[Elecraft] P3/SVGA Beta 1.54/1.25 now available

[Paul Saffren]

This release adds features and fixes some bugs with the P3TXMON 
accessory board.    We're trying to get this firmware into general 
release as soon as possible so even if you don't have the P3TXMON, you 
can still help us by loading this new firmware in your P3/SVGA. Please 
email me directly (pauls at you know where dot come) with any 
bugs/issues found.


Instructions on how to download and install BETA firmware to your 
P3/SVGA can be found at the end of this post, after the release notes.

Release notes for P3 version 1.54 and SVGA 1.25 are:

*MCU 01.54 / 8-14-2015*

* Added new transmit monitor maximum power meter scales of 160W and 1600W.

* When the P3 with transmit monitor is connected to a K3, the P3 goes 
into transmit mode only when commanded by the K3 and not when RF power 
is detected.This prevents false triggering when RF power is present from 
another transmitter using a nearby antenna.

Bug fixes:

* Noise blanker settings are sent immediately to the SVGA upon band changes.

* Noise blanker settings are saved in non-volatile memory when set via 
RS-232 commands.

* Reference level labels are properly rounded.

* The SVGA WfEn "Track main" mode name was changed to "Same as 
main".This mode now initializes properly upon power-up and menu items to 
adjust the SVGA waterfall values are inhibited when in this mode.

* The SVGA waterfall height is limited to avoid interfering with the NB 
icon when adjusted via the main waterfall menu item while in "Same as 
main" mode.

* On the main display, menu labels are prevented from impinging on the 
waterfall area if the transmit monitor meters are enabled, the function 
key labels are enabled, and the waterfall size is set too high.

* Prevents the possibility that FN1 could get re-defined during a 
firmware update.

* Eliminates extraneous text on the display when activating certain menu 
functions when the TX monitor coupler is not present or the SVGA 
waterfall is set to "Same as main".

* When no K3 is present, the transmit monitor uses a higher trigger 
level with the VHF coupler to sense when to go to transmit mode, in 
order to prevent false triggering.

*P3SVGA 01.25 / 08-19-2015 *

**

* Added Noise Blanker.

* Developed a faster method of detecting K3 transmit/receive state changes.

* Added data terminal ‘send on space’ to the available data TX modes.

* Added replay of keyboard input using Ctrl-Alt-R.Ctrl-C will clear 
replay buffer.

* Added ‘\r’ to embed a CR in text message. Use ‘\\’ to send a single ‘\’.

* Added ‘\c’ to embed an incrementing serial counter in a text 
message.Clearing/presetting counter may be done in the setup screen 
(Ctrl-Alt-S).

* Text messages sent in data terminal mode now respect the mode setting 
(VOX, CR, ^T).

* Fixed a bug in data terminal mode that was causing the time-out to not 
reset correctly.

* Fixed a bug in data terminal mode that was causing non-existent 
characters to be retrieved and sent.Also fixes a bug of missing characters.

* Fixed a problem that caused some SVGA boards to not initialize 
correctly from P3 commands at boot.

* Added waterfall cursors, these display exactly as they do on the P3 
screen.

**





                     -----------------------------------------------
How To Download and Install P3/SVGA BETA Firmware:

NOTE: Beta test firmware may have new issues that we haven't caught 
during field testing.

Follow these steps to load a P3 beta firmware release:

1. Create a new folder for the beta firmware on your Desktop or some 
other easily found location. (Don't use the same folder you use for the 
regular firmware release; you may want to keep those files around in 
case you decide to go back to that revision.)

2. In a web browser, type in this URL:

  ftp://ftp.elecraft.com/P3/firmware/beta

NOTE: On some computers, it may take some time for a directory of the 
beta files to appear.  If you do not see the correct files, press 
'refresh' on your browser to reload the page.

You should see the file: P3-0150_SVGA-0124BETA.zip   If you do not see 
this version of the zip file, press the RELOAD / REFRESH button on your 
browser to update your browser cache.

3. Right-click on the .zip file containing the beta firmware (e.g. 
P3-0150_SVGA-0124BETA.zip). Save the file to your beta folder.

4. Unzip the files into the beta folder.

5. Enter the path to the beta folder in P3 Utility ("Local folder for 
firmware files").

6. Make sure you *DO NOT* check the P3 Utility box titled "Copy new 
files from Elecraft server".

7. Click on "Check versions now". Your P3 must be connected to the 
computer and turned on.

8. Review the release notes (under the "Help" pull-down menu).

9. Click "Send all firmware to P3."

10. Please report any new firmware issues to k3support at elecraft.com


73,

Paul

-- 
Paul Saffren - N6HZ
Project Manager
Elecraft Inc.
www.elecraft.com