[Elecraft] K1 # 690 receiver: more good news

[Ron D' Eau Claire]

> Bob WA4FOM wrote:
> I think Elecraft has effectively demonstrated that "bigger
> [or more famous] is not necessarily better".  If I make the
> time to build the K2 that I recently received, I think I may
> chuck all my old ham gear into the Hudson River.

One of the advantages of being a certified O.T. is seeing how things change
very little over the decades, including the tradeoff between "bells and
whistles" and performance in receiver design.

There was a "landmark" article in QST back in January of 1957 (yes, 45 years
ago!) by Byron Goodman, W1DX, titled "What's Wrong With Our Present
Receivers?"

It challenged the assumption that the latest (and most expensive) receivers
of the day were actually good performers. It pointed out that
multiple-conversion schemes and many of the other 'essentials' demanded by
the "Cadillac contingent" (referring to owners of the biggest, heaviest and
most luxurious gas-guzzling American automobile of the day) actually
produced inferior receivers. Birdies, poor noise performance, and a host of
other issues made these receivers generally inferior to simple,
straightforward single-conversion designs using quality components.

The 1960's and 70's saw a virtual stampede toward the high-performance
single-conversion designs with careful attention being paid to dynamic range
and signal levels throughout the receiver. I have a hunch that Goodman's
article helped start that revolution. "Less" was better and produced
superior results with far less complexity.

It was also the age of the "Volkswagon Beetle" in the USA. Cadillac cars had
a tough time selling then too.

But we keep drifting back into the idea that more is better. More gadgets
become essential -- just like the electric can opener is essential to keep
us from starving because no one remembers how easy it is to pick up the
hand-operated one and turn the crank.

Once again some op shows us a low-cost receiver that is more sensitive and
quieter than our Megabux Super-Blooper and before we can explain how
necessary the computer display is to tune in a weak signal with the DSP, he
puts on the ol' "cans", zeros in on a weak signal and leans back to begin
perfect copy in his head.

All while we punch buttons and fiddle with the mouse to show that we, too
can almost pull that weak signal out ... if only that birdie wasn't on his
frequency....

Ron AC7AC
K2 # 1289