[Elecraft] KUSB Adapter Alternative

[Julian, G4ILO]

Phil Hystad wrote:
> 
> But, I think the comment below, if I understand the point being made, is
> that a 
> problem with USB is in emulating a serial port on a computer or a serial
> device.
> 
> I agree with that, I think that the day that USB stops trying to emulate
> some old
> technology we would all be better off.  I am not against RS-232 or serial
> interfaces
> but I am ready to do something different.
> 
> I think that USB opens up a lot of new ways that rig control and
> interfacing can be
> implemented that might make software applications more powerful and easier
> to
> implement.  
> 
> ...
> 
> Rather then using USB to emulate a serial command infrastructure, what
> about using
> USB to interface to a memory based infrastructure.  Sure it would be more
> sophisticated
> on the ham radio rig side of things but it certainly can be done.
> 
> 

Yes, you understand correctly, Phil, and you make valid points. I understand
the argument of those who suggested that if the K3 was made with a USB
interface this would eliminate these problems. But perhaps they are only
concerned with using their K3 with a Windows PC now, which of course is the
only viewpoint many computer users have.

I also stand by the point I made earlier, that if the K3 had a USB
interface, Elecraft would have to develop drivers for each of the major
operating systems, or else decide to support only Windows as Icom has done.
Your long term use of the radio would then depend on the continued
availability of drivers for new versions of operating systems in the future,
not to mention the continued availability of USB ports.

USB is here today but it could be gone tomorrow. It's here because it meets
a need, but there is no guarantee that it will not have been replaced by
something faster and completely different in ten years time. It exists to
meet the need of consumer computer peripherals manufacturers, who see their
product life cycles in terms of just a few years. They benefit from such
built-in obsolescence, but many people I know are unhappy about throwing
away working equipment because it is not supported by their new computer,
and that's when it's a $100 printer not a $3500 radio.

I know people who still use radios that are 30 years old or more, and I
think most K3s would have a similar life. So regardless of the superior
technical interface methods that would be possible if Elecraft had chosen a
USB interface I think they made the right decision by sticking with RS232.
Because although serial ports may have gone from personal computers they are
NOT obsolete and are still widely used in industry, and are more likely
still to be used for the life of the K3 than USB ports will be.

Rather than suggesting, as one person did, that people should dump their old
PCs and buy a cheap netbook with USB capability one might humbly suggest
that people should forget about using laptops for their shack computer and
buy a cheap desktop with PCI slots capable of installing a real RS232 port
in it for reliable radio control. The K3 is not a cheap consumer computer
peripheral so why should we expect to plug it in and use it like one?

-----
Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392  K3 #222.
* G4ILO's Shack - http://www.g4ilo.com
* KComm - http://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html
* KTune - http://www.g4ilo.com/ktune.html

-- 
View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/KUSB-Adapter-Alternative-tp4046719p4047883.html
Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.