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K3 Repair

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nz8j

K3 Repair

Hearing "at least a month before it hits the bench", was discouraging,
stories of 7 weeks in the recent past is even more disappointing. At
least I hope the theories are correct in that it is due to an unusual
amount of upgrades and not an increase in failures.
Tim
NZ8J
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The Smiths

Re: K3 Repair

I would be happy to trouble shoot and repair the K3 rigs if I thought that people would actually send them to an outside source for repair.

However, I think that people would much rather wait the 7 weeks than have their rigs repaired by someone other than Elecraft. That's one thing Elecraft has going for themselves.

> From: [hidden email]
> To: [hidden email]
> Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010 17:26:41 -0400
> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Repair
>
>
> Hearing "at least a month before it hits the bench", was discouraging,
> stories of 7 weeks in the recent past is even more disappointing. At
> least I hope the theories are correct in that it is due to an unusual
> amount of upgrades and not an increase in failures.
> Tim
> NZ8J
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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Gary Gregory

Re: K3 Repair

In reply to this post by nz8j

Hmmm,

Still like to know just what the ratio of units sold vs units requiring
return for repair.

Not likely to see those figures I suppose but it would perhaps throw some
light on the reliability of the radios.

These figures would need to have the "operator caused" repairs shown as
separate figures.

I suspect the figures would be quite good (read low) when it comes to actual
component failure.

When you add upgrades, building of new K3's, preparing for the P3 I would
imagine the picture would be a little clearer.

Turn around time for my K3 was about 7 weeks, however, between 2 and 3 weeks
was postage between the US and Australia and the Kangaroo's seem slow to
deliver here when they have K3's strapped to their back...(Grin)

Turnaround time by Icom in Australia was about a month the two times the
706MKIIG suffered terminal issues and Yaesu here are not too bad either.
Kenwood is somewhere between slow and unresponsive from the stories we hear
down under.

The biggest difference I hear with Elecraft is that a lot of the problems
can be resolved quicker if the problem can be isolated to a board so that a
simple swap can be done and thus eliminates return to the factory for
repairs. For those that are unable or not confidenrt in their ability to
take the radio apart they at least have to opportunity to use the factory
repair facility.

Just my 2 cents worth....keep the change

73's
Gary

On Fri, Jul 2, 2010 at 7:26 AM, NZ8J <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
> Hearing "at least a month before it hits the bench", was discouraging,
> stories of 7 weeks in the recent past is even more disappointing. At
> least I hope the theories are correct in that it is due to an unusual
> amount of upgrades and not an increase in failures.
> Tim
> NZ8J
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

wayne burdick

Re: K3 Repair

Administrator

In reply to this post by The Smiths

The vast majority of repairs are turned around in less than 2 weeks.
When Eric and I get back (we're both out of town), we'll review the
reasons for the long turnarounds mentioned and make any necessary
changes.

We did have a big increase in upgrade requests in the past 6 months,
associated with the K144XV, modified DSP, rigs for DXpeditions, etc.
Thanks for your patience.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

>
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Pete Smith N4ZR

Re: K3 Repair

One thought that comes to mind - put a "repair queue length" figure on
the web-site and update it every day or two

73, Pete N4ZR

The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at www.conteststations.com
The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net, blog at reversebeacon.blogspot.com,
spots at telnet.reversebeacon.net, port 7000

On 7/2/2010 12:01 AM, Wayne Burdick wrote:

> The vast majority of repairs are turned around in less than 2 weeks.
> When Eric and I get back (we're both out of town), we'll review the
> reasons for the long turnarounds mentioned and make any necessary
> changes.
>
> We did have a big increase in upgrade requests in the past 6 months,
> associated with the K144XV, modified DSP, rigs for DXpeditions, etc.
> Thanks for your patience.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
>
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
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>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>
>

AD4C2009

K3 Repair alternative

In reply to this post by Gary Gregory

"The biggest difference I hear with Elecraft is that a lot of the problems
can be resolved quicker if the problem can be isolated to a board so that a
simple swap can be done and thus eliminates return to the factory for
repairs."

