Re: [Elecraft] HW-16

[Buddy Brannan]

I actually had an HW16 for a little while around 1993. I bought it at a  
hamfest, complete with the HG10 VFO, and the crystal and what not to reverse 
the mod that moved it from 15 meters to 20 meters if I so chose. I did not so 
choose. It was a fun rig, and I had no trouble with it, even tuning eyes-free. 
Even used it when I was temporarily in a different state as my primary station 
for a little while. Fun little rig! 


--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Email: bu...@brannan.name
Mobile: (814) 431-0962




> On Jul 3, 2022, at 9:59 PM, Eric Norris  wrote:
> 
> The HW-16 was a great rig back then, with silent QSK and a good crystal
> filter.
> 
> I remember getting frustrated one night, and I cranked the PWR knob past
> the red mark on the plate-current meter that showed the 75-watt Novice DC
> input plate current limit.  I had just turned 17, and worked 50 hrs at
> $2/hr to buy that kit.  I was going to get a QSO that night even though I
> knew the FCC would soon be battering down my door and dragging me away in
> handcuffs.
> 
> Good times.
> 
> 73 Eric WN6RVG
> 
> On Sun, Jul 3, 2022, 1:54 PM Mike Morrow  wrote:
> 
>>> I don't know what an HW-16 is.
>> 
>> 
>> The HW-16 is a vacuum tube, 90-watt (maximum) input, crystal-controlled
>> CW-only Novice-band transmitter and receiver kit with built-in AC power
>> supply.  It covered the CW portion of only 80m, 40m, and 15m.  It was sold
>> by Heath from 1967 to 1976.  Its 1967 kit price was "only" $110, but that's
>> equivalent to almost $1000 in 2022.  Adjusted for inflation my full-house
>> KX2 50 years later was less expensive.
>> 
>> The HW-16 was popular when I was WN5WGJ in 1968, but at age 16 I could
>> never have afforded one. :-)  Its long-term utility was limited by the
>> one-year non-renewable Novice license of that era.
>> 
>> Mike / KK5F
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[Elecraft] Fwd: ARLX017 ARRL Northwestern Division Assistant Director Phil Kane, K2ASP (SK)

[Buddy Brannan]

Sorry if this is a repeat, but one of ours. … 


--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Mobile: (814) 431-0962
Email: bu...@brannan.name



> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> From: "ARRL Web site" 
> Subject: ARLX017 ARRL Northwestern Division Assistant Director Phil Kane, 
> K2ASP (SK)
> Date: December 7, 2021 at 1:54:14 PM EST
> To: bu...@brannan.name
> 
> SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX017
> ARLX017 ARRL Northwestern Division Assistant Director Phil Kane,
> K2ASP (SK)
> 
> ZCZC AX17
> QST de W1AW  
> Special Bulletin 17  ARLX017
> From ARRL Headquarters  
> Newington CT  December 7, 2021
> To all radio amateurs 
> 
> SB SPCL ARL ARLX017
> ARLX017 ARRL Northwestern Division Assistant Director Phil Kane,
> K2ASP (SK)
> 
> ARRL Northwestern Division Assistant Director Phil Kane, K2ASP, of
> Beaverton, Oregon, died on November 24. An ARRL Life Member, he was
> 84.
> 
> An FCC engineer, Kane rose to the post of FCC San Francisco District
> Director and administered many ham radio and commercial license
> exams during his nearly 30 years there. He was a registered
> professional engineer in several jurisdictions.
> 
> Active as an Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) volunteer, Kane
> was a senior life member of the IEEE and a member of the Society of
> Broadcast Engineers (SBE) and National Association of Radio and
> Telecommunications Engineers (NARTE).
> 
> Kane earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the
> Cooper Union School of Engineering, and he went to work for the US
> Air Force. He also held a degree in system engineering from UCLA.
> While working for the FCC, he earned a law degree. After retiring
> from the FCC, Kane worked as a consultant.
> 
> In the mid-1960s, Kane served briefly in Israel's Ministry of
> Communications as a regulatory engineer before going to work for the
> FCC.
> 
> /EX

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Re: [Elecraft] Gurus

[Buddy Brannan]

Man, what a great cw call, totally wasted on FT8 :-) 


Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Email: bu...@brannan.name
Mobile: (814) 431-0962



> On Jun 10, 2021, at 12:00 AM, Julia Tuttle  wrote:
> 
> It's KV1V, but probably not -- I've mostly been working FT8 from my (noisy,
> urban, antenna-limited) home QTH, and I don't think you were one of the
> couple of folks I managed to reach on CW from my girlfriend's (quiet,
> rural, big enough to have a full-size 40m dipole) QTH.
> 
> On Wed, Jun 9, 2021 at 11:42 PM Gary K9GS  wrote:
> 
>> I agree Julie,Just curious, what is your call?  I wonder if we've
>> worked?73,Gary K9GS
>>  Original message From: Bill Johnson 
>> Date: 6/9/21  11:32 PM  (GMT-05:00) To: Al Lorona ,
>> Julia Tuttle  Cc: Elecraft Reflector <
>> elecraft@mailman.qth.net> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Gurus Here, here,
>> Julie!BillK9YEQHave a great day!BillFrom:
>> elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net  on
>> behalf of Julia Tuttle Sent: Tuesday, June 8, 2021
>> 9:36:00 PMTo: Al Lorona Cc: Elecraft Reflector <
>> elecraft@mailman.qth.net>Subject: Re: [Elecraft] GurusI'm gonna second
>> "above all, have fun"!If it brings you joy to have the highest performing
>> rig you can, cool, andI hope it serves you well.But if a different aspect
>> of a radio, or even one you can't name, bringsyou joy, that's also cool,
>> and I'm happy it makes you happy!My KX3 isn't at the top of the Sherwood
>> list, it doesn't have a panadapter(...yet), and connecting it up for
>> digital modes is a bit of a rat's nest..but I'll be darned if it isn't
>> just fun as shit to use. The UI is wellthought out, the VFO knob is a work
>> of art, (surprisingly) the compact sizemakes it more approachable/friendly
>> for it, and the community here aroundit (as heated as it can get) is
>> tighter-knit.None of those show up in a spec sheet or lab testing Get what
>> makes *you*happy, and share your experience so the next ham can do the
>> same.Cheers,JulieOn Tue, Jun 8, 2021, 21:57 Al Lorona <
>> alor...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:> When this subject appeared last week I had
>> composed a reply but then slept> on it and canceled it the next morning, as
>> I probably do 80% of the time.>> In this my second attempt, let me say that
>> I've always been amazed at the> power wielded by Rob Sherwood. Thousands of
>> hams hang on his latest tests.> If he deems a new radio exceptional in some
>> way, that can mean many> millions of dollars for a manufacturer.>> And yet,
>> if there were no such thing as gurus on the web and at places> like Dayton
>> expounding about how Brand A is better than Brand B, how would> you answer
>> the questions, "Do I like this transceiver?," and, "Is it any> good?">>
>> You'd probably get on the air and use it, and decide that way.>> But we
>> constantly have gurus telling us that Brand A is the 'best' which>
>> horrifies us if up until now we liked Brand B better. Against our personal>
>> experience we flip-flop and say, "Gee, I used to like Brand B, but Brand A>
>> must be better because the gurus say so.">> Yet, there will always be guys
>> who'll be tortured owning a transceiver> that has the 2nd highest dynamic
>> range, or the 3rd best distortion. Never> mind if they can't actually hear
>> the differences.>> It's how a rig *sounds and feels* during actual
>> operating that's most> important. Not the numbers. For instance, Wes made a
>> comment about his> tuning knob, and although some of you might have laughed
>> at that... it's> darned important! That's the kind of thing I'm talking
>> about.>> Here's my opinion on ranking receivers by 2 kHz 3rd order dynamic
>> range:> almost any modern receiver has enough dynamic range to make this
>> ranking> more and more meaningless as time goes on. Sherwood himself has
>> said that> 90 dB or above is plenty enough. To understand why, see this
>> post from 2016> by one of the old guys on this reflector:>
>> http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-The-Way-We-Rank-Receivers-long-td7623639.html>>>
>> Lastly, if you've been enjoying your rig for years and then hear someone>
>> else complain about a flaw you weren't even aware of, don't panic. There>
>> are a million reasons why his concerns might not involve you in the
>> least.>> Above all, have fun.>> Al W6LX/4>
>> __> Elecraft
>> mailing list> Home: http://mailman.qth.ne

Re: [Elecraft] Gurus

[Buddy Brannan]

Not to mention the FCC rules (remember those? We had them on the test…) say 
that we should use the minimum amount of power necessary. 


Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Email: bu...@brannan.name
Mobile: (814) 431-0962



> On Jun 9, 2021, at 8:46 PM, Julia Tuttle  wrote:
> 
> Nobody was blaming the operator. Gwen was asking whose *radio* was to blame.
> 
> And "hey, your radio seems to be putting out some pretty strong
> interference on the harmonics, can you fix that?" isn't a personal attack.
> The answer might be "no, I have no idea how or why it is", though.
> 
> But, regardless of how "dirty" a radio is or isn't, it's reasonable to ask
> someone to turn the power down when they don't need it -- it can overload
> receivers, it can amplify any noise the radio is putting out, and it takes
> up that spectrum in a wider geographic area than is needed.
> 
> On Wed, Jun 9, 2021, 20:14 Richards  wrote:
> 
>> Anyone condemning other hams for using "dirty transmitters"  is simply
>> out of line.
>> 
>> The ordinary ham is NOT an Electrical Engineer and he buys his rig in
>> good faith, believing it passed FCC and other engineering standards.
>> He uses it in good faith, assuming it is OK and not causing problems.
>> But then, a few self-appointed Frequency Cops condemn the poor operator
>> as a bad citizen for using a "dirty transmitter"  as if the operator is
>> somehow to blame.   I have worked a lot of contests with crowded
>> conditions in a large metropolitan area, and nobody has ever whined
>> about any of this, notwithstanding a couple of self-appointed experts
>> living in the mountains of CA and CO claim it is a horrible epidemic.
>> Besides, if this was such big problem why is it such a new, current
>> topic? Supposedly, all those old rigs have been noisy all the time.   I
>> suspect it is topical only because they have nothing else to talk about.
>> 
>> Well, even if it is a problem, there is no place for this sort of
>> personal attack in ham radio, AND IT IS SIMPLY WRONG TO BLAME THE
>> OPERATOR for how his rig works.   For most ops, ham radio is just a
>> hobby and they are entitled to expect their radios will work right.
>> Blaming the operator is simply out of line.   K8JHR
>> 
>> 
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 frequency entry

[Buddy Brannan]

Having only used a K2 and a KX3, my experience agrees with your experience. If 
you enter as 14303, it should go to 14.303 MHz. I just tune by ear from there 
anyway. Of course, then you’ve got the problem that many people can’t seem to 
tune in SSB so that they’re all on the same frequency, but that’s another story 
:)


Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Email: bu...@brannan.name
Mobile: (814) 431-0962



> On Mar 21, 2021, at 3:50 PM, Julia Tuttle  wrote:
> 
> I've never been able to enter frequencies more specifically than 1 kHz,
> myself.
> 
> On Sun, Mar 21, 2021, 15:41 David F. Reed  wrote:
> 
>> I try to enter the elecraft net 20m frequency directly; I push the FREQ
>> ENT button, then 14.303500 and it only accepts 14.303; if I try 14.303.5
>> it does the same thing.
>> 
>> Am I trying it wrong, or is it just not possible, or do I have something
>> set wrong?
>> 
>> Thanks & 73 de Dave, W5SV
>> 
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Re: [Elecraft] Reaching across the chronological divide

[Buddy Brannan]

I am, sadly, one of those dumber than a hammer types. Never learned to solder 
anything. Theory was not my strength, and if you sat me in front of an Extra 
test, chances are better than even that I’d fail it. I mean a lot better than 
even. Like…OK, I’d fail it for sure. But I passed the 20 wpm three times, twice 
with 100% perfect copy for all five minutes. This skill, while handy in a 
pinch, doesn’t confer much more than bragging rights, whereas actually being 
good at the technical side would actually be dead useful. As opposed to, well, 
making me dead by some crazy accident. 

Still, and getting back to the age divide, I’d agree that if we’re focusing on 
the ability to talk to people anywhere in the world, we’re focusing on the 
wrong thing. Radio is magic? Yeah, closer, because it is, and I think we all of 
us who do this thing appreciate that. But I think the ARRL had the right idea 
when it started an initiative to court the so-called maker community, because 
there’s a lot of common ground there, harkening back to old traditions of home 
brewing (an aspect of the hobby on which I Feel I’ve sadly missed). Also, 
communication without infrastructure has a certain appeal, and I don’t think it 
gets enough press. Sure, we’ll use it if it’s there. But we don’t have to, and 
this is an aspect that definitely deserves more airplay than it gets. Add in 
competitive aspects to the no infrastructure. I think all of these things could 
appeal to younger people if presented right. 

On the other hand, I was a 14-year-old ham in 1987, and I had exactly zero 
success in getting much of anyone interested in this greatest of all hobbies, 
so that could mean I don’t have any idea what I’m talking about. 


Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Email: bu...@brannan.name
Mobile: (814) 431-0962



> On Jan 3, 2021, at 10:21 AM,   wrote:
> 
> This is funny:
> 
> " I expect a fire war when I say this and that is, most extra class hams
> licensed with in the last 15 years are dumber than a bag of hammers when it
> comes to radio theory, operation, station building, safe practices or
> anything as simple as soldering or crimping on a PL259."
> 
> I'm one of those Hams that is dumber than a hammer.  I got my Novice license
> in 1974 and finally got around to upgrading to Extra in the last 15 year.
> Actually since CW is my favorite mode of operation I was ambivalent about
> upgrading.  Only till I realized Extras don't need to memorize that band
> edges did I upgrade.  
> 
> No, I don't waste time on games.  I spent the last forty years building a
> career.  I ran an R team for 5, was CTO of multiple companies, I do both
> electronic and software engineering, oh did I mention I have 14 patents?  I
> can solder the smallest surface mount devices by hand.  I just finished
> building an observatory in my back yard.  I built a 1965 replica Cobra, a
> GIANT analog synth, and I restore vintage computers.  (Real ones 8008/8080
> era...)
> 
> No, please just send me the golden hammer, I admit, I'm the dumbest of all
> dummies and proud of it.
> 
> 73
> 
> len
> 
> 
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Morgan Bailey
> Sent: Saturday, January 02, 2021 1:32 PM
> To: Tom Azlin W7SUA ; Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Reaching across the chronological divide
> 
> Chronological divide, Heh. I am 67 years old, for 7 years I played WoW, for
> 6 years I played Everquest and for 5 years I have played Guild Wars 2. I
> enjoyed each of these games. I moved on to the more progressive game but
> still enjoy playing them from time to time. I only play GW2 at this time.
> Making the games set up and work with all peripherals is no harder than
> setting up FT8. Setting up RTTY with 2 or 3 decoders and getting everything
> to work...much harder. I am finding that many people in their 40s and 50s
> are getting into Amateur Radio. Some want the challenge of making stuff
> work, some want the antenna building experience, some want kit building but
> most seem to be from a subset of the population that are what one might call
> internet geeks. These guys do great in the transition to ham radio.
> Many gamers spend upwards to 2k$ on a video card only for their game box.
> So, $$$ is generally not a limiting option for this group. When they get
> hooked, they are hooked hard. In NCJ a few years ago, there was an article
> about contesting and video games. The parallels between the 2 of being "in
> the zone" were made. The same psychological high is involved but actually,
> it is more involved and dynamic than an online game.
> 
> Pile ups, gotta love them, any mode you can get them, cw or ssb will provide
> that psychological high that melts the time a

Re: [Elecraft] Firmware development

[Buddy Brannan]

They also released a whole new radio, the ‘590SG not long after the original 
‘590S. The K3 didn’t have a replacement upgrade like that, meaning the K3 to 
theK3s, for something like 10 years, and they even gave an upgrade path to make 
the K3 very close in performance to the K3s. No such for the ‘590S to ‘590SG. 


Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Email: bu...@brannan.name
Mobile: (814) 431-0962



> On Nov 25, 2020, at 12:39 PM, Neil Zampella  wrote:
> 
> Of course, as mentioned previously in this thread, large companies have
> funds that they can invest in personnel to do the development, so I
> would expect that Kenwood would be able to assign personnel quickly to
> handle such issues.
> 
> Neil, KN3ILZ
> 
> On 11/25/2020 10:25 AM, Andy Durbin wrote:
>> "Name any other company that gives you FREE firmware updates in real time 
>> (not months later like Icom or never like most others) until the issues are 
>> resolved to the user satisfaction; or that ADD features previously 
>> unavailable."
>> 
>> Kenwood!
>> 
>> Kenwood has released firmware updates for TS-590S defects that I reported 
>> and made product improvements that I suggested.   My experience is that 
>> Kenwood has fixed problems far more quickly than Elecraft.
>> 
>> 73,
>> Andy, k3wyc
>> 
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Re: [Elecraft] Finding stuff on the 'net

[Buddy Brannan]

Wayne, I couldn’t have said this better, especially the bit about why you 
(ermmm…I) prefer my cw computer less. Computers are my day job. The Internyet 
is my day job. I love them both, but I like having that space where they are 
not. I even like taking it a step further and go straight key or bug. (Yes, I 
get a strange joy out of using a key that’s larger than the KX3 to which it is 
connected, but that’s neither here nor there.) I guess that having that space, 
having that skill, even at age 14 when I tried very hard to not like cw, is why 
I loved it in spite of myself, and why I love it still. It puts me into this 
place that nothing else ever has. I love its simplicity, both in concept and in 
what you need to use it, paired with the practice and skill it takes to use it. 
I still feel as though I’ve missed out a lot on the building experience, but 
I’m going to fix that shortcoming one way or another, one time or another. Even 
so, thanks for saying so well exactly those things I’ve felt for the past 33 
years. 

Vy 73,


Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Email: bu...@brannan.name
Mobile: (814) 431-0962



> On Jun 8, 2020, at 9:02 PM, Wayne Burdick  wrote:
> 
> Guilty as charged :)
> 
> Wayne
> N6KR
> 
> 
>> On Jun 8, 2020, at 5:47 PM, kevinr  wrote:
>> 
>> I was looking for something else when I ran into this article.  I got close 
>> to the end when I thought, "I recognize this guy."  A few lines later my 
>> suspicions were confirmed :)  I'm sure he won't mind being re-posted here.
>> 
>>  73,  Kevin.  KD5ONS
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> I find that CW has many practical and engaging aspects that I just don’t get 
>> with computer-mediated modes like FT8. You’d think I’d be burned out on CW 
>> by now, over 45 years since I was first licensed, but no, I’m still doin’ it 
>> :)
>> 
>> Yes, FT8 (etc.) is a no-brainer when, despite poor conditions, your goal is 
>> to log as many contacts as possible with as many states or countries as 
>> possible. It’s so streamlined and efficient that the whole process is 
>> readily automated. (If you haven’t read enough opinions on that, see "The 
>> mother of all FT8 threads” on QRZ.com <http://qrz.com/>, for example.)
>> 
>> But back to CW. Here’s why it works for me. YMMV.
>> 
>> CW feels personal and visceral, like driving a sports car rather than taking 
>> a cab. As with a sports car, there are risks. You can get clobbered by 
>> larger vehicles (QRM). Witness road range (“UP 2!”). Fall into a pothole 
>> (QSB). Be forced to drive through rain or snow (QRN).
>> 
>> With CW, like other forms of human conversation, you can affect your own 
>> style. Make mistakes. Joke about it.
>> 
>> CW is a skill that bonds operators together across generations and nations. 
>> A language, more like pidgin than anything else, with abbreviations and 
>> historical constructs and imperialist oddities. A curious club anyone can 
>> join. (At age 60 and able to copy 50 WPM on a good day, I may qualify as a 
>> Nerd Mason of some modest order, worthless in any other domain but of value 
>> in a contest.)
>> 
>> With very simple equipment that anyone can build, such as a high-power 
>> single-transistor oscillator, you can transmit a CW signal. I had very 
>> little experience with electronics when I was 14 and built an oscillator 
>> that put out maybe 100 mW. Just twisted the leads of all those parts 
>> together and keyed the collector supply--a 9-volt battery. With this simple 
>> circuit on my desk, coupled to one guy wire of our TV antenna mast, I worked 
>> a station 150 miles away and was instantly hooked on building things. And on 
>> QRP. I’m sure the signal was key-clicky and had lots of harmonics. I’ve 
>> spent a lifetime making such things work better, but this is where it 
>> started.
>> 
>> Going even further down the techno food chain, you can “send” CW by 
>> whistling, flashing a lamp, tapping on someone’s leg under a table in civics 
>> class, or pounding a wrench on the inverted hull of an upside-down U.S. war 
>> vessel, as happened at Pearl Harbor. Last Saturday at an engineering club my 
>> son belongs to, a 9-year-old demonstrated an Arduino Uno flashing HELLO 
>> WORLD in Morse on an LED. The other kids were impressed, including my son, 
>> who promptly wrote a version that sends three independent Morse streams on 
>> three LEDs. A mini-pileup. His first program.
>> 
>> Finally, to do CW you don’t always need a computer, keyboard, mouse, 
>> monitor, or software. Such things are invaluable in our d

Re: [Elecraft] K4 delivery is now in May

[Buddy Brannan]

Disappointing? It’s not unusual. Same happened with the KX3—production/shipping 
delays—and, I gather, same happened with the K3 as well. I don’t recall if the 
same delays happened with the KX1 or not. But it’s one of those nature of the 
beast things. I ordered my KX3 just a day or so after the announcement of the 
preorder window came up, and the scheduled beginning of production slipped. I 
think it slipped a couple times. Finally got it about a week before Field Day, 
and it was a sub-500 serial number. Was it worth the extra wait? Absolutely, 
without question it was. It was everything I’d hoped for it to be and then 
some. 


Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Email: bu...@brannan.name
Mobile: (814) 431-0962



> On Jan 15, 2020, at 8:01 PM, mark roz via Elecraft  
> wrote:
> 
> Wow. K4- perhaps first delivery in May now.
> Very disappointing.
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Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY

[Buddy Brannan]

An interesting little rig to follow is the UBitx at
http://www.hfsignals.com/

$199 gets you a 3-30 MHz SSB/cw rig. Sure, no cw filter, and I’m sure the 
receiver ain’t no KX3 or even K2, but it’s hackable and pretty darned 
interesting for $200, or even as little as $150. 


Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Email: bu...@brannan.name
Mobile: (814) 431-0962



> On Dec 16, 2019, at 9:37 PM, Don Wilhelm  wrote:
> 
> Ted and all,
> 
> I do not think restricting the choices to VHF and UHF gear is going to "save 
> the hobby".
> 
> There are few inexpensive ventures into HF available today.  There are a few 
> inexpensive CW only kits available from QRPme.com, but those are quite 
> limited and are CW only.  Oh to have the Dave Benson SWL series back.  Those 
> were good kits which could put the new ham on the air with a good receiver, 
> but again CW only.  I do not see any equivalent today.
> 
> The QRPme kits are interesting, but being CW only, they are limited to those 
> willing to learn CW.  Even a 'knock-off' of the K1 is CW only.
> 
> For potentially new hams, we hams need to have something that is viable for 
> HF and not expensive.  Remember the high schooler and the recent college 
> graduate who does not a lot of extra money.  I do not see many choices for 
> them other than the inexpensive VHF/UHF FM transceivers, which work fine with 
> repeaters, but do nothing for the HF spectrum.
> I built my first transmitter of salvaged TV parts at a very, very low cost, 
> but that was back in the late 1950's when such parts were available many for 
> the asking at the local TV repair shop.
> 
> A used HF transceiver may the only current logical choice.
> 
> Elecraft has championed the high performance, high end market, and has done 
> well at it, but that performance comes at a price.  Few beginners in ham 
> radio can afford a K3S let alone a KX2, so for beginners, they are "left in 
> the lurch" with choices mainly in the used gear market.
> 
> Nostalgia for 'what was' is interesting, but does nothing for the newcomers 
> to HF with limited funds.  Even the era of cheap surplus military gear is 
> gone.  I used to buy Command set transmitters and receivers for $5 each at 
> the surplus store, and you could salvage parts from them to build 
> transmitters and receivers, but those rigs are collectors items today and are 
> expensive.
> 
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
> 
> 
> On 12/16/2019 4:44 PM, Ted Edwards W3TB wrote:
>> More...
>> Although it has not happened, I have long expected June VHF and Sept VHF to
>> displace Field Day and then get more of those many new Techs active.
>> On Mon, Dec 16, 2019 at 3:42 PM Ted Edwards W3TB  wrote:
>>> Yet, here is another product idea that is driven by my concern that so
>>> many new Techs get an HT and don't develop further into our fine
>>> hobby/avocation.
>>> A Transceiver more significant than a Chinese cheapie for getting on other
>>> modes in the VHF and/or UHF bands.
>>> I do wish there were a quality-yet-simple radio for 6m/2m would be so
>>> handy to them to discover SSB and Digital work on those bands.  CW, too.
>>> 
>>> On Mon, Dec 16, 2019 at 12:52 PM Jim Brown 
>>> wrote:
>>> 
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Re: [Elecraft] THE FUTURE OF OUR HOBBY

[Buddy Brannan]

Agree with Kent. Amateur radio is already enough on its own, because it’s so 
varied. There’s no need to make it what it is not in order to attract those who 
don’t see its value. Communication is merely one aspect. Certainly it’s a fun 
aspect, but it’s only one. Big deal. Worldwide communication. We’ve been doing 
that for ages now. Worldwide communication without infrastructure? Now there’s 
something to talk about, but again, you have to see the value. Experimental 
modes? Want to learn about how stuff works? I think that targeting makers is 
absolutely a natural extension and a reasonable audience. Amateurs have always 
been makers, after all, repurposing and reusing and building what is needed. To 
us, it’s the most natural thing in the world…now that it’s mainstream, yes, 
let’s capitalize on it. But there really is no need to change what we are, or 
what our service is, or repackage it. Amateur radio really is enough on its 
own. 


Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Email: bu...@brannan.name
Mobile: (814) 431-0962



> On Dec 14, 2019, at 9:13 PM, KENT TRIMBLE  wrote:
> 
> Everything is renewable.
> 
> Nearly every Catholic church in Christendom has a widow's quilting circle.  
> Now they are welcoming male millennials who are attending sewing  classes and 
> spending weekends at quilt shows.
> 
> Go figure.
> 
> Amateur Radio will never die as long as it offers so many niches where the 
> scientific interests of lay-people can find a home.
> 
> 73,
> 
> Kent  K9ZTV
> 
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] Copy cat - no way

[Buddy Brannan]

Howdy Walter,

Really have to agree here. To most, if not all, of these guys, QRP mean slow 
output power. OK, great, as far as it goes, but you’re right. Whereas 
Yaekenlincowood just create what amounts to a low output power version of 
something else they already have more or less, Elecraft takes the whole design 
into consideration. If you don’t believe, and who here doesn’t, just look at, 
as one metric, current draw on receive. OK…is that really power efficient? Even 
the Chinese designs like the Xiegu X108/X5105/G90/G1M have pretty high current 
draw, relatively speaking, and they were never designed with QRO counterparts. 
Elecraft works hard to optimize the whole design, taking into account use cases 
for QRP, many of which will involve outdoor use with extended power 
requirements away from commercial electricity. Iteally matters. OK, every 
design has compromises, but I think Elecraft is very mindful of which 
compromises are acceptable to the end goal. 


Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Email: bu...@brannan.name
Mobile: (814) 431-0962



> On Sep 4, 2019, at 6:13 AM, Walter - K5EST  wrote:
> 
> Elecraft has the best I have found for portable and QRP comms. Lots of low
> power competition just dazzle the rig or spiffy the cabinet but Elecraft is
> the real winner to me.
> 
> 73,
> 
> Walter Dufrain - K5EST
> QRPcw--> KX1,KX2,KX3
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Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft K4 and Accessibility

[Buddy Brannan]

Hi Wayne,

Thanks as always for your direct response. I appreciate your forthrightness on 
this issue and willingness to tackle the more difficult 
questions/aspects/design decision justifications.

Elecraft has, as I stated in my original email, always been supportive of the 
blind ham community inasmuch as design limitations and parameters allow, and I 
for one appreciate your continuing commitment to that. Computer control 
couldn’t be simpler on the Elecraft rigs I own. The Hampod is also a fantastic 
accessory, and we appreciate your working with the developers of these aids. 

I suspect that, were I able to get a higher end rig, I’d be opting for a K3 for 
the exact reasons you specify. But I’m a knob and button kind of guy. I think, 
were I interested in going whole hog for a K4, that your option (1) seems to be 
the most straightforward path, certainly in the short term, to get the mostbang 
for our accessibility buck, as it were. There’s lots of flexibility there. 

I’m not sure what the state of the art is for touch screen accessibility under 
GNU/Linux. I know there is a GNOME-based screen reader, as well as an 
Android-based screen reader. Given the right clever people, it might be 
possible to have an alternative UI, but, as you say, that would be a pretty 
significant support issue for a pretty small market of users. But one could 
potentially duplicate those controls on, say, an Amazon Fire or Android tablet 
app. I think there really are possibilities for the right clever people…shame 
I’m not one such. 

Again, I appreciate that Elecraft at least considers these issues, which is 
more than I can say for many, many other companies. 

Vy 73,


Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Email: bu...@brannan.name
Mobile: (814) 431-0962



> On May 24, 2019, at 2:02 PM, Wayne Burdick  wrote:
> 
> Hi Buddy et al,
> 
> We've definitely been thinking about this. 
> 
> There's a paradigm shift going on in transceiver design, and we reached a 
> point where we needed to embrace it. This shift is not entirely aligned with 
> accessibility, as you know. I'll address alternatives in this email.
> 
> As for the K4 specifically, its user interface is dependent in part on use of 
> the touch screen. This was simply the only way to integrate an equivalent of 
> the K3S, P3, and all of the new hardware/software required to implement a 
> direct-sampling radio. The use of a touch screen allows context sensitivity 
> (physical overloading) for controls, making the K4 the equivalent of a much 
> larger radio without touch. The resulting compact size is still compatible 
> with portable use (4.5" x 13.5" x 11", 10 pounds, and power-efficient), a 
> hallmark of Elecraft transceivers.
> 
> Regarding accessibility, there are three possible approaches:
> 
> 1. The K4's entire complement of controls, both hard and touch, will be 
> represented by a set of "2-letter" commands. This API will be fully public as 
> it is for our other transceivers. Presumably external devices or computers 
> will be able to immediately make use of these commands to effect a flexible 
> accessible interface.
> 
> 2. In theory we could implement a large-target version of the LCD's touch 
> controls, with proximity-based audio feedback and no panadapter. This would 
> be a very ambitious project requiring ongoing support, similar to that needed 
> for mobile/fixed app development. We don't have the staff to support this, so 
> we'd need to engage the wider community to find a developer with suitable 
> skills and motivation. The API or spec for such an effort doesn't exist at 
> this time.
> 
> 3. The K3S has very similar strong-signal performance and similar basic 
> features, without touch. Since many of the added features of the K4 are 
> panadapter-centric, a blind ham may very well find that the K3S is a viable 
> alternative. No doubt there will be more used K3's and K3S's on the market 
> over the next year. The KX3 and KX2 provide audio CW feedback on most 
> controls and are another non-touch alternative.
> 
> I hope the alternatives I've suggested to use of the K4's normal UI will be 
> helpful in most cases.
> 
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> On May 24, 2019, at 9:20 AM, Buddy Brannan bu...@brannan.name [KX3] 
>>  wrote:
>> 
>> [Sorry, sent this to Gary instead of the list]
>> Hey Gary,
>> 
>> I’m curious about this as well, as are others…see K8HSY’s post on the 
>> blind-hams list. See also my response full of speculation (below). Wayne, 
>> please feel free to comment on my comments and correct me where I erred:
>> 
>> I’ve been beating the accessibility drum on the Elecraft reflector for ages, 
>> and Wayne has assured that they would not go to all touch screen access, for 
>>

Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft K4?

[Buddy Brannan]

Dare I, at this early stage, ask about built-in eyes-free accessibility? 




Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Email: bu...@brannan.name
Mobile: (814) 431-0962



> On May 16, 2019, at 1:56 PM, Frank Krozel  wrote:
> 
> It IS on the Elecraft site 
> https://elecraft.com/products/k4-transceiver?fbclid=IwAR1ZvSRipjGHXFT4CeD5iYhFDj89Oa7ZYJ-1rV5u83e9UYHFdg9TDsceMbE
> Frank KG9H
> 
> 
>> On May 16, 2019, at 12:54 PM, David Box  wrote:
>> 
>> I googled Lutz electronics and did a translate of their web site.  If this 
>> is a hoax there has been a lot of work put into it.  Guess we need to 
>> standby for Dayton.
>> 
>> <https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en=auto=en=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lutz-electronics.ch%2Fstationaer%2Famateurfunkgeraete%2Felecraft-k4%2F>
>> 
>> de Dave K5MWR
>> 
>> On 5/16/2019 11:51 AM, rboutell wrote:
>>> Just going to leave this here:
>>> https://www.lutz-electronics.ch/pdf/K4_Brochure-print_Lutz.pdf
>>> Russ, W9RB
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -
>>> 73, Russ - W9RB
>>> --
>>> Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/
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>>> 
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Re: [Elecraft] OT: BIZARRE OFFERING FROM MFJ

[Buddy Brannan]

I met Mr. MFJ, K5FLU, once as well, at the 100th ARRL anniversary do. 
Wait…Think it was there, although it could have as easily been another time, 
like Hamcomm a bazillion years ago. Anyway, as others have said, a gentleman in 
very sense. Soft spoken, well spoken, as ‘American as you or I. Oh wait. … I’m 
also half Asian, on my mother’s side, so…umm...


Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Email: bu...@brannan.name
Mobile: (814) 431-0962



> On Apr 7, 2019, at 1:17 PM, George  wrote:
> 
> Hi everyone,
> I had to jump in.  I’ve known Martin for over 40 years and he is a fine 
> Southern gentleman who received his M.S.E.E. from Mississippi State 
> University.  I too have an Asian heritage as my mother was Japanese.  I bet 
> you can’t guess what roots my father had.  We love our USA!
> 
> George O’Brien
> AB4FH
> BS Physics Clemson Univ.
> MS Physics Univ. Ala. In B’ham
> Captain in US Air Force during Vietnam Era
> First licensed as WN4PDQ in 1969
> 
> 
> From: Ben Hall
> Sent: Sunday, April 7, 2019 12:56 PM
> To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] OT: BIZARRE OFFERING FROM MFJ
> 
> On 4/7/2019 11:47 AM, Josh Fiden wrote:
>> Are you kidding? His *nationality* is American. 
> 
> Indeed, he is 100% American.  Watch the YouTube video where he gives a 
> tour of the factory if you have any doubt!  He talks about his ancestors 
> coming over to work on the railroads...and has a wonderful Southern accent.
> 
> thanks much and 73,
> ben, kd5byb
> 
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] Suggested enhancements for K3

[Buddy Brannan]

The more audio alerts, the better, in my always humble opinion :-) 


Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Email: bu...@brannan.name
Mobile: (814) 431-0962



> On Apr 5, 2019, at 12:25 PM, Drew AF2Z  wrote:
> 
> I have also thought that an audible SWR indicator would be very useful but 
> never bothered to mention it as most would probably consider it to be a 
> little too gimmicky. But it would be quite handy for me when I'm using an 
> external match box-- when I lean across the desk to adjust it I can no longer 
> easily see the little SWR meter indicator in the K3 display.
> 
> I'd suggest a "geiger counter" type audible indicator: a fast beep  for SWR 
> values greter than 3:1 and progressively slower as you zero in on 1:1.
> 
> 73,
> Drew
> AF2Z
> 
> 
> 
> On 04/05/19 08:53, Jim - N4ST wrote:
>> Something I would like to see is an audio alert, beep, CW message if the SWR 
>> is over 3:1.
>> When operating digital modes, I'm often looking at the computer screen and 
>> not the rig.
>> Hate when I'm out of sync with my band and the proper antenna. 
>> _
>> 73,
>> Jim - N4ST
>> -Original Message-
>> From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net  On 
>> Behalf Of Kidder, George
>> Sent: Thursday, April 4, 2019 20:20
>> To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
>> Subject: [Elecraft] Suggested enhancements for K3
>> Two suggestions which can probably be added in firmware for K3 and K3s:
>> 1)  Allow different audio levels for speaker and phones, such as an 
>> attenuation applicable to either.
>> 2)  Allow (but not require) the monitor level to be controlled along with 
>> the receiver levels.
>> If either is already available for the K3, someone please let me know!
>> 73 - George, W3HBM
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Re: [Elecraft] The case against touch screens

[Buddy Brannan]

David, that’s all true, but there’s one little problem. All of those touch 
screens are attached to Android or iOS devices. Unless Elecraft plans on 
embedding a full Android or Apple OS in the mythical K4, writing a similar 
screen reader will not be a small undertaking. 

> On Mar 26, 2019, at 4:50 AM, David Wilcox via Elecraft 
>  wrote:
> 
> Don,
> 
> I have a blind ham friend and all his touch screens talk back to him when he 
> touches something. he can use his iPad, iPod and iPhone faster than I 
> can.  It’s in the programming as it is a special program he has for each.  
> Another miracle for our blind brothers.  And, that is why he bought Icom 
> gear.  He said they were the only company to offer plug in “talker” boards 
> for their xcvr.  Still using his 756 Pro, 500 w Icom amp and LDG talking SWR 
> meter.
> 
> Dave K8WPE
> 
> David J. Wilcox K8WPE’s iPad
> 
>> On Mar 25, 2019, at 12:02 PM, Don Wilhelm  wrote:
>> 
>> Touch screens do not provide support for blind amateur operators. Elecraft 
>> has always said they will provide support for blind operators.
>> I just wonder how touchscreens fit into that commitment.
>> 
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>> 
>>> On 3/25/2019 11:18 AM, Buddy Brannan wrote:
>>> While those are certainly advantages, there are several disadvantages. 
>>> Number 1 on my personal hit parade: they aren’t tactile. You have to look 
>>> at them to operate them. Which means, for you, another distraction. For me, 
>>> it means extra support (think VoiceOver on iOS, Talkback on Android, 
>>> VoiceView on the Amazon Fire things). So far, none of the ham radio 
>>> manufacturers has implemented anything like that, and so touch screen 
>>> interfaces on a lot of stuff are out of my reach, as it were. Of course, 
>>> knobs and switches and buttons have the advantage of being able to be 
>>> manipulated without having to see where they are. 
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Re: [Elecraft] K4?

[Buddy Brannan]

Heh. News to me. I’ve been operating without displays for 31 years and change 
:-)

Although, I admit, voice-activated interfaces don’t seem to be terribly 
compatible with rooms full of ops shouting “CQ contest” … 

> On Mar 25, 2019, at 1:31 PM, Bert  wrote:
> 
> You would still need some kind of display to verify the voice instruction
> or order to the radio, so one way or another you need something visual.
> 
> I guess an audio response to your verbal instruction is possible, but nothing
> you can see/verify after the fact.
> 
> A screen of some kind seems to be necessary for convenience - touch or 
> otherwise!
> 
> Bert VE3NR
> 
> 
> On 3/25/2019 1:16 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote:
>>> On Mar 25, 2019, at 9:57 AM, Bert  wrote:
>>> 
>>> Hi Phil,
>>> 
>>> Voice interface is OK with household electronics but I doubt we'll see it
>>> in our transceivers in the near future. The ham radio market is probably
>>> too small to make this feature commercially viable. Again, dollars and 
>>> cents!
>>> OMHO!
>>> 
>>> Bert VE3NR
>> 
>> On the other hand, if your radio had a general-purpose Linux single-board 
>> computer designed  in, with Ethernet access, you could pretty easily include 
>> voice recognition either locally or internet-enabled at zero cost.
>> 
>> Wayne
>> N6KR
>> 
>> 
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] The case against touch screens

[Buddy Brannan]

While those are certainly advantages, there are several disadvantages. Number 1 
on my personal hit parade: they aren’t tactile. You have to look at them to 
operate them. Which means, for you, another distraction. For me, it means extra 
support (think VoiceOver on iOS, Talkback on Android, VoiceView on the Amazon 
Fire things). So far, none of the ham radio manufacturers has implemented 
anything like that, and so touch screen interfaces on a lot of stuff are out of 
my reach, as it were. Of course, knobs and switches and buttons have the 
advantage of being able to be manipulated without having to see where they are. 
Pretty helpfulwhen you have to look at other things instead. Then there’s the 
matter of all the fingerprints…which, along with the problem of operating with 
gloves that are not specifically designed to work with capacitive touch 
screens, can be solved by use of a stylus. Still, a disadvantage, and yet 
another thing to remember to not leave behind. 

> On Mar 25, 2019, at 10:59 AM, Doug Person  wrote:
> 
> I've designed and developed all sorts of user interfaces. Some touch and some 
> not. A touch screen has several huge advantages:
> 
> 1.) it can be updated. When a better approach for a particular function is 
> determined - a firmware update can be performed to change the user interface.
> 
> 2.) When an optional board is added (VHF/UHF, inboard-tuner, etc), the user 
> interface can be changed to accommodate it.
> 
> 3.) Several configurations can be stored. For ex. a configuration for 
> contesting, one for normal ops, satellite,  digital modes, etc. The idea is 
> that the display can be configured for each individual's preference.
> 
> A 7" touch screen is a blank canvas. Firmware changes can add or remove 
> anything. Buttons and switches are a one time implementation.
> 
> I understand how some people find touch screens annoying. I've seen a lot of 
> bad designs and they give touch screens a bad reputation. But a well-designed 
> screen can be just as good or even superior to rows of buttons and switches.
> 
> Doug -- KJ0F
> 
> On 3/24/2019 7:55 PM, Michael Walker wrote:
>> I have used all sort of user interfaces.
>> 
>> Knobs, mouse, keyboard, touch screens.  They all work and do what they need
>> to do.
>> 
>> That being said, it comes down to what works for you.
>> 
>> Mike va3mw
>> 
>> 
>> On Sun, Mar 24, 2019 at 8:52 PM W2xj  wrote:
>> 
>>> I’ve been using touchscreens for 35 years. My experience is not what you
>>> describe. Actually it is very much the opposite. Mechanical switches are
>>> the least reliable.
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPad
>>> 
 On Mar 24, 2019, at 8:35 PM, Al Lorona  wrote:
 
 Thaddeus sits down at the rig. Today is the day Bouvet is supposed to
>>> come on the air, and thousands of hams around the world must be tuning
>>> around at this moment trying to be the first to work the DXpedition.
 He gets a feeling and tunes low in the band, turning the knob as if he
>>> were breaking into a safe. His intuition pays off: he hears a weak signal
>>> tuning up, and then... a callsign. It's Bouvet! Instant rush. Instant
>>> clammy hands. He reaches to tap the Split button on his fancy new rig's
>>> touch screen. He taps again. The screen does nothing. Oh no, not now, touch
>>> screen. Please recognize my finger... please! Bouvet turns it over, but
>>> nobody has heard them yet, so Bouvet calls again, and while Thaddeus is
>>> tapping frantically, time slows down, four seconds feel like four hours,
>>> and still the dim-witted screen does nothing as Thaddeus begins all the
>>> usual finger gymnastics that people do when they're trying to make their
>>> device understand that they in fact want it to do something. The radio sits
>>> there stupidly, the DX stops calling, and then the pileup mayhem begins.
>>> Thaddeus sits there, stupefied, wondering why those 

Re: [Elecraft] Accessibility for the blind

[Buddy Brannan]

Howdy Jeff,

As it happens, there are several blind Elecraft fans out here. I can think of 
at least four just off the top of my head, and if I think about it some more, I 
can probably come up with more. I myself own a K2/100 and a KX3. One of these 
years, maybe I’ll get my hands on a K3s…by that time, there will be a K10 :-)

I’m not sure if the KX2 has the morse readout that the KX3 has (Wayne?), but if 
you’re thinking about using a computer, well…that seems like a bit to carry for 
a very portable rig like the KX2. If the KX2 has the morse readout that the KX3 
has, that will actually read enough for most operations. Notably, it doesn’t 
read the menus, nor does it read memory channel settings, but it will read 
other settings and operating frequency, which are really the most important 
day-to-day things. 

If, however, you’re not a know code ham, note the spelling, there’s still a 
solution. It’s called the Hampod:
http://www.hampod.com/

This is a small plastic box with a 16-key keypad laid out like a standard DTMF 
keypad, and it has a Double-talk chi p in it. It will literally read every 
setting, every operation, everything that can be reported through the KX2 or 
KX3 serial port, make adjustments, and all kinds of fun, and it runs off 9-15 
volts. It’s maybe a little speedy at $295, but if you’re already buying a KX2, 
it’s really a pretty nifty piece of kit. I’m actually curious to try the 
built-in cw or PSK decoders with it. 

Anyway these are fun little radios and you won’t be sorry at all. 

Vy 73,


Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Email: bu...@brannan.name
Mobile: (814) 431-0962



> On Feb 26, 2019, at 7:35 PM, Jeff Grillo  wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone I am considering buying the KX two radio. I am blind and 
> need to find out what software I can get that has a voice synthesizer to help 
> me navigate this radio. Any ideas? I am an Apple iPhone and iPad user
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Re: [Elecraft] [KX3] Re: AX1 Order Page Up but Broken?

[Buddy Brannan]

Reputable companies don’t make mistakes? Oh yeah…that’s pretty funny right 
there. For serious dude. S**t happens. C’mon, you can’t seriously believe this. 
The biggest of companies have made mistakes in website addresses, software with 
bugs that didn’t get squashed in time, you name it. But let’s talk about 
Elecraft in specific for a minute, because, yeah, impugning Elecraft’s 
character is kind of personal. For me, anyway, and, I suspect, for others here. 

First, longevity. Do you really think that a company, especially one serving a 
close-knit community like hams, would really be able to survive that long, and 
more to the point, with such a loyal following as Elecraft has? Elecraft has 
been here for 20 years more or less, and far as I know, it’s not showing any 
signs of going anywhere.

Second, track record. Track record with Elecraft is one of those good news/bad 
news scenarios. Good news: they don’t release somethinguntil it’s ready and 
relatively bug-free. Nothing is completely bug-free, and certainly when you’re 
talking about software-defined things, features can be added or completed 
later. If hardware modifications need to be introduced, they are introduced at 
reasonable cost, free if possible, generally user installable, and without 
resorting to “Oh hey, here y’all, buy another radio.” The downside to this is 
that sometimes, they are, as they say, over optimistic about release dates, so 
preorders may go unfulfilled for longer than the preorderers would like. 
Except, and here’s the good part, they don’t actually charge you until your 
preorder ships. Oh, I expect that they could, and most people wouldn’t complain 
too loudly, but they don’t. The worst thing that we have to deal with is…a 
wait. Such a first world problem. Rememberthe KX3? I do. I bought myself one as 
a sort of 25-year hamiversary present to myself. And I remember well the nail 
biting as its initial shipping dates slipped. But eureka, I got one, and I even 
got one before field day, and I even got one with a sub-500 serial number. And 
that was with an order that was, what, the day after Christmas, maybe 12 hours 
after the ordering window opened. Would a not reputable company achieve such 
loyalty that *that many* people stood in line for *that long*? 

OK, now let’s talk about service. One year warranties are pretty standard. But 
these guys will really go that extra mile for their customers. Everyone from 
the sales and customer service folks, to the tech support and repair folks, up 
to and including Wayne and Eric themselves. If something happens during any 
part of the resales to way after care, all of those guys bend over backwards to 
make it right. I’ve seen some cases where guys were offered a full and complete 
refund because they were that unhappy with some aspect of their Elecraft 
experience, and that very far outside the normal sort of parameters. Elecraft 
stands very firmly behind their offerings, and the ham community has taken 
notice. It’s no accident that new stuff is as eagerly anticipated as it is. 

