[Elecraft] K3 vs KX3

[Fred Jensen]

On 1/22/2014 9:18 AM, Vic Rosenthal wrote:
> I'm coming late to this party (thread), but I want to object to the
> implication that the K3 must be reaching the end of development.

Did not mean to suggest that Vic.  What *has* happened is that the K3 
has been on the market for multiple years now [mine is S/N 642, they're 
currently shipping in the high thousands], most if not all of the 
"planned but not yet implemented" items have now been implemented, most 
of the bugs/problems/anomalies have been addressed, many of the feature 
requests have been taken care of, and the set of accessories is 
complete.  While I'm sure that there will continue to be updates, they 
will be at a more measured pace as they have been recently.  The K3 
seems to meet all the requirements of a mature product, and 
consequently, traffic on the list about it decreases, just as it did for 
the KX1, K1, and K2.

The original post asked why the list seems to be "All KX3, All the 
time."  That's the reason and it's normal product evolution.

> The KX3 is an impressive piece of engineering, but although nobody stops
> you from using it in a fixed station, it is best adapted to use as a
> field rig. Personally, I didn't buy one because I have an emotional
> attachment to my old K2 for that purpose!

Me too!  And if I really need to go light, I always have my KX1.  I used 
NU6T's K1 on a SOTA activation a couple of years ago.  If my wife keeps 
on buying needlepoint stuff ... "equal hobby allowance policy" ... I'll 
have enough in my radio account to get one of those -- a really neat 
little field radio.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014
- www.cqp.org