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> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kevin" <[hidden email]> >> >> There's no good reason for Elecraft to invest the time and money into >> manufacturing a 1-1.5K Watt amp. >> The market is very small and the competition is fierce, not only from >> other SS amp manufacturer's but from those that still sell tube type >> amps. > You must remember you are talking about loyal Elecraft fans who will sacrifice whatever it takes to keep the K-Line pure. >> >> You can't compete on price with the likes of an Ameritron, QRO, >> Commander (whenever they decide to resurface) and even Alpha. >> >> That leaves features and the more features you add, like stupid proofing >> a SS amp, and the inevitable built-in "match 1500W to my rain gutters" >> tuner, you've lost the price war. >> >> If you buy an Ameritron AL-1500 with the 8877 Eimac tube, a contest >> proven amp with thousands sold and thousands of hours, you can afford to >> re-tube it twice and still not hit the magic $6K mark. >> >> Solid state amps have come a long way but they have a real long way to >> go before matching the reliability and price point of a tube amp. >> >> I'd love Elecraft to prove me wrong but think they'd be better served by >> focusing their efforts on the "K4". The barbarians are at the gate >> performance wise and I'd really like to shove a stick in some FTDX-5000 >> owners eyes. > break the back or bank balance. All K3 owners feel they have the lastest at all times due to Elecrafts marvellous hardware and firmware updates available to all. > If a 6k 1.5kw K1500 is released, there will a cue waiting as per usual with Elecraft releases. Present k3 owners, I think would rather see a KPA1500 for their k3, rather than a K4, which will have what else besides size perhaps? The K-line is modelled on the size of the K3 so K4 looks very unlikely to me. Adrian ... vk4tux > ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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I do not want bigger then K3 size of K4 based on the same architecture but
K4 of the size of K3 based on SDR architecture would be very interesting. I would strongly consider KPA 1500 if it would be capable of everything that Expert 2K-FA can already do plus a bit extra. That is provided the price of such an amp is about the same as that of Expert 2K-FA. Alternatively I would be ready to purchase from Elecraft something like Expert 1K-FA (1 Kw amp) that would be similar in features and price but would have switching power supply and weight around 10 Kg. This would be ideal for DXpeditions. 73, Igor UA9CDC ----- Original Message ----- From: "Adrian" <[hidden email]> To: <[hidden email]> Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2012 11:03 AM Subject: [Elecraft] amp >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Kevin" <[hidden email]> >>> >>> There's no good reason for Elecraft to invest the time and money into >>> manufacturing a 1-1.5K Watt amp. >>> The market is very small and the competition is fierce, not only from >>> other SS amp manufacturer's but from those that still sell tube type >>> amps. >> > You must remember you are talking about loyal Elecraft fans who will > sacrifice whatever it takes to keep the K-Line pure. >>> >>> You can't compete on price with the likes of an Ameritron, QRO, >>> Commander (whenever they decide to resurface) and even Alpha. >>> >>> That leaves features and the more features you add, like stupid proofing >>> a SS amp, and the inevitable built-in "match 1500W to my rain gutters" >>> tuner, you've lost the price war. >>> >>> If you buy an Ameritron AL-1500 with the 8877 Eimac tube, a contest >>> proven amp with thousands sold and thousands of hours, you can afford to >>> re-tube it twice and still not hit the magic $6K mark. >>> >>> Solid state amps have come a long way but they have a real long way to >>> go before matching the reliability and price point of a tube amp. >>> >>> I'd love Elecraft to prove me wrong but think they'd be better served by >>> focusing their efforts on the "K4". The barbarians are at the gate >>> performance wise and I'd really like to shove a stick in some FTDX-5000 >>> owners eyes. >> > No keep the K3 updated and improved, it is a great alrounder that doesnt > break the back or bank balance. > All K3 owners feel they have the lastest at all times due to Elecrafts > marvellous hardware and firmware updates available to all. >> > If a 6k 1.5kw K1500 is released, there will a cue waiting as per usual > with > Elecraft releases. Present k3 owners, I think would rather see a KPA1500 > for > their k3, rather than a K4, which will have what else besides size > perhaps? > The K-line is modelled on the size of the K3 so K4 looks very unlikely to > me. > > Adrian ... vk4tux >> > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 |
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In reply to this post by vk4tux
At some point there will need to be a K4. I'm sure that Elecraft will keep improving the
