Elecraft

Serial Number Check for Elecraft gear

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Jim Brown-10

Re: Serial Number Check for Elecraft gear

On Mon,5/18/2015 10:06 AM, EricJ wrote:
> Can we assume that thieves aren't aware of Goo Gone?

The serial number is also embedded in memory, and can be accessed from
the Menu.

73, Jim K9YC
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WA2SI

Re: Serial Number Check for Elecraft gear

In reply to this post by Warren Merkel

> If someone steals your radio, the thief is only partially to blame.

Wow, as a law enforcement officer, it's really disheartening to see so many blame the victim. It would be nifty if firmware updates checked for a stolen s/n. Take care es...

Vy 73 de Bert
WA2SI

Sent from my android device.
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Richard Fjeld-2

Re: Serial Number Check for Elecraft gear

In reply to this post by EricJ-2

If someone steals your radio, the thief is only partially to blame.

Not a criticism, but a comment: I think I understand what you are driving at, but this strikes a nerve. The thief is totally to blame! We need to get rid of the 'partially-to-blame' attitudes in our society. While I grew up, there were no shades of gray when it came to honesty. We have let ourselves be brainwashed. (The thieves could also be gleaning info from the reflector.)

Dick, n0ce

> Date: Mon, 18 May 2015 10:06:21 -0700
> From: [hidden email]
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Serial Number Check for Elecraft gear
>
> I seem to be missing something about using the Elecraft serial number
> for identification.
>
> As far as I know all the Elecraft transceivers have a little serial
> number sticker that comes in an envelop for the builder to peel and stick.
>
> Can we assume that thieves aren't aware of Goo Gone?
>
> If someone steals your radio, the thief is only partially to blame.
>
> Eric
> KE6US
>
>
>

N8NCR

Re: Serial Number Check for Elecraft gear

In reply to this post by Jim Brown-10

A Kensington Security Slot would be a nice feature, it works well for
laptops.

On Mon, May 18, 2015 at 1:11 PM, Jim Brown <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> On Mon,5/18/2015 10:06 AM, EricJ wrote:
>
>> Can we assume that thieves aren't aware of Goo Gone?
>>
>
> The serial number is also embedded in memory, and can be accessed from the
> Menu.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
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Elecraft mailing list

Re: Serial Number Check for Elecraft gear

In reply to this post by Jim Brown-10

As Jim indicated, Elecraft serial numbers are embedded in the memory.It would be prudent when buying a used Elecraft Radio to " INSIST" on SEEING a picture of the serial # displayed on the radio.Simply (KISS) common sense.
((((73)))) Milverton / W9MMS

From: Jim Brown <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Monday, May 18, 2015 12:11 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Serial Number Check for Elecraft gear

On Mon,5/18/2015 10:06 AM, EricJ wrote:
> Can we assume that thieves aren't aware of Goo Gone?

The serial number is also embedded in memory, and can be accessed from
the Menu.

73, Jim K9YC

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Michael Walker

Re: Serial Number Check for Elecraft gear

I think a power on password is an awesome idea.

What a great way to protect it.

Mike va3mw
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Brian Murrey

Re: Serial Number Check for Elecraft gear

In reply to this post by WA2SI

Blame the victim is a common mentality these days. I'd like to see the
KX3 just go ahead an electrocute the SOB that stole it. After about 4
days, someone would find it...by smell if no other reason. Eric acts
like the guy left it laying in the front seat with a "steal me" sign on
it. Jeeesh.

Anyway...I bet he never gets it back. It'd be nice to know the SN
though so we could maybe keep an eye out for it.

73 de KB9BVN

On 5/18/2015 1:33 PM, Bert Craig wrote:

>> If someone steals your radio, the thief is only partially to blame.
> Wow, as a law enforcement officer, it's really disheartening to see so many blame the victim. It would be nifty if firmware updates checked for a stolen s/n. Take care es...
>
> Vy 73 de Bert
> WA2SI
>
>
> Sent from my android device.
> ______________________________________________________________
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>

Brian Murrey

Re: Serial Number Check for Elecraft gear

In reply to this post by EricJ-2

Eric...that's the most ridiculous thing I've read today. How is it the
KX3 owners fault at all? Please, explain.

On 5/18/2015 1:06 PM, EricJ wrote:
> If someone steals your radio, the thief is only partially to blame.
>
> Eric
> KE6US

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Brian Murrey

Re: Serial Number Check for Elecraft gear

In reply to this post by Michael Walker

Power on password as a feature would be cool...that way some hams can
use it if they want, and come hams can disable it if they want. My
laptop has a power on password, Windows has a login and password, then
my WiFi has a login and password...as does my VPN software....my company
requires me to leave all of them active except the power on password.
It's an option.