Finally, and really I mean it, because if you’ve read this far you probably 
wish I’d shut up now please, there’s Wayne and Eric. They’re both on this list. 
They respond to emails personally. They offer help and guidance themselves. 
What other major ham radio company are you going to see that much hands-on 
involvement with the unwashed masses? Sure, it’s true that they’re both active 
hams, use the gear themselves, and likely as not, build things that they 
themselves love to own? Heck…Wayne said as much about the KX3 and the KX2. 
Look, these are top notch guys, straight up, passionate, and with a real heart 
for both the hobby and the community…not just the hardware. I’ve had several 
pleasant emails exchanges with Wayne, who was always patient, always gave me 
his full attention, and was never dismissive of my admittedly niche concerns. 
In short, when you question Elecraft’s integrity, you question *their* 
*personal* integrity, and I, at least, will stand up against that. For what 
it’s worth, which is, admittedly, very little. 

Anyone care to refute any of these points? Bring it.

Vy 73, de KB5ELV

> On Oct 9, 2018, at 9:11 PM, Paul pheaton...@comcast.net [KX3] 
>  wrote:
> 
> 
> Isn't that like you are on your dream vacation to Hawaii and they announce 
> that your flight is ready but it is broken?
> 
> Reputable companies do not do this!
> 
> Paul W3PMH
> 
> 
> On 10/9/2018 7:13 PM, Don Wilhelm donw...@embarqmail.com [KX3] wrote:
>>  
>> Mike,
>> 
>> If you did not sign up on the "interested" lists available at several 
>> hamfests, then you are out of luck. Wait for the announcements next week.
>> 
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>> 
>> On 10/9/2018 1:27 PM, Michael Harriman zlin...@gmail.com [KX3] wrote:
>> > Where can I get the early order link?
>> > 
>> > Mike H.
>> > NT6H
>> > 
>> > On Tue, Oct 9, 2018 at 08:25 Wayne Burdick n...@elecraft.com 
>> >  [KX3] > > 

Re: [Elecraft] Call Letters

[Buddy Brannan]

Well…I’ve had mine for 30 years, nearly 31. While I’ve toyed with the idea of 
changing it, either to K5ELV or some other fun thing (X5LID is tempting…X being 
any 1-letter prefix), I’ve never been able to bring myself to actually doing 
it, not even when I moved to 3-land. Now that I’m moving back to 5-land it 
seems even less imperative. And even less since all of these here new young 
whipper snappers are getting W 1X3’s and K1X3’s and no one knows ow long 
anyone’s really been around anymore. So I keep my original because, well, it’s 
original. And besides, it has a great cw rhythm, in spite of, or perhaps 
because of, the E right there after the 5. 

Vy 73, de KB5ELV

> On Jul 14, 2018, at 8:26 PM, K7CR  wrote:
> 
> 
>> On Jul 13, 2018, at 4:58 PM, Ken G Kopp  wrote:
>> 
>> Trivia:. Usta be that all "K" calls on the BC band were east of the
>> Mississippi River.
>> 
>> WFAA and WBAP in Ft Worth share a common studio and transmitter and split
>> hours of call use.
>> 
> *
> 
> There are a few leftovers from before the Commish nailed down the
> Mississippi 
> W/K line - 
> 
> Examples are  - 
> 
> KYW in Philly
> WOAI in San Antonio
> 
> Been in Broadcasting since 1961 and in my career I've work for a number of 
> Radio stations with 3-letter calls - KMO, KTW...Sadly the FCC determined 
> That once an owner changed them to 4-Letters there was no going back.
> 
> On the Amateur Side - I've had K7CR for about 43 years ..Been very 
> Pleased with it, on Phone and CW.  (Even tho it ends in a Dit) 
> 
> Clay 
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] K4?

[Buddy Brannan]

Heh. … Jerry and I have ulterior motives for this suggestion, although we also 
understand that y’all light dependents won’t give up your distracting visual 
displays until they’re pried out of your cold dead fingers. :-) So I’d happily 
meet halfway and have spoken (or morse!) output in addition to rather than 
instead of. Like the morse readout on the KX3, except with all function 
readouts available. Or like the functionality of the Hampod 
(http://www.hampod.com/ ) built in. 

Vy 73, de KB5ELV

> On May 20, 2018, at 12:32 AM, Erik Basilier  wrote:
> 
> In the process of listening to the receiver I would not want that overlaid 
> with voice responses from a UI dialog. Also, a voice response immediately 
> goes away, just like a number temporarlily shown in the B display. On a more 
> personal note, I also find all artificial voice applications enormously 
> irritating. I refuse to speak to my car to ask it to do something, and refuse 
> to use Alexa or Siri etc in a voice mode.
> 73,
> Erik K7TV
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: Gerry leary  
> Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2018 5:33 PM
> To: Erik Basilier 
> Cc: Richard Thorne ; elecraft@mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K4?
> 
> Make the displays audio readouts instead, then you wouldn’t need so much 
> room, nor would it take up as much battery life if it were powered by battery!
> 
> Sent from my iPhone this time 
> 
> On May 19, 2018, at 6:14 PM, Erik Basilier  wrote:
> 
> I know that many people love controlling everything from a PC, but that is 
> for me a don't-want, as I don't want the extra box to start up, and using a 
> mouse and keyboard is much less convenient than knobs. Of course, using 
> contesting software does involve the PC, but even in that situation I want my 
> knobs. Controlling the rig from a PC repulses me even more so lately, since 
> Microsoft is forcing software updates on us ever more frequently. Very 
> disruptive. I do understand that increased vulnerabilities demand it, but 
> then the vulnerabilities are caused by Microsoft itself, always adding 
> functionality without concern for security (except for Microsoft job 
> security). Some will say that Linux is the answer but I have been there, and 
> I would prefer a special version of Windows that removes a lot of bells and 
> whistles and doesn't need frequent updates. Has anyone investigated which ham 
> software products work or don't work with Windows set to protected mode?
> 
> On the subject of panadapter features, I can see some utility in using a 
> mouse, as pushing the P3 knob does indeed tend to move the whole box. 
> However, unless there is software based automatic fine tuning, I find that 
> mouse clicking on a signal usually requires fine adjustment with the tuning 
> knob. The advantage of the mouse then is the ability to make large jumps 
> without a lot of knob spinning. That need is sharply reduced by using the RIT 
> knob as a coarse tuning knob. 
> 
> Perhaps the K4 packaging should place most of the P3 electronics as an 
> optional plug-in board inside the radio, and place a slightly bigger display 
> in a separate, P3-size box. The P3 controls would be on the radio. The 
> existing controls for the second rx could be kept for those who can stomach 
> them, but a new button on the radio would switch the P3 display to show all 
> aspects of second rx settings, and allow adjustment. Another press of the new 
> button, or a number of actions such as moving the main tuning knob, would go 
> back to normal P3 display.
> 
> 73,
> Erik K7TV
> 
> 
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net  On 
> Behalf Of Richard Thorne
> Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2018 4:31 PM
> To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K4?
> 
> I was going to make the suggestion for a rig with out knobs.
> 
> All of my current equipment is rack mounted.  I operate with software and a 
> mouse.  Keeps the desk uncluttered and the monitor below eye level.  The K3 
> Remote could be used if one wanted knobs.
> 
> Rich - N5ZC
> 
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] K4

[Buddy Brannan]

So…you want a new rig for new rig’s sake? Yaecomwoodlinco already do that. … 

> On May 18, 2018, at 3:36 PM, mark roz via Elecraft  
> wrote:
> 
> Wow. No K4 at Dayton?
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Re: [Elecraft] Who would spend 30 hours+ building an Elecraft K2? (plus: special pricing)

[Buddy Brannan]

Howdy,

Thanks Wayne for the look back. Great stuff! 

Like others, my K2 is not for sale. No matter what other rigs may grace my 
shack, the K2 stays. Nope, I didn't build it (I'm all thumbs), but, besides 
being a super performer and just tons of fun, being a gift from my first guide 
dog upon his retirement (with help, naturally, from other humans), it has huge 
sentimental value. Thanks Karl. 

Come to think of it, I think Elecraft has been something of a tradition for 
important milestones. The KX1, I got when I went to Ukraine to adopt our 
daughter in 2004. It's now living with a longtime friend and partner in 
mischief. The KX3 I got myself as a 25th hamiversary gift. What's next? 

Vy 73,

--
Buddy (a fake ham) Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Mobile (preferred): (814) 431-0962
Phone: (814) 860-3194
Email: bu...@brannan.name
"We are all just walking each other home." 



> On Jan 26, 2018, at 7:02 PM, Bill Frantz  wrote:
> 
> I have always thought that real hams build their own equipment and uber hams 
> design and build their own equipment. I guess that makes Wayne a uber ham.
> 
> 73 Bill AE6JV
> 
> ---
> Bill Frantz| If the site is supported by  | Periwinkle
> (408)356-8506  | ads, you are the product.| 16345 Englewood Ave
> www.pwpconsult.com |  | Los Gatos, CA 95032
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] On CW

[Buddy Brannan]

Matt!

Yes, this exactly. I'm not that much older than you are (44), and got licensed 
at 14. In spite of my best efforts, I fell in love with cw. I think a lot of 
y'all have articulated the why in a way I never could. I approached it as a 
socially awkward nerdy kid who knew that morse code wasn't cool in any way, but 
it was a necessary evil. Then I learned it wrong. After I got straightened out 
on that, it was magic. I took to it like the proverbial duck to water. 

Here's the funny thing. Wet up a ham radio demonstration. Play cw. Watch people 
come to see what it's all about. Do the same with voice. Watch people walk 
past. Digital, no clue how people react. But cw intrigues. Maybe it's because 
of the novelty. But it interests people. Oh sure, lots of the people it draws 
say I could lever learn that", and maybe that adds to the appeal? It's like 
this magic thing that not many people know. Like, hey, I'm the only guy on my 
block that knows this. But all I know for sure is that it's a whole lot of fun, 
and I hope that folks like you and me can help pass it on when all of those old 
farts® move on to that great big ol' radio ranch over yonder. 

--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Mobile (preferred): (814) 431-0962
Phone: (814) 860-3194
Email: bu...@brannan.name
"We are all just walking each other home." 



> On Oct 31, 2017, at 2:38 PM, Matt NQ6N <m...@nq6n.com> wrote:
> 
> I'm comparatively young (41) but I appreciate the musings about CW.  I
> still remember the first CW QSO I observed at a demonstration at a Red
> Cross building in Michigan when I was 11 years old.  I'd had a pair of
> plastic FM walkie talkies as a young child that had the dots and dashes of
> Morse embossed onto the front, but I had not expected the thrill that I
> felt as an actual CW QSO was made before my eyes. I was licensed a few
> months later.
> 
> Another memorable CW QSO for me was the first time I sat in front of a
> friend's K3.  The audio sounded so clear and beautiful that I soon ordered
> my own.
> 
> I think there is something very special about the art form of CW and the
> kind of craftsmanship and passion that it inspires.  Thanks to Wayne and
> everyone at Elecraft, the CWOps, etc, for keeping the magic alive.
> 
> 73,
> Matt NQ6N
> 
> On Tue, Oct 31, 2017 at 1:26 PM, <rkr...@johngalt.biz> wrote:
> 
>> 
>> On 10/31/2017 2:02 PM, engineercm wrote:
>> 
>>> Thank you so much for articulating the magic about CW.
>>> 
>> 
>> As a teen I tried to learn Morse Code and never was able to get very far.
>> With Morse as a condition for getting a license, I never thought about
>> getting a Ham License although I was very heavy into electronics and got my
>> First Class Radiotelephone License.  (To show my age, the testing only had
>> one transistor question; all the rest were tubes.)
>> 
>> When I discovered that Morse Code had been removed as a requirement (2014
>> or so) I began studying for my tests and made Extra within a few months.
>> 
>> I have  K3S that I am about to put on the air, on SSB to begin because
>> that is what I currently understand.
>> 
>> I have had CW recommended, but am unwilling to repeat the head banging
>> experience I went through 50+ years ago.
>> 
>> Now that I've given the history, my question to those of you who are
>> gung-ho on CW is; how did you begin the learning process?  Is there some
>> secret that I missed?
>> 
>> 73
>> 
>> Ray
>> KK4WPB
>> 
>> 
>> --
>> Furthermore, I believe that islam must be destroyed.
>> If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have
>> peace.--Thomas Paine
>> III%   Molon labe.
>> 
>> 
>> __
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Re: [Elecraft] Frustration with Elecraft

[Buddy Brannan]

Howdy Andy,

The response below, from an officer of the company and its chief product 
designer, is really what makes Elecraft stand head and shoulders above any 
other of the major manufacturers in the ham radio world...this response right 
here. 

You got a response from the CTO of the company. He and Eric, you know, "the 
other guy that isn't Wayne", are in close, direct, and personal contact with 
us, their customer base. 

Wayne took ownership of your problems. He didn't make excuses. He gave reasons 
and facts, he was polite, and he pledged to fix the problems with your 
equipment and your interactions. 

You can count on support like that from hre on out with all of your Elecraft 
gear. 

I've been an Elecraft owner since 2003, when I got my K2/100 through some 
interesting (and very special, to me anyway) circumstances. Have also owned a 
KX1, now belongs to a friend but kept my sanity through an international 
adoption and being locked in an apartment in Ukraine. Bought one of the first 
500 KX3's back in 2012, to celebrate 25 years of ham radio. Any time I've had a 
problem, I've had a great community of support, not just from Elecraft, but 
from all the folks on this list. Problems have been pretty rare, by the way, 
but always got help with them. 

So, yeah, you've bought some radio gear, but you've bought a bunch more than 
that, if you ask me (which you didn't). And, once all the kinks get ironed out, 
you're going to have years and years of fun with this stuff, and no mistake. 

Vy 73,

--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: 814-860-3194 
Mobile: 814-431-0962
Email: bu...@brannan.name




> On Jun 13, 2017, at 11:09 AM, Wayne Burdick <n...@elecraft.com> wrote:
> 
> Hi Andrew,
> 
> I’m the CTO of Elecraft and principal designer of our transceivers. I’ll try 
> to address your issues. 
> 
> During the few weeks since Dayton, about half of our customer support staff 
> has been on unexpected leave (parent illness, etc.). We brought a very senior 
> tech to help, but it’s been a bit of a fire drill. We also have two of our 
> sales staff on leave, which has resulted in unexpectedly long response times 
> to phone calls and email. 
> 
> This situation is of course temporary. Meanwhile, I’m even taking some of the 
> overload myself, as you can see :) 
> 
> 
>> Before Dayton, in order to replace my FT-857D I decided to buy a KX2 for
>> Field Day.  I purchased and waited for it to ship, which took about 8 days
>> (approximately).  I did not have it in time for Dayton, which I was OK
>> with. When asked if I could take advantage of any Dayton deals, I was told
>> "No".  OK, no problem.
> 
> Usually the radios ship more quickly than this, but we do take some with us 
> to Dayton each year for walk-up sales. Since you fell into a certifiable gray 
> area with respect to Dayton timing, we should have credited you back the show 
> special on your KX2. I’ll make sure this happens.
> 
> 
>> When I went to Hamvention this year, I asked someone at the booth to "take
>> my money" and convince me to buy an Elecraft radio
>> I was a little bummed that someone didn't feel the need to really sell me
>> on the radio (they barely spoke to me)
> 
> Wow. You must have come to the booth when everyone on our regular sales 
> staff, including myself, were on a lunch break. I did in-depth demonstrations 
> of the KX2 and KX3 hundreds of times, even to the point of taking the KX2 
> outside (twice) to do on-air demos using the radio hand-held with a whip. 
> 
> I’ll make sure that our regular crew and temporary subs don't miss such an 
> opportunity again. Normally we engage potential customers to the point that, 
> by the time they’ve decided yea or nay, we know their favorite bands, modes, 
> other hobbies, and the names of their pets.
> 
> 
>> A few days after Dayton I get my KX2 and begin using it.  I am mostly a CW
>> op and noticed that after a while the radio would "stick" on CW.  It would
>> let out long tones etc., I did not see the error to start, but after a day
>> or so I saw a temp warning.  I reached out to Elecraft, they said they
>> would fix the radio anytime I sent it back.  I asked if I could wait until
>> after Field Day since this was purchased for that specific reason.  They
>> were more than happy to oblige.
> 
> Well, bummer. It’s very rare for any of our radios to have an out-of-the-box 
> issue like this. Sorry you’ve encountered such a problem right before FD!
> 
> 
>> During this time I decided I was going to buy a K3S. ...RF/SQL Pot just was 
>> not working.  We tried all kinds of things to fix
>> this, to no availcame to the conclusion that one of the pots had a 
>> missing solder.
> 
&g

Re: [Elecraft] K3 Display is Dated...

[Buddy Brannan]

Huh. Maybe it isn't a sighted thing that I just wouldn't understand after all. 
Or else Ken is an honorary blind guy. ... 

--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: 814-860-3194 
Mobile: 814-431-0962
Email: bu...@brannan.name




> On May 30, 2017, at 6:37 PM, Ken K6MR <k...@outlook.com> wrote:
> 
> And now for something completely different (regarding K3/P3 displays):
> Since I rarely look at the radio display when operating, I don’t need/want 
> fancy colors/fonts/graphics. All I need is Info that is easy to read when I 
> need it. Same for the P3.  Give me what I need with a minimum of fuss.  Also 
> easy to focus on after many hours without sleep.
> And please: no touch screens.  The last thing I need is a bunch of greasy 
> fingerprints all over the display.  And I need my hands to stay on the 
> keyboard(s).  Minimal motion and all that stuff.
> And the same can be said for P3 mouse point and click. This is radio, not a 
> video game.
> And now back to your regular conversation…. ;^)
> 
> Ken K6MR
> 
> From: Phil Hystad<mailto:phys...@mac.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2017 3:18 PM
> To: Thom<mailto:k...@ki8w.com>
> Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net<mailto:elecraft@mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Display is Dated...
> 
> Besides my K3 & P3, I also have an Icom IC-7300.  The touch color display of 
> the IC-7300 is essentially the same size as the P3 and I think the P3 is a 
> little tiny bit larger of maybe 1/8th inch larger diagonal measure.  The 
> information on the IC-7300 is basically the same as the combo of the K3 and 
> P3 although different display options (mostly on the 7300) makes this a 
> dubious comparison.
> 
> But, I think that the entire P3 display could be used as a full K3+P3 display 
> however I am betting that all the information necessary to drive the K3 
> display is not available to the P3 and not practical to create an interface 
> to handle it.
> 
> My two-bits on the matter.
> 
> 73, phil, K7PEH
> 
> 
>> On May 30, 2017, at 2:59 PM, Thom <k...@ki8w.com> wrote:
>> 
>> I was turning the knob on a K3S at Dayton and thought to myself...this looks 
>> like the display on my 10 year old Kenwood TS-570D.  Come to think of it 
>> maybe Kenwood needs to update the displays on most of there radios too.
>> 
>> 73
>> 
>> Thom KI8W
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On 5/30/2017 17:36, ke9uw wrote:
>>> I was wondering if the K3 display could be replaced by an updated display,
>>> one that looks like the ones on the newest rigs from Japan. Could it be
>>> displayed on the monitor connected to the svga on P3? Just wondering :)
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -
>>> Chuck, KE9UW
>>> --
>>> View this message in context: 
>>> http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-Display-is-Dated-tp7631264.html
>>> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>>> __
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>>> 
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>> 
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 Display is Dated...

[Buddy Brannan]

I was turning the knob on a K3 once a couple years ago and thought, hey, what a 
smooth turning knob. What a nifty radio. I want one. Not in this lifetime, 
however, though I'm really enjoying my KX3 and K2. Well...OK...enjoying is 
probably a stretch, since I need to put up an hf antenna again. 

But, OK, maybe this is just one of those things that I'll just never understand 
(there are lots), but if the display gives you the information you need, in 
some legible manner, why does it need changed? Is there something your TS-570 
isn't telling you that you just aren't getting by without knowing? Is change 
for change's sake what we're asking for, or is there something I'm missing (not 
at all unlikely)? 

"It's a sighted thing, you'd never understand" is a perfectly valid answer 
here. Probably. 

--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: 814-860-3194 
Mobile: 814-431-0962
Email: bu...@brannan.name




> On May 30, 2017, at 5:59 PM, Thom <k...@ki8w.com> wrote:
> 
> I was turning the knob on a K3S at Dayton and thought to myself...this looks 
> like the display on my 10 year old Kenwood TS-570D.  Come to think of it 
> maybe Kenwood needs to update the displays on most of there radios too.
> 
> 73
> 
> Thom KI8W
> 
> 
> 
> On 5/30/2017 17:36, ke9uw wrote:
>> I was wondering if the K3 display could be replaced by an updated display,
>> one that looks like the ones on the newest rigs from Japan. Could it be
>> displayed on the monitor connected to the svga on P3? Just wondering :)
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -
>> Chuck, KE9UW
>> --
>> View this message in context: 
>> http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-Display-is-Dated-tp7631264.html
>> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>> __
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Re: [Elecraft] (OT) - SPAM

[Buddy Brannan]

Hi Stan,

Different Stan, unless he sent a separate one from the one he sent to the list. 
The Stan to which he refers is clearly a very new ham (see the quoted message 
below his). 

Vy 73,

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Mobile: 814-431-0962
Email: bu...@brannan.name




> On Apr 27, 2017, at 3:31 PM, stan levandowski <sjl...@optonline.net> wrote:
> 
> I just got an insulting email from "Ken Kopp" under Rose's address -  clearly 
> someone has mined the elecraft list.  I know Ken and Rose.  Ken would not 
> close by explaining to me what "73" means in CW ;-)
> 
> It also says it was in a "response" to one of my emails. I haven't sent any 
> emails about the the subject of Mormons.
> 
> 
> There were no links to open but it was impossible for me (I'm no expert) to 
> differentiate this email from any legitimate list message.
> 
> 
> No harm done here.
> 
> 
> 73, Stan WB2LQF
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Re: [Elecraft] Another really good reason to come to the Visailia DX convention this weekend...

[Buddy Brannan]

How totally unfair! A picture is worth 0 words! 

