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K3 vs K3s..."to be or not to be an "s"

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K3 vs K3s..."to be or not to be an "s"

N1LQ-Dave...this is starting to remind me of the Apple iPhone drama...about every 6 months a new iPhone comes out that's "better" than the previous one. Sorta makes you wonder why they just didn't make the damn thing that way in the first place, I think we all know why. I've owned all the iPhones from the very first one up to the recently new 6 Plus w/128gig hard drive & now the 6s Plus is out! Honestly!!!??? I've had gripes about all of them, use to be size (to small), then camera resolution, then software bugs & the OS, etcetera etcetera etcetera. Getting off topic...back to the radio...I have 3 radios inline including a mid serial number 3,000 something K3. I paid tooooooo damn much for all of them and am quite sure I can survive without the latest & greatest version of the K3...the "s" line...ya just know that some day real soon there will be the next latest & greatest K4 or some nonsense out making the new K3s old news. I can think of about a hundred other things I'd rather do with the $$$$ than burn it on another ham radio but then again, ham radio isn't my life or my passion, it's just a hobby. In the end it's a personal decision you have to make based on many factors. Do you really need this new version or just want it? It sounds like you have a great radio now...take a trip to the South Pacific with the wife instead is my advice (at least one of you could go for the same money maybe :), avoid getting that feeling of wondering why you blew perfectly good money on something you really didn't need in the first place. I find that it's the "wanting" that's the real drug, after you get the new "thing", it's newness wears off pretty quick & then it's just the same old same old again. Skip this version and wait for the next one is probably good advice too, maybe the best advice, you know that it's already being thought about & it is after all...inevitable. I'm staying pat until many of the physical features of the radio are addressed...& they will be...eventually, the performance upgrades will be in that future radio too. Don't get on the merry-go-round as I did with all the different models of the iPhone, it's simply a waste of perfectly good money better spent elsewhere or even invested and or saved. Just my two cents!

kd0bcf

"If the knowledge of a God is the most necessary, why is it not the most evident and the clearest?”
-Percy Bysshe Shelley,
"The Necessity of Atheism" 1811
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Elecraft mailing list

Re: K3 vs K3s..."to be or not to be an "s"

Then again we can all live the life of poverty. You raise excellent points, however we establish priorities in our life. Thank Goodness my family can enjoy the good life. (The capital "G" is not a mistake). I have a ton of ham gear, and believe me there are differences. I have a new K3S and two K3s and a KX3. The K3S is a masterpiece. As an old design EE and entrepreneur Elecraft is a company to be admired. As I did, these two guys are living the American Dream.

God bless America

73
de
George, W6GF

Sent from my iPad

> On Sep 11, 2015, at 9:23 AM, Tom Fitzgerald via Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> N1LQ-Dave...this is starting to remind me of the Apple iPhone drama...about every 6 months a new iPhone comes out that's "better" than the previous one. Sorta makes you wonder why they just didn't make the damn thing that way in the first place, I think we all know why. I've owned all the iPhones from the very first one up to the recently new 6 Plus w/128gig hard drive & now the 6s Plus is out! Honestly!!!??? I've had gripes about all of them, use to be size (to small), then camera resolution, then software bugs & the OS, etcetera etcetera etcetera. Getting off topic...back to the radio...I have 3 radios inline including a mid serial number 3,000 something K3. I paid tooooooo damn much for all of them and am quite sure I can survive without the latest & greatest version of the K3...the "s" line...ya just know that some day real soon there will be the next latest & greatest K4 or some nonsense out making the new K3s old news. I can think of about a hundred other things I'd rather do with the $$$$ than burn it on another ham radio but then again, ham radio isn't my life or my passion, it's just a hobby. In the end it's a personal decision you have to make based on many factors. Do you really need this new version or just want it? It sounds like you have a great radio now...take a trip to the South Pacific with the wife instead is my advice (at least one of you could go for the same money maybe :), avoid getting that feeling of wondering why you blew perfectly good money on something you really didn't need in the first place. I find that it's the "wanting" that's the real drug, after you get the new "thing", it's newness wears off pretty quick & then it's just the same old same old again. Skip this version and wait for the next one is probably good advice too, maybe the best advice, you know that it's already being thought about & it is after all...inevitable. I'm staying pat until many of the physical features of the radio are addressed...& they will be...eventually, the performance upgrades will be in that future radio too. Don't get on the merry-go-round as I did with all the different models of the iPhone, it's simply a waste of perfectly good money better spent elsewhere or even invested and or saved. Just my two cents!
>
> kd0bcf
>
>
>
> "If the knowledge of a God is the most necessary, why is it not the most evident and the clearest?”
> -Percy Bysshe Shelley,
> "The Necessity of Atheism" 1811
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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Phil Wheeler-2

Re: K3 vs K3s..."to be or not to be an "s"

In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list

Tom,

I'm happy Elecraft has not adopted the Apple
iPhone business model; try adding a new board, or
even a new battery, to your iPhone! Of course,
smaller scale of market does force a different
business model.

