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Re: K3 Need for advice was; (More Thorough Documentation)

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Eric Manning

Re: K3 Need for advice was; (More Thorough Documentation)

Samuel E-F said:

" Buy a radio, attend a quarterly held two or three day class presented
by the designers on advanced topics?

OK, maybe it's a four-hour class. :) Crazy Huh? "

Not crazy at all! Could also be held at Pacificon etc as one part of a K3 operators get-together.
[Which I'd very much like to attend, BTW.]

"Why" is essential; "what" and "how" are not enough.

Eric
VA7DZ

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hf4me

New feature Documentation in presentation format

"Buy a radio, attend a quarterly held two or three day class presented by
the designers on advanced topics?"

IF this would be done, how about for those who don't live in California or
anyone who can't make the date, "tape" the presentation and sell the DVD for
a reasonable price? This could be done with most anything, new features,
etc, some could even be zipped and made available for download. Include
handouts on the DVD, etc.

73, de Jim KG0KP

----- Original Message -----
From: "eric manning" <[hidden email]>
To: "samuel ernst-fortin" <[hidden email]>
Cc: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2010 11:50 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Need for advice was; (More Thorough
Documentation)

> Samuel E-F said:
>
> " Buy a radio, attend a quarterly held two or three day class presented
> by the designers on advanced topics?
>
> OK, maybe it's a four-hour class. :) Crazy Huh? "
>
> Not crazy at all! Could also be held at Pacificon etc as one part of a K3
> operators get-together.
> [Which I'd very much like to attend, BTW.]
>
> "Why" is essential; "what" and "how" are not enough.
>
> Eric
> VA7DZ
>
>
> --
> This message has been scanned for viruses and
> dangerous content by MailScanner, and is
> believed to be clean.
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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David Cutter

Re: New feature Documentation in presentation format

Perhaps a webinar?

David
G3UNA

> "Buy a radio, attend a quarterly held two or three day class presented by
> the designers on advanced topics?"
>
> IF this would be done, how about for those who don't live in California or
> anyone who can't make the date, "tape" the presentation and sell the DVD
> for
> a reasonable price? This could be done with most anything, new features,
> etc, some could even be zipped and made available for download. Include
> handouts on the DVD, etc.
>
> 73, de Jim KG0KP
> >
>
>> Samuel E-F said:
>>
>> " Buy a radio, attend a quarterly held two or three day class presented
>> by the designers on advanced topics?
>>

PD2R

Re: New feature Documentation in presentation format

Webinar would be great! have followed a few from the PVRC and I think it
would be a great and interactive way to reach the masses.

73, Maarten

2010/12/8 David Cutter <[hidden email]>

> Perhaps a webinar?
>
> David
> G3UNA
>
> > "Buy a radio, attend a quarterly held two or three day class presented by
> > the designers on advanced topics?"
> >
> > IF this would be done, how about for those who don't live in California
> or
> > anyone who can't make the date, "tape" the presentation and sell the DVD
> > for
> > a reasonable price? This could be done with most anything, new features,
> > etc, some could even be zipped and made available for download. Include
> > handouts on the DVD, etc.
> >
> > 73, de Jim KG0KP
> > >
> >
> >> Samuel E-F said:
> >>
> >> " Buy a radio, attend a quarterly held two or three day class presented
> >> by the designers on advanced topics?
> >>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

Maarten, PD2R
Member of the PI4DX contest group
www.pi4dx.com

Elecraft K3 nr:1849

Doug Turnbull

Re: K3 Need for advice was; (More Thorough Documentation)

In reply to this post by Eric Manning

These tutorial meetings could be organized locally by clubs or groups of
users on an ad hoc basis. Good documentation is still needed though as
many live in distant parts and the class just held will do the fellow who
purchases two months later no good at all. Documentation is always there
to reference. The good people at Elecraft are then in a tough spot because
they improve the K3 and then need to look to documentation updating, which
is not a trivial task especially if properly indexed and cross referenced.
I find myself in sympathy both with Elecraft and those who would like
improved documentation.

