Elecraft

Re: K3 firmware upgrade - Win7

Classic

List

Threaded

11 messages Options

Robert Mccormack

Re: K3 firmware upgrade - Win7

Has anyone on the list experienced problems with Win7 when attempting a K3 firmware upgrade?

My friend Aki ZL1GO has attempted the upgrade using his new Win7 computer without success - no

problems with his old XP machine.

I have only XP, so I can't help him.

73,
Ken ZL1AIH
______________________________________________________________
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

John Ragle

Re: K3 firmware upgrade - Win7

Your post will probably produce a humungous volume of responses...I am
getting in early (12:33 AM 9/28). I have been using several machines
running WIN 7 both 32 and 64 bit with my K3 and have never had a problem
making firmware upgrades to the K3, the P3, and to the XG3. Normally I
use my 32 bit machine, a DELL XPS-420. I am replacing that machine with
a DELL Precision T3500 and anticipate no problems with it. As a first
suggestion, I would have your friend check his cables and the assignment
of his COM port(s) in Device Manager. Things like this are very
frustrating/annoying, but often turn out to have a simple source.

John Ragle -- W1ZI

==========

On 9/28/2012 12:30 AM, Robert Mccormack wrote:
> Has anyone on the list experienced problems with Win7 when attempting a K3 firmware upgrade?
>
> My friend Aki ZL1GO has attempted the upgrade using his new Win7 computer without success - no
>
> problems with his old XP machine.
>

______________________________________________________________
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

John Ragle

Re: Question please

Hi, Richard...

I started my most recent cycle of ham activity with an early XP
machine...for what it's worth, XP Pro is an outstanding OS...but I seem
to allow myself to be dragged along with OS development, and went
through VISTA and into WIN 7. I have 3 machines currently in use, 2 of
which run WIN 7 Home Premium, and 1 that runs WIN 7 Ultimate. The WIN 7
machines are all 32 bit machines. In the household, we also have a WIN 7
Home Premium that is a 64 bit machine. It happens that these machines
get swapped around from time to time, along with an old Lenovo Thinkpad,
still running VISTA.

Currently, my ham radio gear is limping (quite literally!) along on
the WIN 7 Ultimate 32-bit machine, which no longer boots properly.
Fortunately, when it has gathered itself together, it runs fine. We
leave it running (after much travail trying to get it "fixed"). It has,
apparently, several serious problems.

Thus the nexus I mentioned in my earlier post...I had to confront
the reality of replacing the DELL XPS-420, and thus faced a number of
choices...what OS?, what style MoBo?, what style chassis, and
particularly how many and what kind of expansion slots the replacement
was to have.

Our household has been using DELL machines for a long time, and
with pretty good success. I recently went outside this boundary and
bought an ACER laptop, 64-bit machine, which did not work properly from
the get-go, and which I exchanged for a DELL laptop of similar design.
The salient point is that when one commits to a laptop, one more or less
gives up any possibility of expansion slots, etc. and so this machine
will never see ham radio use.

This brings this long-winded discussion back to the 32-bit WIN 7
Ultimate machine, which has a number of PCI and PCIe slots, several of
which I use for the radios. I won't bother you with the details, since
your laptop is doubtless, like most, non-expandable. The machine is a
dual-core, 3 GHz machine, and it has never faltered in running the
radios. Normally when running the K3/P3, I run a video frame-grabber to
expand the tiny P3 screen_into a __window_. I also have used a PMSDR
with a Quartet dual-channel 192-kHz A/D sound card.

So my conclusion would be that using the 32 bit version of WIN 7
does not impose any obvious restrictions. It is getting hard to find
expandable machines that are vended with a 32-bit OS, and so I was
pleasantly surprised to find that digging around in DELL's shambles of a
web site found one. It is due to arrive today, so I can finally bury the
XPS-420 and give it a try. If I have any problem, I will let you know.

