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K3 build time and diagnostics

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Rick Wheeler

K3 build time and diagnostics

As owner of K2 No. 2005 I look forward to owning a K3 some time in the future. Nice job Elecraft!

I haven't yet seen an estimated build time for the K3. The consensus seems the K2 is usually around 40-60 hours for the first time K2 builder. Because of the K3's modular plug in construction I would assume the build time will be much less. Any estimates on the build time?

Also, I am curious as to how "smart" the K3 is in regards to self diagnostics for potential failures of various boards or components. Is there a significant amount of the routine (say compared to the K2) devoted to isolating and detecting faults and failures?

And are the boards designed (and/or will Elecraft encourage) for the builder/owner to fix them on site? Or once a potential troublesome board is identified will we normally send it back for repair or exchange?

The two items I like the most on my K2 (and other Elecraft product) is firstly the performance and at a close second is I never have to worry about being unable to fix, service, or align the radio. Of course, it is obvious the K3 retains both those qualities.

Rick
K4LX
Bradenton, FL
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Martin Sole

Re: K3 build time and diagnostics

As a prospective overseas purchaser of a K3 I think Rick raises a very
interesting point. Given the nature of the K3 construction it would
hopefully lend itself to a flexible repair philosophy.

To give a couple of examples: The company I work for has been trying to
get our customers, most of whom are used to fixing radios at the
component level to move toward viewing the entire radio as the line
replaceable unit (LRU) To say this causes some difficulties, usually
political, would be an understatement, but faced with multi layer
surface mount construction anything more than module replacement is
pretty much out of the question, especially since the radio is all DSP
from the second IF down. It is at the module replacement that the
balance seems to be struck I have found.

A similar situation occurs with amateur radio products. Once upon a time
we all (most) got inside pulled tubes, swapped overheated out of
tolerance parts etc now when it breaks, as they all do, we are told send
it back, all of it, all 20-30 pounds/kilos and more. If I can with
confidence and assistance determine which module is bad and pull that
for shipment at probably less than 1 or 2 pounds weight then I am going
to be a much happier camper, especially with overseas mailing rates. It
is also often much easier on customs formalities , both import and
export when dealing with modules as opposed to radios.

If such a process is intended for the K3 then it just gained another
$200-300 dollars perceived value in my book.

Martin, HS0ZED

p.s. Has anybody confirmed if the K3 will be at Friedrichshafen at the
end of June?

Rick Wheeler wrote:

> As owner of K2 No. 2005 I look forward to owning a K3 some time in the future. Nice job Elecraft!
>
> I haven't yet seen an estimated build time for the K3. The consensus seems the K2 is usually around 40-60 hours for the first time K2 builder. Because of the K3's modular plug in construction I would assume the build time will be much less. Any estimates on the build time?
>
> Also, I am curious as to how "smart" the K3 is in regards to self diagnostics for potential failures of various boards or components. Is there a significant amount of the routine (say compared to the K2) devoted to isolating and detecting faults and failures?
>
> And are the boards designed (and/or will Elecraft encourage) for the builder/owner to fix them on site? Or once a potential troublesome board is identified will we normally send it back for repair or exchange?
>
> The two items I like the most on my K2 (and other Elecraft product) is firstly the performance and at a close second is I never have to worry about being unable to fix, service, or align the radio. Of course, it is obvious the K3 retains both those qualities.
>
> Rick
> K4LX
> Bradenton, FL
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
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>
>
>

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Tom Hammond-3

Re: K3 build time and diagnostics

In reply to this post by Rick Wheeler

Rick:

A while back (well, several DAYS ago) I seem to recall seeing Wayne
comment that his take on 'build time' was between 6 and 8 hours.

73,

Tom Hammond N0SS

At 09:03 AM 5/1/2007, you wrote:

>As owner of K2 No. 2005 I look forward to owning a K3 some time in
>the future. Nice job Elecraft!
>
>I haven't yet seen an estimated build time for the K3. The consensus
>seems the K2 is usually around 40-60 hours for the first time K2
>builder. Because of the K3's modular plug in construction I would
>assume the build time will be much less. Any estimates on the build time?
>
>Also, I am curious as to how "smart" the K3 is in regards to self
>diagnostics for potential failures of various boards or components.
>Is there a significant amount of the routine (say compared to the
>K2) devoted to isolating and detecting faults and failures?
>
>And are the boards designed (and/or will Elecraft encourage) for the
>builder/owner to fix them on site? Or once a potential troublesome
>board is identified will we normally send it back for repair or exchange?
>
>The two items I like the most on my K2 (and other Elecraft product)
>is firstly the performance and at a close second is I never have to
>worry about being unable to fix, service, or align the radio. Of
>course, it is obvious the K3 retains both those qualities.
>
>Rick
>K4LX
>Bradenton, FL
>_______________________________________________
>Elecraft mailing list
>Post to: [hidden email]
>You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
>Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
>Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

KK7P

Re: K3 build time and diagnostics

> A while back (well, several DAYS ago) I seem to recall seeing Wayne
> comment that his take on 'build time' was between 6 and 8 hours.

He's faster than I am. It's taken me 3+ years and I'm *still* not
finished :-)

73,

Lyle KK7P

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Simon (HB9DRV)

Re: K3 build time and diagnostics

In reply to this post by Martin Sole

----- Original Message -----
From: "Martin Sole" <[hidden email]>
>
> A similar situation occurs with amateur radio products. Once upon a time
> we all (most) got inside pulled tubes, swapped overheated out of
> tolerance parts etc

But theory was simpler then, also we could actually see the components :-)

Simon HB9DRV
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N8LP

Re: K3 build time and diagnostics

Like Ted Williams seeing the stitches on a moving baseball, some of us
could actually see the electrons flowing from cathode to plate! We did
this at night after trudging to school and back through 2' of snow...
uphill both ways ;-)

I loved the "good ole days" of circuit design, but I love today for
different reasons.

Larry N8LP

Simon Brown (HB9DRV) wrote:

> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Martin Sole" <[hidden email]>
>>
>> A similar situation occurs with amateur radio products. Once upon a
>> time we all (most) got inside pulled tubes, swapped overheated out of
>> tolerance parts etc
>
> But theory was simpler then, also we could actually see the components
> :-)
>
> Simon HB9DRV
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
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> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>
>

Brett gazdzinski-2

RE: K3 build time and diagnostics

With bare feet of course!

Brett
N2DTS

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Larry Phipps
> Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 12:44 PM
> To: Simon Brown (HB9DRV)
> Cc: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 build time and diagnostics
>
> Like Ted Williams seeing the stitches on a moving baseball,
> some of us
> could actually see the electrons flowing from cathode to
> plate! We did
> this at night after trudging to school and back through 2' of snow...
> uphill both ways ;-)
>
> I loved the "good ole days" of circuit design, but I love today for
> different reasons.
>
> Larry N8LP
>
>
>
> Simon Brown (HB9DRV) wrote:
> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Martin Sole"
> <[hidden email]>
> >>
> >> A similar situation occurs with amateur radio products.
> Once upon a
> >> time we all (most) got inside pulled tubes, swapped
> overheated out of
> >> tolerance parts etc
> >
> > But theory was simpler then, also we could actually see the
> components
> > :-)
> >
> > Simon HB9DRV
> > _______________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Post to: [hidden email]
> > You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
> > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
> >
> >
> _______________________________________________
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>