[Elecraft] K3 and whats next from Elecraft

[Arnie Grubbs]

Well, while everyone is putting out their wish lists......

While there is a glut of cheap FM HT and mobile VHF/UHF stuff, I don't think that 2M/430 is represented enough..
 FM is only one small bit of the upper bands, CW, SSB, Data (high speed mesh networks) and video are there too.. 
Cheap FM HTs are not what I would be all over...

 We used to have more options for VHF and up rigs,  lately all you see are multiband mobile rigs that do everything from 
just about DC to daylight that while a jack of all trades, are master of none. You would need two of
them anyway, to do full duplex comms.   

 I used to have a Kenwood TS-790 that I used for SSB/CW and Satellite work.  It got damaged by lightning, not
from the antenna but in thru the power supply... I do miss it. and  Full Duplex...

Adding transverters to an HF rig, is an option, but that ties up your expensive HF rig.. is messy, and does not allow
you to run full duplex for an analog satellite.

At this moment, I see there is the Kenwood TS-2000 which is $1500, base,  to about $2000 with the 23cm  module. It does duplex.
Also I see the IC-9100 as something of a stand out as something newer that does the
higher bands, and does full duplex with VFO tracking.. but still has to deal with the cost of HF...
 at a cost of close to $3000.  Granted it does 6M and has an option of 1200 MHz.. which is
great.  But it has "icom" support, and not " **ELECRAFT** " support!

A radio that had a very good multi channel DSP mother board set up, with modules that you could select and
 add for the "less traveled" bands such as  6 and 2M, 430Mhz, 900 and 1200Mhz would be "Very Interesting"..
Maybe a 4M module for areas that have that as a band option too!  The ability to upgrade the DSP software
as time goes on, would be a great point.. 

 Also being able to add in the LoFer bands if/when made available, would be very nice option to be able to 
stack inside and use all of the DSP power you have available in the main board....Diversity reception on LowFer?


Anyhow, just wishful thinking on my part...   What say Elecraft!   ;)

73 - Arnie KA0NCR

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 What would you be willing to pay?
 What would it have that current import units do not?
 (perhaps a manual you can understand or a set of controls
 that easily 
 access the gazillion features?)
 
 Let's face it the current crop of 2m/440 are almost priced
 to be 
 disposables.  What market share is left to go after?
 
  73
 Brian/K3KO
  
 End of Elecraft Digest, Vol 112, Issue 31
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