[Elecraft] Why so many problems with K3???

[Don Wilhelm]

Jim,

I would hesitate to say there have been a *lot* of problems, but each 
has his own threshold of tolerance.  Many items reported on the 
reflector are neither firmware or hardware related but are 'cured' by 
informing the operator of the proper sequence of "button-pushes" or menu 
settings.
 
All the beta releases have been tested - admittedly, by a number of K3 
owners that is smaller than the full number of K3 in use, and it not 
released as a beta until all the bugs we find have been worked out.
The unfortunate fact is that we do not have all the various 
configurations that are out there in the field, so there may be a few 
bugs that are discovered only after the beta version has been released 
and is in the hands of many more users
.
If you are using a beta version and find a bug, please report it.  If it 
is repeatable, it will be fixed.

Bugs discovered in any firmware version will be corrected in a 
subsequent beta release.
A beta release that has been deemed OK (with noted exceptions) will be 
changed to public release.
Note that bug fixes are not applied to prior releases, the fix will only 
be seen in a future release (first beta and then possibly moved to a 
public release).

So users have two choices:
1) If the current firmware installed in your K3 satisfies your needs, 
there is no need to upgrade.
2) If you want to try out the new features and bug fixes that exist in 
the new firmware, stay current with the beta release.

73,
Don W3FPR

JIM DAVIS wrote:
> Our own K3 (s/n 2406) has been flying FB since it was ordered/built/ and sent out in Dec. 2008! 
> Maybe
> everybody are asking TOO MUCH of the "Elecraft Guys"? Our latest rev. dwnload was #3.06, but with 
> "Beta" there are always problems, so most of us SHOULD WAIT until the gliches are worked through!
>
> Or on the other hand maybe it kinda makes you wonder if maybe the Q/A isn't all it's supposed to 
> be at "Elecraft"?
>
> THOUGH, our experience with the "TECH SUPPORT" (DALE) has been nothing short of phenomenal 
> especially
> since he's always been very patient with our pleas for help!
>
> Jim/nn6ee
>   
>