K3 with firmware and hardware upgrades for some time, but one day there will be enough improvements possible with newer technology and new ideas that a complete redesign will be the best way to incorporate them. After all, the competition doesn't sit still. On 4/27/2012 10:03 PM, Adrian wrote: > No keep the K3 updated and improved, it is a great alrounder that doesnt break the back > or bank balance. All K3 owners feel they have the lastest at all times due to > Elecrafts marvellous hardware and firmware updates available to all. > > If a 6k 1.5kw K1500 is released, there will a cue waiting as per usual with Elecraft > releases. Present k3 owners, I think would rather see a KPA1500 for their k3, rather > than a K4, which will have what else besides size perhaps? The K-line is modelled on > the size of the K3 so K4 looks very unlikely to me. > > Adrian ... vk4tux -- 73, Vic, K2VCO Fresno CA http://www.qsl.net/k2vco ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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Following my previous message, I thought I would speculate on what a K4 might be, despite
my complete lack of inside information. Elecraft understands their market and I think they will keep more or less the same physical size and price point as the K3. I also suspect that Wayne will never design something that is big and heavy or consumes a lot of power. Any Elecraft transceiver has to be at home in the field as well as in a fixed station. I expect that a K4 would have the same general architecture as the K3, but might include some higher-performance pieces such as a better first mixer or an ADC converter that can handle stronger signals. Alternatively it might even be a 'pure' SDR if it's possible to get the performance that way. The main CPU and DSP units will be certainly be more powerful. There will be changes in the user interface. I am not sure how Wayne will do it, but the market wants dedicated band buttons. Maybe it will end up just a little bigger than the K3. I think we are talking evolution rather than revolution. Maybe they will take a page from Apple and call it the K3s instead of K4! Again, I have absolutely no inside information, just thinking out loud. On 4/28/2012 8:11 AM, Vic K2VCO wrote: > At some point there will need to be a K4. I'm sure that Elecraft will keep improving the > K3 with firmware and hardware upgrades for some time, but one day there will be enough > improvements possible with newer technology and new ideas that a complete redesign will be > the best way to incorporate them. > > After all, the competition doesn't sit still. -- 73, Vic, K2VCO Fresno CA http://www.qsl.net/k2vco ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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When I bought my K3/10 (w/sub-Rx) at near $3K I promised my wife this
was "the last radio I would buy in my life"! So, OK, I lied (fibbed is nicer) and bought a KX3. But my intention is still the same: the K3 promised non-obsolescence since it was a SDR in its heart. Elecraft has more than met the challenge with a solid stream of firmware upgrades/improvements. I am aware that hardware will continue to evolve and in time some of the components of the K3 will become "old stuff". But I am hoping that the K3 line will be extended new life with module upgrades when that occurs vs obsolescense by bringing out a "K4" which I will most certainly not be able to afford (I robbed my 401K for the K3). After having my K3 for two years I have come to believe it is the best radio one can get at any price. If the hardware can be improved thru upgrades along with firmware improvements I see there being no reason to abandon the K3 (it will be the K4). So this is my way of gently lobbying for this approach vs the new model run-out business model. The computer industry does this already too much. AS far as a 1.5kW sspa I am not in that market so does not play a part in my purchasing behavior. I might some day opt for the KPA500 if running 270w seems too "feeble"...but not likely since I was having plenty fun at 12w with the K3/10. I am one of the non-HF users of the K3 whose ranks are increasing. The K3 (and now the KX3) have come under notice of eme and VHF/mw users who will invest their kw$ on the higher frequencies 6m+. My upcoming paper on using the KX3+KX3-2M as IF radio for mw will help encourage those folks to look at Elecraft products. 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 ====================================== BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com EME: 50-1.1kw?, 144-1.4kw, 432-QRT, 1296-?, 3400-? DUBUS Magazine USA Rep [hidden email] "Kits made by KL7UW" http://www.kl7uw.com/kits.htm ====================================== ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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On 04/28/2012 04:01 PM, Edward R. Cole wrote:
> [...] If the hardware can be improved > thru upgrades along with firmware improvements I see there being no > reason to abandon the K3 (it will be the K4). [...] Perusing a hacker site, it seems a group has broken into the Elecraft inner sanctum and posted brainstorming emails on the next rig: while the RF hardware is similar, under consideration are an ultra high resolution touch screen so that virtual buttons and knobs are displayed and changed with various modes and choices. Display options include cw skimming, auto-contest (human involvement optional), heuristic "split following" for dx'ers. Optional voice recognition module not only obeys commands but offers reminders, if needed, to not yell into mic or overdo compression. In fact, an expert system builds up response patterns, cw & phone, and over time can respond intelligently for you allowing you to finish your favorite beverage while operating. Note: All lies. 73, Mike ab3ap ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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A completely ubiquitous system that integrates directly into the brain allowing operators complete freedom to operate locally, remotely and elsewhere hands free. CW by eye blinking.
