[Elecraft] [KX3] What features are new?

[Wayne Burdick]

Jim, KG0PP, wrote:

> I have KX3 #249, with the original firmware UC 01.27. I upgraded to UC 1.50 yesterday. What new features should I be looking for?

Hi Jim,

That's a long list! For the benefit of you and others who may be running older KX3 firmware, I've listed all of the most important new features and bug fixes since rev 1.27 below.

73,
Wayne
N6KR



* IMPROVED SSB TALK POWER (CMP): Our new speech compression algorithm provides a significant improvement in average talk power (or “punch”).   ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE:     (1) Set CMP = 0.    (2) Start with MIC gain = 0. While speaking close-mic’ed in your “on-air” voice, increase MIC gain until the ALC meter tickles the 5th bar.  (3) While monitoring your voice with the KX3’s voice MONintor, advance CMP to the desired level. The transmitted signal will still be clean even at the maximum compression setting. 

* ADJUSTABLE NOISE BLANKING (NB): The level of noise blanking can now be set using the knob above the NB switch (AF/RF-SQL). When NB is turned on, the present setting (1-15) will be displayed on VFO B for about 3 seconds. To select a new setting, rotate the knob before the display times out. The setting is stored per-band. Use the lowest effective NB setting. Higher settings may cause audible artifacts when strong signals are present.

* NOISE REDUCTION (NR) MORE EASILY ADJUSTABLE: The overall level of noise reduction can now be set using the knob above the NR switch (AF/RF-SQL). When NR is turned on, the present setting will be displayed on VFO B for about 3 seconds. To select a new setting, rotate the knob before the display times out. The setting is independent for CW and voice modes. Note: The range of this parameter is 0-10 and corresponds to the “mix” or “M” parameter of the RX NR menu entry; see below.

* AF GAIN SMOOTHER AT LOW END: The AF gain control now has finer granularity at the low end. To accommodate this , the gain range is now 0-60 (was 0-40).

* INTERNAL SPEAKER BEHAVIOR IMPROVED:  (1) Fixed bug that caused audio output mute/unmute cycling on strong signals. (2) Gain distribution changed to reduce speaker overdrive condition related to CODEC output. (3) Audio EQ optimized for speaker.

* NEW LED BRT MENU ENTRY: Applies to the TX, delta F, OFS, and VFO B LEDS (not the LCD backlight). Allows brightness of these LEDs to be adjusted, but only in the case where the LCD backlight is off. During adjustment of LED brightness, the LCD backlight will automatically be turned off if it was on, then turned back on when the menu is exited.

* NO SSB RX SIGNAL ATTENUATION WHEN BW < 2.4 KHz: Previously, adjusting the bandwidth below approx. 2.4 kHz might result in up to several dB of received signal loss. 2.4 kHz is the bandwidth at which the receiver switches from conventional SSB demodulation to “Weaver” method to take advantage of filter FL2 on the KXFL3 roofing filter module.

* SSB PBT CONTROLS CAN BE SET FOR WIDTH/SHIFT: The default for passband tuning in sideband mode is LO/HI CUT (PBT functions I and II, respectively). If the PBT SSB menu entry is instead set to NOR, then SSB mode uses the same PBT functions as CW and DATA modes (WIDTH and SHIFT). If you alternate frequently between LO/HI CUT and NOR (width/shift) for SSB modes, you might want to assign the PBT SSB menu entry to a programmable function switch (PF1 or PF2). The parameter will then alternate between the two settings each time you hold the PFx switch.

* AFSK-A SIDEBAND SELECTION NOW CORRECT: AFSK-A “normal” is LSB, reverse is USB.

* DVR (DIGITAL VOICE RECORDER) ADDED: There are two transmit messages of up to 15 seconds each. (A future firmware release will provide an option for 1, 2, 3, or 4 messages of 30, 15, 10, and 7.5 seconds each, respectively.)  Setup: Make sure you’re in a voice mode, and that the voice MONitor level is not zero. To record, hold REC, then tap #1 or #2. “ERASING” will appear for 4 seconds, followed by “TAP XMT”. Tap XMIT, then start speaking. To end recording, tap XMIT again. To play, tap MSG followed by #1 or #2. To auto-repeat (e.g., a repeating CQ message), *hold* rather than tap the #1 or #2 switch. Use MENU:MSG RPT to set the repeat interval.

* IMPROVED SSB TRANSMIT CARRIER REJECTION. 

* RIT AND XIT NO LONGER TURNED OFF UNINTENTIONALLY: In previous releases, changing bands via direct frequency entry (FREQ ENT) or remote-control band change commands (FA, FB, and BN) would turn off RIT and XIT. 

* TRANSVERTER FREQUENCY ENTRY FIXED:  The previous release did not handle direct frequency entry to transverter bands correctly (e.g., 144 MHz came out as 180 MHz). This also affected memory recall of transverter bands.

* NEW FEATURE--SWITCH MACROS: You can now program the PF1 and PF2 switches to execute sequences of KX3 remote control , or “macros.” These are created, tested, and sent to the KX3 using KX3 Utility. The K3/KX3 Programmer’s Reference has a number of sample macros and further details.

Here’s an example of what can be done with a macro. We’ll call this “SPLIT+2” (useful when setting up to call a CW DX station up 2 kHz): 

     A>B, A>B, SPLIT, move VFO B up 2 kHz, RIT/XIT off

To create this macro and assign it to PF1 or PF2, complete the steps below:

1. Run KX3 Utility. Click on the Command Tester/KX3 Macros tab.
2. Click on the Edit Macros button. This pops up the macro edit window.
3. In MACRO #1’s Macro Label  field, enter the label “SPLIT+2” (without the quotes).
4. In the Macro Commands  field, enter this text:

    SWT25;SWT25;FT1;UPB5;RT0;XT0;

(The number 5 in “UPB5” is an index into a table of step sizes. UPB5 moves VFO B up 2 kHz, DNB5 moves it down 2 kHz, etc. There are similar commands for VFO A. For the full list, see the “DN” (down) command in the Programmer’s Reference.)

5. Click on Send Macros 1-8 To KX3.
6. At the KX3, locate the CONFIG:MACRO x menu entry, and tap ‘1’ if the menu entry label is not already “MACRO 1”.
7. Hold PF1 to assign PF1 to MACRO 1. Exit the menu.

From then on, holding PF1 will flash “SPLIT+2” and execute the above sequence. 

Up to eight macros can be sent to the KX3, but only two of them can be assigned to PF1 or PF2 at a given time. In the MACRO x menu entry, tap ‘1’ – ‘8’ to select a macro, then hold PF1 or PF2 to do the assignment.