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QSO Today Expo - Estimated K4 related shipping schedule

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Kimo Chun

QSO Today Expo - Estimated K4 related shipping schedule

Presentation from the Expo.
Elecraft K4 High Performance Direct-Sampling SDR Transceiver, Eric Swartz
WA6HHQ <https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/player.html?link=NTI4MjQzNTQ1>

Perhaps more recent announcements by Elecraft have superseded this.
I realize others have already mentioned some of this. But I thought I'd go
back (for the 3rd time) to try to itemize some of Eric's statements. Note:
I don't take dictation and didn't spend a lot of time replaying it over and
over to get everything verbatim. Nor replaying the whole thing.
These are my interpretations and words. Please pardon any omissions or
errors. Go listen for yourself. The delivery time frames are based on the
Expo date: March 13, 2021.

Check minutes 17:00 to about 20:00 and around 1:22:00 on. There are other
segments.
-He discusses the supply problems they had due to COVID and how they have
now amassed an inventory of the long lead time items in the last 3 to 4
weeks. A local chassis supplier was one of the most recent hang ups. Plus
parts stuck in shipments the COVID-restricted Longshoremen haven't handled
yet. They are now smoothing things out and production will be ramping up.

Kit versions are at least 4 to 5 months out.
-They are still learning and modifying production techniques which will
make it easier to build. Then how-to documentation must be updated.
-The first day orders 16th (2019?) at Dayton, may be fulfilled soon.
-The second day orders 17th will be 3 to 4 weeks or longer after Group A is
done.
-Group B is even larger than Group A.
-Orders kept coming in all summer after Dayton and have dropped to a
consistent medium rate. Some spikes like when it was announced they started
shipping.
-When asked, "If I were to order a K4 right now, how long would I have to
wait?", he answered, "Over 3 to 4 months".
- I asked the very last question - When will the K4HD be finalized? He
said, "Conservatively... by the end of the year". So production comes
sometime thereafter. Plug in upgrades to the K4D, presumably, first for
those who ordered K4HD but took the K4D first.
- Testimonials from K4 owners would be found on the Elecraft-K4 GroupsIO
list.

Side bar: somewhere else in the presentation he said Group A
will, hopefully, be completed in the next month or so (did I get this
right? I didn't find that section). Group B (even larger) comes after that.
I haven't re-checked the definition of Group A and B sorry.

I hope this helps some of you with delivery anxiety.
73,
Kimo KH7U
(Happy with my almost new K3S s/n 11727, so the K4 is but a dream down the
road. I tend to be the opposite of bleeding edge).
______________________________________________________________
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]

David Herring

Re: QSO Today Expo - Estimated K4 related shipping schedule

Further to this excellent post, Eric did say that, at that point in time, his expectation was that the group A backlog would be cleared by end of May. I didn’t go back through the video to find it, but I was watching one of his presentations live and did hear that.

Another thing that Wayne mentioned in one of the meeting rooms was that at one point Elecraft had to go back and re-design a portion of the K4 because tariffs levied on certain parts from certain countries would have rendered the project unaffordable.

What’s more, and I don’t recall which of them said it, but Elecraft apparently had to deal with retirements of certain important people in the process.

Ordinarily I’d never wait 2+ years for delivery of a product I’d ordered, perhaps many of us wouldn’t, but…

Tariffs, Retirements, The Pandemic, Employees Down With COVID, Wild Fires (and employee loss of property), Vendor Delays…

None of that was under Elecraft’s control. Not much of that could have been foreseen. “Stuff” happens.

That is why, I imagine, most of us K4 investors are just patiently waiting. Content to give them the space they need to press on with addressing the issues as they come and moving forward.

73,
David - N5DCH

> On Mar 31, 2021, at 9:23 AM, Kimo Chun <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Presentation from the Expo.
> Elecraft K4 High Performance Direct-Sampling SDR Transceiver, Eric Swartz
> WA6HHQ <https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/player.html?link=NTI4MjQzNTQ1>
>
> Perhaps more recent announcements by Elecraft have superseded this.
> I realize others have already mentioned some of this. But I thought I'd go
> back (for the 3rd time) to try to itemize some of Eric's statements. Note:
> I don't take dictation and didn't spend a lot of time replaying it over and
> over to get everything verbatim. Nor replaying the whole thing.
> These are my interpretations and words. Please pardon any omissions or
> errors. Go listen for yourself. The delivery time frames are based on the
> Expo date: March 13, 2021.
>
> Check minutes 17:00 to about 20:00 and around 1:22:00 on. There are other
> segments.
> -He discusses the supply problems they had due to COVID and how they have
> now amassed an inventory of the long lead time items in the last 3 to 4
> weeks. A local chassis supplier was one of the most recent hang ups. Plus
> parts stuck in shipments the COVID-restricted Longshoremen haven't handled
> yet. They are now smoothing things out and production will be ramping up.
>
> Kit versions are at least 4 to 5 months out.
> -They are still learning and modifying production techniques which will
> make it easier to build. Then how-to documentation must be updated.
> -The first day orders 16th (2019?) at Dayton, may be fulfilled soon.
> -The second day orders 17th will be 3 to 4 weeks or longer after Group A is
> done.
> -Group B is even larger than Group A.
> -Orders kept coming in all summer after Dayton and have dropped to a
> consistent medium rate. Some spikes like when it was announced they started
> shipping.
> -When asked, "If I were to order a K4 right now, how long would I have to
> wait?", he answered, "Over 3 to 4 months".
> - I asked the very last question - When will the K4HD be finalized? He
> said, "Conservatively... by the end of the year". So production comes
> sometime thereafter. Plug in upgrades to the K4D, presumably, first for
> those who ordered K4HD but took the K4D first.
> - Testimonials from K4 owners would be found on the Elecraft-K4 GroupsIO
> list.
>
> Side bar: somewhere else in the presentation he said Group A
> will, hopefully, be completed in the next month or so (did I get this
> right? I didn't find that section). Group B (even larger) comes after that.
> I haven't re-checked the definition of Group A and B sorry.
>
> I hope this helps some of you with delivery anxiety.
> 73,
> Kimo KH7U
> (Happy with my almost new K3S s/n 11727, so the K4 is but a dream down the
> road. I tend to be the opposite of bleeding edge).
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
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]

w0mu

Re: QSO Today Expo - Estimated K4 related shipping schedule

The point of all of this is why is Elecraft not on this list telling us
these things like they used to?

I hear lots of excuses. Sure there are supply line problems for
everyone. HRO still has lots of product. Elecraft has a big competitor
in FLEX are they having similar issues? I hear that some big box radios
have some wait times but not in the years category.

K4 investor? You have not invested in the company you are a customer
unless I missed the profit sharing version of the K4.

Most people have given them lots of slack. Why is communicating with
people that have fronted you lots of money to make this radio possible
so difficult. I don't get it.

I don't have a K4 on order either but if I did I might be concerned.

W0MU

On 3/31/2021 10:13 AM, David Herring wrote:

> Further to this excellent post, Eric did say that, at that point in time, his expectation was that the group A backlog would be cleared by end of May. I didn’t go back through the video to find it, but I was watching one of his presentations live and did hear that.
>
> Another thing that Wayne mentioned in one of the meeting rooms was that at one point Elecraft had to go back and re-design a portion of the K4 because tariffs levied on certain parts from certain countries would have rendered the project unaffordable.
>
> What’s more, and I don’t recall which of them said it, but Elecraft apparently had to deal with retirements of certain important people in the process.
>
> Ordinarily I’d never wait 2+ years for delivery of a product I’d ordered, perhaps many of us wouldn’t, but…
>
> Tariffs, Retirements, The Pandemic, Employees Down With COVID, Wild Fires (and employee loss of property), Vendor Delays…
>
> None of that was under Elecraft’s control. Not much of that could have been foreseen. “Stuff” happens.
>
> That is why, I imagine, most of us K4 investors are just patiently waiting. Content to give them the space they need to press on with addressing the issues as they come and moving forward.
>
> 73,
> David - N5DCH
>
>
>
>> On Mar 31, 2021, at 9:23 AM, Kimo Chun <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> Presentation from the Expo.
>> Elecraft K4 High Performance Direct-Sampling SDR Transceiver, Eric Swartz
>> WA6HHQ <https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/player.html?link=NTI4MjQzNTQ1>
>>
>> Perhaps more recent announcements by Elecraft have superseded this.
>> I realize others have already mentioned some of this. But I thought I'd go
>> back (for the 3rd time) to try to itemize some of Eric's statements. Note:
>> I don't take dictation and didn't spend a lot of time replaying it over and
>> over to get everything verbatim. Nor replaying the whole thing.
>> These are my interpretations and words. Please pardon any omissions or
>> errors. Go listen for yourself. The delivery time frames are based on the
>> Expo date: March 13, 2021.
>>
>> Check minutes 17:00 to about 20:00 and around 1:22:00 on. There are other
>> segments.
>> -He discusses the supply problems they had due to COVID and how they have
>> now amassed an inventory of the long lead time items in the last 3 to 4
>> weeks. A local chassis supplier was one of the most recent hang ups. Plus
>> parts stuck in shipments the COVID-restricted Longshoremen haven't handled
>> yet. They are now smoothing things out and production will be ramping up.
>>
>> Kit versions are at least 4 to 5 months out.
>> -They are still learning and modifying production techniques which will
>> make it easier to build. Then how-to documentation must be updated.
>> -The first day orders 16th (2019?) at Dayton, may be fulfilled soon.
>> -The second day orders 17th will be 3 to 4 weeks or longer after Group A is
>> done.
>> -Group B is even larger than Group A.
>> -Orders kept coming in all summer after Dayton and have dropped to a
>> consistent medium rate. Some spikes like when it was announced they started
>> shipping.
>> -When asked, "If I were to order a K4 right now, how long would I have to
>> wait?", he answered, "Over 3 to 4 months".
>> - I asked the very last question - When will the K4HD be finalized? He
>> said, "Conservatively... by the end of the year". So production comes
>> sometime thereafter. Plug in upgrades to the K4D, presumably, first for
>> those who ordered K4HD but took the K4D first.
>> - Testimonials from K4 owners would be found on the Elecraft-K4 GroupsIO
>> list.
>>
>> Side bar: somewhere else in the presentation he said Group A
>> will, hopefully, be completed in the next month or so (did I get this
>> right? I didn't find that section). Group B (even larger) comes after that.
>> I haven't re-checked the definition of Group A and B sorry.
>>
>> I hope this helps some of you with delivery anxiety.
>> 73,
>> Kimo KH7U
>> (Happy with my almost new K3S s/n 11727, so the K4 is but a dream down the
>> road. I tend to be the opposite of bleeding edge).
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
> 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]

