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K3 Repair

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k0wa@swbell.net

K3 Repair

I must say it did take some time for them to get to my K3. I sent it to Aptos around May 12th and got it back on June 30th. Yes, that was quite a bit of time, but I expected that because who knows what kind of back log they have. They do not publish those stats. I guess as I turned 60 this last month, I've learn patiences (finally).

As I said in my previous post, Dale Farmer was excellent. There was not a lot of communication between Elecraft and myself...and I had to email Madelyn several times to see where I was in the process. That can be frustrating, but again I exercised patience. She was quite helpful.

I would suggest to the folks at Elecraft to communicate better with repair customers. They have my baby and I want it back! Just good customer service...something they already do quite well.

Part of my patience was my K2/100. Still works fine.

Lee - K0WA

===================================================================================
Ham Radio Operators: Kansas QSO Party is August 28-29, 2010. See www.ksqsoparty.org for details

In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short supply. If you don't have any Common Sense - get some Common Sense and use it. If you can't find any Common Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some Common Sense. Is Common Sense divine?

Common Sense is the image of the Creator expressing revealed truth in my mind. - J. Wolf
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Don Butler

Re: K3 Repair

I've had to send a K3 back to Aptos two different times. Each time I did so
it ended up taking twice as long as I was initially told it would (estimates
were provided by the tech support person rather than someone who probably
knew more). I didn't like it. I've always had more respect for businesses
who tell you the truth up front rather than those who embellish and tell you
what they think you might want to hear.

IMHO, as more and more Elecraft products are being sold, the need for repair
and service is obviously going to increase proportionally, and if the
service and repair sections are not continually expanded to keep up with
demand, we'll start seeing more posts of this type.

Don, N5LZ

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lee Buller" <[hidden email]>
To: "Elecraft Reflector" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2010 9:38 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Repair

>
>
> I must say it did take some time for them to get to my K3. I sent it to
> Aptos around May 12th and got it back on June 30th. Yes, that was quite a
> bit of time, but I expected that because who knows what kind of back log
> they have. They do not publish those stats. I guess as I turned 60 this
> last month, I've learn patiences (finally).
>
> As I said in my previous post, Dale Farmer was excellent. There was not a
> lot of communication between Elecraft and myself...and I had to email
> Madelyn several times to see where I was in the process. That can be
> frustrating, but again I exercised patience. She was quite helpful.
>
> I would suggest to the folks at Elecraft to communicate better with repair
> customers. They have my baby and I want it back! Just good customer
> service...something they already do quite well.
>
> Part of my patience was my K2/100. Still works fine.
>
> Lee - K0WA
>
> ===================================================================================
> Ham Radio Operators: Kansas QSO Party is August 28-29, 2010. See
> www.ksqsoparty.org for details
>
> In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short supply. If you
> don't have any Common Sense - get some Common Sense and use it. If you
> can't find any Common Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some
> Common Sense. Is Common Sense divine?
>
> Common Sense is the image of the Creator expressing revealed truth in my
> mind. - J. Wolf
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

______________________________________________________________
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Phil Hystad-3

Re: K3 Repair

Just goes to show you that the smart operator is like a boy scout -- be prepared. So, have two K3s or at least another good rig for backup.

Of course, a conspiracy theorist would see this as a Elecraft marketing scheme: that is, slow down repair cycle to encourage customers to buy a second K3 for backup.

On Jul 1, 2010, at 9:24 AM, Donald Butler wrote:

> I've had to send a K3 back to Aptos two different times. Each time I did so
> it ended up taking twice as long as I was initially told it would (estimates
> were provided by the tech support person rather than someone who probably
> knew more). I didn't like it. I've always had more respect for businesses
> who tell you the truth up front rather than those who embellish and tell you
> what they think you might want to hear.
>
> IMHO, as more and more Elecraft products are being sold, the need for repair
> and service is obviously going to increase proportionally, and if the
> service and repair sections are not continually expanded to keep up with
> demand, we'll start seeing more posts of this type.
>
> Don, N5LZ
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Lee Buller" <[hidden email]>
> To: "Elecraft Reflector" <[hidden email]>
> Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2010 9:38 AM
> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Repair
>
>
>>
>>
>> I must say it did take some time for them to get to my K3. I sent it to
>> Aptos around May 12th and got it back on June 30th. Yes, that was quite a
>> bit of time, but I expected that because who knows what kind of back log
>> they have. They do not publish those stats. I guess as I turned 60 this
>> last month, I've learn patiences (finally).
>>
>> As I said in my previous post, Dale Farmer was excellent. There was not a
>> lot of communication between Elecraft and myself...and I had to email
>> Madelyn several times to see where I was in the process. That can be
>> frustrating, but again I exercised patience. She was quite helpful.
>>
>> I would suggest to the folks at Elecraft to communicate better with repair
>> customers. They have my baby and I want it back! Just good customer
>> service...something they already do quite well.
>>
>> Part of my patience was my K2/100. Still works fine.
>>
>> Lee - K0WA
>>
>> ===================================================================================
>> Ham Radio Operators: Kansas QSO Party is August 28-29, 2010. See
>> www.ksqsoparty.org for details
>>
>> In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short supply. If you
>> don't have any Common Sense - get some Common Sense and use it. If you
>> can't find any Common Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some
>> Common Sense. Is Common Sense divine?
>>
>> Common Sense is the image of the Creator expressing revealed truth in my
>> mind. - J. Wolf
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

