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P3 VGA - How to use it

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mike

P3 VGA - How to use it

Impressive as the P3 Large Screen version is to look at, I wonder what it is like to use. That is, with the P3 and mini screen, my eyes are viewing the screen and the controls in close proximity. I can watch my finger press the FN3 (set to center the MRK A), reach to the right slightly and turn the SELECT knob to the signal I wish to pounce on next, while still seeing the signals on the mini screen. Then a quick push of FN4 (programmed to QSY to save wear and tear on the Select knob), and I see see the K3 jump to the new frequency centered in the P3 screen. This operation is constant for me (except when using CW Skimmer to control the K3 frequency) and my eyes never leave my hands....or whatever the saying is.

Seriously, I am having a difficult time imagining how it would be if the screen I had my eyes on was large and above the P3, while the control buttons like REF LVL and SPAN, the FN keys and the Select knob were in well down away from the screen and I had to keep moving my eyes between the two to 'make the P3 work it magic'. Is this a problem for anyone, or is it just me?

The reason I ask is because the bucks I have saved for the yet to be offered KAT500 seem to be burning a hole in my pocket and may be trying to get me to buy P3VGA while I wait!

..mike AI6II

Tom-5

Re: P3 VGA - How to use it

Ah, just wait. Aptos will be showing the P3 VGA-TS, for Touch Screen
interface ;)

tom k8tb

On 3/27/2012 9:40 PM, ai6ii wrote:
> Impressive as the P3 Large Screen version is to look at, I wonder what it is
> like to use. That is, with the P3 and mini screen, my eyes are viewing the
> screen and the controls in close proximity. I can watch my finger press the
> FN3 (set to center the MRK A),

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David Christ

Re: P3 VGA - How to use it

In reply to this post by mike

You raise a good point here. Here is a true life story about visual
angle. I worked at a company where they gave a bunch of clerical
types 21 inch monitors. They hated them. The application was 3270
emulation for reading character output from a mainframe. Because
they were fairly close to their faces and wide the visual angle was
wide. They had to move their head side to read the screens.

The point is, the bigger the monitor, the further away it should be
to see the whole thing. A 10 inch monitor might actually be a pretty
effective size. Bigger is not always better. Elecraft owners know
that.

David K0LUM

At 6:40 PM -0700 3/27/12, ai6ii wrote:

>Impressive as the P3 Large Screen version is to look at, I wonder what it is
>like to use. That is, with the P3 and mini screen, my eyes are viewing the
>screen and the controls in close proximity. I can watch my finger press the
>FN3 (set to center the MRK A), reach to the right slightly and turn the
>SELECT knob to the signal I wish to pounce on next, while still seeing the
>signals on the mini screen. Then a quick push of FN4 (programmed to QSY to
>save wear and tear on the Select knob), and I see see the K3 jump to the new
>frequency centered in the P3 screen. This operation is constant for me
>(except when using CW Skimmer to control the K3 frequency) and my eyes never
>leave my hands....or whatever the saying is.
>
>Seriously, I am having a difficult time imagining how it would be if the
>screen I had my eyes on was large and above the P3, while the control
>buttons like REF LVL and SPAN, the FN keys and the Select knob were in well
>down away from the screen and I had to keep moving my eyes between the two
>to 'make the P3 work it magic'. Is this a problem for anyone, or is it just
>me?
>
>The reason I ask is because the bucks I have saved for the yet to be offered
>KAT500 seem to be burning a hole in my pocket and may be trying to get me to
>buy P3VGA while I wait!
>
>..mike AI6II
>
>--
>View this message in context:
>http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/P3-VGA-How-to-use-it-tp7411994p7411994.html
>Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>______________________________________________________________
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gm3sek

Re: P3 VGA - How to use it

In reply to this post by mike

ai6ii wrote:

>Impressive as the P3 Large Screen version is to look at, I wonder what
>it is like to use. That is, with the P3 and mini screen, my eyes are
>viewing the screen and the controls in close proximity. I can watch my
>finger press the FN3 (set to center the MRK A), reach to the right
>slightly and turn the SELECT knob to the signal I wish to pounce on
>next, while still seeing the signals on the mini screen. Then a quick
>push of FN4 (programmed to QSY to save wear and tear on the Select
>knob), and I see see the K3 jump to the new frequency centered in the
>P3 screen. This operation is constant for me (except when using CW
>Skimmer to control the K3 frequency) and my eyes never leave my
>hands....or whatever the saying is.
>

I'd agree with that 'view' of the ergonomics. If we want the P3 and the
P3SVGA display to be hardworking tools, and not just eye candy, then all
the displays and controls - including those of the K3 - need to be
grouped together.

