[Elecraft] Kit or factory assembled K3?

[Dave Hachadorian]

The main board in my kit had a component that was improperly
soldered.  It was explained to me at the time that the defect was
not detectable in board-level testing.  Maybe that testing has
improved over time.

Dave Hachadorian, K6LL
Yuma, Arizona



-----Original Message----- 
From: Ron D'Eau Claire
Sent: Sunday, May 26, 2013 3:13 PM
To: 'Dave Hachadorian' ; 'Elecraft Reflector'
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Kit or factory assembled K3?

I believe the individual boards in the kits undergo the same
production
testing as the factory-assembled units. Eric has weighed in on
that point in
the past.

73, Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Dave
Hachadorian
Sent: Sunday, May 26, 2013 12:36 PM
To: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Kit or factory assembled K3?

I think it is well worth the extra $200 to purchase at least a
basic
factory-assembled K3-10.

If you are interested in saving a few bucks and getting to know
the innards
of the rig, then you can add all the extra stuff yourself.

The main advantage of getting the assembled rig is the final
factory
acceptance test, verifying that all of the circuitry and features
of the
main board are operational.  This eliminates the possibility that
the radio
is not Dead On Assembly, as happened to me, through no fault of
my own.
Elecraft cannot test every circuit on that main board when they
do the
testing at the board level.

The radio is a great value, even at the factory-assembled price.

Dave Hachadorian, K6LL
Yuma, Arizona