Phil, You will probably get a lot of opinions both ways. Those who spent the extra money for "factory built" probably did so for good reason, and are glad they did. Most (nearly all?) who opted to do the kit, are probably just as glad they saved the $200!
All I can add is that doing the kit is not nearly as bad as you might think. After all, it's more of an "assembly" process than a build. There is no comparison to to a K3 kit vs. a K2 kit. There is no soldering--only interconnection of various boards. However, if you feel you are a little "light" on dexterity, which can be for a number of good reasons, then by all means spend the extra money for a factory built unit. The K3 is very well made, and everything fits together very neatly. Only one or two steps really require anything that might be considered "manipulation", and those steps are really very well described in the manual. Early kits may have had a slightly more difficult process, but with 3,000 of these rigs out there now, I think any such issues have been resolved. In my view, the only "difficult" part was making sure that the three or four interconnecting cables inside the rig were properly seated. Otherwise, it is pretty much a matter of just mounting boards, and putting in a bunch of screws. It's basically modular construction--just like assembly of a computer--maybe not even that difficult. Dave W7AQK ----- Original Message ----- From: "Phil Hystad" <k7...@comcast.net> To: <w...@msn.com> Cc: "'Elecraft Reflector'" <elecraft@mailman.qth.net>; "'Dave Hachadorian'" <k...@arrl.net> Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 7:40 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] kit building or buy ready for use >I would like to see more comments from K3 kit builders to counter these > points being made here. > > I am also planning on getting the K3 and there is only one thing that is > holding up my order right now and that is trying to figure out when I can > spend the time to put it together. But, I am also a little bit wondering > if > the cost differential of kit versus factory built is worth the learning > experience > when you contrast that with the hassles of potential problems. > > If the kit cost versus factory built cost were different by a wider margin > it would > be an easier decision. > > phil, K7PEH > > > On Dec 20, 2009, at 6:27 PM, Ed Muns wrote: > >> 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 > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 ______________________________________________________________ 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