I probably will purchase a new manual this summer for though I can print one
out with ease; a properly bound manual is a worthwhile convenience to me.
Though a fond user of Kindle, I am not enamored of reading material from a
computer screen and of course I can print it but that manual is a great help
for quickly finding information in.

I hope the people in Elecraft do not feel that they are being beaten on over
this issue. I think it clear that they have a most loyal and very largely
satisfied customer base who are salesmen for their product. This is not to
say that we are not all striving and seeking more for this approach brings
progress. Thank you Elecraft!

73 Doug EI2CN

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of eric manning
Sent: 08 December 2010 05:51
To: samuel ernst-fortin
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Need for advice was; (More Thorough
Documentation)

Samuel E-F said:

" Buy a radio, attend a quarterly held two or three day class presented
by the designers on advanced topics?

OK, maybe it's a four-hour class. :) Crazy Huh? "

Not crazy at all! Could also be held at Pacificon etc as one part of a K3
operators get-together.
[Which I'd very much like to attend, BTW.]

"Why" is essential; "what" and "how" are not enough.

Eric
VA7DZ

--
This message has been scanned for viruses and
dangerous content by MailScanner, and is
believed to be clean.

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Dave Perry N4QS

Re: New feature Documentation in presentation format

In reply to this post by PD2R

I like the idea of webinars. They are used a lot in my industry. They tend
to be on a specific topic and last 1 hour. Elecraft could charge a small
fee to cover costs. If you cannot make a specific webinar, then they are
usually available after the fact via DVD for a small fee as well.

I would also like to suggest a series of online video tutorials on each
feature within the K3. I have seen this done very successfully in the
software industry. Our POS software vendor has a whole series of videos
posted on its website that focus on how to use major features within the
software. They tend to last 5 to 10 minutes -- similar to what you might
see on YouTube but are more professionally produced. Many integrate
PowerPoint with video and audio demonstrations. They need to be
professionally produced and have a consistent format. The topics could
start out at the beginner level and then progress to very advanced
subjects -- such as how to adjust AGC slope. It would be great if the
tutorials could hit every major feature within the K3 and even be referenced
throughout a newly enhanced User Manual.

I've had my K3 for a year and a half now and I am still learning how to use
many of the advanced features. But that is what I love about the K3. You
don't outgrow it within a month or two. There is always more to learn and
discover -- plus new features like the P3 and APF.

Webinars and video tutorials would really put the K3 out in front of the
other manufacturers! Like I said, both are done a lot in my industry.

Dave, N4QS

----- Original Message -----
From: "Maarten van Rossum" <[hidden email]>
To: "David Cutter" <[hidden email]>
Cc: "eric manning" <[hidden email]>; <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 1:17 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] New feature Documentation in presentation format

> Webinar would be great! have followed a few from the PVRC and I think it
> would be a great and interactive way to reach the masses.
>
> 73, Maarten
>
> 2010/12/8 David Cutter <[hidden email]>
>
>> Perhaps a webinar?
>>
>> David
>> G3UNA
>>
>> > "Buy a radio, attend a quarterly held two or three day class presented
>> > by
>> > the designers on advanced topics?"
>> >
>> > IF this would be done, how about for those who don't live in California
>> or
>> > anyone who can't make the date, "tape" the presentation and sell the
>> > DVD
>> > for
>> > a reasonable price? This could be done with most anything, new
>> > features,
>> > etc, some could even be zipped and made available for download.
>> > Include
>> > handouts on the DVD, etc.
>> >
>> > 73, de Jim KG0KP
>> > >
>> >
>> >> Samuel E-F said:
>> >>
>> >> " Buy a radio, attend a quarterly held two or three day class
>> >> presented
>> >> by the designers on advanced topics?
>> >>
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>

PD2R

Re: New feature Documentation in presentation format

Ten Tec has made some instruction videos for some of their transceivers.
They are on youtube and you can find links to those videos on their website.
I found them to be very useful and I don't even own one of their products.
I would be great if Elecraft (or perhaps a experienced user) would do
something similar and they would probably benefit from it as well. I always
thought my K3 had poor RX audio but it turned out that my AGC settings were
not set up correctly. After finding some interesting notes on how to adjust
the AGC and RX EQ I felt confident enough to play with the settings myself.
The result was that I'm now pretty happy with my K3 and I can only wonder
what else my K3 still has to offer.
With that experience in mind it makes me wonder how many potential buyers
who where not satisfied with the RX audio and therefore excluded the K3 from
their shortlist, did so without ever giving the K3 the chance it deserves.

