[Elecraft] K3 BETA FIRMWARE RELEASE -- MCU Revision 1.99

[wayne burdick]

K3 beta-test firmware revision 1.99 is now available. Highlights 
include:

   * Per-band power output setting (great for use with amps and 
transverters)
   * ANTIVOX gain increased
   * Support for external amplifier ALC
   * MIC up/down button functions
   * Remote control ("CAT") enhancements
   * Power loss on 6 meters at high power corrected
   * Receive-mode large-signal RFI detection and warning

Full details appear at the end of this email.

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 1.99 / DSP 1.76, 6-4-08

New Features & Misc. Changes:

* POWER LOSS DURING TRANSMIT ON 6 M CORRECTED.

* RIT APPLIES TO BOTH VFOs WHEN LINKED. With the subreceiver installed,
    this allows diversity receive tuning via RIT while preserving a 
fixed transmit frequency.

* ANTIVOX GAIN increased. (Some antivox users may need to use a lower 
setting.)

* MIC UP/DOWN buttons, if provided on your mic, will move VFO A up or 
down one
   unit at the present tuning rate. Holding the UP or DOWN buttons for 
about 1 second
   will auto-repeat the VFO movement, allowing manual scanning of the 
current band.

* PER-BAND POWER CONTROL:  This feature is very useful with external 
amplifiers
   as well as transverters. To use it, change CONFIG:PWR SET to PER-BAND.

* RECEIVE RFI DETECTION: If the CONFIG:RFI DET menu entry is set to
   NOR (normal), the K3 will detect the presence of very large signals 
(about 2 watts or
   higher) that appear at the ANT1/2 jacks in receive mode. “HI RFI” 
will be displayed
   on VFO B. Try separating antennas, using single-band filters, or 
reducing power.
   To disable RFI detection, set CONFIG:RFI DET to OFF (not recommended).

* EXTERNAL ALC:  We strongly recommend that external ALC only be used 
to protect
   your amplifier during operation into a failed load or other serious 
condition. In fact,
   most amplifiers have such protection built in, and do not need or 
specify the use of ALC.
   ALC should not be used as a way to clip or compress fast voice peaks. 
The K3’s
   ALC uses a moderate attack time specifically to prevent signal 
distortion due to ALC
   action, so it is the responsibility of the operator to keep drive 
below this level.

   DO NOT SET THE K3’s POWER LEVEL TO MAX AND ADJUST AMP OUTPUT USING
   THE AMP’s ALC CONTROL. THIS WILL RESULT IN SPLATTER AND KEY CLICKS.
   INSTEAD, ADJUST THE DRIVE ON EACH BAND SO IT’S JUST BELOW THE LEVEL
   WHERE ALC STARTS TO ACTIVATE. (See Per-Band Power Control, above.)

   NOTE: You may need to make some simple modifications to the 
transceiver to use
   external ALC. This information will be added to our K3 mods page. 
Information for
   specific amplifiers will be made available when possible.

   Once the mods have been made, set CONFIG:EXT ALC to ON by tapping 
‘1’. (6 m can be
   turned on/off separately from HF.) The default external ALC threshold 
of -4.0V will work
   in most cases, but can be changed if required. If your amplifier’s 
gain varies from band
   to band, you may want to set CONFIG:PWR SET to PER-BAND. You can then 
adjust
   the drive ideally on each band to prevent external ALC activation 
during normal operation.
   If you select CMP/ALC metering, external ALC activity is indicated by 
8 or more bars.
   If you select SWR/RF metering, the CMP/ALC meter icons will flash 
during external ALC
   activity to make you aware of the condition. Reduce the drive power 
if this occurs.

Remote Control Command Changes (for application software users and 
developers):

* BAND CHANGES RESULTING FROM FA/FB commands now run to completion 
before
   any additional commands are processed (such as MD or FW). This should 
prevent
   errors in mode or filter settings which sometimes occurred with older 
K3 firmware.
   Band changes take approximately 0.5 seconds to complete.

* FA/FB COMMANDS TARGETING 6 METERS will select a 6 m transverter if 
available.
   If not, these commands will select the K3’s internal 6 m band.

* FW (filter bandwidth) command fully implemented. If K3 extended 
command mode is
   in effect (“K31;”), FW sets or reads bandwidth in 10-Hz increments.

* DS (VFO A/icon read) now reports a number of K3-specific icon states, 
including
   RX ANT, SUB, etc. See K3 Programmer’s Reference, revision B2 or later.

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