Firmware Ver 3.30
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Hi, I've had my K3 (S/N 3431) up and running about two weeks. It arrived with version 3.30 installed. I'm understanding from reading here on the reflector that version is beta and is not available for download by K3 owners due to some unforeseen difficulty. Two points. So far I've found no major issues other than S-2 noise on 20 meter where it's not present on my IC-756ProIII. On the other hand I'm somewhat concerned about receiving my radio with unreleased software making me a unknowing test subject. Should I revert to an earlier version to avoid learning about my new radio with unreleased software that will obviously change in the near future. Second point, to Elecraft management. It seems unwise business practice to provide a product to customers that has not gone through necessary testing and release and especially without the customers knowledge. If I'm misunderstanding something here please help me understand and I do apologize if I do misunderstand. Have a good day and 73. Jim, W0EM ______________________________________________________________ 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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Jim Harris wrote:
> Hi, > > I've had my K3 (S/N 3431) up and running about two weeks. It arrived with version 3.30 installed. I'm understanding from reading here on the reflector that version is beta and is not available for download by K3 owners due to some unforeseen difficulty. Two points. So far I've found no major issues other than S-2 noise on 20 meter where it's not present on my IC-756ProIII. On the other hand I'm somewhat concerned about receiving my radio with unreleased software making me a unknowing test subject. Should I revert to an earlier version to avoid learning about my new radio with unreleased software that will obviously change in the near future. Second point, to Elecraft management. It seems unwise business practice to provide a product to customers that has not gone through necessary testing and release and especially without the customers knowledge. > > If I'm misunderstanding something here please help me understand and I do apologize if I do misunderstand. > > Have a good day and 73. > > Jim, W0EM > > Hi Jim, and congratulations on getting a K3. If you are like most of us, I think you will find that this rig offers loads of possibilities rarely found elsewhere. Regarding the firmware, the last "official" regular version was 3.14, which is still offered on the Elecraft website. However, the K3, being at heart a software defined radio, has challenged the usership to make requests and offer suggestions to further add to the value of this fine rig. Thus, the engineers at Elecraft, always in "turbo" mode, have been responding with upgrades and updates almost continuously. Most K3 owners subscribe to this culture of constant improvement. It seems to be exclusive with Elecraft because management and engineering is so continually tuned in to the needs and desires of its customer base as reflected in the reflector. Indeed, you will find that Wayne and Eric chime in quite frequently, as they always seem to have one eye on the list. Before being released as beta, the firmware is field tested by a small, but critical, group of users that thoroughly exercises the coded functions and reports back with their findings. In most cultures, the code would be released as "final", but the relationship between Elecraft and the usership is so dynamic that seldom is anything settled. In comparison, consider Microsoft releases, which are "final", until the next Tuesday patch releases come down the pike. So, if you would feel more comfortable with a "final" release on your K3, you can certainly downgrade to release 3.14, or you can benefit from the constant drive towards perfection with 3.30, which you will find just peachy. My 2 cents... -- 73, Dick ka1oz Middleborough, MA Radio: Elecraft K3/100(Kit) SN 859 Antenna: Titan-DX ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by Jim HaRRIS
Are you sure that's real noise or just the S-meter reading? The K3's S-meter has excellent linearity whereas most other rigs do not (Flex 5000 excluded). S2 on the K3 is about -115 dBm and S2 on a FT-1000 is -102 dBm. So the K3 will show correct readings at a level where the typical S-meter will indicate nothing. Said another way, a weak noise signal of -115 dBm will not register on an FT-1000's meter but the same signal will register S2 on the K3. http://www.n6rk.com/ (and click the links below): Definition of S unit (i.e. the K3's S-meter) FT-1000 S-meter calibration (i.e. typical S-meters) 73, Bill |
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In reply to this post by Jim HaRRIS
The latest "non beta" firmware is easily installed using the K3