--
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Mobile: 814-431-0962
Email: bu...@brannan.name




> On Apr 20, 2017, at 12:50 PM, Wayne Burdick <n...@elecraft.com> wrote:
> 
> http://www.elecraft.com/images/visalia1.jpg
> 
> Watch this space for further details :)
> 
> 73,
> 
> Wayne, N6KR
> Eric, WA6HHQ
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] (KX1) A Story for a Winter Day in NY

[Buddy Brannan]

Definitely a sad time, when things change. I, too, had some great times with my 
KX1, which has gone to be with a friend in San Antonio, and I hope he gets as 
much enjoyment from it as I did. 'm sure he has, and is. Mine went to Ukraine 
with me when we went to adopt our daughter in 2004 (my excuse for buying it). 
It was a real life saver, or at least a sanity saver. Dropping a window out our 
7th floor apartment and stringing another wire across the floor (far from 
ideal, kind of upside down!) still netted me contacts. True, not lots of 
contacts, but contacts nonetheless, and it truly helped me with the one thing 
about the adoption we didn't anticipate: being locked in the apartment (yes, 
quite literally, with a key and everything) between orphanage visits because 
the adoption people just didn't know what to do with a couple of blind/disabled 
people. And, yeah, no trips to the Internet cafe for me either. Nothing between 
me and the ether except a TeNe-Key. Yep, good times. Whil
 e I love my KX3, and my K2 (which has its own really neat story), I think it's 
pretty hard to replace the memories with that KX1. So, vy 73 to a legend, if 
only a legend to me. And, probably, you. :) 

Vy 73,

--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: 814-860-3194 
Mobile: 814-431-0962
Email: bu...@brannan.name




> On Feb 9, 2017, at 6:36 PM, Fred Jensen <k6...@foothill.net> wrote:
> 
> Yes, sad but probably inevitable.  I just sold my KX1, I built it in late 
> 2004.  Lots of contacts from lots of places.  I'm now 13 years older, 
> adventures in my 20's are "reminding" me of them orthopedically, and field 
> operations for me are rapidly becoming something in the past.  I still have 
> my K2, and do use it, but generally within sight of the truck.
> 
> I suspect the primary reason for discontinuing it is parts availability, the 
> design is creeping up on 20 years old.  Then of course, there's the KX2 
> coupled with every ham's desire to have the latest and greatest.  KX1 is 
> still a great trail radio.
> 
> 73,
> 
> Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
> Sparks NV DM09dn
> Washoe County
> 
> On 2/9/2017 2:51 PM, stan levandowski wrote:
>> Just a couple of months ago, on December 7, I purchased a KX1.  It was a 
>> replacement to the KX1 I had built several years ago: my entry into the 
>> Elecraft world.  I thought I had "outgrown" it so I sold it.
>> 
>> Fast forward through my K1, K2, K3, KX3, and now KX2/KXPA100 setup (plus 
>> other stuff like the K2 amp, the KAT100, the PX3, an earlier KXPA100 for the 
>> KX3lots of other stuff plus the mini-modules) and we come to today.  
>> Elecraft has made a small fortune on me!
>> 
>> 
>> We're having a blizzard in New York.  My picnic table out back has over 12 
>> inches of snow on it.  As a prisoner of the house, I decided to do a little 
>> operating;  However, 40 meters was dead and so was 30 meters.  It wasn't so 
>> hot on 20 meters either.  I went down to the living room and built a fire.  
>> But gosh, I really wanted to operate...
>> 
>> 
>> So I brought my KX1 down to the living room.  I stretched a 40 foot length 
>> of {high loss} RG174 from my shack to the fireplace.  I have a 67 foot bent 
>> up doublet in my attic managed by an SGC231 autocoupler and that's where one 
>> end of the RG174 extension coax went.  The other end connected the antenna 
>> to my KX1 on AA batteries.  With less than 13.9 VDC, the KX1 doesn't have 
>> the oomph required to kick the autocoupler into tune mode.  No problem.  I 
>> just used my QRO setup to find the match on 14.030. That would give me a few 
>> kHZ either side with a good SWR.
>> 
>> 
>> So there I am, sitting in front of the fireplace with a rig on batteries 
>> putting out maybe a watt +/-, a high loss connection to the antenna, a 
>> coupler with some degree of loss, a freakin' blizzard outside, a bent up 
>> antenna in my attic and a foot of snow on the roof and conditions on 20 
>> meters reportedly "Fair."
>> 
>> 
>> Well, guess what.  I worked a whole pile of stations - Minnesota, New 
>> Mexico, Florida, Hungary, Ireland, Germany and the Bahamas.  After an hour, 
>> I brought the rig back to the shack and promptly worked  V53DX, a new QRP 
>> country for me.
>> 
>> 
>> Thus, it was with more than a little sadness that I logged onto the Elecraft 
>> website and saw that the KX1 has been discontinued!  I don't recall seeing 
>> any email announcements about this or any chatter on this reflector about it 
>> either.
>> 
>> 
>> I certainly understand that business decisions must be made and change is 
>> inevitable.  In fact,

Re: [Elecraft] Price reduced on K3-100 and accessories

[Buddy Brannan]

No, you mustn't. There's absolutely no reason you have to get rid of your K3 
because you're losing your eyesight, absolutely none. If you want to leave ham 
radio for some other reason, that's another thing, but blindness doesn't, and 
shouldn't, stop you from enjoying ham radio. 

In the case of the K3, the K3 software works really well with screen reader 
software, and presumably with screen enlargement software as well. 

If you want to operate the K3 standalone, i.e. without a computer, here's a 
great solution:
http://www.hampod.com/

This gadget will make absolutely all K3 functions speak. You can get voice 
output of every function, including, I'm told, RTTY/PSK/cw decode. 

There are lots of blind hams. I know of a few of them, including me, on this 
list, and a few ore that are happy Elecraft users. 

If you want help or to talk over your other options with other blind hams, 
here's an email reflector:

blind-hams-subscr...@porkcast.net

Vy 73,

--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: 814-860-3194 
Mobile: 814-431-0962
Email: bu...@brannan.name




> On Dec 27, 2016, at 10:17 AM, William Hartman via Elecraft 
> <elecraft@mailman.qth.net> wrote:
> 
> I must leave ham radio due to failing  eyesight.  I am selling my K3 with 
> mike  plus Astron power supply, Total price is $1575..  All equipment is 
> factory new.  For the cw crowd I will include at no extra cost a Ham Gadgets 
> keyer and a bluetooth- connected keyboard. The K3 has the ATU, 400hz roofing 
> filter, and voice recorder installed.  Contact me at N6FB @aol.com for details
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Re: [Elecraft] New products

[Buddy Brannan]

Of course, touch screens can be made to work, witness the iThingies. But that's 
an awful lot of complexity. Given that the available resources in current 
generation Elecraft gear can't even be stretched to include spoken feedback 
(this is not a criticism, mind you, just a statement of fact), it seems 
unlikely that such resources would be available just by the addition of a touch 
screen. 

--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: 814-860-3194 
Mobile: 814-431-0962
Email: bu...@brannan.name




> On Jun 5, 2016, at 5:51 PM, Bill Frantz <fra...@pwpconsult.com> wrote:
> 
> An idea just off the top of my head: Put a physical grid over the touch 
> screen so the blind OP can find the buttons. A grid of 2mm x 2mm bars 
> separated into 15-20mm areas might work well. Have the radio speak the status 
> of the button when it is pressed. If you have two-level press sensitivity, 
> like the new Apple MacBooks, then you can use one level as a request to 
> report the status and the other as a request to change the status (press the 
> button). Rectangular areas could be used as sliders for adjustments etc. 
> (Note that for blind usage, you don't need a screen. A touch pad alone will 
> do.
> 
> One of the great things about amateur radio is that people with significant 
> handicaps can still play. One of the board members of my club is blind. Other 
> members bring him to meetings, and it is always nice to hear his voice on the 
> air. People who can't hear can still be expert digital operators. etc.
> 
> Elecraft is to be applauded for their commitment to accessibility.
> 
> 73 Bill AE6JV
> 
> On 6/5/16 at 12:37 PM, donw...@embarqmail.com (Don Wilhelm) wrote:
> 
>> Please tell us how a touchscreen interface can enhance usability for blind 
>> operators.
>> Elecraft has made a commitment for such usability for all their radios with 
>> those blind operators particularly in mind.
> ---
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> (408)356-8506  |is there are so many to choose| 16345 Englewood Ave
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> 
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Re: [Elecraft] New products

[Buddy Brannan]

Only if it's Elecraft. Clearly this isn't the case with Yaecomwoodlincotec. 
Well, at least a couple of those, anyway. 

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> On Jun 5, 2016, at 4:13 PM, Amateur Radio Operator N5GE <n...@n5ge.com> wrote:
> 
> Don,
> 
> I suspect that having redesigned a rig with touch screen
> capability the manufacturer would, in a short period of time realize
> the error of their ways.  Hopfully they would still have enough
> capital to revert to the original design and fire the person
> responsible for the change.
> 
> On Sun, 5 Jun 2016 15:37:42 -0400, you wrote:
> 
>> Lynn,
>> 
>> Please tell us how a touchscreen interface can enhance usability for 
>> blind operators.
>> Elecraft has made a commitment for such usability for all their radios 
>> with those blind operators particularly in mind.
>> A GUI interface means nothing to those who cannot see it.
>> 
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>> 
>> On 6/5/2016 3:16 PM, Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT wrote:
>>> A radio with only physical knobs and buttons severely limits future 
>>> upgradability, and leads to crazy button combinations to turn things 
>>> on and off that weren't even a dream when the radio was originally 
>>> released.
>>> 
>>> Touch screens may not be always convenient, but they're much more 
>>> flexible than a silk-screened metal panel.
>>> 
>>> I realize that knobs and buttons are a religion for some, but it's 
>>> really time to lighten up, folks.
>>> 
>>> Either that or for Elecraft to release a rig with a whole bunch of 
>>> "empty" buttons and sell stickers to update the front panel when the 
>>> firmware grows to need them.
>>> 
>>> On 6/5/2016 10:18 AM, Buddy Brannan wrote:
>>>> Also, can we pllease, for the love of all that is holy, not do the 
>>>> touch screen GUI? At least, not an exclusively touch
>>> 
>>> 
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>> 
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Re: [Elecraft] New products

[Buddy Brannan]

Lighten up, you say? I don't know...I sort of like having radios I can actually 
use. Unless said touch screen will also come with some sort of spoken 
interface, (they haven't, so far), I guess eventually I get to look for a new 
hobby if that's where we're all going. And really, with the aging ham 
population and the sight loss that sometimes comes with said aging population, 
guess a lot of those guys are gonna be screwed, too. Sounds like a great idea 
to me. 

--
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Phone: 814-860-3194 
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Email: bu...@brannan.name




> On Jun 5, 2016, at 3:16 PM, Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT 
> <k...@coldrockshotbrooms.com> wrote:
> 
> A radio with only physical knobs and buttons severely limits future 
> upgradability, and leads to crazy button combinations to turn things on and 
> off that weren't even a dream when the radio was originally released.
> 
> Touch screens may not be always convenient, but they're much more flexible 
> than a silk-screened metal panel.
> 
> I realize that knobs and buttons are a religion for some, but it's really 
> time to lighten up, folks.
> 
> Either that or for Elecraft to release a rig with a whole bunch of "empty" 
> buttons and sell stickers to update the front panel when the firmware grows 
> to need them.
> 
> On 6/5/2016 10:18 AM, Buddy Brannan wrote:
>> Also, can we pllease, for the love of all that is holy, not do the touch 
>> screen GUI? At least, not an exclusively touch
> 
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] New products

[Buddy Brannan]

Also, can we pllease, for the love of all that is holy, not do the touch screen 
GUI? At least, not an exclusively touch screen GUI? If that's what counts as 
innovative, hey, where'd I put my club? Maybe behind that rock in my cave. 

--
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> On Jun 5, 2016, at 1:12 PM, Phil Wheeler <w...@socal.rr.com> wrote:
> 
> Gee,
> 
> So far Elecraft has done a good job of providing new products with great 
> support for which there is an ample mainstream market -- a good business 
> model.  And focusing on products for which there is a good market is 
> important.
> 
> Amateur radio video: How big would that market be?  Ditto for VHF/UHF 
> exclusive transceiver, though that might go further than your video 
> suggestion.
> 
> And I believe the 1.5 kW amp/tuner topic was discussed extensively and 
> conclusively here at some time in the past 12 months.
> 
> Sure, new products are always welcome. But companies have failed by producing 
> new products for which no market materializes. And, first and foremost, I 
> want Elecraft to be around for another 17 years!
> 
> 73, Phil W7OX
> 
> On 6/5/16 9:47 AM, Gee wrote:
>> We have seen a remake of the K3 in the form of the K3s. Now we see the 
>> remake of the KX3 in the form of the KX2. So when are we going to see 
>> something really new from Elecraft? Surely the possibilities have not been 
>> exhausted. Touch screen GUI, VHF/UHF exclusive transceiver, 1.5 KW amp and 
>> tuner, new modes (is amateur radio video dead?). A great American company 
>> could be even greater by expanding it's product line with new things, not 
>> variations on the same thing.
>> 
>> Sent from my iPad
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] New products

[Buddy Brannan]

With the K3s, point taken. It's an upgraded K3. With the KX2, it's not a 
replacement for the KX3 in the same way the K3s was a replacement for the K3. 
So I'm thinking your assessment isn't exactly fair. 

Pass the Flavor-Aide, please. 

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> On Jun 5, 2016, at 12:47 PM, Gee <k...@charter.net> wrote:
> 
> We have seen a remake of the K3 in the form of the K3s. Now we see the remake 
> of the KX3 in the form of the KX2. So when are we going to see something 
> really new from Elecraft? Surely the possibilities have not been exhausted. 
> Touch screen GUI, VHF/UHF exclusive transceiver, 1.5 KW amp and tuner, new 
> modes (is amateur radio video dead?). A great American company could be even 
> greater by expanding it's product line with new things, not variations on the 
> same thing. 
> 
> Sent from my iPad
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Re: [Elecraft] [KX3] More Macro Buttons

[Buddy Brannan]

Of course, having extras available doesn't mean you have to use them, or even 
set up a macro key as a "more macros" key. Heck, why not be able to set up both 
PF keys as "more macros" keys and have 20? Well, except perhaps for storage. 
The KX3 already stores up to 8 macros, but only two can be accessed from the PF 
keys. Well, OK, that isn't strictly true if you use Wayne's (or whichever 
clever person's) self-modifying PF key definitions trick as I have done. With 
that trick, my next trick is remembering where in the sequence I last left 
things. Anyway, as for me, I'd find it handy for accessing those menu functions 
I can't really access because they're not implemented in the morse UI. 

Which reminds me. Anyone know what the programming syntax is for the battery 
charger in the KX3? I had a macro to turn the charger on, but it seems to not 
work anymore. :-( So I have a KX3 full of dead NiMH batteries. 

--
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> On Apr 26, 2016, at 10:36 PM, Ryan Noguchi via Elecraft 
> <elecraft@mailman.qth.net> wrote:
> 
> Then what Jim suggested would use the one button you don't even use. I would 
> use every single one of those new macro slots and more.
> 73, Ryan AI6DO
> 
> 
> 
>  On Tue, Apr 26, 2016 at 19:48, Don Wilhelm<donw...@embarqmail.com> wrote:   
> Here is my vote *against* having many macro buttons.
> There is a problem with remembering which buttons play which macros.
> A limited number is fine with me, but there is a break-even point when 
> you cannot keep track of them in your head and a 'cheat sheet' is 
> needed.  I just don't want to get to the point where that cheat sheet is 
> needed.
> In general, I prefer to tap out the functions needed on the regular 
> buttons because I can remember what those do.  I have only a few 
> occasions when it is helpful to activate a sequence of buttons 
> automatically.
> The only macro that I use is to go split and up 2. I can remember that 
> one easily.
> 
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
> 
> On 4/26/2016 9:01 PM, Jim Kutsch, KY2D wrote:
>> I'd find this very useful too. If it was possible to set one of the PF 
>> buttons to a "more macros" feature, then not only 0 through 9 but 
>> essentially every other button and knob could be used to activate a 
>> different macro. It would just be necessary to push the PF key followed by 
>> the desired other button or knob.
>> 
>> Jim, KY2D
>> 
>> 
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] Speech bord for any of the Elecragt rigs?

[Buddy Brannan]

Not exactly true. 

Look here for something that works with the K3 and KX3. (No, I don't have one, 
the morse output on the KX3 is mostly enough.)
http://www.hampod.com


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> On Nov 14, 2015, at 9:55 AM, Jim Sheldon <w...@cox.net> wrote:
> 
> Voice synthesizer no, but for the visually impaired there is a program on 
> http://www.elecraft.com/k2_remote.htm#voice called K3 Voice (also K2 vioce 
> and some other stuff) that does read the controls as they are pressed for 
> visually impaired persons.  If that's what you need  Scott, then go to that 
> URL and look for the K3 Voice program.
> 
> Jim - W0EB
> 
> 
>> 
>> On Friday, November 13, 2015, Scott Gillen ZL1CHM <zl1...@gillen.co.nz>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> I'm wondering if Elecraft produces or has considered producing a speech
>>> synthesiser board for any of there radios?
>>> 
>>> 73
>>> Scott
>>>  ZL1CHM / N0HO
>>> Auckland New Zealand
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPhone
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>> 
>> 
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> 
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Re: [Elecraft] Icom IC-7300

[Buddy Brannan]

> On Sep 2, 2015, at 7:51 PM, Doug Person via Elecraft 
> <elecraft@mailman.qth.net> wrote:
> 
> Icom recently released news about the upcoming IC-7300 
> <http://icomamerica.com/en/products/amateur/hf/7300/default.aspx> to be 
> available by the end of the year.   A completely software-defined radio.  
> Looks like a real game-changer.
> While the K3S is a nice upgrade, I think the tide is slowly shifting to touch 
> sensitive, menu-driven, color displays.

Gods, I sure hope not! Sounds like a bloody nightmare to me. Guess the blind 
guys won't be buying Icoms. Change for change's sake if you ask me, which you 
didn't. *Grumble grumble gripe gritch* And get off my lawn. 
> 
> I certainly hope the Elecraft is looking at this and considering its 
> implications.

Yeah, I hope so too. I then hope that Elecraft will say "Screw all this touch 
screen nonsense". I mean, unless they plan to write an eyes-free interface for 
it. Which I'm sure Icom has not. It's sure gonna suck if something breaks that 
pretty touch screen sometime. How about having tactile controls and voice 
output so that drivers who put these things in their mobile stations can watch 
where they're aiming their cars instead of looking at their radios? Just a 
thought, but who listens to me? 

--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
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Re: [Elecraft] [KX3]] QRP Works opposite Elecraft

[Buddy Brannan]

I’ll have to look this product up, because somehow it’s escaped my notice.

But what I can’t believe is how you managed to type Key Log Go without at least 
one HumphreyBogart quote. Not one! Now does that happen?
--
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On May 15, 2014, at 4:32 PM, Stephen Silverman n63...@gmail.com wrote:

 The QRP Works booth is now directly opposite Elecraft's booth in Dayton
 
 The new Key Log Go product will connect to every Elecraft radio.
 
 Steve Silverman KB3SII
 
 Sent from my iPhone
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 - Ergonomics

[Buddy Brannan]

Tuning in in the middle, but for my part, I’d much rather have multifunction 
knobs and buttons than menus buried in menus which are, in turn, buried in 
menus. I like that most of the menus on the Elecraft rigs are set once and 
forget. This makes me happy. And, unlike some manufacturers, Elecraft actually 
gives two craps about accessibility for blind operators. As someone or another 
has said, everything is a compromise some way, and I think the choices Elecraft 
has made in UI have been good ones, given other design criteria. 

I can’t speak about the K3 at all, sorry. I have a K2 though, and also a KX3, 
and think both are excellent. Both in performance and ergonomics. 
--
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Phone: (814) 860-3194 or (814) 431-0962




On Apr 3, 2014, at 11:05 AM, Phil Wheeler w...@socal.rr.com wrote:

 I've been using Elecraft transceivers exclusively for 15 years (K2, now K3 as 
 primary base station), so my recent personal experience is limited. I have 
 heard it said that Elecraft approach of fewer buttons and knobs, with short 
 presses and long presses on the buttons, is less user-friendly than having 
 more buttons and knobs (the 50 lb FTdx-5000 appears to be festooned with 
 knobs and buttons). But beyond that I can't really comment: I'm happy with 
 the K3 ergonomics. I do get a bit confused by my KX3 at times, though -- more 
 by the differences between it and my K3 than anything else :-)
 
 73, Phil W7OX
 
 On 4/3/14, 3:19 AM, Bill W2BLC wrote:
 In a post speaking to the Sherwood chart, it was said, too many 
 people jump on one number to rate (rank) equipment and totally disregard 
 things like ergonomics (If they didn't the K3 would be at the bottom of the 
 list).
 
 What is so bad about how the K3 is designed (ergonomics)?
 
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Re: [Elecraft] OT: ECore LMR400

[Buddy Brannan]

It sure isn’t! They bought Andrews. So Heliax is now made by them.

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On Mar 24, 2014, at 5:41 PM, Josh Fiden j...@voodoolab.com wrote:

 CommScope is not off brand cable. Heliax is also a Commscope product.
 
 73,
 Josh W6XU
 
 On 3/22/2014 11:39 PM, Edward R Cole wrote:
 I bought some on e-bay a couple years ago (think it was Comscope brand) and 
 it checked at the same loss figures as Time's Microwave LMR-400.  I am using 
 it in a non-critical system so consider it a reasonable risk. 
 
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Re: [Elecraft] OT: Beware

[Buddy Brannan]

Actually, he doesn’t claim to be from Microsoft exactly, but the unwary could 
get that impressions he claims to be from “Windows support”. I had one of these 
a year or so ago.

Here’s a recording of someone winding up one of these fellas:

http://buddy.brannan.name/hacker.mp3

Sorry. I forget where I originally found this, likely on audio boo or 
something, but this isn’t me, of course.
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Sep 4, 2013, at 12:03 PM, Fred Jensen k6...@foothill.net wrote:

 While OT, still important.  There is a new scam, prevalent on the US west 
 coast but might be elsewhere.  You receive a phone call from a fast-talking 
 dude who obliquely purports to be from Microsoft.  His pitch goes something 
 like, blah blah this is windows support, we're getting error messages from 
 your computer.  Can you get to your computer now ... blah ... we can solve it 
 ... it's all very secure ... blah, at which point I hung up.  Have now had 3 
 more of them.
 
 While there's probably no one on this list who would fall for this, it might 
 be wise to advise less-technically inclined family members of this and to 
 hang up immediately.
 
 73,
 
 Fred K6DGW
 - Northern California Contest Club
 - CU in the 2013 Cal QSO Party 5-6 Oct 2013
 - www.cqp.org
 
 On 9/3/2013 9:08 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
 
 Be safe and be aware, call the phone number on your billing account for
 your ISP before sending email to any requests like that.
 
 
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Re: [Elecraft] OT: Beware

[Buddy Brannan]

Yeah, so does the guy on the recording i sent. Really, it’s pretty funny how 
much the guy winds these scammers up.
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Sep 4, 2013, at 12:05 PM, Richard Kendrick n...@cox.net wrote:

 That might be a fun call for me because I have a Mac.
 
 
 
 On Sep 4, 2013, at 9:03 AM, Fred Jensen k6...@foothill.net wrote:
 
 While OT, still important.  There is a new scam, prevalent on the US west 
 coast but might be elsewhere.  You receive a phone call from a fast-talking 
 dude who obliquely purports to be from Microsoft.  His pitch goes something 
 like, blah blah this is windows support, we're getting error messages from 
 your computer.  Can you get to your computer now ... blah ... we can solve 
 it ... it's all very secure ... blah, at which point I hung up.  Have now 
 had 3 more of them.
 
 While there's probably no one on this list who would fall for this, it might 
 be wise to advise less-technically inclined family members of this and to 
 hang up immediately.
 
 73,
 
 Fred K6DGW
 - Northern California Contest Club
 - CU in the 2013 Cal QSO Party 5-6 Oct 2013
 - www.cqp.org
 
 On 9/3/2013 9:08 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
 
 Be safe and be aware, call the phone number on your billing account for
 your ISP before sending email to any requests like that.
 
 
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Re: [Elecraft] Kool Aid 2M

[Buddy Brannan]

Actually, I expect that some of his followers were also sighted, and…well…it 
was FlavorAid, a different brand, but still. Yeah, that. 
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Aug 23, 2013, at 12:13 PM, dixonsfamily dixonsfam...@gmail.com wrote:

 I'm not sure but I think the reference is to Jonestown, Guyana. Jim
 Jones had blind followers in the end thy all drank KOOL AID. Hence
 it's derogatory connotation.
 
 Denis WA5TYJ
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Re: [Elecraft] Out of Band Xmit

[Buddy Brannan]

Hi,

Yay, another blind Elecraft user :)

Beeps at band edges may be helpful, but, using both a K2 and a KX3, I’m getting 
by without them. While it’s true that when I get close to band edges I check 
the readout more often, it’s equally true that having the readout in the first 
place is just super fantastic. For the K3, I understand that the Hampod 
(http://www.hampod.com) is very cool. Think it also works for the KX3, but the 
morse readout gives me just about everything I need, apart from the menus, and 
I’m going to start playing with manipulating those with a Raspberry Pi, just 
for fun…. 

One strategy that might help would be to set up the band edges in the quick 
access memories. Sorry, I don’t even know if this concept carries over to the 
K3, but the KX3 has four quick access memories per band, which can be accessed 
with number 1 through 4. Where some might set up, say, a QRP calling frequency, 
plus favorite nets or what have you, I’d suggest that setting upper and lower 
band limits for cw and voice would be a great use for these. On a side note, 
it’s a shame there isn’t one more of these in the KX3, then all five 60M 
channels could be programmed in, using VFO’s A and B for the cw and SSB freqs, 
but I digress somewhat. 

So, your fiend could punch up a band edge and then tune up or down from there. 
True, it’s not a band beep, but it might satisfy your stated goal.
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Aug 19, 2013, at 11:37 PM, Chris Johnson o...@ozy.us wrote:

 I can appreciate that.  And I would not want it to delay other features.   
 But to compare to other radios,  most are inverted in this operating method.  
  They are locked into bands of their localization and require either 
 modification or proof of MARS license to open it.I'm not for locking it 
 down either, and would be satisfied with band edge beeps.   I have a blind 
 ham that uses this radio quite a bit, and it would be optimize his operation 
 of the radio.   He is always having it announce VFO location because of the 
 radio's openness to be extra careful.
 
