[Elecraft] Elecraft K3: Progression of K3

[John Buck]

Prehistory:
   I had built a number of other kits dating back to the Heath/Knight 
Kit days, including some of the smaller Elecraft kits.  Also had an Orion.
   I built a K2. Was very pleased with it.  Chose it because of the 
technical and customer support reputations of of the Elecraft founders.  
Expected excellent support if needed and received it.  The add-on kits 
grew to where the K2-100 with tuner replaced every other rig at my station.

Year 0:2007
   Saw a description of the K3 and realized that here was a rig that 
might quell my early adopter itch for a long time.  I ordered it at the 
first opportunity and had no fear about helping the company finance the 
final development with my down payment.  They were up front with the 
delivery plan.  I believed that this would be a very good rig based on 
the prior performance of the Elecraft principals and other company 
products.  Lo and behold my K3 was shipped on the last day of 2007.

Year 1:2008
   Received K3 #125 and put it on the air.  As soon as firmware 
improvements were suggested, they were incorporated, tested and 
distributed within a 2 or 3 weeks.  A priority list was used, so that 
the most important mods were concentrated in the next release.  I had to 
make a simple download and I had it installed.
   Man was I surprised!  It turned out that I had the best performing 
radio in the world sitting right on the desk at KH7T.  I had expected 
very good, but best in the World!!!  Sherwood Engineering and ARRL Labs 
agreed after a bit of discussion.
   Every few months I had the benefit of a next generation radio with 
firmware updates and a few small hardware upgrades.  The radio was 
Tailored to my taste.  I learned that I had to keep up the learning 
curve to use this magnificent piece of hardware most effectively.

Year 2:2009
   The K3 had matured at a fantastic rate.  No need to buy a new version 
radio or ship the radio from Hawaii to Aptos to get the latest features 
although the factory did send me a new board for exchange with the one I 
had for a nominal charge so that my radio would be fully up to date with 
the latest production radios.
   The K3 still retains ranking as the best performing radio in the 
world.  many of the big gun DXers are trying it out and often updating 
their stations with K3 or making plans to as soon as possible.
   Some of the big three ham radio producers released very expensive new 
radios which, I believe, were intended to be K3 killers.  Nice radios 
but not out performing the K3.  They are very pretty if you have the 
money and a sufficiently reinforced desk top.

Year 3:2010
   I still have a top ranked, world class radio.  Of course, I have had 
to improve my operating techniques quite a bit to keep up with the 
radio.  I have been using a low cost pan-adapter most of this year and 
have an Elecraft P3 on order. Toward the end of the year a couple of 
radios were announced that could make one think about choosing the K3 vs 
the newly announced radio.  It seems to me the K3 still wins the cost 
trade-off and holds it's head high in the performance competition.

Year 4:2011 first quarter
   I still love my K3/P3.  There is a radio out there that some people 
might prefer.  I do not feel that I can improve my station or get better 
factory support at any price.  I am looking forward to the hinted 
accessories to the P3 pan-adapter, along with the proven customer 
service and continuing upgrades of the K3 system.

Aloha,
John KH7T at arrl.net

Marconi was an appliance operator.  The trick was what he did with 
intelligent application of his appliances.