[Elecraft] K3 FIRMWARE UPDATE: MCU 1.87, DSP 1.69 (Finally!)

Sat May 3 21:32:11 EDT 2008

Wow, totally outstanding, Wayne. Congratulations on this major milestone! 
Can't wait to see how it works. Looks like my K3 will have this revision 
loaded in it when shipped, then.

Bill W5WVO

wayne burdick wrote:
> We've just completed the most extensive K3 firmware update ever. The
> full list of changes is provided below.
>
> *** NOTE ***  You must use the latest version of our firmware loader
> (K3 Utility rev 1.1.4.1) or else you won't be able to load all
> components of the upgrade. It's available on our K3 software page,
> along with release notes:
>
>     http://www.elecraft.com/K3/k3_software.htm
>
> As usual, if you have any difficulty with the firmware upgrade, send
> email to k3support at elecraft.com. Both Lyle, KK7P (DSP firmware) and
> myself (MCU firmware) will be closely monitoring your results in case
> further tweaking is required.
>
> I'd also like to thank all of our K3 customers for their patience.
> This firmware release was delayed several times due to testing,
> engineering staff vacations, etc. Our field testers have been
> pounding on interim releases for weeks (thanks, guys). I hope you'll
> find it worth the wait!
>
> 73,
> Wayne, N6KR
>
> * * *
>
> MCU 1.87 / DSP 1.69, 5-3-08
>
>   This release includes improvements in all areas. Changes are
> categorized below.
>
>   NEW FEATURES:
>
>   * CW KEYING IN SSB MODES:  While in SSB modes, you can now send CW
> without
>     changing modes or using an offset. The other station will hear the
> signal at your CW pitch.
>     This is especially useful on VHF bands when SSB signals can’t be
> copied.
>     To enable this feature, go into CONFIG:CW WGHT and tap ‘1’ until
> you see SSB +CW.
>
>   * FM MODE ADDED: Requires FM filter installed in slot FL1. Those not
> needing
>     FM mode can set CONFIG:FM MODE to OFF. To set up a repeater
> offset: Use the
>     CONFIG:RPT OFS menu entry, then hold ALT to select -/+/simplex
> (-/+ appear under
>     the FM mode icon). To set up tone encode: hold PITCH, then rotate
> VFO B to select
>     PL TONE or PL OFF, and rotate VFO A to select the desired CTCSS
> tone. (When
>     PL TONE is on, a letter ‘T’ will appear near the FM mode icon.)
> Repeater offsets and
>     PL tones are stored per-band/per-memory.
>
>   * VARIABLE AMP KEYING DELAY: Added CONFIG:TX DLY menu entry, which
>     sets the time from KEY OUT jack (active low) to first RF in 1-ms
> steps, from 8 to 20 ms.
>     To minimize loss of QSK speed, use the shortest delay that works
> with your amp.
>     Most will work with the default (minimum) setting of 8 ms.
>
>   * LINE OUT ALLOWS RX/TX AUDIO RECORDING: Normally, CONFIG:LIN OUT
> sets a
>     fixed-level, receive-only output for main/sub (L/R), compatible
> with digital modes. Tapping
>     '1' switches LIN OUT to =PHONES, where the line outputs match
> headphone audio,
>     audio level controlled by AF/SUB gain controls, and both RX and TX
> audio available.
>
>   * SIMULTANEOUS USE OF MIC AND LINE IN:  If the MAIN:MIC+LIN menu
> entry is set to
>     ON, and MIC SEL = FP or RP, the present mic OR line in can be used
> for transmit audio.
>     NOTE: Setting MIC SEL to LINE overrides the MIC+LIN menu entry
> (its parameter
>     becomes "N-A").  When MIC+LIN is in effect, rotating the MIC
> control shows MIC GAIN.
>     The op has to set MIC SEL to LINE temporarily to set LINE IN gain.
>
>   * S-METER ABSOLUTE MODE: Use the CONFIG:SMTR MD menu entry. Set to
>     ABS (absolute) to have S-meter stay constant with preamp/atten
