[Elecraft] [KPA500] Rear power switch thread

[Rick Bates]

Responses woven within; trimmed for brevity.

Rick WA6NHC

-----Original Message-----
From: Oliver Dröse

Nevertheless Elecraft is not the only one using encoders but still 
they are the only ones with a requirement for that procedure. This has 
nothing to do with being an SDR.

* It has to do with Elecraft being more 'up front' and honest about how
* their design is managed.  Other companies simply don't tell you all of
* internal workings (or as much) and shrug their corporate shoulders if
* the memory gets hashed during a power loss.
*
* Try complaining to say, MicroSoft if you pull the plug instead of an
* orderly shutdown.  If they answer at all, they'll say "Don't do that."

If I just cut power from my K3 it never comes back to the same 
frequency! It usually is one in the same band but not the last used one.

* Because, as stated, the memory was not written before power removal.  For
* the sake of performance (CPU activity), they chose this way.
*
* The graceful power down writes MANY things into the memory (mode, filters
* bandwidth etc.).  A rude power off doesn't allow this and Elecraft
* warns you of this 'chance occurrence' (it doesn't happen all the time).

So how do others do it? I imagine they simply write the current frequency 
into memory after probably a few milliseconds of no VFO move. Elecraft could

do the same (actually they are doing it when powering down the rig).

* I'll remind you that no other current rig performs as well.  It's the
* small things that add up to make the difference.  Elecraft is not willing
* to give up one small portion that might sacrifice performance.  I simply
* power off, then leave the power supply on, so it isn't an issue.  A power
* failure when I'm not at the shack then leaves no issue other than small
* parasitic drain (and I run other radios 24/7 for IRLP/EchoLink).

So my question is simple: Why don't they do it? What are the reasons behind?

Not enough time while working down the operations code? A limitation of the 
PICs used as the central brain (the other brands use bigger/faster 
processors)?

* You have my opinion as a user.
*
* I happen to also love everything about the radio (except when I get in a
* rush and don't press a button long enough and end up changing bands 
* instead of turning on/off the VOX).  I'm very pleased that the radio does 
* EVERYthing that the manufacturer says it will do (and how!) and that 
* problems or questions are dealt with (answered) within hours, not weeks 
* or months (if ever).
*
* Elecraft has remembered that anyone can make a sale, once.  But it's
* customer service (a faintly remembered commodity) that makes the company.

* As long as they continue to remember that, I'm loyal.  I've dropped other
* companies (not that they'd notice) for just that reason.  If I buy any
* product, I expect it to do what is advertised.  With Elecraft, I win.
* 
* Elecraft, you ROCK!