Julia Tuttle

Re: QSO Today Expo - Estimated K4 related shipping schedule

"The point of all of this is why is Elecraft not on this list telling us
these things like they used to?"

Yes, that, right there.

However much they are or aren't going to say, why do we have to watch event
videos to hear it?

On Wed, Mar 31, 2021, 14:16 W0MU Mike Fatchett <[hidden email]> wrote:

> The point of all of this is why is Elecraft not on this list telling us
> these things like they used to?
>
> I hear lots of excuses. Sure there are supply line problems for
> everyone. HRO still has lots of product. Elecraft has a big competitor
> in FLEX are they having similar issues? I hear that some big box radios
> have some wait times but not in the years category.
>
> K4 investor? You have not invested in the company you are a customer
> unless I missed the profit sharing version of the K4.
>
> Most people have given them lots of slack. Why is communicating with
> people that have fronted you lots of money to make this radio possible
> so difficult. I don't get it.
>
> I don't have a K4 on order either but if I did I might be concerned.
>
> W0MU
>
> On 3/31/2021 10:13 AM, David Herring wrote:
> > Further to this excellent post, Eric did say that, at that point in
> time, his expectation was that the group A backlog would be cleared by end
> of May. I didn’t go back through the video to find it, but I was watching
> one of his presentations live and did hear that.
> >
> > Another thing that Wayne mentioned in one of the meeting rooms was that
> at one point Elecraft had to go back and re-design a portion of the K4
> because tariffs levied on certain parts from certain countries would have
> rendered the project unaffordable.
> >
> > What’s more, and I don’t recall which of them said it, but Elecraft
> apparently had to deal with retirements of certain important people in the
> process.
> >
> > Ordinarily I’d never wait 2+ years for delivery of a product I’d
> ordered, perhaps many of us wouldn’t, but…
> >
> > Tariffs, Retirements, The Pandemic, Employees Down With COVID, Wild
> Fires (and employee loss of property), Vendor Delays…
> >
> > None of that was under Elecraft’s control. Not much of that could have
> been foreseen. “Stuff” happens.
> >
> > That is why, I imagine, most of us K4 investors are just patiently
> waiting. Content to give them the space they need to press on with
> addressing the issues as they come and moving forward.
> >
> > 73,
> > David - N5DCH
> >
> >
> >
> >> On Mar 31, 2021, at 9:23 AM, Kimo Chun <[hidden email]> wrote:
> >>
> >> Presentation from the Expo.
> >> Elecraft K4 High Performance Direct-Sampling SDR Transceiver, Eric
> Swartz
> >> WA6HHQ <https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/player.html?link=NTI4MjQzNTQ1>
> >>
> >> Perhaps more recent announcements by Elecraft have superseded this.
> >> I realize others have already mentioned some of this. But I thought I'd
> go
> >> back (for the 3rd time) to try to itemize some of Eric's statements.
> Note:
> >> I don't take dictation and didn't spend a lot of time replaying it over
> and
> >> over to get everything verbatim. Nor replaying the whole thing.
> >> These are my interpretations and words. Please pardon any omissions or
> >> errors. Go listen for yourself. The delivery time frames are based on
> the
> >> Expo date: March 13, 2021.
> >>
> >> Check minutes 17:00 to about 20:00 and around 1:22:00 on. There are
> other
> >> segments.
> >> -He discusses the supply problems they had due to COVID and how they
> have
> >> now amassed an inventory of the long lead time items in the last 3 to 4
> >> weeks. A local chassis supplier was one of the most recent hang ups.
> Plus
> >> parts stuck in shipments the COVID-restricted Longshoremen haven't
> handled
> >> yet. They are now smoothing things out and production will be ramping
> up.
> >>
> >> Kit versions are at least 4 to 5 months out.
> >> -They are still learning and modifying production techniques which will
> >> make it easier to build. Then how-to documentation must be updated.
> >> -The first day orders 16th (2019?) at Dayton, may be fulfilled soon.
> >> -The second day orders 17th will be 3 to 4 weeks or longer after Group
> A is
> >> done.
> >> -Group B is even larger than Group A.
> >> -Orders kept coming in all summer after Dayton and have dropped to a
> >> consistent medium rate. Some spikes like when it was announced they
> started
> >> shipping.
> >> -When asked, "If I were to order a K4 right now, how long would I have
> to
> >> wait?", he answered, "Over 3 to 4 months".
> >> - I asked the very last question - When will the K4HD be finalized? He
> >> said, "Conservatively... by the end of the year". So production comes
> >> sometime thereafter. Plug in upgrades to the K4D, presumably, first for
> >> those who ordered K4HD but took the K4D first.
> >> - Testimonials from K4 owners would be found on the Elecraft-K4 GroupsIO
> >> list.
> >>
> >> Side bar: somewhere else in the presentation he said Group A
> >> will, hopefully, be completed in the next month or so (did I get this
> >> right? I didn't find that section). Group B (even larger) comes after
> that.
> >> I haven't re-checked the definition of Group A and B sorry.
> >>
> >> I hope this helps some of you with delivery anxiety.
> >> 73,
> >> Kimo KH7U
> >> (Happy with my almost new K3S s/n 11727, so the K4 is but a dream down
> the
> >> road. I tend to be the opposite of bleeding edge).
> >> ______________________________________________________________
> >> 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
> > 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
> 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]

Hal Massey

Re: QSO Today Expo - Estimated K4 related shipping schedule

In reply to this post by w0mu

They did communicate and recently. Did you miss that?

I also cracked up at the word investor. Customer and investor are worlds apart.

Are you an actual stake holder in this conversation? I am. I paid in advance for my K4.

I don’t feel like I need anymore communications than I have already received. Nor do I feel like rehashing this over and over or having non stake holders popping off randomly will make any difference. Did I miss something?

Regards
-Hal

> On Mar 31, 2021, at 12:15 PM, W0MU Mike Fatchett <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> The point of all of this is why is Elecraft not on this list telling us these things like they used to?
>
> I hear lots of excuses. Sure there are supply line problems for everyone. HRO still has lots of product. Elecraft has a big competitor in FLEX are they having similar issues? I hear that some big box radios have some wait times but not in the years category.
>
> K4 investor? You have not invested in the company you are a customer unless I missed the profit sharing version of the K4.
>
> Most people have given them lots of slack. Why is communicating with people that have fronted you lots of money to make this radio possible so difficult. I don't get it.
>
> I don't have a K4 on order either but if I did I might be concerned.
>
> W0MU
>
> On 3/31/2021 10:13 AM, David Herring wrote:
>> Further to this excellent post, Eric did say that, at that point in time, his expectation was that the group A backlog would be cleared by end of May. I didn’t go back through the video to find it, but I was watching one of his presentations live and did hear that.
>>
>> Another thing that Wayne mentioned in one of the meeting rooms was that at one point Elecraft had to go back and re-design a portion of the K4 because tariffs levied on certain parts from certain countries would have rendered the project unaffordable.
>>
>> What’s more, and I don’t recall which of them said it, but Elecraft apparently had to deal with retirements of certain important people in the process.
>>
>> Ordinarily I’d never wait 2+ years for delivery of a product I’d ordered, perhaps many of us wouldn’t, but…
>>
>> Tariffs, Retirements, The Pandemic, Employees Down With COVID, Wild Fires (and employee loss of property), Vendor Delays…
>>
>> None of that was under Elecraft’s control. Not much of that could have been foreseen. “Stuff” happens.
>>
>> That is why, I imagine, most of us K4 investors are just patiently waiting. Content to give them the space they need to press on with addressing the issues as they come and moving forward.
>>
>> 73,
>> David - N5DCH
>>
>>
>>
>>> On Mar 31, 2021, at 9:23 AM, Kimo Chun <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>
>>> Presentation from the Expo.
>>> Elecraft K4 High Performance Direct-Sampling SDR Transceiver, Eric Swartz
>>> WA6HHQ <https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/player.html?link=NTI4MjQzNTQ1>
>>>
>>> Perhaps more recent announcements by Elecraft have superseded this.
>>> I realize others have already mentioned some of this. But I thought I'd go
>>> back (for the 3rd time) to try to itemize some of Eric's statements. Note:
>>> I don't take dictation and didn't spend a lot of time replaying it over and
>>> over to get everything verbatim. Nor replaying the whole thing.
>>> These are my interpretations and words. Please pardon any omissions or
>>> errors. Go listen for yourself. The delivery time frames are based on the
>>> Expo date: March 13, 2021.
>>>
>>> Check minutes 17:00 to about 20:00 and around 1:22:00 on. There are other
>>> segments.
>>> -He discusses the supply problems they had due to COVID and how they have
>>> now amassed an inventory of the long lead time items in the last 3 to 4
>>> weeks. A local chassis supplier was one of the most recent hang ups. Plus
>>> parts stuck in shipments the COVID-restricted Longshoremen haven't handled
>>> yet. They are now smoothing things out and production will be ramping up.
>>>
>>> Kit versions are at least 4 to 5 months out.
>>> -They are still learning and modifying production techniques which will
>>> make it easier to build. Then how-to documentation must be updated.
>>> -The first day orders 16th (2019?) at Dayton, may be fulfilled soon.
>>> -The second day orders 17th will be 3 to 4 weeks or longer after Group A is
>>> done.
>>> -Group B is even larger than Group A.
>>> -Orders kept coming in all summer after Dayton and have dropped to a
>>> consistent medium rate. Some spikes like when it was announced they started
>>> shipping.
>>> -When asked, "If I were to order a K4 right now, how long would I have to
>>> wait?", he answered, "Over 3 to 4 months".
>>> - I asked the very last question - When will the K4HD be finalized? He
>>> said, "Conservatively... by the end of the year". So production comes
>>> sometime thereafter. Plug in upgrades to the K4D, presumably, first for
>>> those who ordered K4HD but took the K4D first.
>>> - Testimonials from K4 owners would be found on the Elecraft-K4 GroupsIO
>>> list.
>>>
>>> Side bar: somewhere else in the presentation he said Group A
>>> will, hopefully, be completed in the next month or so (did I get this
>>> right? I didn't find that section). Group B (even larger) comes after that.
>>> I haven't re-checked the definition of Group A and B sorry.
>>>
>>> I hope this helps some of you with delivery anxiety.
>>> 73,
>>> Kimo KH7U
>>> (Happy with my almost new K3S s/n 11727, so the K4 is but a dream down the
>>> road. I tend to be the opposite of bleeding edge).
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> 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
>> 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]>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>
> Post: mailto:[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net <http://www.qsl.net/>
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
> Message delivered to [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>

