Elecraft

What is next from Elecraft?

Classic

List

Threaded

14 messages Options

Robert Jackson

What is next from Elecraft?

I have a suggestion for Elecraft. How about designing a receiver for
the SWL crowd? They could use the receiver in the KX3 and add an AM
synchronous detector.
Regards,
WB2BJW Bob Jackson Working
______________________________________________________________
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

KF5WBS

Re: What is next from Elecraft?

Great idea. Next would be the Elecraft "twins". What a station that would be!

Blue skies,

Tom
KF5WBS

On Aug 19, 2013, at 10:09 AM, Robert Jackson <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I have a suggestion for Elecraft. How about designing a receiver for the SWL crowd? They could use the receiver in the KX3 and add an AM synchronous detector.
> Regards,
> WB2BJW Bob Jackson Working
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

______________________________________________________________
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

Joe Subich, W4TV-4

Re: What is next from Elecraft?

There is already an SWL receiver available ... it is the K3-10
with the general coverage bandpass filter - just disable the low
power amplifier. It already includes an AM synchronous detector
and offers the choice of 13, 6 and 2.8 KHz first IF filters.

73,

... Joe, W4TV

> On Aug 19, 2013, at 10:09 AM, Robert Jackson <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> I have a suggestion for Elecraft. How about designing a receiver
>> forthe SWL crowd? They could use the receiver in the KX3 and add an
>> AM synchronous detector.

>> Regards,
>> WB2BJW Bob Jackson Working
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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

george fritkin

Re: What is next from Elecraft?

Perhaps the next new thing isn't a thing but a new way to get products to the market. Little add ons like 2meter modules will have a small incremental revenue but not generate the dollars for developing products.

Let's say Elecraft does 10 to 12 million a year in gross sales. I would assume a hefty pre-tax profit of 2.5 million on those sales. So now what are we going to do with 2.5 mill. By now the company should be debt free so no debt pay down is needed. OK we need to keep building cash reserves etc so let say we have 2mill for product development.

. Lets look at the New Flex offerings. Based on my past experiences the cost through first production units of the new Flex could be as high a 1mill. These costs would include tooling, prototypes, field testing, marketing etc. Ok let us do a 1mill product. So let's say that Elecraft has 1mill left over to put into new enhancements of old products. Now comes the hard choices. Do I spend the money adding tricks to old products hoping to keep the revenue growing or do I find other ways to market the products and just sell lots more of them.
Perhaps shrinking margins.

Basically one has to answer the question what do we want to be when we grow up. Hey, 25% pre tax nothing to sneeze about and Elecraft could stay that way for a good 5 years. But the electronics business is a shark infested industry and there are a couple of old saying I going to use here.........

If you stand still, you will fall behind.............If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got.

George, W6GF

PS All of this is my wild ### guessing I do not know Elecraft sales or profits!!!!!! And for you purests out there no I did not considered multi year projects tax loss carry foward, currency,cost, inflation, obsolete parts.
And by the way obsolete parts could cost the company dearly.
______________________________________________________________
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

bdenley

Re: What is next from Elecraft?

I may be in the minority but I would like another high end kit that will provide as much fun and satisfaction as the K2 gave me.

Brian KB1VBF

Sent from my iPad

On Aug 19, 2013, at 10:03 PM, george fritkin <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Perhaps the next new thing isn't a thing but a new way to get products to the market. Little add ons like 2meter modules will have a small incremental revenue but not generate the dollars for developing products.
>
> Let's say Elecraft does 10 to 12 million a year in gross sales. I would assume a hefty pre-tax profit of 2.5 million on those sales. So now what are we going to do with 2.5 mill. By now the company should be debt free so no debt pay down is needed. OK we need to keep building cash reserves etc so let say we have 2mill for product development.
>
> . Lets look at the New Flex offerings. Based on my past experiences the cost through first production units of the new Flex could be as high a 1mill. These costs would include tooling, prototypes, field testing, marketing etc. Ok let us do a 1mill product. So let's say that Elecraft has 1mill left over to put into new enhancements of old products. Now comes the hard choices. Do I spend the money adding tricks to old products hoping to keep the revenue growing or do I find other ways to market the products and just sell lots more of them.
> Perhaps shrinking margins.
>
> Basically one has to answer the question what do we want to be when we grow up. Hey, 25% pre tax nothing to sneeze about and Elecraft could stay that way for a good 5 years. But the electronics business is a shark infested industry and there are a couple of old saying I going to use here.........
>
> If you stand still, you will fall behind.............If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got.
>
> George, W6GF
>
> PS All of this is my wild ### guessing I do not know Elecraft sales or profits!!!!!! And for you purests out there no I did not considered multi year projects tax loss carry foward, currency,cost, inflation, obsolete parts.
> And by the way obsolete parts could cost the company dearly.
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

Hop

Re: What is next from Elecraft?

