Important K3 News

[Don Rasmussen]

>>Will the K3's shipping out in the future have the
latest firmware?

Probably but I'm sure the guys won't make it a "redo"
effort for those units that are boxed or even those
that are "on the line". One of the first steps after
getting a new K3 is to download and update your
firmware. That was a topic on the reflector a while
back.

I can't imagine anyone that cannot do this, and also
does not have a friend with an internet connected PC
that would help. But I'm sure the guys would step up
and provide assistance in that unusual case.

[Elecraft] Important K3 News
Brett Gazdzinski brett.gazdzinski at verizon.net
Sat Nov 17 21:17:38 EST 2007

Will the K3's shipping out in the future have the
latest firmware?

Brett
N2DTS


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[Craig Rairdin]

>>Will the K3's shipping out in the future have the
>>latest firmware?

Mine was pretty fresh. The board that contained the programmable ROM was not
sealed in its anti-static bag. It looked to me like they wanted to make sure
it had the latest so they kept it unsealed. On the other hand, by the time I
got it there was an update available.

It's really easy to do the updates. The software that talks to the K3
automatically retrieves the latest software from Elecraft then just takes
over the radio and downloads the update to it. It is effortless.

Craig
NZ0R
K3 #25

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[Brett Gazdzinski]

Thanks for the reply!
Well, the computer is in one part of the house, the
shack and its power supplies in another.

No big deal really, I think I got quite a while to go before
mine ships, it was ordered on May 2nd.

Being a casual operator, I doubt I would use most of
the 'features', at least not for a while, so I was hoping
to not have to upload new firmware as soon as it arrived.

I know its supposed to be easy, but I have this picture
in my mind that I upload it and the rig dies and has to be sent
back before I even use it.
I got to tell you, I REALLY hate software...

Brett
N2DTS

> >>Will the K3's shipping out in the future have the
> latest firmware?
>
> Probably but I'm sure the guys won't make it a "redo"
> effort for those units that are boxed or even those
> that are "on the line". One of the first steps after
> getting a new K3 is to download and update your
> firmware. That was a topic on the reflector a while
> back.
>
> I can't imagine anyone that cannot do this, and also
> does not have a friend with an internet connected PC
> that would help. But I'm sure the guys would step up
> and provide assistance in that unusual case.
>
> [Elecraft] Important K3 News
> Brett Gazdzinski brett.gazdzinski at verizon.net
> Sat Nov 17 21:17:38 EST 2007
>
> Will the K3's shipping out in the future have the
> latest firmware?
>
> Brett
> N2DTS

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[Rick Tavan N6XI]

Not to worry - at 8.5 lbs, the K3 lends itself easily to transport across
the house to wherever you have a computer. All you'll need there is a serial
cable and 12 VDC at an amp for a few minutes. Then take the rig back to the
shack and enjoy the new release.

/Rick N6XI

On or about 11/17/07, a concerned future K3 owner wrote about updating
firmware:
>
>
> Well, the computer is in one part of the house, the
> shack and its power supplies in another.
>
>
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[Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy]

Sorry if this has already been asked, am I right to assume that K3 firmware
updates are or will be available by means other than downloading via the
Internet e.g. by purchasing updated ROM chip(s) from time to time? Would
like to have a K3 for use at another QTH on the Continent where there is no
Internet connection (by choice).

73.
Geoff
GM4ESD


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[Dick Dievendorff]

You don't have to be connected to the internet at the time you update the
radio.  There's a procedure described in the K3 Utility's Help (see "Manual
File Transfer") that describes using an internet browser or File Transfer
Protocol (FTP) client to copy firmware files from Elecraft's server onto
some removable device such as USB flash drive or a floppy diskette (or burn
your own CD). You then carry that device to the K3 and perform the firmware
update there.  

Elecraft will mail you a CD for a fee, but the "normal" distribution method
is by making firmware available at an FTP server.  

The K3 Utility can act as an FTP client to copy files from Elecraft to the
PC.  Its second function is to send firmware from files from the PC to the
K3.  The first FTP part can be performed by your favorite web browser.  The
second step doesn't require internet connectivity.


73 de Dick, K6KR


-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Geoffrey
Mackenzie-Kennedy
Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2007 10:06 PM
To: Elecraft Discussion List
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Important K3 News

Sorry if this has already been asked, am I right to assume that K3 firmware
updates are or will be available by means other than downloading via the
Internet e.g. by purchasing updated ROM chip(s) from time to time? Would
like to have a K3 for use at another QTH on the Continent where there is no
Internet connection (by choice).

73.
Geoff
GM4ESD


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[Julian, G4ILO]

On Nov 18, 2007 6:06 AM, Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy
<[hidden email]> wrote:
> Sorry if this has already been asked, am I right to assume that K3 firmware
> updates are or will be available by means other than downloading via the
> Internet e.g. by purchasing updated ROM chip(s) from time to time? Would
> like to have a K3 for use at another QTH on the Continent where there is no
> Internet connection (by choice).