And that was the case with my K3,.my own mistake made the RX audio PA to be damaged.A simple call to Elecraft and a short talk to Dale with my promise to send back my damaged DSP board,he sent me next day a new DSP board that I got in just two days in spite off the distance between CA and FL,.two more days to make time to install the new board and that was it,my K3 working even better than new because the new board came with all the mods done,price? Just $14 from that new board plus $10 more to ship the bad board back to them.Total bill for me,only $24. Time frame? 4 days, my radio was fixed.
This is an option guys you should consider,talk to the tech on the phone,most of the times by their experience,they can tell where the problem is and which board has to be replaced,so deal with them as I did,if you don't feel confident to replace it by yourself,get a tech that you know in your location and pay him to do the swap or maybe a friend of yours will do it by free. I am sure it will be faster this way to have your K3 repaired than send it to them,don't forget these guys has too many projects on hands,its not easy to keep up a production of new radios,new P3,repair,mods,etc I think they are doing a great job no matter what.

AD4C
K3 # 2192

"If you see a woman handling a cell phone on her hands while she is driving,do please stay away from her.!!

--- On Thu, 7/1/10, Gary Gregory <[hidden email]> wrote:

From: Gary Gregory <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Repair
To: "NZ8J" <[hidden email]>
Cc: [hidden email]
Date: Thursday, July 1, 2010, 10:00 PM

Hmmm,

Still like to know just what the ratio of units sold vs units requiring
return for repair.

Not likely to see those figures I suppose but it would perhaps throw some
light on the reliability of the radios.

These figures would need to have the "operator caused" repairs shown as
separate figures.

I suspect the figures would be quite good (read low) when it comes to actual
component failure.

When you add upgrades, building of new K3's, preparing for the P3 I would
imagine the picture would be a little clearer.

Turn around time for my K3 was about 7 weeks, however, between 2 and 3 weeks
was postage between the US and Australia and the Kangaroo's seem slow to
deliver here when they have K3's strapped to their back...(Grin)

Turnaround time by Icom in Australia was about a month the two times the
706MKIIG suffered terminal issues and Yaesu here are not too bad either.
Kenwood is somewhere between slow and unresponsive from the stories we hear
down under.

The biggest difference I hear with Elecraft is that a lot of the problems
can be resolved quicker if the problem can be isolated to a board so that a
simple swap can be done and thus eliminates return to the factory for
repairs. For those that are unable or not confidenrt in their ability to
take the radio apart they at least have to opportunity to use the factory
repair facility.

Just my 2 cents worth....keep the change

73's
Gary

On Fri, Jul 2, 2010 at 7:26 AM, NZ8J <[hidden email]> wrote:

--
Gary
VK4FD - Motorhome Mobile
http://www.qsl.net/vk4fd/
K3 #679
For everything else there's Mastercard!!!
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AD4C2009

Re: K3 Repair

In reply to this post by Pete Smith N4ZR

WOW that is the best idea I have ever heard,so that way anyone will be able to see at the website his radio on the list and know exactly when it will be at the bench for repair.
Good sugestion Pete.

AD4C

"If you see a woman handling a cell phone on her hands while she is driving,do please stay away from her.!!

--- On Fri, 7/2/10, Pete Smith <[hidden email]> wrote:

From: Pete Smith <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Repair
To: "Wayne Burdick" <[hidden email]>
Cc: "[hidden email] reflector" <[hidden email]>
Date: Friday, July 2, 2010, 11:34 AM

One thought that comes to mind - put a "repair queue length" figure on
the web-site and update it every day or two

73, Pete N4ZR

The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at www.conteststations.com
The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net, blog at reversebeacon.blogspot.com,
spots at telnet.reversebeacon.net, port 7000

On 7/2/2010 12:01 AM, Wayne Burdick wrote:

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Mike K2MK

Re: K3 Repair

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

Upgrades are like elective surgery. You want to do it at a convenient time. I find myself much less interested in ham radio during the summer when there are so many other distractions.

