JMO, There're only a limited number of improvements you can make to a mouse trap before you start getting diminishing returns. For the task of bouncing HF sigs off the ionosphere, at some point more and more technology on that isn't going to lead to any improvement. It's sort of like high technology being applied to, say, archery equipment. In the end all you need is a stick with a string on it to do the job and there's only so many ways to improve a stick and a string. After that you have to resort to gimmicks to sell the new/improved ones and you're not really getting too much better of a stick and string for the purpose of propelling an arrow.
One of the reasons I went with a K2 (still under construction) is its lack of frills for doing what I want to do with it (exchange CW sigs on HF) but still has an RX with a performance level exceeding frankly most of the other rigs on the market. Even so, the K2 is still going to end up being, how shall I put it, pretty luxurious of a rig for what I'm going to do. yet it's considered kind of "old" technology nowadays, especially with rigs like the K3 to compare to. My other rig currently is a 706MKIIG and it's a high-tech beastie compared to what I grew up on when I was a new ham (Heathkit DX-60B and a pair of SB's when I was in college). As for Elecraft going for it and becoming a big company, tell you the truth that's a sure way to ruin a good company. In my career (software) I've worked for one or two companies that were small when I joined and then became big. I think those were the worst things that ever happened to those places and that's in fact the major reason I don't work for those places anymore. I don't know what Elecraft's financial situation is but I sure hope they can resist the urge to "go big". It's a privilege to be able to build a rig of the K2's quality myself (tho it's pushing my soldering, building, toroid-winding skills right up to the limit, but hey). And if everything goes right in future, I hope to build a K3 too. I know you have to keep up with the markets, but I hope at the same time we little guys don't get forgotten about hi hi! 73, LS W5QD -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/On-the-advisability-of-selling-kit-radios-tp4539424p4541979.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:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
