[Elecraft] K3 FIRMWARE UPDATE: MCU 1.87, DSP 1.69 (Finally!)
Don Wilhelm
w3fpr at embarqmail.com
Sat May 3 23:01:38 EDT 2008
Mark,
Any version of 1.1.4.1 *or above* may be used.
73,
Don W3FPR
mark roz wrote:
> utility rev. shows 1.1.4.8
> why?
>
> Thanks,
>
> MARK
>
>
> --- On Sat, 5/3/08, wayne burdick <n6kr at elecraft.com> wrote:
>
>
>> From: wayne burdick <n6kr at elecraft.com>
>> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 FIRMWARE UPDATE: MCU 1.87, DSP 1.69 (Finally!)
>> To: "Elecraft Reflector" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
>> Date: Saturday, May 3, 2008, 5:29 PM
>> 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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>
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