QST reviews KX3 on Dec, 2012 – SDR with a 0 Hz IF – KX3 Datasheet & Schematics

KX3 a SDR with a ØHz IF (Direct Conversion) – QST Magazine reviews the Elecraft KX3 HF and 6 Meter QRP 10W on Dec., 2012 by W1ZR, Joel and K1RO, Mark. – IMD3 dynamic range, Blocking gain compression and Reciprocal mixing it is at the “top of the heap”! – See below the QST 14MHz Key Summary and Internal pictures.  Watch  the Video KX3 with iSDR app. Link to Schematics & Block Diagram pdf !

QST 12月号のProduct ReviewにKX3が掲載されます。

See the December 2012 issue of QST magazine for the complete review and ARRL Lab test results – [Note] Area Members Only.
Link to: ARRL – American Radio Relay League for Amateur Radio

The authors write: To say that the KX3 is a Direct Conversion Radio misses the point. It would probably be more descriptive to say that the KX3 is a Software Defined Radio (SDR) with a Ø Hz IF and I/Q quadrature component receiver processing that provides single-signal reception. Those signals allow a PC running your SDR software to display the spectrum and usual rig control management. – Elecraft provides your choice of a cable that connects to a PC USB2 port or an RS-232 socket (add. $29.95 or so!) -

Link to: Elecraft KX3 the Schematics & Block Diagram pdf (ENG)

Link to: Elecraft KX3 Datasheet (pdf 5.5MB) ver. May 2012 (ENG)

Source: QST Reviews, we show only… the Key figures at 14 MHz

• Band: 14 MHz – Pre OFF - (500 Hz BW,  500 Hz  roofing filter)
• Spacing 20 kHz blocking gain compression….130 dB
• Spacing    2 kHz blocking gain compression….128 dB
• Spacing 20 kHz 3rd-order dynamic range…….103 dB
• Spacing    2 kHz 3rd-order dynamic range….…100 dB
• Spacing 20 kHz 3rd-order intercept…………..+34 dBm
• Spacing    2 kHz 3rd-order intercept…………..+34 dBm

How To Connect Elecraft KX3 To iPad by WD9E - This video shows how to use the iSDR app with the Elecraft KX3 SDR Transceiver – (a great video, thanks WD9E!)

Link to: QST Reviews the Kenwood TS.590S on May, 2011 (TS-590 > K3 Key)
Link to: QST Magazine Product Reviews Key Soummary List by PA1HR, Hans

[Note] All marks are property of their respective owners. – Specifications are subject to change without notice!  - This page is just a non-official overview, where no one should draw any conclusions.  -  Non si assume alcuna responsabilità per eventuali inesattezze nella visualizzazione dei dati e notizie. (Tnx)

K3 the 700 Hz 8-Pole Roofing Filter INRAD – KAT500 Auto-Tuner – K3-Remote & K3/0

Elecraft ® K3 Transceiver: new Custom 700 Hz 8-Pole Roofing Filter by INRAD a useful CW/DATA filter bandwidth (…500 Hz Olivia modes etc!) and helpful for non-pileup DX work – New KAT500 Auto-Tuner that can be used with both the K3 – KPA500 and all other HF – The K3-Remote & K3/Ø ! – See the news and link below !

unpcbs™  (trademarks of Ken Kaplan and Gary Hvizdak) writing this:  6 November 2012 – In­stead of re­quir­ing 20 pre­or­ders (as we had orig­i­nal­ly ad­ver­tised), we have de­cid­ed to com­mis­sion the third batch of 700 Hz Elecraft® K3 filters when we reach 14 pre­or­ders.
At the cur­rent av­er­age month­ly pre­or­der rate, that should hap­pen with­in a few weeks at most and pos­si­bly with­in a few days.. etc.
Read more news, Term of Sale, Frequently Asked Questions and App Notes by link

Link to official web-page unpcbs™ 700 Hz Elecraft® K3 filters

KAT500 Auto-Tuner & Smart Antenna Switch - (Source Elecraft ® website)
The new KAT500 uses the same topology and performance tuning algorithms as the 100W autotuner in the K3. Typical matching range at 500 W is up to 10:1 on most bands.

Frequency Typical Matching Range and Power Limit:
1.8 — 2MHz 600W into 10 to 500 Ohms (5:1 Low Impedance, 10:1 High Impedance SWR) / 3 — 30 MHz 600W into 5 to 500 Ohms (10:1 SWR) / 1000W into 16 to 150 Ohms (3:1 SWR ) / 1000W into 16 to 150 Ohms (3:1 SWR ) and  30 — 60MHz 500W into 5:1 SWR (10 to 250 Ohms)
The KAT500 measures transmit frequency to automatically select tuning memories and antennas – The KAT500 can tune with 10 W but we recommend 20 W to 100 W for best tuning accuracy – The KAT500 has a front panel SWR display and three selectable antenna outputs.  -
Link to: Elecraft ® KAT500 official web-page
Link to: Elecraft ® KAT500 Owner’s Manual

Elecraft ® K3-Remote (including K3/Ø Remote control Head !) - This may include: 

-  Two RemoteRig RRC-1258MkII (picture below) units that provide the interface to the internet; one for the remote location and one for the local (control) location
- RRMTCBL cable set to connect the remote RRC-1258 unit to the remote K3.
- K3/0 Remote control Head.
- RRK0CBL cable set to connect a local K3/0 as the controller.
- RRK3CBL cable set to connect a local K3 as the controller.