Utility accessing the Elecraft file server. If you feel more comfortable with that version, please install it. It is entirely up to you. Beta firmware in a radio isn't like a Beta version of an operating system that might corrupt the file system. It takes about five minutes or less to completely replace firmware. Dick, K6KR Sent from my iPhone On Sep 26, 2009, at 9:48 AM, Jim Harris <[hidden email]> wrote: > > Hi, > > I've had my K3 (S/N 3431) up and running about two weeks. It > arrived with version 3.30 installed. I'm understanding from reading > here on the reflector that version is beta and is not available for > download by K3 owners due to some unforeseen difficulty. Two > points. So far I've found no major issues other than S-2 noise on > 20 meter where it's not present on my IC-756ProIII. On the other > hand I'm somewhat concerned about receiving my radio with unreleased > software making me a unknowing test subject. Should I revert to an > earlier version to avoid learning about my new radio with unreleased > software that will obviously change in the near future. Second > point, to Elecraft management. It seems unwise business practice to > provide a product to customers that has not gone through necessary > testing and release and especially without the customers knowledge. > > If I'm misunderstanding something here please help me understand and > I do apologize if I do misunderstand. > > Have a good day and 73. > > Jim, W0EM > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 |
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In reply to this post by Jim HaRRIS
Jim,
You do not need to worry about having 3.30 on your K3. The "beta" versions are being used by many K3 owners regularly and have been exceptionally solid in my experience. I do not have the sub receiver and I don't have multiple external transverters, so it might be that I am not stressing mine too much, but I do pound both my K3s with heavy duty contesting periods and have had ZERO complaints. Your mileage may vary, but I would worry about other issues before I would worry about "beta" firmware. If you still feel deeply concerned, you can downgrade your K3 to firmware that is considered "released". You will probably see that several nice features go away, but it is certainly your choice to make. Elecraft is so responsive to their customers that it is really hard to believe they can stay in business. If you had a complaint about your firmware, I'll bet they start digging for a solution before you could hit your PTT button. Elecraft gives an honest vetting to each issue they are told about even if some of us who don't have the issue might jump to the conclusion that the issue is owner caused. I see other manufacturers who are asked for help on an issue and their first response is "Customer, you are not as smart as we are and your installation caused the problem" [paraphrased ;-)] Bottom line, enjoy your K3 and experiment with everything you care to dig into. You'll have a ball and be amazed by Elecraft's support. 73, Bob K5WA >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Message: 1 Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2009 16:48:45 +0000 From: Jim Harris <[hidden email]> Subject: [Elecraft] Firmware Ver 3.30 To: Elecraft Email <[hidden email]> Message-ID: <[hidden email]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Hi, I've had my K3 (S/N 3431) up and running about two weeks. It arrived with version 3.30 installed. I'm understanding from reading here on the reflector that version is beta and is not available for download by K3 owners due to some unforeseen difficulty. Two points. So far I've found no major issues other than S-2 noise on 20 meter where it's not present on my IC-756ProIII. On the other hand I'm somewhat concerned about receiving my radio with unreleased software making me a unknowing test subject. Should I revert to an earlier version to avoid learning about my new radio with unreleased software that will obviously change in the near future. Second point, to Elecraft management. It seems unwise business practice to provide a product to customers that has not gone through necessary testing and release and especially without the customers knowledge. If I'm misunderstanding something here please help me understand and I do apologize if I do misunderstand. Have a good day and 73. Jim, W0EM >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ______________________________________________________________ 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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On Sep 27, 2009, at 10:40 AM, K5WA wrote: You do not need to worry about having 3.30 on your K3. ______ My K3 shipped with 3.25 about a month ago. I had one or two noise burst incidents and moved to 3.3 even though I had not intended to change FW unless it was a production release. No noise bursts with 3.3. Then I started to experiment with AGC SLP and THR. And I experienced a noise burst. The good news is that a power cycle puts you right back where you were in seconds. I changed the AGC SLP back to the default value of 12 and I have not had another noise burst. YMMV If you experience a noise burst, send the specifics to Lyle per his posting of Sept 7. near the bottom of this page: http://n2.nabble.com/MCU-3-30-DSP-2-26-td3595335.html#a3598081 73 - Steve WB6RSE ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by K5WA
K5WA wrote: You do not need to worry about having 3.30 on your K3. ______ My K3 shipped with 3.25 about a month ago. I had one or two noise burst incidents and moved to 3.3 even though I had not intended to change FW unless it was a production release. No noise bursts with 3.3. Then I started to experiment with AGC SLP and THR. And I experienced a noise burst. The good news is that a power cycle puts you right back where you were in seconds. I changed the AGC SLP back to the default value of 12 and I have not had another noise burst. YMMV If you experience a noise burst, send the specifics to Lyle per his posting of Sept 7. 73 - Steve WB6RSE ______________________________________________________________ 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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