 Chris
 K6OZY
 
 On Aug 19, 2013, at 8:14 PM, Walter Underwood wun...@wunderwood.org wrote:
 
 Out of band means different things in each of more than a hundred 
 countries, so it is a lot of work to put that in firmware. Handy, but very 
 tedious, and it would probably delay other features.
 
 I wouldn't mind band edge beeps myself, I am a bit absent-minded about that.
 
 wunder
 K6WRU
 
 On Aug 19, 2013, at 7:44 PM, Chris Johnson wrote:
 
 I didn't ask to be taught how to operate.  I didn't criticize that it CAN 
 transmit out of band, or that it was a bad thing.  I understand the uses 
 for xmitting out of band.  I asked if there was a feature to lock it into 
 ham bands that can be OPTIONALLY enabled.
 
 Get off your high horse.
 
 On Aug 19, 2013, at 6:49 PM, Richard Neese kb3...@gmail.com wrote:
 
 I believe thats so people who do MARS work can operate.. learn to 
 monitor yourself thats part of being a ham...
 
 Locking the firmware would be wrong. this is not just a ham 
 transceiver. its a full op transceiver..
 
 
 -- 
 R.Neese
 KB3VGW
 
 
 
 
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Re: [Elecraft] Wounded Warrior - Ham Operator

[Buddy Brannan]

Unfortunately, I can’t contribute just now (too much month, you know), but 
definitely want to help as well. I love that he’s interested in learning morse, 
too. While I can’t go in on the KPA100/KAT100 project (I hope it gets fully 
funded by the time I could do something towards it), can I, I dunno, send him a 
good straight key (not to mention welcome him to the Straight Key Century 
Club)? Does he have a computer he can run something like the G4FON code trainer 
on? 

I know from personal experience that hams, and especially Elecraft hams, are 
top shelf, A number one people. While I’m not a wounded warrior, nor for that 
matter anyone particularly special, I, too, had a group of folks gift me 
Elecraft gear several years ago, in the name of my now deceased, though still 
much loved, first guide dog, Karl. Alan/1HYV, builder of a ton of kits, was the 
guy that built mine, and Don, W3FPR, recently helped me with some repairs that 
it needed last year. And I, too, want to give back, but it’ll be a couple 
weeks. 

Anyway, thanks from me as well for doing this. It’s one thing to know there are 
still good people in the world. It’s quite another to see this in action. 

Vy 73,
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Aug 20, 2013, at 9:36 PM, Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com wrote:

 Hi,
 
 Eric and Wayne have offered a 50% discount on a new KPA100 and KAT100-2 for 
 this project -- Thank you Elecraft.  I will be doing the building at no cost.
 
 We have 2 solid contributions of $100 each for this project with a 
 possibility of a 3rd (unconfirmed).
 I have gone 'out on a limb' and ordered the kits charged to my credit card.  
 If there is a 3rd or a 4th individual who would like to help (in any amount), 
 that would be greatly appreciated (less money out of my pocket).
 
 Please let me know if you are also willing to help.  I will not accept 
 anything in excess of my actual expenses.
 
 73,
 Don W3FPR
 
 On 8/20/2013 2:48 AM, KC6CNN wrote:
 I wanted to take a minute to thank a few hams that help me assist a wounded
 warrior that just became a ham operator.
 I would like to thank  John   KF7OM  for being patient while a bunch of ham
 pooled their money to purchase a radio for the wounded warrior.
 
 I would like to thank Don Wilhelm  W3FPR for his help trouble shooting and
 walking me through a trouble shooting of a donated kio2 kit that did not
 work. Don you assistance was right on and you hit the nail on the head and
 solved the problem.
 
 I would also like to thank the fine people at Elecraft. Once Don had
 isolated the problem and it was a transistor. I called Elecraft and spoke
 with Howard. I explained that Don and I had been trouble shooting a KIO2 for
 a Wounded Warrior new ham and needed a transistor. I gave him a part number
 and Howard said I will get it sent out to you tomorrow. It arrived fast and
 resolved the problem.
 
 The radio was given to the Wounded Warrior today and he was beaming with
 pride. A bunch of local hams came out and built a dipole antenna and pitched
 in to get him on the air.
 
 When he found out that John, Don, Howard from Elecraft had all help a person
 they did not know it brought a tear to his eyes. For a Wounded Warrior who
 also suffers from PTSD. Ham radio allows him to met new people and talk
 around the world. Right now he has a Elecraft K2/10, we are all going to
 work on getting him a mic and eventually up to a 100 watts. But he showed
 great interest in qrp. The mic will not be used much I suspect as he has
 also expressed a great interest to do CW.
 
 So, Thanks to all of you that help in this project. It reassured me that
 hams are great people and that Elecraft is the very best in customer
 service. I know that most the hams down here could not believe that Elecraft
 would send the part out and that it was so easy to get ahold of a
 knowledgeable person from the company. I can assure you that the Wounded
 Warrior will not buy any other brand of rig, except Elecraft.
 
 Thank you all. It was very touching.
 73's Gerald KC6CNN
 
 
 
 -
 KC6CNN - Gerald
 K2 # 5486
 K3 # 6254
 KX3 # 757
 --
 View this message in context: 
 http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Wounded-Warrior-Ham-Operator-tp7577952.html
 Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
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Re: [Elecraft] Accessible Transceivers

[Buddy Brannan]

Yes. While it’s not complete (i.e. menu settings aren’t implemented), it 
definitely works, and has to one degree or another since June of last year when 
I got my KX3, #379. 

You can either:

1) Hold down the CWT button while powering on for the first time to turn on the 
morse UI at 20 WPM. 

Or

2) From the KX3 software, put the following in the macro tester/programmer tab:

MN071;MP=192;

Actually, you’re going to use a value between 192 and 199, depending on the 
speed you want the morse UI to use. I use a value of 197 for a value of 35 WPM, 
if my math isn’t far wrong.

I’ve set up the programmable function keys to do useful things and set things 
that I can’t easily do from the menu. PF1 changes the key jack from hand key to 
right-handed paddle use. PF2 cycles between five different combinations of AGC, 
ATU, and dual watch. If you want my specific macros, which use seven of the 
eight available spaces, let me know.
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Jun 29, 2013, at 8:05 PM, Chris Johnson o...@ozy.us wrote:

 Has the CW UI been enabled yet?   I have a friend who really needs it, just 
 like the KX1 did it.
 
 On Aug 23, 2012, at 12:58 PM, Jim Kutsch jimkut...@yahoo.com wrote:
 
 Wayne,
 I'm one of those blind hams with a KX3 now that #1291 arrived at my QTH this
 week.  I want to publically thank you for Elecraft's commitment to
 accessibility.  The Morse UI is outstanding!  And, of course the KX3 is an
 outstanding radio.  I am looking forward to even more access through the
 Morse UI in future firmware releases.  If I can help in any way, please ask.
 
 73,
 Jim, KY2D
 
 Morse  
 
 -Original Message-
 From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net
 [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Wayne Burdick
 Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2012 11:44 AM
 To: Buddy Brannan
 Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Fwd: Accessible Transceivers
 
 Looks good, Buddy. I've already contacted them, and will be happy to provide
 whatever support they need to accurately control all of our gear.
 
 As for the KX3, don't worry--I'll be adding many more built-in Morse UI
 features.
 
 73,
 Wayne
 N6KR
 
 On Aug 23, 2012, at 7:16 AM, Buddy Brannan wrote:
 
 High praise indeed for the K3, and for the accessory mentioned at 
 http://www.hampod.com
 
 
 Rumor is that the Hampod guys want to get it also working with the W2, 
 and with the KX3 for those guys who can't do the morse UI.
 Wayne, that doesn't mean stop working on the morse UI, another box to 
 carry around makes the KX3 a lot less portable, thanks. Although it 
 will solve the whole PSK decode problem.
 
 BTW, I now know of three KX3's that live with blind hams, and at least 
 three K3's. Doesn't mean there aren't more of both.
 
 --
 Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
 Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
 
 
 
 Begin forwarded message:
 
 From: Armand Bakalian asbakal...@comcast.net
 Subject: Accessible Transceivers
 Date: August 23, 2012 2:58:31 AM EDT
 To: blind-h...@listserv.icors.org
 Reply-To: For blind ham radio operators 
 blind-h...@listserv.icors.org
 
 
 Greetings to All,
 
 Reviewing some of the message traffic on the list, I see a lively 
 discussion about which rigs are more accessible for instance, the 
 Kenwood TS2000, 480, 590, and some of the Icom radios, which in my 
 opinion are limited in what they tell the operator.
 
 A week or so ago, I took the leap into the twenty-first century, when 
 I purchased an Elecraft K3 transceiver. We know the reputation, and 
 versatility, and expandability of the K3--why even some of the 
 operators on this list have taken the plunge.
 
 In my humble opinion, after being a ham for forty-six years, there is 
 no better combination than the Elecraft K3, and our own Rob 
 Santello's Hampod. Kenwood, Icom, and lastly Yaesu, can't hope to 
 hold a candle to what K6DQ has built, the Hampod K3 Reader.
 
 I seriously doubt that there isn't anything that the K3 Reader 
 doesn't tell you about what the K3 is doing. Rob has even built in 
 some macros that perform vital functions for blind ops, with a simple 
 push of a button. Sighted folks don't get that kind of service from 
 their visual display.
 
 Further, can you tell me which Kenwood rig will decode CW and PSK31, 
 and and read it aloud to you? If there is one, I must have missed it.
 
 The elegance and cutting edge technology employed in the K3 is 
 brought to life for the owner by the Hampod K3 Reader. I was amazed 
 to find that the radio even has a temperature sensor in the front 
 panel that can be queried by the Hampod, to tell you the ambient 
 temperature. Now that's really slick. The K3 Reader which was 
 developed by Rob, K6DQ over many months, and is still evolving is a 
 labor of love from which we all can benefit. Rob hand-builds each 
 unit, and, as some on this list can attest, he stands behind what he 
 does, providing service that any larger company can't duplicate

Re: [Elecraft] Accessible Transceivers

[Buddy Brannan]

I should emphasize that the radio is very, very usable in its current state, so 
your friend shouldn’t hesitate to get one. Besides being lots of fun, of course

--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Jun 29, 2013, at 8:55 PM, Wayne Burdick n...@elecraft.com wrote:

 What has been implemented so far is documented here:
 
   http://www.elecraft.com/manual/KX3%20CW%20UI%20rev%20E1.pdf
 
 We'll be adding more accessibility features in the future.
 
 73,
 Wayne
 N6KR
 
 
 On Jun 29, 2013, at 5:05 PM, Chris Johnson o...@ozy.us wrote:
 
 Has the CW UI been enabled yet?   I have a friend who really needs it, just 
 like the KX1 did it.
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[Elecraft] Oops, firmware upgrade died in the middle

[Buddy Brannan]

Hi,

So I went to update my KX3 firmware, and something or another happened, and the 
communication died in the idle. Now the KX3 won't power up so I can try again. 

Some time ago, I remember reading an article about how to get into an emergency 
recovery mode to reload firmware, but I can't seem to find that article now 
(naturally). Can anyone point me in the right direction?
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



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[Elecraft] Fwd: KX3 Accessibility Review

[Buddy Brannan]

Interesting review here, and I just left my comments. 
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



Begin forwarded message:

 From: Kelvin Marsh kel...@qti.org.uk
 Subject: KX3 Accessibility Review
 Date: May 15, 2013 12:44:39 PM EDT
 To: blind-h...@listserv.icors.org
 Reply-To: For blind ham radio operators blind-h...@listserv.icors.org
 
 Hi All,
 
 I've been quiet due to PC woes, but I've just posted the KX3 accessibility
 review at:
 
 http://active-elements.org/2013/05/15/elecraft-kx3-accessibility-review/
 
 Best wishes, Kelvin Marsh - M0AID
 
 Working to improve accessibility for radio amateurs with disabilities
 
 www.active-elements.org
 
 For accessibility evaluations of amateur equipment and MP3 manuals

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Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft Hats at Dayton?

[Buddy Brannan]

Wow, can one get an Elecraft hat not at Dayton? I can't get to Dayton, sad to 
say. 
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On May 14, 2013, at 9:50 PM, Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft 
e...@elecraft.com wrote:

 Yup!  Come early. :-)
 
 Eric
 elecraft.com
 
 On 5/14/2013 3:19 PM, Scott Manthe wrote:
 I'd love an Elecraft hat, but missed out on them last year. I'm wondering if 
 Wayne and Eric will have them this year?
 
 73,
 Scott, N9AA
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Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft Hats at Dayton?

[Buddy Brannan]

Oops, never mind. I'll be looking for those.
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On May 14, 2013, at 10:02 PM, Buddy Brannan bu...@brannan.name wrote:

 Wow, can one get an Elecraft hat not at Dayton? I can't get to Dayton, sad to 
 say. 
 --
 Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
 Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
 
 
 
 On May 14, 2013, at 9:50 PM, Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft 
 e...@elecraft.com wrote:
 
 Yup!  Come early. :-)
 
 Eric
 elecraft.com
 
 On 5/14/2013 3:19 PM, Scott Manthe wrote:
 I'd love an Elecraft hat, but missed out on them last year. I'm wondering 
 if Wayne and Eric will have them this year?
 
 73,
 Scott, N9AA
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Re: [Elecraft] Suggested key/paddle for CW for a the K3 and others (not expensive)

[Buddy Brannan]

What? All the bugs I have, all three of 'em, have dits on the thumb and dahs on 
the other not thumb side. Huh...
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Jan 5, 2013, at 9:26 PM, Erik Basilier ebasil...@cox.net wrote:

 Ron, since I learnt CW in Sweden many years ago, I am very comfortable
 transmitting without having the forearm on the table. In fact, I have used
 that method during all my years in the US until recently. The key to the
 method (pls forgive pun) is to mount the key on a platform under the table
 so that the upper arm can hang straight down and the forearm is in a
 horizontal position when holding the key knob. This is a very relaxed
 position. The type of key was (you guessed it) the Swedish type. The amount
 of stiffness in the wrist needs to be just right, so that when the arm
 presses down on the key, the hand moves a little upwards relative to the
 arm, providing some spring cushioning action. Only after I had hit my knee
 too many times on the key mounted under the table, and realizing that I was
 using paddles rather than a straight key all the time, did I recently remove
 that key and replaced it with a J-38 on the table. It took me a while to get
 the hang of it, and I still think my fist is better with the old method.
 
 
 
 BTW, when I first started using paddles, I had the dashes on the thumb and
 just couldn't learn it. Maybe I should have tried rolling the arm. When I
 switched to dits on the thumb I suddenly found sending easy. Never having
 tried a bug, I move only fingers, and with very small gaps.
 
 
 
 I would be interested to learn exactly how the super high speed types use
 the whole arm.
 
 
 
 73,
 
 Erik K7TV
 
 
 
 
 -
 
 Very interesting Barry. 
 
 
 
 I'm not a high speed operator (my best is 35 wpm) and 99% of my operating is
 
 15 to 25 wpm. I also use my whole arm, rolling it side to side to operate
 the paddles and find it very comfortable at those speeds for very long
 periods at the key. Indeed, many of the guys working at commercial stations
 used the same technique for entire work shifts sending long messages. 
 
 
 
 I'm aware that many non-US operators do *not* rest their forearm on the
 table. I can see how moving one's whole arm would be extremely tiring doing
 that. Indeed, I can't picture using a straight key that way, much less
 paddles. You didn't note whether that was what the guys like EU1KI do. 
 
 
 
 When I moved onto an Iambic keyer, I kept the same motion rolling my forearm
 resting on the table top. I have never used very tight spacing with tiny
 movements of thumb and fingers. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of us old
 bug operators do the same. 
 
 
 
 Also, I kept the standard orientation of dashes with thumb, dits with index
 finger. Been pounding brass that way for 60 years now. 
 
 
 
 My point is that the rarified world of 50 wpm and above obviously has its
 special demands on the operator, but few of us actually live there.
 
 
 
 73, Ron AC7AC
 
 
 
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Re: [Elecraft] missed market

[Buddy Brannan]

Well, this was good for a laugh, anyway. Go ahead with your nationwide 
petition, even send it to the White House if you like. If it's written anything 
like this Email, bet it won't get very far. Actually, even if it's written 
better than this Email, it won't get very far, as others have very correctly 
and succinctly pointed out. 

Wow is about the same reaction as I had. 

It was, anyway, a valiant attempt. At humor if at nothing else.

Merry Christmas, or something.

--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Dec 14, 2012, at 6:18 AM, rwm rwmr rwmr_10...@yahoo.com wrote:

 You guys missed a Big Part of the Market..
 You have a Great radio in the Portable K3X..
 
 With Recent Hurricane Sandy..
 Correct me if i am Wrong..
 
 Ham Radios are supposed to offer one ability to carry on Emergency contacts..
 Both for owner of radio ( for themselves and their family)
 As well as working with various local/regional emergency services..
 
 So that within a Crisis happening..
 Communications can be kept going where all other forms fail 
 (like how home and cell phones and power outages...that went on for at least 
 a week and up to still lack of power and phone service in some spots of NY 
 and NJ as direct result of Hurricane Sandy )
 
 Yet even though your K3X offers no more then 10 watts output
  (with external battery pack...5 watts in using internal batteries)
 
 Yet even though i asked..
 You refused to do a firmware upgrade so not only is the K3X be usable on HF 
 ham bands..But also on 11 meter/cb frequencies ..
 
 I could understand if it was a 100 watt or such radio.
 Fact is though it is clearly Not..
 
 The K3X is a Perfect radio for emergency use..
 Yet you CLEARLY leave out and refuse to allow one to use it on some of the 
 most used local frequency's that would enable one to remain in contact with 
 local people ( for themselves as well as surrounding community)
 
 This is Indeed a Very Big Over Sight.
 This is Also a Very Poor attitude..
 
 It seems you people are so Hard Core with offering High Quality Radios with 
 Excellent Abilities..
 Then when you Design a merging of SDR radio with a regular radio and Not 
 requiring a PC hook up..
 Offering a Huge advantage that other companies can only Hope to so offer ( 
 but can not )
 However in one of the Most Important aspects..You Also Drop the Ball..
 
 Will you Re consider ?
 Or do i need to start a Petition on a National scale
 (even bringing it to the white house if need be)
 In order to get this done with a simple 5 watt portable radio ?
 
 By the way
 
 Yes i am a ham radio operator.
 
 Owning a 706 MKIIG..IC-7000 .. AR-3500 .. RCI 2970 .. IC-R3 .. DR235 .. ID800 
 .. ID-1 .. T90a .. ID-91AD .. THF-6a
 various tuners..various power supplies .. 
 
 until recently with hurricane Sandy.. 
 create RC5 antenna rotor .. 2 meter,70 cm and 1.25 meter beams .. tribander 2 
 meter/70 cm/23cm vertical and 5/8 wave ground plane 11 meter antenna..
 
 Thankfully i had many batteries for my HT's and plenty of antennas for them..
 For as it turned out it was my ONLY means of communication to the outside 
 world for 9 or 10 days
 (pay phones..home phones..cell phones were all useless..power was out .. all 
 for over a week)
 
 I clearly would have befitted with battery operated able HF
  ( yes 11 meters as well )
 Even though via UHF i got out as far as 70 miles with just my HT and HT 
 antennas
 ( i had to go to to top of walkway on the bayonne bridge to get out beyond 10 
 miles during the first week to 2 weeks )
 I can easily get a Buddy Pole portable HF antenna to use with the K3X.
 
 So as i Now am still repairing my roof
  ( it still leaks like a lot any time it rains now )
 I am Now also looking to re create my antenna farm
 ( i likely can salvage my 70 cm beam..all the others are trash..also lost a 
 good deal of LDF5-50a and LDF7-50a coax feedline )
 So while re doing my antenna farm for base operations..
 I am also looking to further update my portable/backpack gear.
 (seems i also have to bite the bullet and get a car again.. thus getting 
 needed antennas for whatever car i get as well.. i have kept away from 
 driving for 20 years..but hurricane sandy showed if i needed to bail/evacuate 
 on my own..without driving on my own.. well it turned out it was not possible)
 
 Bob Muller
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Re: [Elecraft] Pacificon Interview

[Buddy Brannan]

Darn. And after I put it on my twitter and Facebook status. Really liked it. I 
pick the 10 duck-sized horses.
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Oct 17, 2012, at 2:21 PM, Steven Kline skli...@verizon.net wrote:

 Video has been removed by user.  Not available.
 
 Steve
 W5JK
 
 On Oct 17, 2012, at 9:40 AM, Rem . wrote:
 
 Over Saturday and Sunday at Pacificon I interviewed some well known members
 of the ham community (Elecraft).
 I asked them questions that they've never been asked before (in their
 lives) and got some interesting answers.
 
 If you enjoy the video, please share it with your ham clubs and friends,
 
 http://youtu.be/LPz7KShvtVM
 
 
 73
 
 Rem
 K6BBQ
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Re: [Elecraft] OT: FCC Exams

[Buddy Brannan]

On Sep 1, 2012, at 4:08 AM, G4DMP da...@g4dmp.fsnet.co.uk wrote:
 Perhaps we should now start a thread on the history of the UK Radio 
 Amateurs' Examination and Morse Test?  I think most definitely NOT.

Why not? I think it'd be interesting myself. Actually, 
licensing/testing/callsign issuing procedures other places than the one I live, 
I find kind of interesting myself. OK, so it's probably off topic for this 
list, but anyway. … 
 
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Sep 1, 2012, at 4:08 AM, G4DMP da...@g4dmp.fsnet.co.uk wrote:

 You may well apologise, Chuck, but as this is a worldwide reflector 
 about Elecraft products and assistance, information about American 
 license qualifications is of little interest to the rest of us.
 
 Perhaps we should now start a thread on the history of the UK Radio 
 Amateurs' Examination and Morse Test?  I think most definitely NOT.
 
 73 de David G4DMP
 
 In a recent message, Chuck Smallhouse w...@theriver.com writes
 Sorry for getting into this thread so late, but couldn't resist any longer.
 
 Boy when I took my first exam, I don't think that they had cameras,
 let alone photo IDs.  I don't think that they had them on my USNR ID
 card, that I received a few years later when I was 17.
 -- 
  + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - +
  | David M Pratt, Kippax, Leeds.   |
  | Website: http://www.g4dmp.co.uk |
  + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - +
 
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Re: [Elecraft] OT: FCC Exams

[Buddy Brannan]

I can answer that one, mostly, and only because I asked someone about it ages 
ago. Hard to believe that was at least 15 years ago. So, before Eric yells end 
the thread, as he will undoubtedly foo soon...

Anyway, all the 1X2 G calls were issued pre-WW2, and then they started with the 
G2's, but didn't complete the series. Full licensees got G3, G4, and then G0. 
Full no code licenses starting in 1968, I think, got G6, G7, and G8. Not sure 
about G1, but G5 three-letter suffixes were issued to reciprocal licenses, that 
is, until people could just sign W1XYZ/G0 or whatever (switching to the 
G0/W1XYZ format in the mid-90's.) Unlike calls issued here, the prefix, GM, GI, 
etc., denotes where in the UK the call is being used. Thus, G0XYZ, if he goes 
to Wales, becomes GW0XYZ. No muss, no fuss. Oh, and GB prefixes are special 
calls. Like special events, repeaters, probably club stations as well. 

When the G0 series finished up, they moved on to the M series for full 
licenses. M3 and M6 are reserved for the fairly recent Foundation class 
license. 

2E licenses are the old UK novice. Which I believe is now intermediate license. 
50 watts. I think I'm right about that, but I might not be full on. 

Anyone want to fill in the gaps and correct me where I err?
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Sep 1, 2012, at 1:49 PM, Jim Lowman jmlow...@sbcglobal.net wrote:

 Actually, David, I'm interested in not only the UK exams, but also the 
 callsign
 assignments; i.e. G vs. M vs. 2
 
 73 de Jim - AD6CW
 
 On 9/1/2012 1:08 AM, G4DMP wrote:
 You may well apologise, Chuck, but as this is a worldwide reflector
 about Elecraft products and assistance, information about American
 license qualifications is of little interest to the rest of us.
 
