[Elecraft] K3 Split reminder

[Kjeld Holm]

Dear Elecraft and all gentlemen

Rigth it is one's own fault not seing the yellow delta ligth, but but but I
would sure wake up if the two frequencies in the display changed place when
transmitting on the VFO B (oh yes then the designation A and B would be
wrong). But anyway I would be protected from my self.

A less drastic solution would be to have a transmit frequency blinking
slowly regardless of being VFO A or VFO B.

Vy 73
OZ1CCM Kjeld



-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Gary Hinson
Sent: 19. oktober 2009 22:40
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Split reminder

> There is just so much any manufacturer can do to protect an operator

> from him or herself. The K3 already has the delta f light, the SPLIT

> indicator on the display (TU W2ZK - I'd forgotten that) and frequency 
> readout for both VFOs. As one who has made his share of errors with

> the K3 and other radios, there is simply no substitute for just 
> learning how to use any radio.

True, and it seems I'm still learning!  I like the arrangement on the TS850
and similar radios which have a set of TX and RX buttons for VFO A and VFO
B, with LED indicators for the active VFO.  Visually, it's easy to select
the split.  The K3's smaller display and control panel make this harder, but
not impossible.  I'm just retraining my eyes to spot the new clues.  Maybe
turning up the LED brightness will help (Menu -> LED BRT) but I support the
idea of making the delta-F LED flash in true split mode (not just with
RIT/XIT).

I usually get it wrong having excitedly QSYd to a spot frequency on
DXcluster: the rig defaults to no-split, naturally.  I normally remember to
tweak VFO B up 1 (or whatever) and set the sub-RX to listen there, but
sometimes I neglect to hit-and-hold the split button as well.  That's quite
a lot of buttons to press in a hurry.

So FWIW I also vote for an "instant split" function, i.e. if I hold the
split button, I'd like VFO B to shift up/down by a configurable and ideally
mode- and maybe even band-dependent offset from VFO A and also turn on the
sub RX [if fitted] on VFO B.  

[Yes, this would of course be an optional, configurable, take-it-or-leave-it
change to suit those of you who don't like *my* defaults!]

In the absense of a firmware fix for this, maybe someone can figure out a
way to make the logging program send the relevant commands to the K3 from
one button press, or just whenever I click a cluster spot (since most
spottees are operating split)?  

> The real problem with split errors is the insidious nastiness of the

> cops when a quick "RSE up" will do (and the DX isn't TX!), or perhaps 
> a Talk cluster message that no one else sees. Either would be far less 
> disruptive.

Absolutely.  See http://www.k6sgh.com/splitpolice.htm  :-)   4U1UN on
30m was wiped out by an EA caller this morning, who I think was calling
another lower station on split.  The cops who sent "UP UP UP UP IDIOT" etc.,
several times each, made a simple problem worse since the EA was evidently
not listening on his TX freq (another good reason for the instant-split
function to also set the sub-RX on VFO B).

73
Gary  ZL2iFB

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