P3 - is it stable?
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While my K3 is in California being repaired, I have been considering the
P3 as an addition when it returns. I already have the board installed in my K3. Having watched the many posts regarding the P3, I have to ask: Is the P3 a stable device with well defined software? I ask, as I do not want to purchase something that requires a lot of fiddling to use and becomes a later disappointment. I had a Flex 3000 for a short period of time and the display was flawless in looks and operation. Unfortunately, the rig had other operational issues making it unusable for my purposes and was replaced with the K3. I learned from that experience - ask a lot of questions before purchasing. Thanks, Bill W2BLC -- IN GOD I TRUST (but, NOT a single politician) ______________________________________________________________ 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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Bill,
I don't do anything fancy with my P3, but I highly recommend it. It has added a new dimension to ham radio for me. I have never had a problem with mine in the couple of years I've owned it. 73, Dave W8OV On 7/29/2012 1:26 PM, Bill wrote: > Having watched the many posts regarding the P3, I have to ask: Is the P3 > a stable device with well defined software? > > Bill W2BLC ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by Bill Clarke
Hi, Bill.
The P3 is a very stable product. There are, from time to time, minor bug fixes incorporated into firmware (note the use of the word "minor" here). The recent rash of email activity is around a major enhancement that is in field trial right now. That is the newly activated keyboard port on the P3SVGA option card. I feel somewhat partly responsible for this recent flurry of (mine doesn't work, is it supposed to work this way, etc) posts. A week ago, I mentioned that new firmware appeared in the P3 Beta folder on the Elecraft FTP site. Many Elecraft users look at these folders on a regular basis, to see if new beta firmware has been released for the various products. Sometimes new beta firmware files appear there before a general announcement is made to the list, for those who would like to try it. Trying beta firmware and reporting back on it's operation or any bugs noted is completely optional. Many people wait for firmware to be promoted to full "Production Release" status before loading it. Anyway, back to the recent situation. On July 20th, new beta firmware appeared in the P3 folder. I made an announcement to the list, as an official one had not been made by Wayne or Eric. I assumed the announcement was just missed before the weekend. As the new firmware included long-awaited capabilities, I posted a notice to the list. What I later found out was that this firmware was in fact "Field Trial" level, for those few who had actually signed up in advance to test new releases of P3 firmware. I would call this "Alpha" rather than "Beta" firmware. It was not intended for release to the general user base. In the past, Field Trial firmware has not been posted to the beta FTP folders. I believe it was distributed via private email to the FT team. So, in my zeal and excitement about the new firmware release, I inadvertently made available the FT firmware to a wider audience than it was intended to reach. I have apologized to Paul Saffren N6HZ, the primary developer, and indicated that I will not make any announcements about beta firmware in the future. If anyone IS trying this firmware in their P3, and has feedback on it's behavior, Paul has asked that it go directly to him via pauls at elecraft dot com So, in summary, the P3 is stable, but continues to evolve as features an capabilities are added. I highly recommend it. 73, Bruce, N1RX > While my K3 is in California being repaired, I have been considering the > P3 as an addition when it returns. I already have the board installed in > my K3. > Having watched the many posts regarding the P3, I have to ask: Is the P3 > a stable device with well defined software? > I ask, as I do not want to purchase something that requires a lot of > fiddling to use and becomes a later disappointment. ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by Bill Clarke
On 7/29/2012 11:26 AM, Bill wrote:
> Having watched the many posts regarding the P3, I have to ask: Is the P3 > a stable device with well defined software? Absolutely, and it has been so for more than a year. Anyone who has owned any DSP-based Elecraft product knows that the products are stable when shipped, but often with some announced features and functions not yet implemented. Over time, those features and functions are added, and tested with a selected Beta-test group before release as "official" firmware. Occasionally users of "official" firmware will find a minor glitch that Beta testers have missed, and these are almost always quickly fixed. The only things that are generally NOT fixed on early production products are manufacturing or design issues. These issues are generally fixed by hardware mods that we must buy. They are, in general, few and far between. The P3 has been in production for several years, and is a quite mature product. The issues currently being discussed are with BETA firmware for the P3 SVGA board that adds the capability to transmit and receive PSK31 with a USB keyboard plugged into the SVA module. 73, Jim K9YC ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by Bill Clarke
Hi Bill,
The P3 is a wonderful addition to the K3 and is perfectly stable with the current production software. Whether you purchase the basic P3 or add in the SVGA board for use with an external monitor you will be very happy with the results. The postings you have been seeing all have to do with a recent beta release adding additional capabilities to the external monitor and allowing for the connection of an external keyboard to the P3. Once the firmware is re-released as production level firmware I'm sure all of the bugs will be worked out. To play it safe you can always shy away from beta release firmware and only upload new releases once they move to the production level. By that time the firmware has been thoroughly tested by hundreds of users. 73, Mike K2MK
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In reply to this post by Bill Clarke
Bill, I say yes, and once you have it setup you will kick yourself for not getting it sooner. Adrian ... vk4tux -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Bill Sent: Monday, 30 July 2012 4:26 AM To: [hidden email] Subject: [Elecraft] P3 - is it stable? While my K3 is in California being repaired, I have been considering the P3 as an addition when it returns. I already have the board installed in my K3. Having watched the many posts regarding the P3, I have to ask: Is the P3 a stable device with well defined software? I ask, as I do not want to purchase something that requires a lot of fiddling to use and becomes a later disappointment. I had a Flex 3000 for a short period of time and the display was flawless in looks and operation. Unfortunately, the rig had other operational issues making it unusable for my purposes and was replaced with the K3. I learned from that experience - ask a lot of questions before purchasing. Thanks, Bill W2BLC -- IN GOD I TRUST (but, NOT a single politician) ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by Bill Clarke
* On 2012 29 Jul 13:26 -0500, Bill wrote:
> Having watched the many posts regarding the P3, I have to ask: Is the P3 > a stable device with well defined software? Yes! I have had mine for nearly a year with no issues at all with firmware revision 1.09. I did test an update to 1.16 earlier this year and found the display updated slowly when adjusting the Span. I went back to 1.09 and am very happy. I do not have the SVGA option and it's not something that fills any need that I have at the moment. My P3 went to Field Day this year and was flawless. 73, de Nate >> -- "The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears this is true." Ham radio, Linux, bikes, and more: http://www.n0nb.us ______________________________________________________________ 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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