Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
Hi All: Just wondering if this was released.. If so, I cannot find it. de W4CCS On 5/8/2012 10:59 AM, Wayne Burdick wrote: Just a reminder: There will be further improved K3 firmware available later today. It will allow NR and autonotch at all settings, and will fix the audio-dropout problem some have reported. Wayne N6KR __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
Short version: It's still in the kitchen. Long version: This is still in pre-beta, being evaluated by a goodly number of hams who volunteered to test it before all the cooties were cleaned out. Some number of issues have been ferreted out, a couple serious, and there were some deliberate omissions to start, which after Wayne deals with them and reissues a public beta, won't be there to torture the rest of the adoptees. Historically these pre-beta's have sometimes gone through as many as 4 or 5 pre-beta cycles before being seen on the web site...and for good reason :). If you don't like running into cooties, you'll just have to wait it out. Or if that sounds like a fun game, send a note direct to Wayne (not the reflector) to join the pre-beta self-flagellation club. Just be warned that you run into stuff in the pre-beta club. That's the point. 73, Guy. On Thu, May 10, 2012 at 9:58 AM, W4CCS w4...@w4ccs.com wrote: Hi All: Just wondering if this was released.. If so, I cannot find it. de W4CCS On 5/8/2012 10:59 AM, Wayne Burdick wrote: Just a reminder: There will be further improved K3 firmware available later today. It will allow NR and autonotch at all settings, and will fix the audio-dropout problem some have reported. Wayne N6KR __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
No thanks Guy. I'll just wait for the brave ones to work out all the cooties.. Thanks W4CCS On 5/10/2012 11:32 AM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote: Short version: It's still in the kitchen. Long version: This is still in pre-beta, being evaluated by a goodly number of hams who volunteered to test it before all the cooties were cleaned out. Some number of issues have been ferreted out, a couple serious, and there were some deliberate omissions to start, which after Wayne deals with them and reissues a public beta, won't be there to torture the rest of the adoptees. Historically these pre-beta's have sometimes gone through as many as 4 or 5 pre-beta cycles before being seen on the web site...and for good reason :). If you don't like running into cooties, you'll just have to wait it out. Or if that sounds like a fun game, send a note direct to Wayne (not the reflector) to join the pre-beta self-flagellation club. Just be warned that you run into stuff in the pre-beta club. That's the point. 73, Guy. On Thu, May 10, 2012 at 9:58 AM, W4CCSw4...@w4ccs.com wrote: Hi All: Just wondering if this was released.. If so, I cannot find it. de W4CCS On 5/8/2012 10:59 AM, Wayne Burdick wrote: Just a reminder: There will be further improved K3 firmware available later today. It will allow NR and autonotch at all settings, and will fix the audio-dropout problem some have reported. Wayne N6KR __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
Hi Guys, Is any new alpha fw version? I was looking into my yesterday emails but could't find it, I am still on 4.50/2.74. Anything new? VE3GNO Daniel From: Wayne Burdick n...@elecraft.com To: Elecraft Reflector elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, May 8, 2012 10:59:37 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74) Just a reminder: There will be further improved K3 firmware available later today. It will allow NR and autonotch at all settings, and will fix the audio-dropout problem some have reported. Wayne N6KR __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
Still testing. Wayne On May 9, 2012, at 8:42 AM, VE3GNO Daniel wrote: Hi Guys, Is any new alpha fw version? I was looking into my yesterday emails but could't find it, I am still on 4.50/2.74. Anything new? VE3GNO Daniel From: Wayne Burdick n...@elecraft.com To: Elecraft Reflector elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, May 8, 2012 10:59:37 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74) Just a reminder: There will be further improved K3 firmware available later today. It will allow NR and autonotch at all settings, and will fix the audio-dropout problem some have reported. Wayne N6KR __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
