[Elecraft] Elecraft compared to the Sienna transceiver

[Jim Lowman]

If my math is correct, and to compare apples with apples, for a Sienna 
100-watt transceiver with tuner, front panel, the full 11 bypass filters 
and a 500-Hz and a 300-Hz filter, the price is $3,810.
For the same options, I have $4,249.30 in my K3.  I included options 
that matched those in the Sienna, but omitted $439.90 in options for the 
K3 that I have but are not available for the Sienna (i.e. DVR and 2m 
module).
So, for a mere $439.30 less, I get a through-hole kit that I can build 
(fun!) without getting into SMT installation and wind my own toroids 
(not fun!) for which we have no lab results from ARRL or Sherwood 
Engineering to compare with the K3.  BTW, I used the kit prices for my 
K3, as that's the way that I purchased it.  So, an old-school kit vs. a 
mechanical-only assembly kit.

It's an odd-looking front panel; unlike typical JA or US designs. At 
first I thought it might be European, but apparently the designer is 
here in the US.
Admittedly I've paid little attention to the small ad in QST amid a 
multitude of other small ads.

At this point, I'll reserve any other opinions until some test results 
are published.  I doubt that I'd give up my K3 at this point, though.

73 de Jim - AD6CW

On 3/9/2014 1:13 PM, Mike Flowers wrote:
> Someone has to be first to be willing to spend thousands to see if it's the next great transceiver.
>
> I'll keep my money in my K-Line ...
>
> -- Mike Flowers, K6MKF, NCDXC - "It's about DX!"
>