[Elecraft] K3 and whats next from Elecraft

[Edward R Cole]

Pretty well covered by others.

One more fact to consider is the K3 is a SDR which means the firmware 
can continually be improved or embellished, thus keeping the radio 
from obsolescence.  The promise of SDR is that it can continually 
re-invent itself with new sw (firmware).  With ten years under its 
belt a lot of ideas have already been incorporated.  Recent 
improvement in AGC is an example of continual product 
improvement.  Elecraft is the only organization I see this coming 
with any regularity.  The typical mfr rolls out a whole new piece of 
hardware requiring you to dispose of the old radio and spending a lot 
of money on the "new stuff".  Have you noticed that Elecraft new 
firmware is free!

In time the hardware is replaceable with new technology, so 
eventually there will be better components for building SDR's and 
that might lead to a successor to the K3.  In a manner of speaking 
the KX3 is that.

I hope the idea of replacement through new modules is followed.  That 
is where a radio built with daughter boards on a master mother board 
is more amenable to hardware upgrades.  The tradeoff is reliability 
issues with daughter board connectors (over time).

Those of us that like to experiment with new stuff like the modular 
approach.  Think of new firmware as new modules!

73, Ed - KL7UW
http://www.kl7uw.com
dubususa at gmail.com
"Kits made by KL7UW"