New Elecraft Product: K-Pod Control Panel for K3S and K3 Transceivers

[Edward A. Dauer]

Very nice addition to the lineup. Congrats to the team.

I never thought I needed such a thing; but now I see that it is absolutely
indispensable.  Of course I¹ll buy one.

Having said that, and not at all meaning to be critical or ungrateful, I¹d
like to wonder aloud why we still need cables - and the K-pod will add two
more to the unruly collection already hiding behind my desk, as I read
what¹s been printed so far.  (Do I have that part right?)  Computer
hardware manufacturers pretty much gave up on inter-unit cabling long ago,
thank goodness.  Is there a reason why RF equipment couldn¹t do the same?
Please take this as a serious question, not a complaint.  I¹d be
interested in knowing the technical challenges to making it happen.


Ted, KN1CBR

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[wayne burdick]

On Apr 14, 2016, at 11:55 AM, "Dauer, Edward" <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
> Very nice addition to the lineup. Congrats to the team.
>
> I never thought I needed such a thing; but now I see that it is absolutely
> indispensable.  Of course I¹ll buy one.
>
> Having said that, and not at all meaning to be critical or ungrateful, I¹d
> like to wonder aloud why we still need cables - and the K-pod will add two
> more to the unruly collection already hiding behind my desk, as I read
> what¹s been printed so far.  (Do I have that part right?)  Computer
> hardware manufacturers pretty much gave up on inter-unit cabling long ago,
> thank goodness.  Is there a reason why RF equipment couldn¹t do the same?
> Please take this as a serious question, not a complaint.  I¹d be
> interested in knowing the technical challenges to making it happen.

Hi Ed,

It can be just a single cable if you make the simple mod to the rig's front panel that provides power to the pod.

Wifi or bluetooth would have added a lot to the cost, not to mention the requirement to put a battery in the pod. The optical encoder uses 30 mA so you'd end up charging it a lot -- by connecting a cable.

Wayne
N6KR


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[Edward A. Dauer]

Thanks for replying, Wayne.  I was certain that you’d considered it.

Just sitting here dreaming about having a wireless keyer paddle, wireless
control among the K3 / KPA / KAT (other than the RF), wireless video to
the P3, wireless headset, and wherever else the haystack could be trimmed.
 And if Nikola Tesla had realized his dream long ago, the power could be
there too!

But, as I said, my order for the K-Pod will be among the first.

Well done; and thanks again.

EAD






On 4/14/16, 1:25 PM, "Wayne Burdick" <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
>On Apr 14, 2016, at 11:55 AM, "Dauer, Edward" <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>>
>> Very nice addition to the lineup. Congrats to the team.
>>
>> I never thought I needed such a thing; but now I see that it is
>>absolutely
>> indispensable.  Of course I¹ll buy one.
>>
>> Having said that, and not at all meaning to be critical or ungrateful,
>>I¹d
>> like to wonder aloud why we still need cables - and the K-pod will add
>>two
>> more to the unruly collection already hiding behind my desk, as I read
>> what¹s been printed so far.  (Do I have that part right?)  Computer
>> hardware manufacturers pretty much gave up on inter-unit cabling long
>>ago,
>> thank goodness.  Is there a reason why RF equipment couldn¹t do the
>>same?
>> Please take this as a serious question, not a complaint.  I¹d be
>> interested in knowing the technical challenges to making it happen.
>
>Hi Ed,
>
>It can be just a single cable if you make the simple mod to the rig's
>front panel that provides power to the pod.
>
>Wifi or bluetooth would have added a lot to the cost, not to mention the
>requirement to put a battery in the pod. The optical encoder uses 30 mA
>so you'd end up charging it a lot -- by connecting a cable.
>
>Wayne
>N6KR
>
>

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[lstavenhagen]

Very cool, I want one!
As for wireless, I would share the concern that has been expressed about batteries and additional electronics everywhere. In fact, it's for that very reason that I've virtually eliminated wireless mice, keyboards and other accessories in all of my computer operations and gone back to old-school wires.

Yes, wires have their problems, but you never have to charge them up or watch the equipment slowly degrade over time before you figure out that, hey, when was the last time I changed that battery... that I can't get to because I don't have a screwdriver that fits... and the connector is faulty and intermittent anyway and the wired replacement is cheaper and........

hi hi.....

Also Bluetooth has a history of being upgraded in such a way as to obsolete hardware that has older BT equipment in it, so I've been gunshy of BT ever since then...

73,
LS
W5QD