Joe Planisky wrote:
>
> Being the not-so-proud owner of several pieces of once expensive but
> now useless junk, I'm somewhat sensitive to future issues that might
> prevent me from using hardware I purchased. In other words, the
> "DON'T upgrade or else" mentality.
>
> With the K3, the only potential weak link I see is the
> K3UpdateUtility. Will it still run on Windows 2018, Mac OS XII 12.2,
> or Ubuntu Zesty Zebra? If I find a "Brand new in box K3 SN 2000" on
> eBay 10 years from now, will I be able to load firmware version 2.32
> on it?
>
> I totally understand that manufacturers can't support their devices
> forever across all possible platforms. But I'd feel better about my
> purchase if there was a public spec that detailed how to upload
> firmware files. Next best thing would be if source code to the K3
> Update Utility(s) were available.
>
>
If (and I mean *IF*) Elecraft is still updating the K3 firmware in 2018 then
I guess there will be an updated update utility. If not then barring your
scenario of finding a never-updated K3 on eBay, I doubt if there'd be much
need for it.
I do agree though that making the source code available or publishing a spec
would be a no-cost way to secure user concerns about obsolescence. I
recently wrote to the developers of the RigExpert AA-200 antenna analyzer
asking for information about the communications protocol for that. No
response. The device comes with software for Windows only (and it doesn't
run under Wine, either.) I would like to safeguard my investment in it, but
without their help I guess I'm going to have to try to figure it out for
myself. Anyone know of a bit of software that will print out a trace of
everything that's sent and received through a COM port? (It might also help
me find out why Fldigi RigCAT support doesn't work reliably with the K3
under Windows.)
-----
Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392 K3 #222.
http://www.g4ilo.com/ G4ILO's Shack http://www.ham-directory.com/ Ham
Directory http://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html KComm for Elecraft K2 and K3
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