[Elecraft] K4 Observations

[Grant Youngman]

I think your observations are spot on in most respects.

While the basic K4 is certainly going to be a great radio, it will likely NOT have the strong signal handling characteristics of the K3/K3S.  There will still be the likelihood of A/D clipping suffered by virtually all 16-bit SDRs in a high-density RF environment.  And although there is a second receiver it appears to be more like a Flex “slice” .. sharing front end filters with the main receiver.  In that regard, the K4D will be a great advantage for dual receivers in general,  or for diversity.

So by the time you get to the K4HD, you will spend a (I would guess) quite a bit more than a K3S for (perhaps improved by a few dB here and there) strong signal performance in the the most demanding conditions.

Lot of tradeoffs to be considered … for sure.

I have far more than the current list price in my existing K3 .. I’ve purchased several new boards for it over the years as various K3 upgrades and the K3S upgrades came out.  So the value it has is as a radio, and not a retirement plan.

One way or the other, I’ve set up a K4 piggy bank, in anticipation of the kit version next year … but have no plans at all to part with my K3.  It’s too good a radio :-)

Grant NQ5T
K3 #2091 KX3 #8342

> On May 18, 2019, at 11:09 PM, Buck <radiok4ia at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> The following is offered based on my observations and discussions at the Elecraft booth.  I am *not* an official, or even unofficial, Elecraft spokesman and stand willing to be corrected.
> 
> First, this is going to be another game-changer from Elecraft.  The radio will have outstanding performance figures and an interface to die for.  The screen is beautiful and functions can be controlled from either buttons or the touch-screen.  There is band-stacking on the touch screen, a nit people have complained about on the K3.
> 
> The radio is full SDR as opposed to the analog front end of the K3. However an option, the K4HD, is a superhet receive function.  Like previous Elecraft radios, this can be added later if you think you need it.  Preliminary is that it will not be necessary unless you operate in the presence of strong stations (multi-multi).
> 
> Another option has a second set of band pass filters and ADC module that will allow the two receivers to operate on different bands or antennas (K4D).
> 
> The radio contains a Linux computer so all this magic does not require an external computer except for logging or audio input. The rig will be addressable locally or over the internet with no additional software.  I saw it operated from an iPad and Android is coming.  The iPad screen looked exactly like the front panel, including the panadapter.
> 
> There are multiple USB ports, an Ethernet port, RS232 and an HDMI port so you can project the front panel, or parts of it, to an external monitor.  The panadapter looks awesome on the external monitor and you will be able to point and click to QSY the radio.
> 
> The prices are targets but I got the impression the final will be very close.  The cost is less than a fully loaded K3s. The kit version will be cheaper than factory-assembled and ship several months later to allow time to write the assembly manual.  Target for the factory version is November.
> 
> I suspect the K4 will replace the K3 series as K3s sales are sure to suffer because of product age and competition from the K4.  I did not hear any talk about sun-setting the K3s when the K4 comes out.  I am sure there are many people who will want to buy the basic K3s and upgrade over time (or not) rather than plunk down $4,000 for the K4.
> 
> What does this do to the value of a K3 or K3s?  I expect there will be some coming on the market.  Anyone who buys, or retains, a K3 or K3s will still have one of the finest radios ever made.  We are at the point where the difference among the top 5 or so on Sherwood's charts is a decibel or two, almost within the margin of error and certainly beyond the ability of the human ear to discern.  So, don't panic.  The demand for the K3 series will be strong for many years to come.
> 
> Keep an eye on the website as more information comes from Watsonville.
> 
> 
> -- 
> Buck, k4ia
> Honor Roll
> 8BDXCC
> EasyWayHamBooks.com
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