I believe my understanding of the English language is reasonable and I have
no problem reading books, having a conversation in English or writing this
post for that matter. But reading and understanding an operating manual,
despite that it is well written, can be difficult at times. Operating tips
and hints on video would definitely be very helpful.

73, Maarten PD2R

2010/12/8 Dave Perry <[hidden email]>

> I like the idea of webinars. They are used a lot in my industry. They
> tend to be on a specific topic and last 1 hour. Elecraft could charge a
> small fee to cover costs. If you cannot make a specific webinar, then they
> are usually available after the fact via DVD for a small fee as well.
>
> I would also like to suggest a series of online video tutorials on each
> feature within the K3. I have seen this done very successfully in the
> software industry. Our POS software vendor has a whole series of videos
> posted on its website that focus on how to use major features within the
> software. They tend to last 5 to 10 minutes -- similar to what you might
> see on YouTube but are more professionally produced. Many integrate
> PowerPoint with video and audio demonstrations. They need to be
> professionally produced and have a consistent format. The topics could
> start out at the beginner level and then progress to very advanced subjects
> -- such as how to adjust AGC slope. It would be great if the tutorials
> could hit every major feature within the K3 and even be referenced
> throughout a newly enhanced User Manual.
>
> I've had my K3 for a year and a half now and I am still learning how to use
> many of the advanced features. But that is what I love about the K3. You
> don't outgrow it within a month or two. There is always more to learn and
> discover -- plus new features like the P3 and APF.
>
> Webinars and video tutorials would really put the K3 out in front of the
> other manufacturers! Like I said, both are done a lot in my industry.
>
> Dave, N4QS
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Maarten van Rossum" <
> [hidden email]>
> To: "David Cutter" <[hidden email]>
> Cc: "eric manning" <[hidden email]>; <[hidden email]>
> Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 1:17 AM
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] New feature Documentation in presentation format
>
>
>
> Webinar would be great! have followed a few from the PVRC and I think it
>> would be a great and interactive way to reach the masses.
>>
>> 73, Maarten
>>
>> 2010/12/8 David Cutter <[hidden email]>
>>
>> Perhaps a webinar?
>>>
>>> David
>>> G3UNA
>>>
>>> > "Buy a radio, attend a quarterly held two or three day class presented
>>> > by
>>> > the designers on advanced topics?"
>>> >
>>> > IF this would be done, how about for those who don't live in California
>>> or
>>> > anyone who can't make the date, "tape" the presentation and sell the >
>>> DVD
>>> > for
>>> > a reasonable price? This could be done with most anything, new >
>>> features,
>>> > etc, some could even be zipped and made available for download. >
>>> Include
>>> > handouts on the DVD, etc.
>>> >
>>> > 73, de Jim KG0KP
>>> > >
>>> >
>>> >> Samuel E-F said:
>>> >>
>>> >> " Buy a radio, attend a quarterly held two or three day class >>
>>> presented
>>> >> by the designers on advanced topics?
>>> >>
>>>
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> 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
>>
>>
>

Maarten, PD2R
Member of the PI4DX contest group
www.pi4dx.com

Elecraft K3 nr:1849

KD8NNU

Re: New feature Documentation in presentation format

In reply to this post by hf4me

I suspect producing these things inhouse based on helpdesk calls would
pay for itself quickly. I bet there are many issues that they get calls
for that could be eleminated with these items.

For example just the zero beating to calibrate the unit at startup. The
amount of time spent on the phone with me to get it done would have been
eleminated and I bet the same phone call takes place many times.

Or the NR stuff from a discussion with the helpline I learned that
settings 1 thru 4 are designed for CW and the 5 thru 8 mixed mode
settings are for phone. I never read this in the manuals. Again I had
called in because I was having setup issues.

