[Elecraft] QST Review: Minor Quibble

[Erik N Basilier]

For each radio with a dimpled tuning knob I have had, I always end up not 
using the dimple. Instead I tune by rolling the tip of the index finger 
aroud the outermost part of the cylindrical knob surface. This just seems 
much better for generating the slight torque required to overcome either 
friction of the mechanism or inertia of the knob. It also feels much more 
positive in making that last fine adjustment due to the larger effective 
diameter and thus larger finger movement. (That said, I often put additional 
fingers on the knob for the final adjustment, but still only touching the 
outermost 1/8" to 1/4".) This is not a tuning method that I have come up 
with to suit the K3; it is what I do for almost all radios, including the 
tiny FT-817, where fingers really risk hitting unintended controls.

For this method to work well, there should not be too much friction (as from 
the felt washer) - but the larger effective diameter overcomes friction 
better than the dimple does. It is important that the cylindrical part of 
the knob be rubberized almost all the way out to the flat surface, or else 
have multiple finger indentations like the old S-line. Finally, the knob 
diameter should be neither too small nor too big. Bottom line: the K3 knob 
is near perfect (with any reasonable friction setting).

My hands are rather small, but even if they were not, I cannot see any 
interference between the left hand and the knobs to the left of the tuning 
knob. The index finger doing the tuning just doesn't reach close enough to 
the panel to reach the smaller knobs.

73,
Erik K7TV



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rob May" <roblitespeed at hotmail.com>
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 6:01 PM
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] QST Review: Minor Quibble



I came over from a 718 also.  I tune with my left thumb with the rest of the 
hand resting on the table and the fingertips on the bottom of the radio.  I 
don't have any problems hitting other buttons or knobs.  I with there were a 
freewheeling dimple, but it's not a major problem, I just use a lighter 
touch with my thumb.
Rob
NV5E