K3 Band switch
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I have programmed the keypad as band switches and programmed M1-M4 on each
band. I have also programmed frequencies into my memory locations. This works well but takes some getting used to. The keypad and keys around it are now the most "Busy" area on my front panel. I don't know what to think about The Band Switch nor how to use it. Maybe I should think of it not as a Band Switch but as a frequency Stacking register. Any frequency can be put into any stacked position. Maybe I should put my commercial broadcast and short wave frequencies in these stacks. This would free up more memory locations. I am sure Elecraft is re-thinking the total frequency management scheme to see if it can be made more intuitive for us all. I really like my K3. It is neat to have the flexibility that downloaded firmware provides. Ron Durie WB4OOA K3# 604 _______________________________________________ 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 |
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Ron,
Warning: RANT ON -- Before we get more confused with terminology, it is not a "stacking" memory if you can retrieve from any slot in the memory - that is random access. A "stack" can only be loaded/unloaded from one end (usually referred to as the top) and one must sequentially remove entries until the one wanted is present. The K3 regular band switch is more akin to a "stack", but not quite since it wraps around and one can move in either direction. I don't care what other manufacturers and hams have called things, but many have certainly strayed far away from what they are supposed to mean. For instance, what is commonly referred to as a 'zepp' antenna is nothing like the original, the G5RV has been quite mutilated, and L.B. Cebik (sadly now SK) had long been an advocate for striking the word 'counterpoise' from the ham language because it has become so misused that we now have a term for something that has no clear definition of what it is, so we always have to ask for details. Please, let's not start this with memory naming - the programming field has long had meaningful definitions for such things and they make sense - it would be nice to keep it that way. RANT OFF 73, Don W3FPR Ron Durie wrote: > I have programmed the keypad as band switches and programmed M1-M4 on each > band. > I have also programmed frequencies into my memory locations. This works > well but takes some getting used to. > > > > Maybe I should think of it not as a Band Switch but as a frequency Stacking > register. > Any frequency can be put into any stacked position. > > 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 |
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How about the "End Fed Dipole" :-))
73 Stewart G3RXQ On Wed, 07 May 2008 10:51:42 -0400, Don Wilhelm wrote: > Ron, > > Warning: RANT ON -- > > Before we get more confused with terminology, it is not a "stacking" > memory if you can retrieve from any slot in the memory - that is random > access. > > A "stack" can only be loaded/unloaded from one end (usually referred to > as the top) and one must sequentially remove entries until the one > wanted is present. The K3 regular band switch is more akin to a > "stack", but not quite since it wraps around and one can move in either > direction. > > I don't care what other manufacturers and hams have called things, but > many have certainly strayed far away from what they are supposed to > mean. For instance, what is commonly referred to as a 'zepp' antenna is > nothing like the original, the G5RV has been quite mutilated, and L.B. > Cebik (sadly now SK) had long been an advocate for striking the word > 'counterpoise' from the ham language because it has become so misused > that we now have a term for something that has no clear definition of > what it is, so we always have to ask for details. Please, let's not > start this with memory naming - the programming field has long had > meaningful definitions for such things and they make sense - it would be > nice to keep it that way. > > RANT OFF > > 73, > Don W3FPR _______________________________________________ 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 |
Re: K3 Band switch
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Err, that ones sorta correct in my head, since the E ad M patterns are
the same as a centerfed dipole. Seaparate the electrical characteristics from the physical. 73, doug From: Stewart Baker <[hidden email]> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 15:59:39 +0100 How about the "End Fed Dipole" :-)) 73 Stewart G3RXQ _______________________________________________ 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 |
Re: K3 Band switch
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In reply to this post by Stewart Baker
That's allowed :-)
73, Geoff GM4ESD Stewart Baker wrote on Wednesday, May 07, 2008 3:59 PM How about the "End Fed Dipole" :-)) 73 Stewart G3RXQ _______________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by Doug Faunt N6TQS +1-510-655-8604
I know, but it goes against the grain (gain) Sic...
73 Stewart G3RXQ On Wed, 7 May 2008 11:18:59 -0400 (EDT), Doug Faunt N6TQS +1-510-655-8604 wrote: > Err, that ones sorta correct in my head, since the E ad M patterns are > the same as a centerfed dipole. Seaparate the electrical > characteristics from the physical. > > 73, doug > > From: Stewart Baker <[hidden email]> > Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 15:59:39 +0100 > > How about the "End Fed Dipole" :-)) > > 73 > Stewart G3RXQ _______________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4
I believe that would be called a "circular queue".
