My perspective is probably in a minority here, but here goes.
I didn't buy a K2 because I like building kits. I do a lot of building
and experimenting, and I want to use my time and skills to create new
things, not assemble kits. I bought my used K2 on ebay because I can
work on it. I have done some of the mods, and plan to develop my own
mods as needed to keep the rig viable for years to come as well .
When my TS850S started a slow death, almost every circuit that died was
not field repairable. My previous rig was a Drake TR7 which was field
repairable, but virtually all the Japanese radios are not designed so
that you could even operate the radio while having access to the boards.
I assume they have fixtures to allow factory repair (or just replace
the boards).
I was determined to buy a rig this time that could be easily fixed with
minimum downtime or cost. Feature-wise the TS850S has more to offer, but
the Elecraft is easily the equal in terms of performance, and better in
receive. If Elecraft can make a K3 kit with more features, but still the
same level of serviceability and performance, then I'm all for it... but
if it loses those virtues, then it might as well be a Kenwood.
Larry N8LP
Craig Rairdin wrote:
As for the radio being in a kit form, that is actually a HUGE selling
point, regardless of the time and effort required to build it since
all hams that I have met so far would really love to be able to build
their radios instead of buying a ready made appliance, provided that
the result does not lack in any significant RF design respect vs the
commercially available units. And I am not talking about a million
gadgets that you rarely ever use in a rig, but basic ant time proven
options as the above mentioned.
This is almost a universal definition of a Ham: "he who likes to
tinker"
...and by gaining widespread acceptance worldwide, profits can be
improved even with a smaller profit margin per unit.
I think you're taking your preconceived ideas and projecting them onto
everyone else. YOU may enjoy building kits, but I don't think that's a
majority opinion. YOU may be one who likes to tinker with everything you
build or buy, but that's far from a majority opinion.
If being a kit is a HUGE selling point then we wouldn't be having this
discussion about what Elecraft could do to improve its market share. This
has to be the best kit radio out there, so by your definition it should be
in the market share lead. I frankly don't know if it is or isn't but am
assuming from the topic of discussion that it's not. So it can't be the case
that simply being a good kit is enough.
If I might project MY opinions onto a majority of hams (most of whom aren't
on this list, by the way) then I would say the universal definition of a ham
is closer to "one who wants more radio than he or she can afford".
Everything I've "tinkered" with is because I was too cheap/poor to buy
something that was good out of the box or that wasn't used and in need of
repair.
If I've learned anything in business it's that the best products don't
always win. The best *marketed* products win. This means things like
"brand", "price", "good looks", "consumer buzz" and "advertising budget" are
perhaps more important than "receiver sensitivity", "filter bandwidth" and
other measures of quality.
Craig
NZ0R
K1 #1966
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