In the meantime, good luck and enjoy our magnificent hobby. BTW I
condemn in strongest terms the prevailing idea that the consumer does
not need a set of OS disks...but many vendors will sell them to you for
a buck or two.

John Ragle -- W1ZI

==========

On 9/28/2012 1:23 AM, Richard Fjeld wrote:

> John,
>
> I saw your post and I'm curious about Win7 in 32bit. I recently
> bought a HP Compaq laptop that had Win7 loaded in 64bit. I am
> disappointed to find that several of my old software programs no
> longer will install to it. I really need these programs, and the
> companies have been bought out and are no longer available for upgrades.
>
> I bought the computer from Walmart and was disappointed to find no OS
> disks with it. I made the backup CD's.
>
> Any advice? Would I lose much by going to 32 bit?
>
> Rich, noce
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Ragle" <[hidden email]>
> To: <[hidden email]>
> Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2012 11:40 PM
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 firmware upgrade - Win7
>
>
>> Your post will probably produce a humungous volume of responses...I am
>> getting in early (12:33 AM 9/28). I have been using several machines
>> running WIN 7 both 32 and 64 bit with my K3 and have never had a problem
>> making firmware upgrades to the K3, the P3, and to the XG3. Normally I
>> use my 32 bit machine, a DELL XPS-420. I am replacing that machine with
>> a DELL Precision T3500 and anticipate no problems with it. As a first
>> suggestion, I would have your friend check his cables and the assignment
>> of his COM port(s) in Device Manager. Things like this are very
>> frustrating/annoying, but often turn out to have a simple source.
>>
>> John Ragle -- W1ZI
>>
>>
>
>
>

--
Sent from my lovely old Dell XPS 420

______________________________________________________________
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

Mike Reublin

Re: K3 firmware upgrade - Win7

In reply to this post by Robert Mccormack

No problems here, Ken. Some more info about Aki's problems would
probably help.

What _*exactly*_ is his issue?

Utility doesn't run? Error messages?

Utility doesn't connect to rig? Cable type? (Rs_232 or USB) Com port
number assigned in Win7?

Utility connects, but load fails?

Wind from the Nor'West? :-D

73, Mike NF4L

On 9/28/12 12:30 AM, Robert Mccormack wrote:

> Has anyone on the list experienced problems with Win7 when attempting a K3 firmware upgrade?
>
> My friend Aki ZL1GO has attempted the upgrade using his new Win7 computer without success - no
>
> problems with his old XP machine.
>
>
> I have only XP, so I can't help him.
>
> 73,
> Ken ZL1AIH
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

N0AZZ

Re: Question please

In reply to this post by John Ragle

All I run any more is Dell computers from laptops to XPS machines for a
total of 6 computers 4 that are use3d for ham radio 3 of them 100% of the
time and 1 about 60% of the time, Every one of these machines are running
Win7 64 in all flavors 2 Ultimate and the rest Home Premium 64. All run
flawlessly with every ham application I have at total of about 75 programs
all together and not one single problem. The only problem you might have is
trying to run very old programs and if you have those it's time to upgrade.
It sounds like your computers could use a "Tune up" for sure hidden problems
for sure.

73'
Fred/N0AZZ

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of John Ragle
Sent: Friday, September 28, 2012 6:13 AM
To: Richard Fjeld; elecraft
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Question please

Hi, Richard...

I started my most recent cycle of ham activity with an early XP
machine...for what it's worth, XP Pro is an outstanding OS...but I seem to
allow myself to be dragged along with OS development, and went through VISTA
and into WIN 7. I have 3 machines currently in use, 2 of which run WIN 7
Home Premium, and 1 that runs WIN 7 Ultimate. The WIN 7 machines are all 32
bit machines. In the household, we also have a WIN 7 Home Premium that is a
64 bit machine. It happens that these machines get swapped around from time
to time, along with an old Lenovo Thinkpad, still running VISTA.