 Perhaps we should now start a thread on the history of the UK Radio
 Amateurs' Examination and Morse Test?  I think most definitely NOT.
 
 73 de David G4DMP
 
 
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[Elecraft] Fwd: Accessible Transceivers

[Buddy Brannan]

High praise indeed for the K3, and for the accessory mentioned at 
http://www.hampod.com


Rumor is that the Hampod guys want to get it also working with the W2, and with 
the KX3 for those guys who can't do the morse UI. Wayne, that doesn't mean stop 
working on the morse UI, another box to carry around makes the KX3 a lot less 
portable, thanks. Although it will solve the whole PSK decode problem. 

BTW, I now know of three KX3's that live with blind hams, and at least three 
K3's. Doesn't mean there aren't more of both.

--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



Begin forwarded message:

 From: Armand Bakalian asbakal...@comcast.net
 Subject: Accessible Transceivers
 Date: August 23, 2012 2:58:31 AM EDT
 To: blind-h...@listserv.icors.org
 Reply-To: For blind ham radio operators blind-h...@listserv.icors.org
 
 Greetings to All,
 
 Reviewing some of the message traffic on the list, I see a lively 
 discussion about which rigs are more accessible for instance, the Kenwood 
 TS2000, 480, 590, and some of the Icom radios, which in my opinion are 
 limited in what they tell the operator.
 
 A week or so ago, I took the leap into the twenty-first century,
 when I purchased an Elecraft K3 transceiver. We know the reputation, and 
 versatility, and expandability of the K3--why even some of the
 operators on this list have taken the plunge.
 
 In my humble opinion, after being a ham for forty-six years, there is
 no better combination than the Elecraft K3, and our own Rob
 Santello's Hampod. Kenwood, Icom, and lastly Yaesu, can't hope to
 hold a candle to what K6DQ has built, the Hampod K3 Reader.
 
 I seriously doubt that there isn't anything that the K3 Reader
 doesn't tell you about what the K3 is doing. Rob has even built in
 some macros that perform vital functions for blind ops, with a simple push 
 of a button. Sighted folks don't get that kind of service from
 their visual display.
 
 Further, can you tell me which Kenwood rig will decode CW and PSK31, and 
 and read it aloud to you? If there is one, I must have missed it.
 
 The elegance and cutting edge technology employed in the K3 is
 brought to life for the owner by the Hampod K3 Reader. I was amazed
 to find that the radio even has a temperature sensor in the front
 panel that can be queried by the Hampod, to tell you the ambient 
 temperature. Now that's really slick. The K3 Reader which was developed by 
 Rob, K6DQ over many months, and is still evolving is a labor of
 love from which we all can benefit. Rob hand-builds each unit, and,
 as some on this list can attest, he stands behind what he does, providing 
 service that any larger company can't duplicate. It didn't work, and the 
 owner had a brand new unit in his hands within less
 than a week, newly assembled and tested.
 
 Some may grumble that the Elecraft is expensive. In my opinion, the 
 prospective owner can scale the radio to his budget. Limited funds,
 you can start small, and since the radio is modular in design and 
 operation, you can add options to the radio as finances allow. Start out 
 with the ten watt version of the K3, and see what it's like running
 QRP. When you have the bucks, you can add the watts, and any other options 
 that are available.
 
 Sure, the K3 Reader doesn't cost what a VGS3 does, but it's not a
 VGS3 (hope I have that model right). The operator is not subject to
 the whims of Kenwood engineers who decide what's gonna talk, and what 
 ain't. With the K3 Reader, if the radio shows it, the Hampod K3
 Reader says it. Ask a Hampod owner.
 
 So, if you want to cruise the bands in extraordinary style Elecraft
 and Hampod is a marriage of technology we can all appreciate.
 
 After exploring this rig for a few hours, I can't wait to learn the radio, 
 and the K3 Reader. It'll take time, for both of these little boxes pack a 
 lot of stuff inside. In the end, I know the investment
 will sure be worth it.
 
 So if you can swing the finances, go Elecraft and Hampod!
 
 Hear you on the air,
 
 Armand W B 2 Z E I, Sacramento

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Re: [Elecraft] K3- support courtesy

[Buddy Brannan]

[Sorry n5GE, I forgot how this list is configured.]
Besides that, since we're talking about courtesy, wouldn't it be 
better, indeed, mor courteous, to assume that there was some other problem with 
Email delivery, and to then follow that up with a phone call to ask A0 about 
your problem and B) by the way, did you get my Email? Especially since Elecraft 
has had an excellent record for customer service responsiveness in the past, it 
strikes me as ever so slightly rude to assume right off that you're being 
ignored, instead of some other plausible explanation. For guys who take pride 
in their work, I might, were I in their shoes, even be a little offended at 
such an accusation. Of course, if i didn't really care what you thought, i 
wouldn't be offended, but I get the impression that Elecraft isn't the sort of 
company that would keep such people on staff for very long.

Vy 73,
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Aug 6, 2012, at 10:17 PM, N5GE li...@n5ge.com wrote:

 
 Bill,
 
 I looked at your shack photo on QRZ and I think there is a phone in the lower
 R/H corner of the photo.  If you are so concerned that Elecraft is ignoring 
 you,
 why not call them and ask them to tell you what the status of the repairs is?
 
 Tattling to the group here will not help you get your way.
 
 Amateur Radio Operator N5GE
 ARRL Lifetime Member
 QCWA Lifetime Member
 
 On Mon, 06 Aug 2012 21:19:50 -0400, Bill b...@w2blc.net wrote:
 
 My K3 has been at Elecraft for a week for warranty repairs (out of 
 service for three weeks). So, I dropped an email early today asking what 
 the status of repairs was. I never got a reply. So, after a few hours I 
 sent the email again - after all, emails do sometimes fail to get 
 through. Before the close of business, I sent yet another email asking 
 the status of repairs on my K3 (time zones were taken into consideration).
 
 No response from Elecraft at all! In the past I have been pleased with 
 support. And, I wouldn't question this oversight - except it amounts to 
 three oversights (three separate emails).
 
 Courtesy is cheap and is what I expect when dealing with a warranty 
 repair of an expensive piece of equipment. It only takes a moment to 
 make a quick reply - even if only saying, No change or I don't know.
 
 To ignore my emails either means they are swamped with warranty repairs 
 or the really don't care about me - the paying customer.
 
 
 
 
 Is this just an anomaly or is this the norm I should learn to expect?
 
 Bill W2BLC
 
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Re: [Elecraft] K3- support courtesy

[Buddy Brannan]

[Twice in a row…I should probably quit now.]
Wow, what did we ever do before Email?

Seriously, while the support page does say that Email is preferred, it doesn't 
say *not* to call, and if Email isn't working, I expect calling would resolve 
the issue and at least let you know what the explanation is for the non-answer 
of your Email. 
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Aug 6, 2012, at 10:01 PM, Bill K9YEQ k9...@live.com wrote:

 I agree.  They are so busy that emails get lost.  The phone is super!!!
 
 73,
 Bill
 K9YEQ
 
 
 -Original Message-
 From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net
 [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of W0MU Mike Fatchett
 Sent: Monday, August 06, 2012 8:31 PM
 To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3- support courtesy
 
 If it was that important to you why did you not pick up the phone and call?
 If I expect immediate action I call.  If I can wait I will send an email.
 
 
 Mike W0MU
 
 W0MU-1 CC Cluster w0mu.net
 
 On 8/6/2012 7:19 PM, Bill wrote:
 My K3 has been at Elecraft for a week for warranty repairs (out of 
 service for three weeks). So, I dropped an email early today asking 
 what the status of repairs was. I never got a reply. So, after a few 
 hours I sent the email again - after all, emails do sometimes fail to 
 get through. Before the close of business, I sent yet another email 
 asking the status of repairs on my K3 (time zones were taken into
 consideration).
 
 No response from Elecraft at all! In the past I have been pleased with 
 support. And, I wouldn't question this oversight - except it amounts 
 to three oversights (three separate emails).
 
 Courtesy is cheap and is what I expect when dealing with a warranty 
 repair of an expensive piece of equipment. It only takes a moment to 
 make a quick reply - even if only saying, No change or I don't know.
 
 To ignore my emails either means they are swamped with warranty 
 repairs or the really don't care about me - the paying customer.
 
 Is this just an anomaly or is this the norm I should learn to expect?
 
 Bill W2BLC
 
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[Elecraft] Upgrading KRC2 Firmware

[Buddy Brannan]

Hi

I want to upgrade my KRC2-ACC firmware from the currently installed 1.3 to the 
newest 1.6 version. However, none of my Windows PC's have a serial port, and I 
don't yet have the USB to serial adapter. However, my memory tells me that 
before the KRC2 update utility, it was possible to use a terminal program, or 
something, to send the firmware file over to the KRC2 manually. Which means I 
could probably do it with my Linux machine, which has a serial port. Does 
anyone know or remember the procedure for doing this, serial port settings, and 
so on? 

Thanks,
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



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[Elecraft] Fwd: [FPqrp-L] QRP ARCI ACCESSIBILITY CHALLENGE-UPDATE

[Buddy Brannan]

Thought this might interest some over here. It was Wayne's (very cool, I might 
add) idea, after all. 

I was talking to Gary, KB9ZUV, several weeks ago and he had a couple of great 
ideas for things he'd like to see in such a kit, and I agree with his ideas. 
Especially the tenna dipper, except with audible feedback instead of an LED. 
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



Begin forwarded message:

 From: ken evans w...@bellsouth.net
 Subject: [FPqrp-L] QRP ARCI ACCESSIBILITY CHALLENGE-UPDATE
 Date: April 24, 2012 10:00:35 AM EDT
 To: Flying Pigs fpqr...@fpqrp.org
 Reply-To: kenev...@kenevans.org
 
 
 
 
 
 
 QRP ARCI issued an Accessibility Challenge in January, 2012.  It was
 announced in the Winter 2012 QQ, the club website (see
 http://fdim.qrparci.org/content/view/128/ ) and various QRP lists.  The core
 of the challenge is for QRPers to create a kit that can be built by our
 visually impaired hams.  The rules are found at the web site above.  The
 intent was to make this a special category in the FDIM 2012 building
 contest. Entries would be on display at FDIM 2012 and a team of three judges
 would select the winning entries.
 
 Since issuing the challenge, we have received feedback from a number of
 sources stating that a four month timeline was overly optimistic to perform
 all the needed steps to develop such a kit.  We have discussed various
 alternatives and have decided to extend the timeline.  The rules will stand
 as initially stated, however this will be a special category at FDIM 2013.
 Thus giving a full year for the development and design effort.
 
 This extension will also give time to adequately publicize the challenge and
 insure a high level of participation. We apologize for our overly optimistic
 start.  Form your design teams and heat up the irons.  We look forward to
 seeing the results at FDIM 2013.
 
 Ken Evans, W4DU
 President - QRP ARCI 
 
 
 
 *** Manage your FPqrp-L options at 
 http://mail.fpqrp.org/mailman/listinfo/fpqrp-l_fpqrp.org ***

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Re: [Elecraft] Titanic radio traffic link

[Buddy Brannan]

Hi Fred,

No, I got that they were translating morse shorthand into plain English, but I 
can absolutely assure you that those were, in fact, software based speech 
synthesizers. I'm not sure about the German accented one, or the one that 
played the part of Olympic, but I definitely heard Neospeech Paul, Cepstral 
David and Cepstral Frank, Realspeak Tom and Realspeak Lee, and the part of 
Titanic was played by, I think the actual company is Babelsoft, anyway, his 
name's Peter. There might have also been Realspeak Daniel in there as well, I 
don't recall. This shows just how far text to speech has come. You're right in 
one respect though; those voices are modeled on and synthesized from actual 
human speech. 


--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Apr 12, 2012, at 10:25 PM, Fred Jensen k6...@foothill.net wrote:

 On 4/12/2012 6:49 PM, Buddy Brannan wrote:
 The saddest part of this report (at least on a personal level) is
 that I know most of the text to speech synthesizers they're using.
 
 I don't think that was quite it, Buddy.  Knowing the BBC, I think they 
 translated the Morse to normal English, what ever that is.  DE 
 became This is, MGY became Titanic, QTH became Our position is, 
 and the like.  I'm not sure why they went for the sort-of computer 
 voice, it actually sounded more to me like a real human trying to sound 
 a little computer-ish.  But I did think it began to give a feeling for 
 the dire moments.  I suspect Shut Up, Shut Up might have been QRT or QRX
 
 We also need to realize that the RO's were not using Elecraft equipment. 
 :-)  Their rotary sparks were hugely noisy, their receivers [and the RO] 
 heard [if it was very strong] whatever the antenna did not filter out, 
 DSP hadn't been invented yet, nor had keyers, QSK, or cans that covered 
 your ears and suppressed some of the external noise.
 
 I've always wondered what it was like at Cape Race during the Titanic 
 sinking.  I got to handle one small sort-of emergency while at the 
 coastal marine station.  I was about to leave for college and I think 
 the OG's wanted me to get one emergency in my logbook.  All sorts of 
 images went through my mind, none of which actually happened aboard the 
 ship of course.  No one sank, no one even got wet ... but it was a very 
 exciting hour or so for me, the CG was having problems copying them, QSP 
 for the USCG was a big deal for a 16-yr old ham of 3 years.
 
 73,
 
 Fred K6DGW
 - Northern California Contest Club
 - CU in the 2012 Cal QSO Party 6-7 Oct 2012
 - www.cqp.org
 
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Re: [Elecraft] [QRP-L] The Chinese KX3

[Buddy Brannan]

Just one thing to say on this:

Don't feed the trolls...
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Apr 13, 2012, at 6:49 PM, James Rodenkirch rodenkirch_...@msn.com wrote:

 
 Elecraft follows the Apple model - or vice versa...who knows!  Basic 
 product is sorta ok from a costing perspective but one starts to cringe 
 at $60.00 microphones and $170.00 20 watt antenna tuners and $170.00 iambic 
 keys...just sorta seems high end pricing... I could go and price out external 
 versions but that would detract from the Elecraft model - purchase the basic 
 rig and toss in lots of extras that fit into the rig and keep you one of the 
 Elecraft faithful.
 
 Your statement, Generally, the Chinese versions are reasonable value for 
 money but the equation generally does include a much lower build quality and 
 feature set and a much lower support level is sorta intriguingjust what 
 is a lower build quality and feature set and lower support level mean?
 
 Quote me some numbers and we can chat furtherJim R.
 
 
 
 From: tho...@horsten.com
 Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2012 23:02:25 +0100
 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [QRP-L] The Chinese KX3
 To: rodenkirch_...@msn.com
 CC: km4ik@gmail.com; elecraft@mailman.qth.net; qr...@mailman.qth.net; 
 j...@ae5x.com
 
 Jim,
 
 
 
 What exactly is absurd about the add on costs that Elecraft charges, in your 
 opinion ???
 
 
 That's the statement that sticks out to me as being absurd in your mail. You 
 buy the accessories you want/need and add it up. The total KX3 price after 
 doing that doesn't seem absurd to me. Not extremely cheap either, I'd agree, 
 but most certainly not absurdly expensive.
 
 
 There are Chinese knock-offs of many product categories. Generally, the 
 Chinese versions are reasonable value for money but the equation generally 
 does include a much lower build quality and feature set and a much lower 
 support level.
 
 
 To take the Wouxuns for example, they are great rigs for the price, but the 
 more expensive ones from Yaewoodcom do have a definitive edge on quality and 
 how well they are thought out. It's just questionable if they are worth 
 paying so much extra for, and personally I'm happy with my Wouxun. But for 
 something as primary to my ham operating as my main portable HF rig, I won't 
 settle for such a compromise.
 
 
 73, Thomas M0TRN
 
 
 On 13 April 2012 21:55, James Rodenkirch rodenkirch_...@msn.com wrote:
 
 If - IF -  they can produce a similar product at a reduced cost, including 
 the absurdity of the current add on costs that Elecraft charges, good for 
 them!
 
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Re: [Elecraft] Titanic radio traffic link

[Buddy Brannan]

The saddest part of this report (at least on a personal level) is that I know 
most of the text to speech synthesizers they're using. Not sure how I feel 
about that. But, yes, this was very well done. (It's probably good that I 
didn't produce this, as I'd have them talking at least twice as fast.) 
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Apr 12, 2012, at 5:14 PM, Hunsdon Cary III h3c...@gmail.com wrote:

 The sinking of the Titanic
 A very interesting version of the wireless narrative of the sinking of the 
 Titanic is offered by the BBC World Service. BBC producers used computer 
 generated voices of actual telegraphic exchanges to simulate the frantic 
 network traffic. 
 
 
 I expect this is of deep meaning to all amateur radio operators. The very 
 foundations of our service are clearly laid in this narrative. You'll hear 
 urgency, courage and disbelief from the wireless operators. You'll hear our 
 on-air jargon even as it is used today. You'll recognise network message 
 frustrations. You will be amazed when you hear echoes of our amateur radio 
 service as it is today--especially in times of disaster and recovery. Please 
 have a listen. 
 
 
 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00q89fy
 
 
 The valent efforts of the wireless officer John George Jack Phillips as his 
 ship sank are beyond description. 
 
 73,
 H. Cary, K4TM
 K3-100 #3448
 KPA-500 #698
 h3c...@gmail.com
 
 
 
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Re: [Elecraft] Emergency Help

[Buddy Brannan]

On Mar 10, 2012, at 11:59 PM, Mark Stennett m...@stennett.com wrote:

 *snicker*

*Crackle*

But what I really wanna know is, did the thugs that robbed him also steal his 
K2?
 
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Mar 10, 2012, at 11:59 PM, Mark Stennett m...@stennett.com wrote:

 *snicker*
 
 On 03/10/2012 09:42 PM, stephen pearce wrote:
 Hello
 
 I hope my message reaches you well. Kindly observe utmost confidentiality
 with what I'm about to tell you. I don't want some of my other friends to
 know about this. I had an urgent trip to Spain for a business Seminar but
 I'm in a fix right now; I was mugged  robbed on my way to the hotel. I
 lost my money, bank cards  mobile phone in the course of the incident. But
 I'm so happy I wasn't harm or hurt. Anyway, I’ve immediately called my bank
 to stop my cards. Will you be able to lend me some cash (about €2500euros).
 I will also appreciate any amount you can afford to lend me. I'll refund
 you as soon as I get back home next weekend.
 
 Regards
 
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Re: [Elecraft] KX1 Wanted...

[Buddy Brannan]

On Feb 25, 2012, at 11:52 AM, David Pratt da...@g4dmp.fsnet.co.uk wrote:

 I whole heartedly agree with your there, Dick. Unless one has physical
 shortcomings, it is much better to build one's own Elecraft equipment.

Heck, *I* agree with this. If I hadn't physical shortcomings (I guess totally 
blind counts…), and the building of stuff, even kits, is the one bit of the 
hobby I really feel as though I've missed out on. Because of this lack of 
personal, hands-on experience, I feel all of my knowledge (or a good lot of it, 
anyway) is very abstract, and I feel as though I don't know as much as a nearly 
25-year time in ham radio would suggest I should. 

Of course, having said that, i just love my Elecraft gear. Both pieces have 
special stories. And really looking forward to the KX3 I have on order. So, 
built or preassembled, it's all good. But I do wish I could've built. 
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Feb 25, 2012, at 11:52 AM, David Pratt da...@g4dmp.fsnet.co.uk wrote:

 I whole heartedly agree with your there, Dick. Unless one has physical
 shortcomings, it is much better to build one's own Elecraft equipment.
 This is borne out by many elementary questions appearing on the
 reflector from people who have not assembled their own gear. Had they
 built it themselves, the questions would not arise.
 
 73 de David G4DMP
 
 In a recent message, Dick Dievendorff die...@comcast.net writes
 I'd encourage you to build the kit.  A good part of the joy of the K1/KX1/K2
 experience is building the kit and bringing a radio to life from a
 collection of parts.  And then later when you use it, it just feels
 different if you've built it yourself.  You're missing a bunch of the fun if
 you buy it already assembled.
 
 -- 
 + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - +
 | David M Pratt, Kippax, Leeds.   |
 | Website: http://www.g4dmp.co.uk |
 + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - +
 
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Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft CW Net cancellation

[Buddy Brannan]

And speaking of how ham radio must be changing over the years, what the heck 
did people do about signal reports before they had S meets to read? Bear in 
mind that this question is mostly rhetorical. I don't bother with S meter 
readings myself, but I do try to give honest signal reports anyway. BTW, you'll 
note that many if not most contests don't use signal reports as part of the 
exchange anymore precisely because of the 599 problem. (Obviously, the 
current, or recently finished, is an exception.) 

I predict an end of thread message shortly.
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Feb 19, 2012, at 10:01 PM, Ken wrote:

 
 On Feb 19, 2012, at 6:16 PM, Gary K9GS wrote:
 
 Well Ken, one can nit pick many aspects of our hobby.  What's your point?
 
 I guess my point is that the signal report has been cheapened into being 
 valueless.   Why give anyone a signal report if it's a lie?   sigh   I 
 guess ham radio has just changed so much over the years.
 
 
 
 I've always wondered why non-contesters worry so much about what 
 contesters do?
 
 You are right, I don't care about what contesters do.  But the same 599 
 standard seems to have invaded the digital modes, which I do operate.  I 
 mean why bother with a signal report if it's totally inaccurate?   I really 
 am interested in what my signal really is.  
 
 Personally, I won't give out a signal report until I get a chance to look at 
 the S-meter.
 
 
 The HK0NA DX-Pedition made over 193,000 DX QSOsand I'll bet 99.9% of 
 the signal reports given were 59(9).
 
 Now IMO, that's really sad if true.  Why pass along false information?   Some 
 people probably would like to know (truthfully) how their signal compares.
 
 Ken WA8JXM
 
 
 
 
 
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Re: [Elecraft] 4035 Power Supply

[Buddy Brannan]

FWIW, I have a little Jetstream power supply. This one's 28 amps peak, 25 
continuous, No meters, but I think they make one with meters. They also have a 
45-amp peak one. Nice little switching supply, very small, and the fan is 
quiet, and I haven't heard a bunch of noise from it either. I think I got mine 
from Cheapham.com although you can also check randl.com. Prices on these are 
really very reasonable.
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Jan 23, 2012, at 1:33 PM, John Veach wrote:

 I'm looking at linear supplies and the MFJ-4035MV looks like a good value. 
 Has anyone used one?  Thoughts?
 
 73 Bill NZ0T
 
 I have one Bill.  I replaced a 2225 or something like that switching power 
 supply with the 4035. The first one MFJ sent me had a defective volt meter in 
 it 
 but they promptly replaced it for me. The only complaint I have is that the 
 fan 
 is rather noisy. I read about one guy who stuck a resistor in the fan circuit 
 to 
 slow it down but since I use my cans almost all the time, I don't hear it 
 like I 
 do when I don't put the headset on.  Overall, for the price, I'm pretty happy 
 with my 4035.  
 
 
 John KE4D
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Re: [Elecraft] [KX3 amp] 100/50

[Buddy Brannan]

Hi,

I think the original 50 watt limit was regarding the UK intermediate license, 
the ones that have a 2E prefix. I defer, however, to your expertise, since I 
don't live there :)
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Jan 21, 2012, at 9:36 AM, Christopher Plummer wrote:

 
 Phillip,
 
 For your information UK amateurs have a 26dBW limit = 400 Watts PEP upper 
 limit on most HF bands, (80m and above)
 
 Chris G8APB
 
 
 --
 
 Message: 10
 Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:27:52 -0500
 From: Phillip Nichols scotchma...@yahoo.com
 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [KX3 amp] 100/50
 To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
 Message-ID: 4f1860a8.9000...@yahoo.com
 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
 
 The issue is regarding setting a MAXIMUM output limit. for Legal or 
 Safety reasons!
 
 In both cases - where accidental QRO could be consequential... Legally 
 or health-wise.
 
 In my case, I limit max power for my children's sake! In JA and UK's 
 cases - there was a 50w Legal upper limit.
 
