[Elecraft] Big box K3

[Steve Harvey]

True, but it's a different airplane--not a VariEze with a larger fuselage
wrapped around it.

73 de nn0b, Steve




-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Bayern [mailto:plcmark at gmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 12:37 PM
To: Steve Harvey
Cc: elecraft
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Big box K3

> Given that, I don't
> think that even Burt Rutan would consider adapting a VariEze (K2) or a
> Starship (K3) into an AirBus form factor ...

Seems like a bad choice for an example. Burt did create the Long-EZ, a
larger version of the VariEze.

Mark



On Tue, Aug 10, 2010 at 1:18 PM, Steve Harvey <nn0b at embarqmail.com> wrote:
> I don't really have a horse in this race because I am personally very
happy
> with my K3 (#693) and, knowing that Wayne's Engineering degree included
> emphasis on Engineering Ergonomics, I am satisfied that he has given us
the
> best possible radio in the form factor that is most popular to most people
> who represent his target market.
>
> However, while there is nothing wrong with dreaming and asking for
changes,
> I wonder how many of the Big Box k3 requesters have considered the
magnitude
> of the effort required on Elecraft's part to deliver such a thing.
>
> First, the job would not be as trivial as simply re-packaging the insides
in
> a bigger box.  It would involve the design and testing of a new RF board
and
> front panel in order to remove controls and displays to a different front
> panel (which would also have to be designed and tested) and to remove
ports
> to a different back panel. Internal cable routing, shielding, and
structural
> support would have to be altered with consequent testing as well. Cramming
> the P3, KPA500, and a power supply inside would only complicate things
> further. Also, because functions would have to be removed from menus and
> associated with front panel hardware, the firmware would have to be
> rewritten, which would require two versions to be maintained in parallel
and
> alpha/beta tested for each release to keep them in sync.  Elecraft is a
> small company, and most of the design and programming is done by only a
> couple of people whose jobs would grow enormously, and which would deprive
> other, more critical projects of their time and effort.
>
> Second, how much would the Big Box people be willing to pay for the
upgrade,
> and how many could Elecraft expect to sell?  My guess is that in order to
> amortize the time and materials to develop such an upgrade given the
> considerations above, each unit could cost as much as the K3 itself
> (possibly more depending on expected sales volume), which could bring it
> into the price range of some of the "big iron" with which it favorably
> competes, both cost- and feature-wise.  I suspect that there would not be
> many takers at those prices.
>
> I'm sorry that some of the current owners of K3s seem to be disappointed
in
> it.  Every engineering project is a trade-off, and I think that Wayne and
> Eric represent the Burt Rutans of the radio world.  Given that, I don't
> think that even Burt Rutan would consider adapting a VariEze (K2) or a
> Starship (K3) into an AirBus form factor, and I doubt that very many
> customers would buy one.
>
>
> 73 de Steve, NN0B
>
>