Re: [Elecraft] Where is Elecraft Support ?
As a supplier of components, it was often true that it was difficult to get designed in with a sole sourced device, but that "rule" was violated over and over again. Sometimes customers were blindsided by design engineers who somehow sneaked sole sourced devices into their system (not every company had military level supply channel control), and often it was simply the case that some critical product function was not possible without using a sole sourced device. And as you might imagine, dual sourced devices often turned into sole sourced devices when one of the suppliers decided to quit making it, or they went out of business. Before statistical control methods like Six Sigma, lots of suppliers (my company included) didn't really even have a good handle on whether they were capable of dependably making a device or not. During my early years I remember a lot of wafer fab guys "tweaking the process" on an almost daily basis in reaction to normal process variation ... which of course actually created greater oscillations in parameter values than if they had just stayed at their desks. At my company, we literally, and I mean literally, had to reassign some older engineers in both the wafer fabs and the assembly factories because they refused to stop "tweaking" until they actually had done the work to reduce the normal process variations. 73, Dave AB7E On 3/13/2020 8:13 PM, Bill Frantz wrote: Not being a hardware guy I may be a bit confused, but my vague memory from the 1980s, is that manufacturers of that era would not use a part that didn't have a second source. This and other posts indicate that this policy no longer exists. Too bad. It might help with all kinds of supply problems. 73 Bill AE6JV On 3/7/20 at 3:15 PM, n...@sonic.net (Alan) wrote: Some years ago when I worked for HP, I designed a (new at that time) TI 320C10 DSP chip into a new HP instrument. There was a rather odd piece of glue logic that I needed to implement the design. I called up TI and they assured me there were no plans to discontinue the part. You guessed it. Just as we were ready to go into production the part was discontinued. I had to scramble to figure out some other means to perform the function (which meant a PC board turn). --- Bill Frantz | Concurrency is hard. 12 | Periwinkle (408)348-7900 | out 10 programmers get it | 150 Rivermead Rd #235 www.pwpconsult.com | wrong. - Jeff Frantz | Peterborough, NH 03458 __ 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 Message delivered to xda...@cis-broadband.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Where is Elecraft Support ?
Not being a hardware guy I may be a bit confused, but my vague memory from the 1980s, is that manufacturers of that era would not use a part that didn't have a second source. This and other posts indicate that this policy no longer exists. Too bad. It might help with all kinds of supply problems. 73 Bill AE6JV On 3/7/20 at 3:15 PM, n...@sonic.net (Alan) wrote: Some years ago when I worked for HP, I designed a (new at that time) TI 320C10 DSP chip into a new HP instrument. There was a rather odd piece of glue logic that I needed to implement the design. I called up TI and they assured me there were no plans to discontinue the part. You guessed it. Just as we were ready to go into production the part was discontinued. I had to scramble to figure out some other means to perform the function (which meant a PC board turn). --- Bill Frantz| Concurrency is hard. 12 | Periwinkle (408)348-7900 | out 10 programmers get it | 150 Rivermead Rd #235 www.pwpconsult.com | wrong. - Jeff Frantz | Peterborough, NH 03458 __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Where is Elecraft Support ?
I used to do the same thing. If we had somehow gotten a customer dependent upon a part that was virtually impossible to make, and if he promised not to design it into any new products, and if his volume requirements were limited enough, I would just have my folks make a special run and give him the parts gratis. Sharing the pain works wonders. 73, Dave AB7E On 3/11/2020 5:19 PM, Jeff Stai wrote: Continuing the OT parade, I have one. When I first joined the ASIC team at Western Digital I was assigned to complete a SCSI interface chip and get it into manufacturing. It was a design that they had decided not to produce... except for the fact that one frisky salesman sold it to an passenger jet manufacturer. Said mfr needed, for the whole lifetime of the jet in question, something like 30 units. But since there was a contract signed, we made it. 73 jeff wk6i __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Where is Elecraft Support ?
