[Elecraft] K3 & Bluetooth

[Gary]

George,
There are many such Bluetooth interfaces on the market right now for one way
listening thru a BT headset or earbud. As an example take a look at item
number N82E16855994093 at <http://www.newegg.com>. This little $50 audio
transmitter plugs right into any 1/8" stereo jack and transmits the audio
via BT to your Bluetooth capable headset. More research may find a BT
transceiver and headset with boom mic that works with your radio. Try
looking at the popular online computer accessory outlets.

I personally wouldn't ask Elecraft to go this route yet because there are
still a great many reliability issues with BT especially in certain
operating environments. Some commercial public safety equipment makers have
tried this and users quickly found it too often annoying because the
headpiece and transceiver would disassociate with each other at the most
inopportune times and take quite a while to relink. There is also the issue
of Bluetooth licensing for Elecraft to explore not to mention drivers to be
built and maintained for every computer operating system in use today. If
you want to experiment though there are devices available today that would
allow you to do so. Newegg also offers a nifty little $67 RS-232 to BT
adapter made by IOGear (item # N82E16833139008). I've used this item
successfully with Uniden scanners and see no reason why it wouldn't
interface a K3 to a BT capable computer.
73,
Gary
N6LRV

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of George A. Thornton
Sent: Thursday, October 14, 2010 11:23 PM
To: Guy Olinger K2AV; Brendan Minish
Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 SUB AF - NOR or BALANCE?

I find these comments fascinating and highly appropriate for a K3 forum.
The K3 with its modularity and close communication between user and
manufacturer is the ideal place for adapting new technology to HAM
radio.

As a heavy user of technology outside of HAM radio, I think I have some
opinions on what would improve HAM radio.

The first would be a Bluetooth adapter for the K3 that would allow use
of BT stereo headphones.  These devices already exist, it remains merely
to figure out how to add a module to the K3.  At least one HAM radio
manufacturer offers this option, so this can't be that difficult.
There are many high quality stereo BT headphones on the market that cost
under $100.   I would pay up to $200 for a reliable and stable BT
adapter for the K3.  If this could be made to work with a BT stereo
headphone and mic with PTT that would be even better.