[Elecraft] Will there be a K4

[Raymond Sills]

Hi Neil:
I haven't read the fine print of the various software licenses, but it seems to me that FT8 is a "digital mode" and it might possibly be able to generate FT8 compatible reception and transmission in multiple ways.Or, it might be possible to include a tiny linux computer inside a K4, into which you can load the FT8 software, so it would always be in it's own universe... and not part of the radio's OS.
I'm sure that having FT8 as a choosable mode in a K4 would be a popular idea.  Having said that, I'm pretty much a CW guy now... although I find it fun to be able to send and receive RTTY and PSK31 with my KX3.
73 de RayK2ULRKX3 #211FN20kg


-----Original Message-----
From: Neil Zampella <neilz at techie.com>
To: elecraft <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Mon, Mar 25, 2019 1:03 pm
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Will there be a K4

FWIW .. the FT8 code is not 'open source' it is under the General Public
License v3.   According to the GPL v3 FAQ:

"You cannot incorporate GPL-covered software in a proprietary system.
The goal of the GPL is to grant everyone the freedom to copy,
redistribute, understand, and modify a program. If you could incorporate
GPL-covered software into a nonfree system, it would have the effect of
making the GPL-covered software nonfree too."

So in reality, unless the firmware is then made available under the GPL
v3, which I don't see Elecraft doing, you can't use FT8 in the firmware.

Neil, KN3iLZ