[Elecraft] K3 Programmable Split?

[Ian White]

Wayne wrote:
>You can't change the behavior of the SPLIT switch itself (that would
bring
>our support department to its collective knees), but you can create a
custom
>SPLIT macro of arbitrary complexity and assign it any of the K3's 10
>programmable function switches.


We have to accept Wayne's first point: wildcat macro programmers cannot
be allowed to change the behaviour of the [SPLIT] switch itself.
 
But let's not pretend that custom Split macros are an elegant solution
either. The problem isn't writing the macro, but in having to assign tat
macro to something *other* than the [SPLIT] button itself... and then
having to share the macro-modified K3 with guest operators or other club
members. The bedrock point of principle is this: users should *never* be
forced to resort to macros for simple industry-standard features that
ought to be part of the firmware.
 
So the solution is for *Elecraft* to change the behaviour of the [SPLIT]
button instead - by providing a firmware option for a very simple,
industry standard, plain vanilla "Quick Split" function (aka "Smart
Split"). That would satisfy the huge majority of K3 owners without any
need to use macros... and 95% of this unending discussion would melt
away. 

For the remaining 5% who don't care for plain vanilla, the existing
macro option is still there.
 
It really is astonishing that we're still talking about this - as if a
Quick Split option for a [SPLIT] button were something new with no track
record. Almost all competing transceivers have had Quick Split for over
20 years! Quick Split also fills an increasingly important role in
avoiding human error in pileups... currently an area where the K3 offers
no help at all. 

Here is a first draft of what a Split Mode configuration option could
look like (borrowing heavily from other user manuals because there is
absolutely no need to reinvent any of this):

"SPLT MD  

Normal (NOR): the [SPLIT] button makes VFOB the transmit VFO (if
permitted by other previously selected options - see pages xx and yy).

Quick Split (QIK): the [SPLIT] button sets VFOB to the same mode as VFOA
(overriding all previous band/mode settings for VFOB) and offsets the
VFOB (transmit) frequency away from the existing frequency of VFOA. If
the subreceiver is installed, Quick Split also matches the sub's filter
bandwidth to the main, and turns on the sub using the selected
headphones/speaker mode for dual receive.

To activate Quick Split and pre-select the VFOB offset, rotate the VFOA
knob either clockwise or anticlockwise away from NOR. (Range -20 to
+20kHz in 1kHz steps, default +3kHz. Returning to 0kHz re-selects the
NORmal Split mode.) " 

Achievable? It might need less new code than we imagine, because the
method for initializing Quick Split looks an awful lot like the existing
method for initializing Diversity, the main difference (obviously) being
the frequency setting for VFOB. 


73 from Ian GM3SEK