I think that Harry has some good points. I am not an Elecraft kool-aid
drinker, but I do have more than a few products from Elecraft. Not all of
them, as not all products meet my needs. I do have the ones I do because I
like most of the products and most of the products. Are the products of
Elecraft perfect? No, but damn close and beyond the other choices out there.
Is the Elecraft option the cheapest option out there? No! Is the Elecraft
option the best value? I think so for the products I own. Duh, that's a
given, as I have spent my money in my best interest.
Is the KX3 fully mature? No, but it is getting there. The one thing I can say
confidently is that the KX3 will become more and more mature. It is one of
the reasons to spend money with Elecraft as you have a product that can be
updated. My opinion is that Eric and Wayne will make the KX3 the most it can
be. That will be an incredible radio unmatched by anyone or any company.
I am not saying that Harry is wrong, but I am saying that if you understand the
Elecraft model, you cannot do better, in my humble opinion. OK, I like
kool-aid but it is not grape. Are my glasses rose colored? No, but I do like
Rose's carrying cases and covers! Enjoy the ride. I have not been
disappointed.
Regards and respectively submitted
73
Tom
K4TJD
Sent from my iPad
On Aug 3, 2012, at 8:59 PM, "Harry White" wrote:
> Hi Kevin,
>
> Actually, I think this list is very appropriate for your question. I think
> far too many people are looking at the KX3 through rose colored glasses, to
> use a tired old phrase. I received KX3 kit, serial number 557, on June 29th,
> by coincidence my seventieth birthday. The parts list and the actual
> inventory did not match but the kit went together anyway. There seemed to be
> many hardware errors that were miraculously made up by a package of "extra"
> hardware. And there was quite a bit of left over hardware. Odd
>
> I found the assembling of the two halves to be quite vexing. The speaker and
> battery wires caused major problems as they kept getting into the way. It
> seems they will always be an issue. In addition, the legs, dangling as they
> do, hold the case fasteners at an odd angle and exacerbate an already vexing
> problem. Clearly the legs could use a better mechanical design, independent
> of the case fasteners. Once assembled the KX3 powered up with no issues but
> I was stunned by the poor audio. The distortion was unacceptable at any
> level above a low, unlistenable volume. I thought it might be the speaker so
> I attached external, powered speakers and got the same result. I have read
> on this list that one should just use earbuds or headphones. As one who uses
> two hearing aids, earbuds are unacceptable and I don't think I should be
> forced to use headphones in a very quiet radio room. The speaker has to
> work! And now I find I need to install the grille cloth because of bad
> directions. Someone also suggested grinding or filing away portions of the
> case around the speaker. I'm not about to do something so drastic on a piece
> of electronic gear!
>
> The result of all that was I have set the radio aside and consider it
> useless in its present form. I have read of firmware revisions but they seem
> unacceptable at this point. Revision 1.10 was noted just today as causing a
> fatal flaw in certain KX3's and the advice was to wait for revision 1.12
> which will not be out for a while. Duh. In reading the various emails it
> seems that for every step Elecraft takes ahead in firmware, they take almost
> a step back in issues the new revision creates. In addition, there are still
> things not implemented. I wonder how the editors of QST would feel if they
> knew Elecraft advertisements in their magazine were claiming features that
> were not available yet? I can't recall Yaesu, Kenwood, or Icom ever doing
> that.
>
> Here in Maine the KX3 would be classified as a blivet, two pounds of
> you-know-what in a one pound bag. If it had been made just a quarter or half
> inch longer, taller, or deeper it would be a far better radio. Perhaps
> Elecraft could offer a back case that is one quarter of an inch deeper as a
> retrofit. I'd buy one.
>
> I am not trying to say that the KX3 is not a good radio, it's just not ready
> for "Prime Time". It will be awesome when it is fully implemented but when
> will that be? If I have any advice for Elecraft it would be to sit down and
> list all the issues, with all their products, and set firm dates for
> resolving them, and then stick to that schedule. Elecraft gives the
> impression of having too many balls in the air, all the time, and thus are
> being forced to nibble at the issues.
>
> To answer your last question, there is no XYZ radio that I wish I had
> bought. Nothing has the capabilities/specifications of the KX3 at the
> present time. It's the KX3 or a giant step back to the FT-817ND.
>
> So there you have it Kevin. I own a