 73/Phillip/N8AYE
 -. ---.. .- -.-- .
 
 
 
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Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 (another view)

[Buddy Brannan]

The only real problem with amp over antennas is that an amp only helps in one 
direction. Better antennas help both ways :)

And what about alligator stations? You know, big mouth, little ears? 

In my getting to be 25 years on the air, I've never had an amp. Never seen a 
need for one. Maybe it's just that I don't know what I'm missing. Of course, 
I also have never had a yogi or quad or any other sort of directional antennas, 
living on small city lots or in apartments. I'd personally rather sink money 
into antennas, myself. 

It's all good though. You say potato and all that… 
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Jan 17, 2012, at 8:43 PM, briana wrote:

 The other point about desktop db is that repair is a heck of a lot easier.
 No antenna parties, climbing and dealing with the elements.
 Having an amp like a KPA1500 which one can fix helps keep those db's on 
 the air.
 
 I've seen many ham stations with inoperative antennas that eventually 
 lead to QRT rather than repair.
 
 73 de Brian/K3KO
 
 
 On 1/17/2012 7:45 PM, Mike K2MK wrote:
 I'm hoping they skip the middle man and go right for the KPA-1500. Folks
 considering a KW might have been persuaded by the fine reviews and excellent
 integration to jump into the KPA-500. Those desiring the legal limit are
 probably taking a wait and see approach.
 
 73,
 Mike K2MK
 
 
 alsopb wrote
 
 It's been stated here that the difference between 1500W and 500W is
 mostly unimportant.  Most views are going from about 100 w to 500 W.
 
 Here is another view based up the past 15 days of operation with a
 KPA-500.  The previously 1500 watts was used with identical antennas.
 
 I chase DX and specifically the DX Marathon award where you try to work
 as many countries as possible each year.  Yes I can still work stations
 but the net effect is:
 
 1) You won't work everything you used to
 2) It takes longer to work them
 3) SSB pileup cracking is more difficult
 4) RTTY pileups are more difficult still.
 
 Frustration.
 
 It hasn't been a complete wash.  I've managed 174 countries/40 zones
 with the KPA-500 BUT GETTING THERE WAS A LOT MORE DIFFICULT than Jan.
 2011.
 
 The above isn't unexpected.
 
 Bring on a KPA-1000.
 
 73 de Brian/K3KO
 
 
 
 --
 View this message in context: 
 http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KPA500-another-view-tp7198413p7198652.html
 Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
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 No virus found in this message.
 Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
 Version: 10.0.1416 / Virus Database: 2109/4149 - Release Date: 01/17/12
 
 
 
 
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Re: [Elecraft] [KX3] Sideswiper mode for internal keyer (also K3)

[Buddy Brannan]

Hey Ron,

I don't know if I'd like a bug mode for an iambic paddle. MFJ has such a thing 
built into at least some of their keyer models, and it feels weird to me.

That said, I absolutely love using a bug. I just got, about a month ago, an 
Electro bug, circa 1930. Got it off eBay, and it's in beautiful shape and sends 
very nice code. All the extra dits are all mine, but after several weeks of 
use, I find fewer and fewer of those, and think I finally have the thing 
adjusted to comfortable use that I can make sound pretty decent. 

I also have a sideswiper, and yes, it really is harder than it sounds to get 
good code out of it. I definitely send faster with a standard straight key than 
with a sideswiper. No question. It's definitely a skill that will take some 
time to master, at least it has been for me. Lots of fun with the bug, though. 

Now maybe us oddballs can get a single lever paddle for the KX3? Eh? Heck, this 
Electro bug weighs probably three KX3's! Not great for portable ops, and that's 
a fact. 
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Jan 10, 2012, at 6:11 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:

 Way back when the K2 was still a new product, I asked for a bug mode in 
 which the dit part of the keyer worked normally (but without the dit memory) 
 and the dash side required the operator to press the paddle for each dash, 
 just as one does on a bug. 
 
 I use a bug most of the time, and if I switch to the keyer for more than a 
 few minutes, it really interferes with my spacing on dashes when I return to 
 the bug.  So I wanted a mode that worked just like a bug. 
 
 In spite of frequent discussions, the idea never got any traction. That's 
 what happens to us oddballs who operate differently from the mainstream. 
 It's just not worth the time and money to develop the code for us. 
 
 So, when necessary, I use the keyer and simply tap the dash paddle for each 
 dash as if it was a bug. The only irritation doing that is that I can't use 
 the customary long dash for zero. If I'm not careful I send two dashes on the 
 keyer, Hi! 
 
 Like Peter I don't think I'll tackle a sideswiper. A straight key and bug are 
 enough for me. I got very comfortable with an iambic keyer but quit because I 
 enjoyed the challenge of using a bug properly even more. I bet the sideswiper 
 gang feel the same way about their keys. 
 
 73, Ron AC7AC
 
 
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Re: [Elecraft] Amazing!

[Buddy Brannan]

There are lots of construction articles and sites. I'd love to try my hand at 
building one, sometime, maybe. But for the time being, I have one of these:
http://www.g4tph.com

Our (meaning the collective list's) friend Julian, G4ILO, has a nice article on 
building a portable loop here:
http://www.g4ilo.com/wonder-loop.html

And a real treausre trove here:
http://www.standpipe.com/ w2bri / 

More around, I'm sure.
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Jan 4, 2012, at 6:54 PM, Bill Harris wrote:

 
 TomGo here:   
 http://www.aa5tb.com/loop.html 
 Carry on
 Bill-w7kxb  
 
 From: k...@kq8m.com
 To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
 Date: Wed, 4 Jan 2012 18:25:58 -0500
 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Amazing!
 
 Can someone direct me to construction guides besides the Ant Handbook. That
 thing drives me nuts. hi hi I would like to build one for 40/80 mtr
 receiving. Possibly others for 30 on up.
 
 
 
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Re: [Elecraft] Vibroplex - seen on ABC Pan Am (OT)

[Buddy Brannan]

GOtta agree with Ron re: mangled code. Code sent with a bug, straight key, or 
sideswiper is a bit like handwriting. Some people have very sloppy handwriting, 
or in this case, send sloppily. I think these things really add character and 
make the whole thing a lot less sterile. Heck, if I wanna talk to a machine, 
I'll get on the Internet. And I have enough mechanical voices in my head 
already, much as I like having them and helpful as they are to me. So give me a 
well-handled bug any day of the week; in my view, there's nothing nicer to 
listen to than that. And I've heard some fantastic ones really recently on 40 
meters, so I, for one, am glad that there are still those practicing the art.

Now if I can find time to get more comfortable with this cootie key I got from 
Stan a while ago. Oh, and get ahold of another bug one of these days to torture 
people with :-)
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Oct 29, 2011, at 1:45 AM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:

 With full respect Ken, it is NOT mangled code. A bug sends human Morse
 code as opposed to machine-generated code that is about as friendly as
 computer-generated voices. 
 
 Mike, the military still required radiotelegraph operators on some of their
 aircraft and the commercial airlines used CW for trans-Pacific flights. 
 
 I worked for Lockheed and held a commercial radiotelegraph license for just
 that purpose. 
 
 I enjoy watching the Pan Am TV show because that was how flying was back
 in the 50's and 60's. I did a lot of it then. Wow, have times changed! 
 
 BTW, I still hold a current commercial radiotelegraph license, but I doubt
 if I'll need it again, Hi! 
 
 73, 
 
 Ron AC7AC
 
 -Original Message-
 
 Never been a big fan of bugs and the mangled code most people send with 
 them.  ...
 
 73,
 
 Ken Alexander
 VE3HLS
 
 
 On 29/10/2011 12:09 AM, Mike Morrow wrote:
 Noted last episode a Vibroplex or similar was used
 to send a telegram or cablegram
 
 http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/pan-am/jet-setter/104a-cablegram
 I wonder if, by the early 1960s, there were **any** commercial
 aircraft radiotelegrapher positions still used on US airlines.  The
 Element 7 Aircraft Radiotelegraph Endorsement to the First or Second
 Class Radiotelegraph License was still available from the FCC even in
 the mid-1980s.  But that was likely more than 25 years after all such
 positions had ceased to exist.
 
 Mike / KK5F
 
 
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Re: [Elecraft] Vibroplex - seen on ABC Pan Am (OT)

[Buddy Brannan]

I don't believe anyone said sending sloppy code is desirable, only that it's 
sometimes a fact of life. What I, at least, am saying, is that I think that 
code that is somewhat less than perfect is OK. Well spaced code, well formed 
characters, are certainly desirable and a worthy goal. But I also think that 
using mechanical means of generating code of necessity means that there will be 
imperfections in characters and in spacing. 
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Oct 29, 2011, at 1:20 PM, Ken Alexander wrote:

 It sounds like everyone is saying sending sloppy code is desirable.  How odd; 
  I always thought hams took pride in their sending.  Well formed, well spaced 
 characters are much easier to copy.  I find nothing quaint or charming about 
 sending dits at 30wpm and dahs at 10 wpm, which is typical of what I hear.  
 Either slow down the dits or speed up the manually sent dahs.  I know there 
 are limits on how slow you can send dits with a bug, but if you can't slow it 
 down enough then consider using another instrument for sending code or resign 
 yourself to the fact that VE3HLS will never answer your CQ (that should be 
 pretty easy to live with)! :-)
 
 dah  dah dididit dididit 
 dah  dah! :-)
 
 Ken,
 VE3HLS
 
 
 On 29/10/2011 9:02 AM, Buddy Brannan wrote:
 GOtta agree with Ron re: mangled code. Code sent with a bug, straight key, 
 or sideswiper is a bit like handwriting. Some people have very sloppy 
 handwriting, or in this case, send sloppily. I think these things really add 
 character and make the whole thing a lot less sterile. Heck, if I wanna talk 
 to a machine, I'll get on the Internet. And I have enough mechanical voices 
 in my head already, much as I like having them and helpful as they are to 
 me. So give me a well-handled bug any day of the week; in my view, there's 
 nothing nicer to listen to than that. And I've heard some fantastic ones 
 really recently on 40 meters, so I, for one, am glad that there are still 
 those practicing the art.
 
 Now if I can find time to get more comfortable with this cootie key I got 
 from Stan a while ago. Oh, and get ahold of another bug one of these days to 
 torture people with :-)
 --
 Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
 Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
 
 
 
 On Oct 29, 2011, at 1:45 AM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:
 
 With full respect Ken, it is NOT mangled code. A bug sends human Morse
 code as opposed to machine-generated code that is about as friendly as
 computer-generated voices.
 
 Mike, the military still required radiotelegraph operators on some of their
 aircraft and the commercial airlines used CW for trans-Pacific flights.
 
 I worked for Lockheed and held a commercial radiotelegraph license for just
 that purpose.
 
 I enjoy watching the Pan Am TV show because that was how flying was back
 in the 50's and 60's. I did a lot of it then. Wow, have times changed!
 
 BTW, I still hold a current commercial radiotelegraph license, but I doubt
 if I'll need it again, Hi!
 
 73,
 
 Ron AC7AC
 
 -Original Message-
 
 Never been a big fan of bugs and the mangled code most people send with
 them.  ...
 
 73,
 
 Ken Alexander
 VE3HLS
 
 
 On 29/10/2011 12:09 AM, Mike Morrow wrote:
 Noted last episode a Vibroplex or similar was used
 to send a telegram or cablegram
 
 http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/pan-am/jet-setter/104a-cablegram
 I wonder if, by the early 1960s, there were **any** commercial
 aircraft radiotelegrapher positions still used on US airlines.  The
 Element 7 Aircraft Radiotelegraph Endorsement to the First or Second
 Class Radiotelegraph License was still available from the FCC even in
 the mid-1980s.  But that was likely more than 25 years after all such
 positions had ceased to exist.
 
 Mike / KK5F
 
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Re: [Elecraft] KX3 dimensions?

[Buddy Brannan]

By very lightweight antenna, do you mean the aforementioned 1oz of 26 gauge 
wire with the also aforementioned 1oz fishing weight? 

I'm really going to have to do something king on pedestrian mobile, or 
pedestrian portable. The loop I got (mentioned earlier) looks like it'll be 
great for portable, easy to set up if you're not going to move around a lot, 
but not so easy to walk with fully deployed. Well, probably not, anyway. I'll 
have to give it some thought, anyway. However. Remote control head with mic has 
some interesting possibilities, hasn't it? I suppose if the mic and serial 
jacks are mounted close enough together, or even mic, speaker, and serial 
jacks. I hadn't even thought of this. Wow….
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Oct 21, 2011, at 12:19 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote:

 Hi Dave,
 
 I did a presentation at the Pacificon HFpack forum titled HFpack Lite  
 and the Elecraft KX3, in which I proposed a 5-pound (total) variation  
 on HFpack. It is based on the KX3, a very lightweight antenna,  
 external Li battery, and a hypothetical mic-on-steroids that could  
 control the radio while it is in the backpack -- including turning it  
 on/off. The talk was very well received, with lots of input on  
 possible antennas, etc., from the audience. Bonnie was there, and  
 later stopped by our booth, which I interpreted as a celebrity  
 endorsement.
 
 I'd be happy to send you my powerpoint presentation, although it is  
 long on illustrations and short on explanations. You'll have to use a  
 bit of imagination.
 
 73,
 Wayne
 N6KR
 
 
 I will be most interested to see how the HF Packer folks respond to  
 the KX3.
 I'm not one myself, but they are a very innovative group when it  
 comes to
 implementing small radios.  Since radios like the FT-817 and IC-703  
 are
 relative power hogs compared to the KX3, I suspect that will be  
 another very
 significant factor.  It's always a lot of fun watching these folks  
 do their
 thing, as was the case most recently at Pacificon.  Bonnie, KQ6XA,  
 was
 putting out a very potent signal with her setup at Pacificon, and  
 knocking
 off contacts one right after another.  She was getting better signal  
 reports
 than I was using my 100 watt mobile setup!  Anyway, I can already  
 visualize
 how HF Packers will fabricate a way of mounting a KX3 in front of  
 them and
 having substantially enhanced operating ergonomics in the process.
 
 As Terry, WA0ITP says, I love this stuff!  Even as a spectator!
 
 Dave W7AQK
 
 
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Re: [Elecraft] KX3 dimensions?

[Buddy Brannan]

 
On Oct 21, 2011, at 1:32 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote:
 
 No. I'm searching for the ultimate lightweight whip material. I'd like a 7' 
 untuned whip that is self-supporting and straight in normal use, bends 
 without being damaged if it hits a tree branch, weighs only a few ounces, and 
 is nearly invisible.

Huh. That could be interesting. Definitely sounds like fun times. :)
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY





 Buddy Brannan wrote:
 
 By very lightweight antenna, do you mean the aforementioned 1oz of 26 
 gauge wire with the also aforementioned 1oz fishing weight?
 
 No. I'm searching for the ultimate lightweight whip material. I'd like a 7' 
 untuned whip that is self-supporting and straight in normal use, bends 
 without being damaged if it hits a tree branch, weighs only a few ounces, and 
 is nearly invisible.
 
 Wayne
 N6KR
 

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Re: [Elecraft] KX3 dimensions?

[Buddy Brannan]

Getting more excited by this radio by the minute. 

Seems to me, even with the relatively heavy G4TPH portable loop and whatever 
stand I manage to cobble together for that (thinking lots of PVC in one foot or 
15 inch sections, tall enough to get the loop off the ground by a foot or a 
foot and a half, this is going to be one very lightweight station and lots of 
fun (and easy) to carry around. Sorry, afraid I'll have to go a little heavier 
on the antennas than Wayne does, my aim isn't very good. Even so, taking a 
complete station in well under five pounds, if not for hiking, certainly for 
hotel stays and other vacationing, is really, really attractive. 

By relatively heavy, I mean as compared to Wayne's one ounce of 26 gauge 
wire. I expect the loop, consisting of 10 flat pieces of aluminum bolted 
together with a tuning capacitor, can't weigh more than the KX3. But that is 
quite a bit heavier than one ounce :)
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Oct 20, 2011, at 7:31 PM, Fred Jensen wrote:

 On 10/20/2011 2:49 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote:
 
 Note that the KX3's attached paddle (KXPD3) weighs about 1 oz. I
 usually carry 1 oz. of #26 antenna wire and a 1-oz. fishing weight to
 get the wire into a tree. Add another 8 oz for batteries and 5 for the
 mic, and you're at about 2.5 lbs for the entire station.
 
 1.  Any chance the KSPD3 will appear as an item by itself?  It is s 
 really cool, and about all I got to play with at Pacificon, given the 
 number of people gawking at the KX3.
 
 2.  Exactly how do you find time for very lightweight backpacking?
 
 73,
 
 Fred K6DGW
 - Northern California Contest Club
 - CU in the 2012 Cal QSO Party 6-7 Oct 2012
 - www.cqp.org
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[Elecraft] A Really, Really, Really Dumb Question

[Buddy Brannan]

Hi,

Yeah, really. Exceedingly dumb, but I figure I'd better ask anyway.

I have a K2/100. Naturally, this means it has the SO239 antenna connector on 
the 100-watt amp, It also, of course, still has the BNC connector from the 
original assembly of the original K2. So, with the KPA100 integrated, is it 
still possible (with the amp turned off, naturally) to use the BNC antenna 
connector? It seems to me it's possible, and that I actually did connect an 
antenna there once, but just want to be sure that it doesn't matter much, so 
long as the amp is disabled.
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



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Re: [Elecraft] XG3 and KX3 Development

[Buddy Brannan]

i Lyle,

Thanks for those. That SOTA expedition sounded like lots of fun! Now planning 
for portable antenna systems. Sorry, throwing wires into trees is right out; my 
aim is terrible. Looking at this small magnetic loop at http://www.g4tph.com at 
the moment. Those have interested me for quite a long time, actually. So, I'll 
wile away the hours on that as well :)

Thanks again for the links.
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Sep 15, 2011, at 10:30 AM, Lyle Johnson wrote:

 Hello Buddy!
 
 To help you while away the hours until the KX3 is ready, you might find the 
 following two links useful.
 
 This one explains the XG3 by the ARRL lab (scheduled for review in the 
 November 2011 issue, I believe):
 
  URL:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhrW4UkJ2_U 
 
 And this one shows the activation of Little Si using an engineering prototype 
 KX3!
 
  URL:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR5ddaNREGE 
 
 Enjoy!
 
 73,
 
 Lyle KK7P
 
 Lyle, you really know how to up the excitement on this thing, don't you? I 
 mean, we're already on the edge of our collective seats waiting...

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Re: [Elecraft] XG3 and KX3 Development

[Buddy Brannan]

Lyle, you really know how to up the excitement on this thing, don't you? I 
mean, we're already on the edge of our collective seats waiting for this thing, 
and we're already drooling like Pavlovian dogs here. 
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Sep 14, 2011, at 8:15 PM, Lyle Johnson wrote:

 Just a note that the XG3 has proven to be extremely handy in DSP code 
 development for the KX3.  When I was doing initial DSP code work on the 
 prototype K3, I had to use bulky, cumbersome signal generators and PCs 
 and other transceivers.
 
 But using only the XG3:
 
 The ability to set known signal levels helped speed the development of 
 the KX3 S Meter code.
 
 The ability to send a repeating RTTY beacon helped in porting the K3's 
 FSK (RTTY) decoding algorithms to the KX3.
 
 The ability to beacon CW helped in porting the K3's CW Decode algorithm 
 to the KX3.
 
 73,
 
 Lyle KK7P
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Re: [Elecraft] 'Q' signal trivia

[Buddy Brannan]

bk doesn't bother me so much if it's sent as BK and not _BK_ (i.e. not run 
together). For clarity's sake, if I just end with K I leave an extra amount of 
space so that meaning is clear, per Igor's note below. 

I don't ever use _KN_ myself anymore. Mostly because, yes, it's a parentheses, 
but also because all the ARRL books I ever read when I was studying back in the 
'80's, and these books were older than that by some amount, said that _KN_ 
means something like, I only want a response from the other station, no 
breaking stations please, which doesn't seem terribly friendly. 
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Jul 19, 2011, at 8:05 AM, Igor Sokolov wrote:

 When I hear something like UA9CDC de UA9AFK I always wonder if it is UA9AFK 
 or UA9AF K
 I always thought that BK is used when one wants to omit sending both call 
 signs in the end of message. I also thought that station sending BK wants to 
 tell me that he is using break in and therefore can be interrupted whenever 
 is needed.
 
 73, Igor UA9CDC
 
 - Original Message - 
 From: Gary Gregory garyvk...@gmail.com
 To: Mike Morrow k...@arrl.net
 Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
 Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2011 9:25 AM
 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] 'Q' signal trivia
 
 
 sounds good to me...AR
 
 On 19 July 2011 13:04, Mike Morrow k...@earthlink.net wrote:
 
 Bert wrote:
 
 I've yet to hear --...  ...--  ... sent - hihi
 
 Don't you mean --... ...-- .. ... ?  :-)
 
 My pet peeve is use of that damned BK.  KN doesn't make much sense
 either...that's actually an open parenthesis.  Both are just ham-only
 prosigns that would never have been heard on professional military or
 commercial Morse radiotelegraph circuits.
 
 What's wrong with the military standard:  If a response is expected from
 the other station, send K (equivalent to phone OVER).  If a response
 is not expected, send AR (equivalent to phone OUT).  That's it in
 total!
 
 There's zero value to that repulsive BK that has spread like an ugly
 malignant Morse teratoma among many hams in the past decade or so.
 
 Mike / KK5F
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 -- 
 
 VK4FD - Motorhome Mobile
 Elecraft Equipment
 K3 #679, KPA-500 #018
 Living the dream!!!
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Re: [Elecraft] Iambic Keying (WAS: Straight key first?)

[Buddy Brannan]

Heh. I just copy in my head. Have pretty much since the beginning. The only 
time I've ever written down anything during cw q's has been 1) traffic handling 
and 2) logging. When I remember to, lately, yes, I've slipped into lazy habits. 
With this in mind, I am still baffled when I hear people, especially old school 
military ops, who say they can't copy code unless they write it down or type on 
a typewriter. The human brain is a strange beast, and no mistake. 
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Jun 29, 2011, at 10:13 PM, Dale Putnam wrote:

 
 I learned with a straight key and a stick. It took me about half of one QSO 
 to figure out swapping a pencil back and forth, along with throwing the t-r 
 switch, and the mute switch, adjusting the tx, then keying the key, and 
 reversing all that, pretty near made it necessary to use my off hand for the 
 key... keeping the pencil corralled was a good thing. So when paddles came 
 along, it was pretty near easy to move to a nice paddle, keyer, and still 
 keep the pencil corralled. It wasn't until just a couple years ago that I had 
 the fun of playing with a Halli T-O keyer... and a single lever Vibroplex. 
 Remember when that was THE setup? Well.. I rather had a tussle with it, so am 
 back with the paddles now, with 8 on the desk now. And one Junkers straight 
 key. Still keeping the pencil or keyboard in my left hand.It is a lot easier 
 to write with my left hand and key with the right, although I can do it the 
 other way, for those few times that someone has the paddles backwards for me. 
 Bu
 t it doesn't sound good. Way past the Lake Erie swing... 
 
 --...   ...--
 Dale - WC7S in Wy
 
 Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2011 21:59:51 -0400
 From: w3...@embarqmail.com
 To: carlclaw...@frontier.com
 CC: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Iambic Keying (WAS: Straight key first?)
 
  OK, I have made a vow to learn to send with my right hand within the 
 next year, so my left hand is free to write.  Then I will not have to 
 change any of the transmitters to reverse the paddles anymore.
 
 Being a Southpaw can be a good thing!
 
 73,
 Don W3FPR
 
 
 
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Re: [Elecraft] Straight key first? (was: Re: K3 in the Media)

[Buddy Brannan]

On Jun 28, 2011, at 9:06 PM, Vic K2VCO wrote:

 The hardest CW to copy (for me anyway) has insufficient spacing between 
 letters or words. 
 This is exactly what a keyer does NOT help you with! The operator has to 
 learn to 
 recognize what good CW sounds like. Does sending with a straight key help 
 with that? 
 Maybe, but I doubt it.

