[Elecraft] KIO3b Failure

[David Gilbert]

For roughly two decades I was the manager of a division of one one the 
largest U.S. semiconductor companies, with both engineering and 
profit/loss responsibility that included being on the Board of Directors 
of two offshore joint venture manufacturing facilities.  Annual revenue 
reached $350 million for the portion I was responsible for by the time I 
retired.

Dave   AB7E


On 5/10/2025 3:50 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
> On 5/10/2025 3:08 PM, David Gilbert wrote:
>> The point is that I have never /needed/ to get a board from anywhere 
>> else, and none of those other places ever promised me I wouldn't have 
>> to worry about lost support. The Elecraft marketing pitch back then 
>> (it doesn't matter how long ago) was that support would /always/ be 
>> there due to the modular design of the rig. No matter how you try to 
>> spin it ... Elecraft reneg'd on a promise. The truth is that Elecraft 
>> could be still making, or at least repairing, modules like the KIO3 
>> and KIO3b that still have components readily available. *They simply 
>> chose not to honor their promise*.
>
> Dave,
>
> Have you ever run a business or been involved in management? It ain't 
> as easy as it looks. It's HARD to find and keep good people, and 
> you've got to pay them a living wage. You may not be able to buy a 
> KIO3B, but KIO3 boards are around. The difference is only a matter of 
> convenience -- fewer interconnect cables. Elecraft is a small company, 
> still with its original owners, both hams, who we can exchange email 
> with.
>
> I still own four K3s, all early production. Two bought from Elecraft, 
> loaded, two bought used from trusted sources. When I say loaded, I'm 
> talking dual RX, both all the options and with sevn of the more 
> expensive filters between the two receivers. The first one bought used 
> came with no tuner and no 2nd RX. It lived in W6GJB's contesting 
> trailer until it needed service, and it's currently at Elecraft. I 
> added a KIO3B to one of oldest, because I had to do so to make SO2R 
> SSB and RTTY work with N1MM. The last one I bought about 3 years ago 
> from a member of our contesting club, also loaded, with P3SVGA, for 
> $2K. I bought it for spares.
>
> A K4D has been my #1 rig for almost 3 years. I love it. The most 
> important upgrade for me are the filters. It's also currently at 
> Elecraft because I did something stupid. I was told 3-4 weeks 
> turnaround. A week after I dropped it off, the service tech emailed me 
> to ask about how I broke it and other conditions, to give him clues 
> about troubleshooting it! Name me another company making radios who 
> would have done that!
>
> As to cost -- we're buying in 2025 dollars, not 2008 dollars. A google 
> query came up with 1.5:1. Add what we would have paid for a K3 with 
> two RX and a couple of filters for each, plus a P3/SVGA, and the 
> number isn't all that different. My 2nd K3 cost me $3,500 in 2008, P3 
> cost $750 in 2010, SVGA was $280 in 2012. That adds to $4500. 1.5x is 
> $6,700. Subtracting less inflation for the P3 and SVGA, call it $6,600.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
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