Bill, What! You mean you don't want them to pass it through three or four levels of management, design, Gant chart creation, quality control and documentation before releasing it to the developers! What are you? A bloated corporation hater? Remember! We owe it to the stockholders to appear we are doing a good job! ;o) 73, Tom Amateur Radio Operator N5GE ARRL Lifetime Member QCWA Lifetime Member Retired: :o) F-111 Production Line Supervisor F-16 Production Line Supervisor Industrial Engineer Contract Software Developer On Mon, 7 May 2012 19:25:17 -0700, Bill Frantz fra...@pwpconsult.com wrote: As a retired software developer, what amazes me is the way Wayne and company are performing their beta test. No NDA. It looks like almost anyone can sign up. Problems and future intentions are discussed in a public forum. I am blown away that a company would act this way. It is very refreshing. Cheers - Bill, AE6JV [snip] __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
Compared to the many others that have weighed in already, I am a few days late taking a look at the new firmware. It may have been worth the wait. In a nutshell, the new 4.50/2.74 works extremely well. I've been waiting for my K3 to really be able to perform in deep pileups, like I had thought it should. With the new firmware, it may be very close now. Even though it may be a few weeks (until CQWPX CW) when I can make a full evaluation, in fairly deep pileup conditions, I don't need extended testing to see a big improvement already. K6LL mentioned the difference is immediately obvious. I fully agree. The ability to be able to extend THR settings has noticeably cleaned things up. My sweet spot seems to be THR=15 and SLP=0 or 2. More evaluation to come. Tnx Elecraft Team for looking into this issue and releasing this pre-Beta. 73, Bob K8IA Arizona Outlaws Contest Club __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
Hi everybody In evaluating the new firmware I use 2xK3, #791 #5752 * * *Initial conditions*: Rx Eq flat on booths rigs BW 700Hz, no CW roofing only 2.7KHz (5poles) AGC DCY –Soft AGC SLP -003 AGC FST -100 K3 #791 THR=14-17 (usually 14) K3 #5752 THR=5-8 (usually 7) Test: single signals, beacons around S3, S4 pileups 7O6T, 6O0CW Observations: 1. Signals appears to be cleaner with higher THR, but the difference it is not so big on my ears maybe because I am not dealing yet with a big pileup with S3/S4 signals BUT the sound is more nice and clear indeed. 2. I have to take care more with audio level on higher THR, and once I lost audio using THR=20. 3. QSB more intense on signals with newer firmware. Sometimes I even lost the signal on 2.74DSP while it is still copied at 2.73DSP. 4. Overall it is more pleasant to listen to with the new firmware version. Future tests: 1. small expeditions in the field. 2. make some recordings. 73! Adi Yo2liw -- == Adrian Toplician 0721 367 850 Timisoara YO2LIW __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
Just a reminder: There will be further improved K3 firmware available later today. It will allow NR and autonotch at all settings, and will fix the audio-dropout problem some have reported. Wayne N6KR __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
On my side I am ready to load it and stress little bit the radio flash with new build :-) tnx Wayne VE3GNO Daniel From: Wayne Burdick n...@elecraft.com To: Elecraft Reflector elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, May 8, 2012 10:59:37 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74) Just a reminder: There will be further improved K3 firmware available later today. It will allow NR and autonotch at all settings, and will fix the audio-dropout problem some have reported. Wayne N6KR __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
To my ears, this AGC change is a MAJOR improvement! It didn't take any extensive testing to reach that conclusion. The difference is immediately obvious. As mentioned previously, with low values of slope and high values of threshold, loud signals blank out with the current firmware release, so the most aggressive combinations can't be used now. Threshold 15 and slope 0 seem to work pretty well though. I am listening to 20 meter cw now with two K3's. Rig 1 has the new firmware, with threshold 15 and slope 0. Rig 2 has threshold 8 and slope 0 with the current mainstream firmware. Rig 1 sounds MUCH cleaner, both on the loud W1AW code practice signal, and on the 7O6T pileup. The pileup is not too deep on any one frequency, so it's not the ultimate test, but signals do sound much cleaner on rig 1. If more aggressive values of slope and threshold can be accommodated without the blanking effect, the improvement will be even greater.Elecraft is definitely on the right track here. Thanks for working on this issue! Dave Hachadorian, K6LL Yuma, Arizona -Original Message- From: