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Elecraft compared to the Sienna transceiver

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KF5WBS

Elecraft compared to the Sienna transceiver

On Sunday, March 9, 2014 10:41 AM, thomas branton <[hidden email]> wrote:

Good morning,

I have an opportunity to purchase a built Sienna transceiver. If anyone on the board has experience with one and can compare it to the K3 in terms of operation and performance I would certainly appreciate the information. Thanks so much.

Tom, KF5WBS
http://www.dzkit.com/
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Matt Zilmer-3

Re: Elecraft compared to the Sienna transceiver

One way to understand the difference is to take a look at
http://www.sherweng.com/table.html. The K3 is near the top of that
receiver performance chart, but the Sienna isn't on it at all.

73,
matt W6NIA

On Sun, 9 Mar 2014 08:51:23 -0700 (PDT), you wrote:

>
>
>
>On Sunday, March 9, 2014 10:41 AM, thomas branton <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>Good morning,
>
>I have an opportunity to purchase a built Sienna transceiver. If anyone on the board has experience with one and can compare it to the K3 in terms of operation and performance I would certainly appreciate the information. Thanks so much.
>
>Tom, KF5WBS
>http://www.dzkit.com/
>______________________________________________________________
>Elecraft mailing list
>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
>This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Matt Zilmer, W6NIA
--
"Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will
spend the first four sharpening the axe." -A. Lincoln
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Phil Wheeler-2

Re: Elecraft compared to the Sienna transceiver

In reply to this post by KF5WBS

Your post was the first I'd heard of the Sienna
(I've been pretty inactive for a while), Tom, so I
checked for reviews and also went to their
website. What I found was:

* No QST nor other review with a detailed
technical assessment (it's possible I just
didn't find it)
* Seven reviews on eHam -- though three of those
are by the same user, so really fewer than
five reviewers
* Clearly a "melt-solder" kit with toroids to
wind and such as that, though the SMT
components come pre-intalled
* Receiver design is very different than the K3

No real conclusions, because no real data based on
an impartial technical review. I'd be concerned
about level of support since their only other
product appears to be a 40 m AM xtal controlled
handitalki -- and also concerned by the likely
lack of support from a large base of users.

The real attraction to me would be the fun of
building one -- with both melt-solder and
mechanical assembly to do. Likely not as much work
as my K2 was (due to pre-installed SMD components)
but more work than a K3 or KX3. I'd be very
surprised if the receiver could compete with the
K3, simply because the K3 is known to be near to
top of the class (even the decade-older K2 is no
slouch).

Finally, when Elecraft launched the K3 it was the
latest item in a growing product line beginning
with the K2 (and later options) and including the
K1 and KX1. Elecraft was active in the community
for a decade or so before the K3 showed up. That
history has given me confidence in their designs
and support. I've not researched it thoroughly,
but I see no similar progression supporting the
Sienna.

73, Phil w7ox

On 3/9/14, 8:51 AM, thomas branton wrote:

>
>
> On Sunday, March 9, 2014 10:41 AM, thomas branton <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Good morning,
>
> I have an opportunity to purchase a built Sienna transceiver. If anyone on the board has experience with one and can compare it to the K3 in terms of operation and performance I would certainly appreciate the information. Thanks so much.
>
> Tom, KF5WBS
> http://www.dzkit.com/

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k6dgw

Re: Elecraft compared to the Sienna transceiver

In reply to this post by Matt Zilmer-3

Perhaps Sherwood labs just haven't tested it yet?

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014
- www.cqp.org

On 3/9/2014 9:40 AM, Matt Zilmer wrote:
> One way to understand the difference is to take a look at
> http://www.sherweng.com/table.html. The K3 is near the top of that
> receiver performance chart, but the Sienna isn't on it at all.

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David Bunte

Re: Elecraft compared to the Sienna transceiver

In reply to this post by KF5WBS

I have seen only two such rigs in the past few years. Both were for sale at hamfests Someone asked one of the guys why he was selling it. He said he bought it for the fun of building it, but wanted to buy a KX3, which he was convinced was FAR better... his emphasis.

I know nothing else about the rig.

