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Posts Tagged ‘K3’

USB – the shortsighted interface

May 26th, 2010 |

In his review of the Yaesu FTDX5000 in the June 2010 issue of RadCom, Peter Hart G3SJX criticizes Yaesu for not providing a USB interface as Icom does with its IC7600 transceiver. This same criticism is frequently made by new users or prospective users of the Elecraft K3. I think it is an extremely shortsighted view and I’m surprised to hear it from someone of G3SJX’s experience. This seems to be another example of the “it’s newer technology so it must be better” attitude that seems to be taking root in the hobby.

The RS-232 serial port has been around since long before the personal computer. It has not been used for “consumer” equipment since the days when printers and modems came with a serial interface, which is why RS-232 ports are no longer provided with new PCs. But it is nonsense to claim that RS-232 is obsolete because of this. Adding a couple of serial ports to a PC is simply a matter of opening the case and slotting in an RS-232 board. Granted, it isn’t as easy if you are using a laptop, which is why RS-232 to USB adapters exist. But expandable desktop or tower PCs have so many advantages that why anyone would choose to use a laptop for their shack computer beats me.

Icom uses USB not just for computer control but also for audio so the IC7600 doesn’t need the sound card and requires only a single cable to connect it with the PC. This is an innovation that has obvious marketing appeal – which is no doubt why Icom included it. But it’s a benefit that can only be enjoyed by users of specific versions of Windows. If you use Linux, Mac OS, Windows 2000 or earlier or Windows XP 64-bit you’re out of luck. RS-232 on the other hand is supported natively by just about any computer running any OS, by microcontrollers and even by non-computer devices like Ethernet serial port servers. It offers far more choices, even if most of those choices are only of interest to a minority of users.

Buy a device with USB and you are dependent for its continued usability on the willingness of its manufacturer to develop drivers for as yet unreleased operating systems. I’ve had to junk perfectly good printers and scanners in the past because the latest drivers were for Windows 98 or Windows 2000 and the manufacturer did not produce any for Windows XP. Most radios have a life of 20 or 30 years, considerably longer than most computer hardware, so designing into them an interface that itself may have been replaced by something faster and better in the PCs of 10 or 15 years time seems to me very shortsighted.

Icom chose to provide a Windows-only supported USB interface on the IC7600 for purely marketing reasons. Elecraft arguably made the best decision with the K3 by not just providing a true RS-232 interface (not a lame TTL version requiring an extra-cost level converting cable) but also making the DTR and RTS signals optionally usable for PTT control and CW keying. Although separate audio cables and use of a sound card are needed, Elecraft included isolating transformers so no separate interface (RigBlaster etc.) is needed. If Yaesu chose to emulate this aspect of the K3 design as well then it should be commended not criticized.

Measuring milliwatts

April 21st, 2010 |

Author: Julian G4ILO

One K3 setup adjustment that I have never done is to check the power level of my K3 transverter output, because I don’t have an RF millivoltmeter. I do, however, have an Elecraft DL1 dummy load which has a test point fed by a 1N5711 diode and capacitor. You can take voltage readings there, and then calculate power using the formula:

Power = (( Voltage * 1.414) + 0.15) ^2 / 50

and I normally use this whenever I want an accurate power measurement rather than rely on the readings of analogue meters.

What I don’t know is whether this is accurate enough to measure power at levels as low as 1mW. So I asked the question on the Elecraft email reflector, rashly forgetting that the function of of the reflector is for users to flame each other and speculate on or redesign Elecraft products. Don, W3FPR, who was usually good for an answer to a technical question, has left the reflector after he was flamed for some imagined breach of netiquette. Frankly, the reflector is now worthless. I wish Elecraft would create an announcements-only mailing list so that one could stay informed of new developments and firmware updates without having to see all the ego clashes and endless questions about problems with USB serial adapters.

When I measured, using the DL1 and my DVM, the output from the K3 transverter port with the level set to 1mW, I got a reading of 36mV. Plugging that into the formula, I get 0.8mW. But the 0.15 is, I presume, a “fudge factor” to compensate for the voltage drop in the detector diode, which gives me a result of 0.45mW even if zero voltage was detected. So I’m wondering if my 0.8mW is within the limits of error of my measurement method and that I should leave my transverter drive level as it is. I assembled my K3 myself and the transverter board was added later so I don’t believe the level has ever been set at the factory.

NCJ: What’s the Best Contest Rig?

March 9th, 2010 |

Author: Paul Lannuier

The March/April 2010 National Contest Journal arrived yesterday, torn and tattered as always (thanks again, US Postal Service!), and with it the results of K3MD’s informal poll of top contesters asking, “What’s the best contest rig?” It’s by no means a scientific survey, nor all-inclusive, but many of the Big Guns you’d expect participated.

No surprise to see the K3 and IC-7800 at the head of the pack. What does surprise me, though, is the absence of even a single mention of the Flex 5000 — can’t figure this out. Contesters, of all operators, rely so heavily on computers and software, and the Flex is clearly ready for prime-time. It’s fairly equal to the K3 and 7800 in terms of receiver performance. It just seems like a natural fit. Is it simply because it lacks a tuning dial? Is full PC control too new a trick for these old dogs to learn? Would love to hear theories as to why none of these top contesters have jumped on the SDR bandwagon.

