Current K4 Production Software

K4 Production Software (Release R35) March 7, 2024

• K4 software updates are handled at the radio itself.  An ethernet connection is required to obtain new software. It is also possible to load (or re-load) software from a USB flash drive. For further information on that topic, please refer to the K4 Operating Manual.
• The K4 provides new features via software. As a result, you should consider the Release Notes as an extension of the Owners Manual. Documentation for the new features will be found there and will not appear in the Owner’s Manual until the next manual revision is released.
• K4 production software release notes appear below, followed by release notes for the present beta release.

============================================================
======================R35 ==================================
============================================================

March 7, 2024
 

K4 BETA Software Release Notes

======================================================
====================== R36.BETA3 =======================
======================================================

Sept. 30, 2024

=== SUMMARY ===

Over the course of several field-test versions since R36.BETA2, we've used the experience gained to greatly improve client-side radio behavior in all modes. See full list of changes below. The K4 now has a convenient, reliable, and integrated solution for remote control, allowing you and you remote partners to share excellent RF locations and antenna systems.

This release also lays the groundwork for remote control of the K4 from our forthcoming K4/0 control unit and VK4 software. Full details will be posted when available.

=== FOR FIRST-TIME REMOTE USERS ===

If you're new to K4-to-K4 remote operation, please refer to the K4's built-in operating manual for a comprehensive introduction and step-by-step setup procedure for both client and server radios. (See REMOTE CONTROL section, accessible from the table of contents.)

=== FOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS ===

The K4 Programmer's Reference has recently been updated to cover all new and updated commands related to remote operation. Look for revision D2 (or later) of this document on our K4 documentation page.

------------------------------------------------
IMPROVEMENTS TO REMOTE OPERATION SINCE R36.BETA2
------------------------------------------------

- DVR MESSAGE TRANSMIT FUNCTIONS NOW AVAILABLE with remote connection.

- MAJOR REVISIONS TO RX/TX SEQUENCING IN K4 REMOTE: Eliminated audio artifacts, cleaned up timing, and improved QSK. (Note: Internet latency changes the sound of QSK, but it's still effective.) CW message repeat can now be interrupted in the delay between message transmissions.

- REDUCED RX AUDIO LATENCY; IMPROVED AUDIO QUALITY AND DROP-OUT RECOVERY. Increased data flow max timeout to 10 seconds. Taken together these changes will help smooth remote operation over erratic internet connections.

- EXTERNAL FSK KEYING OF CLIENT NOW WORKS: PTT action is passed to the server. Also, the FSK decode pin is now always enabled in FSK D mode.

- ANTENNA NAME DISPLAY AND ENABLED ANTENNA CONFIG is now working in remote.

- CORRECT ANTENNA NAMES USED IN REMOTE: If a server K4 had no named antennas, but the client did, client would see its own names in Remote mode. Now, the client will see only generic antenna names (e.g. ANT1/2/3) when connected to a server without named antennas.

- RX DYN. OPTIMIZATON menu entry now working in remote.

- MOUSE L/R BUTTON QSY MENU ENTRY now working in remote.

-----------------------
FOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS
-----------------------

The following control commands have been added or improved since R36.BETA2. See Programmer's Reference rev. D2 or later for full command descriptions.

=== NON-REMOTE ===

- Added RA+ RA- RA/ commands (attenuator control).
- XVTR support for FA set command added. (Previously, FA144200000; would go to 54 MHz.)
- APF audio peak setting was getting lost.
- DAMSm; saves last recording to Voice Memory m (see full DA command description).

- ACM, ACS, ACT; Specifies accessible antenna options in MAIN/SUB/TX ANT CFG (for use with RX ANT, SUB ANT, and ANT switches, respectively). Default antenna names can be recovered using ACN1~;  or ACNn ; where n can be 1 to 5.

=== REMOTE ===

- DO; command (DIGOUT1 pin control) support added.
- IF; command response now returns correct state when connected to a remote.
- MI; command no longer changes mic input when in DATA mode; always forces MI2.
- RRC1; - sets connection limit to 1
- RL; - Returns currently selected software release (see RLP; RLF; etc.)

=== NEW BUFFER / LATENCY SETTING COMMANDS ===

In a high latency scenario (slow or unstable connection) you will need to adjust some buffer/latency settings to account for the random large jitter for a better overall quality experience.

On the CLIENT radio, you can adjust the desired RX audio buffer size:  SL6;  is the max (~686ms). 

On the SERVER radio, there are two settings, one for TX audio, one for CW:  SL6; as above for Phone. Then for CW, KZLnnn; where n is 1 to 999 ms. Example: KZL750; for 750 ms.

----------------------
K4 REMOTE KNOWN ISSUES
----------------------

- LOGGING CONSIDERATIONS FOR REMOTE CONTACTS: Be careful logging contacts when switching between local and remote. Your radio has the same LAN IP address and COM port numbers whether operating locally or connected to a remote server. Your logger can't tell the difference but your logs need to document the actual locations of the active radio.

- Frequency memories: The current implementation saves quick memory (and GP memory) data on the client radio for each individual server to which you connect, based on the target radio's serial number. It creates a different freqMemory in a sub-directory for each remote K4 to which you connect. So, if you connect to a server first, then reprogram all the per-band quick memories, they will be stored and usable on the client whenever connected.

- TX / MAIN RX / SUB RX functions: During Remote operation, most functions apply to the SERVER radio. In the future an asterisk (*) will be added to all functions that apply to the server.

- XVTR menu functions not yet implemented over remote.