On 5/18/2015 2:04 PM, Michael Walker wrote:

> I think a power on password is an awesome idea.
>
> What a great way to protect it.
>
> Mike va3mw
> ______________________________________________________________
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Elecraft mailing list

Re: Serial Number Check for Elecraft gear

In reply to this post by Richard Fjeld-2

Dick, there are no excuse for being dishonest, Period!
The great majority of Operators on this and other forums are honest law abiding citizens.However, make no mistake! There are Operators out there who know just as much about these radios as you and I. And! Are as crooked as a $3.00 bill.
Wanna place a small wager of a Snicker Bar, that the culprit who stole that radio at Dayton over the Weekend is a Ham Operator.
((((73)))) Milverton / W9MMS

From: Richard Fjeld <[hidden email]>
To: EricJ <[hidden email]>; Elecraft <[hidden email]>
Sent: Monday, May 18, 2015 12:44 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Serial Number Check for Elecraft gear

If someone steals your radio, the thief is only partially to blame.

Not a criticism, but a comment: I think I understand what you are driving at, but this strikes a nerve. The thief is totally to blame! We need to get rid of the 'partially-to-blame' attitudes in our society. While I grew up, there were no shades of gray when it came to honesty. We have let ourselves be brainwashed. (The thieves could also be gleaning info from the reflector.)

Dick, n0ce

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Phil Wheeler-2

Re: Serial Number Check for Elecraft gear

In reply to this post by Michael Walker

Protect it from what? Being used after it was stolen?

Phil W7OX

On 5/18/15 11:04 AM, Michael Walker wrote:
> I think a power on password is an awesome idea.
>
> What a great way to protect it.
>
> Mike va3mw

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alsopb

Re: Serial Number Check for Elecraft gear

In reply to this post by Brian Murrey

What next? Remotely controlled explosives within the rig? A sign on
the outside denoting might be helpful too.

Remember the Canal Street surplus WWII era gear where one had to be
aware that some could contain live explosives?

73 de Brian/K3KO

On 5/18/2015 18:17 PM, Brian wrote:

> Power on password as a feature would be cool...that way some hams can
> use it if they want, and come hams can disable it if they want. My
> laptop has a power on password, Windows has a login and password, then
> my WiFi has a login and password...as does my VPN software....my
> company requires me to leave all of them active except the power on
> password. It's an option.
>
>
>
> On 5/18/2015 2:04 PM, Michael Walker wrote:
>> I think a power on password is an awesome idea.
>>
>> What a great way to protect it.
>>
>> Mike va3mw
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
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>>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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>
> -----
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>

Gary Gregory-2

Re: Serial Number Check for Elecraft gear

In reply to this post by Phil Wheeler-2

Insurance....just be sure you tell your insurance the model abd serial
number. Lock the vehicle and if stolen you have done about as much as law
enforcement and insurance companies expect.

The excess should be all you pay for a new replacement so move on.

The KX3 mounting is hard to secure against theft. It is a beacon to a thief
and sadly there are those who would risk incarceration to get one.

Or move to VK....we are decendants of convicts....we'll look after
you.....just kidding

:-)

Gary
Vk1ZZ
K3, KPA500-FT, KAT500-FT
On 19/05/2015 4:32 AM, "Phil Wheeler" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Protect it from what? Being used after it was stolen?
>
> Phil W7OX
>
> On 5/18/15 11:04 AM, Michael Walker wrote:
>
>> I think a power on password is an awesome idea.
>>
>> What a great way to protect it.
>>
>> Mike va3mw
>>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
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>

M0XDF

Re: Serial Number Check for Elecraft gear

In reply to this post by N8NCR

But to make it worthwhile, you’d have to increase the mass of the frame (there isn’t one at present) and stop the screws on the panel being undone.
73 de David, M0XDF (K3 #174, P3 #108)
--
Man is the best computer we can put aboard a spacecraft and the only one
that can be mass produced with unskilled labour.
-Wernher von Braun, rocket engineer (1912-1977)

> On 18 May 2015, at 18:52, N8NCR <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> A Kensington Security Slot would be a nice feature, it works well for
> laptops.
>
> On Mon, May 18, 2015 at 1:11 PM, Jim Brown <[hidden email]>
> wrote:
>
>> On Mon,5/18/2015 10:06 AM, EricJ wrote:
>>
>>> Can we assume that thieves aren't aware of Goo Gone?
>>>
>>
>> The serial number is also embedded in memory, and can be accessed from the
>> Menu.
>>
>> 73, Jim K9YC
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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]
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: Serial Number Check for Elecraft gear

In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list

All the hams I have dealt with in my repair of Elecraft radios have been
very honest and trustworthy.
So much so that after I finish a repair, I ship the radio whenever the
customer can tell me that a check is being sent. I have never been
"burned", and will continue to operate that way until someone tries to
"shortchange" me.
So far that has been true no matter whether the amount owed was a few
dollars or several hundred.
I think that is testimony to the integrity of hams who own Elecraft gear.
Too bad there is the occasional 'rotten apple' which spoils the entire
bushel.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 5/18/2015 2:19 PM, Milverton M. Swire via Elecraft wrote:
> Dick, there are no excuse for being dishonest, Period!
> The great majority of Operators on this and other forums are honest law abiding citizens.However, make no mistake! There are Operators out there who know just as much about these radios as you and I. And! Are as crooked as a $3.00 bill.
>

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Grant Youngman

Re: Serial Number Check for Elecraft gear

In reply to this post by Brian Murrey

>
> Blame the victim is a common mentality these days. I'd like to see the KX3 just go ahead an electrocute the SOB that stole it. After about 4 days, someone would find it...by smell if no other reason. Eric acts like the guy left it laying in the front seat with a "steal me" sign on it. Jeeesh.
>

I don’t think anyone is “blaming the victim”. I’ve been the victim of theft three times — an expensive camera from the lobby of the building I lived in, a car broken into in a motel parking lot, and a house broken into. None of these were gun in the face “hand it over” things. In every case, it was avoidable — it was something I did or didn’t do that facilitated the theft. That doesn’t mean it isn’t the thieves that are to blame. I just managed to give them a hand in the process.

