[Elecraft] Vedr: Fixed audio output missing on the KX3?

[Martin Storli - LA8OKA]

I'm well aware of the fact that the KX3 is a transceiver aimed at the portable market, and that's the reason I have ordered one.
But portable, does not only means trail friendly, it also means that the transceiver is suitable to bring with me on air travel, and for me, I will probably use the KX3 more during business trips, than on the trail.
When I ordered the KX3, they following items where of high importance:	* - Size. (The KX3 have a smaller volume (at least in the spec sheet) than the FT-817) This is very important when traveling. Since I travel a lot in my work, I'm very restricted on space because I usually have a lot of tools, instruments and spare parts with me, not to forget the usual stuff, clothes, toothbrush etc.
	* - Performance. (The KX3 is supposed to be a high performance transceiver, much better than my current traveling work horses, the FT-817 and the IC-703.)
	* Wide range antenna tuner. (Very important when I have to use less than ideal antennas in the field and from hotels etc...)
	* Flexibility. (The KX3 is not as flexible as the FT-817 and IC-703 when it comes to digimodes, but have the potential. The possibility to use a terminal connection for CW, PSK31 and RTTY is a big plus, but is limited to only viewing one signal at the time due to the nature of terminal viewing and limitation of the humans. (I don't think any humans would be able to read multiple signals in a text only terminal window.) The reason that the FT-817 and IC-703 is more flexible when it comes to digimodes is simply that to change from digimode to voice and back, there isn't any need to change any connectors and cables, both the digimode interface and the mic can be attached at the same time, a big advantage when going back and fourth between digimodes and voice. On other items regarding the flexibility, the KX3 shores high, the dual watch isn't possible on any competing portable rigs. The same goes for bandwith selection.)
	* Current consumption. (When space is limited, power is also limited. The KX3 is promised to have a low receive current, about 1/3 of the FT-817 and IC-703.)
 
A miniDIN connector will not take up much space, actually less space than a mini jack because it's more shallow, so I think it should be space for the connector on the side of the KX3.
 
Regarding the internal data decoder/encoder, I hope you also can be able to include PSK-63 and PSK-125 as these modes are gaining popularity, especial for DX-stations in pile-ups due to the speed.
 

Martin Storli 
LA8OKA
Oslo, Norway 
 
ARCTICPEAK's Radio pages! 
http://www.arcticpeak.com/radio.htm

Fra: Wayne Burdick <n6kr at elecraft.com>
Til: Martin Storli - LA8OKA <arcticpeak at yahoo.no> 
Kopi: "elecraft at mailman.qth.net" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net> 
Sendt: Tirsdag, 1. mai 2012 3.27
Emne: Re: [Elecraft] Fixed audio output missing on the KX3?

Martin Storli - LA8OKA wrote:

> It seems that a fixed audio output is missing entirely from the KX3, why?....

Hi Martin,

Our goal was to make the KX3 the smallest, lightest, most portable all-band/all-mode radio ever. We had to draw the line somewhere on features, battery size, number of controls, I/O connectors, etc. Included are features that felt would be used most often in portable settings.

Audio-based data modes are a good example: we fully support these modes, but as you pointed out there's the small inconvenience of sharing audio I/O with headphones and speaker.

On the other hand, PSK31 and RTTY can also be supported by the KX3 with nothing but the serial port (using ASCII send/receive commands). So we're providing a very usable alternative for the two most popular digital modes. You can use the Terminal function in KX3 Utility, running on PC/Mac/Linux, to do full data communications in CW, RTTY, and PSK31 modes.

I don't think we can support digital audio data over our serial port, but if figure out how to do it, I'll let you know.

73,
Wayne
N6KR