[Elecraft] Frustration with Elecraft

[WILLIE BABER]

Maybe there are two levels of frustration....regular frustration, especially if you have ONE radio that isn't working, and you know that you will be off the air until the radio is fixed....and you will miss an operating event!  This is normal.

The second level of frustration is getting the radio fixed in a timely fashion.  Elecraft will allow us to fix our own radios if we have the skill to do it with technical assistance.  I have done this several times with my K3 x 2 (so2r), with detailed instructions that almost anyone can follow, from an Elecraft technician.  This saves lots of time in getting the radio working properly again. 

However, when I could not repair the PA in my nearly purchased K3 via instructions from a technician, I sent in the PA module only.  The technician couldn't fix it in a timely fashion either so I was sent another PA that solved the problem.  However, this was a two or three week long experience until I finally got another PA. No problem for me because I had other radios, so I wasn't at all frustrated by the time factor.  Of course I had no doubt that Elecraft would fix the PA.

I experienced the same kind of support in completing Elecraft k2 100 that I purchased years ago but I didn't complete building until some years later.  There were lots of mods to do as I purchased a field-test unit.  I got every one of the mods in place, including the much needed keying modification.  And, for the most part, I didn't have to bother Elecraft technicians to finish K2.  Every issue I had with K2 was resolved by searching archived Elecraft emails!

I like Elecraft because we (or yours truly) can be part of the repair-solution compared to the black-box approach that forces you to "send it in" for repair, no matter what is the problem. And then wait.

Now, if you are new to ham radio and don't have much knowledge about radios, then this silver-lining to Elecraft service may not be as obvious.

73, Will, wj9b
K2, and K3/P3 x 2


CWops #1085
CWA Advisor levels II and III
http://cwops.org/

--------------------------------------------
On Tue, 6/13/17, Gary Smith <Gary at ka1j.com> wrote:

 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Frustration with Elecraft
 To: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
 Date: Tuesday, June 13, 2017, 11:25 AM
 
 Andy,
 
 Just to be another to chime in on the 
 bandwagon, This is the kind of response 
 that Elecraft has been doing since I first 
 bought my K3 kit in 98 I think it was.
 
 I now have a fully loaded K3s,
 a backup 
 K3, fully loaded P3 and a K-Pod.
 My 
 amplifier is an Alpha 77SX but I am 
 seriously considering going for the 
 upcoming Elecraft SS 1500W amp. The only 
 thing that could pry the 77SX out of my 
 fingers would be a full limit Elecraft 
 amp. I have come to equate Elecraft with 
 integrity and quality.
 
 You will enjoy your radios and you will 
 have fun discovering all the hidden 
 nuggets your radios have waiting for you 
 to uncover.
 
 73,
 
 Gary
 KA1J
 
 
 > Wayne,
 > 
 > Thanks for the quick response and
 action!
 > 
 > I look
 forward to having a great field day.
 >
 
 > 
 > 
 > -----
 > NB8F - Andy
 > Elecraft K3S / KX2
 >
 User since June 2017
 > Ham since March
 2015
 > --
 > View this
 message in context:
 > http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Frustration-with-Elecraft-tp76316
 > 98p7631707.html Sent from the Elecraft
 mailing list archive at
 > Nabble.com.
 >
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