Currently, my ham radio gear is limping (quite literally!) along on the
WIN 7 Ultimate 32-bit machine, which no longer boots properly.
Fortunately, when it has gathered itself together, it runs fine. We leave it
running (after much travail trying to get it "fixed"). It has, apparently,
several serious problems.

Thus the nexus I mentioned in my earlier post...I had to confront the
reality of replacing the DELL XPS-420, and thus faced a number of
choices...what OS?, what style MoBo?, what style chassis, and particularly
how many and what kind of expansion slots the replacement was to have.

Our household has been using DELL machines for a long time, and with
pretty good success. I recently went outside this boundary and bought an
ACER laptop, 64-bit machine, which did not work properly from the get-go,
and which I exchanged for a DELL laptop of similar design.
The salient point is that when one commits to a laptop, one more or less
gives up any possibility of expansion slots, etc. and so this machine will
never see ham radio use.

This brings this long-winded discussion back to the 32-bit WIN 7
Ultimate machine, which has a number of PCI and PCIe slots, several of which
I use for the radios. I won't bother you with the details, since your laptop
is doubtless, like most, non-expandable. The machine is a dual-core, 3 GHz
machine, and it has never faltered in running the radios. Normally when
running the K3/P3, I run a video frame-grabber to expand the tiny P3
screen_into a __window_. I also have used a PMSDR with a Quartet
dual-channel 192-kHz A/D sound card.

So my conclusion would be that using the 32 bit version of WIN 7 does
not impose any obvious restrictions. It is getting hard to find expandable
machines that are vended with a 32-bit OS, and so I was pleasantly surprised
to find that digging around in DELL's shambles of a web site found one. It
is due to arrive today, so I can finally bury the
XPS-420 and give it a try. If I have any problem, I will let you know.

In the meantime, good luck and enjoy our magnificent hobby. BTW I
condemn in strongest terms the prevailing idea that the consumer does not
need a set of OS disks...but many vendors will sell them to you for a buck
or two.

John Ragle -- W1ZI

==========

On 9/28/2012 1:23 AM, Richard Fjeld wrote:

> John,
>
> I saw your post and I'm curious about Win7 in 32bit. I recently
> bought a HP Compaq laptop that had Win7 loaded in 64bit. I am
> disappointed to find that several of my old software programs no
> longer will install to it. I really need these programs, and the
> companies have been bought out and are no longer available for upgrades.
>
> I bought the computer from Walmart and was disappointed to find no OS
> disks with it. I made the backup CD's.
>
> Any advice? Would I lose much by going to 32 bit?
>
> Rich, noce
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Ragle" <[hidden email]>
> To: <[hidden email]>
> Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2012 11:40 PM
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 firmware upgrade - Win7
>
>
>> Your post will probably produce a humungous volume of responses...I
>> am getting in early (12:33 AM 9/28). I have been using several
>> machines running WIN 7 both 32 and 64 bit with my K3 and have never
>> had a problem making firmware upgrades to the K3, the P3, and to the
>> XG3. Normally I use my 32 bit machine, a DELL XPS-420. I am replacing
>> that machine with a DELL Precision T3500 and anticipate no problems
>> with it. As a first suggestion, I would have your friend check his
>> cables and the assignment of his COM port(s) in Device Manager.
>> Things like this are very frustrating/annoying, but often turn out to

have a simple source.
>>
>> John Ragle -- W1ZI
>>
>>
>
>
>

--
Sent from my lovely old Dell XPS 420

______________________________________________________________
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

Richard Fjeld

Re: Question please

Thanks for the replies, Fred and John. Just a background note; I've had at
least one computer ever since circa 1975-6, when Apple was making it's
debut. I bought a computer called Ohio Scientific which used the same 6502
cpu. I think Control Data later sold the computers for awhile. I chose that
model because Apple only had 40 columns on the screen whereas the Ohio
Scientific had 64, and I could type a fair letter and print it out. There
were no floppy's yet. We stored everything on tape cassette at 300 baud
asynchronous. I stayed on the PC side ever since. (Please, no debate)

I have had a variety of machines over the years, mostly Gateway and HP. I
built the one I'm using for this email. I don't rush out to buy the newest
or best. I am more interested in software, and what it will do for me. I
have tried the Linux thing, and SDR. (Again, Please, no debate.)

