[Elecraft] Illogical coding

[Robert Ansell]

Hi All, I recently had to replace the front panel on my SN 1401 K3 because of a blank display. This just arrived today with the latest software/firmware dated 9/9/08. All went smoothly and now I can see the display as it should be. I went through all the cal and setup routines and all was perfect. I was turning my attention to the bands and was looking to snag a new country on cw. I noticed that the station was listening up in frequency so I engaged a split on VFO B and set the frequency and tried to call but no action out of my key. I looked at the display and discovered that I was no longer in QSK only VOX so I hit the QSK button and VFO B came back and said N/A in the screen! I tried several times to engage QSK but no way was I going to get the K3 to key. Going back to XIT I was able to snag that guy but here is where it gets interesting. I called Elecraft and asked what was going on and Scott had no Idea but asked me what version of manual I had and discovered that I had an old version C that was over a year old! I downloaded the newest version of the manual and much to my surprise there was a note that is not in the earlier version about B SET that indicated it could be set up in a different mode! Sure enough that VFO had been set up for SSB and that was why I could not key the radio. Why on earth if you are in CW on VFO A and press split would you ever expect that  VFO B would ever default to anything but CW on VFO B!!! This in my opinion is completely illogical. Can anyone out there give me an explanation why I should be wrong on this account? I might have been upset if I didn't go back to XIT to solve the problem but I can just see in a contest situation where someone was unaware of this that sparks wouldn't fly. What say you guys!

Bob Ansell K1WGM