When paired with the RemoteRig internet control system (also sold by Elecraft®) this K3 Remote system can connect your local K3 or K3/Ø to a remote K3 over the internet, including transmit and receive audio, without the need or complexity of setting up computers on each end. The K3 Remote system provides a real radio feel with immediate control feedback and very fast response times
The K3/Ø, or a regular a K3 in ‘terminal mode’, provides a unique real time remote control experience for operating a K3 located in the next room, or across the country. – [Note] The latest K3 firmware supports a compact remote control serial protocol – (Source Elecraft ® website)

Link to:  Elecraft ® K3-Remote K3 – more news and informations
Link to: RemoteRig K3-Twin Power Modification (Old RRC boards)
Link to: Official RemoteRig Website

[Note] All specifications are subject to change without notice – All trademarks belong to their respective holders -  These events and news are reported for information only!

STØR South Sudan QRT Total QSO’s: 121.286! – With K3 – IC-7200 – Acom

STØR – The first DX-pedition in Southern Sudan has finished its work. Excellent result of all the teams: Totale QSO’s 121.286 in Database – 27.994 Unique Callsigns – 176 DXCC – 40 CQ Zones - last QSO at 10/08/2011 @ 07:01. – Thanks to: DXFriends, Intrepi-DX, Sponsors and the teams.

Link to: DXFriends Official Log web-page to find a Qso with ST0R 

STØR - La prima DX-pedition in Sud Sudan ha terminato la sua missione. Un ottimo successo dei due team: complessivamente 121.286 QSO nel STØR Database – 27.994 Unique Callsigns – 176 DXCC – 40 CQ Zones –  ultimo QSO alle ore 07:01 del 10/08/2011 poi QRT  - Grazie a: DXFriends, Intrepi-DX, agli Sponsors ed ai teams, compreso l’operatore italiano IN3ZMR, Fabrizio (qui sotto la sua foto  selezionata dal sito web ufficiale)

Qui di seguito due immagini, tratte dal sito ufficiale www.dxfriends/SoutherSudan2011 per soddisfare una prima curiosità, infatti si possono vedere una parte degli apparati che la DX-Pedition ha dichiarato di utilizzare in queste settimane di intenso traffico, compresi i 6mt, oltre naturalmente per mettere in evidenzia l’operatore italiano che fa parte del team DXFriends:
Transceivers: 1 x IC-7000 2 x IC-7200 Icom e 3 x K3 Elecraft  - Amplifiers: 2 x Acom 1010 and Others, tutto il resto e le  antenne, dalle Hexbeam alle Spiderbeam ecc. sono sul sito ufficiale.

Elecraft KX3 Transceiver (architettura SDR) e KXPA100 a Dayton 2011 – Video and Link

The new Elecraft KX3 only 0,7 kg! - Totally different architecture than the Elecraft K3, of course (Wayne N6KR) – Availability towards end of 2011. – Firmware updateable – Large custom LCD – The revolutionary Elecraft KX3 puts the world in the palm of your hand! (Soursce: Elecraft US)

KX3 Ultra-compact  10W, 160-6m transceiver a 32-bit DSP/SDR IQ, all modes SSB/CW/AM/FM/DATA (including built-in PSK31 and RTTY encode/ decode) – The optional KXPA100 100W amplifair with ATU is in an external box. -!! See the video below for a pretty outline of features by N6KR, Wayne. – - (Click the mini-picture to enlarge front panel)

Link to: Elecraft KX3 Transceiver – Preliminary information and Sign-up Form

KX3 Preliminary informations: Quadrature down-sampling mixer compatible with PC-based SDR applications – Receiver I/Q outputs for use with PC saundcard –  Narrow roofing filter option with four bw (500 Hz, 1500 Hz, 2.7 kHz, 3.8 kHz)  - Switchable Pre-amp (2 levels) and attenuator (2 levels) -
Advanced DSP provides dual watch over +/- 10 kHz range, PBT for Shift/Width/Hicut/Loct,  noise reduction, noise blanking, autonotch – Software-defined radio (SDR) architecture plus Roofing filter (KXFL3) for excellent dynamic rang – Operate in data mode (PSK31/RTTY) with or without a PC –  For extreme portability,  you can add the internal wide-range ATU, 8-AA cell battery pack with NiMH charger, and adjustable KXPD3 keyer paddle !!

Link to: Elecraft XG3 RF Programmable Signal Source official web

Video: Montaggio del K3 Elecraft; This will help anyone thinking… Elecraf K3

Elecraft K3 Transceiver: QST 04/2008 K3 Review.. the results are impressive: 14MHz IMD DR = 102dB at 2 kHz spacing!

Sulla rivista della ARRL, QST di aprile 2008 è riportata la Review del Transceiver HF 50MHz della Elecraft Mod. K3, con risultati impressionanti per l’alta qualità delle misure Two-Tone IMD Testing, IP3, Blocking gain compression: 20/5/2 offset: 139/139/139 dB! and Reciprocal Mixing (500HzBW) 20/5/2 offset: -116/-106/-95 dBc. Testing QST open version with permission from ARRL 
Link to:  Download the ARRL QST Elecraft K3 Review (.pdf)

ENG: The Elecraft Mod. K3 is all modes SSB, CW, Data, AM, FM 100W (or 10W upgradeable) models, 32-Bit floating point IF DSP, High performance DDS/PLL synthesizer with TCXO, Built-in PSK RTTY decode/encode allows data mode operation with or without a PC and more;