An interesting statistic might be what percentage of K3s are factory built. If the owner had his radio factory built it is likely that he would be inclined to have it factory upgraded.

73,
Mike K2MK

wayne burdick wrote

The vast majority of repairs are turned around in less than 2 weeks.
When Eric and I get back (we're both out of town), we'll review the
reasons for the long turnarounds mentioned and make any necessary
changes.

We did have a big increase in upgrade requests in the past 6 months,
associated with the K144XV, modified DSP, rigs for DXpeditions, etc.
Thanks for your patience.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

>
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Pete Smith N4ZR

Re: K3 Repair alternative

In reply to this post by AD4C2009

Whoah! This is really news to me. A couple of weeks ago I blew
something on the KIO3A board in my brand new K3. The consensus at the
time was that it would not be cost-effective to send the board to
Elecraft for repair. In my conversations with Elecraft tech support,
nobody ever mentioned the possibility of a swap. As a result, I paid
$115 for a new replacement board, and have the old one on my desk here,
probably just needing a new U1, which I may just try to do myself.

Would Elecraft really have accepted my damaged board and charged me such
a nominal figure for repair, and sent me a new board to use in the
meantime? Sounds too good to be true - maybe I'm misunderstanding.

73, Pete N4ZR

The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at www.conteststations.com
The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net, blog at reversebeacon.blogspot.com,
spots at telnet.reversebeacon.net, port 7000

On 7/2/2010 7:41 AM, Hector Padron wrote:

> "The biggest difference I hear with Elecraft is that a lot of the problems
> can be resolved quicker if the problem can be isolated to a board so that a
> simple swap can be done and thus eliminates return to the factory for
> repairs."
>
>
> And that was the case with my K3,.my own mistake made the RX audio PA to be damaged.A simple call to Elecraft and a short talk to Dale with my promise to send back my damaged DSP board,he sent me next day a new DSP board that I got in just two days in spite off the distance between CA and FL,.two more days to make time to install the new board and that was it,my K3 working even better than new because the new board came with all the mods done,price? Just $14 from that new board plus $10 more to ship the bad board back to them.Total bill for me,only $24. Time frame? 4 days, my radio was fixed.
> This is an option guys you should consider,talk to the tech on the phone,most of the times by their experience,they can tell where the problem is and which board has to be replaced,so deal with them as I did,if you don't feel confident to replace it by yourself,get a tech that you know in your location and pay him to do the swap or maybe a friend of yours will do it by free. I am sure it will be faster this way to have your K3 repaired than send it to them,don't forget these guys has too many projects on hands,its not easy to keep up a production of new radios,new P3,repair,mods,etc I think they are doing a great job no matter what.
>
> AD4C
> K3 # 2192
>
>
>
> "If you see a woman handling a cell phone on her hands while she is driving,do please stay away from her.!!
>
> --- On Thu, 7/1/10, Gary Gregory<[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>
> From: Gary Gregory<[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Repair
> To: "NZ8J"<[hidden email]>
> Cc: [hidden email]
> Date: Thursday, July 1, 2010, 10:00 PM
>
>
> Hmmm,
>
> Still like to know just what the ratio of units sold vs units requiring
> return for repair.
>
> Not likely to see those figures I suppose but it would perhaps throw some
> light on the reliability of the radios.
>
> These figures would need to have the "operator caused" repairs shown as
> separate figures.
>
> I suspect the figures would be quite good (read low) when it comes to actual
> component failure.
>
> When you add upgrades, building of new K3's, preparing for the P3 I would
> imagine the picture would be a little clearer.
>
> Turn around time for my K3 was about 7 weeks, however, between 2 and 3 weeks
> was postage between the US and Australia and the Kangaroo's seem slow to
> deliver here when they have K3's strapped to their back...(Grin)
>
> Turnaround time by Icom in Australia was about a month the two times the
> 706MKIIG suffered terminal issues and Yaesu here are not too bad either.
> Kenwood is somewhere between slow and unresponsive from the stories we hear
> down under.
>
> The biggest difference I hear with Elecraft is that a lot of the problems
> can be resolved quicker if the problem can be isolated to a board so that a
> simple swap can be done and thus eliminates return to the factory for
> repairs. For those that are unable or not confidenrt in their ability to
> take the radio apart they at least have to opportunity to use the factory
> repair facility.
>
> Just my 2 cents worth....keep the change
>
> 73's
> Gary
>
> On Fri, Jul 2, 2010 at 7:26 AM, NZ8J<[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>
>> Hearing "at least a month before it hits the bench", was discouraging,
>> stories of 7 weeks in the recent past is even more disappointing. At
>> least I hope the theories are correct in that it is due to an unusual
>> amount of upgrades and not an increase in failures.
>> Tim
>> NZ8J
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>>
>>
>
>
>

