[Elecraft] Why no IF shift ?

[N2EY at aol.com]

In a message dated 8/8/06 8:41:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
w3fpr at earthlink.net writes:


> but the reality of all of it is compromise.
> For any given price target, some tradeoffs must be made.  If I can interpret
> the K2 design goals loosely, the dynamic range was considered uppermost, and
> good sensitivity and IP3 performance running a close second.  


(snip of excellent discussion)

I agree with all that, but would add a bit more:

*All* rig designs are compromises/tradeoffs - just different ones. 

Besides the above criteria, Elecraft designs focus on low power requirement, 
low complexity, minimal use of custom parts, user constructability and 
serviceability, and small size/weight without going all surface mount. 

Many other designs, including some considered "portable", accept massive 
increases in complexity, power requirement, and use of special parts to achieve 
their design goals. User serviceability is usually minimal - beyond a certain 
very basic point, you either have to be a skilled technician with lots of test 
gear, or you send the rig to one. 

That's not to say either approach is "right" or "wrong", just that they 
accept very different tradeoffs. 

73 de Jim, N2EY