Hal Massey

Re: QSO Today Expo - Estimated K4 related shipping schedule

In reply to this post by Julia Tuttle

What do you have in mind? I liked the event video.

The most customer oriented thing they could do is fedex a letter overnight with your radio status every day. But that gets expensive. You might feel great about it. You say that is hyperbolic? True. But even a weekly email with status is not cheap.

Can you articulate what you do want in terms of communications?

Regards
Hal

> On Mar 31, 2021, at 12:24 PM, Julia Tuttle <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> "The point of all of this is why is Elecraft not on this list telling us
> these things like they used to?"
>
> Yes, that, right there.
>
> However much they are or aren't going to say, why do we have to watch event
> videos to hear it?
>
> On Wed, Mar 31, 2021, 14:16 W0MU Mike Fatchett <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote:
>
>> The point of all of this is why is Elecraft not on this list telling us
>> these things like they used to?
>>
>> I hear lots of excuses. Sure there are supply line problems for
>> everyone. HRO still has lots of product. Elecraft has a big competitor
>> in FLEX are they having similar issues? I hear that some big box radios
>> have some wait times but not in the years category.
>>
>> K4 investor? You have not invested in the company you are a customer
>> unless I missed the profit sharing version of the K4.
>>
>> Most people have given them lots of slack. Why is communicating with
>> people that have fronted you lots of money to make this radio possible
>> so difficult. I don't get it.
>>
>> I don't have a K4 on order either but if I did I might be concerned.
>>
>> W0MU
>>
>> On 3/31/2021 10:13 AM, David Herring wrote:
>>> Further to this excellent post, Eric did say that, at that point in
>> time, his expectation was that the group A backlog would be cleared by end
>> of May. I didn’t go back through the video to find it, but I was watching
>> one of his presentations live and did hear that.
>>>
>>> Another thing that Wayne mentioned in one of the meeting rooms was that
>> at one point Elecraft had to go back and re-design a portion of the K4
>> because tariffs levied on certain parts from certain countries would have
>> rendered the project unaffordable.
>>>
>>> What’s more, and I don’t recall which of them said it, but Elecraft
>> apparently had to deal with retirements of certain important people in the
>> process.
>>>
>>> Ordinarily I’d never wait 2+ years for delivery of a product I’d
>> ordered, perhaps many of us wouldn’t, but…
>>>
>>> Tariffs, Retirements, The Pandemic, Employees Down With COVID, Wild
>> Fires (and employee loss of property), Vendor Delays…
>>>
>>> None of that was under Elecraft’s control. Not much of that could have
>> been foreseen. “Stuff” happens.
>>>
>>> That is why, I imagine, most of us K4 investors are just patiently
>> waiting. Content to give them the space they need to press on with
>> addressing the issues as they come and moving forward.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> David - N5DCH
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> On Mar 31, 2021, at 9:23 AM, Kimo Chun <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Presentation from the Expo.
>>>> Elecraft K4 High Performance Direct-Sampling SDR Transceiver, Eric
>> Swartz
>>>> WA6HHQ <https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/player.html?link=NTI4MjQzNTQ1>
>>>>
>>>> Perhaps more recent announcements by Elecraft have superseded this.
>>>> I realize others have already mentioned some of this. But I thought I'd
>> go
>>>> back (for the 3rd time) to try to itemize some of Eric's statements.
>> Note:
>>>> I don't take dictation and didn't spend a lot of time replaying it over
>> and
>>>> over to get everything verbatim. Nor replaying the whole thing.
>>>> These are my interpretations and words. Please pardon any omissions or
>>>> errors. Go listen for yourself. The delivery time frames are based on
>> the
>>>> Expo date: March 13, 2021.
>>>>
>>>> Check minutes 17:00 to about 20:00 and around 1:22:00 on. There are
>> other
>>>> segments.
>>>> -He discusses the supply problems they had due to COVID and how they
>> have
>>>> now amassed an inventory of the long lead time items in the last 3 to 4
>>>> weeks. A local chassis supplier was one of the most recent hang ups.
>> Plus
>>>> parts stuck in shipments the COVID-restricted Longshoremen haven't
>> handled
>>>> yet. They are now smoothing things out and production will be ramping
>> up.
>>>>
>>>> Kit versions are at least 4 to 5 months out.
>>>> -They are still learning and modifying production techniques which will
>>>> make it easier to build. Then how-to documentation must be updated.
>>>> -The first day orders 16th (2019?) at Dayton, may be fulfilled soon.
>>>> -The second day orders 17th will be 3 to 4 weeks or longer after Group
>> A is
>>>> done.
>>>> -Group B is even larger than Group A.
>>>> -Orders kept coming in all summer after Dayton and have dropped to a
>>>> consistent medium rate. Some spikes like when it was announced they
>> started
>>>> shipping.
>>>> -When asked, "If I were to order a K4 right now, how long would I have
>> to
>>>> wait?", he answered, "Over 3 to 4 months".
>>>> - I asked the very last question - When will the K4HD be finalized? He
>>>> said, "Conservatively... by the end of the year". So production comes
>>>> sometime thereafter. Plug in upgrades to the K4D, presumably, first for
>>>> those who ordered K4HD but took the K4D first.
>>>> - Testimonials from K4 owners would be found on the Elecraft-K4 GroupsIO
>>>> list.
>>>>
>>>> Side bar: somewhere else in the presentation he said Group A
>>>> will, hopefully, be completed in the next month or so (did I get this
>>>> right? I didn't find that section). Group B (even larger) comes after
>> that.
>>>> I haven't re-checked the definition of Group A and B sorry.
>>>>
>>>> I hope this helps some of you with delivery anxiety.
>>>> 73,
>>>> Kimo KH7U
>>>> (Happy with my almost new K3S s/n 11727, so the K4 is but a dream down
>> the
>>>> road. I tend to be the opposite of bleeding edge).
>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>> 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
>>> 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
>> 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]>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>
> Post: mailto:[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net <http://www.qsl.net/>
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
> Message delivered to [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>

Julia Tuttle

Re: QSO Today Expo - Estimated K4 related shipping schedule

I'm not waiting on a K4 myself, but the K4 launch has put a strain on other
parts of the business (like fixing KX3 firmware issues or responding to
lower-priority support emails).

I'd be happy to see updates whenever they're available, but to this list
and clearly labeled as such -- it seems like a lot of the time the details
come out in the middle of other threads that folks might miss. Somewhere on
the website would also be nice.