OTOH -- Whatever you think of Apple's approach, it
sure works for them! I wonder how long it will be
before you buy your iPhone 6s Plus? :-)

73, Phil W7OX (still using my iPhone 5s, the newer
ones are just larger than I like)

On 9/11/15 9:23 AM, Tom Fitzgerald via Elecraft wrote:
> N1LQ-Dave...this is starting to remind me of the Apple iPhone drama...about every 6 months a new iPhone comes out that's "better" than the previous one. Sorta makes you wonder why they just didn't make the damn thing that way in the first place, I think we all know why. I've owned all the iPhones from the very first one up to the recently new 6 Plus w/128gig hard drive & now the 6s Plus is out! Honestly!!!??? I've had gripes about all of them, use to be size (to small), then camera resolution, then software bugs & the OS, etcetera etcetera etcetera. Getting off topic...back to the radio...I have 3 radios inline including a mid serial number 3,000 something K3. I paid tooooooo damn much for all of them and am quite sure I can survive without the latest & greatest version of the K3...the "s" line...ya just know that some day real soon there will be the next latest & greatest K4 or some nonsense out making the new K3s old news. I can think of about a hundred other things I'd
rather do with the $$$$ than burn it on another ham radio but then again, ham radio isn't my life or my passion, it's just a hobby. In the end it's a personal decision you have to make based on many factors. Do you really need this new version or just want it? It sounds like you have a great radio now...take a trip to the South Pacific with the wife instead is my advice (at least one of you could go for the same money maybe :), avoid getting that feeling of wondering why you blew perfectly good money on something you really didn't need in the first place. I find that it's the "wanting" that's the real drug, after you get the new "thing", it's newness wears off pretty quick & then it's just the same old same old again. Skip this version and wait for the next one is probably good advice too, maybe the best advice, you know that it's already being thought about & it is after all...inevitable. I'm staying pat until many of the physical features of the radio are addressed...& the
y will be...eventually, the performance upgrades will be in that future radio too. Don't get on the merry-go-round as I did with all the different models of the iPhone, it's simply a waste of perfectly good money better spent elsewhere or even invested and or saved. Just my two cents!
>
> kd0bcf

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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K3 vs K3s..."to be or not to be an "s"

It will be a long time before I buy an iPhone 'anything'.
I spend most of my time at home, and we live in a 'shielded box' (stucco
with wire mesh) where I cannot get a connection - although some spots do
provide 1 bar. Yes, we are in a rural area.
As a result I do not own a Smartphone. I do have a cellphone, but it is
of the 'archaic' flip-phone type. The XYL just an hour ago was in
another building and wanted to talk with me, so she dialed my cellphone
- I was in the basement at my workbench, and my phone did not even
ring. My phone is useful when I am away from home, but it does not
provide the capability of the Smartphones. But do I really need that?
I have computer communications at home where I spend most of my time,
and all the 'whizbangs' of Smartphones are useless to me unless I travel
away from home.

I know that is not true for everyone, but that is the best I can do
unless we get a cell tower with a sufficiently strong signal to
penetrate my shielded house.

Just my personal situation - and is not valid for everyone.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 9/11/2015 5:31 PM, Phil Wheeler wrote:
>
> OTOH -- Whatever you think of Apple's approach, it sure works for
> them! I wonder how long it will be before you buy your iPhone 6s Plus?
> :-)
>

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Gary Gregory-2

Re: K3 vs K3s..."to be or not to be an "s"

Way to go Don.

Smart phones are a sneaky way for manufacturers to show us elder intellectuals how much of a hipster we could be.

All the above is very much tongue in cheek for those who have sensibilities....:-)

Freedom of choice is almost the last thing left that is free in VK

Gary

-----Original Message-----
From: "Don Wilhelm" <[hidden email]>
Sent: ‎12/‎09/‎2015 8:15 AM
To: "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 vs K3s..."to be or not to be an "s"

It will be a long time before I buy an iPhone 'anything'.
I spend most of my time at home, and we live in a 'shielded box' (stucco
with wire mesh) where I cannot get a connection - although some spots do
provide 1 bar. Yes, we are in a rural area.
As a result I do not own a Smartphone. I do have a cellphone, but it is
of the 'archaic' flip-phone type. The XYL just an hour ago was in
another building and wanted to talk with me, so she dialed my cellphone
- I was in the basement at my workbench, and my phone did not even
ring. My phone is useful when I am away from home, but it does not
provide the capability of the Smartphones. But do I really need that?
I have computer communications at home where I spend most of my time,
and all the 'whizbangs' of Smartphones are useless to me unless I travel
away from home.

