Re: [Elecraft] K3 Status Update 8/29/07
Eric Swartz WA6HHQ - Elecraft wrote: > > We appreciate your patience as we get the final pieces in place to ship > your K3s. From now until we ship we will post weekly updates on K3 > shipping here on the Elecraft list and on our web page. We'll also be > posting the pre-release version of the K3 assembly manual on our web > site later this week to give you a feel for what is coming. > > 73, > Eric WA6HHQ > Wayne, N6KR Thank you. In spite of some folks who apparently can not read, my complaint was NOT about the delay, but about the lack of communication. I think the above will be a big help. -- John - W2AGN ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Status Update 8/29/07
No problem guys... I'm happy to wait. I ran into the same problems on a much smaller scale (2 PCBs, ~110 part numbers) when I launched my LP-100. I have a special place in my heart for the guys who waited 4 months after ordering for the initial product shipments. Unless you've been there, it's hard to understand that one seemingly insignificant part, or bad trace on a PCB, or a thin silk screen, can delay everything... and this can extend beyond the initial run because each run seems to generate small random problems. In my case, on the second run I had a distributor deliver toroids with the wrong ferrite mix, mixed in with correct ones (these are unmarked parts as you know). I can also state from experience, that offering a product in both assembled and kit form adds a layer of complexity that is higher than expected. I for one view the K3 as a breakthrough product... one which will change the market, and am willing to wait as long as it takes. Get some sleep, take some walks and enjoy the fruits of your labor. 73, Larry N8LP Eric Swartz WA6HHQ - Elecraft wrote: K3 Status Update: August 29, 2007 Note from Eric: I apologize for not posting earlier. I planned on posting an update for everyone before I left town for the JA Ham Fair last week, but ran out of time. So you can blame this delay in status on me (and the Marketing dept.) instead of the Engineering dept. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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
RE: [Elecraft] K3 Status Update 8/29/07
It's great that we are closing in on the first deliveries now. Being in the line for the 2nd production run I can't wait to hear for all you lucky First-Production-Run-Guys. I am actually quite satisfied with the delays! In my daily work in a production company with R&D as an important parameter for us I know that projects of a certain complexity and size normally presents you with hick-ups delaying the plans. Either you deal with them up front (which might delay the project) or you end up spending 10 times the resources fighting with "after-sales issues". I don't know why, but I some how forgot that when I bought my FT-2000 last year... :-( Fortunately I got my money back just in time to order the K3 ;-) IMHO the communication from Elecraft is unparalleled and combined with the delays it sends a clear signal that those guys are very professionel & devoted in supplying the ham community with the best of the best more than they care about the ever important cash flow. This is indeed unlike some of the other players in the market... The day Wayne, Eric & Co. decides to retire in order to catch up with the family and actually make some QSO's as well, will be a sad day for our community. Well, back to work... take care! 73, Per oz5abo ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Status Update 8/29/07
Thanks for the update, Eric. I know the K3 is going to be worth the wait. Anticipation is part of the pleasure, like thinking about that cool pint of beer after a long walk in the mountains, when you can see the pub in the distance but it takes longer than expected to actually get there. -- Julian, G4ILO K2 s/n: 392 K3 s/n: ??? G4ILO's Shack: www.g4ilo.com Ham-Directory: www.ham-directory.com On 8/30/07, Eric Swartz WA6HHQ - Elecraft <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > K3 Status Update: August 29, 2007 > ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Status Update 8/29/07
Hallo Eric, Wayne & the rest of the Gang of K3, Thank you very much for the detailed update! While the new delay is a pity, I much prefer that you take your time, do it right, get some sleep, spend time with your loved ones and continue find delight in doing what are doing. vy 73 de toby ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Status Update 8/29/07
- Original Message - From: "Eric Swartz WA6HHQ - Elecraft" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> We appreciate your patience as we get the final pieces in place to ship your K3s. Thanks Eric, main thing is that you and Wayne stay same. I've had friends crack up running similar operations to yours - best ship late and stay sane. The Ham Radio community needs you and the K3 :-) Simon HB9DRV ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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] K3 Status Update 8/29/07
K3 Status Update: August 29, 2007 Note from Eric: I apologize for not posting earlier. I planned on posting an update for everyone before I left town for the JA Ham Fair last week, but ran out of time. So you can blame this delay in status on me (and the Marketing dept.) instead of the Engineering dept. Our revised target for the beginning of K3 shipments is now September 17th. The K3 shipping date is now primarily determined by delays in K3 part deliveries, PC boards and completed assemblies from our vendors. The remaining handful of delayed parts are scheduled to arrive this week and early next week. There are less than ten different parts in this category, but it only takes one part not arriving (or arriving with the incorrect value) to delay production. Every time this has happened our PCB stuffing operation has had to halt working on one board and move to another while the part problem is resolved. The final four raw PC boards took 2 weeks longer than expected and they arrive tomorrow. (There are a total of 16 PC boards in the basic K3/10.) Also, our sheet metal fabricator has taken several weeks longer than they projected to supply us with painted and silk-screened K3 chassis parts. Final K3 sheet metal is now scheduled to arrive in Aptos on Friday. Our field testers and engineering team have done an excellent job over the last four weeks thrashing out the K3's design, assembly manual and operational features. (Thanks guys!) Wayne, Lyle and the rest of our engineering team have been working 7 day weeks incorporating the Field Tester's suggestions and making sure the K3 meets their expectations and hopefully yours. We've field tested the first release of the assembly manual and we are now testing the latest update. The KNB3 noise blanker was the last core board completed for the K3. It was released to production last month and is one of the best performing noise blankers I've used. It includes 8 different NB gain levels and has two stages of internal AGC, along with three separate widths of blanking. The net result is that I have been able to remove almost anything my local power company, electric fences and noisy autos and can throw at it. And combined with Lyle's latest version of the DSP NB, we have a formidable tool for interference reduction. (The hardware and DSP noise blankers can be used simultaneously to reduce a wide range of pulse type interference.) We are receiving assembled K3 boards in Aptos now and are testing them in preparation for their inclusion in K3 kits and assembled units. So far we have received, or will receive this week, initial shipments of a number of the K3 board assemblies, including the front panel, mixer, audio and digital I/O, PLL, crystal filter and transverter I/O boards. We appreciate your patience as we get the final pieces in place to ship your K3s. From now until we ship we will post weekly updates on K3 shipping here on the Elecraft list and on our web page. We'll also be posting the pre-release version of the K3 assembly manual on our web site later this week to give you a feel for what is coming. 73, Eric WA6HHQ Wayne, N6KR ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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
