Jim, Well said. A great overview of a great company and great radio.
73, Bob Nobis - N7RJN [email protected] > On Dec 17, 2015, at 21:53, Jim Ewing <[email protected]> wrote: > > Regarding posts reflecting impatience with KIO3B deliveries, other > displeasure: I don't agree with you. I have owned my K3 for about 2 > months, after researching matters fully and finally making my decision to > buy. As a benchmark, I also collect and operate Collins radios, which are > works of art and evoke the character, talent, vision and elegance of Art > Collins. I love my K3 and greatly admire Elecraft for reasons that > parallel why I love Collins radios and the legacy of Art Collins. In at > least these respects: > > > > 1. Elecraft are people who clearly build these radios as a labor > of love. They operate cw (sometimes during lunch break!), do QRP, hike and > accordingly know what’s needed to build radios that are a joy to operate – > even outdoors and on the trail where radios are put to the greatest test. > They come from a long line of great radios, having built the NorCal 40 and > the Sierra, among other great radios. I can tell from the craftsmanship, > design, attention to detail and ergonomics, that my K3 is a labor of love. > > > > 2. I admire their story. I admire how Wayne Burdick left his > day job to start this company, and how Eric also bet his assets on the > venture as well. They believe in and love what they do, and my K3 sitting > in my shack always reminds me of that powerful story. They are not > beholden to the bankers who might encourage more massive production, corner > cutting and expediency, next-Q profit mentality over quality. They have > the discipline to avoid spreading themselves too thin. They have the > courage to keep their focus on doing things well, even if that sometimes > means we have to wait. Sometimes, as here, good things come to people who > wait. > > > > 3. Their manual is well written, well organized, cogent, and > pleasing-to-read – some of the best technical prose I have ever read (this > I can say after practicing telecoms patent law for 33 years). The manual > is not just some random listing of buttons and features like you see in > other manufacturers’ manuals, but rather reflects the thought, care and > organization of someone who has put himself or herself in the operator’s > shoes. > > > > 4. As a builder, I appreciate the thought, competence and > innovation reflected in how their circuits are designed, for maximum > performance and reliability, and minimal power consumption. I also think > it’s great they don’t seem to feel compelled to hire a Jony Ive for the > latest cosmetic design in order to sell radios. > > > > 5. Their customer support is orders of magnitude above everyone > else. The other night, for example, I sent an email about some error > messages I was getting, and Elecraft responded with the correct fix early > the next morning. Turns out I had inadvertently, in boneheaded fashion, > hit the Config button and changed a setting. The level of care, tact and > patience reflected in the email, on top of the raw technical competence, > were not lost on me. > > > > 6. That said, I am doubly dismayed, saddened and annoyed when my > reflector message list is fouled with the whining of people who seem blind > to these great radios and this great company. People who whine because > they want whatever *right now *so they can dash off to their island without > delay, who are cheesed because the knobs are not sufficiently shiny, who > seem affronted by the notion of having to open their radio up to add some > of the amazing boards and circuits offered by this best-of-planet company > because it might mar the paint job. I am reminded of that New Yorker > cartoon some years ago that shows a Met Patron standing in front of a Monet > and complaining, reflecting more on herself than on the artist. Would you > people please *just stop*? > > > > Thank you. > > > > Jim Ewing > > N4TMM > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > Message delivered to [email protected] ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [email protected]
