[Elecraft] Band Button Gripe
Now where is my KRX3? When I receive it I can drop off this infuriating Zoo. That's where I agree with you Mike. I started this thread by suggesting a new setup option for band buttons, a new enhancement that would detract from no existing features. I expected at most not necessary by those who cared enough to voice a contrary opinion, yet reading the responses they started with When our Forefathers (a sarcastic jab) snip and ending with AMEN. (brother). I sensed no sarcasm there at all. Private emails to me indicated that some felt passionate on the subject, enough to justify public and private jabs about the issue. Why, if it's an add-on? Got me. Why the nasty sarcasm at all? It seems like a few vocal BRAND zealots feel they need to enforce their will and the list seems a convenient way of going about it. Reminds me of some periods on the Ten Tec reflector. Kool aid guys - stay here and pump up your egos, your good for one another. Just realize the sensible majority is silent, and some of us can't even bear to read the digest through your tripe anymore. didit. [Elecraft] RE: Band Button Gripe Mike Harris mike.harris at horizon.co.fk Sat Jul 26 15:34:58 EDT 2008 Previous message: [Elecraft] RE: Band Button Gripe Next message: [Elecraft] OT: Northern lights G'day, I don't recall all this anguish about the layout of the K2 front panel. Why can't we just accept that it is as it is and get a life and get on with better things. I'm sure there is no way it's going to redesigned to suit individual whimsy. I for one am utterly sick of hearing about it. Now where is my KRX3? When I receive it I can drop off this infuriating Zoo. Regards, Mike VP8NO K2 #1400 K3 #345 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Band Button gripe - was ON4UN has a K3?
It still sticks in my craw that I have 5 single press buttons on the front panel that I'll never use. Elecraft - please make these available for use as single press BAND buttons. M1 M2 M3 M4 REC 80 40 20 15 10 That way we get into the ballpark with a single press and can band up or band down from there. Seriously, this should be a no-brainer! == [Elecraft] ON4UN has a K3? drewko1 at verizon.net drewko1 at verizon.net Fri Jul 25 20:25:38 EDT 2008 Previous message: [Elecraft] ON4UN has a K3? Next message: [Elecraft] ON4UN has a K3? Yes, Don, I agree completely. Forget about the labels entirely and just learn them by key position. However, I went with a vertical scheme vs your horizontal one... The first keypad column (1,4,7) is 160, 80, 40. Second column is 20 to 6 (6m stands apart way down there on the zero key); third column is the warc bands. I figure if I can keep track of forty-some keys on a keyboard without looking then I can memorize the positions of ten band buttons on the k3. Now my band locations just seem right! No label reading; no mental translation... the buttons ARE the bands! So, if the power goes out I can navigate the bands without even needing to see the buttons. (Admittedly, there isn't much point to navigating the band buttons when there is no power to the K3...) 73, Drew AF2Z ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Band Button gripe - was ON4UN has a K3?
Don, here's another idea... Right now, the RIT knob has the option of being used as a coarse VFO tuner when RIT and XIT are off. Perhaps people would like the option of using it as a band switch instead? (I am pretty happy with the numeric keypad system myself.) 73, Drew AF2Z On Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:38:26 -0700 (PDT), Don Rasmussen wrote: It still sticks in my craw that I have 5 single press buttons on the front panel that I'll never use. Elecraft - please make these available for use as single press BAND buttons. M1 M2 M3 M4 REC 80 40 20 15 10 That way we get into the ballpark with a single press and can band up or band down from there. Seriously, this should be a no-brainer! == ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Band Button gripe - was ON4UN has a K3?
Drew - as I see it (past owner of OMNI VI+ and IC756Pro) there is simply no substitute for single button press band changes. It's a big deal. YMMV. [Elecraft] Band Button gripe - was ON4UN has a K3? drewko1 at verizon.net drewko1 at verizon.net Fri Jul 25 21:54:09 EDT 2008 Don, here's another idea... Right now, the RIT knob has the option of being used as a coarse VFO tuner when RIT and XIT are off. Perhaps people would like the option of using it as a band switch instead? (I am pretty happy with the numeric keypad system myself.) 73, Drew AF2Z ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Band Button gripe - was ON4UN has a K3?
And take away my CW memory buttons? That's madness! I've got more band changing methods than I can keep track of already. 73- Nick, WA5BDU Don Rasmussen wrote: It still sticks in my craw that I have 5 single press buttons on the front panel that I'll never use. Elecraft - please make these available for use as single press BAND buttons. M1 M2 M3 M4 REC 80 40 20 15 10 That way we get into the ballpark with a single press and can band up or band down from there. Seriously, this should be a no-brainer! == ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Band Button gripe - was ON4UN has a K3?
And take away my CW memory buttons? That's madness! No Nick - You keep your CW memory buttons - no madness there. Simply add one setup option for those of us that own external keyers (CMOS4 in my case) that if it is changed from the default will allow the single touch keys to be band switchers rather than keyer memories - see? A setup called maybe M1-M4 when set to default and those keys are for DVK or memory keyer just as you enjoy it now. Set to BAND and those uf us that want it get access to the VFO's. I'd go one stpe further and say that the M1-M4 could be mapped to 80m 40m 20m and 10m and a single press of the REC button would display briefly WARC on the display and then M1-M4 would be 60m 30m 17m and 12m. But I really don't think it's about panel space, it's about how the designers want us to use the K3... [Elecraft] Band Button gripe - was ON4UN has a K3? Nick-WA5BDU nick-wa5bdu at suddenlink.net Fri Jul 25 22:12:19 EDT 2008 Previous message: [Elecraft] Band Button gripe - was ON4UN has a K3? Next message: [Elecraft] Band Button gripe - was ON4UN has a K3? And take away my CW memory buttons? That's madness! I've got more band changing methods than I can keep track of already. 73- Nick, WA5BDU ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Band Button gripe - was ON4UN has a K3?
