Re: [Elecraft] loaded K2 vs K3

2007-05-14 Thread g4ilo
My wife is mad on gardening. The only thing she notices is plants. Last 
weekend, I printed off the PDF K3 brochure, showed it her, and told her I 
had ordered this radio. A couple of days ago she came into the shack / 
office and noticed the K2, which happened to be on.

Oh, your new radio has come, then!

Er, no. That's the old one. It's been there since 1999!

Julian, G4ILO

Thomas Butchers wrote:

Here I come to the conclusion that the only way for me to convince the wife 
to let me have a radio that has more than one band was to get a base K2. 
.. I can't get my wife to understand one might need to spend some money on 
a rig; she seems to think I should find something in the $500 range not the 
$1000 range. Man do I envy you guys who can just drop whatever and get the 
top of the line stuff.


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RE: [Elecraft] loaded K2 vs K3

2007-05-14 Thread Darwin, Keith
Good thread, Doug.  Thanks.

Now, let's see.  Using those numbers (with rounding) my K2 cost me $630
+ 100 + 390 = $1120

And least costly K3 equivalent would be $1750

So, I'd be spending $600 more to go from K2/100 to K3.  Yea, I get more
features, but I don't NEED any more features.  K2/100 does what I need
the rig to do and it is 36% less money.

- Keith -

-Original Message-
From: DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL

K2   $629 (40 hours average 1st time build?)
KSB2   $ 99
KPA100   $389

K3/100   $1,749   (7-10 hours mechanical assembly)
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RE: [Elecraft] loaded K2 vs K3

2007-05-14 Thread Stan Rife
Every Ham needs a wife like that.


Stan Rife
W5EWA
Houston, TX
K2 S/N 4216


-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2007 4:02 AM
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] loaded K2 vs K3

My wife is mad on gardening. The only thing she notices is plants. Last 
weekend, I printed off the PDF K3 brochure, showed it her, and told her I 
had ordered this radio. A couple of days ago she came into the shack / 
office and noticed the K2, which happened to be on.

Oh, your new radio has come, then!

Er, no. That's the old one. It's been there since 1999!

Julian, G4ILO



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Re: [Elecraft] loaded K2 vs K3

2007-05-13 Thread Ned Asam

KB1IKD wrote:

...Why not have both?:) Actually, its all a matter of what features one 
needs most and the type of building experience wanted.

=

Yes!   For $629, The K2 is still the BEST  high performance QRP rig 
available any where!


With a K3 at home, my K2 will continue to be the rig I use for the 
Flight of the Bumblebees, Field Day, vacation trips, and so on...


I bought the K2 when it first came out, I have added most of the HF 
options, and thoroughly enjoyed the journey over the years!


Going forward, the K2 will continue to be a wonderful entry level radio 
-- at least until Elecraft announces the KX2 (speculation!!! ???) 
which might leverage some of the K3 DSP for a k2 price:)



73, Ned, W2NED
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[Elecraft] loaded K2 vs K3

2007-05-13 Thread James Duffey
The conclusion one can draw is that there won't be many K2s sold for  
exclusively home (base) use. The more options one puts on a K2, the  
less value it presents. The market for those who want a low power  
consumption rig must be close to saturated, or at least will be if  
lots of K2s hit the market in anticipation of their owners moving up  
to a K3.


To me, the K2/100 seems doomed as the price differential, as you  
point out, needless to mention the value, is clearly in the favor of  
the K3. And the big advantage of the K2, low power consumption,  
doesn't really come into play with these QRO rigs.


Speaking of value, I have a bare K2 with no options here on the desk.  
How many other K2s are there out there with no options? - Dr.  
Megacycle KK6MC/55

--
James Duffey KK6MC/5
Cedar Crest NM 87008
DM65

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Re: [Elecraft] loaded K2 vs K3

2007-05-13 Thread Larry Phipps
I'm glad my K2 is setup for portable operation... battery, KAT2, etc. It 
is also my demo rig for shows like Dayton to power my wattmeter kits, 
and will remain so. I can't imagine risking my shiny new K3 getting 
scratched or damaged at a show ;-) You won't see my K2 on eBay!


