K3 FW request: enhanced TX TEST warning

[gm3sek]

As a stronger warning that the K3 is in TX Test mode, would it be
possible to flash the orange "Delta-F" LED as well as the tiny TX icon?

(Think of it as an extension of what Dick already does in the K3
Utility, to signify that the rig is not available for use.)

Reason for asking: Experienced user didn't notice he'd left the rig in
Test mode. New user didn't notice the flashing TX icon, or that no power
was going out... only that nobody was coming back to calls. Experienced
user is in big trouble!



--

73 from Ian GM3SEK
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[Joe Subich, W4TV-4]

> As a stronger warning that the K3 is in TX Test mode, would it
> be possible to flash the orange "Delta-F" LED as well as the
> tiny TX icon?

Instead of doing that, why not simply hijack the VFO B display
and flash "TX TEST" when in test mode?   The display is already
there if you think users are so incompetent that they need hand
holding.  

73,

   ... Joe, W4TV
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Ian
> White GM3SEK
> Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 2:23 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 FW request: enhanced TX TEST warning
>
>
>
> As a stronger warning that the K3 is in TX Test mode, would it be
> possible to flash the orange "Delta-F" LED as well as the
> tiny TX icon?
>
> (Think of it as an extension of what Dick already does in the K3
> Utility, to signify that the rig is not available for use.)
>
> Reason for asking: Experienced user didn't notice he'd left
> the rig in
> Test mode. New user didn't notice the flashing TX icon, or
> that no power
> was going out... only that nobody was coming back to calls.
> Experienced
> user is in big trouble!
>
>
>
> --
>
> 73 from Ian GM3SEK
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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[gm3sek]

Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:
>
>> As a stronger warning that the K3 is in TX Test mode, would it
>> be possible to flash the orange "Delta-F" LED as well as the
>> tiny TX icon?
>
>Instead of doing that, why not simply hijack the VFO B display and
>flash "TX TEST" when in test mode?   The display is already there if
>you think users are so incompetent that they need hand holding.
>

"Incompetent" doesn't come into this. The K3 will frequently be used by
people who have never seen one before, and even people who know the rig
can make mistakes.

All I'm looking for is a more obvious warning that something isn't
normal. It would be wrong to change any of the displays that need to be
behave normally when TX Test mode is being used for its intended
function.

If anyone has a better suggestion than flashing the Delta-F LED (which
is already being used by the K3 Utility for a similar purpose, but has
no useful function while in TX Test mode) then by all means let's
discuss it.



--

73 from Ian GM3SEK         'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB)
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek
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[AC7AC]

CONTENTS DELETED

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[Joe Subich, W4TV-4]

> All I'm looking for is a more obvious warning that something
> isn't normal. It would be wrong to change any of the displays
> that need to be behave normally when TX Test mode is being
> used for its intended function.
>
> If anyone has a better suggestion than flashing the Delta-F
> LED (which is already being used by the K3 Utility for a similar
> purpose, but has no useful function while in TX Test mode)
> then by all means let's discuss it.

The Delta-F LED has the same purpose in normal operation and
test mode - the tx/rx frequencies are not the same even if
the power amplifier will not generate any output.  

If your concern is that a user can be confused by accidentally
putting the radio into test mode, make the ability to use test
mode controllable in the CONFIG menu and make the "enable" item
part of the tech mode group.  

Flashing a Delta-F LED would not mean any more to a user
unfamiliar with the K3 than flashing the TX icon.  If the
goal is to let the unfamiliar user know why he is not getting
output, the TX TEST display is unambiguous for the "untrained"
user.  

Rather than another display change that as no meaning for the
unfamiliar user, make a clear display change or modify the
user interface to make it much more difficult to accidentally
enter the unexpected state.

73,

   ... Joe, W4TV
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Ian
> White GM3SEK
> Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 3:48 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 FW request: enhanced TX TEST warning
>
>
> Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:
> >
> >> As a stronger warning that the K3 is in TX Test mode, would it be
> >> possible to flash the orange "Delta-F" LED as well as the tiny TX
> >> icon?
> >
> >Instead of doing that, why not simply hijack the VFO B display and
> >flash "TX TEST" when in test mode?   The display is already there if
> >you think users are so incompetent that they need hand holding.
> >
>
> "Incompetent" doesn't come into this. The K3 will frequently
> be used by
> people who have never seen one before, and even people who
> know the rig
> can make mistakes.
>
> All I'm looking for is a more obvious warning that something isn't
> normal. It would be wrong to change any of the displays that
> need to be
> behave normally when TX Test mode is being used for its intended
> function.
>
> If anyone has a better suggestion than flashing the Delta-F
> LED (which
> is already being used by the K3 Utility for a similar
> purpose, but has
> no useful function while in TX Test mode) then by all means let's
> discuss it.
>
>
>
> --
>
> 73 from Ian GM3SEK         'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB)
> http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek 
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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[Dave, G4AON]

Part of that debate needs to include those like myself who often set
their K3 to TX Test in order to avoid accidentally transmitting (paddles
on the desk, foot switch, etc). Having flashing LEDs or large parts of
the display flashing is very distracting when you are using the K3 as a
receiver.

My vote is to leave it alone.

73 Dave, G4AON
K3/100 #80

<SNIP>

If anyone has a better suggestion than flashing the Delta-F LED (which
is already being used by the K3 Utility for a similar purpose, but has
no useful function while in TX Test mode) then by all means let's
discuss it.

--

73 from Ian GM3SEK
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[ab2tc]

Yes, please leave it alone. It seems to me like a non-problem. Personally I never use test mode although I have accidentally activated it since it is a hold function of the mode button. I could not imagine operating a radio without some sort of external metering in the antenna feed line. Currently I have an analog cross needle SWR meter in the line and I hardly ever transmit without confirming visually that I am emitting RF power and that SWR looks normal. There's gotta be more important issues for Elecraft to pay attention to.

Dave G4AON wrote

Part of that debate needs to include those like myself who often set
their K3 to TX Test in order to avoid accidentally transmitting (paddles
on the desk, foot switch, etc). Having flashing LEDs or large parts of
the display flashing is very distracting when you are using the K3 as a
receiver.

My vote is to leave it alone.

73 Dave, G4AON
K3/100 #80
<SNIP>

[David Cutter]

Joe

It's not just incompetence, we, well me/I, need a little help when
bleary-eyed from lack of sleep, say in contest when things go wrong ; as
they do...

David
G3UNA


----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Subich, W4TV" <[hidden email]>
To: "'Ian White GM3SEK'" <[hidden email]>; <[hidden email]>
Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 8:02 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 FW request: enhanced TX TEST warning

>
>> As a stronger warning that the K3 is in TX Test mode, would it
>> be possible to flash the orange "Delta-F" LED as well as the
>> tiny TX icon?
>
> Instead of doing that, why not simply hijack the VFO B display
> and flash "TX TEST" when in test mode?   The display is already
> there if you think users are so incompetent that they need hand
> holding.
>
> 73,
>
>   ... Joe, W4TV
>
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: [hidden email]
>> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Ian
>> White GM3SEK
>> Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 2:23 PM
>> To: [hidden email]
>> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 FW request: enhanced TX TEST warning
>>
>>
>>
>> As a stronger warning that the K3 is in TX Test mode, would it be
>> possible to flash the orange "Delta-F" LED as well as the
>> tiny TX icon?
>>
>> (Think of it as an extension of what Dick already does in the K3
>> Utility, to signify that the rig is not available for use.)
>>
>> Reason for asking: Experienced user didn't notice he'd left
>> the rig in
>> Test mode. New user didn't notice the flashing TX icon, or
>> that no power
>> was going out... only that nobody was coming back to calls.
>> Experienced
>> user is in big trouble!
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>>

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[Julian, G4ILO]

Dave G4AON wrote

Part of that debate needs to include those like myself who often set
their K3 to TX Test in order to avoid accidentally transmitting (paddles
on the desk, foot switch, etc). Having flashing LEDs or large parts of
the display flashing is very distracting when you are using the K3 as a
receiver.

My vote is to leave it alone.

Mine, too. I frequently use TX Test for similar reasons, and would find this very annoying. I also occasionally find myself trying to transmit and nothing happening because I left it in TX Test, but I have now learned the reason for it. There are lots of stupid things one can do with a radio, one cannot expect it to prevent all of them. It is really the responsibility of anyone using a radio for the first time to learn how to drive it.