Nah, not with that. I think sending with a straight key does help with getting 
a feel for how characters are structured, though. Not a bad thing, but like 
others here, I'd much rather have interested cw ops than insisting on straight 
keys all the way. On the other hand (am I an octopus?), an op who handles a 
straight key well is a real joy to work. Ditto for a well-handled bug. I'd love 
to be able to use both well myself; straight key fist is a bit rusty, not what 
it once was, but it's coming back, and I'm having a lot of fun with it. I 
expect I'm more critical of my sending than some might be of it, though.
 
 Many of you have heard old-timers with bugs sending with the banana-boat 
 swing (dits way 
 too fast for the dahs) or the Lake Erie swing (think about sending from a 
 rolling ship). 
 These are generally considered 'bad CW', but they aren't difficult to copy.

Unless the spacing is off, then, well, all bets are off. I don't mind some 
swing, it adds character. 
 
 The techniques of sending with an iambic paddle, a bug and a straight key are 
 very 
 different. I don't think learning one helps you with the others.

Completely agree. To this day, I still can't send properly with an iambic 
paddle and tend to use them as though they were single lever paddles. Even 
though I've never owned such a beast. Really, really want another bug, though. 

But getting back to the straight key for a second, probably the worst code I've 
ever heard came from a straight key. Unfortunately, my friend Dave, N5RUL, had 
to suffer through that as his first cw contact. Were I not there to back him up 
on copy, and I really struggled with that myself, he'd have been completely 
lost and probably discouraged. The guy's dits and dahs were almost nearly the 
same length! Strange but true. In that case, I don't think a straight key 
helped him much. 
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY

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[Elecraft] Droolin Over Gear (was Re: KPA500 vs others)

[Buddy Brannan]

Wow, I feel like a young pup. Again. Huh. Always seems to be that way. Got 
licensed in 1987, at the age of 14. Started out with a set of Drake twins, but 
the filters on the receiver weren't aligned quite right, so USB had to be done 
on the 4.8 KHz wide setting. I set my sights relatively low as these things go 
and *really* wanted the Kenwood TS-440SAT, although I wouldn't have turned my 
nose up at an Icom IC-761. Had lots of fun though, and fell in love with cw in 
spite of my best efforts to hate it. Didn't get my hands on an iambic paddle 
until I'd been using a straight key for a fairly long time, about four or five 
years; also got a bug and learned to use it tolerably well, but never could, 
and still haven't, got the hang of squeeze keying. I'm definitely a single 
lever kind of guy and have used iambic paddles that way. Now I really want one 
of these Vizkey bugs by K4VIZ. And am very anxious to get my hands on the KX3, 
much as I love my K2/100. Which I shall keep forever and always no matter what, 
because of where it came from and how i came by it. I mean, besides its being a 
super fantastic little radio. I really should get it updated to latest spec and 
add the 160 meter module and noise blanker some day. Yeah, KDSP2 is tempting as 
well, but think I'll hold out for the KX3 for that. 

Now if only I weren't all thumbs. Huh…no fixing that, I suppose. 
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Jun 21, 2011, at 8:21 PM, k...@baymoon.com wrote:

 For me it was 1958, age 11. My first station was a Viking Adventurer and
 HQ-110 (had it for 12 years). Never touched anything more sophisticated
 until I upgraded (in 1970) to an HW-100 (used it for 12 years, too). In
 the early 1990s, I got into restoring and operating vintage gear. I had
 several stations on the air, sharing an antenna system. Viking
 Valiant/NC-303; Viking Ranger/HQ-170; Viking Adventurer/HQ-110; Eico
 720/730/722 with Drake 2B/2BQ; Collins S-Line with 30L-1; Globe King
 500/75A-4. So, I finally had a chance to try all the radios over which I
 had salivated as a teenager. Today, the only remaining jewels are Globe
 King 500/75A-4.
 
 With regard to amplifiers, unlike transceivers, you're only dealing with
 one of two directions - output. Issues like efficiency are important but
 probably more important are issues of clean output and reliability. This
 is especially true for contest use where the amplifier can be pounded for
 48 hours, straight, at maximum power out and greater than 50 percent duty
 cycle.
 
 I am currently using an Alpha 87A and Ten-Tec Centurion in an SO2R set up.
 Both work well, and work reliably. If I replace either with a KPA-500, it
 will probably be the Centurion. Here, the KPA-500 has the instant
 switching/instant tuning advantage. But, it runs half the power. It also
 covers 6 meter - a band I have never tried, and for which I have no
 antenna(s). I have no doubt about reliability or service responsiveness
 when it comes to Elecraft. So, it will come down to how much is instant
 bandswitch/instant tuning worth to me. And, will I miss the extra few dB
 in signal strength. I have not even considered replacing the Centurion
 with alternative solid-state amps from Ameritron, Tokyo Hy-Power, or the
 one from Italy.
 
 Rob K6RB
 
 
 Ditto Except in my case I was 16 in 1963 when first licensed and I
 have
 less in the way of DXer antennas and much less in DXer skills (although I
 am
 getting better). The K-line is my Collins substitute. I had to buy an LDG
 AT-1000Pro to handle the KPA500, so I won't really have a complete K-line
 until the new autotuner becomes available.
 
 Just worked J48O a couple of daze ago. I know, not big DX, but for me
 yep it is.
 
 ..mike AI6II
 
 Others can  argue the tech. advantages pro or con. Some feel they need
 
 2 KW. I don't.. For a DXer antennas  skill are more important than a
 
 few more watts.  I like the way it  works with  my K3. I've had less
 
 than stellar dealings with the Asian companies. Whether it's bias on my
 
 part or not I like the idea that it's made  serviced in my home
 
 country.
 
 
 
 On a more human  note. I grew up as a new ham in 1959 at 13 yr.s old.  I
 
 had the thrill of  at least once  having used  the dream lines of the
 
 time.  The Collins  Drake lines. I wasn't in the position  to own one.
 
 I am now   I see the K line  as the dream line. I now have a dream
 
 line. There ain't no  way on Gods Green Earth  I'm not going to live  my
 
 dream. Soap Box over.
 
 
 
 K9IL
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Re: [Elecraft] KX3 vs. K3 and other rigs?

[Buddy Brannan]

More to the point, and maybe I'm missing something very obvious, wouldn't 
having as good a receiver as possible be nothing but good for portable, 
compromise antenna operation? I mean, wouldn't you want your receiver to do as 
much with the available radio energy as possible, especially when you have to 
make compromises on antennas? Also, Can't work 'em if you can't hear 'em eems 
to apply here. What good is a bigger signal if you can't hear who's hearing 
you? 

I, for one, am really looking forward to seeing the KX3. Pedestrian portable is 
very appealing to me, especially since I can't stick my rig in the car (because 
I don't have one...a car, I mean). 
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Jun 6, 2011, at 12:37 AM, Wayne Burdick wrote:

 John,
 
 You can also think of the KX3 as a full-featured (if ultra-compact)  
 desktop radio, with a full 100 W if you add the external amp. Hence  
 the excellent receiver performance :)
 
 73,
 Wayne
 N6KR
 
 On Jun 5, 2011, at 9:25 PM, juergen wrote:
 
 Hi Kristinn
 
 What i dont get is  why people expect so much performance from a
 so called portable rig. A rig designed for portable operation  
 generally uses poor antennas and is optimized for weight, size and  
 battery life.
 
 While its nice having great receiver specifications, you do have to  
 be realistic about the real world requirements that is placed on the  
 receiver when operating portable.
 
 For me battery life, convenience and power output are very important  
 requirements rather than world beating receiver specifications.
 I would gladly have  30 watts output over ultimate receiver  
 performance. Most military manpacks run 20 to 30 watts for good  
 reasons.
 
 10 watts and a wire in the tree type of operation does not  demand a  
 receiver with 100db of IMD dynamic range.
 
 If the KX3 does deliver incredible receiver performance for a  
 bargain price I wont say NO, however I can live with lesser receiver  
 performance when operating with marginal antennas.
 
 What I would prefer to see is an antenna tuner that will tune a 9 to  
 13 ft whip on all bands, or alternatively a end fed wire on all  
 bands. A low noise figure receiver  is important when using short  
 portable antennas.
 
 We all waiting for the KX3  tech specs with baited breath. Time will  
 tell whether we will get a 10,000 dollar contest radio that fits  
 into the palm of your hand! After all my years of operating, I have  
 yet to have my DC receiver overload on 40 meters when operating  
 portable with full size low dipoles.
 
 73
 John
 
 
 
 --- On Sun, 6/5/11, TF3KX kristi...@gmail.com wrote:
 
 From: TF3KX kristi...@gmail.com
 Subject: [Elecraft] KX3 vs. K3 and other rigs?
 To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
 Date: Sunday, June 5, 2011, 8:49 PM
 I am watching the KX3 evolution with
 great interest.  It appears to bear lots
 of resemblance to the K3, but it is not clear to me where
 these two will
 differ.  Or, for that matter, how the KX3 will compare
 against some of the
 other rigs around today.
 
 Is there any place that shows, or can someone list up, the
 primary
 differences between, say, KX3 and K3?  Not only in
 terms of technical specs
 (IMD, etc.), but also the internal structure (both with
 similar RF/DSP
 architecture?), features, etc.?
 
 73 - Kristinn, TF3KX
 ..proud maker and owner of K2 #6425
 
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Re: [Elecraft] Still lacking

[Buddy Brannan]

My guess about the batteries is ease of field replacement, ability to use 
standard AA cells instead of rechargeable if needed, and number of discharge 
cycles. Li-ion batteries only have about 500 charge/discharge cycles. Anyway, 
while LiPo or Li-Ion batteries may be lighter weight, I'm supposing the 
Elecraft guys thought the ability to use readily available replacements was 
worth the tradeoff.
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Jun 1, 2011, at 8:58 AM, Ignacy wrote:

 Lyle hit it head on. All QRP radios that really need punch lack don't have RF
 speech processor or an equalizer. With speech processor, KX3 can sound like
 a 4 times stronger radio. With poor mic that Kx3 can equalize, even more
 than that. My guestimate 10W of KX3 may approach readability of IC-7000 with
 stock mic.
 
 KX3 may be the most efficient QRP SSB radio ever produced.
 
 If I have one question is why won't it have Li-Ion batteries. Either 3
 Li-Ion (12.6 V max) or 4 LIFEPO of 15.2V max. Perhaps it is due to safety or
 liability. I use Li-Ion in K3, and it is much lighter with higher peak
 current. 
 
 Ignacy, currently OZ/NO9E/p
 
 
 Note that the KX3 will have an effective SSB 
 clipper/compressor/processor to give an average of at least 6 dB of 
 talk power without significant impairment of the speech quality, 
 making 10W seem like 25 or more to the receiving station.
 
 73,
 
 Lyle KK7P
 
 
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Re: [Elecraft] KX3 pics + Newbie.

[Buddy Brannan]

Hey Jack,

Returning to the list, mostly because of the KX3. I have a KX1 and a K2/100 
now, just scored the KAT100 last year off eBay. The K2 is a fantastic rig, 
great on cw, good on SSB as well. And with the KRC2-AC connected, fully 
accessible for blind ops like myself. I didn't build my K2 (because I'm all 
thumbs besides being blind), but it has an interesting story attached to it. 
Well, I think it's an interesting story anyway. My KX1 wen to Ukraine with me 
when we went to adopt our daughter in 2004, where it kept me from climbing the 
walls and going absolutely stir crazy. (Yes, really. Being literally locked in 
an apartment apart from orphanage visits does that.) Needless to say, I didn't 
build it either. Even so, I'm definitely an Elecraft fan, and I'm very much 
looking forward to the KX3. Paired with a portable vertical (I have a Bluestar 
Antennas P1), the possibilities are very exciting. Paired with something like 
the MFJ collapsing whips for a pedestrian mobile or pedestrian por
 table fun time? Yeah, I'm jazzed. 

Sure, we can redesign the thing 'till the cows come home, but I'm confident in 
Eric and Wayne's abilities in this regard. But I'll squawk loudest if I can't 
use it :-)
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On May 31, 2011, at 4:10 PM, Jack Chomley wrote:

 This is my first post to the group, I am an Elecraft newbie having just 
 bought a K2 kit for SSB and having owned a T1 ATU for some time. I am also a 
 digital modes freak! 
 Operating portable/mobile is my main interest. I have a collection of 
 portable radios, including my Codan X2 backpack pedestrian mobile setup, what 
 with 3 Icom 703, 1 FT817, 2 Icom 7200, 1 SG-2020, 2 Icom 706MKII radios, I am 
 really looking forward to the KX3 radio:-)
 The KX3 will be a great radio, just as it is:-) 
 It's  easy to 'add' ideas to any product design, after you see what the KX3 
 is going to be.  Just imagine what would result IF everyone was asked to 
 design a radio along the lines of the KX3 from the ground up.
 For a start, it would be unaffordable, the RX current would be high (because 
 of all the junk bells and whistles in it) I could go on, but I won't :-)
 Just produce the KX3 as it is, so I  can I buy it soon!
 
 73,
 
 Jack. VK4JRC
 
 Sent from my iPad
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Re: [Elecraft] Let me build your K2

[Buddy Brannan]

On Sep 26, 2005, at 7:08 PM, NR5A wrote:

Personally I think its kinda neat keeping track of how many K2's  
Alan has
built. I have no problem with him asking to build them. I had  
someone else
finish mine for me or else I would have asked Alan. For some folks  
a project
like a K2 is quite a chore to build. So keep it up Alan ! ! !   
There is
always the DELETE key which some people don't seem to know how to  
use. I'll

go back under my rock now.


I totally agree with Jerry, here. Besides, Alan does good work. He  
built mine, after all, and it's a fantastic rig. No way I could've  
done it (at least, not without a *lot* of hand-holding.and it'd  
taken forever, likely as not I'd still be working on it). Good for  
Alan for letting people know about his services in case they don't  
already know about them. Course, I wonder if he hasn't thought about  
posting his services, say, on eB*y? 
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Re: [Elecraft] Sad day for amateur radio

[Buddy Brannan]

Jeez. I can't believe I'm commenting on this (or maybe I can?) But  
before Eric comes in and closes down this thread as OT, here goes.


First, I think I'd've been happier if the 5 WPM requirement was still  
in place for Extra, at least. I won't lose any sleep over the fact  
that it probably won't be in several months' time, however.


See, maybe I'm mellowing, or maybe I've actually learned something  
useful in my mere 32 years on the big blue marble, but I don't, as I  
did at one time in my life, think that ham radio's gonna go to hell  
in a handbasket (what's a handbasket, anyway?)


I remember when the first code-free licenses came down. Actually, I  
remember the heated debates leading up to it happening...of course,  
not the first ones, because I haven't been around that long, but the  
ones around 1989-90. I remember being vehemently opposed to the idea.  
Never mind that I was a happy product of Novice Enhancement; if I  
wasn't, I'd've got a ham license anyway--because it was important to  
me to get one, and I'd've done the required work to do it regardless.  
I remember studying a bunch of stuff and resolving that I'd get that  
license, even if I did have to learn morse, which I'd naturally never  
use but would learn because I had to. I remember being very  
disappointed when I learned that not only was a code-free license  
going to be available, but that they'd get full VHF and up  
privileges, never mind that what they got really had absolutely no  
bearing on my life or operating.


Then, Valentine's Day came and went; I met new local hams; many were  
excellent operators; many didn't pass a code test. I met some other  
guys (then and before) who passed all the same tests I did and acted  
like children. Well, actually, they were worse. Anyone know the  
Southern White Racists and Biggots Net on 3853? :) And most  
importantly, the world didn't come crashing down round my ears.  
Course, a lot of supposedly great ops who passed that all-important  
test spewed venom all over creation about how ham radio was now going  
to be wall-to-wall CB, but it's a funny thing...it never really  
happened, at least not where I lived or visited, no worse, anyway,  
than it had been before.


Since that first great big change, I've taken the other changes a lot  
more easily. Maybe I grew up, or maybe I just decided that it really  
didn't matter and it was all down to us regardless of the rule.s  
Maybe I decided to live and let live. Would I rather that things  
didn't change so much and that the license structure and testing was  
more similar to how it was when I got my test? I s'pose; I used to  
tell people that if I was giving tests that I'd still give a sending  
test, even though I myself never had to take one. But today, I think  
maybe all this has more to do with the human condition of not liking  
change than anything else, really. Could I have passed the Extra from  
1970? Sure, but it would definitely have taken a lot more work on my  
part to do it. Same with Advanced. I'm sure to some, I'd be an Extra  
Light because my test was multiple guess, from a published question  
pool, and no way in Hades I could do a bunch of the technical stuff  
without a lot of hand-holding to learn it. Could I have passed a 1930- 
something Class A test? Not in this lifetime, I'm pretty sure; again,  
not without a lot of help, anyway. But that's the best part of this  
hobby: the help's there for the asking. And if that goes away because  
we're all crying about how these new guys don't have to do what we  
did, well then, ham radio really will be dead. Then, we really will  
be those old duffers who just sit in our basements talking to the  
aliens.


So what's my point? I probably had one when I started, but it's  
gotten lost somewhere.


Vy 73,
Buddy, KB5ELV (a proud know-code Extra who thought the written tests  
were harder)


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Re: [Elecraft] Santa Cruz Sentinel article on Elecraft

[Buddy Brannan]

Gwen's on vacation, y'all...I just got an automatic notification from
her bot that she won't be back until after the 20th. So how about we
fill her mailbox with well-wishes and kudos and plaudettes for the
great article? :-) 
-- 
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV : Co-Mod. of http://www.assist.com/Pennsylvania
-
Join for free: Join our Watkins team by May 27th and receive your 
startup costs back in Watkins gift certificates! Join for extra income 
or your personal 25% discount: http://www.tastybiz.com
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Re: [Elecraft] Morse on the Tonight Show, Tonight, Friday the 13th

[Buddy Brannan]

On Sat, May 14, 2005 at 06:32:33PM -0400, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 It should also be remembered that the text message sender was the *world 
 champion*, not someone selected at random. 

To my mind, this point bears repeating and emphasis. With underline,
in bold, parentheses, and a large font. 

Ken, please understand I'm not saying this to diminish your skill,
Chip's skill, or your accomplishment. But they pitted the *world
champion* SMS people against two mid-speed code operators--not two
ops at the top of their art, but fairly typical morse ops working at a
speed that isn't especially noteworthy in our community. While Ken and
Chip are both undoubtedly fantastic ops and obviously skilled in their
art, they aren't especially unusual, and this bears emphasis. The best
of the best still got beat out by good, though not atypical. 

Vy 73!
-- 
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV : Co-Mod. of http://www.assist.com/Pennsylvania
-
Protect Your Family From Disease: glyconutrients help your body 
repair, defend, and correct itself. MIT says this discovery will 
change the world: http://www.theoptimalhealthsolution.com
-
High tech meets high touch: What happens when a 135+-year-old company, 
modern technology, and a dynamic team come together? See for yourself 
in this free Ebook: http://www.tastybiz.com
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Re: [Elecraft] A Morse PDA/communicator and other uses for Morse code [was: Tonight Show]

[Buddy Brannan]

Hey Wayne. Maggie. All you people who are smarter than I am (that covers a 
whole bunch of people!) 

I'd *love* a morse input/output PDA! That'd like really rock my world!
And Maggie. Bluetooth. Yeah! Have it able to sync up with my cellphone
to transfer contacts and send SMS through or something...sure be
faster to send morse than to type on the phone keypad. I don't do T9
predictive text, it's too wrong too often and IMO more trouble to
correct than to just type stuff in a letter at a time without it, but
of course, still slower than morse input. LOL...I'll be a real
case...morse PDA, talking cellphone (see www.mobilespeak.com) ... I
love gadgets :) 

Oh, and of course my KX1 :) Can't forget the KX1! 

BTW, good point Wayne re: morse being good for motor impairments. I
know tht there've been alternative input devices of that sort for some
time, but it seems they, too, are (unfortunately) falling out of
favor. A shame, too. 
-- 
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV : Co-Mod. of http://www.assist.com/Pennsylvania
-
Protect Your Family From Disease: glyconutrients help your body 
repair, defend, and correct itself. MIT says this discovery will 
change the world: http://www.theoptimalhealthsolution.com
-
High tech meets high touch: What happens when a 135+-year-old company, 
modern technology, and a dynamic team come together? See for yourself 
in this free Ebook: http://www.tastybiz.com
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Re: [Elecraft] New RX for portable use...

[Buddy Brannan]

Hi Trev,

I saw a review on this some time ago...I *think* it was the same
one...and it seemed to indicate that tuning SSB/CW was a bit strange
in that you could only program SSB/CW reception in one particular bank
of memories or something strange of that nature, and you couldn't
switch modes easily either. Am I confused, is this not the problem
that it was made out to be, or is this correct? 
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Re: [Elecraft] Bad fist

[Buddy Brannan]

Hey Al,

Don't worry too much. Fortunately, this lid of which we speak (and lid
I shall continue to call him) is in the minority. Most ops are
fantastic and supportive and will do as much as they can to help your
fist improve--or, at the very least, have a nice QSO with you and be
glad to do it. (They might comment on your sloppy sending off air, but
they certainly won't go out of their way to humiliate and embarrass!)
So, if you're feeling up to it, get on the air and make some noise. I,
for one, will be glad to hear you (if indeed I do hear you). Course,
I've been a little inactive the past few weeks, but that's OK :)
Vy 73,

Buddy, KB5ELV
-- 
Protect Your Family From Disease
Learn about Glyconutrients, a discovery that helps your body  protect,
defend, and restore itself by enhancing cell communication. It's not  
disease orsymptom specific.

MIT says, This is 1 of 10 discoveries that  will change the world.
http://www.theoptimalhealthsolution.com
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Re: FW: [Fwd: Re: [Elecraft] Big K2 (or K2B - B for Big)]

[Buddy Brannan]

On Mon, Dec 27, 2004 at 08:15:05AM -0500, Dan Barker wrote:
 Ever heard of a touch screen?

Yes! They're evil incarnate! Hate them, hate them, hate them! (Especially the 
ones at cash register checkouts for using your debbit card...what's the matter 
with real buttons?)
-- 
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV  | Alena Grace's proud papa!
Phone: (814) 455-7333  | Born: 04/06/2000 in Donetsk, Ukraine
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]  | Adopted: 10/07/2004 in Mariupol, Ukraine
http://buddy.brannan.name  | 
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[EMAIL PROTECTED]: RE: FW: [Fwd: Re: [Elecraft] Big K2 (or K2B - B for Big)]]

[Buddy Brannan]

- Forwarded message from John A. Ross [RSDTV] [EMAIL PROTECTED] -

To: 'Buddy Brannan' [EMAIL PROTECTED]

As the design of the K2 is pretty modular I do not see any reason why it
would not be possible to mount a K2 inside a larger box and add a direct
entry keypad and memory/mode buttons as well as a bigger display.

Unfortunately to make a really nice job Eric/Wayne would need to release the
code for the micros, no point to re-invent the wheel, something they may not
want to do. 
They might also need to support it while it gets ported and would probably
look to validate any mods like that before it was released so they know the
limitations and make sure any oops bugs do not reflect bad on the product
as a whole. After all, the final setup and performance rely on the micros
almost exclusively.

The control section ported to a larger micro with a  bit more beef than that
currently used, nice 1/4 VGA display and would be real sweet. Not a
particularly cheap add on I would say though. Even adding the touch screen
at that point is no big deal, a simple one would just need another A/D
It would also mean that the option to build it as a portable, and use as a
base station would be a matter of choosing the controller/display board to
plug in. It may be possible to just add a connector to the existing
controller/display for such an add-on, as slave connectors to the board so
it can use the same front panel board just leave out the micros but that may
be jumping a bit too far ahead as there is quite a bit of I/O to hook up
although a lot of it does goes go from the controller to display board via
the RF board.

Could be done also using the serial API already available and instead of
using a computer for control, just add an additional stand alone controller
inside the big box.

John

(GM1BSG)



- End forwarded message -

-- 
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV  | Alena Grace's proud papa!
Phone: (814) 455-7333  | Born: 04/06/2000 in Donetsk, Ukraine
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]  | Adopted: 10/07/2004 in Mariupol, Ukraine
http://buddy.brannan.name  | 
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