I try to be objective about my Amateur Radio purchases, but don't always succeed.
When I was thinking about upgrading from my K3 to a K3S, I got a quote from Elecraft for the upgrade, then I made a list of the K3S improvements and calculated my incremental cost for the upgrade, assuming a sale of my used K3. For me, the cost/benefit ratio was just too high, so I stayed with the K3, which is the best performing transceiver I've ever owned. It's still a joy to operate every day. When the K4 is in full production and shipping, I'll make these same calculations again. With used K3 prices lower now, the cost/benefit ratio will likely be even higher - but the K4 feature set may tip the scale in its favor. OK, back to working what DX there is with my trusty K3 ... - 73 and good DX de Mike, K6MKF, NCDXC Secretary > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] <[email protected]> > On Behalf Of Buck > Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 06:51 > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 & K3S for sale > > Don't sell the K3 short. The basic K3 is still one of the finest radios ever made > and the difference between it and newer radios is hardly noticeable to the > human ear. > > k4ia, Buck > K3# 101 > Honor Roll 8B DXCC > EasyWayHamBooks.com > > On 8/26/2019 8:56 PM, Bob McGraw K4TAX wrote: > > I'm keeping my K3S. I'll decide on a K4 next year. > > > > Bob, K4TAX > > > > > > Sent from my iPhone > > > >> On Aug 26, 2019, at 5:33 PM, Charlie T <[email protected]> wrote: > >> > >> Obviously, a lot of us are dumping our K3's (plural) & K3S' (also plural) as their > prices have fallen through the floor with the introduction of the K4. > >> (Can't say I'm thrilled about THAT, but it IS inevitable as new > >> models are introduced.) > >> > >> However, a lot of the 'for sale' listings cleverly try to sneak the "S" onto the > model number, or imply that it is a K3S when the radio really is NOT a K3S. > >> Bear in mind, if your radio does not show K3S on the front panel, it is a K3, > albeit upgraded, but NOT a K3S. > >> > >> The new synthesizer boards will improve performance, but there are some > subtle differences between a K3 and a K3S that no amount of updating with new > boards or mods can change. > >> > >> While the K3 concept of buying a newer "upgraded" synthesizer board for > example, rather than a new radio sounds like a great idea which will surely > change the performance, I feel it is NOT a feasible solution, as it generates a > worthless board that is only good as a pistol target. > >> My particular course of action was to sell my K3 after I had taken out what > ever options I could add to a new K3S. > >> That way, I get the latest production changes (note, there ARE a number of > them pertinent ONLY to the K3S) and, no junk boards are generated. > >> > >> Too bad I can't do the same thing with the K4. > >> (Got a nice bullet here I'm about to bite on !) > >> > >> 73, Charlie k3ICH > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> ______________________________________________________________ > >> 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] > > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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]