On Wed, Mar 31, 2021, 14:33 Hal Massey <[hidden email]> wrote:

> What do you have in mind? I liked the event video.
>
> The most customer oriented thing they could do is fedex a letter overnight
> with your radio status every day. But that gets expensive. You might feel
> great about it. You say that is hyperbolic? True. But even a weekly email
> with status is not cheap.
>
> Can you articulate what you do want in terms of communications?
>
> Regards
> Hal
>
> On Mar 31, 2021, at 12:24 PM, Julia Tuttle <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> "The point of all of this is why is Elecraft not on this list telling us
> these things like they used to?"
>
> Yes, that, right there.
>
> However much they are or aren't going to say, why do we have to watch event
> videos to hear it?
>
> On Wed, Mar 31, 2021, 14:16 W0MU Mike Fatchett <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> The point of all of this is why is Elecraft not on this list telling us
> these things like they used to?
>
> I hear lots of excuses. Sure there are supply line problems for
> everyone. HRO still has lots of product. Elecraft has a big competitor
> in FLEX are they having similar issues? I hear that some big box radios
> have some wait times but not in the years category.
>
> K4 investor? You have not invested in the company you are a customer
> unless I missed the profit sharing version of the K4.
>
> Most people have given them lots of slack. Why is communicating with
> people that have fronted you lots of money to make this radio possible
> so difficult. I don't get it.
>
> I don't have a K4 on order either but if I did I might be concerned.
>
> W0MU
>
> On 3/31/2021 10:13 AM, David Herring wrote:
>
> Further to this excellent post, Eric did say that, at that point in
>
> time, his expectation was that the group A backlog would be cleared by end
> of May. I didn’t go back through the video to find it, but I was watching
> one of his presentations live and did hear that.
>
>
> Another thing that Wayne mentioned in one of the meeting rooms was that
>
> at one point Elecraft had to go back and re-design a portion of the K4
> because tariffs levied on certain parts from certain countries would have
> rendered the project unaffordable.
>
>
> What’s more, and I don’t recall which of them said it, but Elecraft
>
> apparently had to deal with retirements of certain important people in the
> process.
>
>
> Ordinarily I’d never wait 2+ years for delivery of a product I’d
>
> ordered, perhaps many of us wouldn’t, but…
>
>
> Tariffs, Retirements, The Pandemic, Employees Down With COVID, Wild
>
> Fires (and employee loss of property), Vendor Delays…
>
>
> None of that was under Elecraft’s control. Not much of that could have
>
> been foreseen. “Stuff” happens.
>
>
> That is why, I imagine, most of us K4 investors are just patiently
>
> waiting. Content to give them the space they need to press on with
> addressing the issues as they come and moving forward.
>
>
> 73,
> David - N5DCH
>
>
>
> On Mar 31, 2021, at 9:23 AM, Kimo Chun <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Presentation from the Expo.
> Elecraft K4 High Performance Direct-Sampling SDR Transceiver, Eric
>
> Swartz
>
> WA6HHQ <https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/player.html?link=NTI4MjQzNTQ1>
>
> Perhaps more recent announcements by Elecraft have superseded this.
> I realize others have already mentioned some of this. But I thought I'd
>
> go
>
> back (for the 3rd time) to try to itemize some of Eric's statements.
>
> Note:
>
> I don't take dictation and didn't spend a lot of time replaying it over
>
> and
>
> over to get everything verbatim. Nor replaying the whole thing.
> These are my interpretations and words. Please pardon any omissions or
> errors. Go listen for yourself. The delivery time frames are based on
>
> the
>
> Expo date: March 13, 2021.
>
> Check minutes 17:00 to about 20:00 and around 1:22:00 on. There are
>
> other
>
> segments.
> -He discusses the supply problems they had due to COVID and how they
>
> have
>
> now amassed an inventory of the long lead time items in the last 3 to 4
> weeks. A local chassis supplier was one of the most recent hang ups.
>
> Plus
>
> parts stuck in shipments the COVID-restricted Longshoremen haven't
>
> handled
>
> yet. They are now smoothing things out and production will be ramping
>
> up.
>
>
> Kit versions are at least 4 to 5 months out.
> -They are still learning and modifying production techniques which will
> make it easier to build. Then how-to documentation must be updated.
> -The first day orders 16th (2019?) at Dayton, may be fulfilled soon.
> -The second day orders 17th will be 3 to 4 weeks or longer after Group
>
> A is
>
> done.
> -Group B is even larger than Group A.
> -Orders kept coming in all summer after Dayton and have dropped to a
> consistent medium rate. Some spikes like when it was announced they
>
> started
>
> shipping.
> -When asked, "If I were to order a K4 right now, how long would I have
>
> to
>
> wait?", he answered, "Over 3 to 4 months".
> - I asked the very last question - When will the K4HD be finalized? He
> said, "Conservatively... by the end of the year". So production comes
> sometime thereafter. Plug in upgrades to the K4D, presumably, first for
> those who ordered K4HD but took the K4D first.
> - Testimonials from K4 owners would be found on the Elecraft-K4 GroupsIO
> list.
>
> Side bar: somewhere else in the presentation he said Group A
> will, hopefully, be completed in the next month or so (did I get this
> right? I didn't find that section). Group B (even larger) comes after
>
> that.
>
> I haven't re-checked the definition of Group A and B sorry.
>
> I hope this helps some of you with delivery anxiety.
> 73,
> Kimo KH7U
> (Happy with my almost new K3S s/n 11727, so the K4 is but a dream down
>
> the
>
> road. I tend to be the opposite of bleeding edge).
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email] <[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
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email] <[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
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email] <[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
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email] <[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]
>
>
>

Hal Massey

Re: QSO Today Expo - Estimated K4 related shipping schedule

Julia, that makes sense. Perhaps we could add ‘periodic update instead of whenever they can?”
PS— I like the event video updates because those clear the noise threshold of the multitude of emails I get but that is just a personal preference. A loud sky writing aircraft overhead for 7-8 hours would work even better for me but that’s probably asking too much.

Regards
-Hal

> On Mar 31, 2021, at 12:37 PM, Julia Tuttle <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I'm not waiting on a K4 myself, but the K4 launch has put a strain on other parts of the business (like fixing KX3 firmware issues or responding to lower-priority support emails).
>
> I'd be happy to see updates whenever they're available, but to this list and clearly labeled as such -- it seems like a lot of the time the details come out in the middle of other threads that folks might miss. Somewhere on the website would also be nice.
>
> On Wed, Mar 31, 2021, 14:33 Hal Massey <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote:
> What do you have in mind? I liked the event video.
>
> The most customer oriented thing they could do is fedex a letter overnight with your radio status every day. But that gets expensive. You might feel great about it. You say that is hyperbolic? True. But even a weekly email with status is not cheap.
>
> Can you articulate what you do want in terms of communications?
>
> Regards
> Hal
>
>> On Mar 31, 2021, at 12:24 PM, Julia Tuttle <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote:
>>
>> "The point of all of this is why is Elecraft not on this list telling us
>> these things like they used to?"
>>
>> Yes, that, right there.
>>
>> However much they are or aren't going to say, why do we have to watch event
>> videos to hear it?
>>
>> On Wed, Mar 31, 2021, 14:16 W0MU Mike Fatchett <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote:
>>
>>> The point of all of this is why is Elecraft not on this list telling us
>>> these things like they used to?
>>>
>>> I hear lots of excuses. Sure there are supply line problems for
>>> everyone. HRO still has lots of product. Elecraft has a big competitor
>>> in FLEX are they having similar issues? I hear that some big box radios
>>> have some wait times but not in the years category.
>>>
>>> K4 investor? You have not invested in the company you are a customer
>>> unless I missed the profit sharing version of the K4.
>>>
>>> Most people have given them lots of slack. Why is communicating with
>>> people that have fronted you lots of money to make this radio possible
>>> so difficult. I don't get it.
>>>
>>> I don't have a K4 on order either but if I did I might be concerned.
>>>
>>> W0MU
>>>
>>> On 3/31/2021 10:13 AM, David Herring wrote:
>>>> Further to this excellent post, Eric did say that, at that point in
>>> time, his expectation was that the group A backlog would be cleared by end
>>> of May. I didn’t go back through the video to find it, but I was watching
>>> one of his presentations live and did hear that.
>>>>
>>>> Another thing that Wayne mentioned in one of the meeting rooms was that
>>> at one point Elecraft had to go back and re-design a portion of the K4
>>> because tariffs levied on certain parts from certain countries would have
>>> rendered the project unaffordable.
>>>>
>>>> What’s more, and I don’t recall which of them said it, but Elecraft
>>> apparently had to deal with retirements of certain important people in the
>>> process.
>>>>
>>>> Ordinarily I’d never wait 2+ years for delivery of a product I’d
>>> ordered, perhaps many of us wouldn’t, but…
>>>>
>>>> Tariffs, Retirements, The Pandemic, Employees Down With COVID, Wild
>>> Fires (and employee loss of property), Vendor Delays…
>>>>
>>>> None of that was under Elecraft’s control. Not much of that could have
>>> been foreseen. “Stuff” happens.
>>>>
>>>> That is why, I imagine, most of us K4 investors are just patiently
>>> waiting. Content to give them the space they need to press on with
>>> addressing the issues as they come and moving forward.
>>>>
>>>> 73,
>>>> David - N5DCH
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> On Mar 31, 2021, at 9:23 AM, Kimo Chun <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Presentation from the Expo.
>>>>> Elecraft K4 High Performance Direct-Sampling SDR Transceiver, Eric
>>> Swartz
>>>>> WA6HHQ <https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/player.html?link=NTI4MjQzNTQ1 <https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/player.html?link=NTI4MjQzNTQ1>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Perhaps more recent announcements by Elecraft have superseded this.
>>>>> I realize others have already mentioned some of this. But I thought I'd
>>> go
>>>>> back (for the 3rd time) to try to itemize some of Eric's statements.
>>> Note:
>>>>> I don't take dictation and didn't spend a lot of time replaying it over
>>> and
>>>>> over to get everything verbatim. Nor replaying the whole thing.
>>>>> These are my interpretations and words. Please pardon any omissions or
>>>>> errors. Go listen for yourself. The delivery time frames are based on
>>> the
>>>>> Expo date: March 13, 2021.
>>>>>
>>>>> Check minutes 17:00 to about 20:00 and around 1:22:00 on. There are
>>> other
>>>>> segments.
>>>>> -He discusses the supply problems they had due to COVID and how they
>>> have
>>>>> now amassed an inventory of the long lead time items in the last 3 to 4
>>>>> weeks. A local chassis supplier was one of the most recent hang ups.
>>> Plus
>>>>> parts stuck in shipments the COVID-restricted Longshoremen haven't
>>> handled
>>>>> yet. They are now smoothing things out and production will be ramping
>>> up.
>>>>>
>>>>> Kit versions are at least 4 to 5 months out.
>>>>> -They are still learning and modifying production techniques which will
>>>>> make it easier to build. Then how-to documentation must be updated.
>>>>> -The first day orders 16th (2019?) at Dayton, may be fulfilled soon.
>>>>> -The second day orders 17th will be 3 to 4 weeks or longer after Group
>>> A is
>>>>> done.
>>>>> -Group B is even larger than Group A.
>>>>> -Orders kept coming in all summer after Dayton and have dropped to a
>>>>> consistent medium rate. Some spikes like when it was announced they
>>> started
>>>>> shipping.
>>>>> -When asked, "If I were to order a K4 right now, how long would I have
>>> to
>>>>> wait?", he answered, "Over 3 to 4 months".
>>>>> - I asked the very last question - When will the K4HD be finalized? He
>>>>> said, "Conservatively... by the end of the year". So production comes
>>>>> sometime thereafter. Plug in upgrades to the K4D, presumably, first for
>>>>> those who ordered K4HD but took the K4D first.
>>>>> - Testimonials from K4 owners would be found on the Elecraft-K4 GroupsIO
>>>>> list.
>>>>>
>>>>> Side bar: somewhere else in the presentation he said Group A
>>>>> will, hopefully, be completed in the next month or so (did I get this
>>>>> right? I didn't find that section). Group B (even larger) comes after
>>> that.
>>>>> I haven't re-checked the definition of Group A and B sorry.
>>>>>
>>>>> I hope this helps some of you with delivery anxiety.
>>>>> 73,
>>>>> Kimo KH7U
>>>>> (Happy with my almost new K3S s/n 11727, so the K4 is but a dream down
>>> the
>>>>> road. I tend to be the opposite of bleeding edge).
>>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft>
>>>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>
>>>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>
>>>>>
>>>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net <http://www.qsl.net/>
>>>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
>>>>> Message delivered to [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>
>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft>
>>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>
>>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>
>>>>
>>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net <http://www.qsl.net/>
>>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
>>>> Message delivered to [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>
>>>
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft>
>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>
>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>
>>>
>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net <http://www.qsl.net/>
>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
>>> Message delivered to [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft>
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net <http://www.qsl.net/>
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
>> Message delivered to [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>