Hopefully the time will soon pass when firmware updates fix critical
issues (i.e. bugs) and simply add features that may not be deemed
essential. Some people seem to have update-itis and need to have the
latest of everything, but I think I have avoided a lot of problems in
the past (especially in the world of computers) by following the maxim
"if it ain't broke, don't fix it." My K2 is still working quite
happily on Rev 2.01 firmware, which has never caused an issue until a
few days ago when working on my new program when I wasted half an hour
trying to figure why the TQ command didn't work.

--
Julian, G4ILO K2 s/n: 392  K3 s/n: ???
G4ILO's Shack: www.g4ilo.com
Zerobeat Ham Forums: www.zerobeat.net/smf
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[Simon (HB9DRV)]

Wayne has so far fixed bugs the same day they I have reported them. None
have been show-stoppers, just CAT-related things.

There will be many enhancements, but so far I am more than impressed with
the turnaround and with Elecraft's responses here and off-list. It could not
be any better.

Ham Radio Deluxe is batting along very well, I'll have a K3 beta within the
next week. CAT response is excellent, no lags or problems with this
interface. When I was a student programmer in the 70's my 1200/300 modem was
just as big as the K3, the old DEC 10 a true monster.

Speaking of monsters it's time to walk the dogs :-)

Simon Brown, HB9DRV

----- Original Message -----
From: "Julian G4ILO" <[hidden email]>
>
> Hopefully the time will soon pass when firmware updates fix critical
> issues (i.e. bugs) and simply add features that may not be deemed
> essential.
>

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[Chris G3SJJ]

Yeah but how does it perform? Were you on the the various 160m contests
last night, did you work any DX, how did it cope with strong signals,
how did the NB react to the high static crashes that were around? There
are the real questions!!

Have fun  Chris G3SJJ



Simon Brown (HB9DRV) wrote:

> Wayne has so far fixed bugs the same day they I have reported them.
> None have been show-stoppers, just CAT-related things.
>
> There will be many enhancements, but so far I am more than impressed
> with the turnaround and with Elecraft's responses here and off-list.
> It could not be any better.
>
> Ham Radio Deluxe is batting along very well, I'll have a K3 beta
> within the next week. CAT response is excellent, no lags or problems
> with this interface. When I was a student programmer in the 70's my
> 1200/300 modem was just as big as the K3, the old DEC 10 a true monster.
>
> Speaking of monsters it's time to walk the dogs :-)
>
> Simon Brown, HB9DRV
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Julian G4ILO"
> <[hidden email]>
>>
>> Hopefully the time will soon pass when firmware updates fix critical
>> issues (i.e. bugs) and simply add features that may not be deemed
>> essential.
>>
>
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>

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[Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy]

Julian G4ILO <[hidden email]> wrote on
Sunday, November 18, 2007 10:05 AM

> Hopefully the time will soon pass when firmware updates fix critical
> issues (i.e. bugs) and simply add features that may not be deemed
> essential. Some people seem to have update-itis and need to have the
> latest of everything, but I think I have avoided a lot of problems in
> the past (especially in the world of computers) by following the maxim
> "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." My K2 is still working quite
> happily on Rev 2.01 firmware, which has never caused an issue until a
> few days ago when working on my new program when I wasted half an hour
> trying to figure why the TQ command didn't work.

-------------------------------------------------------------

I share your philosophy. My K2 appears to be happy with the firmware that
came with it in early 2003 and without any of the 'official' hardware
modifications. I have made two 'unofficial' hardware modifications (1) To
put a beefy headphone jack at the rear and (2) Re-package the High Voltage
bias supply in a screened box sitting on the KPA100 pcb with lead filtering
to get rid of many of the receiver birdies.

If I order a K3 early next year assuming that any serious bugs have been
dealt with, I would like to think that I would not need to install updates
very often, if at all.

Sincere thanks to everyone who answered my question.

73,
Geoff
GM4ESD

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[w6jd]

That's my situation. It really isn't a big deal except for the fact that
you have to disconnect all the cables.

Doug W6JD

-------------- Original message --------------
From: "Rick Tavan N6XI" <[hidden email]>

> Not to worry - at 8.5 lbs, the K3 lends itself easily to transport across
> the house to wherever you have a computer. All you'll need there is a serial
> cable and 12 VDC at an amp for a few minutes. Then take the rig back to the
> shack and enjoy the new release.
>
> /Rick N6XI
>
> On or about 11/17/07, a concerned future K3 owner wrote about updating
> firmware:
> >
> >
> > Well, the computer is in one part of the house, the
> > shack and its power supplies in another.
> >
> >
> _______________________________________________
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>
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