Elecraft Celebrating 20 Years


 

 

20 years ago this month, we were putting the finishing touches on our first product, the K2. Wayne (N6KR) was busy finalizing the firmware and manual. Eric (WA6HHQ) had purchased all the parts for our first production run and was building the website. With a staff of just five people – plus the enthusiasm and support of 100 dedicated field testers – we were ready for prime time. Over the next two decades, we designed and refined six transceiver families (in order: K2, K1, KX1, K3, KX3, and KX2), each with internal options to allow for customization. With each we emphasized several goals:

  • High performance and ease of use
  • Full integration, often including built-in batteries, ATUs, and attached keyer paddles
  • Low current drain for long battery life
  • Small size, lightweight, and unique form factors for portability
  • A “Hands-on” approach, with most products available as kits
  • Free firmware upgrades
  • Uncompromising product support

 

Along the way, we also designed many matching accessories, including amplifiers (KPA100, KXPA100, KPA500, and KPA1500), transverters (XV series, K144XV, KX3-2M/4M), and panadapters (P3 and PX3). More recently, we’ve started shipping our first antenna, the AX1 multi-band whip. 

 


Though our staff is now ten times the size it was in 1998, Elecraft’s philosophy is still the same: create products that meet emerging needs, using the latest technology, with features not available elsewhere. We use our own products and test them extensively. Anything that doesn’t get four thumbs up doesn’t make it out of the lab.  And, of course, we couldn’t have succeeded without the best customers any company could hope for. 

 

Thank you for your continued support of Elecraft!
 
73,
Wayne, N6KR
Eric, WA6HHQ

See a copy of Elecraft History written by Wayne in 2011.

Back to blog

12 comments

  • ELECRAFT – Outstanding in every way

    best wishes
    73
    Rob G3RCE

    — Rob

  • The K2 K1 K3 K3S, KX3 and accessaroies are the best HF Radios money can buy under £10,000 Customer service is second to none.

    Andrew G8UUG

    (Profecional Broadcast senior Engineer)

    — Andrew Lenton

  • Scratch my previous comment please
    Placed an order this evening for the K4
    Will think of something more to say of our 20-Years of handshakes @ Hamvention
    and some experiences with the K2 and KX3
    Cheers, Jan

    — Jan K1ND

  • CONGRATS on the 20 Year Anniversary
    My spouse, Milly, bought me a K2 kit @ Hamvention 1999 for my birthday that day. It’s # 136 and works as good as ever = great kit, great product and in daily use. She didn’t come with me to the 2019 Hamvention but is willing to purchase a K4 for this year’s birthday. Expect it will be an equally great product ~ maybe I’ll get number 0136 ??
    Cheers, Jan K1ND ~ in the hobby since 1954 ~

    — Jan K1ND

  • On 15 May, 1998 @ Hamvention my spouse bought the K2 # 136 for my birthday present that day ~ the K2 yet gets daily use . . . . what will I find at the Elecraft booth this year?

    — Jan K1ND

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.