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Reviews For: Elecraft Repair & Alignment by W3DVX

Category: Amateur Radio Equipment Repair

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Review Summary For : Elecraft Repair & Alignment by W3DVX
Reviews: 133MSRP: 95/hr. Const: contact for quote
Description:
Williamsport, PA. W3DVX since 1955; Amateur Extra since 1957. Built dozens of Heathkits and many K2s. Electrical Engineer (computer h/w & s/w).In addition to building new kits, will finish kits for you if you need help. Repair of legacy Elecraft K1, K2, and especially K3/K3S products. Reasonable rates and quick turn-around. Satisfaction guaranteed.
Product is in production
More Info: http://WilcoxEngineering.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
251335
N0ASL Rating: 2022-03-11
Ideal repair service. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I came into an Elecraft K2 last year and while it didn't seem to have any major issues I wanted someone to give it a checkup. Alan provided a professional and prompt service with great communication over the phone and via email. I would not hesitate to request his services in the future.
WX0B Rating: 2022-02-28
Alan Wilcox / Wilcox Engineering Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Alan, took my early SN K3, which was intermittent, no RX, no PA output on and off, and made it solid. He communicated with me with several updates on what he found and parts he had to order and the final break-through of a bad cable. Re calibrated it to factory specs and the rig has never worked better. Price was very fair. Highly recommended!
N1OVA Rating: 2022-02-25
Excellent repair service!! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Wilcox Engineering, Alan D Wilcox W3DVX, Williamsport, PA. Feb. 25, 2022
I bought a Elecraft KPA500 HF amplifier from an estate sale and was disappointed to find that it was completely dead when I connected it to my exciter, plugged it into 115 vac and pressed the “ON” button. I discussed this problem with my ham friends and got suggestions from the Elecraft user group forum. I appreciate all of the help, but nothing suggested improved the problem. I knew that the repair was not within the scope of my abilities, and considered sending the amp to the Elecraft service folks in CA. However, I have heard that the time needed by the Elecraft repair folks was not quick, and it is a long ride from NH to CA and back. So, I checked the eHam reviews and found Wilcox Engineering mentioned with many positive comments.
I emailed Wilcox and received a prompt reply saying that he could work on my KPA500. I double boxed the amp and mailed it to Alan. He acknowledged receipt of the box and about a week later called saying that he had opened the amp and discovered that it needed several transistors in the power supply. He ordered these from Elecraft and, after a week or so called to let me know that the repair was complete and the amp was working.
The amp was returned quickly and I connected it yesterday and tested it. It works just as it should. Thanks Alan!! The cost was reasonable, the communication was excellent, and the turnaround time was not bad, and I am very pleased. I will rate Mr. Wilcox’s service as excellent plus, and recommend him to other Elecraft owners.
73 N1OVA
Sam
N7RCS Rating: 2021-12-27
KX3 repair Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I highly recommend W3DVX repair services. I sent him my decade-old KX3 that had two minor issues. As soon as I contacted him via email, Dr. Wilcox, who is a professional engineer, called me to discuss the issues to better understand what was going on. Both issues were resolved, and the radio was returned quickly. Dr. Wilcox takes a very personalized approach to his work and takes care to ensure you are satisfied.
N4TMM Rating: 2021-10-15
Excellent Repair on my K2 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I built my K2 last year, and it had a few instability problems. I sent it off to Elecraft to deal with those, and also to redo the calibration and alignment after that. I got the radio back and it continued to be unstable - would drift in frequency, and actual frequency off 100, sometimes 200Hz from what the display indicated. I recently heard about Alan Wilcox in an email thread, fortunately. We consulted by emails and calls about how my radio was acting, and I sent the radio to him with a written description of the problem. He found that a spacer on one of the inductors in the PLL section was partially conductive as supplied by the manufacturer, and a couple of other problems. I got the radio back from Alan 10 days after sending it to him, and now it is as stable as a rock. Look at his site and you will see that Alan is not your average radio repair person - has taught at university level, written books, including on the 68000 processor back in the day, done many other impressive things in science and technology. I strongly recommend that if you are having problems with your Elecraft radio, consult with Alan and consider sending him your radio.
W0HY Rating: 2021-09-18
The best - K2 build Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had a partially built K2 kit from 10 years ago. Alan completed it quickly and now it is in operation instead of in parts in a box! Well worth the expense.

Alan's communications, response and resulting work are as good as it gets. I enjoyed working with him.

I also think it was well worth the price to have the K2 on the air. Was a great decision to get it build.

I highly recommend Alan and the K2 is a pleasure to operate.

If I ever need an additional build or repair- I will send to Alan without a 2nd thought.
W5CEM Rating: 2021-04-26
Great experience... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
My K3#1931 went off to PA and came home better than new. Alan and I talked about available mods, didn’t need them all, so he did all I asked for and a few I needed. Great communications along the way, fast turnaround and very reasonable rates! Packed well for the trip back! Hope the rig never needs his services again, but if it does, off to Alan it goes!
W0XXX Rating: 2021-04-25
He's the GUY! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Sent my K2 for an upgrade (which wasn't needed) and a general health check.

He communicates like other vendors should, he's a pleasure to deal with and actually cares about getting your rig right.

He offers fast turn around, and knows his craft.

Send your rigs to him with confidence.
KC8QMF Rating: 2021-04-15
Excellent Repair Job Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I sent my K2 to Mr. Alan Wilcox and had it returned to me in excellent working order. His communications were prompt and cordial. Turn around time was fast, and a complete report on what was done to my rig was included.
Mr. Alan Wilcox has very reasonable repair rates also. If your K2 or K3 is in need of repair, this is person I would start with first. All of these eHam 5 star reviews tell the stories of Alan's skill and workmanship.... Thanks Alan for all of your help!
K2JHU Rating: 2021-03-19
Great service. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
First let me say that Alan is a gentlemen and a pleasure to work with. I have had my K2 for about 6 months or so but was never impressed with it regarding to sound quality. It worked OK but… One day recently while contacting a net operator that I talk to many times he told me that he could hardly copy me and the audio quality was very bad. A while later I happened to come across a E-Ham review regarding Alan Wilcox so I sent him an E-Mail outlining my K2 problems. He called me a couple of days later, it was the weekend and we had a great conversation. On Monday, 1/4/2021 I sent him my K2 which he received on 1/8/2021. On Saturday or Sunday, the 9th or 10th I received a call from Alan letting me know what some of the problems were and I told him to go ahead with the repairs. The radio was shipped back on the 11th and I received is on the 15th. So how did it work. Well in summary I have a great working and sounding K2 which is now my keeper. Thank you Alan for a job very well done.