Re: [Elecraft] Regarding the K3 and high QRN levels
On 2010-07-09 00:02, ve7xf wrote: >> I'll probably get lynched for saying this, but for my ears > I've never found >> a DSP system that is as good as a pure analog system... > > Move over, Tom, we're in the same boat! > > VE7XF > Getting crowded, hope it´s a big boat, I´m in there too. Jim SM2EKM __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Short QSO's (was Re: 6M CW)
And it sounds really cool too. > From: jp...@jeffnet.org > To: wb5...@martineer.net > Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2010 21:21:33 -0700 > CC: elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Short QSO's (was Re: 6M CW) > > I've had good luck finding rag chews using the Olivia mode. Olivia is > a digital MFSK mode that works very well in poor conditions. Because > it uses lots of redundancy when sending data, it's slower than many > other digital modes. (The most common sub-mode, 500/16, sends > characters at about 19.5 WPM). This slowness seems to make it > unpopular with the RST-QTH-Name-73 crowd. Ironically, the slow speed > also seems to encourage rag chewing. At least that's been my > experience. My theory is that if you're patient enough to use > Olivia, your the kind of person who doesn't mind stopping to chat for > a while :-) > > Do a Google search for "olivia ham radio" and you'll find lots of info > on it. > > 73 > -- > Joe KB8AP > > On Jul 8, 2010, at 7:04 PM, Don Cunningham wrote: > > > ...I spend DAYS looking for a good, RTTY ragchew, unless one of > > my old friends shows up on frequency. ... I thought maybe it was > > a change in technology, so geared up for PSK, but got the very same > > name, > > location, gear, bye, CUL QSO's there too. ... > > Don, WB5HAK > > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html _ The New Busy is not the too busy. Combine all your e-mail accounts with Hotmail. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multiaccount&ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_4 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Short QSO's (was Re: 6M CW)
Duncan Carter wrote: > I had a TR switch that I can't remember the name of that had a 6AH6 that > was coupled to the tube side of the out pi network of my DX-100 through > a small capacitor. Hey, I had one of those, 1954 I think! It also functioned as a good preamp and added input > selectivity that my 455 KHz IF single conversion HRO-50 really needed on > the higher bands. Mine fed an ARC-5 rx converted for 40m [and with most of the rotor plates on the tuning cap pulled out to spread the band over most of the dial]. I had a pair of ARC-5's TX/RX each for 80, 40, and 20. Before that, I also used a DPDT knife switch. Had one of those too, then "graduated" to a DPDT relay that made a very satisfying "clank" when actuated. Big thing, contact arms looked sort of like spider legs. 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2010 Cal QSO Party 2-3 Oct 2010 - www.cqp.org __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K2 receiver problem and signal tracing question
Hi My K2 used to receive nicely. Good strong signals on various bands, I was able to use a noise generator and spectrograph program to tune the filters, etc. Then I added the ssb kit and receiving seemed to fall way off. I removed the kit, re-soldered the jumpers and resistor and still receiving is bad. I can hear occasional signals, but nothing makes the S meter move. I can hear a slight difference between the noise generator being on and off, but not enough to get a hump on the spectrograph. A sad state. So I'm going to embark on a signal tracing adventure, but I have a question: The instructions say the signal generator should be outputting .14 Vrms according to the RF probe - is that reasonably accurate? If I use an oscilloscope instead should I be getting .14Vrms (.2Vp or .4Vpp)? That seems high when the s9 reading corresponds to 50 uV.. I just want to make sure I'm not going to fry something pumping in 20 uV. Thanks Robert K6RJG __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] restoring memory to VFO (bug?)
I have NO sub-receiver installed, but "Config:VFO IND" set to YES...
When I restore a memory ("M->V") to be used for scanning (example: USB, A:
14.15, B: 14.35), the radio isn't changing VFO B to what is stored in memory if
the VFOB freq is on a different band from the memory setting.
Example:
VFOA is on 7.2 and VFO B is on 7.3. I decide I'd like to find a DX station on
20meters, so press "M->V", and find the memory setting I have for scanning 20
meter SSB (mode USB, A: 14.15, B: 14.35.) This restores ONLY VFO A, but leaves
VFO B on 7.3MHz. Scanning, obviously, won't work like this.
If VFO B is already on a 20 meter freq, then VFO B is recalled fine. If
"CONFIG: VFO IND" is set to 'no', then VFO B is recalled correctly as well.
Expected behavior: the memory recall should restore both VFO's regardless of
the setting of VFO_IND.
As a side note, the reason I have VFO IND set to 'yes' is to allow the radio to
work as expected from Ham Radio Deluxe when jumping directly to a freq on a
band other than is already set - such as when clicking on DX Spots. (Without
setting this, HRD will try to change the VFO freq to a different band, and the
radio will pop right back to the original frequency if its on a band different
from the VFO frequency. This is probably a side-effect of whatever command HRD
uses to change frequencies directly?)
