N1EU recently posted a query about the lack of a full-time bandwidth display. Many replied that all you have to do is turn a knob to see the current bandwidth. Evidently, this also applies to a number of other operating parameters, including output power(!)
This is all well-and-good for casual operating and DXing, but it's a real liability for serious contesters. In a contest, the last thing I want to do is take my hands off the keyboard. I need to be able to see certain important transceiver setting with a quick glance in order to make a decision whether or not to move my hands. Bandwidth is one of the settings I need to know, and the roofing filter selection isn't sufficient -- I need to know the ultimate selectivity provided by the DSP. I haven't had time to study the K3 manual in depth, but there are many parameters that need to be available at-a-glance: both VFO frequencies, bandwidth, shift/PBT, RIT/XIT power, vox, AGC, RF Gain, preamp, notch, NB, receive antenna status, power, etc. Basically, you need to be able to see any setting that might affect transmission or reception. For example, if the bandwidth is too narrow, and you don't realize it, you may not hear stations calling slightly off frequency, or they'll be significantly attenuated. You could have a similar effect if the notch was inadvertently left on. I can't be required to remember the last change I made to the settings, which might have been hours ago. Also, I use two radios and it's impossible to memorize the settings for both of them. I can't afford to spend time twiddling knobs to determine the current state of the transceiver. Are the LCD display fields fixed, like on older displays, or are all the pixels under firmware control? If the display is fixed, the lack of status displays could be a real problem. 73, Dick WC1M _______________________________________________ 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
