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K3s discontinued?

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Gary Gregory-2

K3s discontinued?

Was there a reason why the K3s was discontinued?

Looking at the pricing for a K4 was a shock in itself, when I did the
numbers to convert to AUD I was floored. That is one great beast BUT too
far out of my price range sadly.

As one who normally does not buy unwanted used equipment, I was hoping to
add a K3s to my current setup (K3 #679) but that appears to be out of the
question dammit.

Gary

VK1ZZ
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Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT-3

Re: K3s discontinued?

<https://elecraft.com/products/k3s-transceiver>

The page says:

Please Note: We have limited stock of K3S/100-F and K3S/10-K. We no
longer offer the K3S/100-K and the K3S/10-F.

I would guess they have limited stock because their assemblers are
either at home, or working on the initial K4 production backlog.

You could try to order one...

73 -- Lynn

On 6/15/20 6:37 PM, Gary Gregory wrote:

> Was there a reason why the K3s was discontinued?
>
> Looking at the pricing for a K4 was a shock in itself, when I did the
> numbers to convert to AUD I was floored. That is one great beast BUT too
> far out of my price range sadly.
>
> As one who normally does not buy unwanted used equipment, I was hoping to
> add a K3s to my current setup (K3 #679) but that appears to be out of the
> question dammit.
>
> Gary
>
> VK1ZZ
> ______________________________________________________________
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wayne burdick

Re: K3s discontinued?

Administrator

In reply to this post by Gary Gregory-2

Gary, VK1ZZ, wrote:

> I was hoping to add a K3s to my current setup (K3 #679) but that appears to be out of the
> question dammit.

Hi Gary,

We sold the last K3S, I believe, but we'll have a number of upgraded, fully warranted K3's available for purchase on the web site sometime soon. Some were used for DXpeditions.

> Was there a reason why the K3s was discontinued?

Yes; we felt it was time to create a new, hybrid SDR with a large, integrated touch screen and virtually unlimited hardware/software expansion capability.

The K3/K3S had a good run -- over 12 years. During that time we created many options and accessories and released dozens of free firmware upgrades. Everything we learned from that experience, plus a lot of new R&D, is being incorporated into the K4. (It's an exciting radio. For me, every morning it's a battle of wills to stop playing with it and get my work done :)

We're looking forward to getting the K4 into customers' hands. Our suppliers are coming back on line. And so are we ... but we're prioritizing the health of our staff, which requires some heroics from the facilities department.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

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Charlie T, K3ICH

Re: K3s discontinued?

I don't understand the "shock" at the K4 pricing.

If you "load-up" a K3S with all the options you'd have to buy that are
included in the K4, AND add a P3, with VGA & transmit monitor,
I think you'll find the K4 is a BARGAIN!

73, Charlie k3ICH

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On
Behalf Of Wayne Burdick
Sent: Monday, June 15, 2020 11:24 PM
To: Gary Gregory <[hidden email]>
Cc: Elecraft Reflector <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3s discontinued?

Gary, VK1ZZ, wrote:

> I was hoping to add a K3s to my current setup (K3 #679) but that
> appears to be out of the question dammit.

Hi Gary,

We sold the last K3S, I believe, but we'll have a number of upgraded, fully
warranted K3's available for purchase on the web site sometime soon. Some
were used for DXpeditions.

> Was there a reason why the K3s was discontinued?

Yes; we felt it was time to create a new, hybrid SDR with a large,
integrated touch screen and virtually unlimited hardware/software expansion
capability.

The K3/K3S had a good run -- over 12 years. During that time we created many
options and accessories and released dozens of free firmware upgrades.
Everything we learned from that experience, plus a lot of new R&D, is being
incorporated into the K4. (It's an exciting radio. For me, every morning
it's a battle of wills to stop playing with it and get my work done :)

We're looking forward to getting the K4 into customers' hands. Our suppliers
are coming back on line. And so are we ... but we're prioritizing the health
of our staff, which requires some heroics from the facilities department.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

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Paul Van Dyke

Re: K3s discontinued?

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

Wayne, I've always said .. "Real life comes 1st"

On Mon, Jun 15, 2020, 11:26 PM Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Gary, VK1ZZ, wrote:
>
> > I was hoping to add a K3s to my current setup (K3 #679) but that appears
> to be out of the
> > question dammit.
>
>
> Hi Gary,
>
> We sold the last K3S, I believe, but we'll have a number of upgraded,
> fully warranted K3's available for purchase on the web site sometime soon.
> Some were used for DXpeditions.
>
>
> > Was there a reason why the K3s was discontinued?
>
> Yes; we felt it was time to create a new, hybrid SDR with a large,
> integrated touch screen and virtually unlimited hardware/software expansion
> capability.
>
> The K3/K3S had a good run -- over 12 years. During that time we created
> many options and accessories and released dozens of free firmware upgrades.
> Everything we learned from that experience, plus a lot of new R&D, is being
> incorporated into the K4. (It's an exciting radio. For me, every morning
> it's a battle of wills to stop playing with it and get my work done :)
>
> We're looking forward to getting the K4 into customers' hands. Our
> suppliers are coming back on line. And so are we ... but we're prioritizing
> the health of our staff, which requires some heroics from the facilities
> department.
>
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

Paul Van Dyke

Re: K3s discontinued?

