A modular 160-through-6-meter direct-sampling radio with a seven-inch touchscreen, Ethernet, extensive I/O, two receive slices and owner-installable upgrade paths
Market statusCurrent modular 100W direct-sampling base radioChecked Aug 16
Reference price$6,148.95 current factory-assembled 100W referenceCurrent Elecraft K4 direct configuration reference
Next full checkAug 23, 2026Price checks run sooner
01
Ready to buy
Confirm the exact machine and complete setup
The retained reference is $6,148.95 current factory-assembled 100W reference. Save the exact configuration and confirm KPA4 power, optional KAT4 tuner, microphone, supply, shipping and upgrade installation before comparing totals. Confirm the current configuration, included parts, support path, return terms and the work that must be preserved before ordering.
Buying stageMarket familiarity
02
Current market
The facts that change the ownership choice
Each line carries its own check date because price, software, specifications, and product cycle do not age at the same speed.
QuestionCurrent answerFreshnessBasis
Current price
$6,148.95 current factory-assembled 100W reference
Save the exact configuration and confirm KPA4 power, optional KAT4 tuner, microphone, supply, shipping and upgrade installation before comparing totals. Confirm the checkout price and package before paying.
Checked todayDirect source1 evidence item
Market branch
Modular premium base and remote station
Checked todayOur synthesis2 evidence items
Purchase boundary
The base K4 shares one ADC and bandpass-filter bank between its receive paths, the KAT4 tuner is optional and the configured price rises with power, tuner and diversity hardware; K4D is a substantive upgrade, not a cosmetic package. Transmitting requires the applicable amateur license and current frequency, mode and power privileges. Assess RF exposure for the actual power, duty cycle, feed-line loss, antenna gain and accessible areas; keep antennas clear of utility lines; and include suitable feed line, grounding, bonding, lightning protection and protected AC or DC power in the station plan.
Checked todayOur synthesis2 evidence items
RF coverage and output
160 through 6 meters with nominal 100W in the K4/100 configuration; a 10W configuration and later power upgrade are separate choices
Checked todayDirect source2 evidence items
Receiver architecture
Base K4 offers main and sub receive slices through one ADC and filter bank; K4D adds a second ADC and filters for diversity and separate antennas
Checked todayDirect source2 evidence items
DC power and heat
11 to 15V DC, about 2 to 3A on receive and up to about 23A transmit requires a separately chosen high-current supply
Checked todayDirect source2 evidence items
Antenna and tuner path
KAT4 automatic tuner is optional and adds three antenna jacks; the ordered configuration must state whether it is present
Checked todayDirect source2 evidence items
Current verdict
The modular premium station
K4 suits an operator who values firmware growth, remote control and field-serviceable modular upgrades and will specify the exact 100W, tuner and receiver configuration.
Checked todayOur synthesis7 evidence items
Controls and portability
Seven-inch touch display, mouse support and full front controls fit a fixed station in an approximately 10-pound chassis that remains transportable
Checked todayDirect source2 evidence items
Data and remote
Ethernet, four USB ports, video output and broad analog control I/O support full remote control and integration without erasing software and network dependencies
Checked todayDirect source2 evidence items
Configured ownership boundary
Price varies materially with 10W or 100W power, KAT4, K4D upgrade, microphone, speaker, supply, carrying case and station accessories
Checked todayOur synthesis2 evidence items
Firmware and service
Elecraft published K4 production firmware R38 in June 2026 and documents user-installable K4-to-K4D and power or tuner upgrades, manuals and direct support
Checked todayDirect source2 evidence items
03
Other paths
The alternatives change what the K4 is worth
These are not generic competitors. Each one represents a different way to buy into the same market.
01lower upfront
Yaesu
FTDX101D
$3,549.95 current U.S. price after mail-in rebate
Best fit
Dual-receiver hybrid-SDR flagship
Tradeoff
The chassis and price are justified by dual receive, preselection and contest or DX ergonomics, not by an expectation that a high lab position guarantees every weak contact or cures local noise. Transmitting requires the applicable amateur license and current frequency, mode and power privileges. Assess RF exposure for the actual power, duty cycle, feed-line loss, antenna gain and accessible areas; keep antennas clear of utility lines; and include suitable feed line, grounding, bonding, lightning protection and protected AC or DC power in the station plan.
$3,999.95 current U.S. version-32 retail reference
Best fit
Dual-receiver premium base station
Tradeoff
The premium pays for independent receive paths, antenna routing and station integration; a buyer who will not use simultaneous receive, split or remote workflows may be better served by a simpler 100W base radio. Transmitting requires the applicable amateur license and current frequency, mode and power privileges. Assess RF exposure for the actual power, duty cycle, feed-line loss, antenna gain and accessible areas; keep antennas clear of utility lines; and include suitable feed line, grounding, bonding, lightning protection and protected AC or DC power in the station plan.
