Wayne Burdick
2014-10-14 00:48:20 UTC
KX3 (rev. 2.25) and PX3 (rev. 1.12) firmware releases are now available for beta test (see notes below). The previous KX3 beta release has also been moved to Production status (2.23). The files are located at:
http://www.elecraft.com/KX3/KX3_software.htm
http://www.elecraft.com/PX3/PX3_software.htm
The most important feature is decoded text on the PX3 display. This works in both transmit and receive modes for CW, PSK31 (PSK-D) and RTTY (FSK-D).
NOTE 1: If you don't see the new releases on our web site, it's probably because your browser has cached an older page. Just hit your browser's "refresh" button (usually a circular arrow icon).
NOTE 2: Please turn off your KXPA100 (if applicable) when doing KX3 and PX3 firmware loads. This requirement will be eliminated in future versions of KX3 and PX3 Utility.
73,
Wayne
N6KR
* * *
KX3 MCU 2.25 / DSP 1.30, 10-5-2014
Note: The first two items below were actually made available in the 2.24 field-test firmware release.
* SUPPORT FOR PX3 TEXT DISPLAY: To enable text decode on the PX3, hold LABELS switch to switch to text-decode mode (requires PX3 rev. 1.12 or later). Text decode must also be enabled at the KX3.
* DUAL RX NOW ALLOWED WITH RX SHFT=8.0. In this case, VFO A can be from -7 below VFO B to +23 above it (vs. +/- 15 for RX SHFT=NOR).
* PX3 NOW DISPLAYS VFO B PASSBAND CORRECTLY: The PX3 was showing the wrong VFO B filter bandwidth or passband location when using DATA modes or DUAL RX (dual watch).
* DUAL RX DOES NOT FORCE OFS/B KNOB TO BE USED AS VFO B: The operator?s OFS/B knob assignment is no longer lost when DUAL RX is in effect.
* FAST-PLAY DISPLAY ERROR FIXED: With fast-play enabled (1-touch message play using BAND+/- and FREQ ENT.), a band change originating from a PC application no longer flashes ?END? on VFO B.
* CW SPEED DISPLAY TIME INCREASED WHEN TEXT DECODE IS ON: In CW mode, speed is now displayed for 1.0 sec. In FSK-D and PSK-D modes, it's .5 sec. The time is shorter for DATA modes because character transmission rates are usually faster, and the operator might miss important text due to the speed display.
* PA BYPASS METERING FIXED: If the KXPA100 goes to bypass because of an error condition, the KX3 drops to 5 W. The RF meter is now correctly set to low range.
* TEXT DECODE LOCKOUT FIX: Adjustment of NR, NB, NTCH, etc. no longer causes loss of CW/DATA text decode on the VFO B display.
* HOST COMMANDS ?UP?, ?DN?, and ?DT?: These are now working with the PX3.
* * *
PX3 MCU 1.12 / 10/03/2014
* Fixes a bug which required extra encoder turns to change the span.
* Text decode feature added. A long key press of the MENU/LABELS key now is used to: show labels, not show labels or turn on text decode.
* Text decode shows the receive characters in white, transmit characters in green.
* Noise Blanker on/off now shows the on/off state in the menu, just like other menu functions.
* Rev. 1.12 of the PX3 requires KX3 version 2.24 or later
http://www.elecraft.com/KX3/KX3_software.htm
http://www.elecraft.com/PX3/PX3_software.htm
The most important feature is decoded text on the PX3 display. This works in both transmit and receive modes for CW, PSK31 (PSK-D) and RTTY (FSK-D).
NOTE 1: If you don't see the new releases on our web site, it's probably because your browser has cached an older page. Just hit your browser's "refresh" button (usually a circular arrow icon).
NOTE 2: Please turn off your KXPA100 (if applicable) when doing KX3 and PX3 firmware loads. This requirement will be eliminated in future versions of KX3 and PX3 Utility.
73,
Wayne
N6KR
* * *
KX3 MCU 2.25 / DSP 1.30, 10-5-2014
Note: The first two items below were actually made available in the 2.24 field-test firmware release.
* SUPPORT FOR PX3 TEXT DISPLAY: To enable text decode on the PX3, hold LABELS switch to switch to text-decode mode (requires PX3 rev. 1.12 or later). Text decode must also be enabled at the KX3.
* DUAL RX NOW ALLOWED WITH RX SHFT=8.0. In this case, VFO A can be from -7 below VFO B to +23 above it (vs. +/- 15 for RX SHFT=NOR).
* PX3 NOW DISPLAYS VFO B PASSBAND CORRECTLY: The PX3 was showing the wrong VFO B filter bandwidth or passband location when using DATA modes or DUAL RX (dual watch).
* DUAL RX DOES NOT FORCE OFS/B KNOB TO BE USED AS VFO B: The operator?s OFS/B knob assignment is no longer lost when DUAL RX is in effect.
* FAST-PLAY DISPLAY ERROR FIXED: With fast-play enabled (1-touch message play using BAND+/- and FREQ ENT.), a band change originating from a PC application no longer flashes ?END? on VFO B.
* CW SPEED DISPLAY TIME INCREASED WHEN TEXT DECODE IS ON: In CW mode, speed is now displayed for 1.0 sec. In FSK-D and PSK-D modes, it's .5 sec. The time is shorter for DATA modes because character transmission rates are usually faster, and the operator might miss important text due to the speed display.
* PA BYPASS METERING FIXED: If the KXPA100 goes to bypass because of an error condition, the KX3 drops to 5 W. The RF meter is now correctly set to low range.
* TEXT DECODE LOCKOUT FIX: Adjustment of NR, NB, NTCH, etc. no longer causes loss of CW/DATA text decode on the VFO B display.
* HOST COMMANDS ?UP?, ?DN?, and ?DT?: These are now working with the PX3.
* * *
PX3 MCU 1.12 / 10/03/2014
* Fixes a bug which required extra encoder turns to change the span.
* Text decode feature added. A long key press of the MENU/LABELS key now is used to: show labels, not show labels or turn on text decode.
* Text decode shows the receive characters in white, transmit characters in green.
* Noise Blanker on/off now shows the on/off state in the menu, just like other menu functions.
* Rev. 1.12 of the PX3 requires KX3 version 2.24 or later