Firmware

This page is used to obtain firmware files from Elecraft, display the firmware versions currently installed in your K3, and to send firmware to your K3.

Folder Location

Firmware files are copied from an Elecraft file server to a firmware folder (a file directory) on your computer before they are sent to the K3. This section helps you choose the folder on your computer to store firmware files.

The K3 Utility creates a folder for this purpose.

On Mac OS X - the default folder location is:
Volume:Users:User:Library:Application Support:Elecraft:K3 Firmware:

On Linux - the default folder location is:
/USER$/Elecraft/K3_Firmware/

Default

Click to navigate to the K3 Utility's default folder for K3 Firmware.

Browse...

Click to start a Browse for Folder dialog. Navigate to the folder of your choice and then click "OK".

Check for New Files

Elecraft makes new K3 firmware available by placing files on an Elecraft-provided file server. The K3 Utility program uses the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) to copy new firmware files from Elecraft to the folder you have selected on your computer.

Your computer must be connected to the internet to use this K3 Utility function. See the Manual File Transfer section for a technique to update K3 firmware when your computer is not connected to the internet.

Copy new files from Elecraft server into local folder

When this check box is selected, the Check Versions Now button copies the latest firmware files from the Elecraft file server to your firmware folder.

Check Versions Now

Click to compare the firmware versions installed in your K3 with the most recent firmware available in your folder. If the Copy new files from Elecraft server into local folder check box is selected, the copy is performed before comparing versions.

Check Versions every 6 hours

When selected, the K3 Utility periodically compares firmware versions and informs you if a new firmware version becomes available. The Copy new files from Elecraft server into local folder check box should be selected to use this option effectively. You may Check Versions at any time by clicking Check Versions Now.

Firmware Versions

This section shows the firmware versions currently installed in the K3 and the newest versions available in your computer's firmware folder.

MCU

The Microcontroller Unit on the K3 front panel board that manages the operation of the K3.

FPF

The Front Panel Flash memory on the K3 front panel board.

DSP1

The main receiver's Digital Signal Processor.

DSP2

The sub receiver's Digital Signal Processor, present only if the KRX3 second receiver option is installed and enabled through the K3 CONFIG menu.

DVR

The Digital Voice Recorder, present only if the KDVR3 Digital Voice Recorder option is installed and enabled through the K3 CONFIG menu.

Installed in K3

Indicates the firmware versions installed in the K3 for each of these processors. N/A indicates that the hardware option is not installed or has not been enabled through the K3 CONFIG menu.

Available

Indicates the most recent (highest version number) firmware files in the firmware folder. Missing indicates that the firmwar folder does not contain all of the firmware files necessary to load the processor.

See Missing Files for a description of the files required for each processor.

Check Boxes

Select Advanced Mode from the View Menu to show the Load check boxes. You may send firmware by selecting the appropriate processors and clicking the Send Checked Items to K3 button. The available file version may be the same or even earlier than the version installed in the K3.

Always load DSP Data Table

(Advanced Mode only, intended for firmware developers) DSP1 and DSP2 firmware consists of program instructions and some large data tables. Each DSP firmware revision will change the program instructions, but the DSP data tables are expected to change less frequently. DSP data tables are normally sent to the K3 only when a new DSP data table version becomes available. This reduces the DSP firmware load time. The "Always load data table" check box causes the DSP data table to be loaded, without regard to the currently installed DSP data table version.

Send All Firmware to K3

Sends all firmware to the K3, whether or not the Available Version is newer than the Installed Version.

This button is changed to "Send Checked Items to K3" when in Advanced Mode.

Send Checked Items to K3

(Advanced Mode only) Sends firmware to the K3 for the processors you have selected, whether or not the Available Version is newer than the Installed Version.

Send All New Firmware to K3

Sends all new firmware files to the K3 if the Available Version is newer than the Installed Version, without regard to the check boxes.

Activity Log

You may be asked to send the Activity Log in an e-mail message to resolve a support issue. Here's how:

• If the Activity Log has scrolled down, use the scroll bar on the right side to make the first Activity Log line visible.
• Select the desired text:
• Position the mouse cursor at the top left of the first line within the Activity Log.
• Press and hold the left mouse button.
• Move the mouse down and to the right to position the mouse cursor over the last character of the text within the Activity Log. The background color of the selected text will change to indicate that it is selected.
• Release the left mouse button.
• Copy the selected text to the Clipboard:

  Mac OS X:

  • Press and hold the COMMAND key,
  • Tap the "C" key.
  • Release the COMMAND key.
  OR
  • Press and hold the CONTROL key,
  • Press and hold the (left) mouse button.
  • Select COPY from the context menu.

  Linux:

  • Press and hold the CTRL key,
  • Tap the "C" key.
  • Release the CTRL key.
  OR
  • Press and hold the right mouse button.
  • Select COPY from the context menu.

• Paste the selected text into an e-mail message:
• Open your e-mail program and create a new e-mail message.
• Position the mouse cursor in the "body" area of the e-mail message and click the left mouse button. A cursor should appear in the body of the message.

Mac OS X:

• Press and hold the COMMAND key.
• Tap the "V" key. The text you copied to the Clipboard should appear in the message body.
• Release the COMMAND key.

Linux:

• Press and hold the CTRL key.
• Tap the "V" key. The text you copied to the Clipboard should appear in the message body.
• Release the CTRL key.
• Send the e-mail message that contains the Activity Log.