To The K3 Design and Production Team

[Ed Lambert-3]

It is amazing to me that such a small group of individuals can design and
produce a product of this complexity and quality.

 

That a handful of people did this is just . amazing. Where is their
multimillion dollar research department, their HR department, their
executive support? How could they possibly have accomplished this without
the support of the Harvard Business School? A handful of people have risked
almost everything to participate in a project in which they believed.

 

Maybe I'm just grouchy sitting here on the backside of the clock in Shanghai
but the sniping at the design by some of us who did nothing to contribute to
the project is starting to get irritating. (Yeah I know, irritation can
produce a pearl.) I apologize in advance for being such a curmudgeon but I
would say to the outside experts:"Lead, follow, or get out of the way."

 

I salute Eric, Wayne, et al for even having the ambition to start such an
undertaking.

 

Thank you, Elecraft, you are an inspiration for more than just your radios.

 

Ed Lambert, PE

K2 1999,

KX1 1492

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[AJSOENKE]

Maybe you've heard the old saying "Too many Chefs spoil the Broth" or words  
to that effect.  Many years of developing highly sophisticated space  hardware
taught me and many in my field that nothing can compete with a compact  and
highly motivated development team. In fact the best ones depend on a manager  
who can effectively deal with cost so interference from "top" management is  
minimized. Anyone who has worked in this environment doesn't have to think long  
about the Elecraft Team and how they do what they do.
 
Kudos!!

Al WA6VNN
 



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[AC7AC]

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[N2EY]

In a message dated 7/27/07 7:49:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[hidden email] writes:

> It is amazing to me that such a small group of individuals can design and
> produce a product of this complexity and quality.

Amazing, but not surprising. After all, they are complex and high-quality
individuals!
>

> That a handful of people did this is just . amazing. Where is their
> multimillion dollar research department, their HR department, their
> executive support?

All right there, except for the multimillion dollar part.

 How could they possibly have accomplished this without
>
> the support of the Harvard Business School?

The question I would ask is how any radios manage to get built *with* the
support of that school......;-)

A handful of people have risked
>
> almost everything to participate in a project in which they believed.
>
>

I don't know the financials nor the actual risks. And it's not my company.
(I'd by Elecraft stock if I could, btw).

But when you look at the pre-K3 Elecraft products, the company's reputation
and repeatedly-proven track record, I'd call it more of a slam-dunk situation.
>
> Maybe I'm just grouchy sitting here on the backside of the clock in Shanghai
> but the sniping at the design by some of us who did nothing to contribute to
> the project is starting to get irritating. (Yeah I know, irritation can
> produce a pearl.) I apologize in advance for being such a curmudgeon but I
> would say to the outside experts:"Lead, follow, or get out of the way."

I sort of agree and sort of disagree.

I don't know if anyone other than the Elecraft team could have given us the
K3 - or the K2, the K1, the KX1....you get the idea. Maybe there *are* other
folks out there who could have - but they didn't. Eric, Wayne and the rest of
the team *did*.

One of the key elements of the Elecraft story is that the team blends their
own genius, experience and resources with the feedback from the amateur radio
community - both Elecraft customers and others. None of their products is the
result of ivory-tower design! The process includes those who will buy, build
and use the rigs.

Part of that process is sorting through the gripes and snipes and figuring
out what can be included and what can't. Sure, a band-scope would be nice - but
at what cost, in size, dollars and performance?  All designs are compromises,
and deciding what to trade off is one of the most difficult parts of any
design, because no matter what decision you make, some folks won't like it.

The thing I keep seeing in the "complaints" is that they're about minor
things, not major ones. And often they turn into educational opportunities: no band
stacking registers? Not a problem, the K3 has something much better.

Another part of the process is that Elecraft products aren't really meant to
be direct competition to other ham rigs. By that I mean they are built to a
different paradigm, one that some will like and some won't. Remember when the K2
appeared, almost a decade ago? Who woulda thunk that a *kit* that cost almost
$600 and in its basic form was QRP CW only would ever sell? Particularly one
from an unknown new company with no advertising?

6000+ K2s later, it seems a slam-dunk....
>
> I salute Eric, Wayne, et al for even having the ambition to start such an
> undertaking.
>

Me too - but then again, did we not ask for it?
>
> Thank you, Elecraft, you are an inspiration for more than just your radios.
>

And they make it look so easy - even though it's not.

73 es TNX de Jim, N2EY






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[Jim Murray-2]

I give them a lot of credit for designing and putting
out quality kits.  I believe ham radio and Heathkit
sparked a lot of future engineers and techs and I'm
sure these kits will do the same.  
73,
Jim/k2hn


       
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