Elecraft

I wonder how many folks have had buyers remorse on a K3/K3S purchase?

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Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ

Re: I wonder how many folks have had buyers remorse on a K3/K3S purchase?

Administrator

Folks - Let's keep it civil.

Its outside of the list guidelines to --personally criticize others posters. (it
-is- OK to argue on the merits of a posting politely.)

If you have a complaint, please send it to the list manager (me).

73,

Eric
/elecraft.com/
=====
On 8/4/2015 6:08 AM, Chester Alderman wrote:

> Great! But what does using a HP calculator have to do with the silly subject line? This 'buyers remorse' thread reminds me of someone who is trolling!
>
> Tom - W4BQF
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Barry Baines
> Sent: Monday, August 3, 2015 11:04 PM
> To: k6dgw
> Cc: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] I wonder how many folks have had buyers remorse on a K3/K3S purchase?
>
> Fred:
>
> I’m still using a HP-41 and I still have a functional HP-45 (works off the power supply). RPN works for me…
>
> FWIW, if you have an Apple iPhone, you can also get an app that provides a full emulation of the HP-41. It works very well with the look and feel of the HP-41 and it allows me to have a “HP-41" with me all the time. The app is named “i41CX-RPN Calculator” from AL Software. There is also a version that has a printer function as well. Check the Apple Store or the developer’s website (http://alsoftiphone.com) for more information if interested…
>
>
> 73,
>
> Barry Baines
> WD4ASW
>

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Grant Youngman

Re: I wonder how many folks have had buyers remorse on a K3/K3S purchase?

In reply to this post by Tony Estep

Personally, I prefer my app-unnecessary, no batteries or wall-wart required, and totally EMP proof Picket N-16-ES.

But I’ve long ago lost track of what any of this has to do with the K3 (?)

Grant NQ5T

> On Aug 4, 2015, at 1:25 PM, Tony Estep <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> On Tue, Aug 4, 2015 at 10:55 AM, Mark Bayern <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> ... for an RPN calculator on Android there is RealCalc...
>
> ==========
> Well, there are also apps that replicate the HP11C and HP12C. I have both,
> and both are excellent.
>

Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ

Re: I wonder how many folks have had buyers remorse on a K3/K3S purchase?

Administrator

In reply to this post by Tony Estep

A little too OT - Let's close the RPN and H/P calc thread for now.

73,
Eric
/elecraft.com/
/Moderator for life../

On 8/4/2015 11:25 AM, Tony Estep wrote:
> On Tue, Aug 4, 2015 at 10:55 AM, Mark Bayern <[hidden email]> wrote:
>> ... for an RPN calculator on Android there is RealCalc...

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MarcV

Re: I wonder how many folks have had buyers remorse on a K3/K3S purchase?

In reply to this post by Richard Fjeld-2

> On Aug 4, 2015, at 2:50 PM, Richard Fjeld <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>
> I too, experience lost characters, even spaces which are ascii characters also. Others have told me of the same problem. I have given up on reporting it to Elecraft.
>
> It never skips an element of a character, it is always the whole character which I assume is Ascii at that point.
>
>

Thank you, Dick. You've explained my problem better than I. In fact it didn't occur to me until you said it so plainly, only whole characters are being dropped. Thank you.

For what it's worth, I have received private e-mails from others who experienced the same thing and gave up asking for help.

I'm afraid we disappointed are so few and the workaround (use a pc) so available that it may not be worth Elecraft's time to fix this.

And even though it was my sole reason for spending the $5,200 upgrade to my KX3, I do use the K3 (with a Schurr Profi or a 9A5N paddle) everyday. It turned out to be a superb backup while the KX3 system awaits repair.
--
Marc W8SDG
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Wes (N7WS)

Re: I wonder how many folks have had buyers remorse on a K3/K3S purchase?

In reply to this post by Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ

Okay then, back to buyer's remorse. I have some.

Hindsight is 20-20 it's said. Knowing what I know now (and I really knew better
at the time, but fools rush in) I should have waited awhile before ordering a K3S.

