RE: Should You Built It? Not necessarily

[EricJ-2]

 
 I'm sorry, but the idea of "bonding" with inanimate objects is beyond my
understanding. I built my K1. It is a fine little radio. Better than
anything I could buy manufactured in its class. That's why I bought it. I
would part with it in a heartbeat if something that better suited my needs
became available, but there isn't anything right now. That seems to be the
thinking of everyone on ebay.com, the QRP-L list and even this list who have
put their K1 or K2 up for sale. They aren't selling it because they failed
to bond with it. They are selling it because it no longer suits their needs
(technical, financial, tastes, whatever).

And used K1/K2's command a high price...higher than similar rigs. That's
because they work so well. The second owner isn't interested in bonding with
a radio. They are interested in using it. And it better perform. These
radios DO.

I built my K1 as a test of my interest in building a K2. The last kit I
built was a DX-35 that I got for my 15th birthday. No disrespect to those
who enjoy building kits, but, to me, it was kind of boring. I enjoy
homebrewing, and I have even started breadboarding circuits in the K1 to
learn more about it. I didn't learn much at all from building it. I already
knew how to take inventory, solder and use a screwdriver. And I haven't
needed to get involved with the construction of my car, my motorcycle, my
house or my other ham gear to enjoy them to the fullest.

My point isn't to demean those who ENJOY building kits. I can understand
where it would be enjoyable for many.

My point is to address those who are intimidated by building a kit of the
complexity of the K1 or K2. Some don't have the skills and are not
interested in developing them. Some don't have the time what with bonding
with family and friends.

But it would be a shame for them to have to pass on this extraordinary line
of radios. I decided kit building was not for me, but the K2 is. I bought
one on ebay, had the professional Elecraft builders upgrade it and make it
right and I am VERY pleased with the result. I didn't assemble it myself,
but that doesn't diminish my enjoyment of this incredible radio one bit. And
if I hadn't bought one on ebay, I would have bought a new one and had one of
the pro's put it together while I continued to enjoy my K1.

If you want to build one, fine. But if you don't, get someone else to do it.
Either way, you end up with one of the best radios in its class to enjoy ham
radio. And that's the point.

Eric
KE6US

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of [hidden email]
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2005 6:13 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] Should You Built It?

Steve, Ron:

To echo comments by Kevin and others, you really need to be involved in the
construction of your rig.

In addition to the other benefits that have been pointed out, I can assure
you that you will experience an intangible "bonding" to the radio that will
last forever.  It's kind of like raising a puppy.  Other radios will come
and go, but you'll find yourself unable to part with one you built.  No
amount of money (well, it would take a lot!) can substitute for this
feeling, which is the REAL pride of ownership.

73, Jim K5HO
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[Daniel Reynolds-2]

There are (at least) three types of people on this list:

- those who take pride in what they build
- those who take pride in what they operate
- those who take pride in both

Count me in the third category. I thoroughly enjoyed the building process, and
have no fear of having to dig into my K2 if I need to fix it. In fact, I had to
fix it about 3-4 weeks after I finished it succesfully because my PLL crystal
was flaking out. It is my only HF transceiver, and will continue to remain so
until Elecraft releases something even better.

Would I ever part with my K2? No - because I built it (I happen to be attached
to #3421). Unless I was in dire financial need, I doubt I'd sell it, because it
is about the cheapest form of active 'entertainment' I own. When I bought the
K2, it was with the intention of it being my only radio for a very long time -
and it can go just about anywhere I need to go - home, car-camping, picnic
table portable - and it is an ideal field day radio (my favorite activity).

My 2 cents,
Daniel AA0NI

--- EricJ <[hidden email]> wrote:
>  
>  I'm sorry, but the idea of "bonding" with inanimate objects is beyond my
> understanding.
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[Vic K2VCO]

EricJ wrote:

>  I'm sorry, but the idea of "bonding" with inanimate objects is beyond my
> understanding.

I disagree.  My K2 is no. 709, and has been around for a few years.  Since I
built it, I have taken it apart what seems to me a thousand times (probably it
wasn't really quite so many).  I've fixed construction errors and made every
modification (and unmade some of them) that could even slightly improve CW
performance.  I've tried out other people's and my own ideas.  In doing so I
have taken Wayne and Eric's radio and in a small way made it MY radio.

As far as learning, I didn't learn much by simply following the instructions to
build it.  However, the process of tweaking it, making and evaluating
modifications, etc., has been very educational.

Although I recognize its limitations (there are some) and wouldn't mind owning
an Orion or an FT1KMP (with the required mods, of course), I don't think I will
ever let the K2 go.  If this isn't bonding in some sense, I don't know what is.

> If you want to build one, fine. But if you don't, get someone else to do it.
> Either way, you end up with one of the best radios in its class to enjoy ham
> radio. And that's the point.

And with that I completely agree.

--
73,
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco

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[Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ]

Posted for Julian (Our SPAM engine caught him..)
Eric
---

Subject:RE: [Elecraft] Should You Built It? Not necessarily
From:"Julian, G4ILO" <[hidden email]>
Date:Thu, 31 Mar 2005 12:05:10 +0100
To:Elecraft List <[hidden email]>

Perhaps "bonding" is the wrong word. But when you build a radio (or anything
else on which you lavish time and care, like a model or a piece of furniture)
it's not just something you bought: it represents a little bit of your life as
well. If you sell it, you may get back the money you paid, but you never get
anything for what you put into it.

I had an FT-817. I wasn't using it much, so I sold it 3 years ago. I didn't feel
sentimental about it at all, it was just an investment that wasn't giving a
useful return on what I paid for it. (When Elecraft announced the T1, I bought
another one, and got a new ND for the price I sold the old one. Sell hi gh, buy
low, why can't I manage to do that with the sto ck market ? <g> )

I wouldn't sell the K2, even if I wasn't using it, because it's more to me than
just the money I paid for the kit. It's the time and effort I put into it, it's
the first real radio I ever built, it's the pleasure I felt with the first
contacts I made with it and I could never get any of that that back by just
buying another, even though it would have all the mods and updates that are too
difficult for me to add to this one.

73,
--
Julian, G4ILO (RSGB, ARRL)
G4ILO's Shack: http://www.tech-pro.net/g4ilo

"EricJ" <[hidden email]> wrote:

I'm sorry, but the idea of "bonding" with inanimate objects is beyond my
understanding.
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