----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian Denley" <[hidden email]>
To: "george fritkin" <[hidden email]>
Cc: "El" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Monday, August 19, 2013 10:49 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] What is next from Elecraft?

>I may be in the minority but I would like another high end kit that will
>provide as much fun and satisfaction as the K2 gave me.
>
> Brian KB1VBF

Elecraft makes other kits besides transceivers: dummy loads, baluns, RF
signal sources, etc.

What I would really like Elecraft to offer is a VNA kit patterned after the
N2PK design. There would also be the opportunity to offer kit versions of
the usual accessories normally used with a VNA, as well as single versus
dual detectors. Please don't misunderstand me: I do plan to purchase the
boards and parts to build my own VNA if Elecraft doesn't beat me to it.
Check out [hidden email] for more information on this subject. Or
just Google "N2PK VNA" for lots of information and links.

A potential "deal breaker" is the amount of inventory necessary for an
intial production run of, say 100 to 1000 units. A market price near $500
for a basic VNA with the surface mount components re-flow soldered into
place would probably sell like hot cakes, but a more realistic price might
be closer to $1000. Clearly an in-depth market survey would be necessary
before embarking on such a project, with initial units available perhaps two
or three years from now if a go-ahead production decision were made.

Except for the requirement for extremly low phase noise in the Master
Oscillator, the N2PK VNA bears a close resemblence to the circuits used in
the KX3!

73 de AC8NS
Hop

______________________________________________________________
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

Hop

Re: What is next from Elecraft?

Oops! The original post had the e-mail address for N2PK-VNA Yahoo! groups,
not the web address.
The web address is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/N2PK-VNA/

73 de AC8NS
Hop

----- Original Message -----
From: "Hop - AC8NS" <[hidden email]>
To: "El" <[hidden email]>; "Brian Denley" <[hidden email]>;
"george fritkin" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 12:15 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] What is next from Elecraft?

> Check out [hidden email] for more information on this subject.
> Or just Google "N2PK VNA" for lots of information and links.
>

______________________________________________________________
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

alsopb

K3 possible new option

I was hoping that we would truly have a two RX K3-- each with its own
set of bandpass filters when configured as independent.

Perhaps the space where the general coverage filters are now could be
utilized for a second set of filters for the sub receiver.

If I want general coverage, I'll get a general coverage RX.

73 de Brian/K3KO

-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2012.0.2242 / Virus Database: 3211/6091 - Release Date: 08/19/13

______________________________________________________________
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

wayne burdick

Re: K3 possible new option

Administrator

Hi Brian,

The K3's sub receiver is identical to the main receiver. The sub has its own set of ham-band band-pass filters, its own optional KBPF3 option (general-coverage filters), and up to five crystal filters. It also has an identical sub receiver and DSP. It is literally the same as the main receiver in every respect.

If you set CONFIG:VFO IND to YES, you can put the sub receiver on a different band from main, and if you're using stereo headphones or sub receiver, you can pan main/sub audio left/right as desired using the MIX menu entry.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

On Aug 20, 2013, at 8:16 AM, Brian Alsop <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I was hoping that we would truly have a two RX K3-- each with its own set of bandpass filters when configured as independent.
>
> Perhaps the space where the general coverage filters are now could be utilized for a second set of filters for the sub receiver.
>
> If I want general coverage, I'll get a general coverage RX.
>
> 73 de Brian/K3KO

______________________________________________________________
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

wayne burdick

Re: K3 possible new option

Administrator

On Aug 20, 2013, at 9:00 AM, Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:

> It also has an identical sub receiver and DSP.

Typo.... I meant "an identical synth" and DSP.

Wayne

______________________________________________________________
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

David Gilbert

Re: K3 possible new option

In reply to this post by alsopb

I don't understand. What is it that you think you own?