Older observations stay in the ledger when the current view changes. That lets a buyer tell the difference between an old complaint, an active issue, and a problem that was corrected.
notable
Current market position retained
K4 was checked against its manufacturer record, the current category collection and the nearest ownership alternatives.
Price record
The price history starts here
Each amount stays tied to its source and capture date. Conflicting prices remain visible until the seller resolves them.
$6,148.95 current factory-assembled 100W reference
Current reference priceA structured timeline will begin with the next source capture
05
Owner experience
What repeats after the purchase
Owner discussion repeatedly returns to feature completion by firmware, remote workflow, tuner and receiver options, fan behavior, modular repairs and direct-support experience rather than specifications alone.
These are self-reported experiences from a changing mix of owners, conditions and software versions. They identify questions to test, not a failure rate. Propagation, antenna, feed line, local noise, station configuration, firmware and operator practice vary materially.
SignalWhat owners reportOur readEvidence
Feature completion by firmware, remote workflow, tuner and receiver options, fan behavior, modular repairs and direct-support experience
Current self-selected owner records across IC-7300MK2, IC-7300, IC-7610, IC-705, IC-7100, FT-710, FTDX10, FTDX101D, FT-891, FT-991A, TS-590SG, TS-890S, K4, KX2 and FLEX-8400M surface recurring interface, firmware, heat, noise, field-kit, remote, service and accessory questions. Reports are bounded prompts to verify, not reliability rates or proof of more contacts.
Compare only fully specified carts and current firmware behavior; owner reports across revisions can identify unresolved workflows but not a population failure rate.
1 evidence record
06
Sources
Why we believe the current view
The page separates what a source states directly from what we conclude across sources.
01
K4 product recordElecraft · identity
Elecraft identifies K4 as a modular 160-through-6-meter direct-sampling radio with a seven-inch touchscreen, Ethernet, extensive I/O, two receive slices and owner-installable upgrade paths
$6,148.95 current factory-assembled 100W reference was retained from the current manufacturer or authorized-market record with package and availability qualifications kept visible.
K4 support and specificationsElecraft · specification
Elecraft publishes setup, compatibility or service material that makes this purchase boundary explicit: The base K4 shares one ADC and bandpass-filter bank between its receive paths, the KAT4 tuner is optional and the configured price rises with power, tuner and diversity hardware; K4D is a substantive upgrade, not a cosmetic package. Transmitting requires the applicable amateur license and current frequency, mode and power privileges. Assess RF exposure for the actual power, duty cycle, feed-line loss, antenna gain and accessible areas; keep antennas clear of utility lines; and include suitable feed line, grounding, bonding, lightning protection and protected AC or DC power in the station plan.
Current U.S. HF transceiver and promotion recordsHam Radio Outlet · price
Current authorized-retail records distinguish radio identity, package contents, stock, regular and promoted price, rebate or coupon timing, RF coverage, output, DC demand, included microphone or speaker and separately priced supplies, tuners, interfaces and station accessories.
Receiver Test DataSherwood Engineering · specification
Repeatable receiver measurements cover many current HF radios under stated preamp, bandwidth, spacing and front-end conditions. The data can resolve defined close-signal and noise questions but cannot rank ergonomics, transmit quality, software, support, antennas or whole-station results.
ARRL's 2026 comparison database organizes standardized QST laboratory results and editorial reviews for transceivers tested since 2012, keeping measurement method, operating features and the meaning of each number together.
Current HF transceiver ownership recordseHam owner reviews · consensus
Current self-selected owner records across IC-7300MK2, IC-7300, IC-7610, IC-705, IC-7100, FT-710, FTDX10, FTDX101D, FT-891, FT-991A, TS-590SG, TS-890S, K4, KX2 and FLEX-8400M surface recurring interface, firmware, heat, noise, field-kit, remote, service and accessory questions. Reports are bounded prompts to verify, not reliability rates or proof of more contacts.
The manufacturer record, current market collection, support material and independent category evidence were checked on August 16, 2026. The checkout package and regional support path still need verification. Owner reports are retained as bounded experience, not a reliability rate. Transmitting requires the applicable amateur license and current frequency, mode and power privileges. Assess RF exposure for the actual power, duty cycle, feed-line loss, antenna gain and accessible areas; keep antennas clear of utility lines; and include suitable feed line, grounding, bonding, lightning protection and protected AC or DC power in the station plan. Contact distance and copy quality also depend on propagation, antenna, local noise, mode and operator practice.