Howard, Man, are you a dreamer! Not even the $10k radios come off the line in the condition you say is your expectation! Remember, some of the mods to the K3 have been "fixes" admittedly, but most of them have been more like upgrades. I have an Orion II that I've had for a couple of years more than I've had my K3, and they are just now getting around to de-bugging a few of the software issues. Most of the hardware issues are untouched! The IC-7800 required a "return it to the factory" mod to fix some of the glitches it had. The IC-7700 has probably been less troublesome, but that's significantly due to what Icom learned (and corrected) from the 7800. The Yaesu FTD 9000 was a disaster when it was released!
The best radios for having few issues are those that are actually ugrade models. One of the best examples is Icom 706 Mark II G. Both the original version, and the Mark II version, had loads of "pimples" in their design. It only took 4 or 5 years to finally get a version that was relatively sound. The K3 had some warts when it first came out, but most of those were quickly addressed, and did not require a "return to sender" process. More importantly, the fixes were easily accomplished with simple part value corrections/additions. I'm not unsympathetic with your frustration, but I think anyone who expects a radio to be both feature rich and error free is being a bit unrealistic. I would also suggest that the "error rate" the K3 is overly transparent, compared to other radios, primarily due to this reflector and the interchange with the company itself. Here all the problems tend to be laid out for all to see, but instead of "talking to the wall" you get to talk to, and get effective resolution from, factory personnel. For the most part, as soon as an issue appears to be more than just an isolated problem, Elecraft tackles the problem. Other manufacturers, like Yaesu and Icom, silently wait for the complaints to reach almost a deafening level, then they just as silently make production changes, and the only way you have a prayer of avoiding the problem is to acquire a late serial number. If you monitor the reflectors for many of the other current radios, I think you might see what I am talking about. Again, I'm not criticizing your frustration level, but I think you would be a lot happier with a radio that is a lot further along in its life cycle. By the way, the K3 is not really quite 2 years old yet--at least not by my calculations. I have #96, and I didn't get mine until November of 2007. I'd say it's still in its infancy. But I can make mine play just like the one coming off the line tomorrow, and that's without having to send it back to Aptos. Dave W7AQK ----- Original Message ----- From: "HowardZ" <howa...@howardz.com> To: <elecraft@mailman.qth.net> Sent: Saturday, July 04, 2009 12:44 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 eHam review after 2+ years > > Well, I see the elecraft K3 as still a work in progress. > > No, I am not referring to the firmware/software mods. > > I am referring to continuing hardware mods. > The latest is the audio filter to make SSB audio actually sound good - > like > a good radio sounds. > > It was very nice of you all to buy the radios before everything worked > right, > and provide feedback to Elecraft, > and test the hardware and software improvements, > and open your multi-thousand dollar radios and stick your soldering iron > in > there.... > > but that's not for me. > I want to buy a factory built radio - and be happy and done with it. > > Now, some things just don't make any sense whatsoever to me - but must to > others. > Why in world will someone pay so much money for 10watt 2meter in their > elecraft, when > they can buy a 50 watt 2m/70cm radio with more power, can be used for > MARS, > and maybe even a built-in TNC for around the same amount? I don't know - > maybe someone wants to do weak signal > SSB on 2m? Well with 10 watts you'll also be providing weak signals for > others to enjoy - hihi. > > I would never buy a new ICOM model in the first year - because usually > there > are some hardware bugs found during the first year. How many years should > one wait for Elecraft? I'm not sure. > > Then there is the K3's transmitter. ARRL test reviews shows it on par > with > the old 746pro's transmitter. The Flex 5000's "new redesigned > transmitter" > scores top of the class in ARRL testing. Leaps and bounds better than the > K3's transmitter. I bet Elecraft may soon be redesigning its transmitter > to meet or even 1-up Flex's transmitter. Why not have the best cleanest > transmitter to go along with the best receiver? > > Maybe I should wait for 2 years of no further hardware modifications - > then > I'll know Elecraft finally finished the radio's hardware. I just don't > have > the self-confidence to go hardware-modding such an expensive radio. > > So, you are enjoying the world's best receiver now....and I'll enjoy it a > few years from now. > > Yes, I can think this and not write it. > But then you went and wrote how Elecraft has finished the radio. > > No hard feelings. > Howard > -- > View this message in context: > http://n2.nabble.com/K3-eHam-review-after-2%2B-years-tp3202931p3206781.html > Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