Continuing the OT parade, I have one. When I first joined the ASIC team at Western Digital I was assigned to complete a SCSI interface chip and get it into manufacturing. It was a design that they had decided not to produce... except for the fact that one frisky salesman sold it to an passenger jet manufacturer. Said mfr needed, for the whole lifetime of the jet in question, something like 30 units. But since there was a contract signed, we made it. 73 jeff wk6i On Wed, Mar 11, 2020 at 1:19 PM Alan wrote: > My experience with lifetime buys was at HP/Agilent. They would only do > such a buy when the manufacturer announced a part discontinuance. You > then figure out how many parts you need for the expected product > lifetime plus spares for future repairs and buy that many to put in stores. > > It's a pain in the neck because it can be expensive to store all that > unused inventory and it's hard to estimate product lifetime years in > advance. So if possible you try to find a substitute part, even if that > may involve some re-design. But sometimes a lifetime buy is the only > reasonable solution. > > Alan N1AL > > > On 3/11/20 12:10 PM, Fred Jensen wrote: > > It is dependent on scale, David. The USAF flies large fleets of a > > number of different A/C and has in-place materiel warehousing and > > distribution facilities. > > > > On 3/10/2020 9:49 PM, David Gilbert wrote: > >> > >> That makes zero sense. > >> > >> What are you going to make a "Lifetime Buy" on? A synth? A front > >> panel? A tuner? You might as well buy a second (or third) rig since > >> you don't have a clue what might fail in the future, and if you buy > >> all those things separately (or worse yet the individual components > >> that go into them) you better plan on working an extra year or so > >> before retiring. > > __ > 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 > Message delivered to wk6i.j...@gmail.com -- Jeff Stai ~ WK6I ~ wk6i.j...@gmail.com RTTY op at W7RN Twisted Oak Winery ~ http://www.twistedoak.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Where is Elecraft Support ?
My experience with lifetime buys was at HP/Agilent. They would only do such a buy when the manufacturer announced a part discontinuance. You then figure out how many parts you need for the expected product lifetime plus spares for future repairs and buy that many to put in stores. It's a pain in the neck because it can be expensive to store all that unused inventory and it's hard to estimate product lifetime years in advance. So if possible you try to find a substitute part, even if that may involve some re-design. But sometimes a lifetime buy is the only reasonable solution. Alan N1AL On 3/11/20 12:10 PM, Fred Jensen wrote: It is dependent on scale, David. The USAF flies large fleets of a number of different A/C and has in-place materiel warehousing and distribution facilities. On 3/10/2020 9:49 PM, David Gilbert wrote: That makes zero sense. What are you going to make a "Lifetime Buy" on? A synth? A front panel? A tuner? You might as well buy a second (or third) rig since you don't have a clue what might fail in the future, and if you buy all those things separately (or worse yet the individual components that go into them) you better plan on working an extra year or so before retiring. __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Where is Elecraft Support ?
It is dependent on scale, David. The USAF flies large fleets of a number of different A/C and has in-place materiel warehousing and distribution facilities. They also have extensive records on "requirements," the failure rate of components. So, for them, and some civilian A/C maintenance facilities, it makes super sense. Many A/C have thousands of flying hours left after the parts supply dries up. B-52's first flew in 1952, and they still are. Almost nothing on them is original anymore. My suggestion was just a feeble attempt at humor however. I guess it was even more feeble than I thought. [:=) 73, Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW Sparks NV DM09dn Washoe County On 3/10/2020 9:49 PM, David Gilbert wrote: That makes zero sense. What are you going to make a "Lifetime Buy" on? A synth? A front panel? A tuner? You might as well buy a second (or third) rig since you don't have a clue what might fail in the future, and if you buy all those things separately (or worse yet the individual components that go into them) you better plan on working an extra year or so before retiring. By the way, I spent my career in the semiconductor business (operations manager) and I can say with great authority that many discontinued devices had no business being offered for sale in the first place. Companies (not just mine) would often develop a new product line and bin sort for different ranges of performance. Component A might have a 30% yield but have better specs than Component B that had a 90+% yield. Component A would get designed into more demanding applications and sell for a higher price, while Component B was higher volume, sold for less, and essentially subsidized the yields for Component A. That worked fine until somebody decided they wanted a LOT of Component A, or the demand for Component B dried up. No matter what anyone says, the market won't simply bail you out by paying you three times more money for Component A when you get in trouble, and after a while you have no choice but to announce a discontinuance. I strongly suspect that's what happened to the tight tolerance caps Elecraft used in the K1 band modules. When I was the ops manager, I tried my best to squash that kind of practice. Either make the process capable or face reality. 73, Dave AB7E __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Where is Elecraft Support ?
On 3/7/2020 12:34 PM, Jim Brown wrote: >> I check my e-mail several times a day. And I check my SPAM filter >> once every day. In the world we live in, nothing is perfect. > > Same here. Having had a career that ran on messaging and memos starting from the telegram, Telex and TWX eras, I do that instinctively. Is that a sign of insecurity On topic - my K2 is great for RTTY and other data protocols even though they are not built-in alike the K3- series. 73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane Elecraft K2/100 s/n 5402 From a Clearing in the Silicon Forest Beaverton (Washington County) Oregon __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Where is Elecraft Support ?
