Fw: K3: preview of coming attractions

[Gilbert Cross]

----- Original Message -----
From: "wayne burdick" <[hidden email]>
To: "Elecraft Reflector" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2008 8:47 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] K3: preview of coming attractions

> Hi all,
>
> I'm leaving Saturday for a long-planned 10-day vacation. I thought we'd
> be doing another firmware update before I left. Instead, we'll give our
> intrepid field testers more time with this new code, then release it
> when I get back.
>
> Here's a sneak preview. All of these features have been fully
> implemented:
>
>  - transmit RF delay for slow amplifier relays
>  - FM mode, complete with per-band/per-memory PL tones and repeater
> splits
>  - wider-bandwidth AM and SSB receive
>  - further improvements to SSB transmit, including a boost in
> low-frequency response
>  - "absolute" S-meter alternative (reading stays the same with
> preamp/attn changes)
>  - a variation on LIN OUT that allows recording of both RX and TX audio
>  - MIC+LINE IN operation for SSB contesters
>  - reflected-power-based KPA3 amplifier protection
>
> Many of these have been on the short list for a long time, so we're
> anxious to get this major release into your hands. Full details will be
> provided in the release notes.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
>
> ---
>
> http://www.elecraft.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> 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: [hidden email]
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

[John Trager]

I would think the new firmware release would be posted by now!  Isn't 600
Beta Testers better than 20???

John
N2KBE

----- Original Message -----
From: "Gil Cross" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Friday, April 25, 2008 6:39 PM
Subject: Fw: [Elecraft] K3: preview of coming attractions

>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "wayne burdick" <[hidden email]>
> To: "Elecraft Reflector" <[hidden email]>
> Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2008 8:47 PM
> Subject: [Elecraft] K3: preview of coming attractions
>
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I'm leaving Saturday for a long-planned 10-day vacation. I thought we'd
>> be doing another firmware update before I left. Instead, we'll give our
>> intrepid field testers more time with this new code, then release it when
>> I get back.
>>
>> Here's a sneak preview. All of these features have been fully
>> implemented:
>>
>>  - transmit RF delay for slow amplifier relays
>>  - FM mode, complete with per-band/per-memory PL tones and repeater
>> splits
>>  - wider-bandwidth AM and SSB receive
>>  - further improvements to SSB transmit, including a boost in
>> low-frequency response
>>  - "absolute" S-meter alternative (reading stays the same with
>> preamp/attn changes)
>>  - a variation on LIN OUT that allows recording of both RX and TX audio
>>  - MIC+LINE IN operation for SSB contesters
>>  - reflected-power-based KPA3 amplifier protection
>>
>> Many of these have been on the short list for a long time, so we're
>> anxious to get this major release into your hands. Full details will be
>> provided in the release notes.
>>
>> 73,
>> Wayne
>> N6KR
>>
>>
>> ---
>>
>> http://www.elecraft.com
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Post to: [hidden email]
>> 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: [hidden email]
> 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: [hidden email]
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

[KK7P]

> I would think the new firmware release would be posted by now!  Isn't
> 600 Beta Testers better than 20???

Believe me, if it were ready for release, it would be released!

Our testing has revealed a couple of problems that aren't yet solved to
our satisfaction.  We thought it better to delay a little longer and
provide better firmware.

We don't take the position that every customer wants to be a field
tester :-)

I won't make a prediction as to when the code will be released, but you
can be certain we want to get it out as soon as possible.

And we certainly appreciate everyone's patience while we strive to make
this radio even better.

73,

Lyle KK7P


_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
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

[michael taylor-3]

On Fri, Apr 25, 2008 at 7:41 PM, John Trager <[hidden email]> wrote:
> I would think the new firmware release would be posted by now!  Isn't 600
> Beta Testers better than 20???

That's assuming it mostly works. From time to time software releases
are broken, sometimes in the "packaging" process, other times a tidbit
of unfinished code enhancement sneaks in. So to catch these errors,
software is often released in a process that goes something like:

automated build & automated install (says done nightly by scripts) ->
manual install on a single system aka "smoke test" -> a "staging"
release that is distributed to a small group (5-20 people for smaller
projects) for a short period of time -> a "beta" release to a wider
audience of savvy (power) users, and finally the "gold" version is
released if the process hasn't been terminated by this point in time.

Elecraft support doesn't need 600 reports that a bone-headed mistake
was made in the FM support for example. The first report is good
enough to alert Wayne et all to start debugging.

-Michael, VE3TIX
_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
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

[Doug Faunt N6TQS [phone]]

Especially since Wayne took a vacation for most of the period, it's
far from impossible that something that worked well before, even
something fundamental, is broken in the new release.

   On Fri, Apr 25, 2008 at 7:41 PM, John Trager
   <[hidden email]> wrote:
   >I would think the new firmware release would be posted by now!
   >Isn't 600 Beta Testers better than 20???

No.

73, doug

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
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

[N5GE]

On Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:41:06 -0400, you wrote:

>I would think the new firmware release would be posted by now!  Isn't 600
>Beta Testers better than 20???
>
>John
>N2KBE

Not unless all 600 are qualified to do VALID testing as are the 20 who are
scheduled to do it...

Tom, N5GE - SWOT 3537 - Grid EM12jq

"They that can give up essential liberty
to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety."

--Benjamin Franklin 1775


Support the entire Constitution, not
just the parts you like.

http://www.n5ge.com
http://www.eQSL.cc/Member.cfm?N5GE

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
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