Carr,
The reason for the K3 comment was that I have been using it for a long time (serial number 98) and am extremely familiar with what it can do. The update of the new synthesizer made it even a better receiver.? Plus, I have the mic parameters adjusted for best contest audio for my voice.? In addition it has a true analog roofing filter in the front end.
Realize that this is the first time I have operated QRP in a contest...always run 100W.? I know that I can be heard on the West Coast on 40M with that 100W coupled into a PAR QUAD end-fed antenna.
The band noise level at the beach is around S2 on 40M versus my home QTH with S5-9 line noise.? I did not try the NR or NB during the contest, never really saw a need for either feature.? I have not found NR to be very helpful with weak signals in crowded band conditions.? My problem was not hearing...it was being heard.
I had an antenna switch that allowed me to quickly switch between comparison radios while listening to some weak signals.? The contrast between the two radios while listening to the same weak signal just above the band noise was very close, with the K3 providing a slightly more readable audio.? Now, the question is...is this an RF or AF characteristic of the radio.? Another question...is with even lower band noise, will the contrast be greater?? That is one reason I checked 10M a few times to see if I could find a weak signal.? The band noise on 10 was well below S1.
I feel that with a better mic element and more tweaking of the mic gain and compression within the TX-500, I can improve the readability of my transmitted signal.
The features that sold me on the K3 was the ability to operate on a very crowded band and not realize how crowded things were when working weak signals.? Signals outside the roofing filter bandpass do not impact the ability to work weak stations right down to the noise level.? And the K3 internal noise level is much lower than other radios I have used, such that there is another level of signals that can be worked.
As for what radio to purchase, it really comes down to how much money you can spend and what your primary usage will be.? Also, remember that the radio alone is not the sole determining factor.? You need to consider what antennas you can reasonably buy and erect and the noise levels that you will find.? As a primary usage for contesting, I want the best receiver possible to withstand crowded band conditions, have the lowest internal noise level, and the best transmit audio.? You have to hear and understand the weakest signals, but also be clearly heard.? Remember, you may be at the band noise level on the other end.? I have found that true RF speech processors are better than the cheaper audio speech processors.
So...why did I buy the TX-500?? I wanted to play with a new small radio that was different and would be a good unit to do some POTA efforts near my home QTH.? Since I already had a KX3, I was not really interested in the Icom IC-705 which is even bigger.? The fact that I can use the TX-500 for some contest activities is 'icing on the cake'!? Oh...I plan to use an amplifier (Hard Rock 50, Tokyo HL45B and Elecraft KXPA-100 in the stable) the next time I do a contest with the TX-500.? But, maybe the QRP bug has bitten me now!
And, I am awaiting fellow contester's comments on the new Elecraft K4 and it's various versions.
73,
Henry - K4TMC
(in case you did not notice, I do not operate CW, digital, RTTY, etc.)
Los AE2W