Elecraft

Modularity

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Vic Rosenthal

Modularity

All this talk about onboard computers (or not) and operating systems in the K4 has me thinking.
My K3 is serial no. 0007. I have had it since the beginning, and with a few simple upgrades, it is almost as capable as a new K3S. But the computers I had back then are long gone.
What I would like to have in the K4 is a backplane architecture. The entire radio except for a control head would be located on plugin boards that could be swapped out easily for testing, customizing, or upgrading. The ENTIRE radio. The K3 goes in this direction, but not far enough.
One of the options would be an onboard computer. You could use the rig without it or with an external computer if you wish. Maybe it would come with some version of Linux, but you could put another version of Linux or Windows on it if you wanted. You could upgrade it easily when it became obsolete.
Yes, this would cost more. But with the savings available from modern automated surface mount construction, maybe it’s possible.

Victor 4X6GP
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Allan Zadiraka

Re: Modularity

I agree with Victor's comments. I am all in favor of the elimination of
the all-in-one, big box rigs. No vendor in the amateur radio market can be
the premiere supplier in all areas even though Elecraft is trying hard. I
don't consider them the best panadapter HMI vendor or best paddle
manufacturer. What I would consider ideal is a rig, computer, and other
"boxes" which sit behind or below the operating desk (or at a remote
site). On the desk, a keyboard, mouse and/or trackball, an advanced KPod
with a few more knobs and customizable LCD keys for the major rig control
and antenna functions and monitor(s) for the waterfall, frequency
readouts, SWR/POWER indicators, RF waveform display and logging displays.

An enclosure to corral all the miscellaneous "boxes" and their wiring would
also be nice.

zeke, ab8oou

On Wed, Apr 17, 2019 at 1:13 AM Vic Rosenthal <[hidden email]> wrote:

> All this talk about onboard computers (or not) and operating systems in
> the K4 has me thinking.
> My K3 is serial no. 0007. I have had it since the beginning, and with a
> few simple upgrades, it is almost as capable as a new K3S. But the
> computers I had back then are long gone.
> What I would like to have in the K4 is a backplane architecture. The
> entire radio except for a control head would be located on plugin boards
> that could be swapped out easily for testing, customizing, or upgrading.
> The ENTIRE radio. The K3 goes in this direction, but not far enough.
> One of the options would be an onboard computer. You could use the rig
> without it or with an external computer if you wish. Maybe it would come
> with some version of Linux, but you could put another version of Linux or
> Windows on it if you wanted. You could upgrade it easily when it became
> obsolete.
> Yes, this would cost more. But with the savings available from modern
> automated surface mount construction, maybe it’s possible.
>
> Victor 4X6GP
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

Doug Turnbull

Re: Modularity

Dear OMs and YLs,
For me the K3 epitomizes modularity. One can build the radio up over
time and purchase only those features required. This keeps entry level
prices down and enhances repair. From Ireland, one could return a faulty
module perhaps holding on to the K3/S and continuing to operate. I hope
Elecraft continues this approach. Yes and keep the power supply separate.

I find the P3 is pretty good especially with an external monitor.
Maybe the next display will be more like what Flex offers but for me
Elecraft beats Flex in most regards. Oh, thanks Elecraft for the K-pod.

73 Doug EI2CN

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Allan Zadiraka
Sent: 17 April 2019 19:30
To: Vic Rosenthal
Cc: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Modularity

I agree with Victor's comments. I am all in favor of the elimination of
the all-in-one, big box rigs. No vendor in the amateur radio market can be
the premiere supplier in all areas even though Elecraft is trying hard. I
don't consider them the best panadapter HMI vendor or best paddle
manufacturer. What I would consider ideal is a rig, computer, and other
"boxes" which sit behind or below the operating desk (or at a remote
site). On the desk, a keyboard, mouse and/or trackball, an advanced KPod
with a few more knobs and customizable LCD keys for the major rig control
and antenna functions and monitor(s) for the waterfall, frequency
readouts, SWR/POWER indicators, RF waveform display and logging displays.

