Elecraft K3 Front Panel Controls: Physical Location vs. Functions

Wayne Burdick, N6KR; Revised 2-4-2009

Front Panel
  Left Side Controls (left of LCD display bezel); "Primary Controls"
    Note: The first two switches in this column are "rocker" switches,
      with each end having different functions.
    Column 1 (leftmost controls on panel)
      Switch 1, left end: TAP = BAND DN; HOLD = VOX on/off
      Switch 1, right end: TAP = BAND UP; HOLD = QSK on/off
      Switch 2, left end: TAP = MODE DN; HOLD = ALT mode select
      Switch 2, right end: TAP = MODE UP; HOLD = TX TEST on/off
      Switch 3: POWER on/off
      [TX and Delta F LEDS]
      [PHONES JACK]
      [MIC JACK]
    Column 2
      Switch 1: TAP = MAIN MENU; HOLD = CONFIG MENU
      Switch 2: TAP = XMIT; HOLD = TUNE
      Switch 3: TAP = RX ANT on/off; HOLD = sub ANT switch (MAIN/AUX)
      Knob 1: Smaller knob = MAIN AF GAIN; Larger knob = SUB AF GAIN
      Knob 2: Smaller knob = MAIN RF GAIN; Larger knob = SUB RF GAIN
    Column 3
      Switch 1: TAP = DISP (VFO B alt. displays on/off); HOLD = METER (TX bargraph)
      Switch 2: TAP = ATU TUNE; HOLD = ATU normal/bypassed
      Switch 3: TAP = ANT1/2; HOLD = Assign name to antenna (complex operation)

  Center Controls (under LCD display bezel)
    Note: Columns 1 and 2 contain two knobs each; they are the 
      "Multifunction Controls". Functionally, they are grouped left/right: 
      col 1/knob 1 and col 2/knob 1 are the DSP filter passband controls, and 
      col 1/knob 2 and col 2/knob 2 are control transmit functions. All 
      four knobs are left of the VFO A knob.
    Column 1
      Knob 1: SHIFT or LO-CUT; TAP = SHIFT/LO select; HOLD = NORMalize filter
      Knob 2: SPEED or MIC GAIN; TAP = SPEED/MIC select; HOLD = DELAY (QSK/VOX)
    Column 2
      Knob 1: HI-CUT or WIDTH; TAP = HI/WIDTH select; HOLD = PRESET I/II select
      Knob 2: CMP or PWR; TAP = CMP/PWR select; HOLD = MONITOR (sidetone or voice)
    [VFO A knob]
    Column 3 (right of VFO A knob)
      Switch 1: TAP = FREQ ENTRY; HOLD = SCAN
      Switch 2: TAP = FINE on/off (1 Hz); HOLD = COARSE
      Switch 3: TAP = RATE (10/50 Hz); HOLD = VFO LOCK
      Switch 4: TAP = SUB on/off; HOLD = VFO LINK/UNLINK; LONG HOLD = DIVERSITY

  Right Side Controls (right of LCD display bezel)
    Columns 1/2/3: Numeric Keypad and Misc. Function Group
      Note: The switches in these three columns form a 3x4 keypad for 
        use with FREQ ENTRY, so the switches are listed by *row* (three each) 
        in the list below. Switch '.' is used as the decimal point following 
        MHz; switch '<' is used as an 'enter' key to accept the direct numeric
        frequency input. Directly below this 3x4 switch array is the VFO B knob.
      Row 1
        Switch 1: TAP = A/B; HOLD = BSET
        Switch 2: No tap function; HOLD = A/B TEMPORARY REV
        Switch 3: TAP = A>B; HOLD = SPLIT
      Row 2
        Switch 4: TAP = PRE on/off; HOLD = ATTN on/off
        Switch 5: TAP = AGC slow/fast; HOLD = AGC on/off
        Switch 6: TAP = XFIL; HOLD = DUAL PB (dual-PB CW or dual-peak RTTY filter)
      Row 3
        Switch 7: TAP = NB on/off; HOLD = NB LEVEL (VFO A = DSP NB, VFO B = IF NB)
        Switch 8: TAP = NR on/off; HOLD = NR ADJUST (use VFO B)
        Switch 9: TAP = NOTCH; HOLD = MANUAL NOTCH (use VFO to set notch freq.)
      Row 4
        Switch .: TAP = SPOT (or autospot if CWT is ON); HOLD = PITCH
        Switch 0: TAP = CWT on/off; HOLD = TEXT DEC
        Switch <: TAP = AFX on/off (simulated stereo, etc.); HOLD = DATA MD
    Columns 4/5: Memory, DVR, Message, and RIT/XIT Control Group
      Note: The switches in this group form an irregular array, 
        treated differently in the list below. The first row of 2 switches 
        are for memory and DVR control. Below this is a group of four 
        switches arranged in a circle (M1-M2 on the top of the circle, and 
        M3-M4 on the bottom), with a fifth switch in the middle (REC).
        These are used for instant message play (CW/DATA or with DVR). They 
        may also be used with the memory switches as per-band "quick memories".
        Below the circular group is a group of 3 switches used for RIT/XIT 
        control, and below this, the RIT/XIT OFFSET control knob.
      Row 1: Memory and DVR Controls (rightmost controls on panel)
        Left switch: TAP = V>M; HOLD = AF RECORD (DVR)
        Right switch: TAP = M>V; HOLD = AF PLAY (DVR)
      Row 2 (circular switch array):
        M1-M2 (top), M3-M4 (bottom): TAP M1-M4 = msg play; HOLD M1-M4 = msg repeat
        Center switch: TAP = MSG RECORD (follow w/M1-M4); HOLD = msg bank 1/2 select
      Row 3: RIT and XIT Controls
        Left switch: TAP = RIT on/off; HOLD = programmable menu function PF1
        Right switch: TAP = XIT on/off; HOLD = programmable menu function PF2
        Bottom switch: TAP = RIT/XIT CLR (tap again to undo clear, if enabled)
        Knob: RIT/XIT offset control