After extensive testing of intermediate Field Test and Beta releases, we've
promoted the K4 and the K4/0 software to Production status. For the K4, the
latest is R38.production, and for the K4/0, R3.production. We recommend
that all K4 and K4/0 users upgrade to these releases to stay current and to
take advantage of the latest features and improvements.
*TO INSTALL: *Use Fn -> UPDATE to bring up the update function, then use
the pulldown menu to select the latest production release. Tap "Check for
Updates" to switch to the R38 on the K4 or R3 on the K4/0. Once the new
software components are listed on the screen, tap "Install." The time
required for installation of new software can be from 1 to 10 minutes or
more, depending on when you last updated.
*IMPORTANT: *For K4 and K4/0s to interoperate seamlessly, they must both
be updated to the latest releases. This includes any third-party K4s you
may be connecting to. Please contact the owners of such K4s to coordinate
updates. You may also need to upgrade to the latest versions of any
third-party control apps.
*HIGHLIGHTS OF CHANGES SINCE LAST PRODUCTION RELEASE:*
- High-performance SSNR (Spectral Subtraction Noise Reduction)
- Full support for K4/0 Remote Panel and 3rd-party control applications
- Reduced audio and T/R latency during Remote operation
- Startup macro capability for power-on customization of SPLIT, etc.
- Extended RX audio scaling menu entry (-10 to +6 dB)
- RIT/XIT offset knob speed reduced for easier tuning
- Unshift on space (UOS) for RTTY RX; reduced RTTY TX idle time
- Manual notch and NR available in all data modes
- Many new control commands for Remote and in switch macros
- K4/0 front-panel battery status indicator
This is in addition to many bug fixes.
For details, see the aggregate release notes for K4 R38 beta 1 through 4
below; in general these apply to the K4/0 as well. Full release notes for
the K4 and K4/0 are available via their front-panel UPDATE function, and
should also be on the website by tomorrow.
73,
Wayne
N6KR
===============================================================
====================== R38 (PRODUCTION) =======================
===============================================================
June 17, 2026
This release is functionally identical to R38.BETA4, which has been tested
and promoted to production status. See below for details.
FSK RTTY BUG NOTE: At present, FSK RTTY transmissions from a K4/0 (or from
a K4 used as a client) will not work unless TEXT DECODE is enabled. This
will be addressed in a future release. (When operating a K4 standalone, FSK
RTTY transmit will work with or without text decode enabled.)
========================================================
====================== R38.BETA4 =======================
========================================================
May 31, 2026
------------
NEW FEATURES
------------
- RX AUDIO GAIN BOOST RANGE NOW -10 TO +6 DB: Previously, the RX Audio
Gain Boost menu entry's range was 0 to +6 dB. The range has now been
extended _downward_ (to -10 dB) for the benefit of operators with
exceptionally sensitive headphones. In addition to reducing overall gain,
this change can move the AF GAIN knob away from its minimum setting,
improving granularity.
---------
BUG FIXES
---------
- NOISE REDUCTION TYPE LAST USED IS PRESERVED BETWEEN POWER CYCLES: The
last type of NR selected, SSNR (new) vs. LMS (original) will appear on
power-up.
- TRANSMIT MONITOR AUDIO PRESERVED IN FSKD & PSKD MODES: Previously, TX
monitor audio was lost in some cases, e.g. when using DTR for keying.
--------------
FOR DEVELOPERS
--------------
- The ME113 command (RX Audio Gain Boost) now takes negative numbers, e.g.
"ME113.-10;". ME113.+; and ME113.-; also work as expected, with range -10
to +6.
========================================================
====================== R38.BETA3 =======================
========================================================
May 11, 2026
------------
NEW FEATURES
------------
- ADDED SPECTRAL SUBTRACTION NOISE REDUCTION (SSNR): SSNR is a major
enhancement to the K4's receivers, often suppressing background noise to
nearly inaudible levels. In addition to making reception more pleasant,
SSNR can often clarify signals near the noise floor that were highly
degraded. SSNR works in all modes but is especially effect on speech
signals.
TO USE SSNR: Hold the NR LEVEL switch, change the algorithm from "LMS"
(least mean squares, the original NR algorithm) to "SSNR", and select a
level from 1-20. Higher level values will suppress noise to a greater
degree, at the expense of some erosion of weak signals. As with all NR
algorithms, the lowest effective value should be used.