Wayne Burdick Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2012 4:06 PM To: Elecraft Wayne Burdick - N6KR Subject: K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74) Hi all (everyone is BCC'd on this), As I mentioned, we've made some improvements to the K3's DSP AGC. No hardware changes are being made this time. This is strictly a firmware change to the MCU and DSPs. One change will benefit the AGC at all settings: elimination of the interpolation errors in the AGC onset curve. This by itself adds some clarity to signals. The other change allows the AGC THR parameter to be set to a higher value -- up to 20. The original default (5) put the threshold for AGC onset to around S2 or S3, and the max was 8 (about S4-S5). A setting of about 11 now puts the threshold around S7, and the new max of 20 puts it around S8-S9. Any signals below the threshold should not activate DSP AGC at all. (Hardware AGC is not affected by the changes; it still kicks in around S9+20 dB.) Two interesting side-effects of raising the threshold: (1) noise blanking may seem to be much more effective than before; (2) QSB on weak signals may be more noticeable. ** IMPORTANT: Please set AGC SLP (slope) to something above 0, for now, as this appears to cause problems. Setting AGC THR above 8 will *temporarily disable* auto-notch and noise reduction. The switches and NR level control will still behave the same, but they will have no effect unless you set the threshold back to 8 or lower. We may make the threshold per-mode in a later release so that, for example, you could set a high threshold for CW but still have a threshold of 8 or lower for other modes, allowing NR and auto-notch to still work in this case. The reason autonotch and NR must be disabled for high-threshold AGC is that the dynamic range of signals can be an order of magnitude higher. We'll be experimenting further to see if NR and autonotch can be modified to still allow their use with high thresholds. But generally speaking, pileup conditions in CW (the principle target) don't require the use of NR, and autonotch doesn't apply to CW. *** Keep in mind that it may be difficult to reproduce the conditions under which in-band IMD has been reported. Most operators have claimed it was caused by dozens (maybe even hundreds!) of signals in the S5 or lower range, all practically on top of each other. This effect has gotten worse in recent years due to the prevalence of spotting. Short of actually heading for a DX QTH, you may not be able to reproduce the conditions accurately. But it is true that some operators prefer a higher AGC threshold in general, while allowing AGC to remain turned on. You'll now have that capability with the K3. This has been touted as a difference in favor of some other radios. Not any more :) The new firmware is attached. As with a beta release, you'll need to unzip (extract) the files and put them somewhere easily located, usually on the desktop, then tell K3 Utility where to find it. You must load all of the new code, so use the send all option. Make sure after loading that your MCU is at rev 4.50 and both DSP and AUX DSP at 2.74. Please test the new code in a variety of conditions. If you have two K3s, please put the new firmware on one of them, set them both up identically, and compare them by switching the antenna between the two radios. Assuming it passes your own tests, feel free to pass it on to anyone who you think might benefit from it, including those planning DXpeditions (or even *at* a DXpedition, if they're willing and able to try a new firmware load). Also, by all means post your observations to the Elecraft reflector (or elsewhere). If all goes well, we can release this as beta code next week. 73, Wayne N6KR __ Elecraft mailing list
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
On 5/7/2012 1:56 PM, Dave Hachadorian wrote: To my ears, this AGC change is a MAJOR improvement! It didn't take any extensive testing to reach that conclusion. The difference is immediately obvious. That's very good news. Possibly a beta release this week or maybe next, I hope. 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2012 Cal QSO Party 6-7 Oct 2012 - www.cqp.org __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
