[Elecraft] K3 Beta firmware rev. 2.58: FASTER BAND SWITCHING; BAND MAPPING

[wayne burdick]

K3 beta-test firmware revision 2.58 (with DSP rev 1.94) is now 
available. Please send any problem reports to k3support at elecraft.com. 
For instructions on how to load beta firmware, please see:

   http://www.elecraft.com/K3/k3_software.htm

Highlights:

* BAND SWITCHING is now possible using M>V and the numeric keypad -- a 
faster alternative to using BAND UP/DOWN

* BAND MAPPING allows you to remove individual bands from the BAND 
UP/DOWN switch rotation (great for contesters, or for those who never 
use certain bands)

* VOX switch is now accessible during voice transmit, so you can turn 
VOX off if shack noise suddenly increases

This revision also fixes the "CW pitch = 0" problem from rev. 2.57.

Other details appear below.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

* * *

MCU 2.58, 10-28-2008

New Features:

* FAST BAND SWITCHING USING KEYPAD:  We’ve added a “band select”
mode for memories 0-9. First, set CONFIG:MEM 0-9 to BAND SEL.
You can then use V>M to assign individual bands to keypad switches 0-9.
For example, use BAND UP/DN to get to 160 m, tap V>M, then tap #1.
 From then on, tapping M>V, then #1, will take you to your last-used 
frequency
on 160 m, just as if you had used the BAND switches. Up to 10 of your 
favorite
bands can be assigned to keypad switches, including transverter bands.
The behavior of memories 10-99 and the per-band quick memories (M1-M4)
will be unchanged.

* MAPPING OUT SELECTED BANDS:  You can now remove one or more bands
from the BAND UP/DN rotation using the CONFIG:BND MAP menu entry. Once
you’ve located CONFIG:BND MAP, use BAND UP/DN to select bands, and set 
them to
IN or OUT using VFO A. (Works with transverter bands, too.) You can 
still
get to mapped-out bands using memory recall, direct frequency entry, or
computer-control commands (“FA” and “FB”).

Miscellaneous:

* VOX CAN BE TURNED OFF DURING VOICE TRANSMIT: This is useful
if you’re using VOX and have a sudden increase in shack noise that 
activates
transmit.

* MSG PLAY IN SSB MODE FIXED: In revision 2.57, tapping M1-M4 to play a
message in SSB modes was setting the CW pitch to 0 Hz. This has been
corrected.

For software developers:

* "RX" COMMAND AND TUNE: “RX” will now exit either an XMIT or TUNE
condition.

* MANUAL BAND CHANGE IN AI1 and AI2 MODES: Multiple rapid presses of
BAND UP or BAND DN were sometimes inserting band-change response data
for intermediate bands into the outgoing host command buffer. Now only 
the
data for the final band is sent.



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