[Elecraft] K3 Color-Contrast Visibility

[Bruce Prior]

Both Margaret K7MWP and I were inspired by yesterday's awesome K3 workshop at the Johnson residence (Lyle KK7P and Heather N7DZU) in Mt. Vernon, WA.  In preparation for the workshop, Lyle's lab was made immaculate, I understand with major participation by Heather.  I thought about the contrast to my hamshack. The whole room still needs a lot of attention, but after some work last night and this morning, my operating position has been de-cluttered.  Both the K3 and the Begali Magnetic Traveler Light paddle are pushed farther away from the front of the desk, affording much better elbow room.  The newly-cleared desk made it more pleasant for Margaret K7MWP and me to have another "K3 gossip."  This morning's topics were direct frequency entry, plus storing and recalling frequencies.
 
I was reminded that I had  been so enthusiastic about the K3 that I neglected a discussion of the impact of color contrast on visibility in my April 2008 QST review of the transceiver.
 
The K3 LCD display has excellent visibility, largely attributable to its black-on-bright orange color contrast.  The press-and-hold yellow-on-black labels on the front cabinet also work very well.  Similarly, both white-on-dark grey and white-on-light grey on a number of buttons work just fine.  
 
The color-contrast Achilles heel of the K3 is the red-on-dark grey lettering on the suite of buttons used for direct frequency entry buttons.  That dark grey is very close to black, and red lettering on a black background is just about the worst color contrast imaginable.
   
I recommend that the next production run of K3 buttons include changes as follows:

1. All of the dark grey buttons which currently have red characters should be changed to light grey.

2. In order to maintain general differentiation, the suite of buttons used for memories, plus RIT, XIT and CLR, could be changed to dark grey, since the white lettering produces a good contrast on that shade.
 
73, Bruce N7RR  
 
 

 J. Bruce Prior
 853 Alder Street 
 Blaine, WA 98230-8030 
 360-332-6046 
 Amateur Radio Station N7RR
 Grid CN88px
 FISTS 10539    QRP ARCI 4241    GORC 015    NAQCC 2618
 
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