That makes zero sense. What are you going to make a "Lifetime Buy" on? A synth? A front panel? A tuner? You might as well buy a second (or third) rig since you don't have a clue what might fail in the future, and if you buy all those things separately (or worse yet the individual components that go into them) you better plan on working an extra year or so before retiring. By the way, I spent my career in the semiconductor business (operations manager) and I can say with great authority that many discontinued devices had no business being offered for sale in the first place. Companies (not just mine) would often develop a new product line and bin sort for different ranges of performance. Component A might have a 30% yield but have better specs than Component B that had a 90+% yield. Component A would get designed into more demanding applications and sell for a higher price, while Component B was higher volume, sold for less, and essentially subsidized the yields for Component A. That worked fine until somebody decided they wanted a LOT of Component A, or the demand for Component B dried up. No matter what anyone says, the market won't simply bail you out by paying you three times more money for Component A when you get in trouble, and after a while you have no choice but to announce a discontinuance. I strongly suspect that's what happened to the tight tolerance caps Elecraft used in the K1 band modules. When I was the ops manager, I tried my best to squash that kind of practice. Either make the process capable or face reality. 73, Dave AB7E On 3/7/2020 6:02 PM, Fred Jensen wrote: You can always emulate the US Department of Defense if you'd like ... it's called a "Lifetime Buy." When the airplane builder's contract finally ends and he no longer is required to stock parts, the engineers and logistics folks decide on the further lifetime of the airplane fleet and buy enough parts to keep it flying until it will be retired to Arizona which might be in 20 more years. A lot of folk believe that science and engineering are the same thing. They're not. Engineering is science coupled with economics, logistics, mathematics, fabrication, maintenance, supply chain management, and a host of other trade-off's, sometimes including labor relations and law. Bell Labs "invented" the transistor. Companies like TI, Fairchild Semiconductor, Intel, Motorola, and AMD put them in the marketplace and they get to stop making them when something better comes along. See if you can find a Moto 68000 replacement for your old Mac. [:=) My K3 is S/N 642, and has been upgraded multiple times. I think it's about 10 years old and I think Elecraft has done a very good job compared to what the other guys do. I'm a little in awe that Elecraft has been in business long enough now for the inevitable to be happening. 73, Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW Sparks NV DM09dn Washoe County __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Where is Elecraft Support ?
Great post Wes 73 Craig AC0DS > On 10, Mar2020, at 9:40 PM, Wes wrote: > > Before I retired the second time I was managing a small group of components > engineers. Several of my guys worked full time on parts obsolescence issues. > "Lifetime buys" sound like a good idea until you run up against the > procurement and QC people. Try managing inventory of pricey Mil-spec parts > for 10 or more years, maintaining QC traceability. Not easy and when you > finally need them you'll find they were thrown away after the last > reorganization. (I never liked the word reorganized, as it suggests that you > were previously organized, something that I never found to be the case.) > > BTW, several sources will still sell you a MC68000. > > Wes N7WS > > On 3/7/2020 6:02 PM, Fred Jensen wrote: >> You can always emulate the US Department of Defense if you'd like ... it's >> called a "Lifetime Buy." When the airplane builder's contract finally ends >> and he no longer is required to stock parts, the engineers and logistics >> folks decide on the further lifetime of the airplane fleet and buy enough >> parts to keep it flying until it will be retired to Arizona which might be >> in 20 more years. >> >> A lot of folk believe that science and engineering are the same thing. >> They're not. Engineering is science coupled with economics, logistics, >> mathematics, fabrication, maintenance, supply chain management, and a host >> of other trade-off's, sometimes including labor relations and law. Bell >> Labs "invented" the transistor. Companies like TI, Fairchild Semiconductor, >> Intel, Motorola, and AMD put them in the marketplace and they get to stop >> making them when something better comes along. See if you can find a Moto >> 68000 replacement for your old Mac. [:=) >> >> My K3 is S/N 642, and has been upgraded multiple times. I think it's about >> 10 years old and I think Elecraft has done a very good job compared to what >> the other guys do. I'm a little in awe that Elecraft has been in business >> long enough now for the inevitable to be happening. >> >> 73, >> Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW >> Sparks NV DM09dn >> Washoe County > > __ > 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 > Message delivered to ac...@sent.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Where is Elecraft Support ?
