[Elecraft] I like the modular design (was: OT: QST's review of the Yaesu FTDX5000MP)

[Johnny Siu]

Hello George,

I have recently purchased a second hand K3 and discovered the KPA3 was not 
working.  Since K3 is modular design, I simply sent the problematic KPA3 back 
for repair.  Modular design is good for overseas user like myself.

A modular design is workable as long as majority of the users, Elecrafters, have 
some technical knowledge (all of us passed the radio amateur examination).  Or, 
the users, like the Elecrafters here, at least border to look into the radio.  
For commercial / institutional radios, when there are causal users not so 
technical oriented or simply don't have the luxury of time, the approach in K3 
may have to be carefulluy considered.

For most commercial radio manufacturers, I suppose they have to comply all the 
ISO (i.e. ISO 9000, 9001, 9002) requirements.  Manufacturers will possibly be 
worried about whether plug out / plug in modules will affect the performance of 
the radios under those ISO requirements.

On the other hand, extensive support service (like Elecraft) has to be provided 
to cope with all those updates and exchange / replacement of modules / 
PCB.  Elecraft is doing very well now.  However, how about if Elecraft's sales 
volume like the Icom, Yaesu and Kenwood (I think Wayne and Eric would like to 
have that sales volume), extensive support service could be a burden from 
business point of view.

I shall be back on the air again with K3 upon finish repair of the KPA3.
 cheers, 


Johnny VR2XMC 



----- 郵件原件 ----
寄件人﹕ George A. Thornton <gthornton at thorntonmostullaw.com>
收件人﹕ elecraft at mailman.qth.net
傳送日期﹕ 2010/11/16 (二) 8:28:39 AM
主題： Re: [Elecraft] OT: QST's review of the Yaesu FTDX5000MP

When I was in the market for my K3 someone told me that what is at the
top of the heap today may be surpassed by someone else tomorrow.
Supposedly the Yaesu has a better receiver, at least on CW.  

What would bother me about this kind of a rig is that after spending all
that money on it, I may find myself owning an outmoded rig in a couple
of years.  They only maintain the current state of the art up to a
point, then they want to sell a new model.  I would be extremely mad if
I had bought the FT-2000 and now find the FT-5000 offering significantly
enhanced performance.

The other thing that would bother me is having to deal with product
defects.  Judging from what I read in the report, this unit already has
a number of issues.  That is not surprising for new technology but the
question is what are they going to do about it.  Sure, they will fix
some things now but I am probably going to have to send it in to the
factory for a month or more.

The beauty of the K3 is the absolutely stellar service.  Plus the fact
that most issues can be fixed with a simple swap of a board or a part.
Instead of sending the unit in whenever something goes wrong, I can with
the help of the factory figure out what is probably wrong and fix it
myself.  I just did that with a defective B encoder.

Further, as long as they continue to make K3's I know I am going to be
able to benefit from all the improvements.  I may have to pay a little
for parts but I am not going to have to shell out $5000 for a new radio.