73,
Larry N8LP



James Duffey wrote:
The conclusion one can draw is that there won't be many K2s sold for 
exclusively home (base) use. The more options one puts on a K2, the 
less value it presents. The market for those who want a low power 
consumption rig must be close to saturated, or at least will be if 
lots of K2s hit the market in anticipation of their owners moving up 
to a K3.


To me, the K2/100 seems doomed as the price differential, as you point 
out, needless to mention the value, is clearly in the favor of the K3. 
And the big advantage of the K2, low power consumption, doesn't really 
come into play with these QRO rigs.


Speaking of value, I have a bare K2 with no options here on the desk. 
How many other K2s are there out there with no options? - Dr. 
Megacycle KK6MC/55

--
James Duffey KK6MC/5
Cedar Crest NM 87008
DM65

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Re: [Elecraft] loaded K2 vs K3

2007-05-13 Thread g4ilo
You forget that some people will buy a K2 because it's the only option out 
there for someone who wants to experience building and testing a radio from 
discrete parts. That's the reason I chose a K2 over a ready-built radio 
that cost the same, or even less.

Julian, G4ILO

James Duffey wrote:

The conclusion one can draw is that there won't be many K2s sold for 
exclusively home (base) use. The more options one puts on a K2, the less 
value it presents. The market for those who want a low power consumption 
rig must be close to saturated, or at least will be if lots of K2s hit the 
market in anticipation of their owners moving up to a K3.

To me, the K2/100 seems doomed as the price differential, as you point out, 
needless to mention the value, is clearly in the favor of the K3. And the 
big advantage of the K2, low power consumption, doesn't really come into 
play with these QRO rigs.


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Re: [Elecraft] loaded K2 vs K3

2007-05-13 Thread N2EY
James Duffey wrote:

The conclusion one can draw is that there won't be many K2s sold for 
exclusively home (base) use. 

I disagree!

It all depends on the situation. 

Not everybody wants/needs a fully-loaded K2.  Taking out a couple of options 
radically lowers the price. For example, the KDSP2 costs $229 - that's more 
than a third of the cost of the basic K2. The KPA100 is more than half the cost 
of the basic K2. 

I'm not complaining about those prices, just noting that it's only a 
fully-loaded K2 which approaches the price of a bare-bones K3. 


The more options one puts on a K2, the less 
 
 value it presents.

I would say the less *value differential* 

 The market for those who want a low power consumption 
 
 rig must be close to saturated, or at least will be if lots of K2s hit the 
 market in anticipation of their owners moving up to a K3.
 
 To me, the K2/100 seems doomed as the price differential, as you point out, 
 needless to mention the value, is clearly in the favor of the K3. And the 
 big advantage of the K2, low power consumption, doesn't really come into 
 play with these QRO rigs.
 
 

I agree that if someone is looking for a high performance Elecraft rig (yes, 
I know that's redundant) in the 100W class, they're not going to save much 
between a fully-loaded K2 and the K3/100. 

But if someone is willing to forego a few options it becomes a different game 
entirely. 

There's also the 'pay-as-you-go' factor. For at least some of us it is *much* 
easier and more practical to make several small purchases rather than one big 
purchase. 

Suppose a ham can save a dollar a day for rig purchases. At that rate, a 
basic K2 kit can be bought in less than two years of savings. Once the basic K2 
is 
working, most of the options can be added every few months, except for DSP, 
100W and ATU. 

But a basic K3 would require almost 5 years of saving up! 

It looks to me like Elecraft has placed the K3 in just the right spot to 
expand their line. Of course the different products interact. The introduction 
of 
the KX1 probably deflected some K1 sales to folks who wanted a 
high-performance backpacking rig. The four-band K1 probably took some K2 sales 
to folks on 
tight budgets. Etc. 

---

What really tickles me is that a small American company quietly announces a 
couple-of-kilobucks high-performance HF transceiver *kit*, announced *before* 
Dayton, and their biggest problem is being absolutely snowed under by orders, 
many from folks who have never even seen the rig.

That's what I call a Good Problem.

73 de Jim, N2EY 



**
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Re: [Elecraft] loaded K2 vs K3

2007-05-13 Thread Jessie Oberreuter


On Sun, 13 May 2007, James Duffey wrote:

The conclusion one can draw is that there won't be many K2s sold for 
exclusively home (base) use. The more options one puts on a K2, the less 
value it presents. The market for those who want a low power consumption rig 
must be close to saturated, or at least will be if lots of K2s hit the market 
in anticipation of their owners moving up to a K3.