I really do not want to abandon some of my old Windows software, some of
which I have upgraded from DOS, but which got bought out and eliminated.
Imagine trying to keep 20+ years of accounting data in use with software
from a company that no longer exists. (It is still excellent software.)
Another example; I prefer a much older version of a certain Bible software
over the newer versions, hands down. It's much more user friendly and
faster.

I didn't think about the 32/64 bit thing when I bought this laptop. I
couldn't pass up the price, and I wanted to investigate Win 7. I did, and I
like XP the best, and I hope it will still be compatible with future MOBO's.
BTW, I still need DOS capability for our Vertex repeaters.

Some folks like complicated dependencies. I like to press a power button,
check my tuner, and operate. That is why I chose the K3. It was a tough
decision. Other radios will do that but it was the P3 that sealed the
decision. I have a computer connected to my K3/P3, but it isn't needed for
general operating.
73,
Rich, n0ce

----- Original Message -----
From: "Fred Smith" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>; "'Richard Fjeld'" <[hidden email]>;
"'elecraft'" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Friday, September 28, 2012 8:22 AM
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Question please

> All I run any more is Dell computers from laptops to XPS machines for a
> total of 6 computers 4 that are use3d for ham radio 3 of them 100% of the
> time and 1 about 60% of the time, Every one of these machines are running
> Win7 64 in all flavors 2 Ultimate and the rest Home Premium 64. All run
> flawlessly with every ham application I have at total of about 75 programs
> all together and not one single problem. The only problem you might have
> is
> trying to run very old programs and if you have those it's time to
> upgrade.
> It sounds like your computers could use a "Tune up" for sure hidden
> problems
> for sure.
>
> 73'
> Fred/N0AZZ
>

Brian Hunt

Re: K3 firmware upgrade - Win7

In reply to this post by Robert Mccormack

I recently upgraded to a Windows 7-64 bit HP machine due to the demise
of my Windows XP Pro laptop. The biggest problem I had was going from a
physical RS232 serial port on the laptop to a USB to RS232 converter. I
tried several failures before I hit on a solution that worked. It is a
USB/RS232 converter with an FTDI chipset and current drivers for it in
Windwos 7-64 bit. Try as I might I couldn't make a converter with the
Prolific chipset work. Note that Elecraft have gone to a KUSB with the
FTDI chipset. You didn't give many details of your friend's problems
but I'd bet the above is part of it.

Brian, K0DTJ

Hope this helps
On 9/27/2012 9:30 PM, Robert Mccormack wrote:

Guy, K2AV

Re: K3 firmware upgrade - Win7

The Prolific drivers have been problematic in recent years. 73, Guy.

On Fri, Sep 28, 2012 at 1:56 PM, Brian Hunt <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I recently upgraded to a Windows 7-64 bit HP machine due to the demise
> of my Windows XP Pro laptop. The biggest problem I had was going from a
> physical RS232 serial port on the laptop to a USB to RS232 converter. I
> tried several failures before I hit on a solution that worked. It is a
> USB/RS232 converter with an FTDI chipset and current drivers for it in
> Windwos 7-64 bit. Try as I might I couldn't make a converter with the
> Prolific chipset work. Note that Elecraft have gone to a KUSB with the
> FTDI chipset. You didn't give many details of your friend's problems
> but I'd bet the above is part of it.
>
> Brian, K0DTJ
>
> Hope this helps
> On 9/27/2012 9:30 PM, Robert Mccormack wrote:
>> Has anyone on the list experienced problems with Win7 when attempting a K3 firmware upgrade?
>>
>> My friend Aki ZL1GO has attempted the upgrade using his new Win7 computer without success - no
>>
>> problems with his old XP machine.
>>
>>
>> I have only XP, so I can't help him.
>>
>> 73,
>> Ken ZL1AIH
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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

Robert Mccormack

Re: K3 Firmware upgrade - Win7

In reply to this post by Robert Mccormack

Mike NF4L wrote :

>No problems here, Ken. Some more info about Aki's problems would
probably help.