This is supposed to be fun. So far, it's been aggravation and disappointment.

Wes N7WS

On 8/4/2015 12:10 PM, Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft wrote:
> A little too OT - Let's close the RPN and H/P calc thread for now.
>
> 73,
> Eric
> /elecraft.com/
> /Moderator for life../

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Robert Nobis - N7RJN

Re: I wonder how many folks have had buyers remorse on a K3/K3S purchase?

Wes,

Could you please summarize major points associated with your “aggravation and disappointment”?

Thanks and 73,

Bob Nobis - N7RJN
[hidden email]

> On Aug 4, 2015, at 13:01, Wes (N7WS) <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Okay then, back to buyer's remorse. I have some.
>
> Hindsight is 20-20 it's said. Knowing what I know now (and I really knew better at the time, but fools rush in) I should have waited awhile before ordering a K3S.
>
> This is supposed to be fun. So far, it's been aggravation and disappointment.
>
> Wes N7WS
>
> On 8/4/2015 12:10 PM, Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft wrote:
>> A little too OT - Let's close the RPN and H/P calc thread for now.
>>
>> 73,
>> Eric
>> /elecraft.com/
>> /Moderator for life../
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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>

vk2rq

Re: I wonder how many folks have had buyers remorse on a K3/K3S purchase?

In reply to this post by Wes (N7WS)

Hi Wes,
How come you're not completely happy with your K3S? What has led to you feel some regret over the purchase?

73, Matt VK2RQ

_____________________________
From: Wes (N7WS) <[hidden email]>
Sent: mercredi, août 5, 2015 6:02 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] I wonder how many folks have had buyers remorse on a K3/K3S purchase?
To: <[hidden email]>

Okay then, back to buyer's remorse. I have some.

Hindsight is 20-20 it's said. Knowing what I know now (and I really knew better
at the time, but fools rush in) I should have waited awhile before ordering a K3S.

This is supposed to be fun. So far, it's been aggravation and disappointment.

Wes N7WS

On 8/4/2015 12:10 PM, Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft wrote:
> A little too OT - Let's close the RPN and H/P calc thread for now.
>
> 73,
> Eric
> /elecraft.com/
> /Moderator for life../

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Barry Baines

Re: I wonder how many folks have had buyers remorse on a K3/K3S purchase?

In reply to this post by Wes (N7WS)

Wes:

You made the decision to get the K3 at the time of purchase because you wanted the radio as it apparently met your needs at a price you were willing to pay. Manufacturers don’t normally advertise when new products are being released in advance; they do so when they are ready for sale. Yes, the various boards were announced before the K3S, and the “K3” has been in production for a number of years (2008?), suggesting that at some point in time there would be a ‘refresh.’

The option available to us when making a purchase decision is either to purchase what is available at the time or defer for an unknown period of time for a “new product.” The problem with waiting is that none of us are getting younger, and who knows how long that wait might be. The moment something is purchased, one might argue it is becoming ‘obsolete’; at least most of the enhancements of the K3S can potentially be retrofitted to existing the K3 at some point.

I have a slightly different situation than you where “time” certainly drove my purchase decision. I purchased a K3 “system” in August 2014 because my Flex-6700 didn’t meet the promises made by the manufacturer when it was first announced in May 2012 and I made that purchase decision based upon those promises. The radio was delivered in November 2013. It isn’t the hardware, but the software and firmware that determines the radio’s capabilities. In fact, it won’t be until sometime in 2016 before a software/firmware upgrade is made available that will fulfill the original promise that drove my decision based upon the manufacturer’s claim of performance that the radio will have (Remote access via WAN).

