KX3 (possibly inadvertent) feature (one I like, a lot)

[inventor61 .]

I was using a new KX3 at the Raleigh NC hamfest last Saturday.

The sidetone was adjusted to a level somewhere between '20' and '30' and at
a frequency of 550 Hz.

This particular KX3 had the Elecraft paddles mounted on it.

The ambient noise of the hamfest, and the relative drop off of the acoustic
efficiency of the speaker in the radio, at this frequency, made the
sidetone hard to hear, for me anyway.

However ... the paddles has a definite, and quite pleasant, haptic
feedback!  I could just faintly 'sense' the sidetone in them, based on the
mechanical coupling.  Almost instantly, my brain was able to re-map the
normal acoustic sensation of hearing the sidetone to 'feeling' it in my
fingertips.

The effect was marvelous.  If you have the occasion, try it yourself and
see if you agree.  I did not try to turn the sidetone on KX3  # 00020 down
to a normal level, nor to a higher frequency.  Indeed, I did not want to.


Steve KZ1X/4
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[wayne burdick]

Steve,

Interesting, although the KX3's internal speaker was never intended  
for hamfest-level audio :)

I use a pair of external amplified speakers called "Chill Pills" with  
my KX3. These collapse to a cylinder about 1.5 x 4" for transport,  
have internal batteries rechargeable from a USB port, and retracting  
cables. Having two of them allows the use of audio effects (AFX MD  
menu entry) and enhanced dual watch (DUAL RX menu entry). Tons of  
audio, too.

I'll look into providing haptic feedback even when the external  
speakers are plugged in. Maybe.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

On Apr 11, 2012, at 12:19 PM, Steve Jackson wrote:

> I was using a new KX3 at the Raleigh NC hamfest last Saturday.
>
> The sidetone was adjusted to a level somewhere between '20' and '30'  
> and at
> a frequency of 550 Hz.
>
> This particular KX3 had the Elecraft paddles mounted on it.
>
> The ambient noise of the hamfest, and the relative drop off of the  
> acoustic
> efficiency of the speaker in the radio, at this frequency, made the
> sidetone hard to hear, for me anyway.
>
> However ... the paddles has a definite, and quite pleasant, haptic
> feedback!  I could just faintly 'sense' the sidetone in them, based  
> on the
> mechanical coupling.  Almost instantly, my brain was able to re-map  
> the
> normal acoustic sensation of hearing the sidetone to 'feeling' it in  
> my
> fingertips....

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