K3 - Ergonomics

[G4HUE]

My recent previous rig was the FT897 so by comparison the K3 has trully wonderful ergonomics. I accept that having multifunction controls is not ideal but that has to be weighed against a front panel twice as big. I am happy with the choices made by Elecraft - as they say "one cannot simultaneously optimise all variables" and engineering (as a principle) accepts this as a premise. OK there are a couple that are twiddly but virtually all those I use regularly are where I need them to be rather than buried deep in a multi-layered menu - you can probably tell I hate multi-layered menus. In fact the two reasons I choose Elecraft is that 1) I cant stand menus and 2) thats its a world class CW rig (PSK has similar needs and I use PSK).

I accept Ian White's observations regarding the lack of progress in recent times with K3 firmware mods - we dont surely want a stream of them, but it would be nice to know that there are still plans afoot for some enhancements. It's this lack of any "road map" for the K3 which I find difficult - surely this is not too much to ask. Not for a detailed plan but at least for a comment on things which are in the pipeline?? If left to "rot on the vine" the K3 will, in time, fall behind other vendors rigs which would be very sad to say the least.

Andy
G4HUE

BTW Ian, I was at QMC at the same time as yourself but you were a few years older than myself.
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[Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT]

I do have one rhetorical question for the group on this topic, and it
applies to my KX3 as well.

Unlike brand Y, or brand K, or brand I, these radios are largely
software defined, and features can be added that weren't part of the
original design.

While I don't have a list handy, I'm sure that's happened to the K3.

How do you put buttons on the front panel of a radio for features that
aren't even part of the original design?

I'm sure that's one of the reasons for the macro buttons, but the
ultimate answer is probably 100% touch screen.

73 -- Lynn
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[Don Wilhelm-4]

wunder,

Are you saying the K3 (or KX3) band buttons skip 60 meters on yours?
That is not standard operation, but the band buttons can be set to skip
any selected bands the owner selects.  Perhaps you have configured 60
meters out of the band rotation.

No need to extend the existing band button operation - it has already
been done.
See the menu item CONFIG: BND MAP - (K3 manual page 54) bands can be
excluded from the up and down band button operation.

The KX3 has the same capability.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 4/4/2014 1:56 AM, Walter Underwood wrote:
> You could extend an existing button function. Perhaps add the 60m band to the band up/down buttons.

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