Julia Tuttle

Re: QSO Today Expo - Estimated K4 related shipping schedule

Yeah, periodic would be fine -- I think the big thing is setting
expectations for when and where, so folks can check there instead of
wondering or asking.

And I'm totally fine with the event video updates as long as the content is
also available in a text form somewhere obvious. (Heck, I'd volunteer to
transcribe them if it that'd be helpful.)

Honestly, I think sharing a little more of what's gone wrong and right
might be helpful -- I know I'm more sympathetic about this sort of thing
when I have an idea what's going on -- but I don't have a clear idea of the
downsides.

The aircraft option seems problematically local -- perhaps we could launch
a small satellite instead. :D

73,

Julie

On Wed, Mar 31, 2021, 15:20 Hal Massey <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Julia, that makes sense. Perhaps we could add ‘periodic update instead of
> whenever they can?”
> PS— I like the event video updates because those clear the noise threshold
> of the multitude of emails I get but that is just a personal preference. A
> loud sky writing aircraft overhead for 7-8 hours would work even better for
> me but that’s probably asking too much.
>
> Regards
> -Hal
>
> On Mar 31, 2021, at 12:37 PM, Julia Tuttle <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I'm not waiting on a K4 myself, but the K4 launch has put a strain on
> other parts of the business (like fixing KX3 firmware issues or responding
> to lower-priority support emails).
>
> I'd be happy to see updates whenever they're available, but to this list
> and clearly labeled as such -- it seems like a lot of the time the details
> come out in the middle of other threads that folks might miss. Somewhere on
> the website would also be nice.
>
> On Wed, Mar 31, 2021, 14:33 Hal Massey <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> What do you have in mind? I liked the event video.
>>
>> The most customer oriented thing they could do is fedex a letter
>> overnight with your radio status every day. But that gets expensive. You
>> might feel great about it. You say that is hyperbolic? True. But even a
>> weekly email with status is not cheap.
>>
>> Can you articulate what you do want in terms of communications?
>>
>> Regards
>> Hal
>>
>> On Mar 31, 2021, at 12:24 PM, Julia Tuttle <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> "The point of all of this is why is Elecraft not on this list telling us
>> these things like they used to?"
>>
>> Yes, that, right there.
>>
>> However much they are or aren't going to say, why do we have to watch
>> event
>> videos to hear it?
>>
>> On Wed, Mar 31, 2021, 14:16 W0MU Mike Fatchett <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> The point of all of this is why is Elecraft not on this list telling us
>> these things like they used to?
>>
>> I hear lots of excuses. Sure there are supply line problems for
>> everyone. HRO still has lots of product. Elecraft has a big competitor
>> in FLEX are they having similar issues? I hear that some big box radios
>> have some wait times but not in the years category.
>>
>> K4 investor? You have not invested in the company you are a customer
>> unless I missed the profit sharing version of the K4.
>>
>> Most people have given them lots of slack. Why is communicating with
>> people that have fronted you lots of money to make this radio possible
>> so difficult. I don't get it.
>>
>> I don't have a K4 on order either but if I did I might be concerned.
>>
>> W0MU
>>
>> On 3/31/2021 10:13 AM, David Herring wrote:
>>
>> Further to this excellent post, Eric did say that, at that point in
>>
>> time, his expectation was that the group A backlog would be cleared by end
>> of May. I didn’t go back through the video to find it, but I was watching
>> one of his presentations live and did hear that.
>>
>>
>> Another thing that Wayne mentioned in one of the meeting rooms was that
>>
>> at one point Elecraft had to go back and re-design a portion of the K4
>> because tariffs levied on certain parts from certain countries would have
>> rendered the project unaffordable.
>>
>>
>> What’s more, and I don’t recall which of them said it, but Elecraft
>>
>> apparently had to deal with retirements of certain important people in the
>> process.
>>
>>
>> Ordinarily I’d never wait 2+ years for delivery of a product I’d
>>
>> ordered, perhaps many of us wouldn’t, but…
>>
>>
>> Tariffs, Retirements, The Pandemic, Employees Down With COVID, Wild
>>
>> Fires (and employee loss of property), Vendor Delays…
>>
>>
>> None of that was under Elecraft’s control. Not much of that could have
>>
>> been foreseen. “Stuff” happens.
>>
>>
>> That is why, I imagine, most of us K4 investors are just patiently
>>
>> waiting. Content to give them the space they need to press on with
>> addressing the issues as they come and moving forward.
>>
>>
>> 73,
>> David - N5DCH
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mar 31, 2021, at 9:23 AM, Kimo Chun <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> Presentation from the Expo.
>> Elecraft K4 High Performance Direct-Sampling SDR Transceiver, Eric
>>
>> Swartz
>>
>> WA6HHQ <https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/player.html?link=NTI4MjQzNTQ1>
>>
>> Perhaps more recent announcements by Elecraft have superseded this.
>> I realize others have already mentioned some of this. But I thought I'd
>>
>> go
>>
>> back (for the 3rd time) to try to itemize some of Eric's statements.
>>
>> Note:
>>
>> I don't take dictation and didn't spend a lot of time replaying it over
>>
>> and
>>
>> over to get everything verbatim. Nor replaying the whole thing.
>> These are my interpretations and words. Please pardon any omissions or
>> errors. Go listen for yourself. The delivery time frames are based on
>>
>> the
>>
>> Expo date: March 13, 2021.
>>
>> Check minutes 17:00 to about 20:00 and around 1:22:00 on. There are
>>
>> other
>>
>> segments.
>> -He discusses the supply problems they had due to COVID and how they
>>
>> have
>>
>> now amassed an inventory of the long lead time items in the last 3 to 4
>> weeks. A local chassis supplier was one of the most recent hang ups.
>>
>> Plus
>>
>> parts stuck in shipments the COVID-restricted Longshoremen haven't
>>
>> handled
>>
>> yet. They are now smoothing things out and production will be ramping
>>
>> up.
>>
>>
>> Kit versions are at least 4 to 5 months out.
>> -They are still learning and modifying production techniques which will
>> make it easier to build. Then how-to documentation must be updated.
>> -The first day orders 16th (2019?) at Dayton, may be fulfilled soon.
>> -The second day orders 17th will be 3 to 4 weeks or longer after Group
>>
>> A is
>>
>> done.
>> -Group B is even larger than Group A.
>> -Orders kept coming in all summer after Dayton and have dropped to a
>> consistent medium rate. Some spikes like when it was announced they
>>
>> started
>>
>> shipping.
>> -When asked, "If I were to order a K4 right now, how long would I have
>>
>> to
>>
>> wait?", he answered, "Over 3 to 4 months".
>> - I asked the very last question - When will the K4HD be finalized? He
>> said, "Conservatively... by the end of the year". So production comes
>> sometime thereafter. Plug in upgrades to the K4D, presumably, first for
>> those who ordered K4HD but took the K4D first.
>> - Testimonials from K4 owners would be found on the Elecraft-K4 GroupsIO
>> list.
>>
>> Side bar: somewhere else in the presentation he said Group A
>> will, hopefully, be completed in the next month or so (did I get this
>> right? I didn't find that section). Group B (even larger) comes after
>>
>> that.
>>
>> I haven't re-checked the definition of Group A and B sorry.
>>
>> I hope this helps some of you with delivery anxiety.
>> 73,
>> Kimo KH7U
>> (Happy with my almost new K3S s/n 11727, so the K4 is but a dream down
>>
>> the
>>
>> road. I tend to be the opposite of bleeding edge).
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email] <[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
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email] <[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
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email] <[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
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email] <[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