I know that is not true for everyone, but that is the best I can do
unless we get a cell tower with a sufficiently strong signal to
penetrate my shielded house.

Just my personal situation - and is not valid for everyone.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 9/11/2015 5:31 PM, Phil Wheeler wrote:
>
> OTOH -- Whatever you think of Apple's approach, it sure works for
> them! I wonder how long it will be before you buy your iPhone 6s Plus?
> :-)
>

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Kenneth Christiansen

Re: K3 vs K3s..."to be or not to be an "s"

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4

Hi Don and the group

This is not telling you to get a smart phone but this idea may help with communication between you and your wife.

My son showed me a personal cell phone relay that uses your internet connection and hooks into the cell phone network. He works for a small company and they had trouble getting normal cell phone service for the people in the building. This worked out well for them.

My XYL and I only have flip phones. One day when it was 30 below zero it was nice to call my XYL for help when I ran into a problem walking 2 miles to my volunteer job.

We get good service here.

73

Ken W0CZ w0cz at i29 dot net

Sent from my iPad

> On Sep 11, 2015, at 5:14 PM, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> It will be a long time before I buy an iPhone 'anything'.
> I spend most of my time at home, and we live in a 'shielded box' (stucco with wire mesh) where I cannot get a connection - although some spots do provide 1 bar. Yes, we are in a rural area.
> As a result I do not own a Smartphone. I do have a cellphone, but it is of the 'archaic' flip-phone type. The XYL just an hour ago was in another building and wanted to talk with me, so she dialed my cellphone - I was in the basement at my workbench, and my phone did not even ring. My phone is useful when I am away from home, but it does not provide the capability of the Smartphones. But do I really need that? I have computer communications at home where I spend most of my time, and all the 'whizbangs' of Smartphones are useless to me unless I travel away from home.
>
> I know that is not true for everyone, but that is the best I can do unless we get a cell tower with a sufficiently strong signal to penetrate my shielded house.
>
> Just my personal situation - and is not valid for everyone.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
>> On 9/11/2015 5:31 PM, Phil Wheeler wrote:
>>
>> OTOH -- Whatever you think of Apple's approach, it sure works for them! I wonder how long it will be before you buy your iPhone 6s Plus? :-)
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

Phil Wheeler-2

Re: K3 vs K3s..."to be or not to be an "s"

Or maybe two tin cans and some string? :-)

Phil W7OX

On 9/11/15 5:56 PM, Kenneth Christiansen wrote:

> Hi Don and the group
>
> This is not telling you to get a smart phone but this idea may help with communication between you and your wife.
>
> My son showed me a personal cell phone relay that uses your internet connection and hooks into the cell phone network. He works for a small company and they had trouble getting normal cell phone service for the people in the building. This worked out well for them.
>
> My XYL and I only have flip phones. One day when it was 30 below zero it was nice to call my XYL for help when I ran into a problem walking 2 miles to my volunteer job.
>
> We get good service here.
>
> 73
>
> Ken W0CZ w0cz at i29 dot net

Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT

Re: K3 vs K3s..."to be or not to be an "s"

In reply to this post by Kenneth Christiansen

Most carriers will provide a "pico-cell" at no charge.

There are also boosters that put an antenna outside, and another inside.

I haven't needed either.

I haven't had a wired phone for years. I haven't had a "dumb" phone for
years either.

73 -- Lynn

On 9/11/2015 5:56 PM, Kenneth Christiansen wrote:
> My son showed me a personal cell phone relay that uses your internet connection and hooks into the cell phone network.

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Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ

Re: K3 vs K3s..."to be or not to be an "s"

Administrator

Let's drop the OT apple iPhone portion of this thread as its drifting a little far afield.

73,
Eric
moderator etc. (at the ARRL Sw show selling lots of SP3s :-)
elecraft.com
_..._

> On Sep 11, 2015, at 6:17 PM, Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Most carriers will provide a "pico-cell" at no charge.
>
> There are also boosters that put an antenna outside, and another inside.
>
> I haven't needed either.
>
> I haven't had a wired phone for years. I haven't had a "dumb" phone for years either.
>
> 73 -- Lynn
>
>> On 9/11/2015 5:56 PM, Kenneth Christiansen wrote:
>> My son showed me a personal cell phone relay that uses your internet connection and hooks into the cell phone network.
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>