K3 beta-test firmware revision 3.03 (with DSP rev 2.10) is now
available. This is a major firmware release, with a number of new
features:
- Band independence for the sub receiver (CONFIG:VFO IND)
- New AGC features, especially for use in pileups (CONFIG:AGC DCY, AGC
HLD)
- Fast-tuning spurious receive signal removal (CONFIG:SIG RMV)
- Multiple ATU settings per band; per-band/per-antenna auto/bypass
selection
- Improved behavior of PTT and the TX LED
- Extended transverter frequency coverage when used with a 10-m I.F.
For details, see the release notes below. Please send any problem
reports to
[hidden email].
For instructions on how to load beta firmware, please see:
http://www.elecraft.com/K3/k3_software.htmWe also recommend that you use the latest revision of K3 Utility, which
can also be found on the K3 software page.
73,
Wayne
N6KR
* * *
MCU 3.03/DSP 2.10, 3-17-2009
New Feature: Band Independence for the Sub Receiver
* MAIN/SUB RECEIVER BAND INDEPENDENCE. If CONFIG:VFO IND
is set to YES, then VFO A and B can be set to different bands. In this
case
BAND UP/BAND DN will only move VFO A, but in BSET mode, they will apply
to VFO B. VFO B can also have a different mode from VFO A. Some RX
parameters can be set differently for the sub receiver when in BSET
mode,
including PRE, ATTN, all DSP controls, and NB (noise blanker) settings.
Limitations: For now, NR, notch, and some other controls remain common
to both receivers. Internal text decode (CW, FSK-D, PSK-D) is available
only for the main receiver. Scanning still must be set up using both
VFO A
and B on the same band. Memory recall only updates VFO A if VFO B is
on a different band. (Most restrictions will be removed in future
revisions.)
New AGC Features
Introduction: All AGC systems modulate in-band signals to some degree,
creating IMD if multiple signals are present. But you now have several
choices
when conditions are difficult: (1) AGC OFF, which eliminates virtually
all
in-band IMD, but requires “riding” of the RF GAIN control. (2) Slow AGC
(AGC-S) with a nonzero hold time, typically 0.2 seconds or more (see
CONFIG:AGC HLD below). This is nearly as clean as AGC OFF, but the AGC
will charge on strong signals, reducing gain for the duration of the
AGC HLD
amount. This can be distracting. (3) Soft-decay AGC (see CONFIG:AGC DCY,
below, which applies to AGC-S/-F). This recovers much faster than AGC-S
with
a long hold applied, and produces only a little more IMD. In the case
of AGC-F
(fast), soft decay will result in slower recovery time between code
elements
than normal decay (nor), but it will still be much faster than AGC-S
with a
hold time applied. (4) Normal-decay AGC. This is the traditional
DSP-based
AGC decay characteristic, and it will create a lot more IMD than the
other alternatives. (An application note showing the effect on actual
signals
is pending.)
* AGC DCY MENU ENTRY (AGC decay type): Allows you to select "Soft"
or normal AGC decay characteristic. When AGC DCY is set to “Soft,” both
slow and fast AGC will create less in-band IMD (intermodulation
distortion)
in multi-signal situations (e.g., pileups). You can assign AGC DCY to a
programmable function switch (PF1/2 hold, or M1-4 tap or hold) if you
need to turn it on/off quickly.
* AGC HLD MENU ENTRY (slow AGC hold time): AGC HLD now
applies to CW mode (originally it applied only to voice/data). AGC HLD
may reduce receive IMD caused by normal AGC-S/AGC-F decay times.
Settings of about 0.3-1.0 seconds should improve copy when many
closely spaced signals are present, as in a CW pileup. No effect on
AGC-F.
New ATU (KAT3) Features
* MULTIPLE KAT3 ATU DATA SEGMENTS PER BAND/PER-ANT.: 10 kHz
per segment on 160 m; 20 kHz on 80-12 m; 50 kHz on 10 m; 200 kHz
on 6 m. This keeps narrowband antennas in tune across the full ham
band. Note 1: You *do not* need to go through each band and do ATU TUNE
on every segment. The K3 will use the saved LC data segment closest
to your present VFO location, gradually "learning" what settings
to use everytime you do an ATU TUNE. Note 2: You can erase all of
the stored LC data for a given band by tapping CLR in the CONFIG:KAT3
menu entry.
* AUTOMATIC KAT3 LC NETWORK UPDATE ON TRANSMIT: Each time
you transmit, the K3 first determines whether you’ve moved the VFO
closer to another stored ATU data segment. If so, it will re-load the
KAT3 with
this data, and flash the “ATU” icon twice, briefly. You’ll hear one or
more
relays on the KAT3 change state. This will not interrupt transmit.