Before I retired the second time I was managing a small group of components engineers. Several of my guys worked full time on parts obsolescence issues. "Lifetime buys" sound like a good idea until you run up against the procurement and QC people. Try managing inventory of pricey Mil-spec parts for 10 or more years, maintaining QC traceability. Not easy and when you finally need them you'll find they were thrown away after the last reorganization. (I never liked the word reorganized, as it suggests that you were previously organized, something that I never found to be the case.) BTW, several sources will still sell you a MC68000. Wes N7WS On 3/7/2020 6:02 PM, Fred Jensen wrote: You can always emulate the US Department of Defense if you'd like ... it's called a "Lifetime Buy." When the airplane builder's contract finally ends and he no longer is required to stock parts, the engineers and logistics folks decide on the further lifetime of the airplane fleet and buy enough parts to keep it flying until it will be retired to Arizona which might be in 20 more years. A lot of folk believe that science and engineering are the same thing. They're not. Engineering is science coupled with economics, logistics, mathematics, fabrication, maintenance, supply chain management, and a host of other trade-off's, sometimes including labor relations and law. Bell Labs "invented" the transistor. Companies like TI, Fairchild Semiconductor, Intel, Motorola, and AMD put them in the marketplace and they get to stop making them when something better comes along. See if you can find a Moto 68000 replacement for your old Mac. [:=) My K3 is S/N 642, and has been upgraded multiple times. I think it's about 10 years old and I think Elecraft has done a very good job compared to what the other guys do. I'm a little in awe that Elecraft has been in business long enough now for the inevitable to be happening. 73, Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW Sparks NV DM09dn Washoe County __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Where is Elecraft Support ?
Of course you can. Both. https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313.TR1.TRC0.A0.H0.XMC68000.TRS0&_nkw=MC68000&_sacat=0 https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313.TR3.TRC1.A0.H0.X6146+tube.TRS0&_nkw=6146+tube&_sacat=0_TitleDesc=0&_osacat=0&_odkw=MC68000 73, Dave AB7E On 3/10/2020 7:59 PM, Phil Kane wrote: On 3/7/2020 5:02 PM, Fred Jensen wrote: See if you can find a Moto 68000 replacement for your old Mac. [:=) I'll bet that you can still find a 6146 tube for 100-watt class amplifiers! 73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane Elecraft K2/100 s/n 5402 __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Where is Elecraft Support ?
On 3/7/2020 5:02 PM, Fred Jensen wrote: > See if you can find a Moto 68000 replacement for your old Mac. [:=) I'll bet that you can still find a 6146 tube for 100-watt class amplifiers! 73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane Elecraft K2/100 s/n 5402 >From a Clearing in the Silicon Forest Beaverton (Washington County) Oregon __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Where is Elecraft Support ?
Hi Lee, We definitely do! :-) If you emailed later on Friday afternoon or over the weekend, their response can be delayed on Mondays as they work their way through the weekend backlog. Also our CS team was hit hard by the seasonal flu (-not- the Corona virus..) the last two weeks and was down to 50% staffing on a number of days. Eric elecraft.com --- Sent from my iPhone 6S > On Mar 7, 2020, at 10:30 AM, Leroy Buller wrote: > > Does Elecraft still have a support department or have they all move to K4 > side? I emailed the several days ago and no response . They have always > been very prompt before or is the frenzied activity to get the K4 out > stopped up the plumbing? > > Lee. K0WA > __ > 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 > Message delivered to eric.swa...@elecraft.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Where is Elecraft Support ?
Exactly Jim. Elecraft had to discontinue their 60 meter adapter (K60XV) for the K2 as a key part is no longer available, and it would require a major board change to continue providing the same functionality. Evidently they no longer sell enough of that option to make it fiscally possible. Neil, KN3ILZ On 3/7/2020 3:46 PM, Jim Brown wrote: On 3/7/2020 11:15 AM, Alan wrote: Just as we were ready to go into production the part was discontinued. I had to scramble to figure out some other means to perform the function (which meant a PC board turn). Yes, and for Elecraft, that's a significant expense for a vintage product. The better mfrs, like Elecraft, do their best to stockpile parts as spares, but there's a limit to what you can do, and the sort of curve balls you've described do get thrown. Our emerging worldwide health crisis has the potential for damaging, even eliminating, a lot of businesses both large and small. 73, Jim K9YC -- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Where is Elecraft Support ?
