Every model has three or four questions that decide what it's worth. Generic listings never ask them. This does.
Everybody tries to hide. But if you answer all the questions and you've truly got a nice radio, the answers let it demand a good price. Leave them blank, and the rig prices itself at the "unknown" discount — fair, but lower. Either way, nobody gets fooled.
Sellers: pick your model, answer honestly, and get a condition report you can paste into any listing anywhere. Buyers: the same questions are your checklist — if a listing can't answer them, price it like the answer is no.
Buying one of these? Ask every question on its list before money moves.
The money question: Are the finals original Japanese, and what's left in them?
• Final tubes — Original Japanese 6JS6C (Toshiba/NEC) / Replaced — Japanese NOS / Replaced — other brand / Don't know
• 10m output (dummy load)
• 20m output (dummy load)
• Ever converted to 11 meters (CB)? — No / Yes / Don't know
• Recapped (power-supply electrolytics)? — Yes, professionally / Yes, by me / No / Don't know
• VFO drift/warble after 30-min warm-up? — No / Slightly / Yes / Not tested
• Every band transmits AND receives? — All bands / One or more dead
• Other modifications
• Smoke-free home? — Yes / No
Logged sales are still thin for this one (1 recorded sale at $250) — on this rig, the answers ARE the price.
The money question: Which options are inside? Two K3s can differ by $800 of options.
• Serial number
• KSYN3A synthesizer upgrade? — Yes / No — original synthesizers / Don't know
• 100W PA (KPA3) installed? — Yes / No — 10W version
• Auto tuner (KAT3) installed? — Yes / No
• Sub-receiver (KRX3) installed? — Yes / No
• Roofing filters fitted
• Digital I/O board — KIO3B (USB) / KIO3 (serial) / Don't know
• Known issues (display, encoders, audio)
Fair value from 8 recorded sales: $1,339 typical (range $949–$2,599 — the wide spread is the options).
The money question: Early unit or late unit — and has it been opened for a MARS mod?
• Firmware version
• Clock keeps time while off? (internal battery) — Yes / No / Never checked
• MARS/CAP wideband mod done? — No / Yes / Don't know
• Ever driven an amplifier? ALC overshoot? — Never used with an amp / Used with amp, no issues / Yes, overshoot
• Touchscreen fully responsive, no burn-in? — Yes / Issues (describe in notes)
• Full output — 100W HF, 50W 6m? — Yes / Reduced / Not measured
• Original box, mic, power cable? — All included / Some missing
Fair value from 8 recorded sales: $738 typical (range $500–$850).
The money question: The finals. They're discontinued — a blown PA makes it a parts rig.
• Full output all bands (100W HF / 50W 2m / 20W 70cm)? — Yes, all bands / Weak on one or more / Not measured
• Separation cable + faceplate included? — Yes / No — faceplate on body only
• Faceplate latch firm, display steady? — Yes / Issues
• DSP unit (UT-106) fitted? — Yes / No / Don't know
• Optional filters (FL-100/101, FL-223)
• Fan normal, never shut down from heat? — Yes / Fan or heat issues
• Ever run mobile? — Yes / No — base only
Fair value from 3 recorded sales: $475 typical (range $425–$480).
The money question: The ceramic filters — a known failure makes the main receiver go deaf or distorted.
• Main receiver clean on all bands? (ceramic-filter check) — Clean / Deaf or distorted on some bands / Repaired — filters replaced
• 1.2 GHz module (UT-20) installed? — Yes / No
• Sub-receiver works (incl. FM/airband)? — Yes / No
• Satellite full-duplex cross-band works? — Yes / Not tested
• Built-in TNC works (packet/APRS)? — Yes / No / Not tested
• Full output (100W HF/6m/2m, 50W 70cm)? — Yes / Reduced / Not measured
• Serial number
Fair value from 46 recorded sales: $820 typical.
The money question: The display. These LCDs develop missing lines with age.
• Display perfect — no missing lines? — Perfect / Missing lines
• Full output (100W HF / 50W 2m / 20W 70cm)? — Yes / Reduced / Not measured
• DSP working? — Yes / No
• Optional filters (YF-122C / YF-122S)
• Separation kit (YSK-857) included? — Yes / No
• Knobs/buttons — any skipping or dead keys? — All good / Issues
• MARS/CAP mod done? — No / Yes / Don't know
• Fan runs and cycles normally? — Yes / No
Fair value from 3 recorded sales: $775 typical (range $750–$820).
The money question: It's a 200W rig that needs BOTH power inputs fed — and it's two boxes, not one.
• Both DC power cables included? — Yes / No
• Verified 200W output? — Yes / Less / Not measured
• Remote head + separation cable included? — Yes / No — head on body
• Head mounting bracket included? — Yes / No
• TCXO (SO-3) installed? — Yes / No / Don't know
• Voice recorder (VGS-1) installed? — Yes / No / Don't know
• Filters (YF-107 series)
• Ever run mobile? — Yes / No — base only
Fair value from 3 recorded sales: $1,000 typical (range $750–$1,000) for a working unit.
The money question: The control head is half the radio — is its cable there and healthy?
• Control head cable included, undamaged? — Yes / No
• Touchscreen head responsive, display clean? — Yes / Issues
• Full output (100W HF / 50W 2m / 35W 70cm)? — Yes / Reduced / Not measured
• D-STAR works? — Yes / Never used / No
• Firmware current? — Yes / No / Don't know
• MARS mod done? — No / Yes / Don't know
• Fan noise or overheating on long TX? — No / Yes
• Original mic (HM-198) + mounts? — All included / Some missing
Fair value from 29 recorded sales: $781 typical (range $450–$1,050).
The money question: The head is a touchscreen computer — GPS, display, and the cable decide it.
• Separation cable + head mount included? — Yes / No
• Touchscreen responsive, no delamination? — Yes / Issues
• GPS in head locks position? — Yes / No / Not tested
• D-STAR works, repeater list loads? — Yes / Never used / No
• Bluetooth board (UT-133) installed? — Yes / No / Don't know
• Full output — 50W on 2m and 70cm? — Yes / Reduced / Not measured
• Firmware current? — Yes / No / Don't know
• Original mic (HM-207S) included? — Yes / No
Fair value: $455 typical (recorded range $400–$530).
The money question: What it actually delivers under load — a tired linear supply sags and hums.
• Output voltage under load (radio transmitting)
• Hum or buzz (unit itself or in TX audio)? — None / Yes
• Both meters accurate (volts + amps)? — Yes / One is off
• Ever shorted, repaired, pass transistors replaced? — No / Yes / Don't know
• Binding posts tight, no heat discoloration? — Yes / Issues
• Ever shut down (thermal) on a long TX? — No / Yes
• How was it used?
Fair value: $250 typical (recorded range $159–$340).