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Dick Dickinson

Documentation

With all the communications here on the list, there are a number of ideas on
how to improve perceived shortcomings of the K3 (other?) documentation.

Elecraft is busy with product and firmware development and just plain
running the business and maintaining profitability. Perhaps they can't
score an A+ as measured by all users of their products in every aspect of
their endeavor.

The names and email addresses of most of those contributing to the
documentation discussion are known. It shouldn't be difficult to draw up a
list of those interested in offering their thoughts on improvements. It
seems some have the time to make extended commentary on the matter. Other
contributors might be solicited from the mail list.

Some might take the opportunity to step forward and lead an effort via
direct email among the interested people to turn the energy of the
discussion of what's wrong and the better ways of documentation into
actually implementing them.

Beginning with the existing K3 or other Owner's Manual, overhauling it as
deemed necessary and allowing for editorial oversight by Elecraft might move
the matter further towards realization of a 'better manual' than the open
mailing list discussions and calling upon Elecraft to implement them.

73,
Dick - KA5KKT

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Gary Bartlett VE1RGB

Re: Documentation

I have also been one of those who has bugged Wayne about what I thought was
a less than adequate operating manual for the K3 (not realizing, of course,
that he was the author).

Speaking as an EE who has been a ham for more than 50 years, my background
is systems integration in the aerospace industry and try as I might, I
cannot keep up with the kind of technology that is contained within the
chassis of the K3. The manual has been written at too high a level for me.
It is adequate for me to operate the K3 as an appliance but I yearn for
something with a bit more technical and operating detail than that.

Wayne's response was something to the effect that perhaps someone would
volunteer from the user's group to lead a project to add the necessary
detail. Given the unreasonable level of effort that Elecraft would have to
contribute to make us all happy with their documentation and given the
awesome amount of talent represented by the K3 user community, that seemed
to me to be a reasonable thought.

That would represent a huge effort but the subject matter experts are all
here and the technical writers are all here and I look at any perceived
shortcomings in Elecraft documentation as an opportunity for all of us proud
K3 owners and Elecraft supporters to give the company back a little
something in return for what they have done for us.

Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if someone stepped up to project-manage a
supplemental re-write of the K3 documentation! Handled properly, it need
not reflect negatively on Elecraft and I would have to guess that it would
represent a first within the amateur radio community.

73,
Gary, VE1RGB

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Edward Dickinson, III
Sent: December 10, 2010 1:27 PM
To: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: [Elecraft] Documentation

The names and email addresses of most of those contributing to the
documentation discussion are known. It shouldn't be difficult to draw up a
list of those interested in offering their thoughts on improvements. It
seems some have the time to make extended commentary on the matter. Other
contributors might be solicited from the mail list.

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Dick Dickinson

Re: Documentation

In reply to this post by Dick Dickinson

Hi Gary,

Amen.

I don't look to Elecraft for matters such as Education and Tutorials.

73,
Dick - KA5KKT

-----Original Message-----
-----<snip>-----

Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if someone stepped up to project-manage a
supplemental re-write of the K3 documentation! Handled properly, it need
not reflect negatively on Elecraft and I would have to guess that it would
represent a first within the amateur radio community.

73,
Gary, VE1RGB

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John E. Reiser

Re: Documentation

I thought Eric Ended all these threads related to documentation a couple
days ago. Personally, I find them irritating.

John, W2GW

----- Original Message -----
From: "Edward Dickinson, III" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Friday, December 10, 2010 1:41 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Documentation

> Hi Gary,
>
> Amen.
>
> I don't look to Elecraft for matters such as Education and Tutorials.
>
>
> 73,
> Dick - KA5KKT
>
> -----Original Message-----
> -----<snip>-----
>
> Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if someone stepped up to project-manage a
> supplemental re-write of the K3 documentation! Handled properly, it need
> not reflect negatively on Elecraft and I would have to guess that it would
> represent a first within the amateur radio community.
>
> 73,
> Gary, VE1RGB
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

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george fritkin

Re: Documentation

In reply to this post by Dick Dickinson

No. No. What Elecraft should do is publish all of its source including the
programing notes and use that as the manual. And then offer the "NIFTY MANUAL"
as another part of the documentation you get with the radio. That should make
guys at both ends of the documentation spectrum happy.

Personally, I find the radio so intuitive you do not need the manual especially
if you built it as the so called kit. The only time I read the manual is when I
retire to my "executive office" in the house.

Let them design more excellent products, we will muddle through the
documentation.