Johnny Siu

Re： K3 Repair

In reply to this post by AD4C2009

Hello Hector,

I think it is Elecraft's competitive edge to accept replacement of damaged boards. For other brands, I have to send the whole rig back for repair no matter how minor the repair work is.

Under very special circumstance and arrangement in the past, I once sent the PA module of my FTDX9000C back to Yaesu Japan for repair. In that special occasion, I have to demonstrate to Yaesu Japan that I have the skill to isolate and dismantle the PA module. 99.9% of the time, Yaesu will simple request a return of the entire FTDX9000C for repair.

As an overseas user, it would be attractive to me if I could just get replacement boards instead of sending back the rig for repair. Perhaps, we (Elecraft and us) should aim at that direction at first.

cheers,

Johnny VR2XMC

----- 郵件原件 ----
寄件人﹕ Hector Padron <[hidden email]>
收件人﹕ [hidden email]
副本(CC) [hidden email]
傳送日期﹕ 2010/7/2 (五) 7:58:12 PM
主題： Re: [Elecraft] K3 Repair

WOW that is the best idea I have ever heard,so that way anyone will be able to see at the website his radio on the list and know exactly when it will be at the bench for repair.
Good sugestion Pete.

AD4C

"If you see a woman handling a cell phone on her hands while she is driving,do please stay away from her.!!

______________________________________________________________
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Pete Smith N4ZR

Re: K3 Repair

In reply to this post by Pete Smith N4ZR

I wasn't thinking of a "where is my radio in the queue?" feature, just a
statement of the current length of the queue for complete radios and/or
boards.

73, Pete N4ZR

The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at www.conteststations.com
The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net, blog at reversebeacon.blogspot.com,
spots at telnet.reversebeacon.net, port 7000

On 7/2/2010 7:34 AM, Pete Smith wrote:

> One thought that comes to mind - put a "repair queue length" figure on
> the web-site and update it every day or two
>
> 73, Pete N4ZR
>
> The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at
> www.conteststations.com
> The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net, blog at
> reversebeacon.blogspot.com,
> spots at telnet.reversebeacon.net, port 7000
>
>
> On 7/2/2010 12:01 AM, Wayne Burdick wrote:
>> The vast majority of repairs are turned around in less than 2 weeks.
>> When Eric and I get back (we're both out of town), we'll review the
>> reasons for the long turnarounds mentioned and make any necessary
>> changes.
>>
>> We did have a big increase in upgrade requests in the past 6 months,
>> associated with the K144XV, modified DSP, rigs for DXpeditions, etc.
>> Thanks for your patience.
>>
>> 73,
>> Wayne
>> N6KR
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>>
>>

Mike Reublin

Re: K3 Repair alternative

In reply to this post by AD4C2009

I paid the full price for my DSP board swap. Was this somehow a warranty
price? Am I due a refund?