On Mon, May 7, 2012 at 3:56 PM, Dave Hachadorian k...@arrl.net wrote: Thanks for working on this issue! = This is a real-life example of a terrific attitude toward customer satisfaction. When this issue was first raised, the company could have been defensive and simply asserted that there was no problem -- those of us who have been doing this for a while can easily think of nearly identical situations wherein other ham manufacturers have done exactly that. Indeed, there were comments on this reflector offhandedly dismissing the queries about signal mush. But not from the design team; they took it to heart and dug through the problem with a serious desire to replicate it if possible, and to figure out the source and attack it. And did it right in the middle of the big production crunch with the KX3, and with no specific financial payoff in mind. The payoff is in knowing that no stone has been left unturned to make the K3 the best DX/contest machine it can be, and that the hams who appreciate that will spread the word. Tony KT0NY -- http://www.isb.edu/faculty/facultydir.aspx?ddlFaculty=352 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
HI All, What do they say in the song, No one does it better. Thank you Elecraft, this is why so many of us are rabidly happy about your product. It helps to have hams running the company which engineers ham radio only. 73 Doug EI2CN -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Tony Estep Sent: 07 May 2012 22:42 To: Elecraft Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74) On Mon, May 7, 2012 at 3:56 PM, Dave Hachadorian k...@arrl.net wrote: Thanks for working on this issue! = This is a real-life example of a terrific attitude toward customer satisfaction. When this issue was first raised, the company could have been defensive and simply asserted that there was no problem -- those of us who have been doing this for a while can easily think of nearly identical situations wherein other ham manufacturers have done exactly that. Indeed, there were comments on this reflector offhandedly dismissing the queries about signal mush. But not from the design team; they took it to heart and dug through the problem with a serious desire to replicate it if possible, and to figure out the source and attack it. And did it right in the middle of the big production crunch with the KX3, and with no specific financial payoff in mind. The payoff is in knowing that no stone has been left unturned to make the K3 the best DX/contest machine it can be, and that the hams who appreciate that will spread the word. Tony KT0NY -- http://www.isb.edu/faculty/facultydir.aspx?ddlFaculty=352 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
Now if we could convince ANY vehicle manufacturer to have the same attitude, designers that are also mechanics (without the need for an MSEE)... Maybe we'd have a chance to work under the hood again like we can with Elecraft. Rick wa6nhc :o) -Original Message- From: Doug Turnbull It helps to have hams running the company which engineers ham radio only. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
I cannot seem to locate where to download this; I can only see 4.48, no Beta... Clues for the clueless? Thanks and 73 de Dave, W5SV __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
I think Wayne's post indicated it would be released as a beta in the next week or so once the field test reports were in and they were satisfied with it. It sure sounds like a really good job on the AGC, I guess patience is in order ... I know, hard for this list and these products. :-) 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2012 Cal QSO Party 6-7 Oct 2012 - www.cqp.org On 5/7/2012 3:59 PM, David F. Reed wrote: I cannot seem to locate where to download this; I can only see 4.48, no Beta... Clues for the clueless? __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
Hi Dave, It's not beta yet. I don't know what they call it -- gamma??? Cheers and 73, Fred The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration, and Operation www.ke7x.com -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of David F. Reed Sent: Monday, May 07, 2012 5:00 PM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74) I cannot seem to locate where to download this; I can only see 4.48, no Beta... Clues for the clueless? Thanks and 73 de Dave, W5SV __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
I just talked to Lyle. Looks like by tomorrow we'll have a version of DSP code that allows NR and autonotch to be used at all threshold settings, and fixes the high-signal issue some had reported. I'll send it out to everyone who got the last test version. Wayne N6KR Fred Jensen wrote: I think Wayne's post indicated it would be released as a beta in the next week or so __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
