W5QD et. al.,
Ken is referring to the following message, which essentially requests
a simple command-line firmware loader program. Note that this is NOT a
request for DNA level access to the radio's internals.
The communication protocols for most of the Elecraft radio functions
are described in the public documentation, enabling people to write their
own code for most functions. The firmware loading protocols, however, are
not. The only way to update the firmware (not generate our own!) is to
download and run platform specific GUI applications from Elecraft. For
most users running Windows or MacOS, this is fine: virtually all of these
users expect GUI software, have their computers directly connected to
their radios, and aren't aren't running on unusual computer hardware.
For those of us running Linux (or even more obscure operating
systems), a GUI application that only works on x86 machines that are
directly connected to the radio is awkward. My laptop and all of my shack
machines are ARM based, so when I need to upgrade my K3, I need to extract
it from all of its cables and haul it over to my x86 work machine. My
work machine is running 64bit linux, while the Elecraft tool is 32bit, so
I also need to install 32bit versions of several libraries to run it.
Similarly, all of my radio gear at home is actually hooked to a
serial-to-ethernet device, which is great for all of the software I use,
but not fine for K3Util, which expects to talk specifically to a directly
connected hardware serial port.
There are several approaches to solving this problem. The first is
to ask Elecraft to provide more versions of their software: can I get an
x86_64 build? ARM7 please! Actually, I use my Android for everything ...
can I get an Android app? Fortunately, we recognize that Elecraft is a
/radio/ company, /not/ a consumer software company, and we don't want to
ask them to spend time supporting dozens of firmware loaders. Ideally, we
would like to see or, with access to the protocol documentation, develop
an open-source library for updating the firmware. Then we can build our
own firmware loaders for whatever platforms we choose.
Recognizing that this may be asking for proprietary and/or licensed
information, Bruce has suggested a middle ground -- offer a simple "glue"
interface (a command line firmware loading tool) that would be much
simpler for Elecraft to build for lots of different platforms and would be
more in line with the linux philosophy of starting with light weight
command line tools, and adding far more difficult to develop and maintain
GUIs on top as desired.
Perhaps a simpler option would be to offer a library or command line
tool in a portable format that still obscures the proprietary protocol
implementation. Java is a good candidate for this, as there are Java VMs
for practically every platform out there.
-kb7psg
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2016 17:52:34
From: Bruce Nourish <[email protected]>
To: Elecraft Reflector <[email protected]>
Subject: [Elecraft] Feature request: Command line firmware updater
Hi folks,
As the subject suggests, I'd like to put in a feature request, for a
simple, command line firmware updater tool, for all applicable Elecraft
rigs. To update the firmware on my KX3 and PX3, I need to download and set
up two separate programs, most of whose functionality I won't ever need.
Such a tool would be easy for Elecraft to write and maintain, and would be
easy to make work on different platforms, which brings me to the next part
of this feature request. I'd like to be able to run this tool both on my
Intel Linux machines, and my Raspberry Pi, which is hooked up to my KX3
and PX3 whenever my KX3 is home. Cross-compiling such a simple tool should
also be pretty easy.
I'm sure there are other people who're in similar situations, and would
appreciate something to address these use cases. Firmware updates are one
of the few things where you can't roll-your-own.
Thanks.
Bruce
On Fri, 8 Apr 2016, Ken G Kopp wrote:
Wayne and Eric:
PLEASE don't cave in to the requests of those on the reflectors who are
asking you to disclose the "genetic makeup" of their radios by
publishing the software that would enable anyone to modify how a given
radio operates.
I see this as no different than a breeder of a thoroughbred breed of dog
opening the pen and letting all comers mate with the females. You would
end up with a "contaminated" breed.
I envision an increased workload at Elecraft in dealing with the
customers who manage to "mess up" their radio's "brains" and want help
in restoring them to the original state. Nothing but non-profit
overhead.
I would be wary ... read "never" ... of buying a used Elecraft product
for fear that it's genetic makeup had been altered and really wasn't an
Elecraft anymore.
Perhaps I'm not understanding something ...
73!
Ken Kopp - K0PP
Full K-line, KX3, PX3, KXPA100, K2/100, W2's, etc.
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