Is the K3 a "fun" radio to operate ?
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Re: Is the K3 a "fun" radio to operate ?
 
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I think the K3 (and K2) are fun radios to operate. We've had a K3 at
our QRP Field Day for the past two years, and the various operators didn't report any problems that I'm aware of. Since I made a career in software development, menus are no big deal for me. A well-designed transceiver has the least-needed options built into the menus. When I look at something like a FTDX-5/9000 or the photos of the upcoming TS-990, what comes to mind with all of the controls is that these are "kitchen sink" radios. In other words, they appear to be designed by engineers who took everyone's wish list and implemented each function via front-panel controls. My question is, how often would the average amateur use many of these functions, if at all? I think someone counted 140 controls on the TS-990! 73 de Jim - AD6CW On 1/16/2013 10:03 AM, Phil Hystad wrote: > On a couple of earlier messages (one from Rob Sherwood) the notion of a "fun" radio to operate was raised and how that might become a deciding factor among many different radios with similar receive performance. > > My question is what is a fun radio? I have heard that some think the K3, being somewhat menu driven, is not a fun radio where as something like a Yaesu with a button and knob for every function is fun. I must be a contrarian because I think the less buttons without compromising performance or functionality is better. > > 73, phil, K7PEH > > ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
Re: Is the K3 a "fun" radio to operate ?
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In reply to this post by Keith Heimbold
I might add, Fred Cady's book on the K3 covers pretty much everything,
although there is nothing wrong with the supplied user manual. I believe that it is sometimes available at a discount from lulu.com 73 de Jim - AD6CW ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
Re: Is the K3 a "fun" radio to operate ?
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In reply to this post by Nick Kennedy
Nick,
I am also mostly CW and I rarely use the menus for CW ops. My question though was not because I was suffering from any lack in using the radio. I was mostly curious as to what other's opinions are on the idea of a fun radio. I just realized that I have very limited experience with radios that do not have menus. My Novice day's rig in the 1960s was a Hammarlund HQ-170AC and an Eico 720. Neither had menus -- anything you did to those rigs you did by turning a knob or throwing or operating a switch. But, I left ham radio in 1967 and did not come back until 2004. So, after the HQ-170AC and the 720, my next rig was an Icom 756 and it had menus. After that was an Icom 756 Pro III and it had menus. After that was the K3 and it has menus. So, I am very poor in experience with radios without menus. 73, phil, K7PEH (Novice call: WN7ECQ) On Jan 16, 2013, at 4:29 PM, Nick-WA5BDU <[hidden email]> wrote: > I guess you should ask yourself what controls need to be accessible right in front of you without menus. > > I mainly operate CW. Here's what I can access immediately without hitting "menu": keyer speed, sidetone pitch & level, power output, IF shift / bandwidth / filter selection, preamp / attenuator, NR, NB, RIT/XIT, VFO B, AGC, SPOT, RF & AF gain, ATU tune, keyer memories. > > There's more, but you get the idea. I also have four macro key functions programmed to make some quick configuration changes with a single press. > > My previous rig was an FT-1000. It had lots of knobs and essentially no menus. I didn't think I lost anything as far as quick access to needed functions when I upgraded to the K3. > > 73- > > Nick, WA5BDU > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 |
Re: Is the K3 a "fun" radio to operate ?
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In reply to this post by Dr. William J. Schmidt, II
This is the Elecraft way of catching the voice of the customer while
working on the full-dsp K4. 73 Arie PA3A Op 17-1-2013 3:16, Dr. William J. Schmidt, II schreef: > Seriously? Asking the Elecraft reflector if the K3 is a fun radio to > operate is like asking drug addicted people if they like drugs. > > > ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
Re: Is the K3 a "fun" radio to operate ?
