[Elecraft] Question about K3 firmware

[Lyle Johnson]

> (I assum the DSP is programmed down to the silicon).

I've had several private questions about the DSP.  I'll combine the 
information and make it public here :-)

The K3's DSP is a Texas Instruments TMS320VC33-150 embedded DSP, not a 
PC CPU from Intel or AMD or VIA.  There is one DSP chip per receiver; 
the subreceiver option includes a PC board assembly incorporating the 
second DSP.

The TMS320VC33 is a 32-bit, floating point processor that we chose for 
its performance, low power consumption, and the fact it has been in the 
marketplace long enough to have a completely functional silicon along 
with a development tool suite that is stable.

The DSP firmware is written in assembly language, and is original.  It 
does not borrow from any GPL'ed sources or use any commercial "function" 
libraries. It does not run on a formal operating system.

Much of the DSP peripheral support hardware is contained in a 
flash-based programmable logic device.  This enables us to connect a 
very high performance 24-bit A/D converter for the receiver IF, two more 
channels of greater-than 16-bit A/D for microphone and PC input, and 
several more channels of less-than 16-bit A/D for more mundane things 
like forward and reflected power, upstream signal level detection, and 
so forth.  It also connects six D/A channels, lets the DSP check some 
digital I/O lines (e.g., to support true FSK generation) -- and to 
communicate with the control processor!

Oh, and it enables the DSP's Flash memory to be programmed by the user :-)

73,

Lyle KK7P