[Elecraft] Need for advice was; noise reduction

[Don Cunningham]

Wayne,
You didn't ask me, but I'm going to break my rule and respond to this one. 
The K3 has been a unique radio in a respect that you may be overlooking.  It 
has "evolved" over many years, with some of the "knowledgeable" guys owning 
low serial numbered rigs, and they don't see what we are faced with as new 
owners.  My K3 is serial number 4076, and my background is more into analog 
rigs, but I have owned many "DSP" based rigs, from the IC-775/TS-870 era up. 
I used to do mostly digital (RTTY), but find upon this return to ham radio 
that RTTY rag chewing is sort of a thing of the past and I am re-learning 
SSB and hopefully CW in the future.

All that said, the K3 manual, to this old guy, looks more like a reference 
book for the low serial numbered guys that have helped this fine radio 
evolve over the years.  It doesn't explain button/knob functions like you 
would for a new user, but is a fine reference for those who have helped 
determine just what that knob/button would do.  I HAVE read through the 
manual, but it has changed three or four times since I bought my K3 in 
February of this year, and I haven't taken time to read through them all to 
see what the differences are.

What I think "MIGHT" clear up things somewhat is a Mode section that 
actually teaches you what default settings are, and what "enhancements" 
changes might make to your operation, by mode.  In the front of the manual 
where you try to explain what each knob/button does, refer the user to the 
"advanced page" by mode.  In other words, if a control does different things 
in SSB, CW or DATA, refer the user to the appropriate page by mode for 
further learning.  I think that would take some of the fatigue we are seeing 
as new users.  We haven't been here since the birth of the K3, and anyone 
can see in a day's read of the reflector that the archives are nearly 
useless for learning, as each subject gets so convoluted that you can search 
forever and not find what you want.

I am retired, have lots of time, BUT I want to spend my remaining years 
operating, not reading all the time, hi.  When I have asked about things on 
the reflector, the common answer from the "experts" is RTFM!!!  That's lots 
of help.  I hope others will chime in, but the manual needs to become a "new 
user's guide" as well as a nice reference for the old timers.
73,
Don, WB5HAK