PX3 BETA 1.45 firmware now available

[Paul Saffren N6HZ]

PX3 Beta firmware, version 1.45 is now available for download from our PX3 beta firmware directory (ftp://ftp.elecraft.com/PX3/firmware/beta)

This version adds USB MSD (thumb drive, flash drive) support, additional new features and bug fixes.  The BETA release zip package includes a new PX3 Programmer's reference as well as detailed instructions for using the new MSD sub-menu.  PLEASE take a moment to look over these documents and the release notes.  

As this is a BETA release, please email ONLY ME with any concerns, questions, bugs etc.   My email address is: pauls at-you-know-where-dot-com .

Here are the release notes for version 1.45 :

MCU 1.45 / 06/26/2016
 
* Adds: USB MSD (mass storage device, memory stick, thumb drive) support.  Most types of flash drives are supported.  Added a new sub-menu called “MSD menu” which includes the following features:
            + Scrn shot – takes a .bmp screen shot of the current screen.
            + ConfgSave – saves the current configuration.
            + ConfgRstr – restores the configuration.
            + XportMacr – exports macros/text messages.
            + ImprtMacr – imports macros.
 
Note: refer to the included BETA documentation PX3_MSD_Features.pdf  for more information.
 
* Adds: Serial commands #MAA, #MBA to adjust A or B markers by an incrementing or decrementing.  The adjustment value is the same as used by the K3/KX3 UP and DN commands.  Usage: #MAAsn
                        s = + to increment, - to decrement
                        n = 0 adjust by 1 Hz
                        n = 1   “   “  10 Hz
                        n = 2   “   “  20 Hz
                        n = 3   “   “  50 Hz
                        n = 4   “   “  1 kHz
                        n = 5   “   “  2 kHz
                        n = 6   “   “  3 kHz
                        n = 7   “   “  5 kHz  
                        n = 8   “   “  100 Hz
                        n = 9   “   “  200 Hz
Or:
            #MAAs
                        s = + to increment, - to decrement. The step size is automatically determined                                  by the current span and mode:    
                       

 
USB, LSB, AM & FM
Span < 5 kHz – step = 10 Hz
Span 2-9.99 kHz – step = 20 Hz
Span 10-49.9 kHz – step = 50 Hz
Span 50-99.1 kHz – step = 100 Hz
Span 100-200 kHz – step = 200 Hz
           
 
CW & Data
Span < 5 kHz – step = 2 Hz
Span 2-9.99 kHz – step = 20 Hz
Span 10-49.9 kHz – step = 50 Hz
Span 50-99.1 kHz – step = 100 Hz
Span 100-200 kHz – step = 200 Hz

 
                                   
 
* Adds: Frequency displays now show all digits including the Hz digit.  This includes the center frequency adjustment and marker values.  Note that markers adjust by values determined by the current span setting.
 
* Adds: To enter the text decode scratchpad, you can now use either Insert or Alt-P.  To send the scratchpad, you can now use either Ctrl-Insert or Ctrl-P .
 
 
* Adds: #MSS msd screen shot serial command.

73,

Paul Saffren (n6hz)

[Bob N3MNT]

Thank You the PX3 keeps getting better.

[Joe Stone (KF5WBO)]

Great job, Paul.  I tested all of the new features this evening (and early morning) and have sent you detailed test results.

I would like to highlight one feature in particular.  The new PX3 #MAA and #MBA commands control the PX3 markers.  These commands can be assigned to a remote knob such as the Pignology PigKnob.  The commands have a variant in which the increment need not be specified, but rather the PX3 adopts the per-span / per-mode default increment (just like with the PX3 knob).  In short, you just specify "up" or "down".  If only the KX3 UP/UPB and DN/DNB remote control commands supported this variant.  Hint, hint.

I don't own a PigKnob, but I'll take a crack at the syntax ...

The following (partial) syntax will allow the PigKnob to control PX3 marker A and QSY the KX3 VFO A frequency to the marker A frequency by pressing button B1,

    CMD> p
    Buttons:
    B1: ;#QSY1;
    Knob:
    CW: ;#MAA+;
    CC: ;#MAA-;

Note:  You'll want to make sure marker A is enabled, either through button B1 in conjunction with the #QSY1 remote control command, through a second PigKnob button, via the PX3 itself, ...

Alternatively, you could control both PX3 marker A and marker B and QSY the KX3 VFO A frequency to the active marker frequency,

    CMD> p
    Buttons:
    B1: ;#QSY1;
    Knob:
    CW: ;#MAA+;
    FCW: ;#MBA+;
    CC: ;#MAA-;
    FCC: ;#MBA-;

or even control KX3 VFO A (or VFO B) and PX3 marker A (or marker B),

    CMD> p
    Buttons:
    B1: ;#QSY1;
    Knob:
    CW: ;UP;
    FCW: ;#MAA+;    
    CC: ;DN;
    FCC: ;#MAA-;

If someone could test the new PX3 #MAA and #MBA commands using the PigKnob that would be great.  I'm sure Nick will clean up my PigKnob syntax.

73's

Joe Stone
KF5WBO

[Paul Saffren N6HZ]

There is a known bug with the macro import feature.  As a work around, after the macros have been exported to a file, you will need to rename the file "px3macro.txt" to "macros.txt" .  

Also, the PX3 does not support flash drives that have been formatted using NTFS, you must use FAT or FAT32.


-Paul

[Joe Stone (KF5WBO)]

> There is a known bug with the macro import feature.  As a work around, after the macros
> have been exported to a file, you will need to rename the file "px3macro.txt" to "macros.txt" .  

This is what's referred to as an "undocumented feature".  This feature allows the user to save / restore one of possibly many text message / macro "sets" where a "set" is a collection of 50 text messages and 50 macros targeting a specific operating scenario.

The best "fix" is to allow the user to (optionally) enter (override) the default name in importing a text message / macro file.

I'm excited to see the text message / macro file is in text format.  Has anyone developed a PC-based utility to manage the text message / macro file?

73's

Joe Stone
KF5WBO

[Bob N3MNT]

There appears to be an issue with using messages saved in earlier version in the beta version that is related to the file naming issue above.  Export menus/messages -- rename -- import menus/messages.