K3 wish list - option to turn off display

[g3yiq]

I increasingly like to operate remote, especially when traveling.
This can sometimes mean that the rig is turned on for several days.
I have some concern about burn-out of the LCD display in areas where  
it remains unchanged for long periods.
Maybe this is an unjustified worry, but it would be good to have the  
option to simply turn off the display when using remote operation, or  
even when operating the rig from a PC in the shack.

Bob, G3YIQ

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[David Pratt]

In a recent message, Bob Jones <[hidden email]> wrote ...
>I have some concern about burn-out of the LCD display in areas where it
>remains unchanged for long periods.
[snip]
> but it would be good to have the  option to simply turn off the
>display when using remote operation, or  even when operating the rig
>from a PC in the shack.

That would be a good idea, Bob.  LCD ADJ does down to 2 but perhaps zero
could be used to switch the contrast off altogether.  LCD BRT can show
DAY which turns the backlight off.

73
--
David G4DMP
Leeds, England, UK
------


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[Don Wilhelm-4]

Bob,

Steve Jackson KZ1X would be the best to respond to your concern.  I
understand that Steve has never turned his K2 off except for periods of
upgrading and alignements.  His K2 is at least 6 years old and I believe
is still going strong.

73,
Don W3FPR

Bob Jones wrote:

> I increasingly like to operate remote, especially when traveling.
> This can sometimes mean that the rig is turned on for several days.
> I have some concern about burn-out of the LCD display in areas where
> it remains unchanged for long periods.
> Maybe this is an unjustified worry, but it would be good to have the
> option to simply turn off the display when using remote operation, or
> even when operating the rig from a PC in the shack.
>
> Bob, G3YIQ
>

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[AJSOENKE]

Bob,
 
I don't think your concerns are warranted. The LCD is an array of  transistor
switches which affect the transmission of light by polarizing effects  of
their electrostatic field. The actual light is provided by backlighting from  
light emitting diodes which are well known for their longevity.
 
The Day mode will shut off the LED backlights on the LCD, but unfortunately  
it also ups the level of brightness for the LEDs on the controls. That would  
seem to be a simple fix in the firmware.
 
Al WA6VNN
 
 
In a message dated 4/27/2008 7:06:34 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
[hidden email] writes:
I increasingly like to operate remote, especially  when traveling.
This can sometimes mean that the rig is turned on for several  days.
I have some concern about burn-out of the LCD display in areas  where  
it remains unchanged for long periods.
Maybe this is an  unjustified worry, but it would be good to have the  
option to simply  turn off the display when using remote operation, or  
even when  operating the rig from a PC in the shack.

Bob,  G3YIQ

_______________________________________________




**************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car
listings at AOL Autos.      
(http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)
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[David Woolley (E.L)]

[hidden email] wrote:
>  
> I don't think your concerns are warranted. The LCD is an array of  transistor
> switches which affect the transmission of light by polarizing effects  of

The sort of LCD display used on the K2, and I believe the K3, doesn't
have any active components (such as transistors) on the display.

> their electrostatic field. The actual light is provided by backlighting from  
> light emitting diodes which are well known for their longevity.

When I first saw this thread, I assumed it was about wearing out the
liquid crystals, not about the back light.  Actually driving the liquid
crystals will eventually wear them out, as it is not possible to
completely avoid DC components in the drive (LCDs are driven by AC
(acutally complex waveforms that average to zero DC for both selected
and non-selected elements) to avoid elecrolysing the liquid crystals.

I'd therefore say, don't worry about the backlight, except on power
consumption grounds; it is the display itself you may want to power down.

>  
> The Day mode will shut off the LED backlights on the LCD, but unfortunately  
> it also ups the level of brightness for the LEDs on the controls. That would  
> seem to be a simple fix in the firmware.
>  
> Al WA6VNN
>  
>  
> In a message dated 4/27/2008 7:06:34 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
> [hidden email] writes:
> I increasingly like to operate remote, especially  when traveling.
> This can sometimes mean that the rig is turned on for several  days.
> I have some concern about burn-out of the LCD display in areas  where  
> it remains unchanged for long periods.
> Maybe this is an  unjustified worry, but it would be good to have the  
> option to simply  turn off the display when using remote operation, or  
> even when  operating the rig from a PC in the shack.
>
> Bob,  G3YIQ
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
>
> **************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car
> listings at AOL Autos.      
> (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)
>

--
David Woolley
Emails are not formal business letters, whatever businesses may want.
RFC1855 says there should be an address here, but, in a world of spam,
that is no longer good advice, as archive address hiding may not work.
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[Bjorn]

On 080430 5:05 , "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Bob,
>  
> I don't think your concerns are warranted. The LCD is an array of  transistor
> switches which affect the transmission of light by polarizing effects  of
> their electrostatic field. The actual light is provided by backlighting from
> light emitting diodes which are well known for their longevity.
>  
> The Day mode will shut off the LED backlights on the LCD, but unfortunately
> it also ups the level of brightness for the LEDs on the controls. That would
> seem to be a simple fix in the firmware.
>  
> Al WA6VNN

 
I have recently got a comment from Wayne about this as it is on my wish list
of things for future enhancements of the K3, he didn't seem to exited about
it. (my other 3 requests are all in the next or future firmware, I guess
they where more popular requests).

I agree that this is not a question about lifetime of the backlight, to me
it is more important to be able to use the radio in stealth mode when
operating remote. I also find it useful when leaving the radio on overnight
to use the band opening as an alarm clock.

Wayne was very happy to receive my wish list in private mail, I think it is
a good idea to use private email for any request you are serious about as it
otherwise might drown in the reflector noise.

73 de Björn /SM0MDG


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