[Elecraft] K3 Strong signals

[David Gilbert]

The term "intended audience" might be easy to misinterpret, and I don't 
think that W5OV used it to try to make the K3 a "one-user-profile 
radio".  However, I also do not believe that the K3 jumped to the top of 
the charts because it is versatile ... it got there because of it's 
superior performance, particularly on the receiver side.  Anybody who 
wants to take their rig on a hike, or chat with their friend next door, 
or who has trouble remembering  which buttons to push, certainly has 
better and cheaper options for rigs.  Those hams who are looking for the 
best performing rig out there, however, have few other options and they 
might understandably prefer that future K3 development be oriented 
toward enhancing that performance, not making the K3 act more like an 
FT-817.

The existing list of unfulfilled enhancements is testimony to the fact 
that Elecraft does not have infinite resources for refining the K3.  As 
a whole, would we like to see them spend their time responding to 
requests for "fun things that can't be done" or would we prefer they 
move forward on improving the fundamentals of the rig, such as (not all 
of which are important to me personally):

1.  reducing the granularity of the passband shift
2.  improving the noise reduction algorithm
3.  addressing the audio spectrum issue some users have had
4.  adding the capability for stackable AGC settings
5.  adding independent scan on the sub receiver
6.  allowing programmable center frequency for each roofing filter
7.  etc (several others I don't remember off the top of my head)

In almost all real world situations, versatility comes at the expense of 
something .... either performance or cost or timing or something.  There 
have been literally millions of commercial failures that resulted from 
companies trying to be all things to all people.  If you don't recognize 
that, you haven't been paying attention.  I'm not saying the K3 should 
be a one-trick pony, but those us us who bought the K3 for its 
performance might justifiably be concerned to see all the attempts to 
dilute its original focus as top-of-the-line rig for all operating modes.

73,
Dave   AB7E


pd0psb wrote:
> Ehm, excuse me,but who is the "intended audience" of the K3 ?
> Did Elecraft define that? Does Reflector define that?
> Should K3 be developed into a one-user-profile radio?
>
> I think the great strength of Elecraft with K3 is the huge versatility of
> this little marvel.
> It is an "open" radio, shapable to serve a very wide audience and Elecraft
> is doing a great job in refining it almost day by day. The versatility and
> attraction of K3 amongst a wide spectrum of enthusiasts will define it's
> long term succes, which in the end is good for all users.
>
> I think deciding what makes sense in further development is in very safe
> hands and should be left to "The Guys With The List". We shouldn't keep them
> from having fun in doing things with K3 that "can't be done" ;-)
>
> 73'
> Paul
> PD0PSB
>