[Elecraft] Older Serial# K3

[Joe Planisky]

Hi Gary,

Whether it's the same or not depends on whether the previous owner  
kept up with the hardware mods that Elecraft has published (see http://www.elecraft.com/K3/k3_app_notes.htm) 
.  Depending on how old the K3 is and what mods might have already  
been done to it, there could be up to 15 or so hardware changes to  
bring it up to the "latest and greatest", although it would have to be  
a pretty low serial number to require all 15.

In making a decision, you should factor in your willingness and  
ability to do any hardware mods that haven't already been done.  Most  
of them are well documented and can be done by someone with average  
soldering skills, common hand tools, and an ESD-safe work mat and  
wrist band.  If doing surgery on the rig isn't your cup of tea, you  
might want to either make sure the used rig is up to date before  
buying it, find someone to make the mods for you (Elecraft will do it  
for a price), or just get a new rig.

73
--
Joe KB8AP

On Apr 3, 2010, at 7:27 AM, Gary Slagel wrote:

> I want to get a K3 and wonder if I'm as well off buying an older K3  
> as getting the latest and greatest straight from elecraft.
>
> If I get an older serial# and make sure all firmware updates are in  
> place is it essentially the same radio as the newer version?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Gary Slagel/N0SXX