 I expect that most of the K2s sold for base use go to people who are 
interested in building and maintaining their own base rigs. Whether they 
go for 10w or 100w is then simply a matter of operating style and 
time/budget.  I agree that the K3 will eat into K2/100 sales in this 
market, but I don't think it'll destroy it.  With all respect to the K3, 
it's a computer, and swapping boards isn't this community's idea of 
building and maintaining.  I also don't think you'll see many of these K2 
owners selling.  We put a lot of love into building them.


 The QRP builders' market has always been niche, but it is full of 
active, vocal enthusiasts.  This market can be saturated by any given 
product, but I doubt it ever actually saturates.  I don't even want to 
count the number of rigs I have in this category.  These folks will 
probably buy a lot of K3s -- when they would never buy a similarly classed 
or priced YaeComWood -- simply because of the brand loyalty.  At the same 
time, I don't see them dumping their K2s, and I see continued K2 sales to 
this group as builders work up to bigger and more complex kits.


 The K2/100 as a dedicated contesting rig is an interesting emergent 
market.  Most people who are serious about their contesting have a big 
rig at home, and take one of the mid-sized high end commercial boxes to 
the field.  The K2's entry into this market has been fascinating and mostly 
driven by the quest for performance.  This is where I think we'll see the 
most turn-over, and that's nothing new.  These folks have been buying the 
latest and selling what they aren't using ever since the hobby began.


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RE: [Elecraft] loaded K2 vs K3

2007-05-13 Thread N2TK, Tony
Well, I look forward to getting my K3. But I won't be selling my loaded K2.
I bought the K2, not because it was a kit, but because the receiver performs
well. It is a very compact rig and easy to carry onboard when I go offshore
to operate. I have a nice small aluminum case with foam that is cut out for
the K2.  So my K2 will continue to be a backup rig when home and my primary
rig to take with me on trips.  When trekking through airports every pound
matters when you have a rig in  one hand and a laptop over the other
shoulder.
N2TK, Tony

-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2007 1:15 PM
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] loaded K2 vs K3

James Duffey wrote:

The conclusion one can draw is that there won't be many K2s sold for 
exclusively home (base) use. 

I disagree!

It all depends on the situation. 

Not everybody wants/needs a fully-loaded K2.  Taking out a couple of options

radically lowers the price. For example, the KDSP2 costs $229 - that's more 
than a third of the cost of the basic K2. The KPA100 is more than half the
cost 
of the basic K2. 

I'm not complaining about those prices, just noting that it's only a 
fully-loaded K2 which approaches the price of a bare-bones K3. 


The more options one puts on a K2, the less 
 
 value it presents.

I would say the less *value differential* 

 The market for those who want a low power consumption 
 
 rig must be close to saturated, or at least will be if lots of K2s hit the

 market in anticipation of their owners moving up to a K3.
 
 To me, the K2/100 seems doomed as the price differential, as you point
out, 
 needless to mention the value, is clearly in the favor of the K3. And the 
 big advantage of the K2, low power consumption, doesn't really come into 
 play with these QRO rigs.
 
 

I agree that if someone is looking for a high performance Elecraft rig (yes,

I know that's redundant) in the 100W class, they're not going to save much 
between a fully-loaded K2 and the K3/100. 

But if someone is willing to forego a few options it becomes a different
game 
entirely. 

There's also the 'pay-as-you-go' factor. For at least some of us it is
*much* 
easier and more practical to make several small purchases rather than one
big 
purchase. 

Suppose a ham can save a dollar a day for rig purchases. At that rate, a 
basic K2 kit can be bought in less than two years of savings. Once the basic
K2 is 
working, most of the options can be added every few months, except for DSP, 
100W and ATU. 

But a basic K3 would require almost 5 years of saving up! 

It looks to me like Elecraft has placed the K3 in just the right spot to 
expand their line. Of course the different products interact. The
introduction of 
the KX1 probably deflected some K1 sales to folks who wanted a 
high-performance backpacking rig. The four-band K1 probably took some K2
sales to folks on 
tight budgets. Etc. 