George, W6GF

________________________________
From: "Edward Dickinson, III" <[hidden email]>
To:
Sent: Fri, December 10, 2010 10:41:48 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Documentation

Hi Gary,

Amen.

I don't look to Elecraft for matters such as Education and Tutorials.

73,
Dick - KA5KKT

-----Original Message-----
-----<snip>-----

Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if someone stepped up to project-manage a
supplemental re-write of the K3 documentation! Handled properly, it need
not reflect negatively on Elecraft and I would have to guess that it would
represent a first within the amateur radio community.

73,
Gary, VE1RGB

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Andy Faber

Re: Documentation

In reply to this post by Gary Bartlett VE1RGB

There is, or was, a K3 wiki. This would seem to be an ideal vehicle for the
desired user manual. Win-Test has a wiki.
73, andy, ae6y
----- Original Message -----
From: "gary bartlett" <[hidden email]>
To: "'Elecraft Reflector'" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Friday, December 10, 2010 10:18 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Documentation

>I have also been one of those who has bugged Wayne about what I thought was
> a less than adequate operating manual for the K3 (not realizing, of
> course,
> that he was the author).
>
> Speaking as an EE who has been a ham for more than 50 years, my background
> is systems integration in the aerospace industry and try as I might, I
> cannot keep up with the kind of technology that is contained within the
> chassis of the K3. The manual has been written at too high a level for
> me.
> It is adequate for me to operate the K3 as an appliance but I yearn for
> something with a bit more technical and operating detail than that.
>
> Wayne's response was something to the effect that perhaps someone would
> volunteer from the user's group to lead a project to add the necessary
> detail. Given the unreasonable level of effort that Elecraft would have
> to
> contribute to make us all happy with their documentation and given the
> awesome amount of talent represented by the K3 user community, that seemed
> to me to be a reasonable thought.
>
> That would represent a huge effort but the subject matter experts are all
> here and the technical writers are all here and I look at any perceived
> shortcomings in Elecraft documentation as an opportunity for all of us
> proud
> K3 owners and Elecraft supporters to give the company back a little
> something in return for what they have done for us.
>
> Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if someone stepped up to project-manage a
> supplemental re-write of the K3 documentation! Handled properly, it need
> not reflect negatively on Elecraft and I would have to guess that it would
> represent a first within the amateur radio community.
>
> 73,
> Gary, VE1RGB
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Edward Dickinson,
> III
> Sent: December 10, 2010 1:27 PM
> To: Elecraft Reflector
> Subject: [Elecraft] Documentation
>
>
> The names and email addresses of most of those contributing to the
> documentation discussion are known. It shouldn't be difficult to draw up
> a
> list of those interested in offering their thoughts on improvements. It
> seems some have the time to make extended commentary on the matter. Other
> contributors might be solicited from the mail list.
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ

Re: Documentation [Thread Closed]

Administrator

In reply to this post by george fritkin

This thread and related ones were closed earlier -yesterday- to prevent list
overload. Please let i take a rest. If it continues we'll have to turn on the list moderate mode, something we rarely do.

73, Eric WA6HHQ
Elecraft list moderator

On 12/10/2010 10:54 AM, george fritkin wrote:

> No. No. What Elecraft should do is publish all of its source including the
> programing notes and use that as the manual. And then offer the "NIFTY MANUAL"
> as another part of the documentation you get with the radio. That should make
> guys at both ends of the documentation spectrum happy.
>
> Personally, I find the radio so intuitive you do not need the manual especially
> if you built it as the so called kit. The only time I read the manual is when I
> retire to my "executive office" in the house.
>
> Let them design more excellent products, we will muddle through the
> documentation.
>
> George, W6GF
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: "Edward Dickinson, III"<[hidden email]>
> To:
> Sent: Fri, December 10, 2010 10:41:48 AM
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Documentation
>
> Hi Gary,
>
> Amen.
>
> I don't look to Elecraft for matters such as Education and Tutorials.
>
>
> 73,
> Dick - KA5KKT
>
> -----Original Message-----
> -----<snip>-----
>
> Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if someone stepped up to project-manage a
> supplemental re-write of the K3 documentation! Handled properly, it need
> not reflect negatively on Elecraft and I would have to guess that it would
> represent a first within the amateur radio community.
>
> 73,
> Gary, VE1RGB
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

John Ragle

...editing PDF format manuals...

In reply to this post by Dick Dickinson

If you think you would like to edit your local copies of equipment
manuals in PDF format, either to include errata directly or to put in
comments (annotations) about how to use features, contact me know off
reflector. Alternatively, Google "PDF Editors."

John Ragle -- W1ZI
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