I sometimes doubt that Chris M0NKA ever meant for it to be a commercially viable rig but, despite what you correctly mentioned, it has become one. I think his original intent was to provide a project to experiment with coding etc - the platform for that experiment just happened to be a radio.
The firmware is open source, thus all the clones. Chris recently complained that he is now expected and often asked to provide support for the Chinese clones! That's gotta burn... A group in Germany is now providing the lion's share of updates. But, what all this proves, is what's possible in the form factor in terms of with.without PC and ease of connectivity from keeping audio in a digital format for PC exchange. If Elecraft made a similarly featured KX4 it would sell like hotcakes and would be hitting the sweet spot of how so many people operate today: portable, FT8, CW/phone, with and w/o a PC. What an attractive set of features for new younger hams and those without the ability to have a "proper" antenna. I am hesitant to experiment too much with my mcHF because support and documentation is so lacking. I can't easily recover from an error by reading - I'd have to ask in a forum and hope someone both knows the answer and isn't too burnt out by being asked other questions, that he'll answer me. If a company with Elecraft's reputation produced such a rig I'd probably be moved to write a tributary haiku, or maybe even a limerick. John AE5X https://ae5x.blogspot.com ___________________________ I’m with you 100%, John! Hope Elecraft is listening! Love the mcHF, but there is really NO customer support. If the current group of developers aren’t interested in fixing a bug or adding something new, you’re told to do it yourself. Not something I’m interested in doing, or really able to do. But as is, its still a fun and innovative transceiver! Elecraft could do it right! ______________________________________________________________ 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]
