[Elecraft] K3 Beta Firmware Release -- MCU Revision 2.13

[Don Rasmussen]

Brilliant!

I had to find an "undocumented feature" to clear Argo
V memories. Even though Argo is firmware upgradable
they never had time (or took the time) to do that. It
is very nice to see real refinement in a transceiver
that I already own. I keep looking in the mailbox for
a bill, but so far - nothing. ;-)

Also highly regard your per mode scenario, and am
reasonably sure the CAT FI command will allow the
developers of my K3 panadapter software to progress
their product in parallel with you. So even more cool
K3 related features to come.

Don't have a subRX so cannot enjoy the improvements
their, but do have a second K3 on order that will be
my subRx and it will benefit from all the other
upgrades. 

Even with the rough band conditions there is plenty
coming out of Aptos to keep the radio entertaining.

;-)






[Elecraft] K3 Beta Firmware Release -- MCU Revision
2.13
wayne burdick n6kr at elecraft.com 
Thu Jul 3 21:23:55 EDT 2008 

K3 beta-test firmware revision 2.13 is now available.
Full details 
appear below and in the release notes.

The use of beta-test firmware is encouraged, but
optional. Please send 
any problem reports to k3support at elecraft.com.

For instructions on how to obtain and load beta
firmware, please see:

   http://www.elecraft.com/K3/k3_software.htm

73,
Wayne
N6KR

* * *

MCU 2.13 / DSP 1.83, 7-3-08

New Features:

* MEMORY ERASE: During memory recall or store, tapping
CLR erases
   the present numbered memory (00-99) and flashes
"ERASED". You can
   rotate VFO A to select and erase any number of
memories.

* POWER-UP KEY/PTT PROTECTION: If any external device
attempts to key
   the transmitter within 2 seconds of power-up, "ERR
KEY" or "ERR PTT"
   will be shown on the VFO B display, and transmit
will be inhibited.
   This applies to KEY IN, DOT, DASH, PTT, vox, or
computer-initiated
   transmit (TX or KY commands). It should prevent
accidental transmit
   during power-on when a computer, keyer, or other
device is powered-up
   at the same time as the K3. Once all keying/PTT/vox
activity has
   stopped, the message disappears, and normal
transmit activity can
   be resumed.

Miscellaneous:

* RATE, FINE, and COARSE VFO tuning controls are all
now saved
   per-mode rather than per-band/per-memory.

* ANTENNA CONTROLS are all now saved per-band, not
per-memory.
   These include:
     - Main RX/TX antenna selection (1 or 2)
     - Sub RX antenna selection (MAIN or AUX)
     - RX ANT in/out selection
     - Preamp/attenuator settings for RX ANT ON and RX
ANT OFF
     - DIGOUT1 menu parameter setting for ANT1 and
ANT2

* PTT RLS MENU ENTRY (PTT release delay). This menu
entry
   allows the the operator to specify a delay from
release of PTT
   to exit from transmit in voice and audio data
modes. Not
   applicable to CW, FSK-D, or PSK-D. The default is
0. A higher
   value may be needed in ARQ and similar data modes,
where the
   transmit DSP “pipeline” must be fully processed
before the
   carrier is dropped.

* NARROW CW/DATA FILTERS (100/50 Hz): Corrected
distortion and
   loss issues.

* SYNTHESIZER: VCO CAL improvements related to “ERR
VCO” and
   “ERR PL1” error messages.

For software developers:

* '$' character in CAT commands targets the sub
receiver. At
   present only the AG$ command is implemented (sub AF
gain, e.g.
   AG$;  AG$050;).

* "FI" command provides last four digits of the K3’s
exact I.F.
   center frequency, in Hz. For example, if the
selected filter
   has an offset of 0.00 and is not shifted, the I.F.
is exactly
   8215000, and “FI;” will return “FI5000;”.

* "MD" COMMAND DURING “TUNE”: For the duration of
TUNE, the MD
   command will return the operating mode that was in
effect at the
   time TUNE was activated, not CW mode. This should
fix a problem
   with third-party panadapters that may have seen
TUNE as a mode
   change to CW.

Sub receiver:

* KRX3 MENU ENTRY: Settings now include NOT INST,
ANT=BNC, ANT=ATU.
   When the sub receiver is installed, the operator
must select one
   of the two “ANT” settings based on what is
connected to the KRX3’s
   “AUX RF” input: the KAT3’s non-transmit antenna
(ANT=ATU) or the
   rear-panel AUX RF BNC jack (ANT=BNC).

* BSET-MODE ANT1/2 ICONS:  When the sub receiver
turned on, you
   can use BSET mode to view or change the sub’s
antenna assignment:
   MAIN (sharing the main receiver’s antenna) or AUX
(using the sub’s
   AUX RF input). When AUX is selected, the ANT1/2
icons will either
   turn off (if ANT=BNC was specified for in the KRX3
menu entry)
   or one of them will be on (if ANT=ATU was
specified).

* SUB RX FILTER SETUP: In menus, toggling between RF
and SUB and
   switching filters or modes now properly sets up sub
if applicable.
   This allows the operator to hear the effect of any
changes on the
   sub receiver’s own filters (if SUB AF GAIN is set
so it can be
   heard). NOTE: You must turn the sub receiver ON
before entering the
   menu if you want to listen to the sub during filter
changes.


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