[Elecraft] 66 cents a day

[N2EY at aol.com]

In a message dated 12/1/07 9:23:38 AM Eastern Standard Time, K4IA at aol.com 
writes:


> Since the K3 is modular, I would presume plugging in a  new DSP board would 
> 
> supply whatever horsepower is needed.  We'll be  replacing boards and 
> software, 
> not entire radios.

That's true only within the limits of the original hardware. Look at a PC - 
upgradeable in theory, but in practice it's often not long before it's cheaper 
and easier just to buy a new computer.

That said, note that there are plenty of 20+ year old rigs whose performance 
and features are very good and whose price can be very reasonable. 

> 
> If I get to enjoy my K3  for 5 years and sell it for half what I paid, I 
> still got a bargain - my hobby  only cost $1,200/5 = $240 a year or the 
> equivalent 
> of a couple of rounds of  golf, two nice dinners out or a visit to the 
> dentist.
> 

This was a selling point Collins used a half-century ago: their gear was 
expensive to buy, but its resale value was also high.

Here's another way to look at it:

If it costs you $1200 to own your K3 for 5 years, that's 66 cents a day. 

73 de Jim, N2EY








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