KX3 Beta Firmware Revision

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Please read KX3 Beta Firmware Instructions for installing beta firmware.
Only the current production firmware releases can be downloaded by KX3 Utility automatically.

KX3 Production Firmware Revision

MCU 1.48 / DSP 1.20, May 8, 2013

See KX3 Firmware Release Notes for a complete revision history.
This release can be automatically downloaded by KX3 Utility.

• ADJUSTABLE NOISE BLANKING (NB): The level of noise blanking can now be set using the knob above the NB switch (AF/RF-SQL). When NB is turned on, the present setting (1-15) will be displayed on VFO B for about 3 seconds. To select a new setting, rotate the knob before the display times out. The setting is stored per-band. Use the lowest effective NB setting. Higher settings may cause audible artifacts when strong signals are present.

• DSP IMPROVEMENTS: Eliminated problems having to do with S-meter pinging, “ERR DSX” error messages, loss of audio, etc. DSP-intensive functions including noise reduction, autonotch, and dual watch required optimized for minimum execution time.

• NOISE REDUCTION (NR) MORE EASILY ADJUSTABLE: The overall level of noise reduction can now be set using the knob above the NR switch (AF/RF-SQL). When NR is turned on, the present setting will be displayed on VFO B for about 3 seconds. To select a new setting, rotate the knob before the display times out. The setting is independent for CW and voice modes. Note: The range of this parameter is 0-10 and corresponds to the “mix” or “M” parameter of the RX NR menu entry; see below.

• RX NR MENU ENTRY CHANGES: The RX NR menu entry can be used to adjust all three NR parameters (B=beta, D=decay, M=wet/dry mix). The M parameter now has a range of 0-10, matching the range available when the knob above the NR switch is used (see above). As before, all parameters can be adjusted separately for CW and voice modes. In most cases the factory default settings can be used for beta and decay, and the mix adjusted for the desired overall amount of NR using the knob (without using the menu). You can also now reset all NR parameters to factory defaults by holding CLR.

• DVR PLAY/REPEAT FIX: DVR play no longer drops messages.

• AF GAIN SMOOTHER AT LOW END: The AF gain control now has finer granularity at the low end. To accommodate this , the gain range is now 0-60 (was 0-40).

• INTERNAL SPEAKER BEHAVIOR IMPROVED: (1) Fixed bug that caused audio output mute/unmute cycling on strong signals. (2) Gain distribution changed to reduce speaker overdrive condition related to CODEC output. (3) Audio EQ optimized for speaker.

• FM DEVIATION AND FM MIC GAIN SETTING BEHAVIOR CORRECTED.

• NEW LED BRT MENU ENTRY: Applies to the TX, delta F, OFS, and VFO B LEDS (not the LCD backlight). Allows brightness of these LEDs to be adjusted, but only in the case where the LCD backlight is off. During adjustment of LED brightness, the LCD backlight will automatically be turned off if it was on, then turned back on when the menu is exited.

• NO SSB RX SIGNAL ATTENUATION WHEN BW < 2.4 KHz: Previously, adjusting the bandwidth below approx. 2.4 kHz might result in up to several dB of received signal loss. 2.4 kHz is the bandwidth at which the receiver switches from conventional SSB demodulation to “Weaver” method to take advantage of filter FL2 on the KXFL3 roofing filter module.

• NEW FEATURE--SWITCH MACROS: You can now program the PF1 and PF2 switches to execute sequences of KX3 remote control , or “macros.” These are created, tested, and sent to the KX3 using KX3 Utility. The K3/KX3 Programmer’s Reference has a number of sample macros and further details.
  
  Here’s an example of what can be done with a macro. We’ll call this “SPLIT+2” (useful when setting up to call a CW DX station up 2 kHz): 
  
  A>B, A>B, SPLIT, move VFO B up 2 kHz, RIT/XIT off
  
  To create this macro and assign it to PF1 or PF2, complete the steps below:
  
  1. Run KX3 Utility. Click on the Command Tester/KX3 Macros tab.
  2. Click on the Edit Macros button. This pops up the macro edit window.
  3. In MACRO #1’s Macro Label field, enter the label “SPLIT+2” (without the quotes).
  4. In the Macro Commands field, enter this text:
  
  SWT25;SWT25;FT1;UPB5;RT0;XT0;
  
  (The number 5 in “UPB5” is an index into a table of step sizes. UPB5 moves VFO B up 2 kHz, DNB5 moves it down 2 kHz, etc. There are similar commands for VFO A. For the full list, see the “DN” (down) command in the Programmer’s Reference.)
  
  5. Click on Send Macros 1-8 To KX3.
  6. At the KX3, locate the CONFIG:MACRO x menu entry, and tap ‘1’ if the menu entry label is not already “MACRO 1”.
  7. Hold PF1 to assign PF1 to MACRO 1. Exit the menu.
  
  From then on, holding PF1 will flash “SPLIT+2” and execute the above sequence. 
  
  Up to eight macros can be sent to the KX3, but only two of them can be assigned to PF1 or PF2 at a given time. In the MACRO x menu entry, tap ‘1’ – ‘8’ to select a macro, then hold PF1 or PF2 to do the assignment.

KX3 Archived Firmware Revisions