We in the IT business call it Alpha and you don't send it to anybody who can't figure out how to fix a broken system. In this case it's pretty easy, reset the radio and reload a backed up FW and config. I would call what Wayne is doing this time Beta and when it is released on the website for general testing, Beta 2. On 05/07/2012 06:50 PM, Cady, Fred wrote: Hi Dave, It's not beta yet. I don't know what they call it -- gamma??? Cheers and 73, Fred The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration, and Operation www.ke7x.com -- R. Kevin Stover AC0H __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
Great! I have sent the SW to about 5 people. Mike W0MU W0MU-1 CC Cluster w0mu.net On 5/7/2012 5:59 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote: I just talked to Lyle. Looks like by tomorrow we'll have a version of DSP code that allows NR and autonotch to be used at all threshold settings, and fixes the high-signal issue some had reported. I'll send it out to everyone who got the last test version. Wayne N6KR Fred Jensen wrote: I think Wayne's post indicated it would be released as a beta in the next week or so __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
As a retired software developer, what amazes me is the way Wayne and company are performing their beta test. No NDA. It looks like almost anyone can sign up. Problems and future intentions are discussed in a public forum. I am blown away that a company would act this way. It is very refreshing. Cheers - Bill, AE6JV On 5/7/12 at 14:41, estept...@gmail.com (Tony Estep) wrote: This is a real-life example of a terrific attitude toward customer satisfaction. When this issue was first raised, the company could have been defensive and simply asserted that there was no problem -- those of us who have been doing this for a while can easily think of nearly identical situations wherein other ham manufacturers have done exactly that. Indeed, there were comments on this reflector offhandedly dismissing the queries about signal mush. But not from the design team; they took it to heart and dug through the problem with a serious desire to replicate it if possible, and to figure out the source and attack it. And did it right in the middle of the big production crunch with the KX3, and with no specific financial payoff in mind. The payoff is in knowing that no stone has been left unturned to make the K3 the best DX/contest machine it can be, and that the hams who appreciate that will spread the word. - Bill Frantz| The first thing you need when | Periwinkle (408)356-8506 | using a perimeter defense is a | 16345 Englewood Ave www.pwpconsult.com | perimeter. | Los Gatos, CA 95032 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
Beta Beta. On Mon, May 7, 2012 at 7:50 PM, Cady, Fred fc...@ece.montana.edu wrote: Hi Dave, It's not beta yet. I don't know what they call it -- gamma??? Cheers and 73, Fred The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration, and Operation www.ke7x.com -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of David F. Reed Sent: Monday, May 07, 2012 5:00 PM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74) I cannot seem to locate where to download this; I can only see 4.48, no Beta... Clues for the clueless? Thanks and 73 de Dave, W5SV __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
Bill, True, true -- but the situation with the KX3 is different than what has transpired with previous products. Previously, the conversations of the Field Testers have been on a private forum. While that is still true with the KX3, there is a lot more information that is in the open. My guess is that it is due to the KX3 Yahoo Group, where a lot of questions are posed. Wayne and Eric have been willing to respond to a number of those questions, and I believe that has set the stage for the present level of 'openness'. From my standpoint, Thank You other Elecraft customers for being patient while the process of final development, Field Test, and production ramp-up are taking place. There are a few that expect immediate results to problems, but for the most part, customers have been very accepting of the inevitable delays in (optimistic) plans, and the resulting turmoil that each delay can create inside Elecraft. Delays in the original plan (SWAG) are inevitable. It is impossible to attempt to predict the schedule of another company ( read 'supplier') until you have commitments for price, quantity and schedule in place, and that is difficult to accomplish unless you have real numbers that the supplier can quote on. That is only one of the possible things that can happen. I have observed that the KX3 plan and schedule has been more open and transparent than most previous products. Whether that is good or bad depends on the customer acceptance of supplier delays, field test reports that result in tweaks to the product, or problems in training new people to enable ramp up to full production status. So far all is well, but the future remains to be seen. 73, Don W3FPR On 5/7/2012 10:25 PM, Bill Frantz wrote: As a retired software developer, what amazes me is the way Wayne and company are performing their beta test. No NDA. It looks like almost anyone can sign up. Problems and future intentions are discussed in a public forum. I am blown away that a company would act this way. It is very refreshing. Cheers - Bill, AE6JV On 5/7/12 at 14:41, estept...