K3 firmware 2 years on and still much to do? I still dont own a K3. I just cant bring myself to buy the K3 because of its front panel layout and its operation. Although I would very much like its receiver performance.
I have used one at a contest station and all that I can say is that I would not buy one until a new front panel layout is designed. The band switching, VFO management, mode switching and many aspects of its front panel design needs a rework. Most of the contest operators that I know seem to own a FT2000, they will all acknowledge that its no K3, however they all feel the same as I do about the K3 and its ergonomics. Most of us are just not portable operators, so dont need small size 12 volt radios. There are many good radios that would be a good front panel design model for the K3a. The FT950, FT920, Icom 737series, TS850 etc all have a very workable ergonomic front panel layouts that are easy to use. The FT950 is so well layed out and very attractive and it would be a good one to copy for a new K3 front panel. If the K3 is so modular, why would it be so hard not to offer a bigger box with a new front panel? There are many off the shelf 19 inch rack boxes that could be used with a new front panel styling. I would suggest that a new K3 panel with built in P3, power supply and 200 watt PA stage would be a big hit. Everyone seems to be so over the moon with the K3's small size, I must be a freak with alien genes to not like the radios front panel layout and operational ergonomics. The firmware feature list or lack of progress I can live with. However a awkward panel layout and poor ergomics thats carved in rock I cant really live with. When I used the K3 all that I ever used was the band switch, volume and RIT control.... thats all, just like a Mil-spec radio. It was very hard to do otherwise, so I probably missed a lot of the K3's potential. I too live in hope that a new K4 is coming! I could even live with a K3 junior with one receiver and a new front panel design. John --- On Sat, 9/19/09, Dave G4AON <elecr...@astromag.co.uk> wrote: > From: Dave G4AON <elecr...@astromag.co.uk> > Subject: [Elecraft] K3 firmware 2 years on and still much to do > To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Date: Saturday, September 19, 2009, 1:58 AM > Unfortunately the K3 firmware seems > to have wandered off track a bit, > two years ago when the K3 started rolling out the following > were on the > "to do" list and formed part of the specification: > > 0.5 ppm TCXO calibration > Synchronous AM > > These might not be the most important issues in the world, > but were > included in the original specification and are in the Oct > 24th 2007 "B1 > manual". Currently the K3 fails to meet specification! > > Can we have some indication of their position on the > firmware roadmap? > > 73 Dave, G4AON > K3/100 #80 > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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