On May 28, 2006, at 10:47 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:
We end up with something perhaps 10 X 18
inches. Now we build the radio behind it. A transceiver like the
K2/100
probably wouldn't require more than an inch or two deep covering an
area
that large. Put everything on one huge PC board so all the parts
are easily
accessible for service and general "poking around". Now to put in
in a good
position for human operation. Hold it up at about a 50 to 80 degree
angle to
the desk. Use a "foot" at the bottom not unlike flat panel
displays. Put the
power/antenna/key/mic/computer/etc connectors in the foot so the
cables run
directly off the desk.
This sounds a lot like the most recent iMac design, which basically
looks like a 5 cm thick flat panel display. (look ma, where's the
computer?)
10 x 18 inches seems huge. Let's see if we can define a few
parameters. How small can knobs get and still be comfortably
manipulated by normal hands? Seems like the standard radios in my
youth all had 1/2" diameter knobs, and they were spaced at least 1
3/4" inches apart or more. So, the ones on the K2 are probably too
small, and too close together.
How many knobs do we need? If we use the K2 as an example we have:
main tuning, RIT/XIT offset, AF Gain, Keyer speed, RF Gain, Power. I
would argue that I don't need power in a knob. It could easily be,
for me, a menu setting. (Or maybe something where I hold down one
button down and rotate the big knob to set) I don't change my power
level that often. It's usually set to 100 watts or 25-60 watts (if
I'm running RTTY or powering the amp).
What other knobs would you have on a K2-like radio? (I would have the
RIT/XIT offset by an encoder, instead of a pot, but I can't think of
anything else I need as a knob)
What are the parameters for the buttons? Seems like the K2 buttons
are plenty big enough to me, and they are spaced appropriately,
although it might be easier if they were a few mm further apart. I
certainly agree that the dual-function nature of the K2 buttons is
pretty hard to get used to at first. One problem I continue to have
is trying to press a secondary function repeatedly in order to step
through the options. For example, if I press AFIL several times to
select the DSP filter I want, sometimes I change XFIL. I think the
rule should be no secondary functions that have a sequence -- that
eliminates the repeated key-presses.
Probably the biggest killer for a K2-like radio is display size. The
K2 doesn't have quite enough indicators for my tastes. It's missing
indicators for AGC state, filter state, dsp state (filter, notch,
NR). And some of the indicators it has are too subtle - split state,
NB threshold. It also might be nice to show the second VFO frequency,
the RANT selection, the selected power level (especially if we
eliminated the knob above).
Even if we do all that, it seems that a K2-like radio would have a
front panel 3-4x the current size. I don't think that's as big as
18x10 inches.
Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
-- Wilbur Wright, 1901
_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [email protected]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