Keith AG6AZ Sent from my iPhone please excuse typos On Apr 28, 2012, at 1:46 PM, "Mike Markowski" <[hidden email]> wrote: > On 04/28/2012 04:01 PM, Edward R. Cole wrote: >> [...] If the hardware can be improved >> thru upgrades along with firmware improvements I see there being no >> reason to abandon the K3 (it will be the K4). [...] > > Perusing a hacker site, it seems a group has broken into the Elecraft > inner sanctum and posted brainstorming emails on the next rig: while the > RF hardware is similar, under consideration are an ultra high resolution > touch screen so that virtual buttons and knobs are displayed and changed > with various modes and choices. Display options include cw skimming, > auto-contest (human involvement optional), heuristic "split following" > for dx'ers. Optional voice recognition module not only obeys commands > but offers reminders, if needed, to not yell into mic or overdo > compression. In fact, an expert system builds up response patterns, cw > & phone, and over time can respond intelligently for you allowing you to > finish your favorite beverage while operating. Note: All lies. > > 73, > Mike ab3ap > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 |
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Kind of like that famous (infamous?) programming capability:
START TURN ON ALL DEBUGGING DO WHAT I'M THINKING GOTO $TART Art - N4PJ On Sat, Apr 28, 2012 at 5:04 PM, Keith Heimbold <[hidden email]> wrote: > A completely ubiquitous system that integrates directly into the brain > allowing operators complete freedom to operate locally, remotely and > elsewhere hands free. CW by eye blinking. > > Keith > AG6AZ > > Sent from my iPhone please excuse typos > > On Apr 28, 2012, at 1:46 PM, "Mike Markowski" <[hidden email]> > wrote: > > > On 04/28/2012 04:01 PM, Edward R. Cole wrote: > >> [...] If the hardware can be improved > >> thru upgrades along with firmware improvements I see there being no > >> reason to abandon the K3 (it will be the K4). [...] > > > > Perusing a hacker site, it seems a group has broken into the Elecraft > > inner sanctum and posted brainstorming emails on the next rig: while the > > RF hardware is similar, under consideration are an ultra high resolution > > touch screen so that virtual buttons and knobs are displayed and changed > > with various modes and choices. Display options include cw skimming, > > auto-contest (human involvement optional), heuristic "split following" > > for dx'ers. Optional voice recognition module not only obeys commands > > but offers reminders, if needed, to not yell into mic or overdo > > compression. In fact, an expert system builds up response patterns, cw > > & phone, and over time can respond intelligently for you allowing you to > > finish your favorite beverage while operating. Note: All lies. > > > > 73, > > Mike ab3ap > > ______________________________________________________________ > > 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 > 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 |
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In reply to this post by Mike Markowski-2
Even though I'm still a couple of days away from receiving my K3, I can
think of one possible enhancement for a K4: license Siri from Apple. Imagine the possibilities: "Siri, where in the pile-up is that DX station working?" "Siri, find me a good run frequency." -- Michael D. Adams (AB1OD) Poquonock, Connecticut | [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 |
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In reply to this post by Vic Rosenthal
Hmmmm. I've been trying to figure out the best way of using the
band switching on modern radios. In my use, it is an impediment to using different modes. Most of the time, when I switch to the 20 meter band, I arrive set up for the PSK sub-band. If I want to use CW or SSB, I have to make a bunch of changes to things like mode, filter bandwidth, frequency etc. etc. If I had been doing CW or SSB the last time I used 20 meters, I have to change them all back. Now memories let me do most of what I need, but I still haven't figured out how to organize memories for both specific things like repeater frequencies and CTCSS or net frequencies, as well as band switching in a way that I can figure out which memory holds what I want. I think if I had an array of band buttons, I would want them subservient to the current mode, so I could easily jump from 20M PSK to 40M PSK. I would also want separate modes for RTTY and each of the other digital modes. If I did much AM, I would want to separate AM and SSB. All of this is quite doable with radio firmware. There is a significant question of whether I would really like a radio that works as I described, or if I would want yet more changes. :-0 If I install the internal 2M transverter, do I get a new front panel button? What about external transverters? New FCC authorized bands? :-) More seriously, I see a possible K4 as a radical change from the K3. If we could get AtoD converters with 140+ dB dynamic range and 100 mega-samples/second, we might see a very interesting radio. If we had narrow-band VHF roofing filters, we might see an up-converting radio instead of the K3 "middle" conversion radio. Cheers - Bill, AE6JV On 4/28/12 at 8:37, [hidden email] (Vic K2VCO) wrote: >I am not sure how Wayne will do it, but the market wants dedicated band buttons. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Bill Frantz |The nice thing about standards| Periwinkle (408)356-8506 |is there are so many to choose| 16345 Englewood Ave www.pwpconsult.com |from. - Andrew Tanenbaum | Los Gatos, CA 95032 ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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