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.

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12 comments

  • My totally updated K2 is a 300 serial number and still works and looks like new. I still have never found a better receiver and this radio has long been my go-to for all portable operation.

    — wb4tjh

  • My totally updated K2 is a 300 serial number and still works and looks like new. I still have never found a better receiver and this radio has long been my go-to for all portable operation.

    — wb4tjh

  • Congrats!!! BZ for a super radio and service. KP3G

    — Jose L Torres

  • Owning a KX2 and A KX3 I looking for a K1 with 4 bands, 80, 40, 30 and 20. hard to find …
    I’m sure I’m not the only one wanting that rig. Is there no way Elecraft can start producing the K1 again ??
    If so, put me on the list :-)

    Congratz on the 20 years, I hope Elecraft goes on for ever.

    ON6UU

    — Frank

  • Elecraft rigs are the best!!!!! I have a KX3, and I live in an apartment building, where antennas are restricted, big time. A friend of myne, Paul, kg8OU said, “Trippy, just take a piece of coax, and throw it over the balcony railing, and it will get out.” I did that with a Kenwood 120 and an antenna tuner made by another company, which was a manual antenna tuner, but the swr didn’t come down, I had RFI issues because of it. Then, I got the KX3 with the greatest antenna tuner EVER, which was included, because I wanted that tuner in the KX3, and that piece of rg213 coax has been in 6 contests, and worked 74 contacts, at anywhere from 5 through 15 watts!!!! Now, my friend, Rick, wo8m, has the kat500, and what a tuner! Tunes everything from 10 through 40, and he’s using the Kenwood TS590, for a rig, connected to that tuner!
    From now on, I will ONLY recommend Elecraft antenna tuners, and NO OTHERS!!!

    — Trippy Brown

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