[Elecraft] P3 VGA - How to use it

[Adrian]

Well I noted putting a large monitor screen up for the laptop I could then
use it as an additional screen so no duplication was required and both
Laptop and ext screen provide unique information. 'So what' you say, that's
nothing new. Well if you take the same concept to the P3 itself 
with ext SVGA screen, then here we have a duplication of information.

So the ideal situation is a menu that allows K3 parameter viewing when svga
is enabled, such that eg; decoder output, voltage, current &
 time values besides others could be shown simultaneously on the P3 screen,
giving it a useful function as the ext SVGA screen takes priority
 for panadaptor view.

I can't see why K3 and P3 firmware updates with the rs232 interconnection
could not achieve this, even if a i/o pcb was required to be fitted to
facilitate, then I for one would order pronto.

Adrian ... vk4tux

-----Original Message-----
ai6ii wrote:
>Impressive as the P3 Large Screen version is to look at, I wonder what 
>it is like to use. That is, with the P3 and mini screen, my eyes are 
>viewing the screen and the controls in close proximity. I can watch my 
>finger press the FN3 (set to center the MRK A), reach to the right 
>slightly and turn the SELECT knob to the signal I wish to pounce on 
>next, while still seeing the signals on the mini screen. Then a quick 
>push of FN4 (programmed to QSY to save wear and tear on the Select 
>knob), and I see see the K3 jump to the new frequency centered in the
>P3 screen. This operation is constant for me (except when using CW 
>Skimmer to control the K3 frequency) and my eyes never leave my 
>hands....or whatever the saying is.
>

I'd agree with that 'view' of the ergonomics. If we want the P3 and the 
P3SVGA display to be hardworking tools, and not just eye candy, then all 
the displays and controls - including those of the K3 - need to be 
grouped together.

Positioning the P3 on top of the K3 has already proved the operating 
efficiency of this 'eyes-front' display layout. The only downside has 
been the P3's small display, so a P3SVGA is now on its way, and waiting 
for it is a 15in 1024x768 monitor. This will be just the right size to 
sit on top of the K3, to give the same display as the P3 but in greater 
detail.

15in is now regarded as "too small" for office use, so there are 
thousands of perfectly good 15in monitors lying around in store-rooms.

At present the 15in monitor is the #2 screen in an extended Windows 
display, usually displaying second-level information from the logging 
software. A VGA switch will allow it to continue in that role when 
needed.


-- 

73 from Ian GM3SEK
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek
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