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In reply to this post by Phil Hystad-3
I'm late in adding my comments as to "fun", as it is after a day at
work reading the digest. Ham radio is "fun" (most of the time) and frustrating at others. I think the K3 has been the best radio I have had and that equals more fun. It was more challenging to get acquainted with at first, and I am still learning more aspects of using it. My radio history: Ocean Hopper + DX35, HQ100, Clegg Interceptor-B, SB-110, TenTec Argonaut, TS-180S, TenTec Scout, FT-840, FT-847+FT-817, ...K3+KX3 (a few other VHF rigs not mentioned) I think in the most part the K3 controls vs menu setting are about right. I sure do not need a button to be pushed by accident when working that last needed contact for such-n-such award and send everything into limbo. Actually that is possible with the K3, as-is, though I am getting better at recognizing what happened and reversing it. The plus is that folks at Elecraft keep making improvements and enhancements via firmware releases so I get a "new" fun radio to play with after each upgrade. Fun = mastering something new! I had a FT-817 with three layers of menu which was not fun to set up. It has been replaced with the KX3...so much more radio performance on HF. 73, Ed - KL7UW ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
Re: Is the K3 a "fun" radio to operate ?
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In reply to this post by Phil Hystad-3
The K3 has an average number of menu entries for a radio in its class.
But we've reduced the need to use the menu in two ways. First, virtually every switch on the K3 has both tap and hold functions. This doubles the number of functions available on the panel. Second, the K3 has up to 10 switches that can be programmed to directly execute menu functions or macros. Of these, up to four are taps and six are holds. Macros are, in effect, fully customizable switches (allowing the operator to define what "fun" means :) Macros can be created using KX3 Utility and sent to the radio. A single macro can do things like "turn on the sub RX, copy VFO A to B, move B up 2 kHz, enter split mode, and set BW to 200 Hz." 73, Wayne N6KR ______________________________________________________________ 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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Now if we only had some decent labels to stick on those "10 switches"
Conventional computer labels seem to last a couple weeks before peeling off. Tiny writing isn't my strength so they are cryptic and only marginally readable. M1-M4 require diagonal printing. The other criterion is they have to come off at a desired time without residue. 73 de Brian/K3KO On 1/17/2013 15:26, Wayne Burdick wrote: > The K3 has an average number of menu entries for a radio in its class. > But we've reduced the need to use the menu in two ways. > > First, virtually every switch on the K3 has both tap and hold functions. > This doubles the number of functions available on the panel. > > Second, the K3 has up to 10 switches that can be programmed to directly > execute menu functions or macros. Of these, up to four are taps and six > are holds. Macros are, in effect, fully customizable switches (allowing > the operator to define what "fun" means :) > > Macros can be created using KX3 Utility and sent to the radio. A single > macro can do things like "turn on the sub RX, copy VFO A to B, move B up > 2 kHz, enter split mode, and set BW to 200 Hz." > > 73, > Wayne > N6KR > > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2638/5539 - Release Date: 01/17/13 > > ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2638/5539 - Release Date: 01/17/13 ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
Re: Is the K3 a "fun" radio to operate ?
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I never even thought of labeling those little switches.
I use a yellow sticky pad paper that describes the five different macros I have created and what buttons trigger them. Very simple, easy to update, and right in front of me. My K3 sits on a shelf about 11 inches above the desk top surface and the sticky pad is attached to that shelf and right below the right side where it is obvious and easy to see. I can't even conceive of a better, absolutely programmable, set of labels. Easy to create, easy to edit, easy to destroy with zero damage to the K3. 73, phil, K7PEH On Jan 17, 2013, at 7:39 AM, Brian Alsop <[hidden email]> wrote: > Now if we only had some decent labels to stick on those "10 switches" > > Conventional computer labels seem to last a couple weeks before peeling off. Tiny writing isn't my strength so they are cryptic and only marginally readable. M1-M4 require diagonal printing. > > The other criterion is they have to come off at a desired time without residue. > > 73 de Brian/K3KO > > > On 1/17/2013 15:26, Wayne Burdick wrote: >> The K3 has an average number of menu entries for a radio in its class. >> But we've reduced the need to use the menu in two ways. >> >> First, virtually every switch on the K3 has both tap and hold functions. >> This doubles the number of functions available on the panel. >> >> Second, the K3 has up to 10 switches that can be programmed to directly >> execute menu functions or macros. Of these, up to four are taps and six >> are holds. Macros are, in effect, fully customizable switches (allowing >> the operator to define what "fun" means :) >> >> Macros can be created using KX3 Utility and sent to the radio. A single >> macro can do things like "turn on the sub RX, copy VFO A to B, move B up >> 2 kHz, enter split mode, and set BW to 200 Hz." >> >> 73, >> Wayne >> N6KR >> >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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 >> >> >> ----- >> No virus found in this message. >> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >> Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2638/5539 - Release Date: 01/17/13 >> >> > > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2638/5539 - Release Date: 01/17/13 > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 |
Re: K3 "fun" Programmable switch display possible?
