Dave, I have to agree. My rig prior to the K2 was a Yaesu FT-900AT. I think that rig is one of Yaesu's best kept secrets - good performance in a 100 watt class transmitter and good receive performance. Removable front panel - but the buttons and knobs were quite close together. When I built my Field Test K2, I was surprised how much space there was between the buttons and knobs.
OK, there is not as much space between them as on my National NC-100 receiver, but then that receiver is heavy (I have not weighed it), and it is 19 inches wide and 8.5 inches high - the desktop rack cabinet it resides in is 21 inches wide and about 16 inches deep. It is a real behemoth compared to the K2 or the K3 or KX3, and all 3 of those transceiver have vastly more function than that NC-100. That NC-100 has sentimental value because that receiver traded hands between my old Elmer W8ELL and I several times - the price was always what he initially bought it for - $35. Because of that fact, it will pass with my estate - I will never sell it. So yes, I look at the comments that the Elecraft buttons are too close, and I compare them with my FT-900 and just "shake my head" - either those ops have really, really FAT fingers or they have not experienced transceivers like the Yaesu FT-900. The FT-817 is much worse for econometrics - the tuning knob is too small, the menus are too deep and the buttons are too small - yes, I have an FT-817, and those are my user's assessments. 73, Don W3FPR On 4/4/2012 7:57 PM, David Gilbert wrote: > I have to fully agree on both points. > > When I bought my K3 I kept hearing all the comments about the density of > the knobs on the front panel, so I actually did a comparison to my old > 756Pro. I measured the area of each front panel and divided by the > number of knobs and buttons. Guess what ... the K3 was about 25% less > dense than the 756Pro, and none of the K3 knobs are as inaccessible as > the five ridiculously small ones at the bottom left of the Icom. > > I did indeed spend quite a bit of time in the menu when I originally set > up my K3 but I've had my rig for over three years now, I'm reasonably > active in contests, and I honestly cannot remember the last time I used > the menu for anything. Once it is set up to suit your operating > preferences you can access just about everything you operationally need > from the front panel ... the obvious exception being quick changing of > AGC parameters. > > I'm not saying that the ergonomics of the K3 are ideal, but in my > opinion most people who complain about it either are too lazy to learn > the rig, haven't actually tried it, or what they really want (without > admitting it) is simply a rig that is impressively large. > > 73, > Dave AB7E > > > > On 4/4/2012 3:53 PM, Nate Bargmann wrote: >> My hands are not small and the K3 has plenty of spacing between its >> buttions and knobs that inadvertent contact is due to my sloppy reach >> rather than an issue with the K3. Like any other radio it does take >> some time to learn well. The menus are for configuration and once you >> have it working as you like it, you're not going to be getting back into >> them. In other words, menu access is rarely needed for day-to-day >> operation. >> >> If performance is anywhere in your list of desirable features, then the >> K3 is the only choice, IMO. >> >> 73, de Nate, N0NB>> >> > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[email protected] > > 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:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
