[Elecraft] Manual suggestions

[Lu Romero]

All:

I guess I might be one of the few that takes the time to
RTFM... If more of us did, maybe we would have less things
to ask about here on the reflector.

Let me add my *strong* endorsement to these thoughts!  

I dont even use the included spiral bound manual.  I am
lucky to have access to PDF Pro and a DTP qualified printer
that can print dual sided sheets, so I have gotten into the
habit of capturing the included "errata" sheets into PDF,
editing them, and inserting them into the "oficial" manual
which can then be printed as needed.

What Elecraft might consider is moving away from the spiral
bound manual convention and moving into a "loose leaf
notebook" convention.  Ampex (remember them?) was supreme at
organizing this task back in the 80's.  

This would make things much easier to manage.  Just "replace
pages 34 through 38" in your existing manual with the
pre-formatted PDF files available on the website.  But
please remember to add "this page intentionally left blank",
OK?  And before you complain, even the INTERNET has one of
these.  (http://www.this-page-intentionally-left-blank.org/)

Seriously, the loose leaf three ring binder with section
tabs would be a MUCH better idea for K3, since it is in such
rapid development.  Nice logo printed "Elecraft" three ring
binders are not that expensive in relation to what we pay
for the radios and would be less time consuming to create in
the long run.  They would probably be easier to produce than
those spiral bound ones.

Yes, the spiral bound ones are handy, lie flat on the
operating position, and take up less space, but if you
REALLY want one, just go down to Office Depot and have one
custom made to your specifications for under $10.

-lu-W4LT-



Message: 5
Date: Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:24:14 -0400
From: Thom LaCosta <k3hrn at zerobeat.net>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Manual suggestions
To: Bob Allen <mcamp at gmavt.net>,elecraft at mailman.qth.net,   
Elecraft
    support <support at elecraft.com>
Message-ID: <20091008152351.1C0B337381AF at mailman.qth.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 10:48 AM 10/08/09, Bob Allen wrote:
>Hi again,
>The owner's manual must be a difficult thing to deal with
the radio
>changing weekly.
>But as a user I find that the manual could be improved so I
thought I'd
>throw out a few suggestions.

One that I've made in the past was to issue change
notifications...ala the
gubmint....the change sheet would tell you what page to
remove and what
pages to add.

In that way, one can maintain the printed manual without
having to reprint
it again.

Less paper used, less trash. less work.

73,
Thom k3hrn





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