Product Availability Was: Re: QSO Today Expo - Estimated K4 related shipping schedule

In reply to this post by w0mu

Mike:

> On Mar 31, 2021, at 1:15 PM, W0MU Mike Fatchett <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> The point of all of this is why is Elecraft not on this list telling us these things like they used to?
>
> I hear lots of excuses. Sure there are supply line problems for everyone. HRO still has lots of product. Elecraft has a big competitor in FLEX are they having similar issues? I hear that some big box radios have some wait times but not in the years category.

Flex has similar issues. The Tuner Genius has been under development since 2017. They announced at the QSO Today Expo that those at the head of the line (e.g. those that ordered the Power Genius XL in early 2017 when the tuner was packaged with the amplifier0 should get theirs in 2nd Quarter 2021, 4+ years after product announcement. My Power Genius was delivered in May 2018 and I still can’t use it with a EFHW antenna without the tuner. Maestro is currently on back order. Their website shows their transceivers on back order with no expected availability times listed. Flex has gone through its own ’transition’ during Covid where final assembly was brought ‘in house’ on their transceivers as their outside vendor shut down. The Power Genius and Antenna Genius are built by 4O3A in Montenegro for Flex where they have their own issues and ability to ship product to the US is constrained.

HRO may have lots of product but necessarily the product that I want. I ordered from HRO last November the West Mountain Radio ‘PWRspeaker’ that is not expected until at least May. It is produced in China. So between parts, assembly, and transport across the Pacific there are plenty of reasons for delayed deliveries. The Suez Canal debacle is but one part of the “supply chain’ impacts that also includes container shortages, port congestion, intermodal doublestack railcar availability, intermodal terminal congestion in the interior, and drayage impacts.

Another example: I ordered three 4K 15” portable displays through Kickstarter in July 2020 with expected delivery in October 2020 from China (Two will be used with two GeoChron2 Digitial 4K devices that I had purchased through HRO in January 2020) . Kickstarter charged my credit card in September and e-maiiled on 22 OCT 20 "Production is in full swing and we expect to begin shipping by the end of October.” On 6 NOV 20 I received an e-mail from Kickstarter with subject line “Production Delays” ("It seems like many large electronics companies locked up all the raw materials before the funds were released from Kickstarter”) deliveries would not take place until February 2021. No update received since then. I have no idea at this point where they stand with expected deliveries. Next week I will start making inquiries again.

What we all took for granted regarding ‘immediate gratification’ on what we ordered being immediately available “before Covid” is no longer the case. It will be a ‘long time’ before we see a return to ’normal’ as economic activity dramatically picks up as Covid-19 restrictions are eased (thanks to vaccinations) and pent up demand for everything exceeds available supply. Prices will consequently rise. Add in the proposed $2-3 Trillion in government spending on “infrastructure” (further competing for scarce products/materials that the private sector also needs) and the proposed $2-$3 trillion increase in taxes (that will impact families and small business ability to ‘bounce back’ from the downturn) at the same time, and the nation will have so many “moving parts” that impact economic activity resulting in further uncertainty. My concern is that the unintended consequences will have far reaching impacts on the economy from rising prices (inflation) to uncertain availability putting even more strains on businesses such as Elecraft and Flex, not to mention the rest of us.

FWIW,

Barry Baines, WD4ASW/5
Keller, TX

______________________________________________________________
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Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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David Herring

Re: QSO Today Expo - Estimated K4 related shipping schedule

In reply to this post by Julia Tuttle

Investor. ;-)

I’ll grant you we’re not investors in the traditional sense. But we’ve invested in the company nonetheless. Would you prefer venture capitalist instead? We provided funds that Elecraft was able to use to stay afloat and continue engineering and manufacturing efforts. Sure, we’re not going to make back millions on our “investment” and we have no stake in the company, but we will get one heck of a radio. That’s really all I cared about, to be honest.

Someone in the thread mentioned they are hearing lots of excuses. I have not. If all I was getting was excuses I would have cut ties and got a refund a long time ago. What I’ve heard are valid reasons. Actual real verifiable things that have happened that are out of anyone’s control. Perhaps it’s just a matter of personal perspective.

I think that most agree a periodic official update with a little more regularity would be nice, but perhaps not at the cost of getting rigs out the door.