These are two simple examples.

I would love to see a video on how to set up the system to listen on one
frequency and broadcast on another due to a split from a DX station, I
still have not figured it out. I accidently had it working once but I
am unable to duplicate it.

Thx
kd8nnu

On Wed, Dec 8, 2010 at 9:42 AM, Dave Perry wrote:

> I like the idea of webinars. They are used a lot in my industry.
> They tend to be on a specific topic and last 1 hour. Elecraft could
> charge a small fee to cover costs. If you cannot make a specific
> webinar, then they are usually available after the fact via DVD for a
> small fee as well.
>
> I would also like to suggest a series of online video tutorials on
> each feature within the K3. I have seen this done very successfully
> in the software industry. Our POS software vendor has a whole series
> of videos posted on its website that focus on how to use major
> features within the software. They tend to last 5 to 10 minutes --
> similar to what you might see on YouTube but are more professionally
> produced. Many integrate PowerPoint with video and audio
> demonstrations. They need to be professionally produced and have a
> consistent format. The topics could start out at the beginner level
> and then progress to very advanced subjects -- such as how to adjust
> AGC slope. It would be great if the tutorials could hit every major
> feature within the K3 and even be referenced throughout a newly
> enhanced User Manual.
>
> I've had my K3 for a year and a half now and I am still learning how
> to use many of the advanced features. But that is what I love about
> the K3. You don't outgrow it within a month or two. There is always
> more to learn and discover -- plus new features like the P3 and APF.
>
> Webinars and video tutorials would really put the K3 out in front of
> the other manufacturers! Like I said, both are done a lot in my
> industry.
>
> Dave, N4QS
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Maarten van Rossum"
> <[hidden email]>
> To: "David Cutter" <[hidden email]>
> Cc: "eric manning" <[hidden email]>;
> <[hidden email]>
> Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 1:17 AM
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] New feature Documentation in presentation
> format
>
>
>> Webinar would be great! have followed a few from the PVRC and I think
>> it
>> would be a great and interactive way to reach the masses.
>>
>> 73, Maarten
>>
>> 2010/12/8 David Cutter <[hidden email]>
>>
>>> Perhaps a webinar?
>>>
>>> David
>>> G3UNA
>>>
>>>> "Buy a radio, attend a quarterly held two or three day class
>>>> presented by
>>>> the designers on advanced topics?"
>>>>
>>>> IF this would be done, how about for those who don't live in
>>>> California
>>> or
>>>> anyone who can't make the date, "tape" the presentation and sell
>>>> the DVD
>>>> for
>>>> a reasonable price? This could be done with most anything, new
>>>> features,
>>>> etc, some could even be zipped and made available for download.
>>>> Include
>>>> handouts on the DVD, etc.
>>>>
>>>> 73, de Jim KG0KP
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Samuel E-F said:
>>>>>
>>>>> " Buy a radio, attend a quarterly held two or three day class
>>>>> presented
>>>>> by the designers on advanced topics?
>>>>>
>>>
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> 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
>>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ

Re: New feature Documentation in presentation format [END of Thread]

Administrator

Guys -Thanks for all the input on this. We have a lot of good
suggestions to sort through.

Let's end this thread (and any others that are related to it) for now in
the interest of reducing list traffic. Ithas certainly hit the limit for
postings in a short time period. :-)

73, Eric WA6HHQ
Elecraft List Moderator
----

On 12/8/2010 7:55 AM, [hidden email] wrote:
> I suspect producing these things inhouse based on helpdesk calls would
> pay for itself quickly. I bet there are many issues that they get calls
> for that could be eleminated with these items.et/donate.html
......... snip
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w8fn

Re: New feature Documentation in presentation format

In reply to this post by Dave Perry N4QS

...Our POS software vendor has a whole series of videos
posted on its website that focus on how to use major features within the
software...

Which one? I've seen dozens, maybe hundreds, of programs that qualify
for the POS moniker.

Sorry, I just couldn't help it.

73...
Randy, W8FN

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