Hi all,
While working on the next revision of the owner's manual, I've been
thinking that it gives a decidedly top-down (deductive) look at the
K3's controls and features. But for many people, a bottom-up
(inductive) approach leads to quicker results.
Imagine if, as a new user of the K3, you could have an "expert" looking
over your shoulder. He could step you through a series of actions to
set the radio up for a particular operating scenario, pointing out the
rig's powerful features along the way.
This is the idea behind "operating scripts." I'm imagining one or
two-page .html documents that can be either viewed on-line or printed.
Each would have a very specific title, something like:
K3 Operating Script: CW DXing on 40 m
And an introduction, e.g.:
This script will step you through a typical weak-signal DXing session
with the K3, in this case on 40 m. This band offers several unique
challenges (QRN, QRM) and opportunities (like gray-line long-path to
Asia or Africa). It's a great vehicle for demonstrating the K3's
noise blanking and filtering, as well as diversity receive with the
sub receiver.... (etc.)
It might be formatted as a table with two columns. The first would
provide unambiguous instructions, and the second could provide expected
observations, variations on commands, or helpful tips. Here's an
example:
------------- Action ------------- ----------------- Notes
------------------
Switch to 40 m by tapping BAND UP/DN Also try: FREQ ENT, '7000',
'<-' on keypad
Tap MODE UP/DN to get to CW mode
Hold NORM (hold function of SHIFT/LO Sets overall passband to 400
Hz; "wings" appear
knob) on the DSP graphic to show
passband is normalized
Etc.
Here's where your creativity comes in! Lead the new user through a
typical session, dealing with The Dragon, searching for DX, narrowing
down the passband using WIDTH, NORM ALT1/2, or presets I/II, notching
out big broadcast station carriers.... you get the idea.
I haven't thought it through much beyond that. But it's safe to say
that we'd accept accurate (tested) scripts from K3 owners and create a
page for them on our web site.
If you'd like to try your hand at this, feel free to send an example
script to me, and also copy it to Greg (AB7R), ab7r AT cablespeed DOT
com.
Some scripts I'd like to see:
- 6 meter FM and repeaters
- Making the most of stereo speakers/phones (AFX, etc.)
- Pileup management in SPLIT mode
- Exploring the filter passband controls
- Filter setup: CONFIG menu vs. K3 Utility
- RTTY QSOs without a computer
- Setting up and using PC soundcard I/O
73,
Wayne, N6KR
---
http://www.elecraft.com
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