73, Mike NF4L

Hector Padron wrote:

> "The biggest difference I hear with Elecraft is that a lot of the problems
> can be resolved quicker if the problem can be isolated to a board so that a
> simple swap can be done and thus eliminates return to the factory for
> repairs."
>
>
> And that was the case with my K3,.my own mistake made the RX audio PA to be damaged.A simple call to Elecraft and a short talk to Dale with my promise to send back my damaged DSP board,he sent me next day a new DSP board that I got in just two days in spite off the distance between CA and FL,.two more days to make time to install the new board and that was it,my K3 working even better than new because the new board came with all the mods done,price? Just $14 from that new board plus $10 more to ship the bad board back to them.Total bill for me,only $24. Time frame? 4 days, my radio was fixed.
> This is an option guys you should consider,talk to the tech on the phone,most of the times by their experience,they can tell where the problem is and which board has to be replaced,so deal with them as I did,if you don't feel confident to replace it by yourself,get a tech that you know in your location and pay him to do the swap or maybe a friend of yours will do it by free. I am sure it will be faster this way to have your K3 repaired than send it to them,don't forget these guys has too many projects on hands,its not easy to keep up a production of new radios,new P3,repair,mods,etc I think they are doing a great job no matter what.
>
> AD4C
> K3 # 2192
>
>
>
> "If you see a woman handling a cell phone on her hands while she is driving,do please stay away from her.!!
>
> --- On Thu, 7/1/10, Gary Gregory <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>
> From: Gary Gregory <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Repair
> To: "NZ8J" <[hidden email]>
> Cc: [hidden email]
> Date: Thursday, July 1, 2010, 10:00 PM
>
>
> Hmmm,
>
> Still like to know just what the ratio of units sold vs units requiring
> return for repair.
>
> Not likely to see those figures I suppose but it would perhaps throw some
> light on the reliability of the radios.
>
> These figures would need to have the "operator caused" repairs shown as
> separate figures.
>
> I suspect the figures would be quite good (read low) when it comes to actual
> component failure.
>
> When you add upgrades, building of new K3's, preparing for the P3 I would
> imagine the picture would be a little clearer.
>
> Turn around time for my K3 was about 7 weeks, however, between 2 and 3 weeks
> was postage between the US and Australia and the Kangaroo's seem slow to
> deliver here when they have K3's strapped to their back...(Grin)
>
> Turnaround time by Icom in Australia was about a month the two times the
> 706MKIIG suffered terminal issues and Yaesu here are not too bad either.
> Kenwood is somewhere between slow and unresponsive from the stories we hear
> down under.
>
> The biggest difference I hear with Elecraft is that a lot of the problems
> can be resolved quicker if the problem can be isolated to a board so that a
> simple swap can be done and thus eliminates return to the factory for
> repairs. For those that are unable or not confidenrt in their ability to
> take the radio apart they at least have to opportunity to use the factory
> repair facility.
>
> Just my 2 cents worth....keep the change
>
> 73's
> Gary
>
> On Fri, Jul 2, 2010 at 7:26 AM, NZ8J <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>
>> Hearing "at least a month before it hits the bench", was discouraging,
>> stories of 7 weeks in the recent past is even more disappointing. At
>> least I hope the theories are correct in that it is due to an unusual
>> amount of upgrades and not an increase in failures.
>> Tim
>> NZ8J
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>>
>>
>
>
>
>

AD4C2009

Re: Re： K3 Repair

In reply to this post by Johnny Siu

Johny don't forget that for Elecraft their main goal is customer satisfaction and they made it with me and many others who have the skills to swap boards,its the best alternative that also expedite the radio repair.I am sure that any other foreign company do that.I wonder if TT would do it,73

AD4C

"If you see a woman handling a cell phone on her hands while she is driving,do please stay away from her.!!

