Release 29 of K4 software is now available for download. You can read the
release notes below, or from within the UPDATE function at the radio itself.
NOTE: If the UPDATE function doesn't succeed at downloading the new software on
the first try, please try a second time. We're working to improve this
situation.
This release will be of particular interest to SSB operators, since it adds a
new, highly effective speech compression algorithm and CESSB (control-envelope
SSB). The combination of the two provides as much as 8 dB of increase in
average talk power. This should be very useful for those participating in the
CQ WPX SSB contest this weekend.
CW operators will want to try out the new, much tighter filters for bandwidths
of 50/100/150/200 Hz. In field testing, these have proven to provide a huge
advantage in heavy QRM.
73,
Wayne
N6KR
====================
==== RELEASE 29 ====
====================
March 22, 2022
NOTE: The RX DVR feature (AF REC/AF PLAY) has been deferred until the next
software release in order to complete more extensive testing.
===== FUNCTIONAL CHANGES =====
ENHANCED SPEECH COMPRESSION & CESSB: Speech compression has been dramatically
improved. Controlled Envelope Single Sideband (CESSB) has also been
implemented. Together, these boost average talk power by up to 8 dB, with
virtually no RF overshoot or in-band distortion. Any nonzero setting of CMP
also engages CESSB. Compression also now applies to Extended Single Sideband
(wide transmit bandwidths).
TX NOISE GATE: This feature is available in all voice modes. Set up using
MENU:TX Noise Gate Threshold. Default is OFF. If a non-zero value is selected,
mic audio will be suppressed during transmit when it is below the given
threshold.
NEW NARROW CW FILTERS: We've added new CW filtering for the 50/100/150/200 Hz
settings -- the highest-performance narrow filters we've ever offered. These
filters have much steeper skirts, yet exhibit minimal ringing. They're enabled
by default, but can be turned off using the RX CW IIR Filters menu entry. When
they're off, the filters will be the same as they are now (FIR). These filters
are centered on 50 Hz pitch increments, which means that the narrowest filter
width (50 Hz) slightly favors 50 Hz increments of the sidetone PITCH setting.
For example, if you were using a 530 Hz sidetone, consider using 500 or 550 Hz
instead.
ALL-MODE SQUELCH: Main and sub receiver squelch can now be used in all modes.
The settings are independent.
NOISE BLANKER QRM FILTERING: All noise blankers can be compromised by strong
nearby signals. If you hear artifacts, use the NB LEVEL control to turn NB QRM
filtering on, then retry different NB levels. There are 3 NB filter settings:
NARROW: K4 bases NB filter on regular RX bandwidth (as low as 1 kHz)
WIDE: K4 applies a 5 kHz NB filter
NONE: pre-NB filtering off (BW ahead of NB ~24 kHz)
NOTE: The NARROW and WIDE settings may reduce effectiveness on some noise
types, so use NONE when there's no QRM.
NEW AM DEMODULATOR: Our new AM demodulator provides excellent audio fidelity,
with up to 5 kHz audio bandwidth and enhanced pre-demodulator filtering.
IMPROVED FM DEMODULATOR.
VFO CURSOR OFF-SCREEN ICONS: The panadapter now provides color-coded arrows
(A=blue, B=green) that appear if the associated VFO frequency is off-screen.
The arrow shows the off-screen direction.
VFO COARSE TUNING RATES (PER-MODE): Added a new menu entry, VFO Coarse Tuning,
that specifies which of four per-mode tuning rates is to be used when the KHZ
switch function is selected. (This is equivalent to the K3's COARSE switch
function.) For example, in SSB mode, the "KHZ" tuning rate options are 0.1,
0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 kHz. When the user-specified KHZ rate is selected, the VFO
digit underline changes from white to gold. These selections also apply to the
RIT control whenever RIT is *OFF* and MENU:RIT Knob Alt Function is set to VFO
CRS. Tapping VFO digits to select a tuning rate overrides the KHZ tuning rate.
NEW TRANSMIT MONITOR LINE-OUT MODES: Menu entry "TX Monitor Level, Line Out"
sets the level of the transmit monitor signal (sidetone or voice) at the LINE
OUT analog jack as well as digital line out (USB-B jack). At the default
setting ("=MON"), the LINE OUT TX monitor level reflects the setting of the
regular XMTR-MON knob function. Rotating VFO A counter-clockwise from here will
select "OFF" mode (no TX monitor line out signal). The other available settings
(numeric) will scale the LINE OUT transmit monitor function upward, which is
useful for some external devices such as audio recorders. (These values will
also prevent K4 switch tones from being heard at LINE OUT.) Max TX monitor LINE
OUT level is about 2 Vpp.
TX BAR GRAPH FLICKER ELIMINATED: Previously, the power and SWR bar graphs
exhibited rapid cycling or flickering in voice modes.
VOX-OFF WARNING IN CW MODE: If you send CW with VOX turned off (and PTT/XMIT
not asserted), you'll now get a warning about not putting out any RF. You may
ignore the warning if you're simply testing the keyer, sidetones, etc.
STUCK-KEY WARNINGS: Individual warnings are provided for all "stuck-key"
situations on power-up, including PTT, KEY IN, DOT, and DASH.
DIGITAL AUDIO PROCESSOR (DAP) VOLTAGE REPORTS: The DAP now correctly reports
its various supply voltages and temperature. To see these, use Status/All Param.
AM/FM VOX DELAY CORRECTED: These modes now use the voice VOX delay setting.
===== FOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS =====
(Refer to rev. C1 or later of the K4 Programmer's Reference)
NB COMMAND CHANGE: The NB command format has changed to NBnnmf, where nn is
the NB level, m is 0/1 (off/on), and f is the pre-NB filter mode (0=NONE,
1=NARROW, 2=WIDE). See description of filter settings above.
NEW COMMANDS:
AG/ AF gain toggle
BL AF balance
DA digital audio
DW data TX bandwidth (DATA & AFSK modes)
PB DVR playback
VT$ VFO tuning step
#CUR$ VFO Cursor Display Mode
#PKM/ toggle panadapter peak mode
#VFA/B added toggle commands
ME43 COMMAND FIXED: This now correctly returns the radio's IP address.
PB0 COMMAND TERMINATES DVR PLAY.
XT/ TOGGLE COMMAND FIXED: This command now correctly toggles XIT on/off.
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