Returning my Elecraft KX3

[Happy_Hamer]

I had my Elecraft KX3 for a little over a month.

My receive audio was always distorted and popping using either the internal speaker or an external speaker. I seen a few updates for the internal speaker but it did not help.

I had terrible VFO noise on 6 meter, this was the second time this happened.

It was to the point I just could not enjoy the radio one bit.

I was at field day with my radio and it drew quite the crowd. It was very disturbing trying to listen to the radio and could not get the volume over half because it was distorting so bad. If the radio was full blast receive audio wiped out completely.

I had installed a few firmware updates and tried various speakers. Nothing was helping.

I was watching the replies on the KX3 Yahoo Group and all the great reports people were giving the radio and could not understand why mine was so terrible.

I finally had enough and sent Wayne and Eric, the owners of Elecraft, an email saying I want to return the radio for a full refund.

Wayne answered me on a Monday at 2:40 am CST. He had no problem going through with a refund but asked if he could try a few things and see if we can correct my issues.

The VFO noise was first and was very easy to correct, he mentioned a few settings that I had set before but must have got changed during a firmware update.

Tonight I took a small video of the speaker issue and sent him a link of the video, within 5 minutes he responded with a few adjustments ideas.

I felt like I had a completely new radio!!!!

All these menus seemed like they were service menus and I was afraid to adjust them because I did not want to ruin the radio. I have never had a radio with this much flexibility. I have NEVER had an Elecraft.

Customer service like this is something I have never experienced either.

I have been using the radio for the last 2 hours after the adjustments and I am very happy with it now.

THIS IS THE RADIO I HAD HOPED FOR SINCE IT WAS DELIVERED!

I have A LOT TO LEARN using an Elecraft.

THIS RADIO IS STAYING WITH ME!

Thanks again Wayne

 

[Moleculo]

That's quite a big change of heart from when you called me this weekend completely frustrated with the rig and wanted to return it. Customers of Elecraft often rave about their service, but it's not often that we get to hear a first hand story about a complete reversal of opinion because the company cared enough to help an individual customer who is having trouble with the product.

Do you have a before and after video of the VFO noise on 6m that was resolved? I don't suppose you can reproduce the before and after of the speaker issue?

 

[Happy_Hamer]

Here is the

BEFORE

KX3 Audio Distortion - YouTube


And here is the

AFTER


Elecraft KX3 Audio Distortion Fix - YouTube

 

[Happy_Hamer]

Like mentioned earlier, I just could not get onboard with this radio. I hated it in fact.

It is 6/27/2012, and 6:30am Central Time, I began communications with Wayne to see if we can fix this on 6/26/2012 at 7:50pm Central time.

I just turned off the radio! I have been on the air 11+ hours!

I made 1 DX contact, http://www.qrz.com/db/ER4DX then spent the rest of the night on 80 meter.

I was so excited at how well it worked I couldn't shut it off

As a side note, I have been using a Buddipole 4S2P battery pack the entire time.

Again, This is the radio I anticipated, no return now!

 

[n0zna]

They are like TenTech

great customer service,and a great radio...I have one problem,they just sound funny...they are ok,but can tell when someone is running one.I thought about getting one,it was the 5000,or a ts590,or the ft450d..and went with the 450d and very happy...73 de n0zna

 

[Mudfoot]

Have you operated CW? Wondering how the paddles feel and respond.

 

[Moleculo]

great customer service,and a great radio...I have one problem,they just sound funny...they are ok,but can tell when someone is running one.I thought about getting one,it was the 5000,or a ts590,or the ft450d..and went with the 450d and very happy...73 de n0zna

The audio characteristics are controlled by the user. In addition to compression, it has a built in 8 band EQ and Noise Gate.

When I first got my K3, I used to switch back and forth between by Icom and the K3 using the same outboard audio stack and noone could tell the difference.

 

[N0NB]

Good to hear that Wayne helped you become a satisfied customer. Hopefully this is something they can correct. I know they have mentioned applying the AGC fix to the KX3 that the K3's firmware 4.51 addresses.