--- On Fri, 7/2/10, Johnny Siu <[hidden email]> wrote:

From: Johnny Siu <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re： [Elecraft] K3 Repair
To: "Hector Padron" <[hidden email]>, [hidden email]
Cc: [hidden email]
Date: Friday, July 2, 2010, 2:24 PM

Hello Hector,

I think it is Elecraft's competitive edge to accept replacement of damaged boards. For other brands, I have to send the whole rig back for repair no matter how minor the repair work is.

Under very special circumstance and arrangement in the past, I once sent the PA module of my FTDX9000C back to Yaesu Japan for repair. In that special occasion, I have to demonstrate to Yaesu Japan that I have the skill to isolate and dismantle the PA module. 99.9% of the time, Yaesu will simple request a return of the entire FTDX9000C for repair.

As an overseas user, it would be attractive to me if I could just get replacement boards instead of sending back the rig for repair. Perhaps, we (Elecraft and us) should aim at that direction at first.

cheers,

Johnny VR2XMC

----- 郵件原件 ----
寄件人﹕ Hector Padron <[hidden email]>
收件人﹕ [hidden email]
副本(CC) [hidden email]
傳送日期﹕ 2010/7/2 (五) 7:58:12 PM
主題： Re: [Elecraft] K3 Repair

WOW that is the best idea I have ever heard,so that way anyone will be able to see at the website his radio on the list and know exactly when it will be at the bench for repair.
Good sugestion Pete.

AD4C

"If you see a woman handling a cell phone on her hands while she is driving,do please stay away from her.!!

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Jan Erik Holm

Re: Re： K3 Repair

On 2010-07-02 17:28, Hector Padron wrote:
> Johny don't forget that for Elecraft their main goal is customer satisfaction
>
> AD4C
>
I´m sure this is the goal for all manufacturers however everyone doesn´t
succeed.

Jim SM2EKM
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Jack Brabham KZ5A

Re: K3 Repair

In reply to this post by Pete Smith N4ZR

I agree that a posted repair queue length figure would probably
eliminate a lot of angst by setting reasonable expectations. Probably
eliminate a lot of phone calls to Elecraft as well. A weekly
prognostication would be more than adequate for my purposes.

Another thing that could use a little work is the level of communication.

Last Friday I got a call from Elecraft stating that the symptoms (low
SSB PO) had been confirmed, and that an EEINIT had resolved the problem.
My K3 was going to "soak" over the weekend and shipout Monday (last)
if was still good. I was glad to hear it was coming back but a bit
curious as to why the first half a dozen or so times we did an EEINIT
had not resolved the problem.

Now its a week later, I don't know if my K3 is back in the shop (as I
suspect) or if it is has been shipped and I need to hang around to
receive it... I'm sure I could call and get an update but, being lazy,
I would rather just get a short simple email periodically while the
RSA is open or anytime there is a status update.

73

Jack KZ5A

K3 #4165

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Robert Dorchuck-2

Re: K3 Repair alternative

In reply to this post by AD4C2009

" A couple of weeks ago I blew something on the KIO3A board in my
brand new K3"

Could I ask why this was not covered under warranty if it was a brand new K3?

Bob W6VY

Re: [Elecraft] K3 Repair alternative
Pete Smith
Fri, 02 Jul 2010 05:41:10 -0700

Whoah! This is really news to me. A couple of weeks ago I blew
something on the KIO3A board in my brand new K3. The consensus at the
time was that it would not be cost-effective to send the board to
Elecraft for repair. In my conversations with Elecraft tech support,
nobody ever mentioned the possibility of a swap. As a result, I paid
$115 for a new replacement board, and have the old one on my desk here,
probably just needing a new U1, which I may just try to do myself.

Would Elecraft really have accepted my damaged board and charged me such
a nominal figure for repair, and sent me a new board to use in the
meantime? Sounds too good to be true - maybe I'm misunderstanding.