---

What really tickles me is that a small American company quietly announces a 
couple-of-kilobucks high-performance HF transceiver *kit*, announced
*before* 
Dayton, and their biggest problem is being absolutely snowed under by
orders, 
many from folks who have never even seen the rig.

That's what I call a Good Problem.

73 de Jim, N2EY 



**
 See what's free at http://www.aol.com.
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RE: [Elecraft] loaded K2 vs K3

2007-05-13 Thread Gary Hvizdak
Recently Tony (N2TK) wrote:

... I won't be selling my loaded K2.  I bought the K2, not because it was a
kit, but because the receiver performs well. ...

--

In contrast, I love kit building and bought my K2 solely because it was a
kit.  In fact, it wasn't until several weeks afterwards that I learned of
the K2's awesome receiver.

Beyond getting to melt solder and build it, I've had even more fun designing
the PCBs for aftermarket K2 accessories.

Gary KI4GGX
K2 #4067

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RE: [Elecraft] loaded K2 vs K3

2007-05-13 Thread Thomas Butchers
Gee thanks Doc!,

Here I come to the conclusion that the only way for me to convince the wife
to let me have a radio that has more than one band was to get a base K2. The
reason being that then I could add to it over the months, get the SSB, and
wait awhile get the 100 watt amp etc. and have a decent base rig. I can't
get my wife to understand one might need to spend some money on a rig; she
seems to think I should find something in the $500 range not the $1000
range. Man do I envy you guys who can just drop whatever and get the top of
the line stuff.

Tom kf4yyd

 -Original Message-
 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:elecraft-
 [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of James Duffey
 Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2007 10:51 AM
 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; elecraft@mailman.qth.net
 Cc: James Duffey
 Subject: [Elecraft] loaded K2 vs K3
 
 The conclusion one can draw is that there won't be many K2s sold for
 exclusively home (base) use. The more options one puts on a K2, the
 less value it presents. The market for those who want a low power
 consumption rig must be close to saturated, or at least will be if
 lots of K2s hit the market in anticipation of their owners moving up
 to a K3.
 
 To me, the K2/100 seems doomed as the price differential, as you
 point out, needless to mention the value, is clearly in the favor of
 the K3. And the big advantage of the K2, low power consumption,
 doesn't really come into play with these QRO rigs.
 
 Speaking of value, I have a bare K2 with no options here on the desk.
 How many other K2s are there out there with no options? - Dr.
 Megacycle KK6MC/55kml,jim f

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition. 
Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.7.0/801 - Release Date: 5/12/2007
6:40 PM
 

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RE: [Elecraft] loaded K2 vs K3

2007-05-13 Thread Brett gazdzinski
I personally love my K2 and will keep it.
I have the 100 watt amp, and the built in antenna tuner.
I may sell the amp, since I would have the K3, but the
basic K2 with the tuner seems like a really nice simple
to use rig, plus I built it!

CW only K2 and the built in antenna tuner is a very
small, easy to use radio at a very low price.

A qrp K3 with the tuner and some filters is a LOT
more money, and you don't really get to build it
like the K2.


Brett
N2DTS



 The conclusion one can draw is that there won't be many K2s sold for  
 exclusively home (base) use. The more options one puts on a K2, the  
 less value it presents. The market for those who want a low power  
 consumption rig must be close to saturated, or at least will be if  
 lots of K2s hit the market in anticipation of their owners moving up  
 to a K3.
 
 To me, the K2/100 seems doomed as the price differential, as you  
 point out, needless to mention the value, is clearly in the favor of  
 the K3. And the big advantage of the K2, low power consumption,  
 doesn't really come into play with these QRO rigs.
 
 Speaking of value, I have a bare K2 with no options here on 
 the desk.  
 How many other K2s are there out there with no options? - Dr.  
 Megacycle KK6MC/55
 --
 James Duffey KK6MC/5
 Cedar Crest NM 87008
 DM65
 
 ___
 

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[Elecraft] loaded K2 vs K3

2007-05-12 Thread DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL

Hope I've done the math correctly.