Sorry that was from Paul - KB9AVO

On Mon, Jun 15, 2020, 11:34 PM Paul Van Dyke <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Wayne, I've always said .. "Real life comes 1st"
>
> On Mon, Jun 15, 2020, 11:26 PM Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> Gary, VK1ZZ, wrote:
>>
>> > I was hoping to add a K3s to my current setup (K3 #679) but that
>> appears to be out of the
>> > question dammit.
>>
>>
>> Hi Gary,
>>
>> We sold the last K3S, I believe, but we'll have a number of upgraded,
>> fully warranted K3's available for purchase on the web site sometime soon.
>> Some were used for DXpeditions.
>>
>>
>> > Was there a reason why the K3s was discontinued?
>>
>> Yes; we felt it was time to create a new, hybrid SDR with a large,
>> integrated touch screen and virtually unlimited hardware/software expansion
>> capability.
>>
>> The K3/K3S had a good run -- over 12 years. During that time we created
>> many options and accessories and released dozens of free firmware upgrades.
>> Everything we learned from that experience, plus a lot of new R&D, is being
>> incorporated into the K4. (It's an exciting radio. For me, every morning
>> it's a battle of wills to stop playing with it and get my work done :)
>>
>> We're looking forward to getting the K4 into customers' hands. Our
>> suppliers are coming back on line. And so are we ... but we're prioritizing
>> the health of our staff, which requires some heroics from the facilities
>> department.
>>
>> 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
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>
>

Wayne Coburn

Re: K3s discontinued?

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

Does this mean there's going to be a KX4 QRP radio? :-D

73,
Wayne C
KK6ZPL

On Mon, Jun 15, 2020 at 8:26 PM Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:

K5WA

Re: K3s discontinued?

In reply to this post by Gary Gregory-2

Gary,

There are a good number of extremely loaded “pre-owned” K3 and K3S units available these days. I’ve seen a bare bones K3 for a little as $1300 USD and I sold my completely loaded contesting K3s for barely over $2000 so a GREAT deal can be had. It would be worth the risk of an eBay purchase to pick up one of these units and load it up with upgrades/accessories. Some of the sales on eBay are rigs of estate sales and the seller has no clue what he is selling. One guy had a description of a K3 “receiver” so I asked him if the transmitter wasn’t working…he didn’t know it could transmit. Maybe it couldn’t but it was so cheap that buying it and sending it in for repair would be very reasonable if I couldn’t have fixed it myself.

I don’t know if you have kept up with all the upgrades that were available for your #679 over the years but I had #234 and #5xx something that were all brought up to current standards. You would need some pretty good test equipment to notice much of a performance difference between them and new K3S. They were VERY competitive and still are for someone else while I’m waiting on a pair of K4s to replace them.

If I end up not liking my new K4s (not very likely), I always know I can sell them and revert back to “pre-owned” K3 models and probably make money. 😉.

Good luck,

Bob K5WA

> As one who normally does not buy unwanted used equipment, I was hoping to

> add a K3s to my current setup (K3 #679) but that appears to be out of the

> question dammit.

>

> Gary

>

> VK1ZZ

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w6ipa

Re: K3s discontinued?

In reply to this post by Charlie T, K3ICH

This is probably true in term of value. I am also on the opinion that having an option between the K2 and the K4 makes sense, even if it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles. Like having a kx2 and kx3.

JC/W6IPA.

> On Jun 15, 2020, at 8:32 PM, Charlie T <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I don't understand the "shock" at the K4 pricing.
>
> If you "load-up" a K3S with all the options you'd have to buy that are
> included in the K4, AND add a P3, with VGA & transmit monitor,
> I think you'll find the K4 is a BARGAIN!
>
> 73, Charlie k3ICH
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>> On
> Behalf Of Wayne Burdick
> Sent: Monday, June 15, 2020 11:24 PM
> To: Gary Gregory <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>>
> Cc: Elecraft Reflector <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3s discontinued?
>
> Gary, VK1ZZ, wrote:
>
>> I was hoping to add a K3s to my current setup (K3 #679) but that
>> appears to be out of the question dammit.
>
>
> Hi Gary,
>
> We sold the last K3S, I believe, but we'll have a number of upgraded, fully
> warranted K3's available for purchase on the web site sometime soon. Some
> were used for DXpeditions.
>
>
>> Was there a reason why the K3s was discontinued?
>
> Yes; we felt it was time to create a new, hybrid SDR with a large,
> integrated touch screen and virtually unlimited hardware/software expansion
> capability.
>
> The K3/K3S had a good run -- over 12 years. During that time we created many
> options and accessories and released dozens of free firmware upgrades.
> Everything we learned from that experience, plus a lot of new R&D, is being
> incorporated into the K4. (It's an exciting radio. For me, every morning
> it's a battle of wills to stop playing with it and get my work done :)
>
> We're looking forward to getting the K4 into customers' hands. Our suppliers
> are coming back on line. And so are we ... but we're prioritizing the health
> of our staff, which requires some heroics from the facilities department.
>
> 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 Message
> delivered to [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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>
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Wes Stewart-2

Re: K3s discontinued?