By mid-2014 I decided that time was a wasting since I wanted a reliable method for operating remotely; otherwise no HF. I decided to get the K3 and K3/O-Mini combination and the Remote Rig (plus KPA500 and KAT500) and ordered them at the 2014 Huntsville Hamfest. I received my gear and had it up and running right after the Labor Day holiday at the remote site in Southeast Georgia. I’ve been pleased with the results because I could now operate from my primary residence in Massachusetts. I can now log into the Sunday afternoon AMSAT net, rag chew, and listen to the ‘banter’ on the HF bands from 1,250 miles away from the transmitter site. Pretty nice even if one can’t do everything remotely that one can do at the transmitter site.

Meanwhile, the Flex-6700 is in the shack and I’ll focus on it when the firmware upgrades are made available in the future (the upgrades will require paying for renewal to the software subscription) so that I can operate it remotely through a PC or their new
“Maestro” display that will be available late this year (assuming it will have WAN capability as well at some point). I have confidence in the overall quality of Flex Radio products and their desire to provide competitive equipment. The issue is that the timeline has been so long in providing the expected capability that I decided that if I wanted to operate “Now”, I had to get a K3. Even if I knew in advance that a year later a “new” K3 would be released, I still would have ordered at Huntsville because “time is a-wasting.”

Bottom line is that we make decisions based upon what we know at the time those decisions are made.

Enjoy what you have and avoid the regrets. You have a fine piece of equipment that you can enjoy for a number of years and if you wish to upgrade your existing setup at a later date, you certainly have that option.

73,

Barry
WD4ASW

> On Aug 4, 2015, at 4:01 PM, Wes (N7WS) <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Okay then, back to buyer's remorse. I have some.
>
> Hindsight is 20-20 it's said. Knowing what I know now (and I really knew better at the time, but fools rush in) I should have waited awhile before ordering a K3S.
>
> This is supposed to be fun. So far, it's been aggravation and disappointment.
>
> Wes N7WS
>
> On 8/4/2015 12:10 PM, Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft wrote:
>> A little too OT - Let's close the RPN and H/P calc thread for now.
>>
>> 73,
>> Eric
>> /elecraft.com/
>> /Moderator for life../
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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Barry Baines

Re: I wonder how many folks have had buyers remorse on a K3/K3S purchase?

Wes:

After re-reading your post, I now realize that you had purchased the K3S, not the K3. My apologies for not reading your note more carefully.

That said, much of what I posted originally still stands. We make purchase decisions based upon what we know at the time and deciding whether to defer decisions. Along with product features and capabilities, ’time’ is also a consideration: how long does one wait for the ’next great thing’ or do you take the plunge “now”, recognizing that as time passes, there are also “opportunity costs” in deciding to make the purchase later rather than sooner?

