Steve, > While I find the K3 ergonomics to be much better than I > expected, there is room for improvement, as many have > pointed out.
Claiming that the K3's more basic user interface (similar to a TS-570, IC-706, FT-900, or even TR-7, TS-830, etc.) is a reason to reject the radio IS bogus. It is equivalent to saying one should reject a particular brand or model of automobile because it has a steering column mounted gearshift or does not include cruise control and intermittent wipers where another automobile includes them. Do I still change modes when meaning to change bands? Yes. However, I also made "finger errors" with the FT-1000D user interface - that doesn't make one interface "better" than the other. 73, ... Joe, W4TV > -----Original Message----- > From: S Sacco [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2009 11:18 AM > To: [email protected] > Cc: juergen piezo; [email protected] > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 firmware 2 years on and still much to do > > > "Completely bogus" is in the eye of the beholder, Joe. > > While I find the K3 ergonomics to be much better than I > expected, there is room for improvement, as many have pointed out. > > 73, > Steve NN4X > > > > > > > > On Sat, Sep 19, 2009 at 10:35 AM, Joe Subich, W4TV > <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > 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. > > > Having used the FT-1000D, Mark V, and FT-2000 series of > radios for nearly 20 years before moving the K3, the "front > panel design" and "ergonomics" issues are completely bogus. > There are other transceivers with user interfaces very > similar to the K3 - including some from Yaesu - and, while > different than the FT-990/1000/2000/9000 the K3 User > interface is no less usable. > > Anyone who makes the size/user interface argument is simply > making an excuse for not learning a new user interface based > prejudice. Any contester or DXer who uses one of the popular > contest or day to day logging packages with "point and shoot" > features is insulated from the transceiver's user interface > to such an extent that the differences among user interfaces > is largely irrelevant anyway. > > 73, > > ... Joe, W4TV > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: [email protected] > > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of juergen piezo > > > Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2009 6:42 AM > > To: [email protected] > > > 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 <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > From: Dave G4AON <[email protected]> > > > Subject: [Elecraft] K3 firmware 2 years on and still much to do > > > To: [email protected] > > > 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 > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > ______________________________________________________________ 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
