[Elecraft] K3 Need for advice was; (More Thorough Documentation)

[samuel ernst-fortin]

Another Sam wrote:
>>
"When folks explain their process".
>>

Ahh yes, well written. Another part of adding value is to describe technique 
with what is available.

Strategies. Usage Scenarios. Methodology. Why something exists, not just the 
what. Communicating intent is often omitted and it's importance 
underestimated... When someone understands the why, all of a sudden the 
light-bulbs illuminate.

Prescriptive information is good for somethings. Have you ever dealt with a 
Helpdesk for some product and know you were working with someone that was 
walking down a trouble-shooting checklist? And you know you know more about the 
issue and want to short circuit that avenue? You assess early on they only know 
the product at a prescriptive level?

On the other hand, having an grasp of the descriptive is quite a different story 
and presents the ahh-haa moments that allows people to take things apart 
(mentally) and put them back together in ways you didn't anticipate. They begin 
to see relationships and different paths from where they are, to where they want 
to go.

Someone else argued that to become an expert with the K3, it predominately comes 
from using the equipment. That is true. In some respects, what is forgotten 
there is that some of you, probably many of you have benefitted from the tribal 
knowledge of being there early when it was first introduced and having been 
through the iterative process of refinement and feature extension. Maybe you 
remember the passionate pleas on the reflector and the responses from the 
Elecraft team and other users - that they'd bring more greatness to the user 
community. You probably don't need a manual. Your mental model got spooled up 
over some period of time. You know better why things are the way they are an 
what you can do with those things.

But asking someone to search the reflector to come to that level of 
understanding and appreciation - would be ineffective.

There are those considering the rig, or coming fairly late to the party that 
don't have this history. They aren't cognitively loaded when they sit down in 
front of the rig with that model. They are not likely to be able to contribute 
more and something fresh and innovative unless you can bring them to speed. 
Their knowledge is shallow and narrow.

As if an additional usage guide, technical white paper series or instructional 
DVDs weren't enough suggestions... let me stir one more time... how about an 
Elecraft Remote Learning Series or Courseware via the Web? Buy a radio, attend a 
quarterly held two or three day class presented by the designers on advanced 
topics? OK, maybe it's a four-hour class. :) Crazy Huh? Got a lot of members? 
Set up a computer and projector at someone's home... throw in some pizza and 
beverages of choice. Maybe even try some hands-on exercises. Everybody gets to 
learn about the latest and greatest features and hints, tips and tricks of 
operating the rig presented by the gurus... those pushing the envelope of it's 
capabilities.

Besides Manual as sales vehicle. Yes, yes. It most certainly is...there are MORE 
ways you can bring additional value to and for the K3 community present and 
future...




________________________________
From: Sam Morgan <k5oai.sam at gmail.com>
To: "elecraft at mailman.qth.net" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tue, December 7, 2010 2:17:13 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3  Need for advice was; (More Thorough Documentation)


one thing that would also help......
when folks explain their process,
how they got there, and what their setting are.....

they really must include the relavent settings for
AGC DCY, AGC HLD, AGC PLS, AGC SLP, AGC THR, AGC-F and AGC-S

with out these as a reference point
what ever comments are made
are so general as to mean very little
to anyone wishing to try to duplicate those results

GB & 73
K5OAI
Sam Morgan

On 12/7/2010 12:30 PM, Fred Jensen wrote:

> I run my K3 with AGC on [usually fast for CW, slow for SSB], RF Gain at
> max, and I've been very pleased by it's performance.  When I still had
> my TS-850, I tried some A/B comparisons and signals I might just discern
> on the 850, I could get fairly good copy on with the K3.  Following some
> of the discussions recently, I've experimented with what I call the
> "SX-28 Method" I used nearly a lifetime ago ... AGC off, AF max, ride
> the RF gain.  I tried it in the Spartan Sprint last night on 40m, when
> all of the signals were very weak ... so far, I think it is a hung jury.
>    We'll see.  In the end, it appears to me that there is no substitute
> for just using it and gaining experience.
>
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