@gmail.com (Tony Estep) wrote: This is a real-life example of a terrific attitude toward customer satisfaction. When this issue was first raised, the company could have been defensive and simply asserted that there was no problem -- those of us who have been doing this for a while can easily think of nearly identical situations wherein other ham manufacturers have done exactly that. Indeed, there were comments on this reflector offhandedly dismissing the queries about signal mush. But not from the design team; they took it to heart and dug through the problem with a serious desire to replicate it if possible, and to figure out the source and attack it. And did it right in the middle of the big production crunch with the KX3, and with no specific financial payoff in mind. The payoff is in knowing that no stone has been left unturned to make the K3 the best DX/contest machine it can be, and that the hams who appreciate that will spread the word. - Bill Frantz| The first thing you need when | Periwinkle (408)356-8506 | using a perimeter defense is a | 16345 Englewood Ave www.pwpconsult.com | perimeter. | Los Gatos, CA 95032 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
Making a great rig even better. Totally stoked to play with the radio with the new firmware. To my ears, this AGC change is a MAJOR improvement! It didn't take any extensive testing to reach that conclusion. The difference is immediately obvious. As mentioned previously, with low values of slope and high values of threshold, loud signals blank out with the current firmware release, so the most aggressive combinations can't be used now. Threshold 15 and slope 0 seem to work pretty well though. I am listening to 20 meter cw now with two K3's. Rig 1 has the new firmware, with threshold 15 and slope 0. Rig 2 has threshold 8 and slope 0 with the current mainstream firmware. Rig 1 sounds MUCH cleaner, both on the loud W1AW code practice signal, and on the 7O6T pileup. The pileup is not too deep on any one frequency, so it's not the ultimate test, but signals do sound much cleaner on rig 1. If more aggressive values of slope and threshold can be accommodated without the blanking effect, the improvement will be even greater.Elecraft is definitely on the right track here. Thanks for working on this issue! Dave Hachadorian, K6LL Yuma, Arizona __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
Sorry, I was responding to the wrong post. While the content is valid for what it is, it is in response to a post on the KX3 Yahoo Group, and has nothing to do with the K3 AGC. 73, Don W3FPR On 5/7/2012 10:53 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: Bill, True, true -- but the situation with the KX3 is different than what has transpired with previous products. Previously, the conversations of the Field Testers have been on a private forum. While that is still true with the KX3, there is a lot more information that is in the open. My guess is that it is due to the KX3 Yahoo Group, where a lot of questions are posed. Wayne and Eric have been willing to respond to a number of those questions, and I believe that has set the stage for the present level of 'openness'. From my standpoint, Thank You other Elecraft customers for being patient while the process of final development, Field Test, and production ramp-up are taking place. There are a few that expect immediate results to problems, but for the most part, customers have been very accepting of the inevitable delays in (optimistic) plans, and the resulting turmoil that each delay can create inside Elecraft. Delays in the original plan (SWAG) are inevitable. It is impossible to attempt to predict the schedule of another company ( read 'supplier') until you have commitments for price, quantity and schedule in place, and that is difficult to accomplish unless you have real numbers that the supplier can quote on. That is only one of the possible things that can happen. I have observed that the KX3 plan and schedule has been more open and transparent than most previous products. Whether that is good or bad depends on the customer acceptance of supplier delays, field test reports that result in tweaks to the product, or problems in training new people to enable ramp up to full production status. So far all is well, but the future remains to be seen. 73, Don W3FPR On 5/7/2012 10:25 PM, Bill Frantz wrote: As a retired software developer, what amazes me is the way Wayne and company are performing their beta test. No NDA. It looks like almost anyone can sign up. Problems and future intentions are discussed in a public forum. I am blown away that a company would act this way. It is very refreshing. Cheers - Bill, AE6JV On 5/7/12 at 14:41, estept...