[Elecraft] Elecraft compared to the Sienna transceiver

[Phil Wheeler]

Your post was the first I'd heard of the Sienna 
(I've been pretty inactive for a while), Tom, so I 
checked for reviews and also went to their 
website. What I found was:

  * No QST nor other review with a detailed
    technical assessment (it's possible I just
    didn't find it)
  * Seven reviews on eHam -- though three of those
    are by the same user, so really fewer than
    five reviewers
  * Clearly a "melt-solder" kit with toroids to
    wind and such as that, though the SMT
    components come pre-intalled
  * Receiver design is very different than the K3

No real conclusions, because no real data based on 
an impartial technical review. I'd be concerned 
about level of support since their only other 
product appears to be a 40 m AM xtal controlled 
handitalki -- and also concerned by the likely 
lack of support from a large base of users.

The real attraction to me would be the fun of 
building one -- with both melt-solder and 
mechanical assembly to do. Likely not as much work 
as my K2 was (due to pre-installed SMD components) 
but more work than a K3 or KX3. I'd be very 
surprised if the receiver could compete with the 
K3, simply because the K3 is known to be near to 
top of the class (even the decade-older K2 is no 
slouch).

Finally, when Elecraft launched the K3 it was the 
latest item in a growing product line beginning 
with the K2 (and later options) and including the 
K1 and KX1. Elecraft was active in the community 
for a decade or so before the K3 showed up. That 
history has given me confidence in their designs 
and support. I've not researched it thoroughly, 
but I see no similar progression supporting the 
Sienna.

73, Phil w7ox

On 3/9/14, 8:51 AM, thomas branton wrote:
>
>
> On Sunday, March 9, 2014 10:41 AM, thomas branton <kf5wbs at yahoo.com> wrote:
>    
> Good morning,
>
> I have an opportunity to purchase a built Sienna transceiver.  If anyone on the board has experience with one and can compare it to the K3 in terms of operation and performance I would certainly appreciate the information.  Thanks so much.
>
> Tom, KF5WBS
> http://www.dzkit.com/