Hi I am an OEM supplier of controllers used in the waste water business. I have needed to do a redesign at least 3 or 4 times in the last 10 years because the MPU's or other IC's are fazed out and no longer made by the manufacture. They will usually spec a replacement but it is usually not pin or software compatible.
This is the problem I see with all ham radios that use large scale IC's and or custom IC's. As long as the radio is working I don't see any problem with it lasting 15 to 35 years. But if you get a lightening hit or some part just fails you you be out of luck unless it is just some discrete part like a resistor, capacitor or transistor (even some transistors are no longer made although you can usually find something that will work) Don Brown KD5NDB ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <elecraft@mailman.qth.net> Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2007 6:52 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K rig's longevity? <SNIP> > That last one is a biggie. A lot of vintage gear survives on the air > because > it's easy to keep going. A lot of newer gear is relegated to the heap > because > you can't get parts, or the skills/tools/test gear/documentation needed to > fix > it are rare and expensive. > > Will it be possible to keep a K2 working 35 years? I don't see why not, > given > that almost all the parts are readily available, the documentation is wide > open and free, and expert assist is available from several sources. Plus > when > you get right down > to it, the hardware part isn't all that complicated because so much is > done > in software. > > 73 de Jim, N2EY > > _______________________________________________ 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
