[Elecraft] K3 after one year

Don Rasmussen wb8yqj at yahoo.com
Mon Feb 16 13:11:08 EST 2009


I am pleased to report that my second K3 #2308 is assembled
and working.

I am also pleased to report that the overall assembly 
process and enjoyment of purchase is -improved- as
compared to one year ago when I built K3 #272. 

Much of this has to do with the assembly manual
which has been clarified using a slightly different
assembly sequence and added step by step instructions
with parts detail at each task. 

There is a new cabinet finish, an even tighter parts fit,  
improved preparation of the subassemblies (long leads
come pre-clipped in many cases), and of course
many firmware improvements in the K3 that came 
during the past year.

There is even a bigger "spare parts" bag. 

The new K3 operates as a dream, although when first
powered up it seemed like a different radio. I did not
realize how many customizations I had made to the
original radio CONFIG over the last year, little 
by little. All at once, it's striking. 

After migrating those specific changes to the new K3,
I effectively have K3 "twins". 

The team at Elecraft has obviously worked very hard over
the last year improving their product and processes.

The team is also growing, I have noted many new
names in the parts bags, each bag contains the identity
of the actual assembler of the contents.

The RF board also now includes a QA tag with the tech's
initials on it. 

Very FB all around. In addition to "great QSK" which
I have heard about TT, Elecraft provides a major focus
on the quality assurance process from top to bottom.
There is accountability and follow up. 

All this from a transceiver that would cost $525 in 
1975 dollars. That's what I paid for my TS520 at that
time! It's such a great value in a tranceiver that is
custom built and packaged, each one. 

Guess these are the good old days.

de wb8yqj



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