[Elecraft] [KX3] Re: How close ???

[Wayne Burdick]

kb3drw at msn.com wrote:
> Seems like all questions on the KX3 get an answer pretty quick from  
> the inventors except the when question. Maybe testing is a little  
> behind, maybe parts are not available, maybe manufacturing is taking  
> longer to gear up than expecpted....
>

Hi Curron,

As usual with a complex product release it's a bit of "all of the  
above." Last month, we gave early field-test units to several very  
picky operators who've been scrutinizing every detail on behalf of  
future customers. Several opportunities for improvement have come out  
of this, and it's critical that we get such changes in now, rather  
than impose field-upgrades later.

I already mentioned the change to the internal battery; the battery  
holders will now be included, even if you don't purchase the charger  
module. Our testers also just convinced us to switch to a much nicer  
(but more expensive) optical shaft encoder for VFO A. These and other  
last-minute tweaks necessitated layout changes to both of the main PC  
boards. Since costs also went up, we've been working with vendors to  
get better pricing on other parts, where possible, so we can hold the  
line on the retail price.

My seven year-old, Griffin, may be the most impatient future KX3 user  
of all. He's got his own corner at my workbench where he tests  
batteries, rigs up improbable assemblies of scrapped parts, and makes  
sure I'm working instead of playing my guitar. "When?" is his favorite  
question, and he'll be the first to know.

We're still hoping to take orders in December.

Wayne
N6KR