73,
David - N5DCH

> On Mar 31, 2021, at 1:29 PM, Julia Tuttle <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Yeah, periodic would be fine -- I think the big thing is setting
> expectations for when and where, so folks can check there instead of
> wondering or asking.
>
> And I'm totally fine with the event video updates as long as the content is
> also available in a text form somewhere obvious. (Heck, I'd volunteer to
> transcribe them if it that'd be helpful.)
>
> Honestly, I think sharing a little more of what's gone wrong and right
> might be helpful -- I know I'm more sympathetic about this sort of thing
> when I have an idea what's going on -- but I don't have a clear idea of the
> downsides.
>
> The aircraft option seems problematically local -- perhaps we could launch
> a small satellite instead. :D
>
> 73,
>
> Julie
>
> On Wed, Mar 31, 2021, 15:20 Hal Massey <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote:
>
>> Julia, that makes sense. Perhaps we could add ‘periodic update instead of
>> whenever they can?”
>> PS— I like the event video updates because those clear the noise threshold
>> of the multitude of emails I get but that is just a personal preference. A
>> loud sky writing aircraft overhead for 7-8 hours would work even better for
>> me but that’s probably asking too much.
>>
>> Regards
>> -Hal
>>
>> On Mar 31, 2021, at 12:37 PM, Julia Tuttle <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> I'm not waiting on a K4 myself, but the K4 launch has put a strain on
>> other parts of the business (like fixing KX3 firmware issues or responding
>> to lower-priority support emails).
>>
>> I'd be happy to see updates whenever they're available, but to this list
>> and clearly labeled as such -- it seems like a lot of the time the details
>> come out in the middle of other threads that folks might miss. Somewhere on
>> the website would also be nice.
>>
>> On Wed, Mar 31, 2021, 14:33 Hal Massey <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote:
>>
>>> What do you have in mind? I liked the event video.
>>>
>>> The most customer oriented thing they could do is fedex a letter
>>> overnight with your radio status every day. But that gets expensive. You
>>> might feel great about it. You say that is hyperbolic? True. But even a
>>> weekly email with status is not cheap.
>>>
>>> Can you articulate what you do want in terms of communications?
>>>
>>> Regards
>>> Hal
>>>
>>> On Mar 31, 2021, at 12:24 PM, Julia Tuttle <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote:
>>>
>>> "The point of all of this is why is Elecraft not on this list telling us
>>> these things like they used to?"
>>>
>>> Yes, that, right there.
>>>
>>> However much they are or aren't going to say, why do we have to watch
>>> event
>>> videos to hear it?
>>>
>>> On Wed, Mar 31, 2021, 14:16 W0MU Mike Fatchett <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote:
>>>
>>> The point of all of this is why is Elecraft not on this list telling us
>>> these things like they used to?
>>>
>>> I hear lots of excuses. Sure there are supply line problems for
>>> everyone. HRO still has lots of product. Elecraft has a big competitor
>>> in FLEX are they having similar issues? I hear that some big box radios
>>> have some wait times but not in the years category.
>>>
>>> K4 investor? You have not invested in the company you are a customer
>>> unless I missed the profit sharing version of the K4.
>>>
>>> Most people have given them lots of slack. Why is communicating with
>>> people that have fronted you lots of money to make this radio possible
>>> so difficult. I don't get it.
>>>
>>> I don't have a K4 on order either but if I did I might be concerned.
>>>
>>> W0MU
>>>
>>> On 3/31/2021 10:13 AM, David Herring wrote:
>>>
>>> Further to this excellent post, Eric did say that, at that point in
>>>
>>> time, his expectation was that the group A backlog would be cleared by end
>>> of May. I didn’t go back through the video to find it, but I was watching
>>> one of his presentations live and did hear that.
>>>
>>>
>>> Another thing that Wayne mentioned in one of the meeting rooms was that
>>>
>>> at one point Elecraft had to go back and re-design a portion of the K4
>>> because tariffs levied on certain parts from certain countries would have
>>> rendered the project unaffordable.
>>>
>>>
>>> What’s more, and I don’t recall which of them said it, but Elecraft
>>>
>>> apparently had to deal with retirements of certain important people in the
>>> process.
>>>
>>>
>>> Ordinarily I’d never wait 2+ years for delivery of a product I’d
>>>
>>> ordered, perhaps many of us wouldn’t, but…
>>>
>>>
>>> Tariffs, Retirements, The Pandemic, Employees Down With COVID, Wild
>>>
>>> Fires (and employee loss of property), Vendor Delays…
>>>
>>>
>>> None of that was under Elecraft’s control. Not much of that could have
>>>
>>> been foreseen. “Stuff” happens.
>>>
>>>
>>> That is why, I imagine, most of us K4 investors are just patiently
>>>
>>> waiting. Content to give them the space they need to press on with
>>> addressing the issues as they come and moving forward.
>>>
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> David - N5DCH
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mar 31, 2021, at 9:23 AM, Kimo Chun <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Presentation from the Expo.
>>> Elecraft K4 High Performance Direct-Sampling SDR Transceiver, Eric
>>>
>>> Swartz
>>>
>>> WA6HHQ <https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/player.html?link=NTI4MjQzNTQ1 <https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/player.html?link=NTI4MjQzNTQ1>>
>>>
>>> Perhaps more recent announcements by Elecraft have superseded this.
>>> I realize others have already mentioned some of this. But I thought I'd
>>>
>>> go
>>>
>>> back (for the 3rd time) to try to itemize some of Eric's statements.
>>>
>>> Note:
>>>
>>> I don't take dictation and didn't spend a lot of time replaying it over
>>>
>>> and
>>>
>>> over to get everything verbatim. Nor replaying the whole thing.
>>> These are my interpretations and words. Please pardon any omissions or
>>> errors. Go listen for yourself. The delivery time frames are based on
>>>
>>> the
>>>
>>> Expo date: March 13, 2021.
>>>
>>> Check minutes 17:00 to about 20:00 and around 1:22:00 on. There are
>>>
>>> other
>>>
>>> segments.
>>> -He discusses the supply problems they had due to COVID and how they
>>>
>>> have
>>>
>>> now amassed an inventory of the long lead time items in the last 3 to 4
>>> weeks. A local chassis supplier was one of the most recent hang ups.
>>>
>>> Plus
>>>
>>> parts stuck in shipments the COVID-restricted Longshoremen haven't
>>>
>>> handled
>>>
>>> yet. They are now smoothing things out and production will be ramping
>>>
>>> up.
>>>
>>>
>>> Kit versions are at least 4 to 5 months out.
>>> -They are still learning and modifying production techniques which will
>>> make it easier to build. Then how-to documentation must be updated.
>>> -The first day orders 16th (2019?) at Dayton, may be fulfilled soon.
>>> -The second day orders 17th will be 3 to 4 weeks or longer after Group
>>>
>>> A is
>>>
>>> done.
>>> -Group B is even larger than Group A.
>>> -Orders kept coming in all summer after Dayton and have dropped to a
>>> consistent medium rate. Some spikes like when it was announced they
>>>
>>> started
>>>
>>> shipping.
>>> -When asked, "If I were to order a K4 right now, how long would I have
>>>
>>> to
>>>
>>> wait?", he answered, "Over 3 to 4 months".
>>> - I asked the very last question - When will the K4HD be finalized? He
>>> said, "Conservatively... by the end of the year". So production comes
>>> sometime thereafter. Plug in upgrades to the K4D, presumably, first for
>>> those who ordered K4HD but took the K4D first.
>>> - Testimonials from K4 owners would be found on the Elecraft-K4 GroupsIO
>>> list.
>>>
>>> Side bar: somewhere else in the presentation he said Group A
>>> will, hopefully, be completed in the next month or so (did I get this
>>> right? I didn't find that section). Group B (even larger) comes after
>>>
>>> that.
>>>
>>> I haven't re-checked the definition of Group A and B sorry.
>>>
>>> I hope this helps some of you with delivery anxiety.
>>> 73,
>>> Kimo KH7U
>>> (Happy with my almost new K3S s/n 11727, so the K4 is but a dream down
>>>
>>> the
>>>
>>> road. I tend to be the opposite of bleeding edge).
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft>
>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>
>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>>
>>>
>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net <http://www.qsl.net/>
>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
>>> Message delivered to [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>
>>>
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft>
>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>
>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>>
>>>
>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net <http://www.qsl.net/>
>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
>>> Message delivered to [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>
>>>
>>>
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft>
>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>
>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>>
>>>
>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net <http://www.qsl.net/>
>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
>>> Message delivered to [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>
>>>
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft>
>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>
>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>>
>>>
>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net <http://www.qsl.net/>
>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>
>>> Message delivered to [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

Doug Person-4

Re: whining

Let's also remember that Elecraft is an incredibly small company
compared to K, Y and I. And they're putting out a leading edge world
class product that is as good or better than anything else on the
market. It's quite a feat in today's business world. I've been waiting
several years now. I get by with what I have (K2/100) and I continue to
have something to look forward to. I'm just glad Big "E" has survived
through everything. It's been a really tough year for many smaller
businesses. It is an amazing success story that Elecraft has survived
and prospered for over 21 years despite the gigantic size difference
compared to its competition. (I guess I just sold my K3/P3 prematurely.)

73, Doug -- K0DXV

On 3/31/2021 3:23 PM, David Herring wrote:

