I am still adding to my K2...but just dreaming...I would like to see a center detent on the RIT, a kx3 like display, except green, with both A/B VFOs displayed. A separate digital in/out like the K3, an updated DAC with finer resolution... And DSP controls like K3/KX3. I know get a KX3...not yet. Ok I would really dig a P2. Maybe one that also folds up and rests on top of the radio and when closed acts as a front panel cover. Or maybe one that slides out from under the radio, has touch screen keyboard, digital decode, and pan adapter. or folds out 4 ways like an SLR screen.
I still use my loaded K1 often, but always wanted a 20 turn VFO with a lock. I can't believe someone hasn't made And 80 or 40 thru 12m on one band board. KX1...like as is it but sometimes miss having 17-12m. Rob KA5QQA On Sat, Apr 12, 2014 at 12:40 AM, Michael Poteet <[email protected]> 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 > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[email protected] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to [email protected] > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [email protected]
