes so
much easier!

 

If you want to run more than one radio at-a-time or have a neighbor who also
contests, I would be very concerned about dynamic range and look closely at
Rob Sherwood's receiver performance tests prior to plunking down my
hard-earned cash.

 

I bought my first K3 after I witnessed several of them and a K2 operate
together at FD.  We frequently had three K3's on 20m (SSB, CW, and GOTA)
with no problems among them.  Antennas separation was about 700 ft.    After
someone kicked off one SSB K3 power supply and the battery rand down to 10
VDC, the CW guys complained about "hash" which a switched on supply
"squelched."  And, the K3 is much improved now with the new synthesizer!

 

Yes, I frequently drink Elecraft Kool-Aid and own a bunch of their gear.
Still, it's performance that matters most to me and the K3 has proven to
come out on top in multi-multi environments. 

 

I compared the IC-7300 and K3 in one of my HF University presentations at
the Duke City Hamfest this past August.  While a fine radio for the price,
there is no performance comparison.  Elecraft haters (there are some whom I
know) would disagree, of course.  And, if one amortizes the radio's cost
over ten years, the annual difference in cost is well worth the improved
performance, IMHO.

 

73, Bill, K8TE

Faith, Family, Radio-Life is Good!

 

Message: 8

Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2017 15:14:59 -0700

From: David Gilbert <xdavid at cis-broadband.com>

To: cq-contest at contesting.com

Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] FTDX 3000 as a contest radio?

Message-ID: <0600986e-f566-133f-8170-f4b82881df27 at cis-broadband.com>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed

 

 

How in the world did you ever get the idea that dynamic range wasn't
important for contesting?? I'm truly curious.

 

Dave?? AB7E

 

 

 

On 10/17/2017 6:01 PM, Keith Dutson wrote:

> I think the actual contesters do not really care what is posted on 

> this reflector.  Postings seem to follow popularity, which often is 

> biased by numbers such as dynamic range, that have little to do with
contesting.

> These numbers are not important to contesting, just bragging rights.

> 

> 73, Keith NM5G