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

[Gary D Krause]

My first rig was a Kenwood TS-530SP which I still have.  I became a ham around 
1984.  I also have a Ten Tec Centruy 22.  A little later I purchased a 
TS-440S.  My wife passed away in 2000 and I didn't do much if any ham radio 
for about five years.  When I did start to get back to it, my TS-440S quite 
working.  So, I was looking for a new radio and decided on the Ten Tec 
Argonuaut V.  It was okay but, I didn't really like the DSP sound.  It was 
kind of soft and muddy to me.  Not the crystal clear sound that I was 
accustomed to.  So I started searching for something else and found the 
Elecraft K2.

I had never built anything before other than a Heath Kit noise bridge and an 
antenna switch but, I wanted the experience of building something more 
substantial.  I had also read as much as I could find about the K2 and looked 
at the it's specs.  So, I sold the Ten Tec and ordered the K2.  Two days later 
Elecraft announced the K3.  If only I had waited but, I'm glad I had the 
experience of building the K2.  In fact, I actually ordered a K3 about a year 
later but, shortly canceled it partly because, I didn't want to sell my K2. 
 So last year, I upgraded the K2 with the KPA100. I bought the K2 sight unseen 
and took a chance but, I'm glad I did.

I've held off purchasing a K3 because, I don't think I would gain much over 
the K2 since I work mostly CW.  At least that's what I've been told.  If 
anyone disagrees please let me know and tell me why.

Elecraft has some great products but, lately it seems to competition is 
starting to heat up.  It'll be interesting to see what comes of it all.

Thanks, Elecraft.

Gary, N7HTS