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Elecraft

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Elecraft Inc.
Company typeAmateur radio manufacturer
IndustryAmateur radio
Founded1998
HeadquartersAptos, California, U.S.
WebsiteElecraft

Elecraft, Inc. is an American manufacturer of amateur radio equipment and kits, based in Aptos, California. It was founded in 1998 by Wayne Burdick and Eric Swartz.[1] The company's first product was the K2 transceiver which was first prototyped in October 1997.[2]

The company is most notable for the Elecraft K3 high-performance HF transceiver, a 32-bit DSP based radio covering HF plus the 6-meter VHF band and the 160m MF band, introduced in 2008. The reception of the K3 was overwhelmingly positive, with a comprehensive review in QST stating that "The K3, in any of the available configurations, provides a high performance, modular and expandable transceiver that can fill the needs of almost anyone looking for an HF and 6 meter transceiver for home station or portable use".[3] At the time of its introduction, the K3 received the highest Sherwood Engineering ranking of any amateur radio receiver.[4]

Elecraft's product lineup includes a range of QRP CW transceivers, the K2 and K3 all-mode 100W transceiver, KX3 portable 160m-2m transceiver, linear power amplifiers, two panadapters and a range of accessories including antenna tuners and signal generators.

Many Elecraft products are available both as kits and as ready-built units. All offer expansion options. One K3 option, the K144XV, adds a 10-watt 2m internal transceiver. The KX3 can accommodate a single internal VHF transverter module. The KX3-2M adds the 2M band and the KX3-4M adds 4M band, both with ]2.5-watt output. The 2m module receives 120-165 MHz, and transmits on the 2m ham band. The 4m module covers 65-72 MHz. Sensitivity gradually falls off outside the ham bands, though the 2m module is capable of receiving 162 MHz weather-band stations and 120 MHz airport tower AM.[5]

The KX3 transceiver is a portable software-defined radio (SDR) transceiver with a full-featured knob-and-button interface. Although it is an SDR transceiver, it does not require a computer connection.[6]

The company's well regarded "K-Line" consists of the K3 transceiver, the KPA500 500W power amplifier, the KAT500 automatic antenna tuner, and the P3 panadapter.[7] Also the P3SVGA add-on to the P3 to display the panadapter data on a large screen and the W2 HF/VHF/UHF wattmeter are sometimes considered part of the K-Line. Most recently Elecraft has introduced the "KX-Line" consisting of the KX3 transceiver, the PX3 panadapter, and the KXPA100 100W power amplifier.[8]

In 2015, Elecraft introduced the K3S Transceiver as a direct replacement for the K3 Transceiver. The K3S is a redesign of the K3 and includes the following new or upgraded features: (1) Ultra-low-noise synthesizer, (2) Second preamp (Preamp 2), (3) Multiple attenuation levels, (4) Dual computer ports (USB and RS232), (5) KAT3A option now includes bypass relay, (6) Redesigned speaker amplifier, (7) Fast transmit/receive switching, (8) Extended coverage includes 630 and 2200 meter bands, and (9) Enhanced look and feel. Most of these improvements can be back fitted to an older K3.[9]


Partial list of products

Amateur radio transceivers (HF/MF/VHF)

Amateur radio remote

  • K3/0 Mini

Antenna tuner (HF)

Linear power amplifiers

Panadapter

Transverters (VHF/UHF)

Signal source

References

  1. ^ Elecraft. "About Elecraft". Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  2. ^ Wayne Burdick. "Elecraft History". Retrieved 2014-07-13
  3. ^ QST (January 2009). "Elecraft K3/100 HF and 6 Meter Transceiver" (PDF). American Radio Relay League. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  4. ^ Sherwood Engineering Inc. "Receiver Test Data". Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  5. ^ "KX3-2M/KX3-4M FAQ". Retrieved 2014-10-18.
  6. ^ Thomas Witherspoon. "Review of the Elecraft KX3: World-class Transceiver, Superb Shortwave Receiver".
  7. ^ Fred Cady. "K-Line Introduction". Retrieved 2014-06-09.
  8. ^ QSO Today. "A conversation with N6KR". Retrieved 2014-10-09.
  9. ^ qrznow.com. "New Elecraft K3S".
  10. ^ Elecraft "XV Series Transverters". Retrieved 2014-05-30
  11. ^ Elecraft "Mini module kits".
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