OT: Affordability of the *NEW* K-Line

[Phil Hystad-3]

As an owner of an older K-line configuration:   K3+P3+KPA500+KAT500, I am wondering what I might be paying if I discovered Elecraft today and wanted the new version of a K-Line:  K3S + P3 + KPA1500.  Without doing a detailed cost sheet of various options, I will just assume $10,000 for the configuration though it could be more than that.

Is this affordable?  To help answer my question, I did some research using both my ARRL book “50 Years Of Amateur Radio” and the US government’s inflation index calculator.  If you are not aware of this particular book, it describes a whole slew of different manufactured rigs from the 1930s through the 1980s with year of introduction and cost in US$ at introduction.

Some examples:

Collins KW-1 Transmitter, 1950, original cost: $3850, cost in 2017 dollars: $39,942

Hallicrafters SX-88 Receiver, 1954, original cost: $595, cost in 2017 dollars: $5393

Heathkit DX-100 Transmitter, 1955, original cost: $180, cost in 2017 dollars: $1644

Collins 30S-1 Linear Amplifier (1 KW), 1958, original cost: $1556, cost in 2017 dollars: $13,264

Collins KWS-1, 1955, original cost $1995, cost in 2017 dollars: $18,217

Collins KWM-2A Transceiver, 1961, original cost $1250, cost in 2017 dollars: $10,227

Drake TR-7 Transceiver, 1979, original cost (with some options) $1072, cost in 2017 dollars: $3827.


So, a new technology K-Line is not that bad as something equivalent from Collins back in the 1950s
could easily cost 4 times as much today!

73, phil, K7PEH

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[Rick Dettinger-3]

>
And, that was for an amplifier that would have been closer to the KPA500 amp.  About 500 watts out.

73, Rick, K7MW

> Collins 30S-1 Linear Amplifier (1 KW), 1958, original cost: $1556, cost in 2017 dollars: $13,264
>
>
>
> So, a new technology K-Line is not that bad as something equivalent from Collins back in the 1950s
> could easily cost 4 times as much today!
>
> 73, phil, K7PEH
>
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[Kevin Cozens-2]

On 2017-04-30 11:26 PM, Rick Dettinger wrote:

>>
> And, that was for an amplifier that would have been closer to the KPA500 amp.  About 500 watts out.
>
> 73, Rick, K7MW
>
>> Collins 30S-1 Linear Amplifier (1 KW), 1958, original cost: $1556, cost in 2017 dollars: $13,264
>>
>>
>>
>> So, a new technology K-Line is not that bad as something equivalent from Collins back in the 1950s
>> could easily cost 4 times as much today!

It is interesting to see the price comparisons of a high end K3 set up
against some of the higher end (back in the day) equipment. I wonder about
the definition of "affordable". The cost of a K3 system for me is not
affordable.

--
Cheers!

Kevin.

http://www.ve3syb.ca/           |"Nerds make the shiny things that distract
Owner of Elecraft K2 #2172      | the mouth-breathers, and that's why we're
                                 | powerful!"
#include <disclaimer/favourite> |             --Chris Hardwick
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[EricJ-2]

I think these price comparisons are fairly accurate.  A new 30S-1 costed about the same as a new low end car. A Fiat 1100D or VW Beetle went for around $1500-1800 in the early 60s and a low end car today would be around $12-15,000.

However, with ham gear and with cars, actually anything with extensive technology, you get a whole lot more for that money today. A ham in 1958 would not be able to even imagine a KPA500 or a 2017 Fiat 500.

Eric KE6US

On 5/1/2017 7:36 PM, Kevin Cozens wrote:
On 2017-04-30 11:26 PM, Rick Dettinger wrote:

And, that was for an amplifier that would have been closer to the KPA500 amp.  About 500 watts out.

73, Rick, K7MW

Collins 30S-1 Linear Amplifier (1 KW), 1958, original cost: $1556, cost in 2017 dollars: $13,264



So, a new technology K-Line is not that bad as something equivalent from Collins back in the 1950s
could easily cost 4 times as much today!

It is interesting to see the price comparisons of a high end K3 set up against some of the higher end (back in the day) equipment. I wonder about the definition of "affordable". The cost of a K3 system for me is not affordable.


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