[Elecraft] K1 Discontinued

[Don Wilhelm]

Mike and all,

Yes, both the K1 and the K2 have had an exceptionally long lifetime 
compared to other ham transceivers.  I received my Field Test K2 late 
1998, so my SN 0020 is 19 years old.
Even though the K1 (and KX1) have been discontinued, support will 
continue for as long as the replacement parts and knowledge base exists.

The K2 continues to be available, and Elecraft has taken some 'heroic' 
steps to provide quite usable substitutes for several parts that have 
disappeared because they are no longer manufactured.
How long that can continue is anyone's guess, but I can say that 
Elecraft is dedicated to continuing support for the K2 for as long as 
possible.

As an extension of that philosophy, I expect that those who have the K3 
will enjoy similar support for years to come.  Same for those who have 
purchased the K3S, KX3 and KX2 as well as other Elecraft products.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 8/30/2017 2:15 PM, Mike Morrow wrote:
> I saw the K1 first at Dsyton 2000, just after it was announced.  I ordered one immediately, but delivery did not happen for almost six months.  It is one of my favorite electronic devices from the past 50 years.
> 
> It covered 15 meters, and consumed only about 60 mA on receive, with backlight.
> 
> Two years ago mine took a lightening strike through the DC input which killed a couple of regulators, some diodes, and a DA converter on the front panel board.  But tests show the MPU still functions and displays and responds to the keys.  Perhaps I'll get around to fixing it someday.
> 
> Not many rigs (except the K2) have had a production and sales run of 17 years.  It will be missed, but I don't know how it was kept in production that long.  I suspect it had a unit cost to Elecraft not significantly less than the KX2.