[Elecraft] size of radio limits?

[Charles Harpole]

I do not accept Elecraft's reasoning that their rig is "too small for that 
feature."  At under 9 lbs, and the dimensions less than a loaf of bread, the 
K3 is already so small that it is nearing functional limits on the front 
panel compared to the size of fingers.  And, yes, I think the IC-706 went 
well beyond the functional limit... too small.

Ok, let us say a couple of desired features, like band stacking registers, 
would have added a half inch height to the front panel.... oh, gee, what a 
horror!  Let us say another feature  like band buttons or two other features 
would have added a whole pound to its weight, oh, no, its maybe even 12 
pounds & I can't carry it !!!

Please, when a radio is this small, sacrificing reasonable other features 
because of size or weight is just not a reasonable excuse in my book.  Cost, 
maybe;  size, no.

When ever did a ham say, "oh gosh, this radio is just too big"?  Maybe the 
one day when he carries it onto his desk?  Many more likely say, as I have 
hrd so often, "the rig is too llittle for me."  So where is the drive coming 
from for smaller is better?

Ok, mobile rigs need to be small.  So, I am going mobile with my K3 ?  not, 
and few are, I bet.  There does not even seem to be a mobile mount sold with 
it, telling us something there.

"I need a light rig for DXpeditions"-- got one already (706), and how few K3 
owners will go on DXpeditions? Maybe 2 dozen?  So, maybe the need for a 
small K3 amounts to about 100 mobile uses and maybe 50 DXpeditioners.  For 
150 customers, lets design a small radio and let the other thousands of 
buyers  cope with tiny, but, let us excuse left off features by saying 
"everyone wanted it small"  Ha !

BUT, please keep my order for a K3 kit active !!!!   73

Charles Harpole
k4vud at hotmail.com

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