Elecraft Wish List

[Mark Volstad]

Sounds like the DZKit Sienna might be right up your alley, Bill. Seems like only a handful have been built in the three or four years that it's been in production, so you might also end up with a collector's item!

I too enjoyed building my K2 (and my KX1), but have sold both and am now very happy with my K3 and KX3. I don't see how either of these technological marvels could be marketed profitably as solder kits.

73,
Mark  AI4BJ


On 8/22/2013 7:43 PM, William Schmidt wrote:
> How about making the K3 an honest to goodness kit like the K2?  Elecraft started out as a kit company
> but lately seems to be drifting away from the concept.  Assembling modules is just not the same for me. The building of the kit was the reason I chose the K2 and there are over 7000 other hams out there who felt the same.
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[Don Allen]

The Sienna would be a neat "full kit" to build.  Brian Wood W0DZ, a
retired Agilent test equipment designer and engineer, has placed a lot
of his blood, sweat, and tears into the Sienna.

Another aspect of not offering the K3 and KX3 as full solder kits is the
level of customer support required.  Although Elecraft has wonderful and
expedient customer service, a full kit K3 and KX3 may be more than they
wish to address.

73
Don W9CW


On 8/22/2013 8:35 PM, Mark Volstad wrote:

> Sounds like the DZKit Sienna might be right up your alley, Bill. Seems like only a handful have been built in the three or four years that it's been in production, so you might also end up with a collector's item!
>
> I too enjoyed building my K2 (and my KX1), but have sold both and am now very happy with my K3 and KX3. I don't see how either of these technological marvels could be marketed profitably as solder kits.
>
> 73,
> Mark  AI4BJ
>
>
> On 8/22/2013 7:43 PM, William Schmidt wrote:
>> How about making the K3 an honest to goodness kit like the K2?  Elecraft started out as a kit company
>> but lately seems to be drifting away from the concept.  Assembling modules is just not the same for me. The building of the kit was the reason I chose the K2 and there are over 7000 other hams out there who felt the same.
>

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[Edward R Cole]

I concur with Don,

I have a small kit building business (not Elecraft kits) and one of
my kit suppliers provides the pcb half populated with sm
components.  The kit uses the same pcb for several different bands
and changes components to fit the frequency and options chosen.  My
guess is the kit seller buys his boards with these select components
pre-installed due to cost, efficiency and quality control issues.  I
suspect this has a lot to do with the K3 in the form it is
offered.  Customer service headaches is the other.

It is very hard for someone to break into building ham radio products
due to the economy of scale issue (little guy can't buy components as
cheaply as a big outfit that orders in multiples of thousand
quantities.  I supply full testing results and a set up/operation
manual and that is not as easy as it may seem.

Days of kits assembled from military surplus parts (Heathkit) are
long gone.  If you are clever or the first one out the gate with a
brand new concept (niche product), you have a chance (for a short
time).  600m equipment for the pending new ham band has this
potential (an already many players coming onto the field).

73, Ed - KL7UW

-----------------------
Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 20:09:32 -0400
From: Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft Wish List
Message-ID: <[hidden email]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Bill,

I sympathize with you, but the reality is that a large scale SMD kit
would create a great number of customer support problems.  You and I may
be able to do SMD, but that is not the majority..  Add to that the fact
that the "board houses" can produce boards fully populated with SMD
parts for a price that is less than what it would cost Elecraft to
provide an SMD kit with the assembly manual.


73, Ed - KL7UW
http://www.kl7uw.com
[hidden email]
"Kits made by KL7UW"

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