73, Pete N4ZR
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Pete Smith N4ZR

Re: K3 Repair alternative

Because it was probably caused by a passing electrical storm. The
RS-232 port was working before the storm and not after. Several people
reported similar experiences, so I accepted the likelihood, even though
I have run a pair of other radios for over 15 years without ever
disconnecting the RS-232 cable (everything between house and tower *was*
disconnected).

73, Pete N4ZR

The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at www.conteststations.com
The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net, blog at reversebeacon.blogspot.com,
spots at telnet.reversebeacon.net, port 7000

On 7/2/2010 12:21 PM, Bob Dorchuck wrote:

> " A couple of weeks ago I blew something on the KIO3A board in my
> brand new K3"
>
> Could I ask why this was not covered under warranty if it was a brand new K3?
>
> Bob W6VY
>
>
> Re: [Elecraft] K3 Repair alternative
> Pete Smith
> Fri, 02 Jul 2010 05:41:10 -0700
>
> Whoah! This is really news to me. A couple of weeks ago I blew
> something on the KIO3A board in my brand new K3. The consensus at the
> time was that it would not be cost-effective to send the board to
> Elecraft for repair. In my conversations with Elecraft tech support,
> nobody ever mentioned the possibility of a swap. As a result, I paid
> $115 for a new replacement board, and have the old one on my desk here,
> probably just needing a new U1, which I may just try to do myself.
>
> Would Elecraft really have accepted my damaged board and charged me such
> a nominal figure for repair, and sent me a new board to use in the
> meantime? Sounds too good to be true - maybe I'm misunderstanding.
>
>
> 73, Pete N4ZR
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>
>

Mike Reublin

Re: K3 Repair alternative

In reply to this post by Mike Reublin

Over.....

On 7/2/2010 11:27 AM, Mike wrote:

> I paid the full price for my DSP board swap. Was this somehow a warranty
> price? Am I due a refund?
>
> 73, Mike NF4L
>
> Hector Padron wrote:
>> "The biggest difference I hear with Elecraft is that a lot of the problems
>> can be resolved quicker if the problem can be isolated to a board so that a
>> simple swap can be done and thus eliminates return to the factory for
>> repairs."
>>
>>
>> And that was the case with my K3,.my own mistake made the RX audio PA to be damaged.A simple call to Elecraft and a short talk to Dale with my promise to send back my damaged DSP board,he sent me next day a new DSP board that I got in just two days in spite off the distance between CA and FL,.two more days to make time to install the new board and that was it,my K3 working even better than new because the new board came with all the mods done,price? Just $14 from that new board plus $10 more to ship the bad board back to them.Total bill for me,only $24. Time frame? 4 days, my radio was fixed.
>> This is an option guys you should consider,talk to the tech on the phone,most of the times by their experience,they can tell where the problem is and which board has to be replaced,so deal with them as I did,if you don't feel confident to replace it by yourself,get a tech that you know in your location and pay him to do the swap or maybe a friend of yours will do it by free. I am sure it will be faster this way to have your K3 repaired than send it to them,don't forget these guys has too many projects on hands,its not easy to keep up a production of new radios,new P3,repair,mods,etc I think they are doing a great job no matter what.
>>
>> AD4C
>> K3 # 2192

Jack Brabham KZ5A

Re: K3 Repair

In reply to this post by Jack Brabham KZ5A

Well, here's a follow up.

A week after the assumed return posting date, I emailed, asking for a
status update and got a phone call from Elecraft the next day.
Nothing had happened during that week, apparently the return shipping
just fell thru a crack and didn't occur (and yes, they are swamped with
work).

So we got that moving and I received the radio on the 15th.

Still exhibits the same problem it had when I sent it in.

So I'm now 3 and a half months into my K3 ownership and still can't get
on SSB. Considering that I bought the radio specifically for SSB
contesting and sold all my other radios to pay for the K3, this is not
making me a happy camper.