73,

Barry
WD4ASW

> On Aug 4, 2015, at 4:52 PM, Barry Baines <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Wes:
>
> You made the decision to get the K3 at the time of purchase because you wanted the radio as it apparently met your needs at a price you were willing to pay. Manufacturers don’t normally advertise when new products are being released in advance; they do so when they are ready for sale. Yes, the various boards were announced before the K3S, and the “K3” has been in production for a number of years (2008?), suggesting that at some point in time there would be a ‘refresh.’
>
> The option available to us when making a purchase decision is either to purchase what is available at the time or defer for an unknown period of time for a “new product.” The problem with waiting is that none of us are getting younger, and who knows how long that wait might be. The moment something is purchased, one might argue it is becoming ‘obsolete’; at least most of the enhancements of the K3S can potentially be retrofitted to existing the K3 at some point.
>
> I have a slightly different situation than you where “time” certainly drove my purchase decision. I purchased a K3 “system” in August 2014 because my Flex-6700 didn’t meet the promises made by the manufacturer when it was first announced in May 2012 and I made that purchase decision based upon those promises. The radio was delivered in November 2013. It isn’t the hardware, but the software and firmware that determines the radio’s capabilities. In fact, it won’t be until sometime in 2016 before a software/firmware upgrade is made available that will fulfill the original promise that drove my decision based upon the manufacturer’s claim of performance that the radio will have (Remote access via WAN).
>
> By mid-2014 I decided that time was a wasting since I wanted a reliable method for operating remotely; otherwise no HF. I decided to get the K3 and K3/O-Mini combination and the Remote Rig (plus KPA500 and KAT500) and ordered them at the 2014 Huntsville Hamfest. I received my gear and had it up and running right after the Labor Day holiday at the remote site in Southeast Georgia. I’ve been pleased with the results because I could now operate from my primary residence in Massachusetts. I can now log into the Sunday afternoon AMSAT net, rag chew, and listen to the ‘banter’ on the HF bands from 1,250 miles away from the transmitter site. Pretty nice even if one can’t do everything remotely that one can do at the transmitter site.
>
> Meanwhile, the Flex-6700 is in the shack and I’ll focus on it when the firmware upgrades are made available in the future (the upgrades will require paying for renewal to the software subscription) so that I can operate it remotely through a PC or their new
> “Maestro” display that will be available late this year (assuming it will have WAN capability as well at some point). I have confidence in the overall quality of Flex Radio products and their desire to provide competitive equipment. The issue is that the timeline has been so long in providing the expected capability that I decided that if I wanted to operate “Now”, I had to get a K3. Even if I knew in advance that a year later a “new” K3 would be released, I still would have ordered at Huntsville because “time is a-wasting.”
>
> Bottom line is that we make decisions based upon what we know at the time those decisions are made.
>
> Enjoy what you have and avoid the regrets. You have a fine piece of equipment that you can enjoy for a number of years and if you wish to upgrade your existing setup at a later date, you certainly have that option.
>
>
> 73,
>
> Barry
> WD4ASW
>
>> On Aug 4, 2015, at 4:01 PM, Wes (N7WS) <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> Okay then, back to buyer's remorse. I have some.
>>
>> Hindsight is 20-20 it's said. Knowing what I know now (and I really knew better at the time, but fools rush in) I should have waited awhile before ordering a K3S.
>>
>> This is supposed to be fun. So far, it's been aggravation and disappointment.
>>
>> Wes N7WS
>>
>> On 8/4/2015 12:10 PM, Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft wrote:
>>> A little too OT - Let's close the RPN and H/P calc thread for now.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> Eric
>>> /elecraft.com/
>>> /Moderator for life../
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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Wes (N7WS)

Re: I wonder how many folks have had buyers remorse on a K3/K3S purchase?

In reply to this post by Barry Baines

Please note that I'm talking about a K3S. I've owned a K3 since 2008.

On 8/4/2015 1:52 PM, Barry Baines wrote:

> Wes:
>
> You made the decision to get the K3 at the time of purchase because you wanted the radio as it apparently met your needs at a price you were willing to pay. Manufacturers don’t normally advertise when new products are being released in advance; they do so when they are ready for sale. Yes, the various boards were announced before the K3S, and the “K3” has been in production for a number of years (2008?), suggesting that at some point in time there would be a ‘refresh.’
>
> The option available to us when making a purchase decision is either to purchase what is available at the time or defer for an unknown period of time for a “new product.” The problem with waiting is that none of us are getting younger, and who knows how long that wait might be. The moment something is purchased, one might argue it is becoming ‘obsolete’; at least most of the enhancements of the K3S can potentially be retrofitted to existing the K3 at some point.
>
> I have a slightly different situation than you where “time” certainly drove my purchase decision. I purchased a K3 “system” in August 2014 because my Flex-6700 didn’t meet the promises made by the manufacturer when it was first announced in May 2012 and I made that purchase decision based upon those promises. The radio was delivered in November 2013. It isn’t the hardware, but the software and firmware that determines the radio’s capabilities. In fact, it won’t be until sometime in 2016 before a software/firmware upgrade is made available that will fulfill the original promise that drove my decision based upon the manufacturer’s claim of performance that the radio will have (Remote access via WAN).
>
> By mid-2014 I decided that time was a wasting since I wanted a reliable method for operating remotely; otherwise no HF. I decided to get the K3 and K3/O-Mini combination and the Remote Rig (plus KPA500 and KAT500) and ordered them at the 2014 Huntsville Hamfest. I received my gear and had it up and running right after the Labor Day holiday at the remote site in Southeast Georgia. I’ve been pleased with the results because I could now operate from my primary residence in Massachusetts. I can now log into the Sunday afternoon AMSAT net, rag chew, and listen to the ‘banter’ on the HF bands from 1,250 miles away from the transmitter site. Pretty nice even if one can’t do everything remotely that one can do at the transmitter site.
>
> Meanwhile, the Flex-6700 is in the shack and I’ll focus on it when the firmware upgrades are made available in the future (the upgrades will require paying for renewal to the software subscription) so that I can operate it remotely through a PC or their new
> “Maestro” display that will be available late this year (assuming it will have WAN capability as well at some point). I have confidence in the overall quality of Flex Radio products and their desire to provide competitive equipment. The issue is that the timeline has been so long in providing the expected capability that I decided that if I wanted to operate “Now”, I had to get a K3. Even if I knew in advance that a year later a “new” K3 would be released, I still would have ordered at Huntsville because “time is a-wasting.”
>
> Bottom line is that we make decisions based upon what we know at the time those decisions are made.
>
> Enjoy what you have and avoid the regrets. You have a fine piece of equipment that you can enjoy for a number of years and if you wish to upgrade your existing setup at a later date, you certainly have that option.
>
>
> 73,
>
> Barry
> WD4ASW
>

