K4 beta software release 19 is now available. Release notes are provided below.
They can also be viewed at the K4 itself from within the update app.
This release has significant improvements and is recommended for all K4 owners.
To install the beta software, make sure you have an ethernet connection, then:
1. Tap Fn, then hold UPDATE
2. Use the pulldown menu at the top of the screen to select Beta Release (if
you didn't have this selected already).
3. Tap Check for Updates. This downloads the new code but does not do the
installation. This gives you an opportunity to optionally tap "Release Notes"
and read the notes first.
4. When you're ready to do the installation, tap "Install".
NOTE: If the status area shows error messages of any kind, try doing the
install a second time. You may have had an older version of the update app
itself, in which case a second install should complete the process.
73,
Wayne
N6KR
* * *
K4 SOFTWARE RELEASE NOTES
====================
==== RELEASE 19 ====
====================
6-23-2021
MAX AF GAIN INCREASED.
MAX VOICE MONITOR LEVEL INCREASED.
DATA MONITOR LEVEL BUG FIX: Previously, the lowest active level (1) was too
loud. Also increased max value.
K-POD SWITCH MACRO PROGRAMMING: In the K4's built-in macro editor, K-Pod
switches now listed as 1 tap, 1 hold, 2 tap, 2 hold, etc.
DYNAMIC RANGE ICON: When MENU:RX Dyn. Range Optimization is set to ON, a new
icon appears to the right of the RIT/XIT box. The icon is a hybrid of the
capital letters 'D' and 'R'.
MORE PROMINENT ADC OVERFLOW INDICATION: In an extreme strong-signal situation,
it is possible to reach the highest voltage allowed by the A-to-D converter. In
this case the S-meter's "+60" label will change to "OVF" until the condition is
resolved. (Previously, the "+" sign in the label simply changed color.) In most
cases you won't hear any change in the receive audio when this occurs,
especially if it occurs rarely. But if it happens frequently, you may wish to
reduce the front-end gain of the affected receiver(s). The K4 can automatically
reduce gain incrementally in this situation; set MENU:RX Auto Attenuation to ON.
EXTERNAL REFERENCE LOCKING NOW MORE ACCURATE: When locked to an external
reference, the K4's VFOs should now be within +/- 1 Hz across the full tuning
range. Previously the reading was slightly high, as much as +5 Hz at 50 MHz
(0.1 ppm).
AGC PULSE REJECT IMPROVEMENTS: Previously, with MENU:AGC Noise Pulse Reject
set to ON, AGC was being modulated by noise and signals under some band
conditions. Now, the pulse reject threshold moves upward in response to strong
signals to prevent this from occurring. Note: In the presence of very strong
continuous noise, turn on the noise blanker. It is highly effective in this
case even at very low settings.
AGC DECAY RANGE EXPANDED: For example, MENU:AGC Decay, Slow can now be set as
low as 5 (very slow).
TRANSVERTER BANDS: Frequency memories and direct frequency entry now support
transverter bands (up to 99 GHz).
SOFTWARE UPDATE: Software update function now handles missing internet
connection correctly. Save/Restore function handles K-Pod macros. Button
debounce improved.
====================
==== RELEASE 18 ====
====================
6-8-2021
NEW STATUS DISPLAY -- TIME/TX: There's a new option for the status area
display: time (Z) and TX parameters (power and SWR). To select this option, tap
the status area (above the "?" Button), then tap TIME/TX.
TRANSVERTER BANDS: The K4 now has 12 user-programmable bands for use with
external transverters. Transverter bands must be set up prior to use using the
XVTR menu entries. The first XVTR menu entry specifies which of the 12 bands is
being set up. Once setup is complete, you can tap BAND > XVTR > XVTRn to switch
VFO A to a desired transverter band. Tap BAND > HF to go back to the last HF-6
m band. VFO B can be directly set to a transverter band by tapping BSET, then
the BAND button.
DUAL TRANSVERTER BAND RECEIVE: You can receive on two external transverters
simultaneously with a K4D. Set up one to use RX ANT 1 and the other to use XVTR
IN/RX ANT 2.
RX DYNAMIC RANGE OPTIMIZATION: By default, new menu entry "RX Dyn. Range
Optimization" is turned on. This configures the A-to-D converter for best
dynamic range. Turning this off may slightly improve sensitivity. At present
the setting applies to all bands; in a future release it may be settable
per-band.
VFO CURSORS CAN BE MOVED DURING TRANSMIT: If you move the VFOs during
transmit, the associated panadapter cursors will update, even though the
spectrum and waterfall remain frozen.
BUILT-IN KEYBOARD UPDATED: All extended punctuation keys are now grouped to
the right side of the keyboard. A new key has been added for tilde (~) and
single quote (').
FOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS: (1) SPLIT is now exited on receipt of and FR0 or FR1
command. (2) Added support for #ARM; #ARA; #AR/;. (3) Added transverter
selection and setup commands: XV, XVM, XVR, XVI, XVO, XVP commands.
====================
==== RELEASE 17 ====
====================
5-27-2021
DATA-MODE BANDWIDTH RESTORED: Data mode bandwidth is now correctly
saved/restored across power cycles.
RELEASE NOTES LISTING: When viewing release notes in the software update
screen, they now start at the beginning of the listing rather than at the end.
RECEIVE IMPROVEMENT: DSP code has been updated to suppress a 12 kHz offset
spur that could be observed above the noise floor with an extremely strong
signal (S9+40 or so).
FOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS: Add support for TD/; VT/; (fine toggle) and VT\;
(coarse toggle). Added K3 legacy switch translation for SWH49;SWT49;
====================
==== RELEASE 16 ====
====================
5-25-2021
TX DELAY SETTINGS: There is now only one TX DLY menu entry: TX DLY, Key Out to
RF Out. The delay range is 5 to 25 ms; default is 8 ms. NOTE: Use the smallest
value needed for external amp switching. 5 ms recommended for fast CW QSK speed
(this compatible with Elecraft amplifiers).
RECEIVE BANDWIDTH: Accuracy of FILTER BW control settings improved.
SSB AND ESSB TX BANDWIDTH: Completed TX SSB/ESSB bandwidth controls. Tap TX >
ESSB ON|OFF to turn ESSB on or off. The button to the left sets the SSB or TX
bandwidth independently. When ESSB is in effect, a "+" sign is added to the LSB
or USB mode indicator. Also, speech compression is turned off. NOTE: In regular
SSB modes, when speech compression (XMTR > CMP) is set to any value other than
0, the transmit bandwidth is reduced slightly to emphasize mid-range speech
components. In a future release this behavior will be adjustable.
====================
==== RELEASE 15 ====
====================
5-24-2021
10-KHZ LCD "WHINE" ELIMINATED.
MACRO EDITOR: Added initial support for macro command string creation and
editing. Tap Fn, then hold MACRO. Macros can be assigned to PF1-PF4, F1-F8, REM
ANT switch, and all 16 K-Pod switches. Refer to K4 Programmer's Reference for
command details. Full details on the macro editor will be available in the
operating manual on next update.
FOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS: Added support for "ping" over Ethernet. Added
commands NA/; SP/; BS/; TX/; FX/; DV/; DV\;. Added translations for legacy K3
switch emulation commands: SWH11; SWH14; SWT14; SWT16; SWH29; SWT29; SWH32;
SWT32; SWT33; SWT34; SWT42; SWT43; SWH50; SWT53; SWH58;. Fixed K-Pod RIT
control and screen capture issues.
SSB AND ESSB BANDWIDTH: The TX bandwidth can now be set for both SSB and ESSB
(Extended SSB). Tap TX > SSB BW to set bandwidth. Tap ESSB to turn ESSB mode
on/off.
PANADAPTER CURSORS: The cursors in the panadapter spectrum display now extend
into the waterfall during VFO movement.
SOFTWARE UPDATER UI IMPROVEMENTS: Improved feedback on switches and during
software update operations.
====================
==== RELEASE 14 ====
====================
5-14-2021
USB FLASH DRIVE UN-MOUNTS AUTOMATICALLY: When a USB flash drive is used for
screen captures, etc., it will be mounted/unmounted only when needed by the
associated function. This allows the drive to be removed without an explicit
unmount or eject action on the part of the user. It also prevents errors when
the USB drive is subsequently plugged into a Windows computer.
PANADAPTER CURSORS IN WATERFALL: Panadapter cursors in the waterfall area have
been restored. These appear only when the VFO is moved.
TX PARAMETER FLASH CORRECTED: Previously, TX parameters were being flashed in
the status area even when TX PARAM was not selected.
SUPPLY VOLTAGE READING FIXED: The voltage shown in the status area (when TX
PARAM is selected for status) now more accurately reflects the supply voltage
at the APP connector.
PA CURRENT READING ADJUSTED: Measured KPA4 current now accounts for copper
trace length at the ends of KPAIO4-R3, the .005 ohm PA current-sense resistor.
This improves accuracy of the total radio current shown in the status area
(when TX PARAM is selected), as well as separate PA current reading in the "All
Param" window.
FSK DTR SOURCE SELECTION: The DPU PCB hardware revision is now taken into
account when setting up the enable lines for FSK keying via DTR lines. This
will affect how external software is set up; see operating manual.
ADC OVERFLOW INDICATION: The "+" symbol in "+60" on the S-meter turns magenta
if the associated receiver's ADC hits overflow level. In previous releases this
was happening on some transitions from RX to TX. With this corrected, uers can
now set MENU:RX Auto Attenuation to ON if desired.
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