And there is a Murphy corollary that basically says: "If the part is stockpiled, it won't be the part that is needed." Rick NK7I On 3/7/2020 12:46 PM, Jim Brown wrote: On 3/7/2020 11:15 AM, Alan wrote: Just as we were ready to go into production the part was discontinued. I had to scramble to figure out some other means to perform the function (which meant a PC board turn). Yes, and for Elecraft, that's a significant expense for a vintage product. The better mfrs, like Elecraft, do their best to stockpile parts as spares, but there's a limit to what you can do, and the sort of curve balls you've described do get thrown. Our emerging worldwide health crisis has the potential for damaging, even eliminating, a lot of businesses both large and small. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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 Message delivered to rick.n...@gmail.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Where is Elecraft Support ?
You can always emulate the US Department of Defense if you'd like ... it's called a "Lifetime Buy." When the airplane builder's contract finally ends and he no longer is required to stock parts, the engineers and logistics folks decide on the further lifetime of the airplane fleet and buy enough parts to keep it flying until it will be retired to Arizona which might be in 20 more years. A lot of folk believe that science and engineering are the same thing. They're not. Engineering is science coupled with economics, logistics, mathematics, fabrication, maintenance, supply chain management, and a host of other trade-off's, sometimes including labor relations and law. Bell Labs "invented" the transistor. Companies like TI, Fairchild Semiconductor, Intel, Motorola, and AMD put them in the marketplace and they get to stop making them when something better comes along. See if you can find a Moto 68000 replacement for your old Mac. [:=) My K3 is S/N 642, and has been upgraded multiple times. I think it's about 10 years old and I think Elecraft has done a very good job compared to what the other guys do. I'm a little in awe that Elecraft has been in business long enough now for the inevitable to be happening. 73, Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW Sparks NV DM09dn Washoe County On 3/7/2020 10:52 AM, Jim Brown wrote: On 3/7/2020 10:42 AM, W6IPA . wrote: It seems also that stock is drying up on K3/K3S parts - and I wonder if this is temporary or a sign that the legendary upgradability of K3 or K3S is over. Manufacturers live in the real world, and can only buy parts that are manufactured by other companies. When those other companies discontinue a part, alternative sources must be found, and that sometimes isn't easy, or the alternative is not of good quality. Many years ago, a fine US company called Ten Tec, based near Nashville, TN, developed the first solid state power amp based on Motorola output devices. After a year or two, Motorola discontinued them, they were unique parts, and Ten Tec had to discontinue the amp. I believe I remember reading that Elecraft was having this issue with parts for some of their older products. As to contacting support -- the telephone works great. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Where is Elecraft Support ?
The coronavirus is severely limiting what parts companies are getting out of China right now. Tom k2bew On Sat, Mar 7, 2020, 15:47 Jim Brown wrote: > On 3/7/2020 11:15 AM, Alan wrote: > > Just as we were ready to go into production the part was discontinued. > > I had to scramble to figure out some other means to perform the function > > (which meant a PC board turn). > > Yes, and for Elecraft, that's a significant expense for a vintage > product. The better mfrs, like Elecraft, do their best to stockpile > parts as spares, but there's a limit to what you can do, and the sort of > curve balls you've described do get thrown. Our emerging worldwide > health crisis has the potential for damaging, even eliminating, a lot of > businesses both large and small. > > 73, Jim K9YC > > > __ > 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 > Message delivered to tombew...@gmail.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Where is Elecraft Support ?
On 3/7/2020 11:15 AM, Alan wrote: Just as we were ready to go into production the part was discontinued. I had to scramble to figure out some other means to perform the function (which meant a PC board turn). Yes, and for Elecraft, that's a significant expense for a vintage product. The better mfrs, like Elecraft, do their best to stockpile parts as spares, but there's a limit to what you can do, and the sort of curve balls you've described do get thrown. Our emerging worldwide health crisis has the potential for damaging, even eliminating, a lot of businesses both large and small. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Where is Elecraft Support ?
On 3/7/2020 11:17 AM, Bob McGraw K4TAX wrote: I check my e-mail several times a day. And I check my SPAM filter once every day. In the world we live in, nothing is perfect. Same here. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Where is Elecraft Support ?
I called Elecraft Support yesterday morning. They returned the call yesterday afternoon. 73 -- Lynn On 3/7/20 11:17 AM, Bob McGraw K4TAX wrote: I check my e-mail several times a day. And I check my SPAM filter once every day. In the world we live in, nothing is perfect. 73 Bob, K4TAX __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Where is Elecraft Support ?
