Is the K3 shipping estimate really accurate?

[KB1PXD]

Greetings everyone,
Like many others here on the forum, I've been patiently waiting for my
new K3.  My order was placed on 2/18 and at the time, I was told there
would be a 4-month turnaround time.  In fact, the Elecraft website is
still indicating a 4-month turnaround time.  Being that this will be my
first HF rig, I'm having difficulties coming to terms with not receiving
it until June at the very earliest.  What worries me even more is that
June may in fact be overly optimistic, and it could very well be July,
August, or even later before I see it.  Can someone from Elecraft,
or even someone with some insight into their current back order situation
comment on the likeliness of me receiving my rig by mid-June?  
As it stands now, June is really pushing my patience, and if I knew it
it was going to be even longer, I think that I'm going to have to give
some serious consideration into purchasing a ProIII within the next
few weeks.  I'm hopeful that Elecraft will be able to ramp up their
production and get me my rig even prior to June, but I have a feeling
that's not going to happen.  Any insight would be greatly appreciated
and help me immensely in making my decision.

Thanks,
- Bill
kb1pxd

[N9BX]

Bill:

Be patient,  I ordered mine on October 18, I may get by April 2nd.  If
you want a second Rated rig, by all means get the Pro III.  You will not
get it any faster by posting to this reflector.  Call Elecraft Direct
instead, They will be happy to answer your questions, then if not
satisfied, settle for something less than STELLAR.

73 Bruce N9BX

KB1PXD wrote:

> Greetings everyone,
> Like many others here on the forum, I've been patiently waiting for my
> new K3.  My order was placed on 2/18 and at the time, I was told there
> would be a 4-month turnaround time.  In fact, the Elecraft website is
> still indicating a 4-month turnaround time.  Being that this will be my
> first HF rig, I'm having difficulties coming to terms with not receiving
> it until June at the very earliest.  What worries me even more is that
> June may in fact be overly optimistic, and it could very well be July,
> August, or even later before I see it.  Can someone from Elecraft,
> or even someone with some insight into their current back order situation
> comment on the likeliness of me receiving my rig by mid-June?  
> As it stands now, June is really pushing my patience, and if I knew it
> it was going to be even longer, I think that I'm going to have to give
> some serious consideration into purchasing a ProIII within the next
> few weeks.  I'm hopeful that Elecraft will be able to ramp up their
> production and get me my rig even prior to June, but I have a feeling
> that's not going to happen.  Any insight would be greatly appreciated
> and help me immensely in making my decision.
>
> Thanks,
> - Bill
> kb1pxd

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[KB1PXD]

Thanks to everyone who responded.  Lots of great advice.  It's
very encouraging to hear that the K3 is well worth waiting for.
I'm actually considering picking up a lower priced QRP rig such
as the FT-817ND ($600), and using that in the interim.  Hopefully
I'll be able to get most of my money back 4-6 months down the road
when my K3 is ready. I'll also be exploring used rigs as well.  If anyone
has a K1 that they'd be interested in selling, please email me.  I thought
about ordering one but I'm not confident enough to perform the assembly.

- Bill, KB1PXD

[KB1PXD]

Also, if anyone is interested in selling their K2, please email me.  
It'll probably be 1-2 weeks however until I'm ready to make the
purchase, but I'm definitely interested.

Thanks,
- Bill, KB1PXD

[paul hendershott]

Anybody have some good pics of their K3 assembly process? love to see them!
73
Paul


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[Dick Dievendorff]

Bill, consider a KX1.  I hadn't built any kits since the 1960's Heathkit
days, and I was pretty rusty.  I had become an "appliance operator".

I started with an Elecraft dummy load kit, and then a little oscillator, and
then I was ready for the KX1. It's a cool little radio.