In reply to this post by Charlie T, K3ICH

Speaking of pricing shock, two weeks ago I took, "Sparky", my little 18-pound
Poodle-mix dog to his favorite dog park. Inside the enclosure there is a
half-buried piece of 3-foot diameter concrete pipe that makes a tunnel for the
dogs to run through. He ran in and immediately yipped, came out and ran to the
far end of the enclosure faster that I've ever seen him go. I ran to the pipe
and discovered a very agitated Diamondback rattlesnake, buzzing away. I
gathered up Sparky and discovered puncture wounds right on his snout.

Fortunately, our vet's office was ten minutes away. They are using "curb
service" with the virus issue so they took in the dog and my credit card. Once
they ran the card for a $1K deposit they began treatment. Several days and
nights of agony for us and the dog later, he is doing fine with just a couple of
scabs left on the nose. The final cost was $3,200, almost exactly the price I
paid for my K3S.

Wes N7WS

On 6/15/2020 8:32 PM, Charlie T wrote:

> I don't understand the "shock" at the K4 pricing.
>
> If you "load-up" a K3S with all the options you'd have to buy that are
> included in the K4, AND add a P3, with VGA & transmit monitor,
> I think you'll find the K4 is a BARGAIN!
>
> 73, Charlie k3ICH
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On
> Behalf Of Wayne Burdick
> Sent: Monday, June 15, 2020 11:24 PM
> To: Gary Gregory <[hidden email]>
> Cc: Elecraft Reflector <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3s discontinued?
>
> Gary, VK1ZZ, wrote:
>
>> I was hoping to add a K3s to my current setup (K3 #679) but that
>> appears to be out of the question dammit.
>
> Hi Gary,
>
> We sold the last K3S, I believe, but we'll have a number of upgraded, fully
> warranted K3's available for purchase on the web site sometime soon. Some
> were used for DXpeditions.
>
>
>> Was there a reason why the K3s was discontinued?
> Yes; we felt it was time to create a new, hybrid SDR with a large,
> integrated touch screen and virtually unlimited hardware/software expansion
> capability.
>
> The K3/K3S had a good run -- over 12 years. During that time we created many
> options and accessories and released dozens of free firmware upgrades.
> Everything we learned from that experience, plus a lot of new R&D, is being
> incorporated into the K4. (It's an exciting radio. For me, every morning
> it's a battle of wills to stop playing with it and get my work done :)
>
> We're looking forward to getting the K4 into customers' hands. Our suppliers
> are coming back on line. And so are we ... but we're prioritizing the health
> of our staff, which requires some heroics from the facilities department.
>
> 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 Message
> delivered to [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
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> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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ke9uw

Re: K3s discontinued?

In reply to this post by Charlie T, K3ICH

I wondered too, since the K4 was almost a bargain with it's features over the K3 with options price wise.

I watched the video...ELECRAFT K4 IN DEPTH with WA6HHQ at Waters & Stanton Ltd Portsmouth UK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-PHL68WIdg

and got anxious to get one when they quit hogging them for themselves. :)

Chuck KE9UW
[hidden email]

Sent from my iPad

On Jun 16, 2020, at 11:56 AM, Charlie T <[hidden email]> wrote:

I don't understand the "shock" at the K4 pricing.

If you "load-up" a K3S with all the options you'd have to buy that are
included in the K4, AND add a P3, with VGA & transmit monitor,
I think you'll find the K4 is a BARGAIN!

73, Charlie k3ICH

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On
Behalf Of Wayne Burdick
Sent: Monday, June 15, 2020 11:24 PM
To: Gary Gregory <[hidden email]>
Cc: Elecraft Reflector <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3s discontinued?

Gary, VK1ZZ, wrote:

I was hoping to add a K3s to my current setup (K3 #679) but that
appears to be out of the question dammit.

Hi Gary,

We sold the last K3S, I believe, but we'll have a number of upgraded, fully
warranted K3's available for purchase on the web site sometime soon. Some
were used for DXpeditions.

Was there a reason why the K3s was discontinued?

Yes; we felt it was time to create a new, hybrid SDR with a large,
integrated touch screen and virtually unlimited hardware/software expansion
capability.

The K3/K3S had a good run -- over 12 years. During that time we created many
options and accessories and released dozens of free firmware upgrades.
Everything we learned from that experience, plus a lot of new R&D, is being
incorporated into the K4. (It's an exciting radio. For me, every morning
it's a battle of wills to stop playing with it and get my work done :)

We're looking forward to getting the K4 into customers' hands. Our suppliers
are coming back on line. And so are we ... but we're prioritizing the health
of our staff, which requires some heroics from the facilities department.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

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Chuck, KE9UW