[Elecraft] K rig's longevity?

[David Woolley]

N2EY at aol.com wrote:

> Will it be possible to keep a K2 working 35 years? I don't see why not, given 
> that almost all the parts are readily available, the documentation is wide 
> open and free, and expert assist is available from several sources. Plus when 

Most of the documentation is closed, as, as you point out yourself, the 
radio does a lot in software, and the software source isn't released; 
not even the AuxBus protocol is documented.  It's also the case that 
component substitution, including piggy backed surface mount parts, have 
had to be made already.

The impact of the closed software is that, even if you can get the PIC 
chips, you won't be able to program them.  Also, where the firmware has 
restrictions for legal reasons, and these go away (e.g. the Thai 
government permits use of additional amateur radio frequencies, or, on 
my reading of the UK licence, and assuming the situation has arisen and 
Elecraft have actually complied, if a UK Novice gets a Full licence and 
is therefore allowed to operate equipment that is not restricted, by 
design, to authorised frequencies, the user may have trouble getting an 
upgrade).

Incidentally, making the software public domain is not a good idea, as 
it will be ineffective in the UK, and most other countries, with the, 
probable, exception of the USAb, and doesn't allow one to restrict 
implied warranties.  It's better to use a liberal and perpetual licence.

The other issue is that Elecraft is a small company and we have 
discovered, this week, that one of their founders is turning 50 and 
another key technician learned algebra in the late 1950s, it seems to me 
that a lot of the key personnel are reaching the point where they think 
about retirement.  As well as losing the product knowledge, founders of 
startup companies in that position often want to turn the value of the 
company into cash to fund their pensions.  To me, the K3 could well be 
there in order to make the company sellable.  My experience of 
innovative startups, where the founders sell out, is poor.  I've had to 
leave my old ISP, because of the consequences of that.

 From what I know of the hardware, I would be most worried about the K2 
headphone jack, as it is not particularly generic and a known weak 
point.  I'm also somewhat concerned about the relays.  They are almost 
impossible for an individual to source and they have a limited life, and 
the KAT2, in particular, hits them hard.

-- 
David Woolley
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