For less than $10 you can buy a little WiFi adapter that plugs into a
USB port. For example:
https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-TL-WN725N-wireless-network-Adapter/dp/B008IFXQFU/
Alan N1AL
On 5/20/19 8:24 PM, Brian Denley wrote:
Wayne:
When you mention that the K4 has Ethernet (which means cables to me), it must
also have WiFi if you can control with tablets, no?
Brian
KB1VBF
Sent from my iPad
On May 20, 2019, at 8:39 PM, Wayne Burdick <[email protected]> wrote:
Charlie, K3ICH, wrote:
OK, So why should I [pejorative deleted] my IC-7610 for a K4?
Hi Charlie,
The '7610 is an impressive and capable radio. We have one in our shop and have
put it on the air.
It's a bit of apples/oranges comparison to the K4, though. Since you asked ...
here are some K4 characteristics to consider:
* Controls -- The K4's UI is quite different, borrowing heavily from the K3, but with an
infusion of versatility due to the 7" display. It has the widest available viewing angle
and is very bright. (K4 tire-kickers at Dayton were extremely complimentary about the display,
which was gratifying after 200 or so iterations on the concept drawing by yours truly.) There
are three multifunction knobs (not just one), each mapped to a semantic group, e.g.
"XMIT". Their functions adapt to the current operating mode, etc. On the right side
of the radio there are three 400-count, ball-bearing drive optical shaft encoders, for VFO A,
VFO B, and RIT/XIT offset. No need to multi-task one or two controls. Bottom line: ease of
use. If you do get stuck, there's a built-in help system.
* Dynamic range -- The K4 is a direct-sampling, dual-receiver radio in its base
configuration. But those in high-signal environments can add the dual superhet
module to realize a 20 to 25 dB improvement in headroom (blocking dynamic
range) over any radio that is direct-sampling only. This is the same delta as,
for example, a K3S vs. any other non-superhet on Sherwood's list.
* Portability -- The K4 weighs only about 10 pounds, draws only about 2 amps on
RX, and can run down to 11 volts. It will try to drag you off to a Field Day
site or remote island if not bolted to your desk.
• Remote control -- The K4 comes with remote-control via Ethernet built in. One
K4 can controlled by another, or by a tablet or PC. Eric must have demonstrated
this 500 times at Dayton and I daresay he's getting good at it.
* Modularity -- We segregated the K4's modules in such a way as to facilitate
easy update to units in the field if/when new tech becomes available. For
example, we could quickly and cost-effectively incorporate a new ADC or DAC.
Call it planned non-obsolescence. This the 20th anniversary of the K2, and the
10th anniversary of the K3. Both are still shipping.
* Extensibility -- In addition to the HDR module, the user will be able to add a VHF/UHF
module, which in turn could morph in the future. This philosophy extends to software as
well, given the K4's general-purpose computing module [not Windows]. I like to think of
it as our "app engine," limited only by the imagination of our software team
and other talented contributors.
* External monitor output -- HDMI, not DVI. (To each his own?)
* Tuning aid -- The "mini-pan" is one of our favorite features of the K4. When
you tap on a signal you don't just get a geometric magnification of the main panadapter's
pixels; you get a re-sampled, high-resolution spectral display of as narrow as +/- 1 kHz
(varying per mode). This is great for signal auto-spotting and left/right peak search.
The mini-pan is per-receiver and can either be turned on automatically or by tapping
either S-meter.
• IO -- The K4's IO is a superset of the K3's, meaning it comes with all of the
analog and control I/O you might need as well as 4 USB ports, Ethernet, etc.
* Antenna sources -- There are up to 3 ATU antenna jacks and up to 5 receive
antenna inputs.
73,
Wayne
N6KR
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