[Elecraft] Availability

[Ian Kahn, NV4C]

Tommy,

Please understand something about the K4 and availability - this is a 
rig that was announced this time last year (at Dayton Hamvention), that 
was still under design and development. At that time, I believe they 
anticipated the ship date to be in time for the 2019 holidays. Then, the 
testers found some things that needed correcting, which pushed the ship 
date out a couple of months. Then, COVID-19 hit, we all went into 
shelter-in-place, Elecraft had issues getting parts, and the work slowed 
down. And Eric and Wayne have been up front about explaining all this to 
us. But, the key here is that this transceiver is ground-breaking new 
technology. It is a brand-new product still under development, a process 
that was delayed largely due to world events beyond anyone's control.

There were similar delays (save for the global pandemic :-) ) and 
similar complaints when the KX3 was released several years ago. A new 
product will not always meet the time lines the developers initially 
anticipate and announce. But, Eric and Wayne have said repeatedly in 
this forum, and in the newsletter, that they have product in their other 
lines available to ship. If you are concerned about your order, please 
email sales at elecraft.com. The wonderful sales team will tell you what's 
in stock and what isn't. While I haven't ordered anything during the 
current pandemic, I have never had a problem with product I ordered 
being out of stock or back-ordered.

But, the long and the short here is that I wouldn't be concerned about 
product availability. Pay attention to the K4 conversation, but take it 
with a grain of salt, especially in these unique times.

As someone else posted here earlier, I'm waiting for the K4 kit to come 
out before I order mine (probably a K4-HD). I also know it will probably 
be at least another year before the kit versions become available. But, 
I can wait. In the meantime, I finally have some time to really get to 
know the KX2 I've had for nearly 18 months, and I will continue enjoying 
my K3-based K-Line (K3, P3, KAT500, KPA500).

73 de,

Ian, NV4C


On 5/16/20 6:56 AM, Tommy Judson via Elecraft wrote:
> Good Morning
>
> I’ve been studying how to establish a ham station and asking around what is available to do that with these days.  A month or so of research brought me to Elecraft - best bang for the buck receivers.  This narrowed my search down to just a couple radios. Now thank you to this forum's members I’ve decided what Elecraft has listed for sale I would like to use in a newly established ham station.
>
> I sent a wish list to Elecraft to see what is actually in stock knowing the present pandemic could cause shortages of supplies and labor because of the social distancing requirements.
>
> Now I read on this forum many questions about when customers will actually receive the radios they plunked down $4K to buy when first announced some time ago.  One customer mentioned that he was in an older age bracket and wondered if he’d get his in time to use it - I’m five years older than what he said was his age.
>
> I’m wondering if I should consider another company’s products - find a company if any that might have equipment in stock.
>
> To end on a good note I need to say there has been plenty of time to leisurely accumulate parts and design and erect a by the book optimum height inverted V antenna out in my several acre front yard.  All needed now is to hook a radio onto the lead running down the pole and to under a small tree that will shade me and a radio relaxed in a lawn chair.
>
> Guess where I will not develop as much anxiety as others over delayed shipment of equipment is because I did not send money with my wish list - or maybe I should to actually get my name on the list to get my choice of equipment?
>
> Any thoughts ?
>
> Thank you Tommy Judson
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