N8XMS writes: >First, is the K2 "long in the tooth"? Am I spending a significant >amount of money on technology that is on it's way to being obsolete?
W9ILF writes: >Much of it comes from the fact this reflector seems to be 95% K3 talk. I've been thinking about this thread for awhile. Is the K2 outdated technology? I would say yes almost without equivocation. Ham radio in general is outdated. I have a cellphone in my pocket that has <<1 watt output and gives CONFIDENT point-to-point communication around the world under virtually all reasonable circumstances. The Internet also gives much more convenient worldwide communication. The only advantage ham radio has in communication in the absence of intervening infrastructure. The construction of the K2 is also outdated technology. The IC choices are now increasingly difficult to find (in any form factor as the designs themselves are getting discontinued). SMT is now the norm in industry and DIP is outdated. Software defined radio rather than hardware is now becoming the norm. The K2 is the state of the art in ONLY an extreme niche. Specifically it is likely the highest performing hardware radio that is available for construction by a hobbyist from the component level. Given technical advances in electronics, it is likely to remain the state of the art for the foreseeable future. As far as maintainability, I see no insurmountable challenges. After all, there are Model T and Delorean clubs keeping those cars on the road. With the Internet available, communication with enthusiasts are easier than with newsletters (e.g. FoxTango). Elecraft is too small a company to manufacture any part that is not easily reversed engineered. Sooner or later nearly all the DIP IC's will be not available on the market. At this point, since the technology used in the K2 was relatively generic, we will figure out that the chips (say 612 or the 3150) was used in massive quantities in a Sony Walkman or a Technics audio amplifier. Ebay prices on such items will be negligible and Elecraft enthusiasts can buy someone else's junk for pennies on the dollar. tnx. Conway Yee, N2JWQ ______________________________________________________________ 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
