Monitoring Elecraft Radios
for Sight-Impaired Hams
This article is for sight-impaired amateur radio operators interested in using rig monitoring with an Elecraft radio. The monitor discussed here is a personal computer that displays the radio settings on the screen for improved visibility. Magnification software can also be used.
Monitoring Software
Elecraft does not provide specialized software for this purpose. Instead, the Software Page of the Elecraft Web site lists several general rig monitor/control programs suitable for Elecraft K2 and K3 radios. Ham Radio Deluxe, discussed in the HamRadioAndVision article on rig monitoring basics, is at the top of the Elecraft list. Ham Radio Deluxe has built-in profiles for the K2 and K3 that you can select during the initial setup dialog.
Elecraft has announced that the new KX3 model can also be used with rig monitor/control programs.
Monitoring with K3 Texter
The K3 Texter program can also be used to monitor a K3. Instead of a graphical user interface in the form of a radio panel, K3 texter displays plain text reports from the radio that can be magnified or read with a screen reader.
Author Information
Peter DeNeef, AE7PD, is an Extra Class amateur radio operator in the U.S. This Web site has no ads or conflicts of interest.
Email: HamRadioAndVision "at" gmail "dot" com.
11/28/2011