[Elecraft] K3 firmware 2 years on and still much to do
Joe Subich, W4TV
lists at subich.com
Sat Sep 19 11:57:27 EDT 2009
Steve,
> While I find the K3 ergonomics to be much better than I
> expected, there is room for improvement, as many have
> pointed out.
Claiming that the K3's more basic user interface (similar
to a TS-570, IC-706, FT-900, or even TR-7, TS-830, etc.)
is a reason to reject the radio IS bogus. It is equivalent
to saying one should reject a particular brand or model
of automobile because it has a steering column mounted
gearshift or does not include cruise control and intermittent
wipers where another automobile includes them.
Do I still change modes when meaning to change bands? Yes.
However, I also made "finger errors" with the FT-1000D user
interface - that doesn't make one interface "better" than
the other.
73,
... Joe, W4TV
> -----Original Message-----
> From: S Sacco [mailto:nn4x.steve at gmail.com]
> Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2009 11:18 AM
> To: lists at subich.com
> Cc: juergen piezo; Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 firmware 2 years on and still much to do
>
>
> "Completely bogus" is in the eye of the beholder, Joe.
>
> While I find the K3 ergonomics to be much better than I
> expected, there is room for improvement, as many have pointed out.
>
> 73,
> Steve NN4X
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sat, Sep 19, 2009 at 10:35 AM, Joe Subich, W4TV
> <lists at subich.com> wrote:
>
>
> > The band switching, VFO management, mode switching and many
> aspects of
> > its front panel design needs a rework. Most of the contest
> operators
> > that I know seem to own a FT2000, they will all acknowledge
> that its
> > no K3, however they all feel the same as I do about the K3 and its
> > ergonomics.
>
>
> Having used the FT-1000D, Mark V, and FT-2000 series of
> radios for nearly 20 years before moving the K3, the "front
> panel design" and "ergonomics" issues are completely bogus.
> There are other transceivers with user interfaces very
> similar to the K3 - including some from Yaesu - and, while
> different than the FT-990/1000/2000/9000 the K3 User
> interface is no less usable.
>
> Anyone who makes the size/user interface argument is simply
> making an excuse for not learning a new user interface based
> prejudice. Any contester or DXer who uses one of the popular
> contest or day to day logging packages with "point and shoot"
> features is insulated from the transceiver's user interface
> to such an extent that the differences among user interfaces
> is largely irrelevant anyway.
>
> 73,
>
> ... Joe, W4TV
>
>
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> > [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of juergen piezo
>
> > Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2009 6:42 AM
> > To: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>
> > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 firmware 2 years on and still much to do
> >
> >
> > K3 firmware 2 years on and still much to do?
> >
> > I still dont own a K3. I just cant bring myself to buy the K3
> > because of its front panel layout and its operation.
> Although I would
> > very much like its receiver performance.
> >
> > I have used one at a contest station and all that I can
> > say is that I would not buy one until a new front panel layout is
> > designed.
> >
> > The band switching, VFO management, mode switching and many
> aspects of
> > its front panel design needs a rework. Most of the contest
> operators
> > that I know seem to own a FT2000, they will all acknowledge
> that its
> > no K3, however they all feel the same as I do about the K3 and its
> > ergonomics. Most of us are just not portable operators, so
> dont need
> > small size 12 volt radios.
> >
> > There are many good radios that would be a good front panel design
> > model for the K3a. The FT950, FT920, Icom 737series, TS850 etc all
> > have a very workable ergonomic front panel layouts that are easy to
> > use. The FT950 is so well layed out and very attractive and
> it would
> > be a good one to copy for a new K3 front panel.
> >
> > If the K3 is so modular, why would it be so hard not to
> > offer a bigger box with a new front panel? There are many off the
> > shelf 19 inch rack boxes that could be used with a new front panel
> > styling.
> >
> > I would suggest that a new K3 panel with built in P3, power supply
> > and 200 watt PA stage would be a big hit. Everyone seems to be so
> > over the moon with the K3's small size, I must be a freak
> with alien
> > genes to not like the radios front panel layout and operational
> > ergonomics.
> >
> > The firmware feature list or lack of progress I can live
> with. However
> > a awkward panel layout and poor ergomics thats carved in
> rock I cant
> > really live with. When I used the K3 all that I ever used was the
> > band switch, volume and RIT control.... thats all, just like a
> > Mil-spec radio. It was very hard to do otherwise, so I probably
> > missed a lot of the K3's potential.
> >
> > I too live in hope that a new K4 is coming! I could even
> live with a
> > K3 junior with one receiver and a new front panel design.
> >
> > John
> >
> > --- On Sat, 9/19/09, Dave G4AON <elecraft at astromag.co.uk> wrote:
> >
> > > From: Dave G4AON <elecraft at astromag.co.uk>
> > > Subject: [Elecraft] K3 firmware 2 years on and still much to do
> > > To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> > > Date: Saturday, September 19, 2009, 1:58 AM
> > > Unfortunately the K3 firmware seems
> > > to have wandered off track a bit,
> > > two years ago when the K3 started rolling out the
> following were on
> > > the "to do" list and formed part of the specification:
> > >
> > > 0.5 ppm TCXO calibration
> > > Synchronous AM
> > >
> > > These might not be the most important issues in the
> world, but were
> > > included in the original specification and are in the Oct
> 24th 2007
> > > "B1 manual". Currently the K3 fails to meet specification!
> > >
> > > Can we have some indication of their position on the firmware
> > > roadmap?
> > >
> > > 73 Dave, G4AON
> > > K3/100 #80
> > >
>
>
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