"Completely bogus" is in the eye of the beholder, Joe. While I find the K3 ergonomics to be much better than I expected, there is room for improvement, as many have pointed out.
73, Steve NN4X On Sat, Sep 19, 2009 at 10:35 AM, Joe Subich, W4TV <li...@subich.com> wrote: > > > 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. > > Having used the FT-1000D, Mark V, and FT-2000 series of radios > for nearly 20 years before moving the K3, the "front panel > design" and "ergonomics" issues are completely bogus. There > are other transceivers with user interfaces very similar to > the K3 - including some from Yaesu - and, while different than > the FT-990/1000/2000/9000 the K3 User interface is no less usable. > > Anyone who makes the size/user interface argument is simply > making an excuse for not learning a new user interface based > prejudice. Any contester or DXer who uses one of the popular > contest or day to day logging packages with "point and shoot" > features is insulated from the transceiver's user interface > to such an extent that the differences among user interfaces > is largely irrelevant anyway. > > 73, > > ... Joe, W4TV > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net > > [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of juergen piezo > > Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2009 6:42 AM > > To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 firmware 2 years on and still much to do > > > > > > 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