The Smiths

Re: K3 Repair

No Conspirac therosts would see it more as a scheme to let ops know that the good old days of Hams actually working on their own radios are paractially dead, and even Elecraft is subjected to appliance operators too. Sad day, isn't it.

> From: [hidden email]
> Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010 09:30:54 -0700
> To: [hidden email]
> CC: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Repair
>
> Just goes to show you that the smart operator is like a boy scout -- be prepared. So, have two K3s or at least another good rig for backup.
>
> Of course, a conspiracy theorist would see this as a Elecraft marketing scheme: that is, slow down repair cycle to encourage customers to buy a second K3 for backup.
>
>
> On Jul 1, 2010, at 9:24 AM, Donald Butler wrote:
>
> > I've had to send a K3 back to Aptos two different times. Each time I did so
> > it ended up taking twice as long as I was initially told it would (estimates
> > were provided by the tech support person rather than someone who probably
> > knew more). I didn't like it. I've always had more respect for businesses
> > who tell you the truth up front rather than those who embellish and tell you
> > what they think you might want to hear.
> >
> > IMHO, as more and more Elecraft products are being sold, the need for repair
> > and service is obviously going to increase proportionally, and if the
> > service and repair sections are not continually expanded to keep up with
> > demand, we'll start seeing more posts of this type.
> >
> > Don, N5LZ
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Lee Buller" <[hidden email]>
> > To: "Elecraft Reflector" <[hidden email]>
> > Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2010 9:38 AM
> > Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Repair
> >
> >
> >>
> >>
> >> I must say it did take some time for them to get to my K3. I sent it to
> >> Aptos around May 12th and got it back on June 30th. Yes, that was quite a
> >> bit of time, but I expected that because who knows what kind of back log
> >> they have. They do not publish those stats. I guess as I turned 60 this
> >> last month, I've learn patiences (finally).
> >>
> >> As I said in my previous post, Dale Farmer was excellent. There was not a
> >> lot of communication between Elecraft and myself...and I had to email
> >> Madelyn several times to see where I was in the process. That can be
> >> frustrating, but again I exercised patience. She was quite helpful.
> >>
> >> I would suggest to the folks at Elecraft to communicate better with repair
> >> customers. They have my baby and I want it back! Just good customer
> >> service...something they already do quite well.
> >>
> >> Part of my patience was my K2/100. Still works fine.
> >>
> >> Lee - K0WA
> >>
> >> ===================================================================================
> >> Ham Radio Operators: Kansas QSO Party is August 28-29, 2010. See
> >> www.ksqsoparty.org for details
> >>
> >> In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short supply. If you
> >> don't have any Common Sense - get some Common Sense and use it. If you
> >> can't find any Common Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some
> >> Common Sense. Is Common Sense divine?
> >>
> >> Common Sense is the image of the Creator expressing revealed truth in my
> >> mind. - J. Wolf
> >> ______________________________________________________________
> >> 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
> >>
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > 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
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

N1IX-2

Re: K3 Repair

If you have all the test equipment necessary to troubleshoot these modern
radios more power to you. In the old days I used to be able to work on my
car too.

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of The Smiths
Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2010 3:08 PM
To: [hidden email]; [hidden email]
Cc: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Repair

No Conspirac therosts would see it more as a scheme to let ops know that
the good old days of Hams actually working on their own radios are
paractially dead, and even Elecraft is subjected to appliance operators too.
Sad day, isn't it.

