[Elecraft] Wait For The K4 Direct RF Sampled SDR?

[Giancarlo Moda]

Hi all,

I would like to comments about Jan K1ND and Mike W5FTD messages.

1) Looking/waiting for a K4 SDR new project by Elecraft.  Wayne, N6KR, has given the official reply "No K4" but possible K3 improvements.

2) Why not a K2A SDR true kit ?

1) The K3 is already an SDR radio, having the DSP and its software replacing the classic hadware stages dedicated to demodulation, audio filtering and analog agc. Elecraft have obviated to the use of a dedicated PC, their main interest is the hardware they produce at best and not a PC producer. If a customer has a problem with an advanced SDR radio and is not in the condition to understand where the problem is he will have to discuss with at least two hardware manufacturers, the radio one and the PC one... plus a software company if the software is of a third party. 


As Wayne has expressed, a  radio, particularly for the HF bands, needs a very strong front-end and the blocking range is still quite different between the two technologies.... sdr sampling still needs components improvement.

Also, a powerfull PC is required to be able to run all those interesting software routines and displays, plus the reduction of delay audio output, critical in CW operations.

2) Elecraft has delievred a very nice SDR transceiver, the KX3, that is simple and can run stand alone or be attached to a PC.

I believe Elecraft cannot invest anymore on an SDR or true kit product. They will not be able to cover their investment. Any new product will have to be an SMD assembly, as standard components are disappearing or are becoming very expensive. The main question for a true kit is ... 

"How many people will be in the condition of building a radio from a kit versus how many people will be ready to purchase an assembled radio?"
Over a potential market of 10,000 hams, let say for a K2A, how many will purchase a professional SMD kit? Probably between 100 to 1000? Elecraft will never recuperate their investment, while serving 9,000 to 9,900 customers they could have a good return and be able to invest on a new product later on.
The K2 was a different story, Elecraft could afford the sale of 1000 kits-


Today, there is not much hardware available as a kit to make those solder iron smokers to enjoy themselves (I am one of these) ... SoftRock ensemble RXTX probably the more suitable for those interested on SDR transceiver kit.

I maybe wrong ... Best 73

Gian
I7SWX


Message: 10
Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:16:12 -0400
From: Jan <k1nd at comcast.net>
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] SDR with the K4
Message-ID: <5140C26C.7020701 at comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

SDR is NICE
I'm willing to wait and let the ELECRAFT engineers work out their next 
product, K4 or whatever mountain they name it after . . .
In the meantime I have been comparing the Elecraft KX3 with I/Q to the 
Edirol FA-66
sound-card running NaP3 software with my Genesis G59 MK3 sdr-kit 
transceiver,
[assembled 1.5 years ago] with the same sound-card and software 
Genesis/Power-SDR
AND do like the sdr-filtering better.

Regards, Jan K1ND

------------------------------

Message: 11
Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:18:50 -0500
From: Michael Poteet <mcpoteet at gmail.com>
To: "elecraft at mailman.qth.net" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>,    Wayne
    Burdick <n6kr at elecraft.com>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Wait For The K4 Direct RF Sampled SDR?
Message-ID: <2013313131850.399125 at Sittingroom>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Maybe
 not a K4 but why not a K2A?   Not to do a Flex 6000 or whatever but is 
there a way to replace the current mixer, direct conversion design with 
an (older, cheaper) direct sampling config?  And  leave most of the 
remainder of the design in place.  Be a chance to explore some new tech 
and Elecraft could still  keep most of the radio a true kit.  

Mike     W5FTD

> No need to speculate. There is no such project underway at Elecraft.
>
> Direct RF-sampling receivers, for all their technology, still lag
> well behind the K3 in blocking dynamic range, and probably will
> continue to for years to come. We're quite happy with our superhet
> architecture. Also, any advancement we make to the K3 will be
> retrofittable to existing K3s, so your investment is safe.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
l