[Elecraft] KX3 / KXBC3 NiMH Battery Charger and Real-Time Clock
wickedbeernut
kf5wbo at wickedbeernut.com
Thu May 5 17:12:23 EDT 2016
wayne burdick wrote
> Hi Joe,
>
> The KXBC3 uses a nano-power PIC MCU running our own firmware, not a
> real-time-clock IC. This MCU provides both the clock and charge-controller
> functions.
>
> It would be possible to add support for date readout in the future. This
> is the first such request, but it's now on the wish-list.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
Thank you for the reply, Wayne. And thank you for supporting the broader
Elecraft community.
Let's start by adding basic logging support to the PX3 wish-list. I'm
simply trying to understand where the PX3 will get the date and time from.
The KX3 / KXBC3 is one option. I did receive one report (privately)
suggesting the KXBC3 loses up to three hours per month. I haven't verified
the accuracy of the KXBC3 myself. Worst case, we periodically reset the
date / time. Of course, not everyone has a KXBC3.
I'm assuming PX3 logging support will require a new memory or microSD
(preferred) "option board" connected via the existing PX3 40-pin SPI and I2C
expansion interface. It may make more sense to add a real-time clock IC
with a lithium coin cell battery back-up to the new PX3 option board, rather
than relying on the KX3 / KXBC3 for the date and time.
You gave us PX3 keyboard and message / macro support for free ... a $150
value. Do yourself a favor ... build a PX3 microSD / real-time clock option
board for peanuts and sell it for $79.95. Cha-ching. We'll install it
ourselves. Sell a new PX3 left side panel with an added microSD slot for
$26.39. Cha-ching, cha-ching. And, keep pace with that new Japanese SDR in
the area of microSD / logging.
Joe
KF5WBO
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