Dave - K9FN

Fred Jensen <[hidden email]> wrote:

>Perhaps Sherwood labs just haven't tested it yet?
>
>73,
>
>Fred K6DGW
>- Northern California Contest Club
>- CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014
>- www.cqp.org
>
>On 3/9/2014 9:40 AM, Matt Zilmer wrote:
>> One way to understand the difference is to take a look at
>> http://www.sherweng.com/table.html. The K3 is near the top of that
>> receiver performance chart, but the Sienna isn't on it at all.
>
>
>
>
>______________________________________________________________
>Elecraft mailing list
>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>
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k6mkf

Re: Elecraft compared to the Sienna transceiver

Someone has to be first to be willing to spend thousands to see if it's the next great transceiver.

I'll keep my money in my K-Line ...

-- Mike Flowers, K6MKF, NCDXC - "It's about DX!"

> On Mar 9, 2014, at 12:57 PM, David Bunte <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I have seen only two such rigs in the past few years. Both were for sale at hamfests Someone asked one of the guys why he was selling it. He said he bought it for the fun of building it, but wanted to buy a KX3, which he was convinced was FAR better... his emphasis.
>
> I know nothing else about the rig.
>
> Dave - K9FN
>
> Fred Jensen <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> Perhaps Sherwood labs just haven't tested it yet?
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Fred K6DGW
>> - Northern California Contest Club
>> - CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014
>> - www.cqp.org
>>
>>> On 3/9/2014 9:40 AM, Matt Zilmer wrote:
>>> One way to understand the difference is to take a look at
>>> http://www.sherweng.com/table.html. The K3 is near the top of that
>>> receiver performance chart, but the Sienna isn't on it at all.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
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>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> ______________________________________________________________
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Scott Manthe-2

Re: Elecraft compared to the Sienna transceiver

Maybe more importantly, a great rig with great support. I like the fact
that my K3 is a very good transceiver, but I haven't wanted to buy an
FT5000 is because of the support and the fact that I won't have to buy
another rig next year if Elecraft improves something.

73,
Scott, N9AA

On 3/9/14 4:13 PM, Mike Flowers wrote:
> Someone has to be first to be willing to spend thousands to see if it's the next great transceiver.
>
> I'll keep my money in my K-Line ...
>
> -- Mike Flowers, K6MKF, NCDXC - "It's about DX!"
>
>

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Stephen G4SJP

Re: Elecraft compared to the Sienna transceiver

Wayne Burdick commented on the Sienna in a posting from 8 Dec '09. I
always archive emails and postings of interest within gmail. I guess it's
searchable in the nabble archive too.

73 Stephen G4SJP

On 9 March 2014 20:47, Scott Manthe <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Maybe more importantly, a great rig with great support. I like the fact
> that my K3 is a very good transceiver, but I haven't wanted to buy an
> FT5000 is because of the support and the fact that I won't have to buy
> another rig next year if Elecraft improves something.
>
> 73,
> Scott, N9AA
>
>
> On 3/9/14 4:13 PM, Mike Flowers wrote:
>
>> Someone has to be first to be willing to spend thousands to see if it's
>> the next great transceiver.
>>
>> I'll keep my money in my K-Line ...
>>
>> -- Mike Flowers, K6MKF, NCDXC - "It's about DX!"
>>
>>
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
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Jim Low man

Re: Elecraft compared to the Sienna transceiver

In reply to this post by k6mkf

If my math is correct, and to compare apples with apples, for a Sienna
100-watt transceiver with tuner, front panel, the full 11 bypass filters
and a 500-Hz and a 300-Hz filter, the price is $3,810.
For the same options, I have $4,249.30 in my K3. I included options
that matched those in the Sienna, but omitted $439.90 in options for the
K3 that I have but are not available for the Sienna (i.e. DVR and 2m
module).
So, for a mere $439.30 less, I get a through-hole kit that I can build
(fun!) without getting into SMT installation and wind my own toroids
(not fun!) for which we have no lab results from ARRL or Sherwood
Engineering to compare with the K3. BTW, I used the kit prices for my
K3, as that's the way that I purchased it. So, an old-school kit vs. a
mechanical-only assembly kit.

It's an odd-looking front panel; unlike typical JA or US designs. At
first I thought it might be European, but apparently the designer is
here in the US.
Admittedly I've paid little attention to the small ad in QST amid a
multitude of other small ads.

At this point, I'll reserve any other opinions until some test results
are published. I doubt that I'd give up my K3 at this point, though.

73 de Jim - AD6CW

On 3/9/2014 1:13 PM, Mike Flowers wrote:
> Someone has to be first to be willing to spend thousands to see if it's the next great transceiver.
>
> I'll keep my money in my K-Line ...
>
> -- Mike Flowers, K6MKF, NCDXC - "It's about DX!"
>

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