Positioning the P3 on top of the K3 has already proved the operating
efficiency of this 'eyes-front' display layout. The only downside has
been the P3's small display, so a P3SVGA is now on its way, and waiting
for it is a 15in 1024x768 monitor. This will be just the right size to
sit on top of the K3, to give the same display as the P3 but in greater
detail.

15in is now regarded as "too small" for office use, so there are
thousands of perfectly good 15in monitors lying around in store-rooms.

At present the 15in monitor is the #2 screen in an extended Windows
display, usually displaying second-level information from the logging
software. A VGA switch will allow it to continue in that role when
needed.

--

73 from Ian GM3SEK
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek
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vk4tux

Re: P3 VGA - How to use it

Well I noted putting a large monitor screen up for the laptop I could then
use it as an additional screen so no duplication was required and both
Laptop and ext screen provide unique information. 'So what' you say, that's
nothing new. Well if you take the same concept to the P3 itself
with ext SVGA screen, then here we have a duplication of information.

So the ideal situation is a menu that allows K3 parameter viewing when svga
is enabled, such that eg; decoder output, voltage, current &
time values besides others could be shown simultaneously on the P3 screen,
giving it a useful function as the ext SVGA screen takes priority
for panadaptor view.

I can't see why K3 and P3 firmware updates with the rs232 interconnection
could not achieve this, even if a i/o pcb was required to be fitted to
facilitate, then I for one would order pronto.

Adrian ... vk4tux

-----Original Message-----
ai6ii wrote:

I'd agree with that 'view' of the ergonomics. If we want the P3 and the
P3SVGA display to be hardworking tools, and not just eye candy, then all
the displays and controls - including those of the K3 - need to be
grouped together.

Positioning the P3 on top of the K3 has already proved the operating
efficiency of this 'eyes-front' display layout. The only downside has
been the P3's small display, so a P3SVGA is now on its way, and waiting
for it is a 15in 1024x768 monitor. This will be just the right size to
sit on top of the K3, to give the same display as the P3 but in greater
detail.

15in is now regarded as "too small" for office use, so there are
thousands of perfectly good 15in monitors lying around in store-rooms.

At present the 15in monitor is the #2 screen in an extended Windows
display, usually displaying second-level information from the logging
software. A VGA switch will allow it to continue in that role when
needed.

--

73 from Ian GM3SEK
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek
______________________________________________________________

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N5GE-2

Re: P3 VGA - How to use it

In reply to this post by gm3sek

I wrote a small application to allow control of my P3 with my ten most used P3
commands. It lets me keep my eyes on my home brew control console application.

Amateur Radio Operator N5GE
ARRL Lifetime Member
QCWA Lifetime Member

On Wed, 28 Mar 2012 08:40:35 +0100, Ian White GM3SEK <[hidden email]>
wrote:

>ai6ii wrote:
>>Impressive as the P3 Large Screen version is to look at, I wonder what
>>it is like to use. That is, with the P3 and mini screen, my eyes are
>>viewing the screen and the controls in close proximity. I can watch my
>>finger press the FN3 (set to center the MRK A), reach to the right
>>slightly and turn the SELECT knob to the signal I wish to pounce on
>>next, while still seeing the signals on the mini screen. Then a quick
>>push of FN4 (programmed to QSY to save wear and tear on the Select
>>knob), and I see see the K3 jump to the new frequency centered in the
>>P3 screen. This operation is constant for me (except when using CW
>>Skimmer to control the K3 frequency) and my eyes never leave my
>>hands....or whatever the saying is.
>>
>
>I'd agree with that 'view' of the ergonomics. If we want the P3 and the
>P3SVGA display to be hardworking tools, and not just eye candy, then all
>the displays and controls - including those of the K3 - need to be
>grouped together.
>
>Positioning the P3 on top of the K3 has already proved the operating
>efficiency of this 'eyes-front' display layout. The only downside has
>been the P3's small display, so a P3SVGA is now on its way, and waiting
>for it is a 15in 1024x768 monitor. This will be just the right size to
>sit on top of the K3, to give the same display as the P3 but in greater
>detail.
>
>15in is now regarded as "too small" for office use, so there are
>thousands of perfectly good 15in monitors lying around in store-rooms.
>
>At present the 15in monitor is the #2 screen in an extended Windows
>display, usually displaying second-level information from the logging
>software. A VGA switch will allow it to continue in that role when
>needed.

vk4tux

P3 VGA - How to use it

In reply to this post by vk4tux

Tom does that utilise the P3 screen for the view whilst the ext screen shows
the pan-adaptor view?
I am looking at eliminating the replica view and making use of the P3 screen
for better purpose whilst ext svga is enabled and in use.

Cheers

Adrian ... vk4tux

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Thursday, 29 March 2012 2:08 AM
To: Adrian
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] P3 VGA - How to use it

Adrian,

I wrote a small application to control the p3 with the mouse allowing the
ten things I adjust the most to be done looking at one of my monitors. That
solves that problem for me.

73,
Tom
Amateur Radio Operator N5GE
ARRL Lifetime Member
QCWA Lifetime Member

"The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit
to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments."
-- George Washington --

On Wed, 28 Mar 2012 18:52:16 +1000, "Adrian" <[hidden email]> wrote:

>Well I noted putting a large monitor screen up for the laptop I could
>then use it as an additional screen so no duplication was required and
>both Laptop and ext screen provide unique information. 'So what' you
>say, that's nothing new. Well if you take the same concept to the P3
>itself with ext SVGA screen, then here we have a duplication of
information.

>
>So the ideal situation is a menu that allows K3 parameter viewing when
>svga is enabled, such that eg; decoder output, voltage, current & time
>values besides others could be shown simultaneously on the P3 screen,
>giving it a useful function as the ext SVGA screen takes priority for
>panadaptor view.
>
>I can't see why K3 and P3 firmware updates with the rs232
>interconnection could not achieve this, even if a i/o pcb was required
>to be fitted to facilitate, then I for one would order pronto.
>
>Adrian ... vk4tux
>
>-----Original Message-----
>ai6ii wrote:
>>Impressive as the P3 Large Screen version is to look at, I wonder what
>>it is like to use. That is, with the P3 and mini screen, my eyes are
>>viewing the screen and the controls in close proximity. I can watch my
>>finger press the FN3 (set to center the MRK A), reach to the right
>>slightly and turn the SELECT knob to the signal I wish to pounce on
>>next, while still seeing the signals on the mini screen. Then a quick
>>push of FN4 (programmed to QSY to save wear and tear on the Select
>>knob), and I see see the K3 jump to the new frequency centered in the
>>P3 screen. This operation is constant for me (except when using CW
>>Skimmer to control the K3 frequency) and my eyes never leave my
>>hands....or whatever the saying is.
>>
>
>I'd agree with that 'view' of the ergonomics. If we want the P3 and the
>P3SVGA display to be hardworking tools, and not just eye candy, then
>all the displays and controls - including those of the K3 - need to be
>grouped together.
>
>Positioning the P3 on top of the K3 has already proved the operating
>efficiency of this 'eyes-front' display layout. The only downside has
>been the P3's small display, so a P3SVGA is now on its way, and waiting
>for it is a 15in 1024x768 monitor. This will be just the right size to
>sit on top of the K3, to give the same display as the P3 but in greater
>detail.
>
>15in is now regarded as "too small" for office use, so there are
>thousands of perfectly good 15in monitors lying around in store-rooms.
>
>At present the 15in monitor is the #2 screen in an extended Windows
>display, usually displaying second-level information from the logging
>software. A VGA switch will allow it to continue in that role when
>needed.