A database of stolen serial numbers is a good idea, as long as documentation is appropriate to put a number in the database. A power on password is a hassle and, if as has been suggested it actually kills the radio after xxx failed tries, would likely be a bigger issue than stolen radios. Tying firmware updates to serial numbers greatly complicates the update process no matter how it’s done, and even that isn’t foolproof if there’s any kind of software agent that is user accessible between the radio and the firmware server, unless there was encryption IN the radio.

If we were dealing with hundreds of thousands of these things floating around with a high snatch rate and a high demand open market means of turning them into cash, I’d probably see it differently. As it is, a modicum of care, and insurance are the best bets.

Grant NQ5T
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ktalbott

Re: Serial Number Check for Elecraft gear

In reply to this post by Brian Murrey

Brian, Eric is not totally off base. I managed manufacturing and
engineering organizations all my life. The occasional incidents of theft
resulted from a normally good person being overcome by temptation when
someone didn't secure their purse, locker, toolbox, or other personal
property. This is not meant to excuse the perp! More than once I
terminated and prosecuted the culprit. And often I lost an excellent
employee, one whose services I would have retained had the purse, locker,
toolbox been secured. It behooves all of us to avoid placing people in
situations where their innate honesty is simply overwhelmed by lust for an
object!

I always mount my mobile radio so it is not visible from outside the locked
vehicle. Antenna is a bit more difficult, but I will remove it and place it
inside vehicle if in doubt. And I carry a black bath towel to cover any
article I can't hide. (Towel always comes in handy at Hamvention!)

I do not know the details of the loss, but do regret that the ham community
is stained by the mere possibility that the perpetrator was one of us.

Ken - ke4rg

When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser. Socrates

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Brian
Sent: Monday, May 18, 2015 2:15 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Serial Number Check for Elecraft gear

Eric...that's the most ridiculous thing I've read today. How is it the
KX3 owners fault at all? Please, explain.

On 5/18/2015 1:06 PM, EricJ wrote:
> If someone steals your radio, the thief is only partially to blame.
>
> Eric
> KE6US

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Bob-270

Re: Serial Number Check for Elecraft gear

In reply to this post by Chester Alderman

Another NO here.

My K3 sits on my desk but has been to two FD's. My KX3 has never left the
house. I do not want to deal with more passwords. I'm comfortable with that
within my own home for radios and other devices.

In the car I accept the risk on a few hundred dollar VHF/UHF FM radio that
is exposed. A $5K loaded K3 would not be left exposed though and gets locked in
the trunk even going to FD. No mobile operation in the past or planned.

If a Elecraft radio gets stolen, unless by a ham I have some hope that it may
turn up at an honest hams eventually. A normal thief most likely will not know
how to reprogram it so my turn on banner states, "Stolen from K2TK".

73,
Bob
K2TK ex KN2TKR (1956) & K2TKR

On 5/18/2015 7:37 AM, Chester Alderman wrote:

> Hi Dom,
>
> In my opinion, NO! We have a pass word for just about everything now days
> and adding one for ham radio gear is not needed! If one carries their radio
> around with them, perhaps they need to be more responsible in making sure it
> is not left in an attractive area where it can get stolen. You have some
> 700,000 hams that do not carry their radios with them, so why punish the
> majority in an attempt to protect the minority of folks who do carry their
> radio out with them?
>
> Good suggestion but maybe needs some more thought of the overall impact?
>
> 73,
> Tom - W4BQF
>
>

bs usb

Re: Serial Number Check for Elecraft gear

In reply to this post by Grant Youngman

Richard Fjeld-2

Re: Serial Number Check for Elecraft gear

In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list

There is little doubt in my mind. I had a friend, the original w0ir, since then SK, who had a card from King Hussein of Jordan with raised real gold lettering. It was beautiful. I read of another ham with one, who invited some of his ham friends over to his house to see the card. After they left, his card was gone. Money can't replace that card. It's all about evil.

Dick, n0ce

Date: Mon, 18 May 2015 18:19:55 +0000
From: [hidden email]
To: [hidden email]; [hidden email]; [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Serial Number Check for Elecraft gear

Dick, there are no excuse for being dishonest, Period!
The great majority of Operators on this and other forums are honest law abiding citizens.However, make no mistake! There are Operators out there who know just as much about these radios as you and I. And! Are as crooked as a $3.00 bill.
Wanna place a small wager of a Snicker Bar, that the culprit who stole that radio at Dayton over the Weekend is a Ham Operator.
((((73)))) Milverton / W9MMS

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123