[Elecraft] Announcing the Elecraft K3 Transceiver: 10/100W, 160-6m, Assembled or Kit

[wayne burdick]

Greetings!

This afternoon at the DX Convention in Visalia, CA, we unveiled a new 
top-of-the-line transceiver -- the Elecraft K3. This is the culmination 
of three years of design, test, and refinement, and we believe the K3 
will set a new standard for performance and value in its class. It has 
features and performance comparable to present radios ranging from 
$4000 to $12000.

(We'd like to thank the many surprised convention attendees. What they 
all said boils down to something like "Yes!")

A full K3 web page will be set up by Monday, complete with order form 
and other details. Meanwhile, please take a look at the temporary page:

     http://www.elecraft.com/K3

Among other things, you'll find a very high-resolution front panel 
photo (as well as other photos):

     http://www.elecraft.com/K3/K3_big_v2.jpg

And the K3 data sheet:

     http://www.elecraft.com/K3/K3_Data%20Sheet_rev06.pdf

There's also an order form that could be printed and mailed, but 
sometime on Monday the on-line order page will be up and running, which 
is the preferred method.

As explained on the order form, you can reserve a K3 now for initial 
shipments in July. A 50% deposit is requested if you'd like to secure 
one of the first 200 production units (serial numbers 20-220, 
probably).

Here's a quick summary of the K3's specs:

   - K3/100 and K3/10 models (the K3/10 can be upgraded very easily, 
internally, to a K3/100)

   - Basic K3 price ranges from $1399 to $1989 depending on whether you 
start with the
     10-watt or 100-watt model, and whether you choose factory assembled 
or
     modular, no-soldering, kit (this is the subject of the next email).

   - Desktop/portable size:  4"H x 10"W x 10"D (10 x 25 x 25 cm) -- 
optimized for both
     home and travel use

   - All modes (SSB, CW, DATA, AM, FM, plus AM-sync receive, and 
built-in PSK31/TTY decoder)

   - High-dynamic range, down-conversion architecture, plus 32-bit I.F. 
DSP
     for software-defined capabilities (and lots of room for future 
expansion)

   - Optional subreceiver with *identical* performance to the main 
receiver,
     including a fully independent front end, its own set of roofing 
filters,
     its own DSP, and low-noise synthesizer; binaural or combined 
receiver audio

   - Up to five crystal roofing filters *per receiver*, with bandwidths 
as narrow as 200 Hz

   - Narrow ham-band filtering, plus optional general-coverage receive 
filters
     (can be added to either or both receivers)

   - Internal 100-W ATU option with two antenna jacks

   - 100 W PA module includes two large fans, circuit breaker, full 
parameter monitoring

   - All signal sources phase-locked to common 49.380 MHz reference 
oscillator;
     1 PPM TCXO option, firmware-correctable to better than 0.5 PPM

   - Built-in PSK31, RTTY, and CW decoding and display allows use of
     digital modes with or *without* a computer; use CW keyer paddle or
     attached computer for casual, two-way data QSOs

   - Advanced noise reduction; auto- and manual notch. Noise blanker 
included (both
     I.F. hardware pulse blanker and DSP noise blanking)

   - Easy-to-use DSP shift/width and locut/hicut controls with automatic 
crystal filter
     selection based on selected passband width (in real-time -- no 
filter calculation delays)

   - Dedicated CW/voice message buttons; optional digital voice recorder

   - 100 general frequency memories with alphanumeric text labeling, 
plus 4 scratchpad memories per band

   - Full-custom, optimized, segmented LCD with two VFO displays, 
alphanumeric text, and
     dedicated filter passband graphic

   - Rich I/O set: stereo speaker outputs, fully isolated soundcard 
interface, dedicated RS-232
     I/O (and optional USB adapter), receive antenna in/out jacks (for 
patching in RX filters, etc.),
     and both front- and rear-panel mic and headphone jacks

   - One-click PC firmware download program checks for updates 
automatically and quickly
     updates microcontroller and DSP firmware

If you have any questions on specifications, performance, etc., that 
are not answered by the data sheet, feel free to email 
wayne at elecraft.com.

Sales questions should go to Lisa:

   sales at elecraft.com

We'd like to acknowledge the hard work of the following colleagues:

   Lyle Johnson, KK7P (DSP, digital I/O, audio I/O, many of the PC 
boards, and countless critical tasks)
   Bob Friess, N6CM (RF deck, ATU, high-performance 1st mixer, noise 
blanker, other receiver design)
   John Grebenkemper, KI6WX (synthesizer, general receiver architecture)
   Brian Broggie, W6FVI (manufacturing engineering -- say hi to him at 
Visalia tomorrow)
   Paul Russell (purchasing)
   Lisa Jones (who somehow held down the fort during the entire process)

Eric (WA6HHQ), as usual, applied pressure in all the right places to 
ensure that this would be the best radio we could make: he's Mr. 
Performance and Features. Wayne (N6KR -- yours truly) was the principle 
designer, and also got to do all the fun parts (packaging, firmware, 
and Owner's manual). And that's why he gets to answer your questions  
:)

We'd also like to express our thanks to our very patient 15-member 
focus group. Over a period of about a year, they endured a never-ending 
series of concept drawings, refinements, and feature discussions. 
They're a distinguished bunch! I'm sure you'll hear from some of them 
as the K3 is discussed at length.

Finally: thanks to all of you who have generously contributed ideas for 
a hypothetical K3 during our many on-line "fishing expeditions." You 
had wonderful input, and I hope we've created the radio you've always 
wanted.

73,
Wayne, N6KR
Eric, WA6HHQ


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http://www.elecraft.com