An enclosure to corral all the miscellaneous "boxes" and their wiring would
also be nice.

zeke, ab8oou

On Wed, Apr 17, 2019 at 1:13 AM Vic Rosenthal <[hidden email]> wrote:

> All this talk about onboard computers (or not) and operating systems in
> the K4 has me thinking.
> My K3 is serial no. 0007. I have had it since the beginning, and with a
> few simple upgrades, it is almost as capable as a new K3S. But the
> computers I had back then are long gone.
> What I would like to have in the K4 is a backplane architecture. The
> entire radio except for a control head would be located on plugin boards
> that could be swapped out easily for testing, customizing, or upgrading.
> The ENTIRE radio. The K3 goes in this direction, but not far enough.
> One of the options would be an onboard computer. You could use the rig
> without it or with an external computer if you wish. Maybe it would come
> with some version of Linux, but you could put another version of Linux or
> Windows on it if you wanted. You could upgrade it easily when it became
> obsolete.
> Yes, this would cost more. But with the savings available from modern
> automated surface mount construction, maybe it's possible.
>
> Victor 4X6GP
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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EricJ

Re: Modularity

In reply to this post by Allan Zadiraka

For me, that would be ham radio hell. My ideal radio has knobs. A big
one for tuning, little ones for other things. Knobs and buttons. I'm not
knocking Flex at all, but if that were the only radio or all radios
worked like that, I'd just do woodworking.

Some people like tuning. Some people like point-and-shoot. Knobs for the
former, panadapters for the latter. Don W3FPR lamented earlier that hams
no longer seem to know how to wire up a simple cable with a different
connector at each end. I lament that hams no longer seem to be able to
tune or enjoy the experience.

I think Elecraft understands both kinds of hams.

Eric KE6US

On 4/17/2019 12:30 PM, Allan Zadiraka wrote:

> I agree with Victor's comments. I am all in favor of the elimination of
> the all-in-one, big box rigs. No vendor in the amateur radio market can be
> the premiere supplier in all areas even though Elecraft is trying hard. I
> don't consider them the best panadapter HMI vendor or best paddle
> manufacturer. What I would consider ideal is a rig, computer, and other
> "boxes" which sit behind or below the operating desk (or at a remote
> site). On the desk, a keyboard, mouse and/or trackball, an advanced KPod
> with a few more knobs and customizable LCD keys for the major rig control
> and antenna functions and monitor(s) for the waterfall, frequency
> readouts, SWR/POWER indicators, RF waveform display and logging displays.
>
> An enclosure to corral all the miscellaneous "boxes" and their wiring would
> also be nice.
>
>
> zeke, ab8oou
>
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Apr 17, 2019 at 1:13 AM Vic Rosenthal <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> All this talk about onboard computers (or not) and operating systems in
>> the K4 has me thinking.
>> My K3 is serial no. 0007. I have had it since the beginning, and with a
>> few simple upgrades, it is almost as capable as a new K3S. But the
>> computers I had back then are long gone.
>> What I would like to have in the K4 is a backplane architecture. The
>> entire radio except for a control head would be located on plugin boards
>> that could be swapped out easily for testing, customizing, or upgrading.
>> The ENTIRE radio. The K3 goes in this direction, but not far enough.
>> One of the options would be an onboard computer. You could use the rig
>> without it or with an external computer if you wish. Maybe it would come
>> with some version of Linux, but you could put another version of Linux or
>> Windows on it if you wanted. You could upgrade it easily when it became
>> obsolete.
>> Yes, this would cost more. But with the savings available from modern
>> automated surface mount construction, maybe it’s possible.
>>
>> Victor 4X6GP
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

Bob McGraw - K4TAX

Re: Modularity

When asked "what is the best radio?" I think Rob Sherwood summed it up
saying in a few words "the one you enjoy using".

73

Bob, K4TAX

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