Elecraft K3S firmware v2.45

MCU 2.45 / DSP 1.92

• TRANSMIT NOISE GATE ADDED: The TX noise gate can be used to suppress transmitted audio below a certain level, e.g. a noisy fan (not the one on the K3, of course). To use the noise gate, locate CONFIG: TX GATE, tap 1 to turn it ON, then use VFO A to set the desired threshold. Since theres no visual indication that transmit audio is below the threshold, you should adjust it using the transmit​ voice monitor (MON), ideally using headphones. Set the threshold high enough to cut off transmit audio due to shack noise, but not so high that it causes your voice to drop out too frequently. The TX GATE threshold can be adjusted in TX TEST mode.
• TRANSMIT INHIBIT (TX INH) FUNCTION IMPROVED: Activating the TX INH input on the ACC jack now asynchronously suspends RF output. It has no interaction with transmit sequencing. When TX INH is active, the only indication is that the ÒTXÓ LCD icon flashes, as in TX TEST mode. This should closely match the transmit inhibit logic of other transceivers.
• COARSE TUNING CORRECTED: (1) Downward tuning with COARSE increments in effect occasionally resulted in the synthesizer unlocking, especially in AM mode with 9-kHz European broadcast band increments. (2) Tuning down to the low end of the K3s tuning range would cause quantization. For example, if you were at 505 kHz with 9 kHz steps selected and tuned downward one tic, the VFO would go to 500 kHz, and the next upward tic would be 509 kHz. Both of these problems have been corrected.
• ÒVOX=OFFÓ REMINDER: Whenever you change the VOX setting from ON to OFF in CW mode, then sometime later hit the key, youll see a one-time ÒVOX=OFFÓ message. This is a subtle reminder that VOX must be turned on in CW mode to enable hit-the-key operation. Otherwise you have to ÒarmÓ the transmitter by tapping XMIT or by using PTT. (This has always been the case for the K3, and most rigs behave in the same way.) We decided to add this reminder message because operators not familiar with ÒVOX for CWÓ have occ​asionally turned it off, only to wonder later why the rig wont transmit in CW mode.
• TRANSMIT DISABLED DURING FIRMWARE LOADS: You cannot key the transmitter during firmware loads, via KEY IN, PADDLE, PTT, XMIT, VOX, or computer commands.

For Software Developers: Note: Refer to the K3 Programmers reference, rev. B10 or later.

• "OM" COMMAND ADDED: Shows which K3 option modules are installed.
• "MP" COMMAND ADDED: Menu parameter direct read/set. Only applies to selected menu entries, as listed in the programmers reference.
• "MG" COMMAND ADDED: Mic gain read/set.
• "MD$" COMMAND ADDED: Sub RX/VFO B mode read/set.
• "IS;" COMMAND ADDED (I.F. shift). Note: In diversity mode, an IS or FW command will be sent to both main and sub. In AI2 mode, moving the SHIFT or WIDTH controls will generate both IS and FW responses.
• ÒFW0000xÓ form of the FW command can now handle x = 1 through 5 (requires "K30" and "K22" be in effect; see programmers reference.
• Added the following AI2 responses: PC, AG, AG$, RG, RG$, NB, NORM (FW).