[Elecraft] CW/CW-REV config option

[Rich - K1HTV]

W5QD
Hi LS,
   The request for consideration sent to Elecraft Support was not for a new way
to set USB and LSB (or CW and CW-REV). It had to do with the way that they and
other tranceiver manufacturers have defined how their radios tune into a CW
signal. Some have defined CW as if it were being received in the way a USB
signal is received. In this case, one tunes into the CW signal from a lower
frequency and after tuning through and past the frequency, the signal rapidly
disappears. Other manufacturers have implemented CW as if it were a LSB signal
with the user tuning down towards the CW signal, it it disappearing after tuning
past it towards a lower frequency.

Like many other CW operators, we have no problem pushing the CW-REV button to
select our prefered option of  tuning UP the band and into CW signals.  There
are many software programs which simply send a mode switch command as 'CW'.
Some programs have a 'CW-REV' mode switch command available, but many don't.  I
chose to use three pieces of radio controlling software which suit my
operational needs, two of which simply send a 'CW' command.

The problem is that when a program sends a 'CW' command, the K3 switches from my
prefered way to tuning (CW-REV ) back to (CW). Having to push the CW-REV button
after each software mode switch is an annoyance in casual operation but becomes
much more of a pain while operating in a contest environment. 

In the future, I may use other programs which I find to be excellent and fit my
operating needs, but may NOT have the CW/CW-REV option. I have chosen the track
of making a request to the manufacturer of my K3 radio and not to multiple
software producers.

The transceiver manufacturers are not in agreement on this CW/CW-REV issue. The
result is that the 'CW' mode on these radios will performs in opposite ways of
tuning into CW signals as described above.  My suggestion to Elecraft Support
was that they consider this difference and give the user the option of DEFINING
how the CW and CW-REV commands respond to reflect their tuning preferences. 

As you can tell from the response on this topic, there are CW users on both
sides of this issue. Some have suggested that having this option will confuse
some users. Well, there are already plenty of options which now do this. But
those same options have allowed many users to optimize the K3 to their operating
preferences. 

One of the reasons why Elecraft is the great success that they are today is
because they listen to the suggestions and recommendations of the users of the
equipment that they manufacture. 

73,
Rich - K1HTV  

= = =

From: lstavenhagen <lstavenhagen at hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] CW/CW-REV config option
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Message-ID: <1272593424732-4983548.post at n2.nabble.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii


I would also agree to leave the K3 as-is. I don't see why there needs to be more
ways to set USB and LSB.... just hold CW-Rev to get to the other one.....

73,
LS
W5QD