> From: [hidden email]
> Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010 09:30:54 -0700
> To: [hidden email]
> CC: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Repair
>
> Just goes to show you that the smart operator is like a boy scout -- be
prepared. So, have two K3s or at least another good rig for backup.
>
> Of course, a conspiracy theorist would see this as a Elecraft marketing
scheme: that is, slow down repair cycle to encourage customers to buy a
second K3 for backup.
>
>
> On Jul 1, 2010, at 9:24 AM, Donald Butler wrote:
>
> > I've had to send a K3 back to Aptos two different times. Each time I did
so
> > it ended up taking twice as long as I was initially told it would
(estimates
> > were provided by the tech support person rather than someone who
probably
> > knew more). I didn't like it. I've always had more respect for
businesses
> > who tell you the truth up front rather than those who embellish and tell
you
> > what they think you might want to hear.
> >
> > IMHO, as more and more Elecraft products are being sold, the need for
repair
> > and service is obviously going to increase proportionally, and if the
> > service and repair sections are not continually expanded to keep up with

> > demand, we'll start seeing more posts of this type.
> >
> > Don, N5LZ
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Lee Buller" <[hidden email]>
> > To: "Elecraft Reflector" <[hidden email]>
> > Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2010 9:38 AM
> > Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Repair
> >
> >
> >>
> >>
> >> I must say it did take some time for them to get to my K3. I sent it to

> >> Aptos around May 12th and got it back on June 30th. Yes, that was quite
a
> >> bit of time, but I expected that because who knows what kind of back
log
> >> they have. They do not publish those stats. I guess as I turned 60 this

> >> last month, I've learn patiences (finally).
> >>
> >> As I said in my previous post, Dale Farmer was excellent. There was not
a
> >> lot of communication between Elecraft and myself...and I had to email
> >> Madelyn several times to see where I was in the process. That can be
> >> frustrating, but again I exercised patience. She was quite helpful.
> >>
> >> I would suggest to the folks at Elecraft to communicate better with
repair
> >> customers. They have my baby and I want it back! Just good customer
> >> service...something they already do quite well.
> >>
> >> Part of my patience was my K2/100. Still works fine.
> >>
> >> Lee - K0WA
> >>
> >>
============================================================================
=======
> >> Ham Radio Operators: Kansas QSO Party is August 28-29, 2010. See
> >> www.ksqsoparty.org for details
> >>
> >> In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short supply. If
you
> >> don't have any Common Sense - get some Common Sense and use it. If you
> >> can't find any Common Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some
> >> Common Sense. Is Common Sense divine?
> >>
> >> Common Sense is the image of the Creator expressing revealed truth in
my

> >> mind. - J. Wolf
> >> ______________________________________________________________
> >> 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
> >>
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > 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
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

_________________________________________________________________
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Hotmail.
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326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_5
______________________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________________
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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
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Guy, K2AV

Re: K3 Repair

The biggest ramp up for working on a K3 is getting to the point where
you can read its schematic with understanding. The only piece of test
equipment I've had to use on it is an XG-1. I DID have some problems
that I could see most sending it back to the shop. DO need magnifying
glasses tho and willingness to get in the program for SMD components.
Much easier to work on a K2.

73, Guy

On Thu, Jul 1, 2010 at 4:54 PM, David leDuc <[hidden email]> wrote:
> If you have all the test equipment necessary to troubleshoot these modern
> radios more power to you. In the old days I used to be able to work on my
> car too.
______________________________________________________________
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

Brett Howard

Re: K3 Repair

I really wanted to try and trace out what was going wrong with my KPA3
but I was kinda low for time to put into it and the first thing I was
going to need was some ribbon cables made up that would allow me to
remote the KPA3 so that I could trace it while its outside the K3... I
figured I'd move on and go ahead and send it in once I realized I wasn't
going to be able to trace things out that way. Not to mention that I
really need to make an RF voltage probe but I usually go and use the
spec an at work...

Anyway sometimes a month before it hits the bench is faster than I'd be
able to get to it. Esp when I can use it at 10W and get on the air
instead! ;)

However I do wish I could keep it and try to fix it for that month while
I waited rather than it just sitting on a shelf.

~Brett (N7MG)

On Thu, 2010-07-01 at 21:16 -0400, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote:

> The biggest ramp up for working on a K3 is getting to the point where
> you can read its schematic with understanding. The only piece of test
> equipment I've had to use on it is an XG-1. I DID have some problems
> that I could see most sending it back to the shop. DO need magnifying
> glasses tho and willingness to get in the program for SMD components.
> Much easier to work on a K2.
>
> 73, Guy
>
> On Thu, Jul 1, 2010 at 4:54 PM, David leDuc <[hidden email]> wrote:
> > If you have all the test equipment necessary to troubleshoot these modern
> > radios more power to you. In the old days I used to be able to work on my
> > car too.
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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