T.H. Bauer

Re: I wonder how many folks have had buyers remorse on a K3/K3S purchase?

In reply to this post by David F. Reed-2

I sincerely doubt you will regret the purchase, Jer. I recently acquired a
used K3, pretty well stocked, from a friend who upgraded to the K3S. The Rx
section is better than most every other rig I have used, including the
legacy Flex radios and most Yaesu. In my case, where I have high
environmental noise levels, the K3 NB does better than what I had raved
about with my Flex'es. And it's NB is less prone to being pumped by nearby
strong signals. IF DX and contests are your thing, you will not regret the
expenditure.

You have options:

1. Buy used, well equipped;
2. Buy used, barebones, and add features as you see fit over time (this
is a real bonus);
3. Buy a new Kit with features you MUST have and add others later;
4. Buy new, factory assembled with features you MUST have and add others
later.

List *your* requirements to meet *your* operating needs and proceed from
there to decide what options NEED to be in your K3/K3S.

There are few rigs available that are modular, allowing us to add
capability as our needs/usage changes. And, Yes, it is a lot of radio in a
nice, compact package. And that was a MUST in my case. (Oh, and flash does
not contacts make!)

73
---
Ted WA3AER
K3 Newb

------------------------------
Original message:
Message: 16
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2015 08:59:05 -0400
From: "Jerry Moore" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Subject: [Elecraft] I wonder how many folks have had buyers remorse on
a K3/K3S purchase?
Message-ID: <007401d0cdec$2edf0c90$8c9d25b0$@carolinaheli.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Just asking. It's a lot of money but appears to be a lot of radio. It's not
as flashy as some.

Just a lot to think about as I save up.

Jer
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Tom Azlin W7SUA

Re: I wonder how many folks have had buyers remorse on a K3/K3S purchase?

In reply to this post by Jerry Moore

Hi Jer,

Zero remorse during the couple months it took to have them shipped. Zero
remorse in the years since then. And I have added a P3, KPA500 and
KAT500. In process of adding upgrade parts that are included in the K3S.

Yes, I bought two. One fully loaded and the other minimally loaded. Zero
flashy and outstanding performance. Great when the flashy high end
radios cost much more and had much poorer performance. Since then have
picked up a KX3, PX3, and KXPA100 with tuner.

73, tom w7sua

On 8/3/2015 5:59 AM, Jerry Moore wrote:
> Just asking. It's a lot of money but appears to be a lot of radio. It's not
> as flashy as some.
>
> Just a lot to think about as I save up.
>
> Jer

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123