[Elecraft] K2: Firmware Escrow

[AJSOENKE at aol.com]

I belong to a few other lists. One notable list  is the Yaesu FT100/D group. 
If you have never visited, they are a Yahoo group  list.   I have an FT100 and 
its a terrific rig in many ways. In Some  ways it is similar to the K2 size 
power, etc but in no way resembles the K2 as a  receiving tool. When it comes 
to mainline suppliers, I consider Yaesu to be one  of the best, or least up til 
a few years ago. I have many of their radios and on  two occasions I have 
used their repair service with excellent results. That  said, if you were to go 
to the Yahoo list archive, you will find volumes of  traffic about the fact 
they will not service rigs with dead power transistors.  Why?, because the 
manufacturer, Motorola (small no-name semi outfit in Arizona),  stopped producing 
the devices. That coupled with a high failure rate because  of  questionable and 
uncharacteristic (for Yaesu)  assembly processes  have produced a large 
number of owners who are very disappointed with the  product. By shear trial and 
misfortune, most owners have been able to head off  failure. Those of us who 
have survived have learned how to clean excess flux  from the mounting surfaces 
of the power xistors, add star washers and re-torque  fasteners and ground 
screws, modify cooling fans so they run when needed, run  reduced power for 
limited duty cycle, etc, etc.

The best assurance you  can have is a good design team that won't paint you 
into a corner.  How  many of you can name even one designer that has worked on 
your Yaesu, Icom,  Kenwood? I'll bet most of you have personally met the 
designers at  Elecraft.  THAT makes the difference to me.  

Al WA6VNN



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