Yes, technology does advance. In addition to
"Perhaps a portion of the firmware can be user
updated. The user display for example." -- Maybe
there will be a way to fine tune the user as well.
That seems to be the weak point of many rigs (at
least my rigs!) :-)
Phil W7OX
On 4/12/14, 4:15 PM, Doug Person wrote:
I would rather continue to speculate on a K4.
The K2 is wonderful the way it is. Last I heard
Elecraft had a huge stockpile of parts for the
K2. So I would expect it to be around a few
more years. What more could you ask for in a
portable rig than the KX3 has to offer?
/If/ there is ever going to be a K4, I would
imagine it would go to the top of the market. A
4" to 5" full color TFT display with waterfall
and full digital information. Built-in PSK,
RTTY, CW and provisions for just about any
future technology - including digital voice.
Perhaps a portion of the firmware can be user
updated. The user display for example. Built-in
remote operation capability standard. Built-in
WiFi, Ethernet and Bluetooth.
Considering how far technology has progressed
since the K2 was designed, the possibilities are
mind-boggling.
Personally, I would love to see a K0. A very
small, single-band plug-able, digital-capable,
lithium-polymer powered, micro-transceiver I can
put in my coat pocket.
Anyway, that's my 2 cents.
Doug -- K0DXV
On 4/11/2014 11:40 PM, Michael Poteet wrote:
Having noticed the recent semiannual K4
speculation I wanted to offer
speculation in a different direction.
The K2 was originally offered as a true kit
that, upon completion, provided
a radio capable of both home use and trail use.
The trail/remote and home use capabilities have
been supplanted by the other
radios in the Elecraft stable.
The only really unique feature of the K2 is
that it is a true kit; that
said, it is a bit behind the curve in tech plus
it is a major PITB to
"align".
I would like to see Elecraft revisit the K2
(well, not exactly):
01) Keep it a kit as much as possible. So
maybe RF and AF sections could be
kits (at least partially).
02) Fully assembled as an option.
03) Make the "middle" a high performance SDR;
factory assembled and aligned.
04) 6 KHz band pass filter in the first IF with
the DSP doing the remaining
filtering functions.
05) Include a 12 volt to (say) 60 volt
conversion to power a "high voltage"
RF section.
06) 100 watts output.
07) No FM but add 6 meters.
08) Include Digital Voice as a mode. Pick one
of the Open Source
implementations. Make it an "App"; Elecraft
would maintain the latest
source code and latest "compiled" App; anyone
who wished could modify and
install their own version; might be an area
where Amateurs could contribute
something meaningful.
09) Competent single receiver (with RIT) but
not necessarily (in Japanese
radio jargon) "Competition Grade".
10) Very competent transmit (with XIT): no
splatter, no clicks, no noise.
11) Put it all inside a "big" box in the style
of the best looking piece of
Ham Radio gear ever designed: the Collins 75A4.
12) Real "Collins" style knobs , real "bat
handle" toggle switches.
13) Only a few radio functions need constant,
easy access, tie those to the
big knobs and toggle switches.
14) Note the switches and controls would only
tell a DSP or MCU to take some
action. I'm not talking multi-pole, multi-gang
rotary switches.
15) Preassembled wire bundles to attach the
front panel controls and
switches to the main unit (with quick
disconnect to allow easy removal).
16) Add a 5-inch color touch screen display
(like my Garmin GPS) in the
middle of the front panel with a nice size,
high inertia tuning knob for
freq control.
17) Put the ancillary functions on the
(multi-page) touch screen.
18) The touch screen pages should be tab
accessible; with user definable
pages.
19) Embed this all inside the "75A4 Cabinet":
nice size box, mostly air
inside but with room to add additional features
(maybe even a decent
speaker).
20) This is not meant to be a DXpedition,
mountaintop, contest box; just a
desktop system that you could turn on with a
(toggle) switch, select your
band with a rotary switch, select your mode
with a rotary switch, touch the
tab on the touch screen to verify your
audio/keyer/data settings then kick
back and operate. Toggle switches for AGC
On/Off, AGC Fast/Slow, Noise
Blanker On/Off, Noise Reduction On/Off, rotary
controls for receive bandpass
width and shift, so on. Touch screen pages to
set/adjust the characteristics
of the Noise Reduction, Noise Blanker, AGC,
etc. Switched LCD meter to
provide S-meter, power, audio level, whatever.
OK, OK, OK.I know it can never happen:
1) No one would want one.
2) It would be too big.
3) It wouldn't be big enough.
4) Elecraft doesn't have the financial
resources to develop such a device.
5) Purchase price would be too high.
6) Besides it would take engineering talent
away from the development of the
K4, the 1500 watt solid state amp, the VHF to
near-infrared transceiver, the
Elecraft EPad, etc.
But, it would be a really neat rig: very
"Retro" look with a high tech
heart.
Mike W5FTD
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