[Elecraft] I prefer Analog S meters

[Vic Rosenthal]

Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:
> 
> Since building my K2, I've been threatening to put it in a decent sized
> box with decent sized knobs (you know, knobs designed for human hands
> above pygmy size) and a REAL meter!

The thing that always stops me is that what you would want is not just a bigger
box, but some of that extra space utilized more...ergonomically.  For example, I
would like a momentary vfo A/B switch that takes effect instantly, for checking
pileups (now I tap the A/B switch twice rather than wait for the 'hold').  Other
functions which are menu functions could have their own dedicated switches,
etc.  But this is hard to implement just by clever wiring.  And -- you could do
a lot of work and end up with nothing more than a messed up K2.

But -- I have a plan.  Suppose you put a K2 in a large box, and extended just a
few of the controls to the new panel -- the encoder, the RF/AF pots, the power
switch.  Then you add all of the buttons, additional encoders (RIT), meters, LCD
panels, etc. that you want.  Then you get one of the really neat programmable
controller chips that are available, interface it to the K2 through the RS232
interface, and use it to read the new buttons and drive the new LCD panels.  Of
course this introduces some delay into the functioning of the new controls, but
you use these for functions where that's not a problem, like frequency and CW
(or voice) memories, etc.  

All of the advantages of a computer-controlled radio without the annoyance of a
computer!

Vic K2VCO