Bill, True, true -- but the situation with the KX3 is different than what has transpired with previous products. Previously, the conversations of the Field Testers have been on a private forum. While that is still true with the KX3, there is a lot more information that is "in the open". My guess is that it is due to the KX3 Yahoo Group, where a lot of questions are posed. Wayne and Eric have been willing to respond to a number of those questions, and I believe that has set the stage for the present level of 'openness'.
From my standpoint, "Thank You other Elecraft customers" for being patient while the process of final development, Field Test, and production ramp-up are taking place. There are a few that expect immediate results to problems, but for the most part, customers have been very accepting of the inevitable delays in (optimistic) plans, and the resulting turmoil that each delay can create inside Elecraft. Delays in the original plan (SWAG) are inevitable. It is impossible to attempt to predict the schedule of another company ( read 'supplier') until you have commitments for price, quantity and schedule in place, and that is difficult to accomplish unless you have real numbers that the supplier can quote on. That is only one of the possible things that can happen. I have observed that the KX3 plan and schedule has been more open and transparent than most previous products. Whether that is good or bad depends on the customer acceptance of supplier delays, field test reports that result in tweaks to the product, or problems in training new people to enable ramp up to full production status. So far "all is well", but the future remains to be seen. 73, Don W3FPR On 5/7/2012 10:25 PM, Bill Frantz wrote: > As a retired software developer, what amazes me is the way Wayne > and company are performing their beta test. No NDA. It looks > like almost anyone can sign up. Problems and future intentions > are discussed in a public forum. I am blown away that a company > would act this way. It is very refreshing. > > Cheers - Bill, AE6JV > > On 5/7/12 at 14:41, estept...@gmail.com (Tony Estep) wrote: > >> This is a real-life example of a terrific attitude toward customer >> satisfaction. When this issue was first raised, the company could have been >> defensive and simply asserted that there was no problem -- those of us who >> have been doing this for a while can easily think of nearly identical >> situations wherein other ham manufacturers have done exactly that. Indeed, >> there were comments on this reflector offhandedly dismissing the queries >> about "signal mush." But not from the design team; they took it to heart >> and dug through the problem with a serious desire to replicate it if >> possible, and to figure out the source and attack it. And did it right in >> the middle of the big production crunch with the KX3, and with no specific >> financial payoff in mind. The payoff is in knowing that no stone has been >> left unturned to make the K3 the best DX/contest machine it can be, and >> that the hams who appreciate that will spread the word. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Bill Frantz | The first thing you need when | Periwinkle > (408)356-8506 | using a perimeter defense is a | 16345 > Englewood Ave > www.pwpconsult.com | perimeter. | Los Gatos, > CA 95032 > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
