[Elecraft] Answering Questions Effectively

[Al Lorona]

I have been waiting for a slow reflector day to post this very low priority 
message (Perhaps that day will never come!, so here goes...) but various 
threads keep touching on the point that I have been wanting to make, and a 
current K3 thread has yet again exhibited this behavior. 

Let's say that you're having trouble with a particular rig control/logging 
program. Let's say for example that it doesn't properly put the transceiver into 
transmit under certain conditions.

If I made a suggestion such as, "The K3 already has a XMIT button that you can 
use to put the rig into transmit," you would probably be irritated with me 
because, of course, that isn't what you desire to do. You want the computer to 
perform that function, not a front panel button.

Yet, again and again, when someone poses a particular problem or question about 
the operation of an Elecraft product often one or more of the responses is, 
"Computer program ABC can do that." Well, that may be true, but it doesn't help 
the original poster. The original poster probably isn't interested in finding a 
computer solution; he's interested in finding a solution within the rig itself.

Perhaps one possible reason for this is that folks who use a computer with their 
rig 100% of the time assume that everybody does (or should). It is not my intent 
to debate this particular issue, only to point out that it's not realistic to 
assume this.

In my opinion, we should be more sensitive to whether or not a computer solution 
is the right solution, and always help the poster dig down to find a real 
solution to his problem.

Regards,

Al  W6LX