This is an important point and one that should be considered in the decision to get the factory-built K3 or the kit. Actually the sub-assemblies are tested as individual units. But the set of sub-assemblies in a kit have not been tested together as a system. The factory system tests are more rigorous than what most of us can do with the kit and certainly more rigorous than the kit instructions provide. And, while rare, it is possible that sub-assembly tolerances can combine in a way that causes a system problem. (However, most, if not all, of such system issues are resolved via email or phone with Elecraft support.)
So the key considerations are money saved and K3 learning vs. the value of the factory system testing. Of course, you can always send your kit K3 to the factory for the system test but that is likely to be more expensive than getting the factory-built unit in the first place. Ed - W0YK ----------------------------------------------- Ed Muns Muns Vineyard - www.munsvineyard.com FaceBook - www.facebook.com/munsvineyard K6LL wrote: > I recommend that you buy it factory-built, at least for the > basic unit. > > I have two K3's. One I bought second-hand, and one I built. > The one I built had a missing major part, which caused a > delay, and then didn't work when it was finished. It turned > out that there was an unsoldered component on the > motherboard, which was undetectable in factory subassembly testing. > > Although you save $200 by building it yourself, you really > don't learn much in the process, and you have to spend about > $25 for an ESD mat. If you have to ship it back to the > factory, it will cost you $50 in the USA, and much more from overseas. > > There is no substitute for the final system tests that the > factory-assembled units get. Subassemblies are not tested 100%. ______________________________________________________________ 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