@gmail.com (Tony Estep) wrote: This is a real-life example of a terrific attitude toward customer satisfaction. When this issue was first raised, the company could have been defensive and simply asserted that there was no problem -- those of us who have been doing this for a while can easily think of nearly identical situations wherein other ham manufacturers have done exactly that. Indeed, there were comments on this reflector offhandedly dismissing the queries about signal mush. But not from the design team; they took it to heart and dug through the problem with a serious desire to replicate it if possible, and to figure out the source and attack it. And did it right in the middle of the big production crunch with the KX3, and with no specific financial payoff in mind. The payoff is in knowing that no stone has been left unturned to make the K3 the best DX/contest machine it can be, and that the hams who appreciate that will spread the word. - Bill Frantz| The first thing you need when | Periwinkle (408)356-8506 | using a perimeter defense is a | 16345 Englewood Ave www.pwpconsult.com | perimeter. | Los Gatos, CA 95032 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
On May 7, 2012, at 10:42 PM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote: Beta Beta. Meaning, I presume, it's a beta Beta than the first Beta. Well, I guess we beta that to death Bud, W2RU __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
Software developers call it alpha. Greek alphabet ya know -- alpha, beta, gamma... I guess gamma must be the production release. David K0LUM At 10:42 PM -0400 5/7/12, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote: Beta Beta. On Mon, May 7, 2012 at 7:50 PM, Cady, Fred fc...@ece.montana.edu wrote: Hi Dave, It's not beta yet. I don't know what they call it -- gamma??? Cheers and 73, Fred The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration, and Operation www.ke7x.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
*Without the radiation I hope..:-) gary * On 8 May 2012 13:18, David Christ radio...@mchsi.com wrote: Software developers call it alpha. Greek alphabet ya know -- alpha, beta, gamma... I guess gamma must be the production release. David K0LUM At 10:42 PM -0400 5/7/12, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote: Beta Beta. On Mon, May 7, 2012 at 7:50 PM, Cady, Fred fc...@ece.montana.edu wrote: Hi Dave, It's not beta yet. I don't know what they call it -- gamma??? Cheers and 73, Fred The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration, and Operation www.ke7x.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html -- Gary VK4FD - Motorhome Mobile Elecraft Equipment K3 #679, KPA-500 #018 Living the dream!!! __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
Not to worry. Your comments are a fine description of why in exchange for openness on the part of the vendor, the customers (we) need to exhibit patients when the inevitable things go wrong and things take longer than everyone hoped. Cheers - Bill, AE6JV On 5/7/12 at 19:58, w3...@embarqmail.com (Don Wilhelm) wrote: Sorry, I was responding to the wrong post. - Bill Frantz| When it comes to the world | Periwinkle (408)356-8506 | around us, is there any choice | 16345 Englewood Ave www.pwpconsult.com | but to explore? - Lisa Randall | Los Gatos, CA 95032 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74)
Alpha... 73, Tom Amateur Radio Operator N5GE ARRL Lifetime Member QCWA Lifetime Member On Mon, 7 May 2012 17:50:01 -0600, Cady, Fred fc...@ece.montana.edu wrote: Hi Dave, It's not beta yet. I don't know what they call it -- gamma??? Cheers and 73, Fred The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration, and Operation www.ke7x.com -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of David F. Reed Sent: Monday, May 07, 2012 5:00 PM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC improvements (MCU rev 4.50 / DSP 2.74) I cannot seem to locate where to download this; I can only see 4.48, no Beta... Clues for the clueless? Thanks and 73 de Dave, W5SV __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
