[Elecraft] Interesting K3 Pan Adapter Development

[Frank Hunter]

Bill Tippett wrote:

Hi Bill!

[snip]

>         For those who say "Real radios don't need knobs",
> below is an interesting quote from K1LT.  Vic recently wrote
> up a description of his 4-receiver SDR prototype used in
> a warm up for the Stew Perry Topband Distance Challenge:
> 
> "The second problem became apparent when numerous weaker European
> stations were calling: not enough (any) knobs!  When trying to copy a
> barely audible weak CW signal, this operator tweaks the incremental
> tuning, the pass-band shape, and the antenna direction to try an find
> the best copy.  Often, these settings change during the course of a
> difficult QSO as propagation changes (fading).  So, a mouse or
> keyboard based user interface does not make for rapid tweaking."

Interesting observations but having used a Flex 5000 and PowerSDR for 
the past fortnight it has not been my experience at all. First of all 
let's remember that most of todays amateurs are logging via a computer 
and especially so if in a contest. The obvious place for any rig control 
mechanism in the interests of good ergonomics would logically be where 
the op is already looking ie the computer screen and what he is already 
using ie keyboard and mouse. Why would I want to remove my hands from 
keyboard and mouse to reach across a bench to fiddle with knobs when a 
mouse click or click and drag can do the same only quicker? To state 
that a mouse or keyboard does not make for rapid tweaking is akin to 
saying a keyboard and mouse does not make for rapid letter writing. ;-)

> http://dayton.contesting.com/pipermail/topband/2007-October/027447.html
> 
>         It's going to be really fun to watch this develop with the K3!

Yes it will because then more people will be staring at a spectrum scope 
and clicking on it to qsy to any intersting looking signals but 
wondering why they then have to leave this environment to fiddle with 
knobs :-)

73, Frank GI4NKB

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