[Elecraft] K3 and whats next from Elecraft

[Richard Fjeld]

"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)."

I agree with your statement above.  The Heathkit HW/SB-104 was this way, in
that it had a backplane that the boards plugged into.  I have had
Ten-Tecradios that were on this order also.  No sense replacing the
whole radio
when a circuit board can be replaced instead.  I realize Elecraft radios
are more complex, but I like to see the use of daughter boards for certain
things.  I'd rather send back a circuit board for repair or upgrade than
the whole radio.

Dick, n0ce


On Mon, Aug 19, 2013 at 2:27 AM, Edward R Cole <kl7uw at acsalaska.net> wrote:

> 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"
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