[Elecraft] The Big Three...

[Jim Brown]

On 3/29/2020 10:02 PM, donovanf at starpower.net wrote:
> You would have to seriously compete in an SSB contest with some of the
> more modern radios in very crowded bands to fully appreciate how much
> better the more modern technologies are for both transmit and receive signal
> quality. The latest Flex radios are almost shockingly good, but all of the
> top-shelf modern radios are significantly better performers than the
> 12 year old K3 or even the K3S.

Thanks Frank. Soon after he got his Flex 6700, his two key impressions 
were 1) it was the best radio he'd ever owned; and 2) the designers of 
the radio and it's software/firmware didn't have a clue about USING 
radios on the air. #2 was so bad that they didn't even understand the 
problems. Thankfully, guys like N6WM, K9CT, and I'm sure others, stepped 
in to educate them. :)

I'm not a digital guy, but having worked in pro audio most of my 
professional life, some concepts have rubbed off. If I were to speculate 
on the shortcomings of the K3/K3S you've noted, it would be that the 
system wasn't designed with enough bits and bandwidth. But that all 
depends on the parts you can buy for a product that must sell for a 
price that customers can pay, and, as you've noted, those design 
decisions were likely made in 2006. And from where I sit, I've always 
viewed Wayne and Eric as marketing geniuses (in the best sense of that).

73, Jim K9YC