I haven't the slightest doubt that what I was told by Elecraft was 100%
accurate, that the low output problem was confirmed on the bench and
that an EEINIT had "fixed" it, and it stayed "fixed" while at Elecraft.
However, as someone who spent 30 years or so troubleshooting complex
systems, the fact that several previous EEINITs had failed to fix the
problem would have been a big red flag that I had not yet got to the
root cause of the issue.

So I emailed Rene and let him know the problem was back. I expect I'll
hear from him early next week and we will figure out the next step.

BTW here's a quick summary of the "problem" in hopes someone on the list
may have an idea to try.

(1) Low average output on SSB, typically 10 to 15 watts (AVG) according
to my W2 and confirmed in that it only drives my SB-200 to about 150
watts when driven by voice. This occurs with what I take to be normal
metering indications from the K3, 5 to 7 bars of ALC, a few bars of
compression and the PO meter "hanging" around 50 watts with peaks up
around 100W.

(2) Weird power fluctations in PSK31. With higher audio frequencies,
when PSK1 idle tones are transmitted, the power out will start at about
50 to 60 watts and rise to a nominal 75 watts or so over 15 to 20
seconds. If I preform this test repeatedly with a few seconds "off"
time between tests, the "starting" PO number gets progressively higher
each time. After 6 to 8 test cycles the power will only vary a few watts.

However if I power cycle the K3, changing nothing else, the PO reverts
to starting at 50 watts or so drifting up to normal over several
seconds, repeating the whole sequence.

At lower audio frequencies, below around 800 hz, the overall PO tapers
off, and is down 50% at 300 hz. TX EQ is flat, and all config
parameters are still as received from Elecraft repair except RS-232
baud rate and the mic selection.

To me, at this point, the two most likely possibilities are something
mechanically/physically intermittent in the K3 (although it has never
worked normally for me), or something in the local station environment.

I have tried 3 mics, a Heil PR22 and both elements of a Heil Pro-set,
FP, RP, and Line-IN, thru a pro-audio chain or direct connected with no
change. Recordings on the internal DVR sound fine on Monitor but
exhibit the same problem. The power supply is solid at 13.8V. High
quality station ground system. Everything else works fine, superb
reception, normal CW operation, PSK works if I keep the audio carrier
above 1000 hz.

The DSP board was swapped out before sending the radio in.

I would be just totally tickled to discover the problem is something
stupid I'm doing or not doing, or a function of some other problem in my
station setup, but I don't know what the heck it would be.

Any ideas?

73 Jack KZ5A

On 7/2/2010 10:50 AM, Jack Brabham wrote:

> I agree that a posted repair queue length figure would probably
> eliminate a lot of angst by setting reasonable expectations. Probably
> eliminate a lot of phone calls to Elecraft as well. A weekly
> prognostication would be more than adequate for my purposes.
>
> Another thing that could use a little work is the level of communication.
>
> Last Friday I got a call from Elecraft stating that the symptoms (low
> SSB PO) had been confirmed, and that an EEINIT had resolved the problem.
> My K3 was going to "soak" over the weekend and shipout Monday (last)
> if was still good. I was glad to hear it was coming back but a bit
> curious as to why the first half a dozen or so times we did an EEINIT
> had not resolved the problem.
>
> Now its a week later, I don't know if my K3 is back in the shop (as I
> suspect) or if it is has been shipped and I need to hang around to
> receive it... I'm sure I could call and get an update but, being lazy,
> I would rather just get a short simple email periodically while the
> RSA is open or anytime there is a status update.
>
> 73
>
> Jack KZ5A
>
> K3 #4165
>
>
>
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>

wayne burdick

Re: K3 Repair

Administrator

Jack,

I was unaware of your difficulties. I'll discuss your repair with Rene
first thing Monday and get back to you by phone.

We carefully test repaired or modified rigs before sending them back,
so your results are a bit baffling. I'm sure we'll figure it out.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

Jack Brabham wrote:

> Well, here's a follow up....
> Still exhibits the same problem it had when I sent it in.

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