NOTE: In CW mode where weak or tightly packed signals are present, LMS NR
may be preferred. Also, CW copy may be better enhanced by narrowing filter
bandwidths or using APF rather than using NR. Filtering and APF can also be
combined with NR and NB for maximum benefit.
- RIT/XIT OFFSET KNOB SPEED REDUCED: The RIT/XIT offset knob's steps per
turn rate is now set to 50 when VFO A is set for 100, and 100 if VFO A is
set for 200 or 400. This makes fine-tuning of signals easier.
- CLIENT FREQUENCY MEMORIES: The K4/0 (and K4 when used as a remote client)
store their own set of GP and Quick memories internally. Those memories now
apply to every server K4 to which the client connects. Any changes remain
local to the client. Client activity never changes memories stored on the
server. If two clients connect concurrently to the same server, they will
each have their own set of GP and Quick memories. NOTE: When you first
install this update, your *most recent* per-Server Quick Memories will be
saved. Any memories that you save from now on will apply to ALL servers. As
a one-time side effect, GP memories may be replaced by factory defaults,
mostly blank except for 60 m presets.
- NOW PRESERVING STATES OF SPLIT, TEST, VFO LINK, AND VFO LOCK: The new
STARTUP macro (see below) allows full customization of the K4's power-up
state, so we no longer automatically turn these settings off.
- STARTUP MACRO: You can now automatically set up initial conditions each
time the K4 is turned on, if desired, by editing the STARTUP MACRO. Tap Fn,
then select MACROS. Scroll to STARTUP (at the top of the list). To bring up
a text keyboard, tap the empty field at the right end of this selected line
on the screen. You can bypass execution of the startup macro by holding the
REV switch during power-on.
For example, if you want SPLIT to be turned OFF on power-up, enter the
command "ft0;" as the macro command. (A semicolon is required at the end of
each command in the list.) Another typical use of the startup macro is to
jump to a preferred frequency and/or mode. The command "fa14250;md2;" in
the STARTUP macro would set the K4 to 14.250.000, USB mode. Refer to the K4
Programmer's Reference for full details on available control commands.
---------
BUG FIXES
---------
- ANT and RX ANT button configuration tracks server ANT CFG correctly upon
connection. Changes made to ANT CFG while connected do not modify the ANT
CFG of the Server, only the Client, and only temporarily for the duration
of the connection. (Host commands RS2, ACM and ACT may be used to change
Server ANT CFG while remote, if required.)
- DVR message play can now be interrupted via PTT or VOX activation. RF
switching artifacts eliminated from DVR message play.
- Eliminated ALC/CMP metering glitch at start of remote transmission. Also
eliminated false triggering of VOX.
- TX Inhibit status on client now passed correctly.
- RX EQ adjustments on client now adjusting server properly.
- REV button now functions correctly when activated from a K4/0.
- RX command now clears client streaming DVR message.
--------------
FOR DEVELOPERS
--------------
- DARS (start voice recording of speaker audio) is now allowed in the
STARTUP macro.
- Updated RS (Remote Set) command:
* Added '2' as a new parameter for experimental mode command tunnel.
RS2; enables a remote set command tunnel which, when enabled,
causes commands to be forwarded to the server radio.
For example, RS2;MG0;RS0; will set MIC GAIN on the server radio to 0
without affecting the client radio.
- Added NRS command for SSNR configuration. Associated change to NR command
(for LMS).
- RX; command interrupts DVR messages sent to server.
- RX; command interrupts KZ commands in progress on server.
- TXPARAMS in status area no longer flickers between 0 and current value.
========================================================
====================== R38.BETA2 =======================
========================================================
Feb. 24, 2026
------------
NEW FEATURES
------------
- FULL SUPPORT FOR K4/0 REMOTE CONTROL PANEL. Note: Completion of
K4-to-K4/0 support also directly benefits all third-party K4-Remote
software applications.
- MANUAL NOTCH NOW AVAILABLE IN ALL DATA MODES.
- NOISE REDUCTION (NR) NOW AVAILABLE IN ALL DATA MODES.
- REMOTE TX PARAMETERS DISPLAYED AT CLIENT: TX parameters for the server K4
are now displayed in the status area of a client K4 or K4/0.
- LOCAL/REMOTE BUTTON ON CLIENT ALL-PARAMS DISPLAY: To access this, tap the
status area of the LCD, lower-left-hand corner. When Remote is selected,
voltage/current/temperature values shown apply to the remote server.
