[Elecraft] K3 MCU 1.75 Firmware Revision

[Ed Muns]

> The problem with this implementation is that the front panel 
> has no markings (like I/II) and the display doesn't show any 
> indication like I/II.  What would you call them anyway 1/2 ?

When ALT1 or ALT2 are invoked, there are "wings" added to the bandwidth
display.  This does not distinguish between ALT1 and ALT2.  It only
indicates that one or the other is in place.

The LCD hardware is fixed with the first 'I' of the I/II icon always on.
That is, it is on all the time when the K3 is powered up; the firmware
cannot turn it off.  Therefore, these display icons cannot be used for the
ALT1 & ALT2 indicator.  They were expressly designed to support the PRESET I
& II function and need to stay with that function.

> I really doubt that there will be a new front panel showing 
> these filter "fixed presets" for some time to come.  All the 
> more reason to swap these to
> the I/II controls.   It would be especially fitting for those 
> who like the
> variable presets not to have panel labels-- because you never 
> know what they set for anyhow.

This is not true (that PRESET shouldn't have labels).  And, it is why either
'I' or 'II' is always displayed.  This tells you that the current filter
settings will be saved as PRESET I or PRESET II when you select the other
preset.  Or, another perspective is that you are changing the displayed
PRESET values as you change filter settings and they are "saved" when you
then select the other PRESET.  It is designed as a quick, convenient way to
have two temporary filter settings to toggle between on a signal.  (It would
be cumbersome to do this use case with the NORM & ALT1/2 feature because of
the required SAVe.)

NORM has a different purpose and ALT1 & ALT2 were added to allow user
definition of these stable starting points for filter settings in each mode.
They do not change until the user explicitly does a SAVe operation, so they
can be depended on to remain stable.  If you've twiddled the filter settings
(or, are not sure what they all are) and want to quickly get to a known
starting point, use NORM or one of your saved ALT1/2 settings.  This use
case is not addressed with the PRESET feature.

Think precisely about how you would like to use filter setting memories and
then select one of these two features to match each use case.  For different
uses, one or the other is best suited.  That's why there is a choice.  Many
people will use both features, at different times, depending on what they
are trying to do with the radio.

73,
Ed - W0YK