[Elecraft] Elecraft Utilities

Fri Apr 8 16:24:59 EDT 2016

W5QD et. al.,

      Ken is referring to the following message, which essentially requests 
a simple command-line firmware loader program.  Note that this is NOT a 
request for DNA level access to the radio's internals.
      The communication protocols for most of the Elecraft radio functions 
are described in the public documentation, enabling people to write their 
own code for most functions.  The firmware loading protocols, however, are 
not. The only way to update the firmware (not generate our own!) is to 
download and run platform specific GUI applications from Elecraft.  For 
most users running Windows or MacOS, this is fine: virtually all of these 
users expect GUI software, have their computers directly connected to 
their radios, and aren't aren't running on unusual computer hardware.
      For those of us running Linux (or even more obscure operating 
systems), a GUI application that only works on x86 machines that are 
directly connected to the radio is awkward.  My laptop and all of my shack 
machines are ARM based, so when I need to upgrade my K3, I need to extract 
it from all of its cables and haul it over to my x86 work machine.  My 
work machine is running 64bit linux, while the Elecraft tool is 32bit, so 
I also need to install 32bit versions of several libraries to run it. 
Similarly, all of my radio gear at home is actually hooked to a 
serial-to-ethernet device, which is great for all of the software I use, 
but not fine for K3Util, which expects to talk specifically to a directly 
connected hardware serial port.
      There are several approaches to solving this problem.  The first is 
to ask Elecraft to provide more versions of their software: can I get an 
x86_64 build?  ARM7 please!  Actually, I use my Android for everything ... 
can I get an Android app?  Fortunately, we recognize that Elecraft is a 
/radio/ company, /not/ a consumer software company, and we don't want to 
ask them to spend time supporting dozens of firmware loaders.  Ideally, we 
would like to see or, with access to the protocol documentation, develop 
an open-source library for updating the firmware. Then we can build our 
own firmware loaders for whatever platforms we choose.
      Recognizing that this may be asking for proprietary and/or licensed 
information, Bruce has suggested a middle ground -- offer a simple "glue" 
interface (a command line firmware loading tool) that would be much 
simpler for Elecraft to build for lots of different platforms and would be 
more in line with the linux philosophy of starting with light weight 
command line tools, and adding far more difficult to develop and maintain 
GUIs on top as desired.

      Perhaps a simpler option would be to offer a library or command line 
tool in a portable format that still obscures the proprietary protocol 
implementation.  Java is a good candidate for this, as there are Java VMs 
for practically every platform out there.

-kb7psg

Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2016 17:52:34
From: Bruce Nourish <w0mbt at w0mbt.net>
To: Elecraft Reflector <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [Elecraft] Feature request: Command line firmware updater

Hi folks,

As the subject suggests, I'd like to put in a feature request, for a 
simple, command line firmware updater tool, for all applicable Elecraft 
rigs. To update the firmware on my KX3 and PX3, I need to download and set 
up two separate programs, most of whose functionality I won't ever need.

Such a tool would be easy for Elecraft to write and maintain, and would be 
easy to make work on different platforms, which brings me to the next part 
of this feature request. I'd like to be able to run this tool both on my 
Intel Linux machines, and my Raspberry Pi, which is hooked up to my KX3 
and PX3 whenever my KX3 is home. Cross-compiling such a simple tool should 
also be pretty easy.

I'm sure there are other people who're in similar situations, and would 
appreciate something to address these use cases. Firmware updates are one 
of the few things where you can't roll-your-own.

Thanks.

Bruce

On Fri, 8 Apr 2016, Ken G Kopp wrote:

> Wayne and Eric:
>
> PLEASE don't cave in to the requests of those on the reflectors who are 
> asking you to disclose the "genetic makeup" of their radios by 
> publishing the software that would enable anyone to modify how a given 
> radio operates.
>
> I see this as no different than a breeder of a thoroughbred breed of dog 
> opening the pen and letting all comers mate with the females.  You would 
> end up with a "contaminated" breed.
>
> I envision an increased workload at Elecraft in dealing with the 
> customers who manage to "mess up" their radio's "brains" and want help 
> in restoring them to the original state.  Nothing but non-profit 
> overhead.
>
> I would be wary ... read "never" ... of buying a used Elecraft product 
> for fear that it's genetic makeup had been altered and really wasn't an 
> Elecraft anymore.
>
> Perhaps I'm not understanding something ...
>
> 73!
>
> Ken Kopp - K0PP
> Full K-line, KX3, PX3, KXPA100, K2/100, W2's, etc.
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