[Elecraft] New K3s

[Don Wilhelm]

Phil,

RF wise, it should be the same as the K3.
Computer-wise, it all depends on the computer and the equipment between 
the computer and the K3S.  Unfortunately "Universal Serial Bus" is not 
so 'universal' when applied to the user.
With the variety of computer and other gear between the K3S and the 
computer, the number of questions seem to expand exponentially as the 
list of devices and applications expand.  USB offers a new set of 
"challenges" that are not present with RS-232, and the unfortunate 
answer is that it is computer dependent.  Not a good situation for 
Elecraft support, but it is reality.  USB is not as "universal" as the 
originators would have hoped it to be - it does have OS and device 
dependencies.

Yes, the K3S USB connection should behave much the same as a K3 with a 
USB to serial adapter.  The K3 simply moves the adapter inside the K3S, 
but the FTDI driver does have its limitations.  In the computer world, 
things are OS dependent, Browser dependent, Com port assignment 
dependent, and a host of other dependencies.  Since the K3S has entered 
the world of USB dependencies the OS and the K3S relationship tightens.  
No longer do we have to simply determine which "USB" Com port is 
connected to the K3S, but we must be able to dig down onto the chaos of 
USB port assignment that is being used by the particular OS you are 
running on your computer.

IMHO, RS-232 interface is much more straightforward, and more usable by 
those who are not "computer geeks".

73,
Don W3FPR

On 8/28/2015 9:01 PM, Phil Wheeler wrote:
> Re "I am anxious to see if the K3s with its new interface does it all 
> as well as the current setup.": Please give us a full report, Jim.
>