[Elecraft] Future K-radio?

Fri Aug 23 18:53:30 EDT 2013

The problem here is cost/development time vs. potential demand.  Quite
frankly the market for a K3/10 with slots for VHF/UHF modules is likely
to be too small to justify the development time.  That's one reason the
"open backplane" provided by the daisy chain design of the XV series.

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV

On 8/23/2013 5:39 PM, Gary K9GS wrote:
> I think something like a back-plane box where you can install various
> "band modules" for whatever VHF/UHF/Microwave modules you want.  For
> really esoteric bands like laser communications make it open source so
> others could design modules that Elecraft wouldn't be interested in
> because the volume is too low.  You could even have a Lowfer module.
>
> Some of the modules could accommodate either an optional internal
> amplifier (like 100W+ for 2M) or be able to drive an external
> amplifier.  Outputs could be provided for relay control of an external
> amp, sequencer, mast mounted preamp, etc.  Maybe make the back-plane
> boxes "daisy-chain-able" in case you really want to go nuts.  Power the
> back-plane box from an external 12V DC supply so it could be used by
> rovers.
>
> The back-plane box could be controlled by a K3, KX3, K3-0, remotely
> through Rig-Remote, etc.
>
>
> On 8/23/2013 4:16 PM, ~BG~ wrote:
>> Personally I'd like something more portable than a K3/10 with a pile of
>> transverters though.  More like a KX3 but strictly an all-mode VHF/UHF
>> rig,
>> no HF.  6m, 2m, 70cm, 1.2 GHz, and perhaps 2.4 GHz in the box, perhaps
>> with
>> 4m, 1.25cm, and 900 MHz as options.  I'd be on the fence about general
>> coverage reception (my R20 already covers that sort of).  1-2 BNC
>> connections on the side along with an SMA, so you can run at least two
>> antennas (e.g. rubber ducky + a hand-held yagi, or backpack mounted
>> vertical + a UHF bullet).  Perhaps being able to optionally bypass the
>> internal DSP for processing and use laptop to do all your processing
>> (somewhat like a USRP, but more portable, granted this would start
>> putting
>> the radio in to Flex territory), or plug in a USB cam and do some simple
>> ATV broadcasts (although the radio would need a fair amount of memory and
>> processing power for this).
>>
>> Once you get smaller than the IC-703/7000 form-factor you're pretty much
>> stuck in the realm of FM only, and that kind of blows.  Granted it seems
>> like a pretty small niche, but I kind of wonder if there's a chunk of
>> potential users out there who are apartment dwellers and are turned
>> off by
>> the logistics of running a home HF base station.  Plus to me, Elecraft at
>> it's heart is more about small, portable radios...
>>
>>
>> ./ben
>> W6MCM
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Aug 23, 2013 at 12:02 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV<lists at subich.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>   I bought a K3 kit. I love it for HF work, but I'd also like to see an
>>>> integrated desktop replacement for the FT-736R to cover 6m (or 2m)
>>>> through 23cm (or perhaps 13cm?).
>>>>
>>> Does not the K3 with XV-144, XV-220 and VX-432 already answer that
>>> need through 70 cm?  If so, would not the answer seem to be in added
>>> transverters for 900 MHZ, 1.2 GHz and 2.3 GHz?   It seems that the K3
>>> can already address up to 9 transverters/transverter bands ... even
>>> if it were necessary to use more than one "band" to cover the needed
>>> spectrum, I would think a K3/10 with six transverters would more than
>>> sufficient as a 1.8 MHz to 2.4 GHz platform.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>>
>>>     ... Joe, W4TV
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 8/23/2013 1:30 PM, Bayard Coolidge, N1HO wrote:
>>>
>>>> Lew Phelps, N6LEW, mentioned the FT-736R.
>>>>
>>>> I have one, and used it for many years when I was living on top of a
>>>> decent hill in New Hampshire.
>>>>
>>>> I briefly flirted with the idea of buying an IC-9100 to replace my
>>>> IC-746Pro AND the FT-736R, but after reading many review articles, as
>>>> well as the discussions on this list, I bought a K3 kit. I love it
>>>> for HF work, but I'd also like to see an integrated desktop
>>>> replacement for the FT-736R to cover 6m (or 2m) through 23cm (or
>>>> perhaps 13cm?). The FT-736R was touted as a satellite radio, but I'm
>>>> not personally interested in the more esoteric satellite features
>>>> (such as reverse VFO tracking), as I preferred to do weak-signal
>>>> work, with some cross-mode and FM operating. I still have the "brick"
>>>> amplifiers for 2, 222 and 432 MHz that I used with the FT-736R, and
>>>> they're still currently available, so I'm thinking that the
>>>> envisioned Elecraft product only needs to put out 5-10W, but should
>>>> have separate per-band relay keying lines.
>>>>
>>>> Just my 20 millidollars' worth of daydreaming...
>>>>
>>>> Brandy, N1HO
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