* ATU MODE STORED PER-BAND, PER-ANTENNA: You can now set
up the KAT3’s mode (AUTO, BYPASS, etc.) on a per-band/per-antenna (1/2)
basis. This is very useful if you have well-matched antennas on some
bands,
or a dummy load connected to one of the ANT jacks.
New Feature: Spurious Signal Removal
* SPURIOUS SIGNAL REMOVAL: Fast-tuning “birdies” can in some cases
be eliminated using the new “Signal Removal” feature (CONFIG:SIG RMV).
We recommend that this be attempted only on birdies that can be heard
with an antenna connected. STEPS: (1) Set up the receiver for a desired
band, and select the mode you’d normally use in the target band segment.
(2) Locate a birdie to be removed. A birdie is considered “fast-tuning”
if a
small change in the SHIFT control (e.g. 50 Hz) moves the birdie about
500
Hz or more (sometimes this small shift will move it completely out of
the
passband). Such birdies result from UHF harmonics of the VFO. If you do
test a birdie using SHIFT, be sure to return SHIFT to its normal
setting before
continuing, because the value of SHIFT affects the birdie frequency.
(3) Locate the CONFIG:SIG RMV menu entry, and change the parameter
from NOR to 0. This will save necessary information about the birdie,
including the present VFO frequency, mode, filter, and SHIFT value.
(4) Try different values of SIG RMV, starting with -1 or 1, to see if
the birdie
can be removed. Greater values (- or +) will move the birdie farther
out of
the passband, but will also result in a greater change in the
background noise
as you tune across it. IMPORTANT: Each time you change SIG RMV,
exit the menu and see if the birdie has disappeared. Each SIG RMV value
applies to a 100-Hz VFO segment, e.g. from 28135.30 to 28135.39, so
you’ll have to tune slowly through that 100-Hz range using 10-Hz steps
to
make sure the birdie has been completely removed. Once you’re finished,
you may still hear a slightly tuning artifact as you tune through this
range.
NOTE: In most cases, you’ll need to apply SIG RMV to at least two
adjacent
100-Hz VFO segments. Also, if you use more than one filter or SHIFT
setting in the present operating mode, you’ll probably need to map out
the
birdie more than one time. TO UNDO SIG RMV: If you tap CLR while
you’re in the SIG RMV menu entry, all birdie information for the present
band will be permanently deleted. SSB MODE ALTERNATIVE: In SSB
modes, simply leaving AUTO NOTCH on may be effective.
Limitations: SIG RMV is experimental. It applies only to the main
receiver,
at present, and only in CW/SSB/DATA modes. Do not attempt to remove
birdies on transverter bands; instead, remove them on the I.F. band
used.
On each band from 160-6 m, up to 60 birdies can be removed. But as
mentioned above, each one may have to be mapped out from adjacent
VFO segments as well as for different filter and SHIFT settings. So the
practical number of birdies that can be removed is more like 5 to 20 per
band. A small audible tuning artifact may remain after removing strong
birdies.
Changing REF CAL or your sidetone pitch may make birdies re-appear.
In this case, you might want to tap CLR within SIG RMV to delete the
data
for the present band, then start over.
Misc. improvements
* SSB/DATA POWER OUTPUT CONTROL: Power-setting accuracy has
been significantly improved over previous releases.
* AFSK A TRANSMIT NOISE ELIMINATED: Under certain circumstances,
such as with DUAL PB turned on, the AFSK A transmit signal could be
modulated by low-level audio noise. This has now been eliminated.
* PTT-CW RELEASE FIXED: When PTT is used to “arm” CW transmit, e.g. with
a footswitch, releasing PTT in the middle of keying now disables
transmit.
* TX LED: This LED now only turns on if power output is actually
enabled.
* EXTENDED TRANSVERTER BAND COVERAGE: When 10 meters is used
as a transverter-band I.F., the upper end is no longer limited to 30
MHz. In the
case of a transverter band set up for 2 meters (nominally 144-146 MHz),
this
allows tuning a bit higher than 146 MHz, if desired. The 10-meter
band-pass filter falls off pretty quickly above 30 MHz. But the
extended range
may be useful for hitting repeaters with in/out in the 146 to 147 MHz
range.
For software developers
* IC COMMAND SHOWS SUB ON/OFF STATUS: Byte b, bit 0. This is
more reliable than the SUB ON bit in the DS response. “IC” also as the
advantage that "K31" mode need not be in effect.
---
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Mar 17, 2009; 9:14pm
