It was a business decision AFTER 15 years of SUPPORT and UPGRADES that
no other company, in any interest, offers in any one product (no not
even cars, they evolve each year, not the same base product). Elecraft
felt that they had taken it as far as they could (it has limits in
design) and that it was time to move on. There is no more economic
reason to continue a product with limited parts availability, BEFORE
COVID started.
They offered, as a courtesy, not for increasing revenue, one last batch
of modules, in hopes of getting the parts needed (and having more boards
made etc). Again, no one else does this on a product line 15 years old.
There is nothing 'wrong' with a K3/s, it will still continue to provide
use for some years. But the day of the K4 has arrived, it, like this
thread, is time to move on. (It's awesome by the way, easily the best
CW rig I've ever used and the CESSB has made ALL the difference on phone.)
So instead of badgering, whining and belittling, the K3 had a great run,
let's all move on. Enjoy the K3 while you can and operate exuberantly!
If/when it dies, part it out so other can enjoy theirs a little longer
and move on. Long live the K4!
73,
Rick NK7I
On 5/2/2022 11:40 AM, David Gilbert wrote:
I still say it was purely a business decision WHEN THEY MADE IT. Yes,
some parts might be difficult to get now, but when Elecraft offered
the last chance buys they obviously expected to be able to source the
necessary parts or they wouldn't have done so. With Elecraft's
apparently limited resources, I don't think readily available parts
would make them change that decision. They have simply decided to
move on, and if my K3 fails I will look to buy my next rig from a
different vendor that at least offers some sort of repair capability
from certified 3rd parties in case I might be unable to repair it myself.
A modular upgradable rig isn't anything special if you can no longer
buy modules.
Dave AB7E
On 5/2/2022 9:01 AM, Skip Davis via Elecraft wrote:
Dave you wrote:
"Parts are obviously still available for the modules and accessories
for which they accepted last time buy orders ... they just decided
not to make any more after that."
Well maybe you need to re-read the post from Elecraft regarding not
being able to obtain some of the parts for the modules. As has been
pointed out by many manufacturers there is a worldwide parts
procurement problem going on and many parts are now unobtainable
which it isn’t exclusive to Elecraft.
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