[TenTec] Elecraft K3 vs Orion?

[Neal Campbell K3NC]

The Flex model is a bit different in that part of the "radio" is in  
hardware and part in software. Flex sells the hardware and a  
collected group of open-source fanatics build the software. That is  
not really the case with the K3. The hardware is Elecraft after a  
bunch of advisory group input (if I read it correctly) and the dsp  
code was done by the same guy who did the KDSP2 module. I do not know  
the business relationship between Lyle and Elecraft but it appears to  
me that it has become more formal than just when he did the KDSP2 for  
them.

I have no quetstion that the K3 will be a killer rig. I have no doubt  
that the O2 is a killer rig. Whether the market determines the O2 is  
a grand better than a loaded K3 will be the question. Its not obvious  
at this stage what that answer is. If the answer is no, it could mean  
a price reduction (compete on cost) a feature enhancement (lets see  
the firmware really shine) or product removal (maybe the Omni 7 is  
the right price point for selling rigs.

I think the companies who are hanging their future on 10K+ rigs are  
in trouble though. The old paradigm has surpassed them.  
Microcontrollers and relatively cheap FGPAs, uDSPs, etc. are so  
common and usable that "homebrewing" can now develop a 10K rig killer  
with much less cost. Just look at the HPSDR project and you can tell  
its a new world for smart guys.

As Grant says, however, its all good, life is indeed good for us.

Neal Campbell K3NC
nealk3nc at gmail.com

telnet to our DX Spotting clusters at: dxc.k3nc.com, ports 12001 and 23

"Devoted to Dogs: How to be your dog's best owner"
Great Dog Book  at www.abrohamneal.com



On May 1, 2007, at 2:15 PM, Duane - N9DG wrote:

>
> --- K4IA at aol.com wrote:
>
>> If so, how is it that Elecraft, not particularly known for
>> software development
>> can produce the software that has eluded the Orion for 4
>> years now?
>
> The person responsible for the DSP piece of the K3 is from
> what I can tell an "outsourced" provider and not actually a
> member of Elecraft payroll. Ditto for much of the K3's
> hardware design team. A similar situation appears to be the
> case for the Flex-5000 as well.
>
> So that begs the question are we seeing the beginnings of a
> new trend where our radios will increasingly be designed by
> "hired guns" instead of being done exclusively by a
> manufacturer's own payroll staff? As you may recall a
> significant part of the original Orion's design work was more
> or less outsourced as well.
>
> It will all be interesting to watch for sure.
>
> Duane
> N9DG
>
>
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