I check my e-mail several times a day. And I check my SPAM filter once every day. In the world we live in, nothing is perfect. 73 Bob, K4TAX On 3/7/2020 1:04 PM, Hisashi T Fujinaka wrote: On Sat, 7 Mar 2020, Jim Brown wrote: On 3/7/2020 10:42 AM, W6IPA . wrote: It seems also that stock is drying up on K3/K3S parts - and I wonder if this is temporary or a sign that the legendary upgradability of K3 or K3S is over. Manufacturers live in the real world, and can only buy parts that are manufactured by other companies. When those other companies discontinue a part, alternative sources must be found, and that sometimes isn't easy, or the alternative is not of good quality. Many years ago, a fine US company called Ten Tec, based near Nashville, TN, developed the first solid state power amp based on Motorola output devices. After a year or two, Motorola discontinued them, they were unique parts, and Ten Tec had to discontinue the amp. I believe I remember reading that Elecraft was having this issue with parts for some of their older products. As to contacting support -- the telephone works great. I called support and they called me back and they admonished me (I've told this story many times) for not emailing them back. My email was in their spam folder. I can't think of a way around having spam filters, so you really do have to call them if you're not hearing back. __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Where is Elecraft Support ?
On 3/7/20 10:52 AM, Jim Brown wrote: Manufacturers live in the real world, and can only buy parts that are manufactured by other companies. When those other companies discontinue a part, alternative sources must be found, and that sometimes isn't easy, Some years ago when I worked for HP, I designed a (new at that time) TI 320C10 DSP chip into a new HP instrument. There was a rather odd piece of glue logic that I needed to implement the design. I called up TI and they assured me there were no plans to discontinue the part. You guessed it. Just as we were ready to go into production the part was discontinued. I had to scramble to figure out some other means to perform the function (which meant a PC board turn). Alan N1AL __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Where is Elecraft Support ?
On Sat, 7 Mar 2020, Jim Brown wrote: On 3/7/2020 10:42 AM, W6IPA . wrote: It seems also that stock is drying up on K3/K3S parts - and I wonder if this is temporary or a sign that the legendary upgradability of K3 or K3S is over. Manufacturers live in the real world, and can only buy parts that are manufactured by other companies. When those other companies discontinue a part, alternative sources must be found, and that sometimes isn't easy, or the alternative is not of good quality. Many years ago, a fine US company called Ten Tec, based near Nashville, TN, developed the first solid state power amp based on Motorola output devices. After a year or two, Motorola discontinued them, they were unique parts, and Ten Tec had to discontinue the amp. I believe I remember reading that Elecraft was having this issue with parts for some of their older products. As to contacting support -- the telephone works great. I called support and they called me back and they admonished me (I've told this story many times) for not emailing them back. My email was in their spam folder. I can't think of a way around having spam filters, so you really do have to call them if you're not hearing back. -- Hisashi T Fujinaka - ht...@twofifty.com K7EMI __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Where is Elecraft Support ?
On 3/7/2020 10:42 AM, W6IPA . wrote: It seems also that stock is drying up on K3/K3S parts - and I wonder if this is temporary or a sign that the legendary upgradability of K3 or K3S is over. Manufacturers live in the real world, and can only buy parts that are manufactured by other companies. When those other companies discontinue a part, alternative sources must be found, and that sometimes isn't easy, or the alternative is not of good quality. Many years ago, a fine US company called Ten Tec, based near Nashville, TN, developed the first solid state power amp based on Motorola output devices. After a year or two, Motorola discontinued them, they were unique parts, and Ten Tec had to discontinue the amp. I believe I remember reading that Elecraft was having this issue with parts for some of their older products. As to contacting support -- the telephone works great. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Where is Elecraft Support ?
It seems also that stock is drying up on K3/K3S parts - and I wonder if this is temporary or a sign that the legendary upgradability of K3 or K3S is over. W6IPA/jc On Sat, Mar 7, 2020 at 10:30 AM Leroy Buller wrote: > Does Elecraft still have a support department or have they all move to K4 > side? I emailed the several days ago and no response . They have always > been very prompt before or is the frenzied activity to get the K4 out > stopped up the plumbing? > > Lee. K0WA > __ > 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 > Message delivered to w6...@poxika.net > __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] Where is Elecraft Support ?
Does Elecraft still have a support department or have they all move to K4 side? I emailed the several days ago and no response . They have always been very prompt before or is the frenzied activity to get the K4 out stopped up the plumbing? Lee. K0WA __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
