[Elecraft] K3 Beta Firmware Rev. 3.41: Improved RX bass response; Flat DATA-mode EQ; "Live" memory recall; etc.

[Wayne Burdick]

K3 beta-test firmware revision 3.41 (with DSP rev. 2.37) is now  
available. See release notes below.

More refinements are in the works. But alas, it was time to "shoot the  
engineers" and get some interim feedback on the many new features in  
this revision.

--------------
IMPORTANT NOTE
--------------

The latest version of K3 Utility (1.2.9.30) must be used if you plan  
to do receiver RF gain calibration. You can find K3 Utility on our K3  
software page, along with the K3 beta-test firmware:

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

Please send problem reports to k3support at elecraft.com.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

* * *

MCU 3.41 / DSP 2.37, 10-02-2009

* IMPROVED RX LOW-FREQUENCY RESPONSE in AM/SSB/CW MODES:
Most noticeable with hi-fidelity headphones or large speakers.  
NORMalizing
the DSP passband still sets the cutoff to about 100 Hz, but DSP  
controls can
be adjusted to provide a lower response. RX EQ can enhance bass further.

* NO RX EQ OR TX EQ IN DATA MODES: That is, the response is flat
(rolling off below 200 Hz). The RX EQ and TX EQ menu entries now
affect only the other modes.

* "LIVE" MEMORY RECALL (M>V): If you tap M>V, then start rotating
VFO A to select a memory, the K3 will now switch to the band/mode
of each memory. Exit memory recall by tapping M>V a second time.

* VFO COARSE STEP ROUNDING: Tap '1' in the VFO CRS menu entry
to select RND=NO or YES. If YES, the VFO frequency will be rounded off
during COARSE tuning. This menu entry also sets the per-mode COARSE
step size. Note: The RIT/XIT control moves the VFO in coarse steps if
RIT and XIT are not in use (use CONFIG:VFO OFS to turn this on/off).

* CWT (TUNING AID) NOW INDEPENDENT FOR CW & DATA.

* RF GAIN CALIBRATION PROCEDURE UPDATED: You’ll need the
latest revision of K3 Utility and a 50-microvolt signal source (e.g.,  
an XG2).

* SUB RX NOISE BLANKER NOW FULLY INDEPENDENT OF MAIN:
This includes the on/off state and NB LEVEL settings. Note: Set
CONFIG:NB SAVE to YES to preserve your per-band NB on/off settings.

* DSP INTERNAL STATUS MONITORING: In the TECH MD menu entry,
tapping 1 (main) or 2 (sub) displays DSP status information. If it is  
“FFFF”,
no error has been detected. Tapping CLR resets the data to “FFFF”.

* CHANNEL HOPPING IN FM MODE LOADS REPEATER SETTINGS:
Repeater offsets and PL tones are now loaded during scanning/hopping.

* PL TONE DEVIATION ADJUSTABLE: Tapping '1' in CONFIG:FM DEV
allows setting PL tone deviation (300-600 Hz in 30-Hz steps; default,  
360 Hz).

* EU REPEATER 1750 HZ PL TONE BURST: If a 1750 Hz PL TONE is
selected, a 500 ms tone burst will be sent on each PTT activation.

* EXTENDED 6-METER TUNING RANGE: The VFO can now be tuned
down to 44 MHz to monitor signals that may be correlated with 6-meter
band openings. Loss increases rapidly below 49 MHz (-34 dB at 45 MHz),
so a preamp (e.g., the Elecraft PR6) may be needed to obtain a useful  
NF.