[Elecraft] Interesting Conversation about FT-5000 vs K3

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

> So, after this long email explaining the conversation... How do
> companies, like Elecraft, Y, K, I, and T, protect their customers
> in the future knowing that in 10 years things could have gone
> south or the principals might have "moved-on?"

It's not a matter of health/longevity of the principals.  Ask any of
the unfortunate owners of late model FT-1000D, FT-1000 MP MK V or
MK V Field transceivers with a bad control board or final amplifier
transistors about "long term support."  Key replacement parts simply
are not available for many of the Y, K, I radios less than 10 years
out of production.  Most amateurs simply don't consider those issues
when making a purchase decision on a multi-thousand dollar radio.

I think I'll take my chances with a small US based company where
the business is the livelihood of the principals.  Give me a company
in which I know the principals and can reach out to them rather than
a large off-shore based company that is a subsidiary of a mega multi-
national corporation in which the amateur radio division can be sold
or shuttered if some CFO and Board of Directors decide that continued
operation is no longer profitable or even in the "strategic interest"
of the corporation.

Yaesu and Icom both grew from small amateur radio focused companies
as a result of their founders' interest in amateur radio but 50
years later the amateur radio businesses are insignificant parts of
much larger corporations.

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV

On 12/1/2010 10:14 AM, Lee Buller wrote:
>
> I am reluctantly writing this email to the reflector with a very dangerous
> subject line....but here it goes.
>
> My good ham friend came through town on Monday and we ended up going to dinner
> with the YLs.  As dinner progressed, he asked me what I thought about the
> FT-5000 vs the K3.  I said that "they would have to pry my K3 out of my cold
> dead hands at the end."  He said that the FT-5000 is pretty spiffy according to
> the QST review and out-guns the K3.  I said the K3 is a mature radio yet has the
> power to evolve to even greater "spiffy-ness."
>
> He is current using a IC-765, which is a good solid rig, but somewhat out of
> date.
>
> I told him about the K3 and that he needed so sit down and work with one.  We
> bantered back and forth and then he said something rather odd...
>
> He said, "I think Yaesu, ICOM, and Kenwood will still be around in 10 years.
> Will Elecraft?"
>
> I responded,  "Heck who knows?  Did you ever think Drake would leave the
> business or Heathkit kick the bucket?  Do you think Ten Tec is going to be
> around in 10 years?  And why do thing the Japanese companies would be any better
> once you realize General Motors took it on the chin this year."
>
> He said, "I am not sure I want to buy a rig from a QRP company or any company
> that is owned by two guys.  What happens when they retired or die?"
>
> I replied, "Elecraft has their roots in QRP which is a great deal for how they
> design their radios, small, compact, and low current drain.  They are hardly an
> exclusive QRP company.  But, heck, who knows who really owns some of the other
> companies, it is just that we know more about Elecraft because they are very
> communicative.  I don't see a lot of people having direct communication with the
> owners, designers, engineers of the other companies.  Besides, I am sure they
> have made plans for the future, most companies do."
>
> My friend said, "Yea right."
>
> Then we broke the discussion down to how the K3 is going to match the FT-5000.
> I said it was all a moot point because you have to look at not only
> specifications, but service, quality, ease of upgrades, cost of add-on features,
> price point, and how much you want to spend in the hobby.  We started talking
> prices.  (Later on, my wife asked me...does radios cost that much now-a-days?
> She was shocked)
>
>
> So, after this long email explaining the conversation...  How do companies, like
> Elecraft, Y, K, I, and T, protect their customers in the future knowing that in
> 10 years things could have gone south or the principals might have "moved-on?"
> Or, like everything else in the world....you spin the wheel and take your
> chance.  No guarantees!
>
> I like the two guys from California...I wish them long lives.
>
> Lee - K0WA
>
>
>
>   In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short supply.  If you don't
> have any Common Sense - get some Common Sense and use it.  If you can't find any
> Common Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some Common Sense.  Is Common
> Sense divine?
>
> Common Sense is the image of the Creator expressing revealed truth in my mind.
> -  J. Wolf
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