[Elecraft] SDRs and embedded processors

2012-05-22 Thread Jim Lowman
Just a thought - I agree completely about the harm that software updates can do. But isn't there another problem lurking with passing time? I refer to the obsolescence of some dedicated processors that are no longer available from their source. Will Elecraft be able to support these embedded

Re: [Elecraft] SDRs and embedded processors

2012-05-22 Thread Don Wilhelm
Jim, I don't think software updates are a problem, but Windows Automatic Updates can (and do) happen at the most inconvenient times. I do not believe concern about obsolescence of dedicated processors is any great problem. The K3 could be re-designed with a different processor to take care

Re: [Elecraft] SDRs and embedded processors

2012-05-22 Thread David Gilbert
That's an interesting question, but I don't see how it is any different than for any other rig that has been introduced in the last 20 years. Microprocessors have been in use for ages to handle all sorts of tasks from menu functions to display. It doesn't matter whether those processors

Re: [Elecraft] SDRs and embedded processors

2012-05-22 Thread amsctalx
...@comcast.net - Original Message - From: Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com To: Jim Lowman jmlow...@sbcglobal.net Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 2:15:44 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] SDRs and embedded processors Jim, I don't think software updates are a problem

Re: [Elecraft] SDRs and embedded processors

2012-05-22 Thread Alan Bloom
On Tue, 2012-05-22 at 10:54 -0700, Jim Lowman wrote: ... But isn't there another problem lurking with passing time? I refer to the obsolescence of some dedicated processors that are no longer available from their source. Will Elecraft be able to support these embedded processors well into

Re: [Elecraft] SDRs and embedded processors

2012-05-22 Thread Wayne Burdick
Alan Bloom wrote: Microchip has been very good about continuing to make and support their older designs. (Have they ever obsoleted a PIC processor?) Not that I know of. I first used a PIC MCU around 1995, in a NorCal 40A add-on (KC1 keyer/ counter). It was a PIC16F84, which is still

Re: [Elecraft] SDRs and embedded processors

2012-05-22 Thread Jim Lowman
Yes, Don, Windows automatic updates can be a problem, but I have all of the computers at home set to check for updates at 3 AM daily. That way they won't interrupt anything that we may be doing. I've learned quite a bit about the PIC processors from Wayne and others, and I thank everyone for

Re: [Elecraft] SDRs and embedded processors

2012-05-22 Thread Bill K9YEQ
It is still for sale! 73, Bill K9YEQ -Original Message- Alan Bloom wrote: Microchip has been very good about continuing to make and support their Not that I know of. I first used a PIC MCU around 1995, in a NorCal 40A add-on (KC1 keyer/ counter). It was a PIC16F84, which is still