> Investor. ;-)
>
> I’ll grant you we’re not investors in the traditional sense. But we’ve invested in the company nonetheless. Would you prefer venture capitalist instead? We provided funds that Elecraft was able to use to stay afloat and continue engineering and manufacturing efforts. Sure, we’re not going to make back millions on our “investment” and we have no stake in the company, but we will get one heck of a radio. That’s really all I cared about, to be honest.
>
> Someone in the thread mentioned they are hearing lots of excuses. I have not. If all I was getting was excuses I would have cut ties and got a refund a long time ago. What I’ve heard are valid reasons. Actual real verifiable things that have happened that are out of anyone’s control. Perhaps it’s just a matter of personal perspective.
>
> I think that most agree a periodic official update with a little more regularity would be nice, but perhaps not at the cost of getting rigs out the door.
>
> 73,
> David - N5DCH
>
>
>
>> On Mar 31, 2021, at 1:29 PM, Julia Tuttle <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> Yeah, periodic would be fine -- I think the big thing is setting
>> expectations for when and where, so folks can check there instead of
>> wondering or asking.
>>
>> And I'm totally fine with the event video updates as long as the content is
>> also available in a text form somewhere obvious. (Heck, I'd volunteer to
>> transcribe them if it that'd be helpful.)
>>
>> Honestly, I think sharing a little more of what's gone wrong and right
>> might be helpful -- I know I'm more sympathetic about this sort of thing
>> when I have an idea what's going on -- but I don't have a clear idea of the
>> downsides.
>>
>> The aircraft option seems problematically local -- perhaps we could launch
>> a small satellite instead. :D
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Julie
>>
>> On Wed, Mar 31, 2021, 15:20 Hal Massey <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote:
>>
>>> Julia, that makes sense. Perhaps we could add ‘periodic update instead of
>>> whenever they can?”
>>> PS— I like the event video updates because those clear the noise threshold
>>> of the multitude of emails I get but that is just a personal preference. A
>>> loud sky writing aircraft overhead for 7-8 hours would work even better for
>>> me but that’s probably asking too much.
>>>
>>> Regards
>>> -Hal
>>>
>>> On Mar 31, 2021, at 12:37 PM, Julia Tuttle <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>
>>> I'm not waiting on a K4 myself, but the K4 launch has put a strain on
>>> other parts of the business (like fixing KX3 firmware issues or responding
>>> to lower-priority support emails).
>>>
>>> I'd be happy to see updates whenever they're available, but to this list
>>> and clearly labeled as such -- it seems like a lot of the time the details
>>> come out in the middle of other threads that folks might miss. Somewhere on
>>> the website would also be nice.
>>>
>>> On Wed, Mar 31, 2021, 14:33 Hal Massey <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> What do you have in mind? I liked the event video.
>>>>
>>>> The most customer oriented thing they could do is fedex a letter
>>>> overnight with your radio status every day. But that gets expensive. You
>>>> might feel great about it. You say that is hyperbolic? True. But even a
>>>> weekly email with status is not cheap.
>>>>
>>>> Can you articulate what you do want in terms of communications?
>>>>
>>>> Regards
>>>> Hal
>>>>
>>>> On Mar 31, 2021, at 12:24 PM, Julia Tuttle <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> "The point of all of this is why is Elecraft not on this list telling us
>>>> these things like they used to?"
>>>>
>>>> Yes, that, right there.
>>>>
>>>> However much they are or aren't going to say, why do we have to watch
>>>> event
>>>> videos to hear it?
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Mar 31, 2021, 14:16 W0MU Mike Fatchett <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> The point of all of this is why is Elecraft not on this list telling us
>>>> these things like they used to?
>>>>
>>>> I hear lots of excuses. Sure there are supply line problems for
>>>> everyone. HRO still has lots of product. Elecraft has a big competitor
>>>> in FLEX are they having similar issues? I hear that some big box radios
>>>> have some wait times but not in the years category.
>>>>
>>>> K4 investor? You have not invested in the company you are a customer
>>>> unless I missed the profit sharing version of the K4.
>>>>
>>>> Most people have given them lots of slack. Why is communicating with
>>>> people that have fronted you lots of money to make this radio possible
>>>> so difficult. I don't get it.
>>>>
>>>> I don't have a K4 on order either but if I did I might be concerned.
>>>>
>>>> W0MU
>>>>
>>>> On 3/31/2021 10:13 AM, David Herring wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Further to this excellent post, Eric did say that, at that point in
>>>>
>>>> time, his expectation was that the group A backlog would be cleared by end
>>>> of May. I didn’t go back through the video to find it, but I was watching
>>>> one of his presentations live and did hear that.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Another thing that Wayne mentioned in one of the meeting rooms was that
>>>>
>>>> at one point Elecraft had to go back and re-design a portion of the K4
>>>> because tariffs levied on certain parts from certain countries would have
>>>> rendered the project unaffordable.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> What’s more, and I don’t recall which of them said it, but Elecraft
>>>>
>>>> apparently had to deal with retirements of certain important people in the
>>>> process.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Ordinarily I’d never wait 2+ years for delivery of a product I’d
>>>>
>>>> ordered, perhaps many of us wouldn’t, but…
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Tariffs, Retirements, The Pandemic, Employees Down With COVID, Wild
>>>>
>>>> Fires (and employee loss of property), Vendor Delays…
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> None of that was under Elecraft’s control. Not much of that could have
>>>>
>>>> been foreseen. “Stuff” happens.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> That is why, I imagine, most of us K4 investors are just patiently
>>>>
>>>> waiting. Content to give them the space they need to press on with
>>>> addressing the issues as they come and moving forward.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> 73,
>>>> David - N5DCH
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Mar 31, 2021, at 9:23 AM, Kimo Chun <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Presentation from the Expo.
>>>> Elecraft K4 High Performance Direct-Sampling SDR Transceiver, Eric
>>>>
>>>> Swartz
>>>>
>>>> WA6HHQ <https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/player.html?link=NTI4MjQzNTQ1 <https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/player.html?link=NTI4MjQzNTQ1>>
>>>>
>>>> Perhaps more recent announcements by Elecraft have superseded this.
>>>> I realize others have already mentioned some of this. But I thought I'd
>>>>
>>>> go
>>>>
>>>> back (for the 3rd time) to try to itemize some of Eric's statements.
>>>>
>>>> Note:
>>>>
>>>> I don't take dictation and didn't spend a lot of time replaying it over
>>>>
>>>> and
>>>>
>>>> over to get everything verbatim. Nor replaying the whole thing.
>>>> These are my interpretations and words. Please pardon any omissions or
>>>> errors. Go listen for yourself. The delivery time frames are based on
>>>>
>>>> the
>>>>
>>>> Expo date: March 13, 2021.
>>>>
>>>> Check minutes 17:00 to about 20:00 and around 1:22:00 on. There are
>>>>
>>>> other
>>>>
>>>> segments.
>>>> -He discusses the supply problems they had due to COVID and how they
>>>>
>>>> have
>>>>
>>>> now amassed an inventory of the long lead time items in the last 3 to 4
>>>> weeks. A local chassis supplier was one of the most recent hang ups.
>>>>
>>>> Plus
>>>>
>>>> parts stuck in shipments the COVID-restricted Longshoremen haven't
>>>>
>>>> handled
>>>>
>>>> yet. They are now smoothing things out and production will be ramping
>>>>
>>>> up.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Kit versions are at least 4 to 5 months out.
>>>> -They are still learning and modifying production techniques which will
>>>> make it easier to build. Then how-to documentation must be updated.
>>>> -The first day orders 16th (2019?) at Dayton, may be fulfilled soon.
>>>> -The second day orders 17th will be 3 to 4 weeks or longer after Group
>>>>
>>>> A is
>>>>
>>>> done.
>>>> -Group B is even larger than Group A.
>>>> -Orders kept coming in all summer after Dayton and have dropped to a
>>>> consistent medium rate. Some spikes like when it was announced they
>>>>
>>>> started
>>>>
>>>> shipping.
>>>> -When asked, "If I were to order a K4 right now, how long would I have
>>>>
>>>> to
>>>>
>>>> wait?", he answered, "Over 3 to 4 months".
>>>> - I asked the very last question - When will the K4HD be finalized? He
>>>> said, "Conservatively... by the end of the year". So production comes
>>>> sometime thereafter. Plug in upgrades to the K4D, presumably, first for
>>>> those who ordered K4HD but took the K4D first.
>>>> - Testimonials from K4 owners would be found on the Elecraft-K4 GroupsIO
>>>> list.
>>>>
>>>> Side bar: somewhere else in the presentation he said Group A
>>>> will, hopefully, be completed in the next month or so (did I get this
>>>> right? I didn't find that section). Group B (even larger) comes after
>>>>
>>>> that.
>>>>
>>>> I haven't re-checked the definition of Group A and B sorry.
>>>>
>>>> I hope this helps some of you with delivery anxiety.
>>>> 73,
>>>> Kimo KH7U
>>>> (Happy with my almost new K3S s/n 11727, so the K4 is but a dream down
>>>>
>>>> the
>>>>
>>>> road. I tend to be the opposite of bleeding edge).
>>>> ______________________________________________________________
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>>>>
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>>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>>
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>> ______________________________________________________________
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>>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>>
>>>>
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>>>> ______________________________________________________________
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>>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>>
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
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>>
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> ______________________________________________________________
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>
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Michael Walker

Re: Product Availability Was: Re: QSO Today Expo - Estimated K4 related shipping schedule

In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list

Barry

Flex is actually shipping radios today. The world wide sales have been so strong that they have not been able to keep up to the demand but those timelines are getting much shorter every week. The website has the current delivery delays for each product.

Much of the electronics industry has been impacted by two significant fires in Japan related to two electronics houses. The challenges come from the fact that, while there are optional parts you can use it requires retooling to use those parts as they’re not the same physical sizes or functionality.

However, companies like Flex stock pile parts when possible. Pre-Covid delivery times for parts were measured in 2 to 4 weeks. Now they’re measured in months and sometimes up to a year. You can’t ship a radio, or anything unless it is 100% complete. Sometimes it’s only a small part that holds up an entire finished product. Imagine ordering your new TV only to find out that the F connecter on the back of the television wasn’t available or there was no remote to turn it on and off.

Regardless of who your vendor of choice is, hams need to support them and purchase product. Keep that in mind to help keep the amateur economy strong. If you do not support them, it’s hard to pay employees and it’s hard for their employees to put their kids through school. It all comes around.

73

> On Mar 31, 2021, at 4:36 PM, Barry Baines via Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Mike:
>
>> On Mar 31, 2021, at 1:15 PM, W0MU Mike Fatchett <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> The point of all of this is why is Elecraft not on this list telling us these things like they used to?
>>
>> I hear lots of excuses. Sure there are supply line problems for everyone. HRO still has lots of product. Elecraft has a big competitor in FLEX are they having similar issues? I hear that some big box radios have some wait times but not in the years category.
>
> Flex has similar issues. The Tuner Genius has been under development since 2017. They announced at the QSO Today Expo that those at the head of the line (e.g. those that ordered the Power Genius XL in early 2017 when the tuner was packaged with the amplifier0 should get theirs in 2nd Quarter 2021, 4+ years after product announcement. My Power Genius was delivered in May 2018 and I still can’t use it with a EFHW antenna without the tuner. Maestro is currently on back order. Their website shows their transceivers on back order with no expected availability times listed. Flex has gone through its own ’transition’ during Covid where final assembly was brought ‘in house’ on their transceivers as their outside vendor shut down. The Power Genius and Antenna Genius are built by 4O3A in Montenegro for Flex where they have their own issues and ability to ship product to the US is constrained.
>
> HRO may have lots of product but necessarily the product that I want. I ordered from HRO last November the West Mountain Radio ‘PWRspeaker’ that is not expected until at least May. It is produced in China. So between parts, assembly, and transport across the Pacific there are plenty of reasons for delayed deliveries. The Suez Canal debacle is but one part of the “supply chain’ impacts that also includes container shortages, port congestion, intermodal doublestack railcar availability, intermodal terminal congestion in the interior, and drayage impacts.
>
> Another example: I ordered three 4K 15” portable displays through Kickstarter in July 2020 with expected delivery in October 2020 from China (Two will be used with two GeoChron2 Digitial 4K devices that I had purchased through HRO in January 2020) . Kickstarter charged my credit card in September and e-maiiled on 22 OCT 20 "Production is in full swing and we expect to begin shipping by the end of October.” On 6 NOV 20 I received an e-mail from Kickstarter with subject line “Production Delays” ("It seems like many large electronics companies locked up all the raw materials before the funds were released from Kickstarter”) deliveries would not take place until February 2021. No update received since then. I have no idea at this point where they stand with expected deliveries. Next week I will start making inquiries again.
>
> What we all took for granted regarding ‘immediate gratification’ on what we ordered being immediately available “before Covid” is no longer the case. It will be a ‘long time’ before we see a return to ’normal’ as economic activity dramatically picks up as Covid-19 restrictions are eased (thanks to vaccinations) and pent up demand for everything exceeds available supply. Prices will consequently rise. Add in the proposed $2-3 Trillion in government spending on “infrastructure” (further competing for scarce products/materials that the private sector also needs) and the proposed $2-$3 trillion increase in taxes (that will impact families and small business ability to ‘bounce back’ from the downturn) at the same time, and the nation will have so many “moving parts” that impact economic activity resulting in further uncertainty. My concern is that the unintended consequences will have far reaching impacts on the economy from rising prices (inflation) to uncertain availability putting even more strains on businesses such as Elecraft and Flex, not to mention the rest of us.
>
>
> FWIW,
>
> Barry Baines, WD4ASW/5
> Keller, TX
>
>
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