Doug:
Discussions about a prospective K3 have always
struck me as a bit curious. I'm not sure just
what it is that people are looking for. I get the
impression that you're talking about more
operational features rather than improved engineering characteristics.
As you note, there are lots of wish lists of
features, but probably not enough overlap among
the lists to create a market for a rig with a
single list of extra features for which all the
wishers are willing to pay an extra $1200.
The closest you come to specifying how a K3 might
differ from a K2 is that a K3 would be two K2s in
a common box, and a bit of hardware to make them run smoothly in concert.
Rather than come up with something like that,
maybe the N4PY strategy is a better solution for
the serious contester. Buy two K2s and tack them
together with a "contest box" containing the
interfacing electronics. If there are that many
people looking to run two K2s simultaneously,
perhaps Elecraft could develop a "contest box"
accessory specifically for that purpose.
I would also comment that those $10K radios tend
to be a human factors nightmare. There are so
many features that human cognition is literally
overwhelmed by all the possibilities. I suspect
that the serious contester using one of these
fancy rigs identifies (probably unconscioiusly)
the features actually needed (with perception of
what is needed varying among operators) for
contest operating, arranges things (with perhaps
some very tricky programming ahead of time) to
bring those few needed features to the fore, and ignores everything else.
As you mentioned, SDRs are the wave of the
future, but for "go for blood" contesting, they
have not yet arrived. From that standpoint, it
looks like a possible mod for the K2 would be for
Elecraft to make the internals a bit more
accessible to computer interaction, and let the
aftermarket take care of the software.
73,
Steve
AA4AK
So
armed with 6 years of history, let's see what the prospects might
be for a K3.
First, what would be different than the K2? I've seen lots of "wish
lists" but mostly they would be a K2 Mark II
not really strategic
thinking launched by a long range vision. And, probably more
importantly, what would be the target market?
If the loaded K2 is $1800 (kit), I am thinking that an "upgraded" (whatever
that might be) K3 would at least be $3000
putting it into direct
competition with these other radios in terms of
price. .......And what would the "selling feature" be for a
K3 compared to these other radios (remember, we are talking in terms
of marketing). Clearly, not price.
So just what would the motivation be for Elecraft to come out with a
K3? I don't know! I think it would be neat to "smoothly" be able to
conjoin a pair of K2's (either externally or within a single box).
Some say N4PY and N1MM can effectively do that. When directly asked
about such a feature, the "boyz" will even direct one to N4PY (at
least they used to). But would that be a K3? Maybe.
I think the dream of a K3 is something necessary to the group. I
think the reality might be something different. I would love to be
proven wrong!!!!
de Doug KR2Q
K2/5285 ala W3FPR
_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [email protected]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [email protected]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
