Elecraft

K2 v K3

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w7aqk

Re: Re: Firmware Fatigue - was K2 v K3

I may be the eternal optomist, but with regard to the K3 I an not
particularly worried about these software glitches. I got scared away from
the original Orion because of problems like these, but Ten-Tec seemed very
obviously to be floundering as to what to do next. Not so with Elecraft. I
can only imagine the difficulty in getting things right, but Elecraft is
putting a lot of effort into doing just that. Ten-Tec, on the other hand,
has left a bunch of folks hanging while their attention was diverted
elsewhere. If you watch that reflector you will know what I mean. I know,
for example, that a lot of folks are using a much earlier version of the
Orion I software because it sort of works for them, while the later version
still has big issues apparently.

Wayne and Lyle, and others, are pretty much focused specifically on getting
the K3 just right. Knowing that, I don't seem much reason to kick and
scream or throw darts. Their "pride of authorship" will get us what we want
and need a lot quicker than spears thrown in their direction. And I know
Wayne doesn't punch out at 5 p.m. He takes his work home with him! I
happened to work him on 40 CW a while back--late at night by the way--and he
mentioned he had been working on the software. I have a sneaking hunch that
some of that so called vacation time he just had was spent doing the same
thing.

I know these glitches are frustrating. But I am reasonably sure this stuff
isn't all that easy. I'm equally sure that these folks are smart enough to
figure it out successfully. Remember, we are kind of plowing new ground
with some of this radio software stuff. Personally, I think it's
fascinating what apparently can, and will be, achieved in due time.

As for myself, I have been sort of dragging my feet on some of the software
upgrades. I'm still using 1.75, which generally works pretty well. I'm
letting everyone else shake things out first. I know I'll be upgrading soon
enough. I'm anxious to see things work better, but I'm not losing any sleep
over it. I have been assured that the things I've noticed as being less
than satisfactory will be dealt with. I have no reason to doubt that, so
I'm content to give them time to do it. And although it has been said
before, I'll repeat it--there isn't any other radio I know of where the
users are communicating so openly with the designers to obtain desired
changes. Maybe there will come a day when I feel some disappointment with
the K3, but I'm sure nowhere close to that point currently. I could
probably be critical of Elecraft about several things, but being responsive
to their customers sure isn't one of them.

Dave W7AQK

----- Original Message -----
From: "VR2BrettGraham" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:55 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Re: Firmware Fatigue - was K2 v K3

> Software isn't bug free until you stop using it.
>
> 73, VR2/KBrett7Graham/p.
>
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dave.wilburn

Re: K2 v K3

In reply to this post by Gary D Krause

I still like my K2, but I am very happy with the K3.

I had never gotten around to setting the K2 up to work digital modes,
or so I could use N1MM and send CW from the computer during a contest.
All those have already been done on the K3 in a short period of time.

In the past, I was often running with the pre-amp on in my K2, and
until I got lower impedance headsets, and kicked up the audio gain on
the DSP, I was always at a want for audio. I have yet to turn the AF
much above half on the K3, and the RF gain tends to stay at about 2
o'clock.

I can quickly and easily change the sidetone frequency if I like
without having to re-align the rig.

After most of a week of playing with the K3, last night (the bands
were noisy) I broke down and played with the NR. I haven't even
turned it on up to this point.

Before getting the K3, I could never of considered parting with the
K2. It will now be a travel rig. While it is now conceivable to part
with the K2, it would only be done to replace it with another K3.
Something I'm sure I won't be able to accomplish in the near future.

Dave Wilburn
K4DGW
K2/100 - S/N 5982
K3/100 - S/N 766

"For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will
never know."

Gary D Krause wrote:

> Hi Bill,
>
> That's a good point. I guess I didn't really think about that since
> I've rarely noticed it. Both of my other HF rigs are from the 80's and
> my K2 #6113 is the newest that I have. I'm use to fighting QRM. Hi!
> Hi! To me, the K2 is way better than my other rigs. Now it makes me
> wonder what I'm missing or perhaps I should say, not missing, when it
> comes to QRM. I love to work weak signals and QRP. I did own Ten Tec
> rig with DSP for a short time and then sold it before buying my K2. I
> didn't like the DSP. If I had a radio that made it easier, I might get
> bored with ham radio.
>
> I keep looking at the K3 but, that little voice inside keeps telling me
> to wait. I'm not sure why. I'm widowed, I have not children, I can
> afford it, and if my xyl were still here, she would tell me to get it.
> I think I've become my own worse enemy! Hi!
>
> Gary, N7HTS
>
>
> On Wed, 7 May 2008 09:09:05 -0700 (PDT)
> Bill W4ZV <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> Gary Krause N7HTS wrote:
>>>
>>> It's funny you should post at this time. I don't have a K3 but, I was
>>> looking at the test results on the Elecraft web site just yesterday.
>>> I was
>>> wondering how much difference there really is since the numbers are
>>> pretty close.
>>>
>>
>> Gary the numbers might be close at 5 kHz but the K2 (I have #4119) badly
>> falls apart at less than 5 kHz spacings. I remember the first time I
>> tried
>> using mine versus my Orion on 160m and it was a HUGE disappointment.
>> I was
>> listening to an extremely weak YA8G on 1814.0 and could not believe my
>> ears
>> when I began to hear W1AW code practice on 1817.5 leaking through from
>> 3.5
>> kHz away. Check out the closer spaced test results by independent
>> testers
>> like Sherwood and ARRL.
>> Sherwood's IMD results at 2 kHz:
>>
>> K2 S/N 1140 - 70 dB
>> K2 S/N 3170 - 80 dB
>> K3 (S/N in the 100s) - 95 to 101 dB (depending on XFIL)
>>
>> http://www.sherweng.com/table.html
>>
>> The K2 is a great little rig but it's frankly out of its league when you
>> start prowling 160 for weak signals in the presence of very strong local
>> signals.
>> 73, Bill W4ZV
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> View this message in context:
>> http://www.nabble.com/K2-v-K3-tp17106006p17108421.html
>> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
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>> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>
> _______________________________________________
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>

drewko

Re: Re: Firmware Fatigue - was K2 v K3

In reply to this post by w7aqk

Something I don't get... if flashing a new firmware version is so easy
why wouldn't someone want to try the latest version, knowing they can
go back to the old one if it doens't work out? I would think it would
be fun.

73,
Drew
AF2Z

On Thu, 08 May 2008 08:37:15 -0700, Dave W7AQK wrote:

>
>As for myself, I have been sort of dragging my feet on some of the software
>upgrades. I'm still using 1.75, which generally works pretty well. I'm
>letting everyone else shake things out first. I know I'll be upgrading soon
>enough. I'm anxious to see things work better, but I'm not losing any sleep
>over it. I have been assured that the things I've noticed as being less
>than satisfactory will be dealt with. I have no reason to doubt that, so
>I'm content to give them time to do it. And although it has been said
>before, I'll repeat it--there isn't any other radio I know of where the
>users are communicating so openly with the designers to obtain desired
>changes. Maybe there will come a day when I feel some disappointment with
>the K3, but I'm sure nowhere close to that point currently. I could
>probably be critical of Elecraft about several things, but being responsive
>to their customers sure isn't one of them.
>
>Dave W7AQK
>