What _*exactly*_ is his issue?

Utility doesn't run? Error messages?

Utility doesn't connect to rig? Cable type? (Rs_232 or USB) Com port
number assigned in Win7?

Utility connects, but load fails?

Wind from the Nor'West? :-D>

Aki ZL1GO reports :-

Win7 utility first step - test communications : recognizes Com port and shows
com3 speed 38400b.
Then move to firmware window: click Check Versions Now--->
Attempting to contact K3 ,,,,endless try 38400 b to 4800 b., then connection is lost..

Thanks for all the help.

73, Ken ZL1AIH
______________________________________________________________
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

Mike Reublin

Re: K3 Firmware upgrade - Win7

After I go to the firmware tab, if I click "Check Versions Now" the
utility will not proceed until the files are downloaded from Elecraft,
as there is nothing to compare. I do not get a loop of trying to connect.

Are you using version 1.12.3.28 of the utility?

HTH.

73, Mike

> Mike NF4L wrote :
>
>
>
>> No problems here, Ken. Some more info about Aki's problems would
> probably help.
>
> What _*exactly*_ is his issue?
>
> Utility doesn't run? Error messages?
>
> Utility doesn't connect to rig? Cable type? (Rs_232 or USB) Com port
> number assigned in Win7?
>
> Utility connects, but load fails?
>
> Wind from the Nor'West? :-D>
>
>
>
> Aki ZL1GO reports :-
>
>
> Win7 utility first step - test communications : recognizes Com port and shows
> com3 speed 38400b.
> Then move to firmware window: click Check Versions Now--->
> Attempting to contact K3 ,,,,endless try 38400 b to 4800 b., then connection is lost..
>
> Thanks for all the help.
>
> 73, Ken ZL1AIH
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

Kevin Stover

Re: Question please

In reply to this post by John Ragle

Hello John,

I build all of my own machines and have never purchased a factory built
computer.
I get to decide what I want for hardware/software.
I can't build a consumer grade PC as cheaply as the factories do but the
machines I've built aren't consumer grade.
I start winning the value battle at their mid-grade and up.

As you have no doubt noticed it is getting nearly impossible to buy a
factory built computer with a 32 bit operating system. The reality is we
will be switching to 64 bit whether we like it or not. I jumped in with
both feet five years ago. None of my machines run 32 bit OS's. Back then
it took some work to find drivers, not so much now.

The windows OS's will have 32 compatibility mode for quite sometime to
come. Most all the mainstream applications have 64 bit versions and I
haven't run across a single piece of windows ham radio software that
won't run on Windows 64 bit Ultimate. I run DX Lab, N1MM, DX Atlas,
Faros, CW Skimmer, FlDigi, MixW, Win-EQF* and a WinkeyUSB (driver).

As for hardware.
Most motherboard manufacturers have switched over to the PCI-e bus with
an avaiable plethora of connector formats and bandwidths, PCI-e 1x. 4x,
8x, 16x, etc....The machine I just built has one legacy PCI slot which I
use for my sound card. I remember the grumbling that ensued when the
manu's switched from ISA to PCI.

Thankfully peripheral manufacturers have caught up with the bus change
more rapidly than usual. I've got a 4 port PCI-e 1x serial card
installed, something that I'm sure doesn't get purchased by the masses
in large numbers. I like real serial ports!

--
R. Kevin Stover
ACØH,SPAR, ARRL, SKCC #215, NAQCC #3441, FISTS #11993

______________________________________________________________
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