[Elecraft] K3 - KRX3

[Ed Muns]

The posting below shows that it is possible to complain about anything!  I
have a very different perspective on what is expressed below.  In fact,
pretty much the opposite.

There haven't been any more "stories of problems" with the KRX3 than other
aspects of the K3.  And, overall, the total amount of K3 issues has been
negligible given the complexity and high performance of the radio.  The only
"problem" is that Elecraft provides this reflector to make it trivially easy
for anyone to highlight some problem they are having and get a quick
resolution in most cases.  Far more postings deal with problems than report
"all's well with my K3".  It is inappropriate to subsequently conclude that
the KRX3 or K3 or K2 etc. have some abnormally high number of issues for
users.

Many K3 customers have found the assembly/disassembly and addition of
options to be easy and actually quite enjoyable.  Other K3 customers are not
inclined to get involved and prefer the factory-assembled option.  Either
way is perfectly acceptable and Elecraft is the only major Ham radio
manufacturer to offer that choice to cover the diversity of our interests
and skills.

The K3 front panel assembly is designed for disassembly/re-assembly
countless times ... many more than will ever be needed by even the most
contrived situation.  That doesn't mean that these operations are trivial
for everyone, which is exactly why the factory-assembled alternative exists.
Many customers return their K3 to Elecraft for installation of the KRX3.
That's not a problem, but instead one of two equally acceptable choices.

The 50% deposit alternative has always been clearly documented on the web
site and written materials.  It was clearly stated what the deposit would
get for the customer and what it would not get.  More than anything it was a
way for us to express our support of Elecraft.  The biggest return we are
getting from those deposits is a well-managed company that is providing
exceptional products for us to enjoy.  Given all the other company choices
for a state-of-the-art Ham rig, the 50% deposit is a high-return investment.

Every "problem" described below is actually a misrepresentation of a huge
success story for Elecraft and their customers.

73,
Ed -W0YK

> After reading all of the stories of problems with the KRX3, 
> I've decided not to install the one I received a couple of 
> months ago. I originally planned to wait and see how other 
> installations played out especially after reading that the 
> front panel had to be removed and messed with in order to do 
> the KRX3 installation. That's the last thing I wanted to do. 
> I took extreme care with the front panel during the initial 
> kit assembly and had no problems at all. I think that taking 
> something like the front panel assembly apart is just asking 
> for trouble. I'll bet others now agree with me. I ordered my 
> KRX3 as part of my original purchase just after Dayton in 
> 2007. Had I really understood all that would be involved with 
> the KRX3 installation, I would have waited until it was 
> available and done the whole thing at once. Even though the 
> KRX3 manual might have been available at the time for 
> customers to review, I didn't. There just aren't enough hours 
> in the day. I  do think that Elecraft should have emphasized 
> the fact that front panel disassembly would be required if 
> the KRX3 was not installed at initial build. Especially when 
> you consider that the KRX3 was listed right along with all of 
> the other K3 options on the glossy brochure that everyone 
> grabbed at Dayton, 2007. Since the KRX3 was listed as an 
> available option, I ordered it along with everything else. I 
> even fronted Elecraft 50% up front and got nothing in 
> return.....but that's another story. As I said, I hold 
> Elecraft guilty for the KRX3 issues. I don't think it makes 
> sense to take the radio apart to install an option that was 
> delayed for a long time. At the very least, the issues 
> associated with the KRX3 installation should have been made a 
> lot clearer.
> 
> If anyone who has read this far is interested in the KRX3, I 
> have mine available at a lower price than what it is 
> currently going for. I bought it at the initial offering 
> price. I also have an extra 500Hz filter that was designated 
> for the KRX3. If interested, please contact me off list via e-mail.