[Elecraft] New product idea for Elecraft...?

[kevino z]

I guess if every menu item had an applicable CAT command, it could be feasible. But I don’t think they all do, do they?
-Kevin (KK4YEL)

No trees were killed in the sending of this message. However, a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced !

On Sep 27, 2017, at 07:52, brian <alsopb at comcast.net<mailto:alsopb at comcast.net>> wrote:

Byron,

Absolutely not.  Functionality of KPOD is way too limited.

I think what he is envisioning is something like an optional detachable or attachable face plate (like the TS480) has.  It may be huge in size and for example might have individual band buttons, lots of knobs for other functions and maybe single function push button instead to press/tap multifunction buttons.  Maybe most of the buttons could be customized.

Such an offering could satisfy both worlds.  One world doesn't think they need any hardware interface and wants to run everything by computer.  The second world prefers a more traditional knob/button interface. Keep in mind the demographics.  Closely spaced small buttons and knobs are difficult for many older people to use.  Reading the small captions is also an issue.

The design of such a detachable interface that satisfies most would be a challenge.  It may be that there needs to be several different sized offerings.  Market size may be a real issue.

In either case, there would be no escape from some menus.  There is simply too much functionality to put everything on a hardware interface.

Keep in mind the FLEX history.  It started out as all computer control. Then they developed the Maestro hardware interface because many found the all computer interface lacking.

73 de Brian/K3KO

On 9/27/2017 1:08 AM, Byron Servies wrote:
Hi there!

Isn't this the niche the K-Pod was supposed to fill?  Fully
programmable external control with additional outputs for station
control?

73, Byron N6NUL
(sorry for the dup, Emory)

On Tue, Sep 26, 2017 at 5:49 PM, Emory Schley <silverlocks at gmx.com<mailto:silverlocks at gmx.com>> wrote:

Ron, AC7AC, wrote, under another subject heading: "I'm not bothered by choosing between a dozen switches but sorting through half a dozen menu items to change one gives me a headache."

That pretty much sums up my attitude as well, and I've heard other hams– MANY other hams–  complain about menus, but I don't recall ever hearing anyone complain about excess knobs, buttons, dials, etc. Reading Ron's thoughts made me wonder out loud, why can't Elecraft or some third party make a "magic box" that would be completely impotent by itself, but with the capability to mate up to one of these small miniaturized wonders like the KX2 or KX3, and which would contain oodles of manual controls for virtually every function the parent rig is capable of providing?

This would NOT impact the normal functioning of the parent rig, but would act as an accessory for those who eschew menus and such, and who like their rigs bigger, bulkier and in more traditional formats. I envision a box of switches, buttons, knobs, perhaps even gauges that would be cable-fed (or wi-fied) from the little parent rig sitting behind the magic box. Its size would be whatever was necessary to accommodate the design and would resemble a normal-sized base station. You could conceivably have a separate control for each function the parent rig provides, or if logic dictated, then several controls might be multi-purpose.

Then an op could have the best of both worlds. He/she could use his/her KX2/KX3 as a portable rig in the normal way, but when returned to the home station, it could be plugged back into the magic box to power it in a more expansive and convenient manner.

Elecraft seems to always be on the lookout for new products. Here's one they might be able to put on the market, up and running, quickly because most of the engineering has already been worked out for the parent rig.

Emory Schley
N4LP
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