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In reply to this post by alsopb
I have the same trouble with programmable switches. I can't remember
what is behind each one. It would be nice if the display could be set up to say what the programmed button was going to do and then you would push again to confirm or push a different button to try something else. Buck k4ia On 1/17/2013 10:39 AM, Brian Alsop wrote: > Now if we only had some decent labels to stick on those "10 switches" > > Conventional computer labels seem to last a couple weeks before > peeling off. Tiny writing isn't my strength so they are cryptic and > only marginally readable. M1-M4 require diagonal printing. > > The other criterion is they have to come off at a desired time without > residue. > > 73 de Brian/K3KO > > > On 1/17/2013 15:26, Wayne Burdick wrote: >> The K3 has an average number of menu entries for a radio in its class. >> But we've reduced the need to use the menu in two ways. >> >> First, virtually every switch on the K3 has both tap and hold functions. >> This doubles the number of functions available on the panel. >> >> Second, the K3 has up to 10 switches that can be programmed to directly >> execute menu functions or macros. Of these, up to four are taps and six >> are holds. Macros are, in effect, fully customizable switches (allowing >> the operator to define what "fun" means :) >> >> Macros can be created using KX3 Utility and sent to the radio. A single >> macro can do things like "turn on the sub RX, copy VFO A to B, move B up >> 2 kHz, enter split mode, and set BW to 200 Hz." >> >> 73, >> Wayne >> N6KR >> ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
Re: K3 "fun" Programmable switch display possible?
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As I remember, each macro can have 6 or 7 characters to identify it and be displayed when you call that macro by button press. You just rename the macro number to what you want it to show.
Rich, n0ce ----- Original Message ----- From: Buck - k4ia To: [hidden email] Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2013 12:12 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 "fun" Programmable switch display possible? I have the same trouble with programmable switches. I can't remember what is behind each one. It would be nice if the display could be set up to say what the programmed button was going to do and then you would push again to confirm or push a different button to try something else. Buck k4ia On 1/17/2013 10:39 AM, Brian Alsop wrote: > Now if we only had some decent labels to stick on those "10 switches" > > Conventional computer labels seem to last a couple weeks before > peeling off. Tiny writing isn't my strength so they are cryptic and > only marginally readable. M1-M4 require diagonal printing. > > The other criterion is they have to come off at a desired time without > residue. > > 73 de Brian/K3KO > > > On 1/17/2013 15:26, Wayne Burdick wrote: >> The K3 has an average number of menu entries for a radio in its class. >> But we've reduced the need to use the menu in two ways. >> >> First, virtually every switch on the K3 has both tap and hold functions. >> This doubles the number of functions available on the panel. >> >> Second, the K3 has up to 10 switches that can be programmed to directly >> execute menu functions or macros. Of these, up to four are taps and six >> are holds. Macros are, in effect, fully customizable switches (allowing >> the operator to define what "fun" means :) >> >> Macros can be created using KX3 Utility and sent to the radio. A single >> macro can do things like "turn on the sub RX, copy VFO A to B, move B up >> 2 kHz, enter split mode, and set BW to 200 Hz." >> >> 73, >> Wayne >> N6KR >> ______________________________________________________________ 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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