[Elecraft] KDVR3 Firmware request

[Ed Gray W0SD]

First a little back ground as Wayne probably has not read the line-In + 
Mic discussion.

When one uses the computer for a DVR for contesting an easy way to do it 
is to take advantage of the Line Input but given one also wants to use 
the mic for operating then the "MIC" is hot during the playing of the 
DVR.  For SO2R there are added issues of switching the DVR from the 
computer and the mic between the two radios.  Lyle KK7P pointed out that 
an external program could easily set the active Tx audio path from MIC 
to LINE IN, send the audio, then switch the Tx audio path back to MIC. 
The problem is to get your program author to make those changes for the 
K3 but definitely an option!

I am thinking the KDVR3 is a better way to go to cure the "hot" mic and 
associated sound card problems.  It also should get rid of the "black 
box" for SO2R DVR with two radios with a KDVR3 in each radio.  You still 
have the issue of switching the mic between two radio.

Given there are 8 messages available with the KDRV3 that would be enough 
for different contests and one could have some for guest operators. I 
assume once you choose the "second" bank you stay there and you don't 
have to tap rec/M1, rec/m2, etc. each time to use what I would call 
message 5 and 6.  It takes us a long time to get a DVR that is "high 
quality, does not have pauses, starts right, ends promptly, has the 
right amount of enthusiasm etc.  What I am saying is once you have a 
good one you want to save it for future use.

KDVR3 Firmware request:  Would it be possible to have a KDVR3 menu item 
where you could set it so you could not record over the top, ie erase,an 
existing message without going back and changing this menu item?

Another reason for this request is if I understand what I read that 
doing over the air recording would erase an existing message if the 
buffer is full.  It would be better if the on the air recording and play 
back used separate memory but I don't think that is the case or for that 
matter realistic.  I apologize if it already works this way.  Anyway it 
seems to me there could be some conflict with using the on the air 
record function and accidentally erasing DVR messages.  Obviously there 
is the "mistake" category where you accidentally record over/erase a 
message and that is why a firmware choice to prevent this would be a 
nice feature.  Basically like the computer message with the second 
chance "DO you really want to do this" idea.

There are a lot of on the air contest DVR's messages that are horrible! 
  Here at W0SD we don't ever want to have one of those so we spend a lot 
of time getting a good one and even then one has to be careful that 
other factors such as sound card problems, ground loops, etc. don't mess 
things up.  Of course there is the issue of getting the levels and sound 
between the DVR and the Mic to sound the same.  That is why I would like 
to have a firmware choice to preventing erasing a good message on the 
KDVR3 without being very intentional about it.

There was a request to use the computer key board to play the message 
and that has merit rather than tapping the M1, etc. button on the K3 but 
I can see where this at best would involve making it available to 
programmers but this would be a good thing.  When you go to SO2R with 
two K3's this is also a contest software job but having it available to 
programmers would be a good thing.

Conclusion: I am thinking the KDVR3 really has a market for contesters 
especially with the firmware taking care of some things while at the 
same time not messing things up for the  operators who mainly want the 
KDVR3 to record for on the air play back or I assume you can go to 
"TEST" mode and send to line out and record on your computer, etc. to 
save or send to others to listen to.

This just got me thinking: I wonder if it could be possible to send a 
DVR from the computer on the line in and be recorded by the KDVR3.  This 
would be a relatively fast way of getting a DVR into the K3?  Maybe it 
is but if so I missed it.

Ed W0SD

Ed W0SD

Thanks,

Ed W0SD