[Elecraft] In Fear and Trepidation

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

"Modern rigs, with Elecraft being the epitome, are so superior that chasing
a station around
the band is a thing of the past."

---------------------------------------

While I have no argument with the sentiment, "superior" is in the mind of
the user. 

I greatly appreciate state-of-the-art, having worked with the most current
designs required for aviation and shipboard communications as well as with
Ham band rigs like the Elecraft designs. 

But are they "superior" to older gear in significant ways other than that
needed for highly-competitive radiosporting? 

That's an open question in my mind. I've flown a variety of light planes,
but would never compare them to an airliner. They're two different worlds
even though we share the same airspace with balloons, ultralights and hang
gliders. I find the same is true with radios on the Ham bands. 

"Radiosporting" is only one part of Ham radio. There are many other aspects.
There's a different skill involved in working stations using a regen
receiver or even an old Hammarlund (or whatever) that can drift, and there's
a different skill involved when working stations with fixed-frequency
crystal controlled rig running moderate power as compared to a rig that
VFO's quickly - even hopping between bands - and can crank out anything from
100 watts to the limit (and beyond ;-). 

"State of the art" is the "state of the mind" for only some who share the
Ham bands. There are many others who have an equal right to share the
frequencies for whom state of the art is immaterial to their enjoyment of
our hobby. Many of them delight in operating old gear and demonstrating the
extraordinary skill they require. And, from the e-mails I've exchanged with
other Elecraft owners over the past decade since I built my K2, many of them
own Elecraft rigs as well. We don't hear a lot from them because they are
extremely happy with what their Elecraft rig delivers. Not being
highly-competitive "radiosporters", they aren't concerned with getting a lot
of extra features that might help them save microseconds to win the next
contest. They're quite happy with the core features they have, whether it's
a K1, KX1, K2 or K3 on their operating desk, and consider any shortcomings
they find to be something to overcome with greater skill at the key or mic,
just as Hams have for a century now. 

Nor do they have an issue with the radiosporters who worry about saving
microseconds in a contest, just as I don't worry about the guy with the high
performance airplane while I'm enjoying the sky doing a few lazy rolls in a
PT13 or J3 cub. 

Like the sky above, Ham radio has a huge range of people who find their own
enjoyment on the airwaves. 

Ron AC7AC