73, Dave KQ3T Don Wilhelm wrote: > ... > A "stack" can only be loaded/unloaded from one end (usually referred > to as the top) and one must sequentially remove entries until the one > wanted is present. The K3 regular band switch is more akin to a > "stack", but not quite since it wraps around and one can move in > either direction. > > ... > 73, > Don W3FPR _______________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4
On Wed, 07 May 2008 10:51:42 -0400, Don W3FPR wrote:
>Ron, > > >A "stack" can only be loaded/unloaded from one end (usually referred to >as the top) and one must sequentially remove entries until the one >wanted is present. The K3 regular band switch is more akin to a >"stack", but not quite since it wraps around and one can move in either >direction. > I miss FORTH [sigh]... But back to radios... I wonder if it would be useful to implement a Very-Coarse tuning rate, say 5 MHz per full turn of the VFO knob. That would be your band switch. With such a rate you could quickly get to any band, ham or SWL or whatever. However, if you should select a ham band with this coarse tune VFO, it would automatically recall your previous settings for that band (same as the Band buttons work) It could be accessed by holding "Coarse" while turning the VFO knob. Perhaps this could be managed with one hand? [OK, I don't have a K3 and haven't read much of the manual, so probably shouldn't be making comments at all. The above is just a suggestion. If it isn't a useful one just ignore it; I'm not really looking for any feedback on it.] 73, Drew AF2Z _______________________________________________ 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 |
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<> I wonder if it would be useful to implement a
<> Very-Coarse tuning rate, say 5 MHz per full turn of the VFO knob. This idea sounds appealing to me, Drew. A lot less to remember than when using memory access, etc. I get the feeling that Elecraft is rethinking the whole bandswitching matter, and rightfully so. To me, at least, the present situation is rather confusing. I hope they will consider your idea. 73 ... Craig AC0DS _______________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by drewko
At 5/7/2008 02:19 PM, [hidden email] wrote:
>But back to radios... I wonder if it would be useful to implement a >Very-Coarse tuning rate, say 5 MHz per full turn of the VFO knob. >That would be your band switch. There is a coarse tuning knob. Maybe not 5MHz, but it might be 1 or 2. _______________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by Craig Smith
I would suggest a 1 MHz step, along the lines used in
the old Collins 51J series of receivers. They tuned 1 MHz segments, so had to step up to the next 1 MHz segment. A 1 MHz step would touch every hamband directly, while 5 MHz would miss all of them. 73, Bob N6WG ----- Original Message ----- From: "Craig D. Smith" <[hidden email]> To: <[hidden email]> Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 12:30 PM Subject: RE: [Elecraft] K3 Band switch <> I wonder if it would be useful to implement a <> Very-Coarse tuning rate, say 5 MHz per full turn of the VFO knob. This idea sounds appealing to me, Drew. A lot less to remember than when using memory access, etc. I get the feeling that Elecraft is rethinking the whole bandswitching matter, and rightfully so. To me, at least, the present situation is rather confusing. I hope they will consider your idea. 73 ... Craig AC0DS _______________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by Craig Smith
Craig,
I am not certain why you believe the current bandswitching method is confusing - unless you are trying to follow the several suggestions for changing the band selection. I find the BAND up/down switch similar to the old rotary bandswitches. You go one way (usually clockwise) to go to a higher band and the other way to go to a lower band. And you had to do it one switch detent at a time, there was no hopping from one band direct to another unless they were adjacent. One can easily count finger taps on the band button just as easily as counting rotary switch detent positions - one just has to remember how many bands apart the present one is from the desired one. Just my opinion. 73, Don W3FPR Craig D. Smith wrote: > To me, at least, the present > situation is rather confusing. I hope they will consider your idea. > > 73 > > _______________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by n6wg
On Wed, 07 May 2008 12:49:16 -0700, Bob N6WG wrote:
>I would suggest a 1 MHz step, along the lines used in >the old Collins 51J series of receivers. They tuned >1 MHz segments, so had to step up to the next 1 MHz >segment. >A 1 MHz step would touch every hamband directly, >while 5 MHz would miss all of them. >73, Bob N6WG > No, I meant a tuning rate of 5 MHz per full turn of the VFO knob... but it WOULD increment the frequency readout in 1 MHz steps, as you suggest. 5 MHz per one full turn would, for instance, let you go from 7.0xx MHz to 15.1xx MHz in about one and a half turns of the VFO knob, acting more like a band switch than a VFO. Perhaps 10 MHz per turn would be even better. The current Coarse Tune rate (1 or 2 MHz?) is not coarse enough to act as a band switch. 73, Drew AF2Z _______________________________________________ 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 |
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[hidden email] wrote:
> ... > No, I meant a tuning rate of 5 MHz per full turn of the VFO knob... > but it WOULD increment the frequency readout in 1 MHz steps, as you > suggest. > > 5 MHz per one full turn would, for instance, let you go from 7.0xx MHz > to 15.1xx MHz in about one and a half turns of the VFO knob, acting > more like a band switch than a VFO. Perhaps 10 MHz per turn would be > even better. The current Coarse Tune rate (1 or 2 MHz?) is not coarse > enough to act as a band switch. Instead of tuning knob rotation, how about press and hold COARSE while tapping the ^ or v BAND buttons to move by 1 MHz increments? These combinations are currently not used and this technique would be more in keeping with the way many modern rigs use their up/down buttons. Then the stepping rate is determined by how fast you tap. Gus Hansen KB0YH _______________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4
Well stated....So....Let's go back to the rotary bandswitch. It was faster to change bands than bumping this button half dozen times. Nowadays a lot of hams have amplifiers, tuners and rotary beams that follow the bandswitching. Imagine what happens to all those relays and motors when quickly scrolling through each band. Steve Ellington [hidden email] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Don Wilhelm" <[hidden email]> To: <[hidden email]> Cc: <[hidden email]> Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 3:50 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Band switch > Craig, > > I am not certain why you believe the current bandswitching method is > confusing - unless you are trying to follow the several suggestions for > changing the band selection. > I find the BAND up/down switch similar to the old rotary bandswitches. > You go one way (usually clockwise) to go to a higher band and the other > way to go to a lower band. And you had to do it one switch detent at a > time, there was no hopping from one band direct to another unless they > were adjacent. > One can easily count finger taps on the band button just as easily as > counting rotary switch detent positions - one just has to remember how > many bands apart the present one is from the desired one. > Just my opinion. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > Craig D. Smith wrote: >> To me, at least, the present >> situation is rather confusing. I hope they will consider your idea. >> >> 73 >> > _______________________________________________ > 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 > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.9/1419 - Release > Date: 5/7/2008 7:46 AM > > 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 |
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In reply to this post by Augie "Gus" Hansen
Augie,
And what success do you expect in hitting 10.101 or 18.068? Unfortunately the ham bands don't all start with .000 lower limits. What is really needed is one button press to get to the band you want. Two to six button presses alone or in combo with knob twisting simply isn't acceptable. Standing on your head while twisting a knob behind one's back isn't either. 73 de Brian/K3KO Augie Hansen wrote: > [hidden email] wrote: > >> ... >> No, I meant a tuning rate of 5 MHz per full turn of the VFO knob... >> but it WOULD increment the frequency readout in 1 MHz steps, as you >> suggest. >> 5 MHz per one full turn would, for instance, let you go from 7.0xx MHz >> to 15.1xx MHz in about one and a half turns of the VFO knob, acting >> more like a band switch than a VFO. Perhaps 10 MHz per turn would be >> even better. The current Coarse Tune rate (1 or 2 MHz?) is not coarse >> enough to act as a band switch. > > > Instead of tuning knob rotation, how about press and hold COARSE while > tapping the ^ or v BAND buttons to move by 1 MHz increments? These > combinations are currently not used and this technique would be more > in keeping with the way many modern rigs use their up/down buttons. > Then the stepping rate is determined by how fast you tap. > > Gus Hansen > KB0YH > > _______________________________________________ > 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 |
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Fix the problem with ham bands disappearing when tuning to frequencies outside the ham bands as suggested by Wayne (the "virtual" SWL band) earlier today and there will be nothing confusing about the band button. Lots of other radios do it this way.
Knut - AB2TC K3 #82
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At least it -does- step both directions. Not all do. (:-))
The only "improvement" I'd ask for is to be able to bypass "unused" bands in the stepping process. 73! Ken Kopp - K0PP [hidden email] _______________________________________________ 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 |
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I second that. That would be a nice addition to the menu system.
Knut - AB2TC K3 #82
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In reply to this post by alsopb
HI Brian,
> And what success do you expect in hitting 10.101 or 18.068? None. > Unfortunately the ham bands don't all start with .000 lower limits. We're addressing two different issues. I'm responding to the original statement about achieving 1 MHz steps as in general coverage. For example, my Icom 765 has UP and DOWN buttons that step up and down by 1 MHz from the frequency being displayed. Hence UP from 7.050 MHz brings you to 8.050 MHz, not 8.000 MHz. If you happen to land within a ham band, so be it. > What is really needed is one button press to get to the band you want. Agreed. Direct band selection is a must-have feature. I and many others requested this item way back when the discussions about what features an "improved" K2 should have first began. > ... Standing on your head while twisting a knob behind one's back > isn't either. Your concept of "operating position" is radically different from mine! I usually sit in a chair facing my radio. Cheers, Gus Hansen _______________________________________________ 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 |
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