# Elecraft
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{{Short description|American radio manufacturer}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{advert|date=June 2018}}
{{primary sources|date=June 2018}}
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{{Infobox company
| name = Elecraft Inc.
| logo =
| type = Amateur radio manufacturer
| founded = 1998
| hq_location = [Watsonville, California](/source/Watsonville%2C_California), U.S.A
| industry = Amateur radio
| website = http://www.elecraft.com/
}}
thumb|Elecraft KX3
thumb|Elecraft K2
thumb|Elecraft K3
'''Elecraft, Inc.''' is an American manufacturer of [amateur radio](/source/amateur_radio) equipment and kits based in [Watsonville, California](/source/Watsonville%2C_California). It was founded in 1998 by Wayne Burdick and Eric Swartz.[{{cite web|author=Elecraft|title=About Elecraft|url=http://www.elecraft.com/about_elecraft.htm|accessdate=11 March 2012}}] The company's first product was the K2 transceiver, prototyped in October 1997.[{{cite web|author=Wayne Burdick|title=Elecraft History|url=https://www.mail-archive.com/elecraft%40mailman.qth.net/msg115050.html}} Retrieved 2014-07-13]
== Products ==
thumb|Elecraft P3 Panadapter
The company is known for the Elecraft K3 high-performance [HF](/source/high_frequency) [transceiver](/source/transceiver), a 32-bit DSP based radio covering HF plus the 6-[meter](/source/metre) [VHF](/source/very_high_frequency) band and the 160-meter [MF](/source/medium_frequency) band, introduced in 2008. The K3 was well-received by the amateur radio community.[{{cite web|url=http://www.elecraft.com/K3/k3_arrl_review_jan09.pdf|author=QST|title=Elecraft K3/100 HF and 6 Meter Transceiver|publisher=[American Radio Relay League](/source/American_Radio_Relay_League)|date=January 2009|accessdate=12 March 2012|archive-date=13 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713233304/http://www.elecraft.com/K3/k3_arrl_review_jan09.pdf|url-status=dead}}] At the time of its introduction, the K3 ranked highest in Sherwood Engineering's receiver tests.[{{cite web |author=Sherwood Engineering Inc. |title=Receiver Test Data |url=https://community.flexradio.com/discussion/7888236/rob-sherwood-ranks-yaesu-ftdx-101-as-the-new-number-one#:~:text=Rob%20Sherwood%20Ranks%20Yaesu%20FTdx%2D101%20as%20the%20New%20Number%20One!,-Larry%20%2D%20WA7LZO%20Member&text=Rob%20Sherwood%20has%20just%20ranked,the%20%2415%2C000%20Icom%20IC%2D7850! |accessdate=May 22, 2019 |website=FlexRadio}}][{{Cite web |date=2024-03-01 |title=Elecraft K3 - Transceiver for Amateur Radio Enthusiasts - Ruckus Radio USA |url=https://ruckusradiousa.com/elecraft-k3-transceiver-for-amateur-radio-2/ |access-date=2024-07-26 |language=en-US}}]
Elecraft's product lineup includes [QRP](/source/QRP_operation) [CW](/source/continuous_wave) transceivers, the K2 and K3 all-mode 100[W](/source/Watt) transceivers, KX2 (80m-10m) and KX3 (160m–2m) portable transceivers, [linear power amplifiers](/source/linear_amplifier), [panadapters](/source/Radio_spectrum_scope), and accessories including antenna tuners and [signal generator](/source/signal_generator)s.
Elecraft introduced "mechanical assembly only" (or "[no solder](/source/Soldering)") kits with the K3 line of products, allowing enthusiasts to add new electronic elements to preassembled [printed circuit boards](/source/Printed_circuit_board), although kit construction remained complex.[{{Cite book |last=Hallas |first=Joel R. |url=https://archive.org/details/radioamateurswor00unse_1/ |title=The Radio Amateur's Workshop |publisher=[American Radio Relay League](/source/American_Radio_Relay_League) |year=2015 |location=Connecticut, United States}}]{{Rp|page=|location=Ch. 2, pg. 2}} Prior to the K3, models were available as solder-needed assembly kits.[{{Cite magazine |last=Arey |first=T. J. |date=January 2002 |title=The KFL1-4 Four-Band Module for the Elecraft K1 Transceiver |url=https://archive.org/details/qrpquarterlyjour43unse/ |url-access=registration |access-date=26 June 2024 |magazine=QRP Quarterly |publisher=QRP Amateur Radio Club International |pages=20–21 |volume=43 |issue=1}}]
The KX3 transceiver is a portable [software-defined radio](/source/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 for operation.[{{cite web |url=https://swling.com/blog/2013/07/a-review-of-the-elecraft-kx3-a-world-class-transceiver-superb-shortwave-receiver/ |author=Thomas Witherspoon|title=Review of the Elecraft KX3: World-class Transceiver, Superb Shortwave Receiver|date=14 July 2013 }}]
The company's "K-Line" includes the K3 transceiver, the KPA500 500W solid-state power amplifier, the KAT500 automatic antenna tuner, and the P3 panadapter.[{{cite web|author=Fred Cady|title=K-Line Introduction|url=http://www.ke7x.com/home/k-line-introduction-and-set-up-guide|accessdate=2014-06-09}}] The P3SVGA add-on for the P3 displays panadapter data on a large screen, and the W2 HF/VHF/UHF wattmeter are sometimes considered part of the K-Line. Elecraft has also introduced the "KX-Line" consisting of the KX2 and KX3 transceivers, the PX3 panadapter, and the KXPA100 100W power amplifier.[{{cite web|author=QSO Today|title=A conversation with N6KR|url=http://www.qsotoday.com/podcasts/n6kr|accessdate=2014-10-09}}]
In 2015, Elecraft introduced the K3S Transceiver to replace the K3 Transceiver. The K3S features new or upgraded components, most of which can be retrofitted to older K3 models.[{{cite web|author=qrznow.com|title=New Elecraft K3S|url=http://qrznow.com/new-elecraft-k3s-rumors-dayton-hamvention-2015/|access-date=2015-08-21|archive-date=2021-12-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202012229/https://qrznow.com/new-elecraft-k3s-rumors-dayton-hamvention-2015/|url-status=dead}}]
The K3S is currently ranked 4th in overall performance by Sherwood Engineering company.[{{cite web|author=sherweng.com|title=Receiver Test Data|url=http://www.sherweng.com/table.html}}]
In 2017 Elecraft introduced the KPA1500, a 1500 watt (full U.S. legal limit) amplifier. The KPA1500 covers the 160 through 6 meter bands. Its key feature is a built-in wide-range antenna tuning unit (ATU). The amplifier's power supply is housed in a separate enclosure, resulting in a relatively compact RF deck/control unit.
The K4 transceiver, successor to the K3, was first publicly displayed in 2019.[{{Cite magazine |last=Hart |first=Peter |date=January 2022 |title=Elecraft K4D HF & 50 MHz transceiver |url=https://archive.org/details/radcomjan202200unse/ |url-access=registration |access-date=26 June 2024 |department=Reviews |magazine=[RadCom](/source/RadCom) |pages=58–62}}] Shipment was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but began in early 2021. At launch, some functions were not fully implemented, and [firmware](/source/firmware) updates were frequent.[{{Cite magazine |last=Naumann |first=Robert |date=September 2022 |title=Elecraft K4D HF/6M SDR Transceiver |url=https://archive.org/details/qstseptember202200unse/ |url-access=registration |access-date=26 June 2024 |magazine=[QST](/source/QST) |pages=39–44 |volume=106 |issue=9}}] The K4 offers improved sound quality compared to the K3.