As an early adopter of many new devices and technologies I fully understand that my serial number < 100 device will probably require some updates, and may require them at my expense. I refuse to demand that Elecraft "cover me like a blanket" for any necessary updates. If I wasn't willing to take some risk in order to be among the first owners of this radio, I wouldn't have placed my order within 30 minutes of the announcement being posted to the list.
There are three kinds of people when it comes to a new product like this. Those who jump in with no regrets and no expectations beyond getting the radio before anyone else (early adopters); those who wait for all the glitches to be wrung out and for the price to come down (the patient); and those who are actually in the latter camp but who really want to get their hands on the product early (the hand-wringers). I don't think it's Elecraft's responsibility to make that third group feel better about their purchase decision. If there are big hardware changes that need to be made and Elecraft sends me a replacement module for the cost of shipping, great. If they send me instructions and a bag of parts, great. If they send me an apology and an order form for a replacement module at my expense, great. If that's not the way you look at it then you're wise to wait a year or two. Better yet, wait for the K4 then pick up a late-model K3 on eBay. (The first post-K3 K2 is up there now.) :-) Craig NZ0R KX1 #1499 K1 #1966 K2/100 #4941 K3/100 #20-#220 -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Larry Phipps Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 10:58 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [Elecraft] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft customer service: appreciate it! I have an early serial number K2 that I have updated as well. I'm not concerned that there will be support... just wondering what form it will take. If there are changes that are parts substitutions, I assume we will have the option of doing our own rework and updates. I have the tools for SMD rework, so this is not a problem. My concern would be a board revision, which would rise to the level that rework would be difficult or impossible. I assume any board which does not meet published specs would be replaced under warranty. I am also assuming a redesign just to improve performance would not be free, but would be available at nominal cost. With so many beta testers this is all probably unlikely, but it is an all new design and with hundreds of early adopters, with wide ranging needs, the rig will be tested in ways which have probably not been encountered yet. It might be a good idea (and probably already in the works) to direct the beta testers to run additional tests and operations based on the reflector comments and questions of the last few days. With such a hot new product, I am certain that Eric and Wayne are being especially careful about the roll-out, so as not to taint it. 73, Larry N8LP Don Wilhelm wrote: > Larry, > > I would not be concerned about the hardware from the first production > run. If the K2 stability can be any example, remember that the K2 did > not have significant hardware changes to the receiver or transmitter > chains. There were a few enhancements, but my Field Test K2 has very > little rework that is not present on my SN2100 K2 - both are upgraded > to the current level. > > In the firmware arena, I do expect changes as customer requests for > added or changed functions are accommodated, but with the firmware > being available as a download, those changes are easy to install. > > As always, you can expect total commitment to customer support from > Elecraft. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > Larry Phipps wrote: > >> I may wait for the second production run, although that may be sold >> out by the end of Dayton ;-) I'm guessing 200 for the first run, and >> maybe as many as 1,000 for the second run. I would like to hear >> feedback between those runs, but I don't think there will be time for >> much feedback. My main concern would be hardware changes between runs >> on the first few runs, and how they would be handled for early >> buyers. Obviously firmware changes are no problem. As good as the K3 >> design appears to be, there are always little running changes in a >> rollout. >> >> 73, >> Larry N8LP > > _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