73,
Dave AB7E

On 8/20/2013 8:16 AM, Brian Alsop wrote:

> I was hoping that we would truly have a two RX K3-- each with its own
> set of bandpass filters when configured as independent.
>
> Perhaps the space where the general coverage filters are now could be
> utilized for a second set of filters for the sub receiver.
>
> If I want general coverage, I'll get a general coverage RX.
>
> 73 de Brian/K3KO
>

Re: K3 possible new option

You can have different filters in the two receivers if you prefer, but it will harm your ability to use the two receivers for split operation or antenna diversity receive which I think are the most important usages. But if weak signal reception or DX is not your goal, you may use different filters to achieve your goal, what ever it is. Operators who are not really attune to operation with both crystal filtering and digital filtering may not realize that you can get most of what you can get from a narrow crystal filter from the digital filter. What you cannot get is filtering of very strong signals in the crystal filter pass band with the digital filtering, but you can filter two signals of about the same strength within several S units. I think the K3 dual receiver setup with identical crystal filtering is the strongest configuration for most operators and certainly for me. Brian may have different criteria and may benefit from mixing
filters. He is free to try it and find the configuration that is best for him even if neither Elecraft or I recommend it. I can't see that it will cost anything except Brian's money and Brian's time. If Brian doesn't like what he finds, he can go back to the recommended similar configuration of the filtering in the two receivers.

Willis 'Cookie' Cooke
K5EWJ & Trustee N5BPS, USS Cavalla, USS Stewart

________________________________
From: David Gilbert <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 11:48 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 possible new option

I don't understand. What is it that you think you own?

73,
Dave AB7E

On 8/20/2013 8:16 AM, Brian Alsop wrote:
> I was hoping that we would truly have a two RX K3-- each with its own set of bandpass filters when configured as independent.
>
> Perhaps the space where the general coverage filters are now could be utilized for a second set of filters for the sub receiver.
>
> If I want general coverage, I'll get a general coverage RX.
>
> 73 de Brian/K3KO
>

______________________________________________________________
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
______________________________________________________________
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

Iain MacDonnell - N6ML-2

Re: K3 possible new option

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

Brian may be referring the low-pass filters on the main antenna path?
i.e. the condition that leads to a "USE AUX" message when placing the
sub on a higher band than the main....

73,

~iain / N6ML

On Tue, Aug 20, 2013 at 9:00 AM, Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hi Brian,
>
> The K3's sub receiver is identical to the main receiver. The sub has its own set of ham-band band-pass filters, its own optional KBPF3 option (general-coverage filters), and up to five crystal filters. It also has an identical sub receiver and DSP. It is literally the same as the main receiver in every respect.
>
> If you set CONFIG:VFO IND to YES, you can put the sub receiver on a different band from main, and if you're using stereo headphones or sub receiver, you can pan main/sub audio left/right as desired using the MIX menu entry.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
>
> On Aug 20, 2013, at 8:16 AM, Brian Alsop <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> I was hoping that we would truly have a two RX K3-- each with its own set of bandpass filters when configured as independent.
>>
>> Perhaps the space where the general coverage filters are now could be utilized for a second set of filters for the sub receiver.
>>
>> If I want general coverage, I'll get a general coverage RX.
>>
>> 73 de Brian/K3KO
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

David Gilbert

Re: K3 possible new option

Yes, Brian explained in a private message that that was part of his
concern. It sounds like he actually wants two independent transceivers
since he wants to be able to transmit on either. There are some
admittedly clunky ways around that as well, though.

http://www.ab7e.com/cross_band_split/cross_band_split.html

73,
Dave AB7E

On 8/20/2013 10:50 AM, iain macdonnell - N6ML wrote:

> Brian may be referring the low-pass filters on the main antenna path?
> i.e. the condition that leads to a "USE AUX" message when placing the
> sub on a higher band than the main....
>
> 73,
>
> ~iain / N6ML
>
>
>
> On Tue, Aug 20, 2013 at 9:00 AM, Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:
>> Hi Brian,
>>
>> The K3's sub receiver is identical to the main receiver. The sub has its own set of ham-band band-pass filters, its own optional KBPF3 option (general-coverage filters), and up to five crystal filters. It also has an identical sub receiver and DSP. It is literally the same as the main receiver in every respect.
>>
>> If you set CONFIG:VFO IND to YES, you can put the sub receiver on a different band from main, and if you're using stereo headphones or sub receiver, you can pan main/sub audio left/right as desired using the MIX menu entry.
>>
>> 73,
>> Wayne
>> N6KR
>>
>>
>> On Aug 20, 2013, at 8:16 AM, Brian Alsop <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>>> I was hoping that we would truly have a two RX K3-- each with its own set of bandpass filters when configured as independent.
>>>
>>> Perhaps the space where the general coverage filters are now could be utilized for a second set of filters for the sub receiver.
>>>
>>> If I want general coverage, I'll get a general coverage RX.
>>>
>>> 73 de Brian/K3KO
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>