[Elecraft] Conversion from K3 to K3Plus or K4

[Mike McLendon]

 My K3 has 54 buttons outboard and a multi-purpose knob!  These accessories
are available from XKEYS.com and Griffin Technologies (Powermate). The XKEY
product comes with software and I have made available, software for the
Powermate. This is just a suggestion for the group - I have no affiliation
other than customer with these companies.

With software with which you can easily assign functions, these are
interesting accessories that take advantage of the rich commands Elecraft
provides with the K3 and K2.  Want a direct bandswitch?  No problem. Memory
channel tuning knob? No problem.



Have fun!

73 - Mike, KE4U


-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Ken Alexander
Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2008 2:09 PM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net; Darwin, Keith
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Conversion from K3 to K3Plus or K4

I don't know much about this sort of thing, but the command set (for the K2
at least) is available, so I would think it would be a relatively simple
matter to program something like a Basic Stamp to receive pushbutton presses
from a small outboard control panel and send the appropriate serial command
to the K2 or K3.  You could probably read status back from the transceiver
and illuminate status LEDs to show what's going on.

The smarter programmer types could probably use a PIC or two to do this and
have a separate matrix type LCD to display status in a more attractive
fashion.

This something I've always wanted to try.  I'm not totally crazy about
needing a computer to operate my rig when all I want is a little easier
access to some of the buried commands.

73 - Ken




--- On Tue, 11/25/08, Darwin, Keith <Keith.Darwin at goodrich.com> wrote:

> From: Darwin, Keith <Keith.Darwin at goodrich.com>
> Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Conversion from K3 to K3Plus or K4
> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Received: Tuesday, November 25, 2008, 6:27 PM I think it is a good 
> idea.  In fact, I suggested the same thing for the
> K2 before there was a K3 (in those pre-K3, or B3 days). 
> Elecraft could
> create a new version of the K2 (K2-B, B for Big) with a larger front 
> panel with dedicated controls.  Same for the K3.
> 
> I think it would be an easy thing to design and would be a popular 
> add-on.  I see it as a money maker for Elecraft.
> 
> I'm sure they considered it back in B3 and so far we haven't seen it.
> My guess is the logistics of making it happen aren't so easy or it 
> doesn't fit their market model.
> 
> - Keith N1AS -
> - K3 711 -
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From:  Ignacy
> 
> One issue with K3 is too many multifunction knobs and buttons. Also, 
> some analog meters would be nice. Computer controls are fine but they 
> are hard to use during contests.
> 
> I am wondering whether one can have a completely separate front panel 
> with lots of knobs and buttons, nothin dual purpose.
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