[Elecraft] K3S SSB TX monitor - feature request

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

 > On 4/8/2017 2:24 AM, Richard Lamont wrote:
 >> The firmware, however, does not appear to support what seems a simple
 >> and common-sense requirement.

It is *not* the firmware - it is the *hardware* that does not support
what you call a "simple and common-sense requirement" and what others
call stupidity.  Perhaps you should study the schematic - at least of
the K3 which is published.   Notice on the sheets K3 DSP: CODECS and K3
DSP:DAC AUDIO the headphone/speaker amplifiers are fed *IN PARALLEL*.
LHPOUT/RHPOUT of U7 (the DC) goes through the audio lowpass filter to
U1 (speaker amplifier) and U2 (headphone amplifier) *IN PARALLEL*.
*THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY* to send monitor audio *to only* the
*headphone amplifier* (or for that matter *only* to the speaker).

Changing the operation of the K3/K3S to enable monitor *only* when the
headphones are in use would cripple current operation *and* make it
impossible to monitor data and/or CW modes via the speaker.

As pointed out by many in this discussion, using CONFIG:SPKR+PH by
assigning it to a PF/Macro key to turn off the speaker when one is
using the headphones is a useful alternative.  That solution has been
used by many operators who leave their headphones connected at all
times *for many years*.

When you start proclaiming a "simple and common sense requirement" take
a little time to determine if the hardware will even support such
nonsense!  Note: *none* of the YaeComWood transceivers support such a
"simple and common sense requirement" - they all feed their headphones
from the speaker amplifier through a mechanical switch and current
limiting resistors!  At least the K3 design has enough sense to shut
off the high current speaker amplifier when it is not needed!

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV