[Elecraft] [K4FT] K4 software release 13

[Bob Wilson, N6TV]

Installs fine.  I like the new spectrum overlay.

Glad you fixed the AM / FM TX freq. bug.  Will close that one.

73,
Bob, N6TV


On Mon, May 3, 2021 at 2:16 PM Wayne Burdick <n6kr at elecraft.com> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> Please load and test the latest. See below.
>
> tnx
> Wayne
>
>
> * * * * *
>
>
> K4 SOFTWARE RELEASE NOTES
>
> NOTE: Release notes exclude minor UI changes, as well as items pertaining
> only to debugging, manufacturing test, or internals.
>
>
> ====================
> ==== RELEASE 13 ====
> ====================
>
> 5-3-2021
>
> PANADAPTER SPECTRUM TRACE VISIBILITY:  The spectrum trace is now
> positioned in front of the VFO cursors to improve visibility.
>
> KREF4 FIRMWARE LOAD:  Corrected a problem with release 12 that could cause
> KREF4 firmware to load incorrectly.
>
> PANADAPTER FREEZE:  Fixes a case where the panadapter randomly freezes,
> typically after hours of operation.
>
> FLASH DRIVE IN FRONT USB JACK:  Improved compatibility between most USB
> flash drives and the front USB jack.
>
> AM AND FM TX:  Transmit is now on frequency in these modes.
>
> FOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS:  Added TQ command GET. Improved TU command
> handling.
>
>
> ====================
> ==== RELEASE 12 ====
> ====================
>
> 4-23-2021
>
> TX INHIBIT INDICATION CHANGED:  During TX inhibit, we no longer flash
> "TX". Instead we replace it with "TX Inh" for the duration of the inhibit
> event.
>
> ATU MATCHES IMPROVED:  The ATU now finds much better matches to Low-Z
> loads.
>
> DATE/TIME SETTING FUNCTION:  Tapping the time/date/status area, followed
> by a hold of "Set", now brings up a time setting window. This is intended
> for use when the K4 is not connected to the internet and requires time/date
> to be reset. One reason for this might be replacement of the backup
> battery. (If the K4 is or may be connected to the internet, check the box
> "Set Time/Date Automatically".
>
> RX AUTO-ATTENUATION MENU ENTRY:  Auto-attenuation due to excessively
> strong signals can now be used (set menu entry to ON). Previously, false
> ADC overflow conditions were reported during transmit. Note: Excessive
> signal strength is indicated by a change in color of the "+" in "+60" on
> the S-meter. If you see this indication persistently, consider either
> reducing front end gain manually or turning on auto-attenuation.
>
> PANADAPTER IMPROVEMENTS:  Use of dual pan with the sub RX turned on now
> always engages the K4D module (if available). This optimizes dynamic range
> in the case where the receivers are on different bands.
>
> SHUT-DOWN ISSUE CORRECTED:  Occasionally, the K4 was shutting down
> processes incorrectly at power-down.
>
> FOR K4 DEVELOPERS:  (1) The command sequence "K41;ME75.1;PC;" is now
> working as expected. (2) The #CAL command now automatically sets up the
> radio for panadapter level calibration. (3) Added experimental support for
> DM command.
>
> PANADAPTER AVERAGING CHANGE:  The parameter range for averaging is now
> 1-20 instead of 0-20. The original "0" setting was too fast to be useful.
>
> DTMF:  In FM mode, the user can now enter DTMF codes. Tap TX, then hold
> DTMF. PTT or XMIT must be asserted as well. Note: Work on this is still in
> progress.
>
> UPDATER PROGRAM CHANGE:  Removed the "Restore Defaults" button, which
> restored all factory defaults. A more nuanced init feature will be added.
> Note that you can also reset *individual* menu parameters to their factory
> default by tapping the NORM button.
>
>
> ====================
> ==== RELEASE 11 ====
> ====================
>
> 4-10-2021
>
>
> GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS:  Various stability enhancements.
>
> PREAMP 3 SETTING ADDED:  On 12/10/6 meters, there's now an optional preamp
> 3 (PRE3) setting. To enable preamp 3, use MENU:Preamp 3 (12/10/6). MDS
> improves by up to 4 dB over preamp 2.
>
> FSK DTR SELECT LINES CORRECTED:  DTR lines for FSK source selection were
> in the wrong order. Note: Even though the DTR lines are now in the correct
> order, they're still inverted in hardware.
>
> S-METER STUCK WHEN SUB RX TURNED OFF:  The DSP was only sending new values
> for S-meter purposes when the signal level was changing. This could leave
> the S-meter "hung" when the sub RX was turned off, and in certain other
> cases. To catch these cases, we now update the S-meter periodically even
> when the signal level is static.
>
> MAIN PANADAPTER SPECTRAL LEAKAGE FIXED:  The main panadapter was
> exhibiting spectral leakage ("Christmas tree effect") at spans below 20
> kHz. Further work pending to correct spectral leakage in mini-pan at high
> signal levels.
>
> MOVED 60/40 METER BAND BOUNDARY:  This boundary was originally at 6.000
> MHz. Moved to 5.950 MHz to avoid VFO tuning delays when tuning right at
> 6.000.
>
> APF LOST ON A/B SWAP -- FIXED:  When the audio peaking filter (APF) was
> turned on, then A/B VFOs swapped, the APF setting was sometimes getting
> lost. This has been corrected.
>
>
> ====================
> ==== RELEASE 10 ====
> ====================
>
>
> SPECTRUM FREQUENCY MARKS:  There are now vertical dotted lines in the
> spectrum area corresponding to major frequency intervals (1, 2, 5, 10, 20,
> or 50 kHz depending on the SPAN). These lines can be turned off using the
> Spectrum Freq. Marks menu entry. (However, they've proven to be very
> useful, so we recommended leaving them on.)
>
> S-METER LABELING OF SPECTRUM AMPLITUDE:  The user can now select either
> dBm or S-units for spectrum amplitude labeling. Use menu entry "Spectrum
> Amplitude Units".
>
> SCREEN CAPTURE SAVES BOTH LCD AND EXTERNAL MONITOR IMAGES:  When a screen
> capture is done, it creates two image files, one for the LCD and one for
> the external monitor.
>
> MESSAGE REPEAT INDICATION:  When a repeating message is in effect, the
> message bank icon is replaced with flashing "MSG RPT" until repeat is
> cancelled.
>
> 160 METER SENSITIVITY:  MDS on this band improved by 3 to 4 dB in
> preamp-off case. This was accomplished by turning off the AM broadcast band
> filter on this band, only, by default. The user can override this using the
> RX 1.5 MHz High-Pass Fil. menu setting.
>
> REFERENCE LOCK:  When the K4 is locked to an external 10 MHz reference,
> absolute VFO accuracy is now about +/- 1 or 2 Hz at 14 MHz. The reference
> module (KREF4) can also now determine if the 10 MHz external reference is
> stable enough to be used. If not, it alerts the SBC. A message displaying
> this condition is still pending.
>
> MINI-PAN "PEDESTAL":  (Bug#708,#51,#576,#363) Removed pedestal from
> minipan by changing sample rate cross-over points.
>
> NOISE BLANKER APPLIED TO MINI-PAN:  Previously, the display NB function
> only applied to the main panadapters.
>
> FM CONTROLS:  Added FM PL tone and repeater offset selections. These are
> accessed using the TX main function while in FM mode.
>
> XVTR OUT POWER SETTINGS:  In XVTR OUT Test mode, the PWR control sets RF
> output from 0 to 5.0 mW at XVTR OUT. In conjunction with this, the PCnnnX
> commmand has been implemented (XVTR power setting). At present, sending
> PCnnnX to KRAD puts the radio into XVTR OUT Test mode and routes signals to
> the XVTR IN/OUT jacks (see next item). Sending PCnnnL or PCnnnH returns to
> normal QRP/QRO operation.
>
> BASIC K4 USE OF PANADAPTER:  Improvements in panadapter behavior in this
> case (non-K4D). SPAN can now be set independently for main and sub
> panadapters.
>
>
>
> --
> Elecraft K4FT Company-Private Discussion List
> k4ft at elecraft.om
> ---
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
> email to K4FT+unsubscribe at elecraft.com.
>
>