[Elecraft] K3 Programmable Split?

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

> 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.

Since *when* is a programmable split an "industry standard feature"?
In 40 years, I have *never* owned a transceiver that included a
programmable split feature.  Admittedly some of the newer rigs may
offer that function - but it was not not present in any transceiver I
owned or used from the TS-520/FT-101B in the 70's through the FT-1000MP
MKV including transceivers by all major manufacturers.

What you are really asking for - based on the "hold split" behavior
in other recent rigs is getting back to a *THIRD STATE* on a switch.
It would need to be a two second hold of A-> B, one second for normal
split, two for "quick split" ... another UI cluster.

73,

   ... Joe, W4TV


On 2015-02-18 2:38 PM, Ian White wrote:
> 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
>
>
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