[Elecraft] K3/P3 and Pigknob

[Fred Jensen]

Not sure what you mean by issues.  If you're referring to problems 
making it work, I had none [K3/P3/KPA500/KAT500].  The back of my radio 
"rack" gives new meaning to the term "wireless," so the extra wires 
associated with the little PK interface board blended right in. :-)

I was a bit overwhelmed at first by the number of things I could program 
so I decided to work on the knob first.  The knob is a "tap switch" as 
well as a rotate-doober, and you can program CCW and CC K3 commands for 
both of the switch positions.  I finally converged on a set of PK 
commands and settings for the K3 Big Knob resolution that give me:

10Hz on 1 PK setting [CW and RTTY]
50Hz on the other [SSB]

I run the K3 at 10Hz ... 2 digits to right of decimal point ... most of 
the time.  I normally tune with the PK.  If I want to QSY quickly, I can 
crank the K3 quickly because the knob is bigger and spins.  If I really 
want to QSY fast [like from the bottom of 80 to the upper reaches of 75 
or on 10], I grab the Big Knob, briefly hold the FINE button with a 
finger, and I'm usually there before I realize it.  YMMV

My big problem with the buttons has nothing to do with the PK, it's 
figuring out what I want them to do.  So far, I've got 3 of the 8 
programmed, but haven't used any of them except to test the macro.  I 
use FoxTerm to program it, it's really easy, and Nick responds to 
questions very quickly.

I got it because my K3 is on a shelf immediately above the KPA500 which 
is too heavy for the shelf, and the elevated Big Knob was aggravating 
old injuries in my arm/shoulder, particularly in contests.  The desk is 
built-in and kind of forces a right-ish configuration for the radio gear 
and I'm left-handed.  So, the PK is on the left of the laptop next to 
mouse, arm rests on desk while tuning, and I'm a happy ham.  Still 
experimenting with hold-down methods that will keep it anchored and yet 
let me move it around.  The mouse pad I'm using now seems close to ideal.

Hope this helps.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014
- www.cqp.org

On 11/18/2013 9:58 AM, Bill Myers wrote:
> To those who have had experience with the Pigknob and K3/P3, are there any
> issues?
>
> Bill K6IFF