[Elecraft] Why I won't purchase K3

[Alexey Kats]

Thank you, I agree, the price of basic K3 is in the same range as of loaded
K2 (a bit more, but still comparable). The thing is I like to BUILD stuff,
and I always compare the cost of buying equipment against the fun of
building it with my own two hands.

So, when it comes down to cost-to-performance analysis - K3 wins hands down.
It's only when one tries to justify the "kit" form it starts making little
to no sense unless the only thing is saving the money part. I simply can't
imagine anybody being extremely proud of following instructions of which
screw to tighten first. (Please, don't feel offended - it was an
exaggeration.)

Sorry, I think I need to get some sleep now.

On Sun, Mar 6, 2011 at 6:44 AM, Johnny Siu <vr2xmc at yahoo.com.hk> wrote:

> Hello Alexey,
>
> Very good that you have put up such an agressive title.
>
> No worry, we often hear opinions from the opposite side in this mail
> reflector.  I like to build as well and the building process will give me
> the chance to understand more about the architecture of modern radio.
>
> However, due to the wide use surface mount technology, it will be too
> difficult for an untrained amateur like myself to handle surface mount work
> for modern radio.  The modular design of K3 is something that I can manage.
>
> I bought my latest K3 from the second hand market and I needed to do some
> upgrade modification myself.  I find this minor soldering work is quite fun
> indeed.  This is all I can handle.
>
> A basic K3 has already covered most of the functions of a fully fit K2 and
> in similar price range.  Therefore, I would go for a basic K3 instead of a
> fully fit K2.
>
>
> cheers,
>
>
> Johnny VR2XMC
>
>
>  ------------------------------
> *寄件人﹕* Alexey Kats <alexeykats at gmail.com>
> *收件人﹕* elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> *傳送日期﹕* 2011/3/6 (日) 9:30:54 PM
> *主題：* [Elecraft] Why I won't purchase K3
>
> Ladies, gentlemen, and all the other species of HAM community,
>
> I apologize for such aggressive and somewhat insulting subject of my
> posting. But after reading all the "why I purchased Elecraft radio" reasons
> I felt like chirping in.
>
> I like radios, I like to find out what I can do with it. I like building
> things with my own hands. I didn't have so much fun building fully loaded
> K1, K2, and KX1 in years... like... like.. like I had when I was assembling
> my own computer with nothing but pliers, 40W soldering iron and
> individually
> acquired spare parts back in 90es. It felt like I was giving birth to a
> baby
> or something - making sure that it is in the best state I could possibly
> make it. And I could also learn from it, a lot, in fact.
>
> Now, don't get me wrong, when it comes to the specs of K3 I bow my head to
> the designers of it - it's truly a one son of a  gun radio. It's pretty
> much
> the heaven dream for CW. I know that. But there is one thing which makes me
> uneasy - it's not the radio I built. It's not even the radio I assembled.
> It's the radio someone else built, and all I am reduced to is plates
> arrangements and screwdriver turning. It's almost like I am not sure
> whether
> I should be thanking Wayne and Eric, or curse them. (Probably thank them
> more than anything...)
>
> My gripe with K3 is that even if I buy it, build it, and use it, I can't
> honestly say that I BUILD it. Simply because I didn't build it. With K1,
> K2,
> KX1 I learned a lot from its schematics, I was able to figure out what went
> wrong if something went wrong (just to prove to myself that it was me who
> was an idiot). I loved the process of making sure that I understand each
> and
> every piece of it, to the last capacitor, even if I don't understand the
> assembler code of its main controller (I spend enough time with computers
> to
> hate them thoroughly as it is). My problem is I can't do the same with K3.
> I'd love to own it. I'd love to use it. But I'd hate to build it.
>
> I am sorry if this posting makes no sense to all of you. I was simply
> trying
> to express my feelings...
>
> I think I'll try to find more money to build another K1 or K2. (Actually, I
> like K1 more, don't ask me why.)
>
> --
> Alexey Kats (neko)
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-- 
Alexey Kats (neko)