[Elecraft] K3 sidetone volume Request

[Steve Ellington]

Having to engage the sidetone (steady tone) in order to adjust the level is 
annoying.
Example: When using headphones, I have to crank up the sidetone to about 40. 
If I unplug the headphones and hit the key, the sidetone almost blast me off 
my chair. Wakes up the XYL too! Most rigs let you simply turn a knob and 
adjust the sidetone level without the tone running and they also let you 
adjust volume while you are sending. The whole pitch, spot, mon thing needs 
to be revisited. Here's what I would prefer....
For CW mode: The mon level is the default. It simply controls the sidetone 
volume and can be adjusted while sending (no steady tone).
For SSB: Don't care.
It just seems natural and logical to be able to adjust my sidetone without 
the controls being disable by hitting the key or another knob and to be 
adjustable "on the fly"....
Let's assume I'm in the middle of a CW QSO and I suddenly need to put on my 
headphones due to QSB or XYL. I'm sending along, plug in the headphones and 
suddenly my sidetone is way down below the noise level..To increase the 
gain, I push the PWR button in and the sidetone is now a continuous 
tone....Not good...can't hear the other guy....Tap the key and sidetone goes 
off and now I can adjust. Hey...that's what I wanted all along. Why not just 
make it the default for CW mode? If I want a steady tone, I'll push the Spot 
button. Woops, can't do that because it disables my mon volume adjustment. 
This is weird. I guess as a CW op, the sidetone volume adjustment is far 
more important than PWR.  At least make it a menu item.
Thanks for reading. 73

N4LQ
Steve Ellington
N4LQ at carolina.rr.com