Elecraft itself was forged during Field Day. This (and other cases where portability matter) are engrained in our DNA :)
A K4 or K4D is actually in a similar price range to K3S stations, as typically configured. And many of these are taken out of the shack, at least historically speaking. The added convenience of a built-in panadapter is of great utility on FD or for DXpeditions. I used the rig last FD and it definitely enhanced my abilities as an operator. Since we also have a lot of expansion capability in software, we'll be able to add features in the future targeted at enhancing operating convenience and efficiency. 73, Wayne N6KR > On Nov 4, 2019, at 4:54 PM, David Gilbert <xda...@cis-broadband.com> wrote: > > > I guess I still don't understand that choice, particularly since the bulk of > the new features that separate the K4 from the K3s seem geared more toward > fixed station use than portable operation. You could have kept the K3s > (which is still a world class rig) for anyone actually needing portable > capability while making the K4 a much cleaner rig than it now will be. I'd > be surprised if very many DXpeditions or contesters are going to feel the > need to upgrade from a K3s to a K4, and if so I'd be interested in hearing > why. I'd also bet that the great majority of K4 users will never take their > rig outside the house or need to run it off emergency power, yet all of them > are now going to have signals at least 10 db less clean than was technically > practical. > > Like it or not, Sherwood's recent QST article applies to Elecraft. > > Dave AB7E > > > > On 11/4/2019 4:20 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote: >> Hi all, >> >> We've chosen to have the K4 continue to be a field-capable radio, inheriting >> the characteristics that have always made the K3/K3S (and the K2 before it) >> the preferred rig for FD, DXpeditions, and multi-transmitter stations. >> Thanks to a lightweight but rigid internal aluminum frame, the K4 weighs >> only slightly more than the K3/K3S, while integrating in a large LCD in a >> way that increases width by less than 3 inches. (Unlike on many rigs, our >> front panel includes separate optical encoders for VFO A, VFO B, and >> RIT/XIT.) >> >> Current drain of the K4 is half that of most competing high-performance >> desktop radios, so it can be used with emergency power. At home, use 13.8 to >> 14.2 V for lowest IMD. In the field, the K3 (and now, the K4) automatically >> scales maximum power output based on supply voltage, and can run down to as >> low as 11 V. >> >> 73, >> Wayne >> N6KR >> >> >>> On Nov 4, 2019, at 3:07 PM, Buck <radiok...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> Perhaps the K4 should have been a 40V radio and the K3S remain as the 12V >>> "portable" or "field" version. >>> >>> k4ia, Buck >>> K3# 101 >>> Honor Roll 8B DXCC >>> EasyWayHamBooks.com >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> Message delivered to xda...@cis-broadband.com >> > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to n...@elecraft.com ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
