Perhaps an external control pod might prove a help. I hate having to hold
my hand across the keyboard and key to get to the memory push buttons. Yes
I know one should use an external controller for the rig but this should not
be necessary. Oh but I love the K3 but it needs a control pod.
73 Doug EI2CN
-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of juergen piezo
Sent: 19 September 2009 11:42
To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 firmware 2 years on and still much to do
K3 firmware 2 years on and still much to do?
I still dont own a K3. I just cant bring myself to buy the K3 because
of its front panel layout and its operation. Although I would very much
like its receiver performance.
I have used one at a contest station and all that I can
say is that I would not buy one until a new front panel layout is
designed.
The band switching, VFO management, mode switching and many
aspects of its front panel design needs a rework. Most of the contest
operators that I know seem to own a FT2000, they will all acknowledge that
its no K3, however they all feel the same as I do about the K3 and its
ergonomics. Most of us are just not portable operators, so dont need
small size 12 volt radios.
There are many good radios that would be a good front panel design model
for the K3a. The FT950, FT920, Icom 737series, TS850 etc all have a very
workable ergonomic front panel layouts that are easy to use. The FT950 is so
well layed out and very attractive and it would be a good one to copy
for a new K3 front panel.
If the K3 is so modular, why would it be so hard not to offer a bigger
box with a new front panel? There are many off the shelf 19 inch rack
boxes that could be used with a new front panel styling.
I would suggest that a new K3 panel with built in P3, power supply and
200 watt PA stage would be a big hit. Everyone seems to be so over the
moon with the K3's small size, I must be a freak with alien genes to not
like the radios front panel layout and operational ergonomics.
The firmware feature list or lack of progress I can live with. However a
awkward panel layout and poor ergomics thats carved in rock I cant really
live with. When I used the K3 all that I ever used was the band switch,
volume and RIT control.... thats all, just like a Mil-spec radio. It was
very hard to do otherwise, so I probably missed a lot of the K3's potential.
I too live in hope that a new K4 is coming! I could even live with a K3
junior with one receiver and a new front panel design.
John
--- On Sat, 9/19/09, Dave G4AON <elecr...@astromag.co.uk> wrote:
> From: Dave G4AON <elecr...@astromag.co.uk>
> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 firmware 2 years on and still much to do
> To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
> Date: Saturday, September 19, 2009, 1:58 AM
> Unfortunately the K3 firmware seems
> to have wandered off track a bit,
> two years ago when the K3 started rolling out the following
> were on the
> "to do" list and formed part of the specification:
>
> 0.5 ppm TCXO calibration
> Synchronous AM
>
> These might not be the most important issues in the world,
> but were
> included in the original specification and are in the Oct
> 24th 2007 "B1
> manual". Currently the K3 fails to meet specification!
>
> Can we have some indication of their position on the
> firmware roadmap?
>
> 73 Dave, G4AON
> K3/100 #80
>
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