[Elecraft] P3

[Alan Bloom]

On Sat, 2010-02-13 at 09:12 -0800, Richard Thorpe wrote:
> Could the P3 be offered without a screen? and I hope thats a RS 232  
> passthrough on the back in the Orlando pictures.  Without a  
> screen( small computer screens are dirt cheap) the P3 would be a  
> better kit and cheaper, plus no "screen vendor" problems to hold up  
> delivery.

The plan is to make an optional VGA board at some point, although it
won't be available at introduction.  I suppose that would theoretically
allow offering a "no display" option to save some cost.

When I was working at HP (that became Agilent Technologies) there were a
few instruments that were offered with no front panel.  The idea was
that much test equipment is used in automated test systems in factories
where all instrument control and data output is via computer so that the
front panel isn't needed.

However it turned out not to be a very popular option.  Having a working
front panel is very handy for designing and programming a test system
when it is first being set up.  Even after the system is in operation,
troubleshooting problems is much more difficult if the instrument does
not have a front panel.  I don't think we ever sold very many of that
option.

Alan N1AL