> settings. Default is NOR (where
>     PRE/ATTN affect the S-meter). ABS mode requires recalibration
> (SMTR OF & SMTR SC).
>
>   RECEIVE:
>
>   * SSB RECEIVE PASSBAND EXTENDED AT LOW END (now 100 Hz; was 200 Hz).
>
>   * AM RECEIVE WIDTH RANGE INCREASED:  The WIDTH control in AM mode
> now has
>     a range of 2.8 to 10.0 kHz. Wider settings provide outstanding
> fidelity for hi-fi speech
>     and other wide-band signals. This is the *IF* filter bandwidth --
> the traditional way to show
>     bandwidth for AM, because the required IF bandwidth is twice the
> modulation bandwidth.
>     NORM selects an IF bandwidth of 6.0 kHz in this mode. WIDTH
> settings above 6.0 kHz
>     will not be useful unless you have an FM-bandwidth crystal filter
> installed (at FL1).
>
>   * IF A 2.8 KHZ FILTER IS INSTALLED, SSB "NORM" BW is 2.8 kHz (was
> fixed at 2.7 kHz).
>
>   * AUTO-SPOT (SPOT with CWT ON) now works with both very weak and
> very strong signals.
>
>   * PSK AUTOTUNE ACCURACY improved. You may still need to use RIT
> (FINE steps) to
>     tune in signals for best built-in text decode. (Also see
> CW-to-DATA in the Owner’s Manual.)
>
>   TRANSMIT:
>
>   * TRANSVERTER POWER CONTROL: The value set in CONFIG:XVn PWR now
> correctly
>     sets a fixed power level on the associated transverter band
> (0-1.50 mW or 0-12W).
>
>   * POWER ROLLBACK BASED ON REFLECTED POWER:  Power rollback begins at
> about
>     2.5:1 at 100 W (and of course much higher SWRs are tolerated at
> lower power settings).
>     Recovers to original target power level after mismatch is
> corrected.
>   * CW QSK further refined, with smoother mute/unmute in the presence
> of QRN and QRM.
>
>   * SSB TRANSMIT BANDPASS EXTENDED AT LOW END. Improvement is about 2
>     dB at 300 Hz, 3 dB at 200 Hz, and 6 dB at 100 Hz. Additional
> improvement possible via TX EQ.
>
>   * SSB TX POWER CONTROL improved. Set ALC for about 5 bars (rarely
> 6+) using MIC gain
>     control, then set CMP and POWER as desired. The RF power bargraph
> shows approx.
>     peak power when you whistle or shout, but will typically show well
> below peak power
>     during normal speech. If you’re using an external peak-reading
> wattmeter or power
>     amplifier, adjust POWER as required while observing the effect of
> speech peaks.
>     If you find that an SSB power setting higher or lower than for CW
> is often required,
>     you may wish to compensate for this using the CONFIG:TXG VCE menu
> entry.
>
>     Technical Note: Our latest MCU and DSP code uses minimal amounts
> of ALC, consistent
>     with analysis done by Leif Asbrink, SM5BSZ. (His findings and
> recommendations can be
>     found on his web site, www.nitehawk.com/sm5bsz.) The general idea
> is to keep
>     transmit drive just below where ALC can cause splatter on speech
> peaks, rather than
>     apply ALC heavily to achieve additional compression.
>
>   CONTROLS:
>
>   * A->B SWITCH: 1st tap copies frequency only; 2nd tap within 2
> seconds copies mode
>     and filter settings.
>
>   * VFO LOCK is no longer cancelled by VFO tuning controls (RATE,
> FINE, or COARSE).
>
>   * TUNING EITHER VFO ACROSS MULTIPLE BANDS now brings the other VFO
> along
>     with it, so that both VFOs will always be on the same band. This
> eliminates the problem
>     of bands getting out of sequence due to wide tuning excursions.
> (Later, we’ll allow the
>     subreceiver to be on a different band from main if CONFIG:VFO IND
> is enabled.)
>
>
> ---
>
> http://www.elecraft.com
>
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