On 11/16/2011 3:37 PM, Richards wrote:
He was giving a brief overview of ham radio, and was not making a
complete or comprehensive listing of every manufacturer. He mentioned
newcomers, like Elecraft, but did not mention all the older, established
manufacturers. It was a brief survey... you cannot mention everything
in a brief survey... that would transform it into a comprehensive study.
Yes, BUT -- the author, K1DG, is a very active and well known contester,
and a major reason he mentioned Elecraft is that their products have
taken by storm those hams who are most interested in cutting edge
performance. Notice that he also talked about a lot of other new things
in ham radio, including WSJT and other various digital modes,
integration with computers, etc..
In their early days, Elecraft appealed to builders and QRP types, but
their K2 kit with all the options was a pretty nice radio.. Since the
introduction of the K3, they have also attracted those who want highest
performance and moderately high prices. Their P3 spectrum display makes
those in other rigs look like toys, and their new KPA500 has nudged the
Hercules II off my operating desk and into my storage closet, primarily
because it gives me 550W on 6M, as well as 600W on the HF bands. And, I
suspect, the introduction of their new KX3, with the optional
remote-able 100W amp module, is going to find a home in the shacks, and
in the cars, of a lot of middle of the road hams. In other words, they
have become a LEADER and INNOVATOR of the ham world, not a "me too
company," and not one for whom ham gear is a sideline. That USED to be
true, at least in part, of Ten Tec, and I still own and love four Ten
Tec power amps from those days.
73, Jim K9YC
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