[Elecraft] K4 Beta Testers

[Don Wilhelm]

Ray,

Thanks for your wonderful praise and support.

However, at my age, I do not intend to put up the bucks to purchase a 
K4.  My fully loaded K3 and P3 along with my KX3/PX3/KXPA100/KXAT100 
stations along with my fully loaded K2/100 Twins are more than adequate 
for my wants and needs and will remain my 'lifetime stations'.  I know I 
have a limited number of years left in my lifetime and I cherish each 
day even there is no evidence that it will be ending soon, but 
realistically, there will come a time in the future - I hope it is a 
longer time, but I just don't know, but nothing major is apparent at 
this time.

If Elecraft wants to advance me a K4 as a loaner, I would certainly be 
willing to participate fully in that initial field testing.  I believe 
hardware Beta testing is already underway with a small group of targeted 
users, but I have nothing on which to base that assumption.

To clarify, I was not one of the hardware beta testers for the KX3, I 
was the recipient of the first production unit.  I had a local Elecraft 
trade show booth to run here and the decision was to either ship me a 
prototype KX3 or to ship my own KX3 at that time - the decision was to 
ship me my own KX3 (serial # 00020 which matches my K2 and my K3).

I was a Firmware Field Tester for both the K3 and the KX3 - that is a 
bit different than the true Beta testers who evaluate the placement of 
the knobs, viewing angles and things of that nature.  By the time of the 
Firmware Field Test is started, those aspects are already "glued in place".

Yes, I was a Hardware and Firmware Field Tester for the K2 starting back 
in 1998, and I fell in love with Elecraft gear during that hardware 
build.  There were many others involved in that K2 Field Test that 
became close friends and associates, Tom Hammond N0SS (SK) in 
particular, but others who are now SK, and I miss many of them.

I have enjoyed a close relationship with Elecraft since the beginning 
back in 1998, and have been a part time employee from 2004 until mid 
February this year when I decided it was time to retire for my 3rd and 
final time.

So now you have my complete Elecraft history along with some nostalgia 
added.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/23/2019 3:27 PM, Raymond Sills via Elecraft wrote:
> I sure hope that one of the beta testers is Don, W3FPR.   He's done so much for the Elecraft community, and is so widely respected, that he -deserves- to have an early crack at the K4.  IIRC, he did receive one of the first production units of the KX3, which is my favorite rig.
> Of course, I know that neither he nor Wayne will confirm or deny who's getting to put the K4 through it's paces.
> 73 de RayK2ULRKX3 #211