[Elecraft] More SWL'ing with Elecraft?

[Paul Clay]

Awhile back, in response to a post to Elecraft 
letting them know how much fun I had building and 
using my K2, Wayne thanked me and encouraged me 
to submit suggestions for new products.  So, here 
goes.

Like others before me, I'd like to build an 
Elecraft-"hot" shortwave receiver that covers 
100khz to 30mhz, has a nice selection of filters 
and/or DSP, has selectable sideband 
synchronous-AM, IF output to run a signal into my 
computer for handling DRM signals (if that ever 
gets off the ground) keypad entry besides a nice 
optical encoder tuning mechanism, a method for 
muting the receiver if I wanted to use it in 
conjunction with a homebrew or other ham 
transmitter, and excellent audio quality.  (I 
know, I'm asking a lot.) At a price point of 
$500-$600, I would find such a unit very, very 
attractive.  (Ten Tec, the only player currently 
in the game with their 1254 kit would be ticked, 
but that's life, as they say.)

If that's not in the cards, how about an external 
AM and selectable sideband synchronous AM 
detector with built in (fairly) high fidelity 
audio amplier for use with the K2 and KX1?  For 
even more flexibility, have the kit be 
configurable to work with other receivers having 
455 khz if stages.  Right now, Sherwood 
engineering is charging $549 for this kind of 
"add-on" (ouch!).

Does anybody know if Elecraft has kind of already 
done some market research re SWL and decided 
because of computers, broadband over powerlines, 
countries getting out of shortwave broadcasting, 
etc., that there's no viable market for these 
kinds of products.  I know a couple of ham 
equipment makers (Yaesu and Kenwood) have gotten 
out of the table top receiver market (and Icom's 
phasing out their R75 to be replaced with 
who-knows-what, if anything)?

Have a good weekend all,
Paul, N6LQ

P.S.  This idea probably doesn't make economic 
sense (too many options already available), but 
it would be fun to build a K-2 matching super 
quiet, super smooth Elecraft power supply.  Not 
too soon though as I just purchased an Astron!