The end of the K2?
With more and more info trickling out about the new KX3, it’s interesting to think about Elecraft’s product line as a whole.
A lot of speculation has been made regarding the KX3 and the possible demise of Yaesu’s FT817 and other similar rigs – but the KX3 has me wondering where its release leaves the K2.
How might a new ham look at Elecraft when considering a rig to purchase? Or a veteran ham for that matter, but I emphasize “new” because they may be attracted to Elecraft’s “tutorial-style manual explains how and why controls are used, so new hams will be experts in no time” that is mentioned on Elecraft’s website.
With the KX3 evidently offering such broad appeal – QRPers (10w), non-QRPers (100w amp), portable ops, home stations (100w & autotuner), SDR wanna-learners, digital ops (RTTY/PSK decoding), mobile ops, 6m afficionados - with all that, what would cause someone to consider the K2 instead of the KX3?
Supposedly the receiver in the KX3 is better than that in the K2 as well.
Price can’t be a factor as there are too many variables in each rig to allow a valid comparison.
For someone wanting to build their own rig, the K2 is The Choice, although the actual kit-building experience would amount to only about 40 hour’s worth of its ownership.
With the KX3, Elecraft may have relegated the K2 to the Back 40 as far as new buyers go.
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Themocracy
Quite possibly so.
If the KX3 delivers at the price point I’ve heard, then there is no financial incentive for buying the K2. There is still the argument that you learn more from building an analog rig piece-by-piece, but most folks would rather learn on something cheaper and simpler.
72 de AJ4MJ
Exactly what I’ve been thinking John. I really wanted to build the K2, but with the coming of the KX3, the actual building process is the only reason I can think to want the K2 over the KX3. On it’s own, it’s not enough reason unfortunately.
I’m sad that Elecraft seem to be leaving kits behind (other than the “assemble the modules” approach they offer with the K3 and will offer with the KX3) but in doing so, they are becoming a serious alternative to “the big 3″ manufacturers.
Did you sell your 857 yet, or will it be going on eBay?
Here’s some other thoughts:
1) The K2 is a 12 yr old rig. First released in late 1998. It is possible that the kit building community is saturated with little demand left for this product.
2) The KX3 is somewhat of a radical design for Elecraft. A true SDR direct conversion radio. The Flex folks have obtained some impressive performance numbers but their IMD metrics are not as good. The innovative baseband roofing filter in the KX3 will significantly improve those metrics.
3) How “good” will it be? Until testing by Sherwood or the ARRL (or Elecraft for that matter), it remains yet to be seen. The early adopters will jump regardless based on the basic features/functionality of the radio. But the second wave of purchases will depend on just how great a radio, performance wise, it will be.
It is exciting though to see a somewhat revolutionary product in the ham radio market. I wonder how the YeaKenCom folks will respond or maybe a better question is how many years will it take them?
Guy/N7UN
John,
At this point, the only advantage would be price. However, I do intend to get one – somehow. I will probably sell my K1 and some other gear; but I will NEVER (never say never?) sell my K2.
Larry W2LJ
Ditto, Larry – I’ll probably get one myself. In the meantime, it’s fun to read other’s opinions of the ramifications of this rig and its appeal beyond Elecraft’s usual sphere.
It’s tough to believe the K2 has been around since 1998! I considered buying one off & on for most of those years but never did although I can understand the pride that would come from having a homebuilt rig, not as a 2nd radio, but as the main station rig. Like Justin says, I did my learnin’ on cheaper & simpler rigs – several from N6KR, pre-Elecraft.
I also wonder to what extent Elecraft gets noticed by the Big 3 and whether they will respond. As with Newton’s bodies of mass in motion, large companies are also slow to respond to external forces.
I bought a TS-590S in April because I knew that if I bought a K3, I wouldn’t be able to stop with the base model, no matter how much I told myself I would. With a daughter about to enter college and two vehicles about to blow up, it was about all I could swing for the time being. Eventually I figure I’ll have a K3 in the shack (or maybe a K4 by then?) but for now, I’m content with the 590. But I’m keeping my K2 and selling my FT-1000MP. The K2 is just too good to part with and such a pleasure to listen to CW on.
Sweet music to my ears. Yet another radio that will help to drive down the street prices on K2′s so I can get another one on-the-cheap. My current K2 came from a local who plunked down his credit card for an early K3.
I really wanted to build a K2 from scratch[in 2001], but was concerned about the possibility of muffing the build and wasting such a significant chunk of change. After spending the last 10 years on other smaller projects, maybe it is time to go with the kit-build. [Before my eyes become too feeble!]
It also seems like the TenTec Omni VI prices are headed down. It’s an older radio too, but is still a great CW rig.
The K2 is probably still the best kit project available. I don’t know if there is enough demand to keep it in production. Interesting question. Also wonder how the KPA100 will affect the options chosen for a K2 build. I can see pairing a K2 with the KXpa100 rather than the KPA100. It’s a K2 mod I looked into-putting the KPA100 into an enclosure with the tuner.
I’m curious to know how those K2 sales are going since K3 set sail. Probably could figure it out from serial numbers announced on elecraft list by K2 builders.
Even if I can’t free up the cash for a K2, it sure is great to see relatively affordable innovation. The KX3 is an interesting concept.
Interesting about pairing the KX3PA100 as an outboard amp for the K2 – I was under the impression that amps capable of HF operation with 5-10 watt input levels were illegal to manufacture due to them being used by CBers. I guess not…
And thanks for the 2 contacts in WPX!
Actually the FCC rule limits an amp to 15db of gain, plus certification of Part 15 compliance for spurious emissions, and a restriction for the 26-28 Mhz frequencies. See https://www.eham.net/ehamforum/smf/index.php?topic=72702.0 for a very good discussion/synopsis of the FCC rules.
Yes, the KX3PA100 amp does look very interesting for the K2/10.
But I wonder what happened to the KX2?
I may have to Photoshop a KX2, Guy if only to “consistencify” the product line ;-)
Actually it makes sense for a KX3 since a lot of the firmware will be from the K3. Even the LCD and graphics interface is from the K3. I’m sure Elecraft is saving a lot of development time by porting features and functionality from the K3. Now we just have to sit and wait…..patiently of curse, err, course.
Though I would love to build a K2 I have neither the time nor the spare money. But for those fringe few who like me are RoHS-phobic and actually prefer lead in their solder- the K2 is still a way to remain electronically pure- if not politically incorrect. In the next five years we’ll see to what degree my tin whisker paranoia will be validated. Until then, so long as my Ten-Tec 516 remains alive I remain content. Now to find time to actually use it a bit more!