[Elecraft] What made you decide on purchasing an Elecraft transceiver?

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

I bought a K2 back in 2000 because I kept running into Hams on the air field
testing the K2 and extolling its features. Back then the K2 ran 10 watts CW.

In almost 60 years as a Ham I have *always* had a rig that I built myself
from scratch or from a kit. In 2000 I was running a mostly homebrew rig
built around a Heathkit HW-8 (although I'd be surprised if Heath engineers
would recognize it). My rig ran 15 watts, so the 10 watt output of the K2
wasn't an issue - I had long learned that when the bands are open a 10 watt
signal will put solid copy into DX stations without them straining their
ears. 

The K2 lived up to every expectation. I did receive a defective crystal in
my K2 kit and that's when I learned just how good the Elecraft customer
support was as it was replaced in a flash. Like the Timex watches, ever
since the K2 just takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'. 

Building has always been more interesting to me than operating. I enjoy
having an absolutely "state of the art" rig on hand with which to compare my
homebrew creations. A K3 fills that role alongside the K2 now. Many people
look at all sorts of numbers and performance tests to decide the relative
value of rigs. I use the only one that matters to me - how it works in real
use, especially for receiving. I enjoy seeing if there's a signal on the
bands that I can't copy just as well on my latest homebrew creation. 

Getting back to my initial criteria that my rig is at least kit built, the
Elecraft rigs are the only game in their class today. 

But they are a very, very good game, Hi!

73,

Ron AC7AC



On Feb 21, 2011, at 3:51 PM, Jeff Cochrane - VK4BOF wrote:

> Hi Wayne, Eric & everyone on the list, I thought that perhaps it was 
> time to ask one of the most important questions ever for this mailing 
> list, That is: What made you decide on purchasing an Elecraft transceiver?
> 
> For me it was participating in the local (all VK) 'Shires' HF contest with
my good friend Gary - VK4FD and his K3 #679.
> I was using my Yaesu FT847 during that contest sitting next to Gary and I
could not help but notice that whilst my FT847 was handling the 2 lower
bands (80 & 40M) fairly well it was still being desensed by Gary whenever he
transmitted on 20M and up. 
> 
> Whilst it was bareable for me I also noticed that Gary did not have any
such issues with his K3, he simply got on with the job at hand.
> (In fact he could listen on the same band I was on and have no issues 
> at all, it was a real eye opener for me!)
> 
> Now, I know that the FT847 is not a contesters radio on HF at all but it
didn't do such a bad job, after all we got second place in the rover
category that year with quite a large amount of the points scored being done
by me and the FT847 but when I saw the performance of the K3 in comparison
to the FT847 I thought, "maybe it is time for a change of radio".
> 
> So, the seeds of change were now sown, the sticking point at the time was
that I would lose the capability of operation on two bands that I was active
on (2M and 70cm).
> (The 2M transverter wasn't available when I first started to entertain 
> the idea of a K3 in my shack) The clincher for me was the announcment of
the K144XV internal 2M transverter with it's impressive spec, I now HAD to
have me one of those K3 radio's!
> I was willing to forego the 70cm band as it get's very little use in Nth
Queensland except for contests but 2M was a must have.
> 
> I knew that had to sell my beloved FT847 as well as my 2 other radios 
> (Kenwood TS480SAT, Yaesu FT897D) to afford the K3 as the other half 
> had said "No extra cost to the family, you pay for it with the 
> proceeds of the sale of your other radio gear".  (I miss the FT847 and 
> the TS480SAT but not the FT897D, it was a pile of junk!)
> 
> I pored over the options list and asked for Gary's advice on filters 
> and options as well as looking at my own operating habits before 
> settling on the radio's current configuration. (K3 #4257, DVR, ATU, 
> 100W, KXV3A, TCXO, KBPF3, 13KHz, 6KHz, 2.8KHz, 2.1KHz, 400Hz, PR6, 
> K144XV)
> 
> Now that I have had my K3 for awhile I can say that I am very happy with
my choice of not only the radio but the options that I had fitted.
> It has performed pretty much faultlessly since I got it with the exception
of a faulty microphone and the original K144XV failing. 
> (Both of which were replaced ASAP by Elecraft)
> 
> If I had a choice, wouuld I change anything? 
> The answer is: 
> A resounding NO!, I would not change anything with the K3, Though I would
encourage Elecraft to fit the PR6 internally in the K3, the external PR6 is
a right royal PITA because it hangs out too far behind the radio!
> (I'd also like so firmware changes to be made to accomodate the saving 
> of modes etc into the VFO memories for 2M FM Repeater operations but 
> that apparently needs a complete firmware code rewrite)
> 
> What's next on my list of things to have?
> I have tried out the P3 at Gary's (VK4FD) place and whilst it is a nice
addition, I cannot see a real use for it here with my style of operating but
I can see a real use for a KPA500 so I think that i will next set my sights
on sidling one of those up beside my K3. 
> (Added to the fact that I am losing my vision, which makes it kinda 
> pointless to have a visual aid to help operate the radio) :-)
> 
> So, there you have it, my reasons for owning one of the finest Amateur
Radio transceivers on the market today, such as they are.
> 
> PS: Wayne and Eric, You'll get no finer Australian ambassador for Elecraft
than Gary VK4FD, he's singularly resposible for getting most the Aussie K3's
owners to be, well........K3 owners!
> Cut him a good deal on his KPA500 (and mine too please!) :-)
> 
> Thanks for taking the time to read my drivel......
> 
> Jeff Cochrane - VK4BOF
> Innisfail, QLD, Australia
> Elecraft K3# 4257 + PR6 - K144XV = multiband goodness!
> ______________________________________________________________