Elecraft annouces Elecraft K3 transceiver

[w9gb]

This afternoon at the DX Convention in Visalia, CA, we unveiled a new top-of-the-line transceiver -- the Elecraft K3. This is the culmination of three years of design, test, and refinement, and we believe the K3 will set a new standard for performance and value in its class. It has features and performance comparable to present radios ranging from $4000 to $12000.

(We'd like to thank the many surprised convention attendees. What they all said boils down to something like "Yes!")

A full K3 web page will be set up by Monday, complete with order form and other details. Meanwhile, please take a look at the temporary page:
http://www.elecraft.com/K3

Among other things, you'll find a very high-resolution front panel photo (as well as other photos):
http://www.elecraft.com/K3/K3_big_v2.jpg

And the K3 data sheet:
http://www.elecraft.com/K3/K3_Data%20Sheet_rev06.pdf

As explained on the order form (available at web site on Monday), you can reserve a K3 now for initial shipments in July. A 50% deposit is requested if you'd like to secure one of the first 200 production units (serial numbers 20-220, probably).

Here's a quick summary of the K3's specs:

- K3/100 and K3/10 models (the K3/10 can be upgraded very easily, internally, to a K3/100)

- Basic K3 price ranges from $1399 to $1989 depending on whether you start with the 10-watt or 100-watt model, and whether you choose factory assembled
or modular, no-soldering, kit (this is the subject of the next email).

- Desktop/portable size: 4"H x 10"W x 10"D (10 x 25 x 25 cm) -- optimized for both home and travel use

- All modes (SSB, CW, DATA, AM, FM, plus AM-sync receive, and built-in PSK31/TTY decoder)

- High-dynamic range, down-conversion architecture, plus 32-bit I.F. DSP for software-defined capabilities (and lots of room for future expansion)

- Optional subreceiver with *identical* performance to the main receiver, including a fully independent front end, its own set of roofing filters, its own DSP, and low-noise synthesizer; binaural or combined receiver audio

- Up to five crystal roofing filters *per receiver*, with bandwidths as narrow as 200 Hz

- Narrow ham-band filtering, plus optional general-coverage receive filters (can be added to either or both receivers)

- Internal 100-W ATU option with two antenna jacks

- 100 W PA module includes two large fans, circuit breaker, full parameter monitoring

- All signal sources phase-locked to common 49.380 MHz reference oscillator; 1 PPM TCXO option, firmware-correctable to better than 0.5 PPM

- Built-in PSK31, RTTY, and CW decoding and display allows use of digital modes with or *without* a computer; use CW keyer paddle or attached computer for casual, two-way data QSOs

- Advanced noise reduction; auto- and manual notch. Noise blanker included (both I.F. hardware pulse blanker and DSP noise blanking)

- Easy-to-use DSP shift/width and locut/hicut controls with automatic crystal filter selection based on selected passband width (in real-time -- no filter calculation delays)

- Dedicated CW/voice message buttons; optional digital voice recorder

- 100 general frequency memories with alphanumeric text labeling, plus 4 scratchpad memories per band

- Full-custom, optimized, segmented LCD with two VFO displays, alphanumeric text, and dedicated filter passband graphic

- Rich I/O set: stereo speaker outputs, fully isolated soundcard interface, dedicated RS-232 I/O (and optional USB adapter), receive antenna in/out jacks (for
patching in RX filters, etc.), and both front- and rear-panel mic and headphone jacks

- One-click PC firmware download program checks for updates automatically and quickly updates microcontroller and DSP firmware

If you have any questions on specifications, performance, etc., that are not answered by the data sheet, feel free to email: wayne@elecraft.com.

Sales questions should go to Lisa:
sales@elecraft.com

We'd like to acknowledge the hard work of the following colleagues:

+ Lyle Johnson, KK7P (DSP, digital I/O, audio I/O, many of the PC boards, and countless critical tasks)
+ Bob Friess, N6CM (RF deck, ATU, high-performance 1st mixer, noise blanker, other receiver design)
+ John Grebenkemper, KI6WX (synthesizer, general receiver architecture)
+ Brian Broggie, W6FVI (manufacturing engineering -- say hi to him at Visalia tomorrow)
+ Paul Russell (purchasing)
+ Lisa Jones (who somehow held down the fort during the entire process)

Eric (WA6HHQ), as usual, applied pressure in all the right places to ensure that this would be the best radio we could make: he's Mr. Performance and Features. Wayne (N6KR -- yours truly) was the principle designer, and also got to do all the fun parts (packaging, firmware, and Owner's manual). And that's why he gets to answer your questions http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

We'd also like to express our thanks to our very patient 15-member focus group. Over a period of about a year, they endured a never-ending series of concept drawings, refinements, and feature discussions.
They're a distinguished bunch! I'm sure you'll hear from some of them as the K3 is discussed at length.

Finally: thanks to all of you who have generously contributed ideas for a hypothetical K3 during our many on-line "fishing expeditions." You had wonderful input, and I hope we've created the radio you've always
wanted.

73,
Wayne, N6KR
Eric, WA6HHQ

[w9gb]

... a follow-up e-mail from Wayne Burdick:

The K3 is a modern, high-performance radio with many features never seen in this size or price class. Of necessity, about 60% of the components are surface mount (SMD).

In order to ensure consistency in performance at this level of integration, we must 100% test all of these surface-mount components after installation. But such testing is very difficult unless ALL of the components and connectors are present at manufacturing test time.

So, we elected to create a modular, no-soldering kit: all of the modules are pre-assembled and pre-tested. By implication, all toroids are pre-wound, too http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

By pre-testing the modules, we can guarantee that any K3 -- whether purchased factory assembled or built as a kit -- will have identical performance.

Modular kit builders will find the K3 very easy to build, yet not without effort: there are over 100 individual pieces of hardware, many modules, sheet metal panels, bezels, knobs, etc. The builder will also perform a number of firmware-assisted alignment steps. The assembly manual will serve as an RF theory tutorial, so that you'll learn a lot about how the radio works. Builders will, we hope, have a deeper understanding of the K3. And they'll save a significant amount of money in the process.

We will continue to offer all of our present traditional kits, and will have new full kits in the future. We hope that first-time builders who tackle the K3 will also try their hand at soldering, building, and experimentation.

We hope to offer some SMD-based kits in the future where the builder gets to install all of the parts -- but it probably won't be anything at the level of the K3.

Please send any comments or suggestions regarding the K3 kit philosophy to wayne@elecraft.com (or n6kr@elecraft.com).

Of course this is also a potentially lively topic for the Elecraft reflector. We welcome your views.

73,
Wayne, N6KR
Eric, WA6HHQ

[n8yx]

"I have got to get me one of THESE!" http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[n9nwo]

I am looking for a new rig. I was looking at the Kenwood TS2000 because of price and it having HF/VHF/UHF/satellite. But Elecraft has a reputation for having a great receiver. The QRP crowd seems to have fallen in love Elecraft.

This seems to be a very good rig. If I purchase this, then what do I do about satellite?

[KG6YTZ]

Quote[/b] (n8yx @ April 29 2007,05:47)]"I have got to get me one of THESE!" #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Me too, but can I infect the mothership with it? #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Only up to 6m out of the box, though, so add a transverter or three to the package [do their XV-series boxes work with the K3?] at about $400 a pop... #A few hundred here, a few hundred there, and pretty soon, you're talking about some real money!