[Elecraft] Firmware development

Wed Nov 25 10:49:28 EST 2020

Well that IS rather condescending.

I would take a different view, that MOST of the hams using Elecraft use 
MOST of the features on a regular basis but because the features are 
designed well, the user doesn't NEED to fiddle about (or understand the 
precise ways they work).  One of the benchmarks of a good UI is that 
most of it is set and forget.  Elecraft: PASS

With the support group, the manual and the Cady book; there is ample 
opportunity to learn some of the nuts and bolts for those who want to 
know.  Once set to operate in the fashion that the user prefers; the 
radio (with all the features) is simply used.  If one doesn't understand 
a function or wishes to learn a better use of a feature, they can read 
or just ask (or watch a video if that is how they best learn).

No one is born with all knowledge and I won't be disparaging to new 
hams; some of them blow right through all the exams in one sitting going 
from nothing to the highest license. They may not have experience yet, 
but clearly they're not idiots as you imply.  (Sadly, some are, even 
after decades of opportunity to learn better.)  It is the job of every 
ham, to teach them how to be better, to pass knowledge along.

Some people LIKE making adjustments and learning the deep secrets of any 
device; others adjust according to their needs and a few just leave most 
of the settings as stock and yet none of them are wrong.

Elecraft radios are no more complex than other radios but the simpler 
front panel UI (based on USING the radio, not fiddling with it) hides it 
a lot more than many other brands.  Then add that Elecraft designers 
actually USE the radios in all things ham radio; they understand what is 
needed for the 'average' ham, the DXer and the contester no matter what 
mode they choose. Kencomsu may, we never know and hear only crickets 
from them.

The K4 won't be much different; simple up front with the bulk of the 
used (but no need to be in your face) features accessible with the menu 
UI.  Certainly it's a better platform for future growth with refinements 
unavailable when the earlier models were designed; but that's splitting 
hairs that only an extreme user (contesting, DXing) would require.  It 
will be a solid, dependable radio, no matter how the ham chooses to use 
it; with growth potential unavailable from almost any other brand.

Name any other company that gives you FREE firmware updates in real time 
(not months later like Icom or never like most others) until the issues 
are resolved to the user satisfaction; or that ADD features previously 
unavailable. Or offer hardware updates or refinements, in part because 
the radios are designed to be modular and upgradeable as new devices are 
available.  Or board level support.  <crickets>

No, I won't disparage or belittle any of the Elecraft line; the UI makes 
it all available (mostly set and forget); you get to talk directly with 
the designers and owners of the company and they do more than any other 
company to make things 'right' in the eyes of the customer/user; not 
just give cookie cutter designs and answers then move on with no help 
provided.

And the product line just works better, hearing ability is among the 
very elite and transmitters are cleaner on the air than most of the 
other brands.

If a user is constantly fiddling about with the controls; it's because 
they either want to or don't understand their proper use and should ask 
questions.  Set and forget is an asset.  Once set, the complexity hidden 
within the UI is one of the strong points, because it doesn't require an 
EE and operation becomes simple allowing the user to simply use and 
enjoy the radio.

If the user has not looked into all the settings, perhaps it's because 
they haven't needed to do so.  That's a telltale mark of a good product 
(although the ham SHOULD learn more about what tool/s they're using, in 
my opinion).

Maybe you haven't dived into the depths, because you haven't needed to 
or other reasons; but I wouldn't group all users in that category.  Each 
user has an level of understanding and ability; no two are exactly the 
same; no two stations are precisely alike.

When I first get any piece of gear, I go through every setting, making 
sure I understand it's use (adjust if needed); then I stop being 
concerned about the vast array of choices and just use the radio.  I may 
go back for refined adjustments, but that's not very often.  I suspect 
most hams are similar to that method.  If it's been a while, the manual, 
Cady book and group can be used (in that order) to find the proper control.

By design, Elecraft radios can be used by a wide range of hams from 
basic noob to EE+ education; from ragchewers to <fill in the blank 
extreme use>; they've hit the mark.

They allow the hams to rise to higher level of understanding, competence 
and ability because of the quality; with some help from the manual, user 
groups, Cady book and DIRECT contact.  VERY few companies are at that 
level, other than Elecraft.

73,
Rick NK7I

"I can explain it to you, but I can't make you understand it."

On 11/25/2020 2:04 AM, David Wilcox via Elecraft wrote:
> I would venture to say that most hams (especially those recently licensed) don’t and can’t utilize all the features of even an older K3, let alone one with all the enhancements.  The K4 is so far beyond the “average” ham in its ability that unless you are an electronics guru with an EE you won’t need, much less understand, all the neat things it can do.
>
> I am not disparaging the K3, K3S, or the K4 but whatever version you might have or want it will do the job 95% of the time.  I love my upgraded K3s but still haven’t scratched the surface of what it will do.  I could spend the rest of my life exploring all the features of my fine radio (I have all of Fred Cady’s books) but there are other avenues of enjoyment in ham radio that I am pursuing. This IS a hobby and it has been my go to in times of good and bad since 1960.  Cheaper than a psychiatrist and less trouble than a mistress.
>
> What I have said above may not apply to the top of the list contester as that is a field all to itself. Those guys and gals may notice the difference in some of the enhancements to the K line in a pileup, but that’s another rabbit hole.
>
> Dave K8WPE since 1960.
>
> David J. Wilcox’s iPad
>
>> On Nov 24, 2020, at 11:03 PM, Bill Frantz <frantz at pwpconsult.com> wrote:
>>
>> While I agree with Skip here, my agreement is based on practicality, not physical ability. The internal K3 hardware design is quite modular, and replacing the DSP boards for the main and sub receivers should be straight forward. We have seen how the K3 can be improved by replacing boards. Upgrading the DSP is just another kind of new board.
>>
>> BUT, designing, coding, and manufacture engineering these boards is a big project. The boards will be quite expensive. How many people are likely to upgrade? And, we already have the K4, built to remain competitive in the market. The K4 is probably a better radio than the mythical upgraded K3. The upgrades to the K3 are also likely to cost more than a K4. All these considerations make this project a non-starter. As I said, practical considerations.
>>
>> 73 Bill AE6JV
>>
>>> On 11/24/20 at 6:03 PM, k6dgw at foothill.net (Fred Jensen) wrote:
>>>
>>> There's an inescapable rule in electronic product development: Once you commit to a physical design in year XXXX, it will be a design that uses the parts of year XXXX forever.  I think XXXX about 2006 or so for the K3 [mine is S/N 642 and that's about when I bought it].  Yes, the firmware can be upgraded over time, but only within the constraints of 2006 components [like memory and CPU].  There is also the fact that eventually, you will run out of bells, whistles, and horns for updates.  The K3 hit that point some time back.  Elecraft had fixed all or nearly all of the bugs, they'd supported all of the add-on accessories, and I'm fairly sure the MCU is approaching it's limits.
>> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Bill Frantz        | Security is like Government  | Periwinkle
>> (408)348-7900      | services. The market doesn't | 150 Rivermead Rd #235
>> www.pwpconsult.com | want to pay for them.        | Peterborough, NH 03458
>>
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