Take a look at one of the assembly manuals (they're on the Elecraft web
site), this is a lot easier than the Heathkits were.  Because of good
quality PC boards and design and superb documentation, you'll find your way.
You need a few tools, get the right ones.  The Elecraft support staff is
great and it's very hard to fail.  Just work your way slowly and carefully
through the steps.  If at the end you just can't get it working, there are
people available to troubleshoot and get your kit working.

There's a real joy in making contacts with a radio you've crafted yourself.
The K3 is also a radio you build yourself, without soldering, which is
really necessary for us mere mortals because of the surface mount
technology.  But the KX1 (and K2 and K1) are perhaps even more engaging,
simply because you've crafted so much more of it.

73 de Dick, K6KR

(I have built a KX1, K2, KRC2, K3, and I have an unmade K1 kit just waiting
for a time when I have a breather...)





-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of KB1PXD
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 5:43 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Is the K3 shipping estimate really accurate?


Thanks to everyone who responded.  Lots of great advice.  It's
very encouraging to hear that the K3 is well worth waiting for.
I'm actually considering picking up a lower priced QRP rig such
as the FT-817ND ($600), and using that in the interim.  Hopefully
I'll be able to get most of my money back 4-6 months down the road
when my K3 is ready. I'll also be exploring used rigs as well.  If anyone
has a K1 that they'd be interested in selling, please email me.  I thought
about ordering one but I'm not confident enough to perform the assembly.

- Bill, KB1PXD
--
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[WA3WSJ]

Hello,

Elecraft's shipping estimates are not accurate. I had ordered a K3 from
them in August of last year with 50% deposit. I waited no word, I waited
, no word. I then called them in late December and was told,
"sometime after February of next year."  I then pulled my K3 order and
asked for my $1300 back. Since then I have purchased a radio that I
really love. I might still purchase a K3, but not until Elecraft gets
their act together and has them ON THE SHELF. I'm now looking to buy a
HF/VHF/UHF rig, so the K3 will wait for a couple of years. That's
probably how long it will take them to have a K3 on the shelf.

Elecraft was not ready to start selling K3s and they know it. This
situation has left me with, " a bad taste in my mouth" concerning
Elecraft. Oh yes, I have built a K1, K2 and a KX1. All are great radios
and all arrived here in a REASONABLE time period. I can't say that for
their K3.

72,

Ed, WA3WSJ

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[Charlotte & Bob Higgins]

Sorry you feel that way. I waited 9 months for my K3, which was about 4
months longer than first predicted by Elecraft. So I knew going in I would
wait 5 months, and I suspected, based on prior history of other companies
launches, that the wait would actually be longer.

I was willing to wait because I believed that the K3 was undoubtedly going
to be the best radio available.

Now that I have had it for a month I am totally convinced I made the right
decision, and that is after having owned some top of the line contesting
rigs. BTW, this is my first Elecraft radio, so I am not an "Elecraftian" or
a "Kool-Aid drinker".

My only advice is, don't deny yourself this radio for another 2 years.

73
Bob K4LW

Ed, WA3WSJ wrote:

> Hello,
>
> Elecraft's shipping estimates are not accurate. I had ordered a K3 from
> them in August of last year with 50% deposit. I waited no word, I waited
> , no word. I then called them in late December and was told,
> "sometime after February of next year."  I then pulled my K3 order and
> asked for my $1300 back. Since then I have purchased a radio that I
> really love. I might still purchase a K3, but not until Elecraft gets
> their act together and has them ON THE SHELF. I'm now looking to buy a
> HF/VHF/UHF rig, so the K3 will wait for a couple of years. That's
> probably how long it will take them to have a K3 on the shelf.
>
> Elecraft was not ready to start selling K3s and they know it. This
> situation has left me with, " a bad taste in my mouth" concerning
> Elecraft. Oh yes, I have built a K1, K2 and a KX1. All are great radios
> and all arrived here in a REASONABLE time period. I can't say that for
> their K3.
>
> 72,
>
> Ed, WA3WSJ

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