[Elecraft] Possible P3 UI Improvements

[Dave Cole (NK7Z)]

I found the same, so I put together a process of using an external 
keypad to control the K3.  I use a Genovation 64 key keypad, and can 
fire macros at the K3/P3 using it.

See:

https://www.nk7z.net/adding-external-keypad-k3/

I also have a spread sheet about half way down, under "Tips", that has a 
few macros in it, one of which is for splitting/unsplitting the K3/P3.

The keypad gives me 63 macros I can fire, it is great for contesting...

73s and thanks,
Dave (NK7Z)
https://www.nk7z.net
ARRL Technical Specialist
ARRL Volunteer Examiner
ARRL OOC for Oregon

On 3/21/19 10:46 PM, Bill Frantz wrote:
> I've been wondering whether to send this email to the main list or to 
> the developer list. I decided on the main list to get a broader reaction 
> to the suggestions.
> 
> ----------------------------
> 
> I fell in love with my P3 as soon as I finished putting it together. 
> However, I did find the UI to be a bit klunky. Then I used a Flex radio 
> during CQP and realized how easy it was to use its panadapter using the 
> touch screen to set the center and span. I started thinking about how 
> the P3 could be made easier, without replacing the screen with a touch 
> screen. I'll divide my suggestions into ones that may require hardware 
> changes, and ones that should be a "Simple matter of programming" (SMOP).
> 
> It should be noted that I always operate in FixTrack mode, so the 
> display doesn't move when I tune.
> 
> Things that might require hardware changes:
> 
> When changing the display parameters (e.g. center, span, etc.) redisplay 
> the old data in the new format to the bottom of the screen as the change 
> is being made. This continuous redisplay is part of the Flex's ease of 
> use. It probably requires significant memory and processing power to 
> save the RF samples used to create the display, which may require a 
> hardware upgrade.
> 
> 
> SMOP changes:
> 
> The main controls for adjusting the view are Center and Span. With 
> FixTrack mode on, I don't really care about the center location, I care 
> about the edges. When trying to work a pileup, I usually put VFO A on 
> the DX and VFO B on the other side of the pileup and then start 
> adjusting the view. Sometimes getting this right takes several trips 
> through Center and Span. Being able to assign a button the function of 
> setting the span just a bit larger than the distance between the two 
> VFOs and the center to the middle frequency between them would make it a 
> lot easier. I need some extra space to allow fine tuning on the DX 
> without changing the P3 settings.
> 
> I think this boils down to Center := (VFO_A + VFO_B)/2 and Span = 
> abs(VFO_A - VFO_B)*1.1, where the 1.1 may need to be adjusted with real 
> life experience.
> 
> 
> Since in most pileup situations, we want to keep the DX near the left 
> (for working up) or right (for working down) edge of the screen, it 
> should be possible to keep VFO A in a constant screen position while 
> changing the span.
> 
> 
> I like to run with a span of 100 KHz for a quick look at the band before 
> I zero in on a signal of interest. Note that 100 KHz span will cover all 
> of 17M and 12M and 50 KHz works nicely on 30M. However, when I finish 
> with a zoomed in display and press my 100 KHz or 50 KHz buttons, the 
> display frequently shows frequencies outside the band.
> 
> It should be possible to limit the displayed area to the band of 
> interest. For ham use, limiting the display to the ham bands would be 
> quite useful. When operating with the K3/K3S, the band extents could be 
> read from the limits programmed into the transceiver. In any case, 
> programming the bands would not be too hard with the aid of the utility, 
> and relatively permanent given the speed of getting changes through the 
> FCC.
> 
> I think this boils down to: IF (VFO_A is in a band && VFO_A - (span/2) 
> is not in the same band) Center := bottom of band + (span/2)
> 
> 
> The P3 should remember the view by band and always come back to the last 
> view on that band when changing bands. I frequently lose my 18.068 to 
> 18.168 view when changing to 17M, particularly when using CAT commands 
> via wsjt-x. When the P3 must change the view, it should try to keep both 
> VFO A and VFO B on the screen if the span will allow. It is much more 
> likely to be useful than an arbitrary choice of frequency based on an 
> integral multiple of the span.
> 
> 73 Bill AE6JV
> 
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Bill Frantz        | "I wish there was a knob on the TV to turn up the
> 408-356-8506       | intelligence.  There's a knob called "brightness", but
> www.pwpconsult.com | it doesn't work. -- Gallagher
> 
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