K2   $629 (40 hours average 1st time build?)
KSB2   $ 99
K160rx $ 39
K60XV  $ 89
KNB2   $ 39
KDSP2$229
KIO2$ 89
Total $1,213

K3/10$1,399  (tons more features/ability than K2)

---OR

K2   $629   (50++ hours average 1st time build??)
KPA100   $389
KSB2   $ 99
K160rx $ 39
K60XV  $ 89
KNB2   $ 39
KDSP2 $229
KAT100$239
Total  $1,752

K3/100   $1,749   (7-10 hours mechanical assembly)
KAT3 $   259
total   $2,008

Comments?

de Doug KR2Q
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RE: [Elecraft] loaded K2 vs K3

2007-05-12 Thread Greg
Doug,

I've done the same comparison.  But what you have to remember is that the K2
and K3 are designed for two different purposes.  The K2 is a great portable
all-in-one self contained radio for taking out to the field.  The K3 is
designed as a top line contesting/dx rig that is portable enough for taking
on dxpeditions with much more ease than other radios.

Two different purposes, two great radios, one great company!

73
Greg
AB7R


-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL
Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2007 5:57 PM
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] loaded K2 vs K3


Hope I've done the math correctly.

K2   $629 (40 hours average 1st time build?)
KSB2   $ 99
K160rx $ 39
K60XV  $ 89
KNB2   $ 39
KDSP2$229
KIO2$ 89
Total $1,213

K3/10$1,399  (tons more features/ability than K2)

---OR

K2   $629   (50++ hours average 1st time build??)
KPA100   $389
KSB2   $ 99
K160rx $ 39
K60XV  $ 89
KNB2   $ 39
KDSP2 $229
KAT100$239
Total  $1,752

K3/100   $1,749   (7-10 hours mechanical assembly)
KAT3 $   259
total   $2,008

Comments?

de Doug KR2Q
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Re: [Elecraft] loaded K2 vs K3

2007-05-12 Thread sheajohnw
Why not have both?:) Actually, its all a matter of what features one 
needs most and the type of building experience wanted.


K3 appears to have been designed to be the best competative full 
featured HF + 6M or contest rig possible that could be assembled, 
aligned, and repaired by the user from premade SMT circuit boards and 
components.  SMT technology was necessary to achieve the high 
performance design objectives for the K3 wanted by the designers and 
requested by K2 users.


The K2 was designed to be assembled from individual components and be 
the best possible portable QRP CW/SSB rig having the lowest electric 
power demand possible.  The K2 design objectives limited certain 
features desirable for a base/contest rig, but it is still arguably the 
best rig for its intended purpose.


Although the K2 has been found to perform unusually well as a 
base/contest rig, that was not its intended purpose as it is for the 
K3.  The K3 should be better as a base rig as it did not have the K2's 
design goals limiting its performance possibilities for base rig use. 
The K3 should also be a good portable rig for Field Day type events 
where moving weight and the provision of electric power is not overly 
difficult.


The KX1 and K1 are best for backpacking to distant remote sites using 
CW mode on minimal battery power.  The K2 can provide greater TX power 
and performance features where it is possible to transport some 
additional weight and battery power as well as TX/RX in SSB mode.


Although the K3 is not able to provide the individual component based 
construction desired by many, others will prefer the simpler 
construction for the user, or wish to forego building entirely.  The K3 
may be less user repirable than the K2, K1, and KX1 as replacement 
surface mount circuit boards are likely to be available only from 
Elecraft while the other Elecraft kits have circuit board components 
that are not only more user replacable but available, if necessary, 
from multiple sources.  The K3 should be well ahead of other rig makers 
products when it comes to repairability as K3 users should be able to 
easily repair their rigs through board replacement and perform 
realignment.


de KB1IKD

-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Sent: Sat, 12 May 2007 8:56 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] loaded K2 vs K3

Hope I've done the math correctly. 
 
K2 $629 (40 hours average 1st time build?) 
KSB2 $ 99 
K160rx $ 39 
K60XV $ 89 
KNB2 $ 39 
KDSP2 $229 
KIO2 $ 89 
Total $1,213 
  K3/10 $1,399 (tons more features/ability than K2) 
 
---OR 
 
K2 $629 (50++ hours average 1st time build??) 
KPA100 $389 
KSB2 $ 99 
K160rx $ 39 
K60XV $ 89 
KNB2 $ 39 
KDSP2 $229 
KAT100 $239 
Total $1,752 
  K3/100 $1,749 (7-10 hours mechanical assembly) 
KAT3 $ 259 
total $2,008 
 
Comments? 
 
de Doug KR2Q 
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