Also surprised to see the Orion get only passing mention (and not in a good way, either). Wasn’t that the last “greatest-thing-since-sliced-bread” transceiver just a few years ago?

All that said, I’m happy to see the K3 get the attention it deserves from the radiosport community. Contesters at this level are fickle creatures; you can’t pin the fanboy label on them. Price is rarely an issue, considering the equipment on the inside of the shack typically costs a fraction of what is spent on antenna systems. They’re not swayed by fancy front panels or clever marketing. If the radio works better than what they last used, they keep it; if something else better comes along later, they’ll switch again. It will be interesting to see in ten years or so whether the K3 has the longevity among contesters that, say, the FT-1000D has enjoyed. My prediction: Yes (but then, I’m just an Elecraft fanboy and, worse still, a poseur-wannabee contester). Only time will tell; the zeitgeist changes direction in a hurry, and the DSP and SDR technology is advancing rapidly, so something new could come along next week to knock the K3 off its pedestal.

K3 for sale

March 3rd, 2010 |

Author: Julian G4ILO

A K3 is for sale on the Elecraft reflector by Dan in Florida, who gives the reason for sale as “large unexpected medical bills.”

I’m sorry for Dan and hope my linking to his ad from here will help him to get a good price for his radio. And I thank God that here in Britain we have a National Health Service!

K3 Derangement Syndrome

February 19th, 2010 |

Author: Paul Lannuier

Seems W9OY is causing some heads to broil on the Elecraft list, thanks to Julian G4ILO stirring the pot. 😉

I don’t know W9OY but I read his blog often because I’m fascinated with the whole SDR aspect of the hobby. He’s as much a fanboy for the Flex 5000 as many are for the K3 (including me, I suppose). I have no problem with that, we all like to talk up the equipment we own. W9OY certainly knows his stuff, and even though he may toss out a jab at the K3 every now and then I just take it with a grain of salt — no burning desire to break out the dueling pistols, it’s just a hobby.

Often, though, I’ve heard hams on the air trashing the K3 as though anyone who owns one isn’t just wrong, but stoopid as well. I call it K3 Derangement Syndrome: any mention of the K3 causes them to prattle on about how inferior it is to their radio. They’ll harp about the K3’s “poor ergonomics,” as if pressing a button twice to move from 40m to 20m is somehow more of an inconvenience than having to boot Windoze every time you want to use your radio. They’ll talk about the size of the radio, as if the compact box isn’t one of the K3’s attractions for many owners. They’ll nitpick over specs, as if they really make a difference while working the DX. Mostly, it becomes evident after listening for a while that most of these K3DS sufferers have never actually used a K3, but merely heard all these horrible things from someone else. I guess the P3 will give them more ammo because it’s smaller than Power-SDR running on a 60″ plasma display — your sophomoric “mine’s bigger” kind of argument. Whatever.

Life is too short. We all have reasons for choosing the radios we choose. My big reason for not buying a Flex product is that it relies on Windoze; if it supported OS X, I might have one on my desk right now. But I have enough Windoze headaches in my daily life and don’t really want them to be at the core of my radio hobby. As Bones might tell Kirk, “Damn it, Jim! I’m a ham, not a systems administrator!” Those who might actually enjoy dicking around with computers will almost certainly report different mileage. Good for them.

Another good question has already been raised by someone else: What happens in 20 years? I have a garage full of 10-year old computer peripherals that simply won’t work with my current PCs and Macs. The Flex rigs, when you boil it all down, are computer peripherals. That it doesn’t rely on USB drivers makes it more likely to be supported years down the road, but what happens if FireWire goes the way of 5.25″ floppies? Or if future versions of Power-SDR no longer support anything older than the Flex 8000? To me, one of the things I love about ham radio is that people running vintage gear from the 50’s and 60’s are still able to do pretty much everything a guy with a K3 can do; with proper care and feeding, they can last a lifetime or more. On the other hand, computers and peripherals are throw-away items. Which category a PC-based SDR falls into, only time will tell.

That doesn’t mean I won’t someday own a Flex 5000 (or 6000 or 9000); maybe I will. Flex Radio Systems is every bit a great company as Elecraft, and their user base every bit as loyal. If I had the cash I’d probably own one now because I love the SDR concept. If someday it no longer works under Windoze 2036 or whatever cruel hoax Microsloth perpetrates on the masses in the future, oh well… out to the pile in the garage it’ll go, to be replaced by the newest model. But I won’t get rid of the K3 unless and until something else comes out that offers a significant improvement, and whatever may replace my K3 someday will sure as hell have knobs and buttons and be able to operate as a stand-alone instrument without a PC umbilical. These are my requirements; if yours are different, buy what you want.

And while others may take cheap shots at competing radios just to make themselves feel smart or superior to those who choose differently, I won’t do that.

(I will, however, continue to take cheap shots at Microsloth Windoze. It just plain sucks.)

Elecraft P3 Panadapter at Orlando Hamfest

February 13th, 2010 |

Author: Paul Lannuier

Photo by Jack W3TMZ

Elecraft P3 Panadapter at Orlando Hamfest

February 13th, 2010 |

Author: Paul Lannuier

Photo by Jack W3TMZ