[Elecraft] K3 Menus, User Interface

[Jim Brown]

I own two K3s that I bought nearly 2 years ago. Partly because I was a K2 
owner, I found the user interface quite easy to learn. I'm a member of a 
big contest club, and many of my friends have also bought a K3. With each, 
there is a learning curve. Those who RTFM learn quickly. Those who don't 
are always on the phone with questions. When they call me, I try to help 
them figure out their immediate problem, and urge that they RTFM. 
Eventually, most they do. Those that don't RTFM complain about menus, and 
some sell their radio in frustration. 

K3 menus, like MP menus, and Icom menus, are for SETUP and configuration. 
That allow us to make the radio work like WE want it to. The only times I 
need to use menus is when I want to set up a new feature, or CHANGE how I 
want the radio (and its controls) to behave. If you sit down and RTFM, it 
doesn't take long to get the radio set the way you like it. Some of that 
setup may include assigning a few commonly used controls to buttons (like 
turning the speaker on and off). I use single-push memories to store my 
favorite frequencies and operating modes on each band. If you RTFM, that 
doesn't take long either. 

I mostly work contests, but I also occasionally rag chew and chase DX. I 
NEVER need to use menus in any of that activity. Mostly I use the main 
tuning knob, the width control, AF and RF gain, RIT, and XIT. Occasionally 
I'll tweak power output or keyer speed. I'll turn the sub-RX on/off, and 
I'll put it in/out of diversity mode. NONE of those actions requires the 
use of a menu! 

When do I need a menu? To use a different mic, to install a roofing filter 
or change its setup. To tweak the behaviour of the AGC system. To change 
the behavior of the front panel AF gain controls from independent L/R to 
gain and pan. I did alll of that once when I started using the radio, 
and/or when I bought a new filter, or a new mic. NONE of those actions are 
things you need to do during ordinary operation of the radio. All of those 
things are easy if you RTFM. 

73, Jim K9YC