[Elecraft] failed K3

[rikoski]

>> On Feb 24, 2022, at 5:48 AM, rikoski <rikoski at rikoski.com <mailto:rikoski at rikoski.com>> wrote:
>> 
>> Here is my situation. I have an Elecraft K3 setup: K3 transceiver; Pan Adpter; KAT 500 tuner; KPA 500 , 500W power amp. All Elecraft, all plug compatible.
>> 
>> In January in the middle of a QSO, the Elecraft transceiver stopped working. I got return authorization and returned the transceiver to Elecraft for service. They say that because of the number of units returned to them, it will be another 2 months before they can get around to mine. So I'm off the air for 3 months..
>> 
>> So what to do? Give Elecraft $5000 for a new K4; Buy a Yaesu FT Dx 10 with a very good receiver but is not easily plugged into the Elecraft K line; Buy an Icom 7300 which I have familiarity with and will be easy to attach; Go on eBay and buy a used K3 and hope that it works; or buy something else?
>> 
>> When I get my K3 back, I either will keep what ever I buy now as a spare to use when the K3 fails again or sell off my entire K line and migrate away from Elecraft recognizing that their service is not like to improve and that I have alternatives.

> On Feb 26, 2022, at 10:25 AM, rikoski <rikoski at rikoski.com> wrote:
> 
> I have other things to do.
> 
>> On Feb 26, 2022, at 8:37 AM, Geert Jan de Groot <pe1hzg at ymbk.nl> wrote:
>> 
>> On 24/02/2022 20:58, elecraft-request at mailman.qth.net wrote:
>>> In January in the middle of a QSO, the Elecraft transceiver stopped working. I got return authorization and returned the transceiver to Elecraft for service. They say that because of the number of units returned to them, it will be another 2 months before they can get around to mine. So I'm off the air for 3 months..
>>> So what to do? 
>> 
>> So, what failed? We're licensed radio amateurs and have done exams on radio electronics; hence should know a thing or two about the inner workings.
>> 
>> Given that common faults are known and probably have been discussed on-list, there are people here who know the radio well and there are even the odd comments from techs on this list, I would have not send the radio without self-investigating the fault.
>> 
>> I've done repairs on most of my Elecraft kit and in many cases it is something simple: connector issue, erratic encoders. Several issues are published by Elecraft and you can easily do the re-work tourself. What I didn't know I asked and the lists have been good. The one exception is that getting Elecraft to fix firmware bugs for older products (K3, P3, KX2, KX3) has been difficult; since the software is closed-source this is a problem.
>> 
>> If anything, my future interest would be something with the hardware of elecraft but using an arrangement where once software development from the manufacturer has ended, maintenance can be done using open source.
>> 
>> Geert Jan
>