Are you talking barebones FT8, or one of the extensions that allows freeform conversation?
Are you planning on relegating CW/SSB/etc. to a "nice-to-have" usability-wise, or are you trying to keep those usable while making digital modes more intuitive and straightforward? I would want both the latters in a product I'd buy. I'd love to see a hybrid UI like the KX3 + PX3, but with a drastically more sophisticated UI on the panadapter side. I don't want my radio and computer in the same box, but I'd *love* a compact, purpose-built computer for digital modes, logging, and so on. (I'd generally caution you against buying or making all-in-one devices, since if one part breaks, you've gotta send the entire thing in for service.) Really, if you're okay with a KX2 or KX3 hanging off the side, you could do most of this with a RPi (or your favorite single-board computer) and a 7" or 10" display and a few adapters for audio and radio control and a bunch of software work. I don't think it's realistic for Elecraft to cram every new digital mode into the firmware for every rig they've ever made (although I would be more than happy to provide a wishlist!), but something like this could be a good compromise between "your choice of RTTY, PSK31, or PSK63" and "schlep an entire laptop and a bunch of wires. Cheers, Julie On Sun, Feb 21, 2021, 22:37 Doug Millar via Elecraft < [email protected]> wrote: > I have been wondering for some time- How will FT8 change ham radio > equipment? Right off I imagine a radio and computer in one box maybe with > the display. (FT8 should vastly simplify the first interface with the > radio, with menus reaching deeper into its control. Most of today's designs > are not well enough integrated and I think are hampered by preconceptions. > Nor do they take advantage of graphic user interfaces that are common in > say cell phones. I think it could be one box with voice and touch control > with keyboard and mouse optional. How about an internal projector so that > the screen can be projected onto another surface making monitors optional? > If it is going to be worth it, It has to be not different but do things > differently. > Has anyone else had any thoughts? > Doug K6JEY > > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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]
