Is there a way to determine if the software is properly detecting the extreme signal RX protection wire other than injecting an extreme signal and seeing if it turns off the preamp?
~Brett On Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 12:49 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
