The KX3's unique form-factor allows you to operate from anywhere. Fold out the rear tilt-feet for use on a desktop or picnic table. For extreme portability, you can add the internal wide-range ATU, 8-AA cell battery pack with NiMH charger, and adjustable KXPD3 keyer paddle. With a whip antenna, you can even operate hand-held.
In receive mode, current drain can be as low as 150 mA - about one-half to one-third that of competing all-band portables. Transmit efficiency is also excellent, further improving battery life.
Full-Featured, Yet Easy to Use
The KX3 features a large front panel with all controls optimized for convenient use. You won't have to dig through menus to set the power level, adjust the keyer speed, or change filter settings. And the KX3 has the same full-size display as the Elecraft K3S, so all operating information is available at a glance.
The KX3's tutorial-style manual explains how and why controls are used, so new Hams will be experts in no time. Of course, you'll also have Elecraft's legendary customer support and free firmware upgrades via the internet.
KX2 vs KX3: Which one should I buy? Learn More
Packages come factory assembled or as a kit.
KX3 PACK |
KX3 Shack-in-a-Pack |
KX3 160-6 M All Mode Transceiver |
KX3 160-6 M All Mode Transceiver |
KXAT3 Internal 20-W Automatic Antenna Tuner | PX3 Panadapter for KX3 |
KXBC3 Internal NiMH Charger / Real-Time Clock | KXFL3 KX3 Dual-Passband Roofing Filter |
MH3 Hand Mic | KXAT3 20 Watt Internal Automatic Antenna Tuner |
ES80 Carrying Case | KXBC3 Battery Charger |
Package Savings! | BNC-RA Male-Female Right Angle |
BNC-BP M-Binding Posts | |
BNC-UHF Adapter | |
KX3-PCKT Accessory Cable Kit | |
MH3 Hand Mic | |
ES80 Carrying Case | |
The Elecraft KX-Line Book by Fred Cady | |
|
Package Savings! |
Our Power Supply Combo is the perfect Accessory for the Shack-in-a-Pack. |
KX3 PACK & SHACK options cannot be substituted for other options or accessories. AX1 in KX3 Shack-In-A-Pack photo is not included in the package.
Receiver
Transmitter
Other Features
A: Yes. The module is about the size of a credit card and only about 1/8 (4 mm) thick. It fits on top of the KXAT3 ATU module, and does not displace any of the other internal options.
A: RF power output is 2.5 W minimum (2.5 - 3 W typical) from an external 13.8 V supply , and 1 to 1.5 watts from internal batteries.
A: Typical MDS in either the 2-meter or 4-meter ham band is about -144 to -145 dBm.
A: On 2 meters: About 120 to 165 MHz, allowing copy of weather-band stations at 162 MHz, airport tower AM in the 120 MHz range, etc. On 4 meters: About 65-72 MHz. Sensitivity gradually falls off outside the associated ham bands.
A: Yes. The KX3 provides excellent repeater support, including programmable offsets, PL tones, REVerse, and up to 100 general-purpose labeled memories. Memories can be grouped for scanning and manual channel-hopping. For European transverters, the KX3 provides a 1750-Hz tone burst selection. This can be set up to generate an 0.5-second tone burst at the beginning of each transmission. The user can also hold the PITCH switch indefinitely in order to generate longer tone pulses, if necessary. Also see the SLEEP settings description in the next item (below).
A: Yes. We're adding a menu entry to control this. When the signal is turned on, 5 volts (through a 4-kohm series resistor) is applied to the SMA jack. This can be used to control external devices such as a higher-band transverter, amplifier, or antenna switch.
A: Total transceiver current drain is typically 300-350 mA on receive and 1.7 A on transmit at 3 watts, running from a 14 V supply. This is a bit higher than on the HF/6-m bands because we incorporated a high-dynamic-range, low-noise amplifier (LNA) in the front end.
There are also SLEEP settings that apply in FM mode (when the receiver is squelched) that can reduce average current drain by up to 50%, depending on the SLEEP time selected by the user.
A: Filtering is included at all stages of the receive path, including a 10-element band-pass filter ahead of the mixer. But because the module is so small, there's no room for a high-Q, tuned band-pass filter at the input; instead, we use low-loss low- and high-pass filters to preserve sensitivity. To reduce the need for narrow input filtering, we used a high-intercept LNA (low-noise amp). This increases current drain of the radio on 2 and 4 meters somewhat compared to other bands, but we felt it was an acceptable tradeoff.
Since the KX3-2M/4M module has its own antenna jack, you could use an external high-performance 144-148 or 70-71 MHz band-pass filter if required.
A: Standard (uncompensated) frequency stability is sufficient for FM or AM operation. For CW/SSB/data use, it will be necessary to perform the KX3's extended VFO temperature compensation procedure, providing typical stability of about 10 Hz on 2 or 4 meters. This range is compatible with 170-Hz-shift RTTY but may not be compatible with some narrowband modes such as JT65 and WSPR.
A: Yes, in general, though it is important to distinguish between frequency-mixing transverters and frequency-multiplying transverters. If your high-band transverter uses a mixer (as most do), with the 2-/4-meter module's output used additively rather than with multiplication, then the total frequency stability will be a simple sum of the 2- or 4-meter module's and the transverter's. If however the high-band transverter uses frequency multiplication of the 2- or 4-meter I.F., the total stability can be a multiple of what is described above, and it may or may not suffice for your application. (Frequency-multiplication transverters are pretty rare these days, and are typically limited to CW use only.)
A: Yes; the KX3's numeric keypad can be used to enter DTMF tones. After holding down PTT, tap "FREQ ENT" to enable DTMF entry, tap the desired digits (or hold for longer tones), then release PTT. All special DTMF characters are available on other KX3 switches: ATU TUNE (*), MSG (#), MODE (A), A/B (B), DATA (C), A>B (D).
A: Some short-range emissions from the KX3-2M module maybe be unavoidable, depending on your station configuration. It may be possible to reduce specific emissions by relocating one antenna or adding filtering to power or control cables. (The KX3 uses lightweight sheet metal construction consistent with its primary function as ultraportable HF QRP rig, and it is not practical to provide 100% shielding at VHF.)