[Elecraft] K2's Future

[Don Wilhelm]

  Gary,

The K2 is not obsolete, but certainly is mature (there is a BIG difference).
You will continue to see the K2 supported by Elecraft - at least for 
repair and the normal definitions of support.

You may or may not see any further changes to the K2 - either hardware 
or firmware.  Situation - if the projected sales for P3s will be 
enhanced sufficiently by modifying the K2 firmware to work better with 
it, then you may see an updated K2 firmware to provide that support.  
But consider that the stock K2 has no IF output (other than the Clifton 
Labs Z10000 buffer).  While that IF output works well, I would think 
that Elecraft would want to pull such a K2 IF output "in house" before 
working on K2 firmware to utilize the P3 functionality.  Such 
combinations  of situations create a business decision process for 
Elecraft (or any other company).  I for one would not want to do 
development work on something that is under someone else's control (like 
the K2 IF output).

If you want a bit different perspective, just look at the numbers.  The 
K2 has recently hit SN 7000 over the past 12 years it has been 
produced.  In a much shorter time, the K3 has already shipped about that 
same number.  Guess which one gets the most attention for enhancements.

Bottom line -- Your K2s will not be obsolete, and Elecraft will continue 
to provide support, but there may be no further enhancements.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 5/31/2011 6:20 PM, Gary Reich wrote:
> As the owner of 2 K2s which I built I am curious about the future of the K2
> now that the KX3 is being developed. Since the K2 is a mature radio the only
> viable upgrades would be in the firmware. In the distant past Wayne
> mentioned the possibility of a new MCU which would increase the available
> space available for new code. Likewise Alan Bloom mentioned the possibility
> of writing some code which would allow the P3 to comunicate with the K2 on a
> limited level. Is there a market for this type of upgrade or is the K2
> obsolete?
> Hopefully someday I'll upgrade to the K3 but until then I'll stick with the
> K2.
> 73, Gary YS1GR
>