This is a welcome update for all K3 owners. I just wanted to thank everyone at Elecraft for listening to your customers and implementing these needed features and fixes. A special thanks to Lyle for being patient, and listening to all of our suggestions and criticisms. Also a big thank you to Wayne for remembering our "VFO noise" plight; I doubt you would remember our conversation over the phone several months ago, but I'm glad you did not forget this issue.
73 de James K2QI On Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 3:49 PM, wayne burdick <n...@elecraft.com> wrote: > K3 beta-test firmware revision 3.25 (with DSP rev. 2.21) is now > available. There are several new features and significant improvements > in this revision; see release notes below. > > Please send problem reports to k3supp...@elecraft.com. Beta firmware > load instructions can be found at > > http://www.elecraft.com/K3/k3_software.htm > > 73, > Wayne > N6KR > > * * * > > MCU 3.25 / DSP 2.21, 8-11-2009 > > New Features: > > * NOISE REDUCTION (NR) IMPROVEMENTS: Our new NR > algorithm has less impact on signal strength, and should no > longer make some weak signals “disappear” due to over-processing. > We may fine-tune the algorithm in future releases, based on > operator evaluation, but we’ve have good reports from early testers. > > * VFO TUNING NOISE REDUCTION: Some operators have reported > hearing noise on 60, 10, or 6 meters when tuning the VFO under > very quiet conditions. If you experience this, try the following: > In the CONFIG:VCO MD menu entry, tap ‘1’ until you see “SPI 2” > (the default is “SPI 1”). This alters the timing of data sent to the > synthesizer, which in turn changes the spectrum of SPI-bus > signal noise. It has no impact on performance. You will also need to > add two resistors and two diodes to the bottom of the RF board > (see application note on our K3 modifications web page). > > * AUTOMATIC RECEIVER FRONT END PROTECTION: If the K3 is > operated too close to high-power transmitters, it’s possible to damage > some receiver components. While this rarely happens, we’ve taken > steps to prevent it by sensing a high-current condition at the mixer > post-amplifier (Q8/Q9) and automatically turning off the preamp and, > if necessary, turning on the attenuator. You will need to add one > jumper wire on the bottom of the RF board (see application note > on our K3 modifications web page). If you don’t add the jumper, > operation will be unchanged; firmware can sense whether or not > you’ve installed the jumper. > > * 10-HZ PASSBAND SHIFT STEPS (EXPERIMENTAL): > If CONFIG:PB CTRL is set to SHIFT=.01 for a given operating mode, > the SHIFT control will provide .01 kHz (10 Hz) steps rather than the > original .05 kHz (50 Hz). Especially useful with narrow filter > bandwidths. > This feature is experimental and has some limitations at present: > Applies to CW and DATA only; LOCUT/HICUT cannot be used when > 10-Hz SHIFT steps are in effect; WIDTH steps remain 50 Hz in all cases. > Not compatible with spur removal function yet (CONFIG: SIG RMV); > signals mapped out may reappear. > > * CW SPEED DISPLAYED WITH DECODED CW TEXT: If the TEXT > DEC switch parameter is set to WPM CHK (using VFO B), the speed of > on-air CW signals will be shown, along with a small window of CW text. > You might see “18w. CQ…”, where “18w.” means 18 WPM. Both text > decode and WPM display accuracy can be improved by using narrow > filtering and by careful adjustment of the “THR” (threshold) parameter > (set with VFO A when the TEXT DEC switch is pressed). > > * RF GAIN CALIBRATION: The K3’s hardware AGC circuitry can now be > calibrated. This may improve both S-meter and RF GAIN control accuracy. > To do RF GAIN calibration, use revision 1.2.7.24 or later of K3 > Utility (use the > RF GAIN calibration function, under Configuration). This procedure > calibrates > both main and sub receivers. A signal source is required. Future > firmware > revisions will further improve accuracy, using the calibration data > stored > by this procedure. > > Misc. Improvements: > > * "SK" IS NO LONGER DISPLAYED IN RESPONSE TO NOISE > DURING CW DECODE. Incorrect characters are now displayed as ‘*’. > > * 6 METER SCANNING NO LONGER PROHIBITED. Scanning is limited > to the 6-m U.S. ham band (50-54). Exception: In some countries the K3 > won’t > operate on 6 m at all. > > * TTY CENTER FREQ NOW DISPLAYED CORRECTLY: In FSK-D > and AFSK-A modes, rotating SHIFT now shows the exact center > pitch (when indicated by an asterisk). The four available center > pitches are 1000, 1360, 1530, and 2210 Hz. Previously the pitch was > rounded down to the nearest 50 Hz. > > For Software Developers: > > * "RO" COMMAND (RIT/XIT OFFSET READ/SET) ADDED. This > command provides a more direct way to set up the RIT/XIT offset, > as an alternative to “RU” and “RD”. Set/Response format: > ROsxxxx; where s is +/-, and xxxx is 0000-9999. > > > --- > > http://www.elecraft.com > > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
