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

[Tony KX3H]

Thank you Don, this is good information, especially eliminating the 
support worry. I am pleased at the possibilities ahead and have some 
leads on a few radios. I need a decent CW decoder to help me as my speed 
increases; I'm using a soundcard decoder with N1MM but it's hit and miss 
with my current setup.

73, Tony

On 12/19/20 6:07 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
> 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?
>>