---------
BUG FIXES
---------
- TX METERS & BAR GRAPH: These no longer get "stuck" or flicker excessively
when using a paddle/key after XMIT/PTT asserted.
- Resolved remaining RIT/XIT display issue with GHz frequencies.
- Eliminated low output/high PA current drain on MARS frequencies around
8.6 and 18.3 MHz
- Eliminated DVR play delay when returning to RX mode.
- MONitor level no longer defaults to 5 when the K4 makes a Remote
connection.
- Cleaned up T/R artifacts that primarily affected CW operation during
Remote operation.
- TX Gain Cal via TUNE defaults to OFF.
- VFO Coarse Tuning menu entry fixed for Remote case. (Menu entry is client
only. Do not update remote unless RSET is active.)
- Transmit condition (at server) correctly terminates on remote client
disconnect.
- On transverter bands at GHz frequencies, RIT/XIT adjustment no longer
causes large frequency steps.
- Remote: Default audio encode mode is now set when the last client
disconnects from the server.
- Remote connection issues: (1) A K4 acting as a client no longer accepts
connections on port 9204 / 9205. (2) As a side effect of #1, a K4 will no
longer be able to connect to itself. (3) A K4 that has a connected client
is not allowed to connect to another K4 (i.e., the RRT command will fail
with "RRT!;").
--------------
FOR DEVELOPERS
--------------
- DARC; command now clears AF PLAY display timestamps. DARC; forces the DAP
idle.
- PO command AI responses being send to clients not in AI mode.
- Added support for RROn; command. Controls remote dialog popups with globe
icon.
- SP command sent to server updates client as well.
- SQ+/- now working correctly. SQ- doesn't wrap.
- EC command is forwarded to remote server.
- MO command correctly opens menu on local client.
- Added support for SQ-; SQ+; SQ/; commands.
- Added support for RG/; toggle on/off. Toggles between previous nonzero
value and zero.
- Added RG-; RG+ incr/decr commands.
========================================================
====================== R38.BETA1 =======================
========================================================
August 7, 2025
------------
NEW FEATURES
------------
- REMOTE: AUDIO STREAMING LATENCY AND T/R TIMES REDUCED. Average latency
should be lower and more stable over time. Results will still vary with
internet connection quality.
- SPLIT MODE ALWAYS TURNED OFF AT POWER-UP. Several customers reported
inadvertently leaving SPLIT on. Turning it off on any fresh start is the
safer alternative.
- ADDED UNSHIFT-ON-SPACE (UOS) for RTTY RX, now an industry standard. At
present UOS cannot be turned off, though we could add a menu entry for it
if required. Field-test group consensus was that it wasn't needed. (NOTE:
UOS is already being done in TX mode.)
- SHORTENED RTTY "DIDDLES" (idle time) at the end of RTTY transmissions
terminated by an EOT ('|') character. Was ~650 ms, now ~100 ms. This is
useful for RTTY contesting.
- Extensive updates in support of the K4/0.
- Updated built-in operating manual to rev. D11.
---------
BUG FIXES
---------
- Remote: If you send a key or paddle then hit PTT shortly after, return to
RX mode may have been subject to an excessive delay.
- Improved system anomaly detection/messaging, specifically for LPA and DSP
errors.
- PSK and RTTY via keyer paddle now inserts characters into TX decode
window (like CW).
--------------
FOR DEVELOPERS
--------------
- RX; command will now terminate a KY command if sent directly after (e.g.,
KY VVVV;RX;).
- TX;DE999;RX; correctly results in a 10 second wait before going back to
RX;. The only exception is while KYW ("Wait") is active, e.g.:
TX;KYWOOO;DE999;FA;RX;TB;. In this case the RX; will be processed, and the
FA;TB; responses will be delayed by 10 seconds.
- BR; now returns the baud rate of RS232 port.
- MEDF (menu definitions) for IDs 107 and 109 cleaned up, removing
extraneous fields.
- BI, MX, RO$, and RT$ info now sent in response to RDY;
- Remote: Any SL set command now clears the streaming audio buffers, even
if the SL value isn't changed. NOTE: Normally buffer contents will
stabilize over time without any user intervention. The UI does not provide
a way to do this directly.
- Remote: RX; command while in receive no longer clears the RX audio buffer
or causes the radio to go into TX in CW mode when not sending CW.
- Remote: We no longer ignore client-requested command processing delays
(e.g., DEnnn;).
--
Elecraft, Inc.
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