[Elecraft] Buying a Used K3(S) - any things to consider?

[Don Wilhelm]

Tony,

The K3/K3S is a very good transceiver.  I can't answer your question 
about the speaker jack, but I assume it is because of the lighting in 
the photos.  You can easily replace the SO-239 jacks with the connector 
of your choice, but IMHO it will not make any difference.  I once 
changed those connectors to type N because that customer did not trust 
the UHF connectors.

Support of the K3 and K3S will not end just because they are not 
shipping.  I worked Elecraft Support for the Legacy Gear from 2004 until 
Feb 2019, and every product that Elecraft has produced is supported as 
long as parts are available.  My experience with Elecraft goes back to 
the start of the company in 1998.

The CW decode will work with SubRX on or off.

The KIO3 or KIO3A is adequate if you connect to RS-232 ports or a good 
USB to RS-232 adapter (FTDI chipset).  If something happens and it 
fails, you will have to upgrade to the KIO3B.

Similarly, the synthesizers - the old ones are no longer available from 
Elecraft, and in case of failure, the new synthesizers would have to be 
used as replacements.  If your K3 has the old synthesizers, replacing 
them would give a big advantage - the K3S already has the upgraded 
synthesizers.

So as long as the parts are available, Elecraft will continue to support 
their older products.  The only products that are no longer supported 
(for lack of replacement parts) are the K1 4 band board (should the 
trimmer capacitors fail) or some of the parts for the XV50, XV222, and 
XV432 transverters - again only for lack of some replacement parts. 
Even those older units that have parts availability problems may be sent 
in for service, and will be repaired unless the failure is because of a 
no longer available part.  I expect this practice to continue for many 
years with the K3 and K3S as well as the Legacy Products.

I am quite pleased with my K3 upgraded with the new synthesizers, and it 
will likely be my last transceiver, although I also have my original 
Field Test K2 (fully upgraded) and a KX3/PX3/KXPA100 and KX2 for field 
work.  All carry SN 000020 except for the KX2.  Both the K3 and the KX3 
have been sent through the Elecraft repair facility, while I upgraded my 
K2/100 myself because it was the same as I was doing for customers.

73,
Don W3FPR



On 12/17/2020 12:05 AM, Tony KX3H wrote:
> Sorry but I just need a little help with this - I'm in the K4 Group 3 
> list and know it will be a while before I get the call, so considering 
> buying a used K3(S) in the mean time. This would be my first Elecraft 
> and I am hesitant to jump in knowing the support has ended. Are there 
> any guidelines to consider if I do purchase one?
> 
> Things like:
>     1) Find the KIOB3 card that has ACC/RJ45/USB or doesn't that matter?
> 
>     2) What's the deal with the SPEAKER jack always looking like a 
> horseshoe with the chrome ring missing? Is that an easy part replacement 
> or does it mean something else? I tend to see this a lot in listings and 
> that concerns me.
> 
>     3) Why on some radios the ANT jacks are different colors? I'd like 
> to have both teflon white but also see the old brown bakelite color in 
> pictures.
> 
>     3) Any serial number above range to pick from? I know these are all 
> 5-15 years old but I'm still running a 33-year old Icom Superhet with a 
> 250hz xtal filter; not a real fan of visual eye-candy waterfalls or the 
> Pan adapters - call me crazy but it seems distracting. Maybe the K3 with 
> a regular screen would be better for me long term than the fancier K4 
> (although it's beautiful).
> 
>     4) Does the CW decoder display work when you have the second RX 
> installed/enabled?
>