Just what is the big deal about pushing a single button instead of pushing two buttons in sequence to get to the band and mode you want? Hey Doug - You hit the nail on the head, contestors have the optimal solution with the stock K3. But modest stations, what I'll call condo class or dipole class (like my own) require a scan of the available bands to see which -one- you can use on a given day. There is a fair amount of back and forth in determining which band to call home for a couple hours. With single touch band changes, you press one button (example 20m), twirl the main tuning knob, take a reading, okay now hit the next band up (15m), twirl, okay how about 10m? Nope, MUF not there, back to 15m. Your finger remembers single press bands, even between weekends (many of us work). Now imagine sitting down on Saturday morning after last operation a week ago - okay, hmmm, which button oh yeah - M-V, okay now which band is button 20m? Hmmm think it's 1. Two button press and you are there. Repeat 3 times as in example. Summary - one button is enough for even a finger to remember for a week. Multiple keypresses, in addition to requiring extra time to accomplish, require the user boot the brain before the action gets accomplished. Hard to put into words Doug, but if you were there it would be plain as day! c u Don --- DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Don, I am genuinely curious. Just what is the big deal about pushing a single button instead of pushing two buttons in sequence to get to the band and mode you want? I just don't see how it can matter...and I'm a contester, so speed is important to me. You really have me baffled so I please fill me in. Thanks! de Doug KR2Q ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Band Button gripe - was ON4UN has a K3?
Or you can just use an up/down and get done the working up the bands and scanning with the dial... Hell our forefathers had to tune up for quite some time to change bands. Now we've reached the point where using and up/down button set is too slow for us. Then god forbid we actually have to engage our brain and remember what band we have saved where. If its so hard put a band plan on the wall and just write a number next to each one in order. Then you can walk through them that way. But oh my gosh we have to press two buttons to get to each band If you're a condo/dipole class why not sit back and enjoy it. Maybe cut your QSO shorter by 3 seconds so you can get in those extra button presses for band changes. Maybe you can head to a fast food place and have them make you a meal that you can eat in the car without having to ever stop or get out. That should save you enough time for a few extra button presses to change bands. Personally I like the portability that a smaller/lighter rig affords me. Thankfully the K1, KX1, K2, and K3 pretty much all fit into that category. I don't think I'm alone in this though There has to be a reason why the IC706 is the best selling rig in the hobby and it has band up/dn buttons. Not that I own one though... On Fri, 2008-07-25 at 20:24 -0700, Don Rasmussen wrote: Just what is the big deal about pushing a single button instead of pushing two buttons in sequence to get to the band and mode you want? Hey Doug - You hit the nail on the head, contestors have the optimal solution with the stock K3. But modest stations, what I'll call condo class or dipole class (like my own) require a scan of the available bands to see which -one- you can use on a given day. There is a fair amount of back and forth in determining which band to call home for a couple hours. With single touch band changes, you press one button (example 20m), twirl the main tuning knob, take a reading, okay now hit the next band up (15m), twirl, okay how about 10m? Nope, MUF not there, back to 15m. Your finger remembers single press bands, even between weekends (many of us work). Now imagine sitting down on Saturday morning after last operation a week ago - okay, hmmm, which button oh yeah - M-V, okay now which band is button 20m? Hmmm think it's 1. Two button press and you are there. Repeat 3 times as in example. Summary - one button is enough for even a finger to remember for a week. Multiple keypresses, in addition to requiring extra time to accomplish, require the user boot the brain before the action gets accomplished. Hard to put into words Doug, but if you were there it would be plain as day! c u Don --- DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Don, I am genuinely curious. Just what is the big deal about pushing a single button instead of pushing two buttons in sequence to get to the band and mode you want? I just don't see how it can matter...and I'm a contester, so speed is important to me. You really have me baffled so I please fill me in. Thanks! de Doug KR2Q ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Band Button gripe
Idea Why not make an additional set of control buttons and use the secret connector on the bottom right side of the K3. Just a small panel that would fit under the K3 and would give you numerous programmable buttons. Then, you could set up the button on the little add on panel. Or, for quick band changes in a contestI use N1MM logger and just change bands and modes through software. Or, a stand alone PIC processor on the RS232 port that does the same thing as software in a computer. There are a lot of people who like to market add-ons to the Elecraft products that just work great. Fingerdimple, LP-PAN, etc... Lee - K0WA In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short supply. If you don't have any Common Sense - get some Common Sense and use it. If you can't find any Common Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some Common Sense. Is Common Sense divine? ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Band Button gripe
These ideas make much more sense than trying to remap front panel buttons. I think the field testers did a great job of defining how the ergonomics are to flow. ~Brett On Fri, 2008-07-25 at 20:43 -0700, Lee Buller wrote: Idea Why not make an additional set of control buttons and use the secret connector on the bottom right side of the K3. Just a small panel that would fit under the K3 and would give you numerous programmable buttons. Then, you could set up the button on the little add on panel. Or, for quick band changes in a contestI use N1MM logger and just change bands and modes through software. Or, a stand alone PIC processor on the RS232 port that does the same thing as software in a computer. There are a lot of people who like to market add-ons to the Elecraft products that just work great. Fingerdimple, LP-PAN, etc... Lee - K0WA In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short supply. If you don't have any Common Sense - get some Common Sense and use it. If you can't find any Common Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some Common Sense. Is Common Sense divine? ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