(Expected: IF VFO IND is set to yes, when HRD changes the frequency, the radio
should act exactly as if the freq was direct keyed on the keypad. )
Thanks
Gary / k3wow
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Re: [Elecraft] Short QSO's (was Re: 6M CW)
Ah yes . . . The Johnson T-R switch came in two iterations, as I recall. The first one suffered from suck-out, as did the second, but less so. I still have the later one, having used it for years with a Gonset GSB-100 and HQ-170, and later with my Drake B-twins to operate true QSK (receiver not-muted but protected and monitoring the sending) on the NTS traffic nets. Need to dust that little gem off and get it back in service one of these days. BUT . . . the K3's QSK spoils ya! 73, Kent K9ZTV On 7/8/2010 11:19 PM, Bill W4ZV wrote: > > The E.F. Johnson TR Switch was commercially available in the 50s and allowed > QSK with a single antenna (note the following schematic is dated 1-2-58): > > http://www.w8ji.com/johnson_tr_switch.htm > > I used QSK with one of these at ~500 Watts out and a 75A-4 in the 1959-1962 > era but don't use QSK now because of the complexity of my receiving > antennas. > > 73, Bill > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Short QSO's (was Re: 6M CW)
I had a TR switch that I can't remember the name of that had a 6AH6 that was coupled to the tube side of the out pi network of my DX-100 through a small capacitor. It also functioned as a good preamp and added input selectivity that my 455 KHz IF single conversion HRO-50 really needed on the higher bands. Before that, I also used a DPDT knife switch. Dunc, W5DC . __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Short QSO's (was Re: 6M CW)
I've had good luck finding rag chews using the Olivia mode. Olivia is a digital MFSK mode that works very well in poor conditions. Because it uses lots of redundancy when sending data, it's slower than many other digital modes. (The most common sub-mode, 500/16, sends characters at about 19.5 WPM). This slowness seems to make it unpopular with the RST-QTH-Name-73 crowd. Ironically, the slow speed also seems to encourage rag chewing. At least that's been my experience. My theory is that if you're patient enough to use Olivia, your the kind of person who doesn't mind stopping to chat for a while :-) Do a Google search for "olivia ham radio" and you'll find lots of info on it. 73 -- Joe KB8AP On Jul 8, 2010, at 7:04 PM, Don Cunningham wrote: > ...I spend DAYS looking for a good, RTTY ragchew, unless one of > my old friends shows up on frequency. ... I thought maybe it was > a change in technology, so geared up for PSK, but got the very same > name, > location, gear, bye, CUL QSO's there too. ... > Don, WB5HAK __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Short QSO's (was Re: 6M CW)
Don Wilhelm-4 wrote: > > My novice days were in 1956, and in those days, the T/R switch was a > DPDT lever switch. QSK was only the dream of those first class > stations, and was only possible with a separate receiving antenna. > The E.F. Johnson TR Switch was commercially available in the 50s and allowed QSK with a single antenna (note the following schematic is dated 1-2-58): http://www.w8ji.com/johnson_tr_switch.htm I used QSK with one of these at ~500 Watts out and a 75A-4 in the 1959-1962 era but don't use QSK now because of the complexity of my receiving antennas. 73, Bill -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/6-meters-Newbie-tp5244084p5272918.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Short QSO's (was Re: 6M CW)
Alan, My novice days were in 1956, and in those days, the T/R switch was a DPDT lever switch. QSK was only the dream of those first class stations, and was only possible with a separate receiving antenna. Much has changed since those times, but old operating habits die slowly. 73, Don W3FPR Alan Bloom wrote: > I agree. Back in my Novice days in the late 60's it was hard to get > anyone to talk for any length of time. > > But of course, at 5 wpm, just sending > > "WN1ABC WN1ABC WN1ABC DE WN3XYZ WN3XYZ WN3XYZ R R R GUD SIG BT NAME NAME > IS ALAN ALAN ALAN BT QTH QTH IS SANTA ROSA CA SANTA ROSA CA SANTA ROSA > CA BT YOUR RST RST IS 599 599 599 BT HOW CPY? SK WN1ABC WN1ABC WN1ABC DE > WN3XYZ WN3XYZ WN3XYZ K" > > takes about 8 minutes plus 8 minutes for the reply plus the time to sign > off, for a total 20 minutes or so QSO! > > Al N1AL > > > On Thu, 2010-07-08 at 21:26 -0600, Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO wrote: > >> You know, I've been a ham long enough (since 1962) to remember people >> complaining about this same sad trend nearly fifty years ago. "Nobody wants >> to talk anymore, it's just report, QTH, name, CUL!" Same lament, different >> era. >> > > > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Short QSO's (was Re: 6M CW)
I agree. Back in my Novice days in the late 60's it was hard to get anyone to talk for any length of time. But of course, at 5 wpm, just sending "WN1ABC WN1ABC WN1ABC DE WN3XYZ WN3XYZ WN3XYZ R R R GUD SIG BT NAME NAME IS ALAN ALAN ALAN BT QTH QTH IS SANTA ROSA CA SANTA ROSA CA SANTA ROSA CA BT YOUR RST RST IS 599 599 599 BT HOW CPY? SK WN1ABC WN1ABC WN1ABC DE WN3XYZ WN3XYZ WN3XYZ K" takes about 8 minutes plus 8 minutes for the reply plus the time to sign off, for a total 20 minutes or so QSO! Al N1AL On Thu, 2010-07-08 at 21:26 -0600, Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO wrote: > You know, I've been a ham long enough (since 1962) to remember people > complaining about this same sad trend nearly fifty years ago. "Nobody wants > to talk anymore, it's just report, QTH, name, CUL!" Same lament, different > era. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Short QSO's (was Re: 6M CW)
You know, I've been a ham long enough (since 1962) to remember people complaining about this same sad trend nearly fifty years ago. "Nobody wants to talk anymore, it's just report, QTH, name, CUL!" Same lament, different era. You remember the Rag Chewer's Club? It was established by the ARRL to promote longer conversations on the air. I haven't been able to find its date of origin in a quickie google of the Internet, but I did find an attestation in a bio of some guy who had the award as far back as the early 1950s -- so it's been around at least that long! (And it's recently been picked up by SPAR, the Society for the Preservation of Amateur Radio, http://www.spar-hams.org, as a free award.) Makes me wonder... Maybe, just maybe, it has something to do with US. Like, the fact that a lot of us are getting, um, well... OLD. Not to put too fine a point on it, you know. Maybe, when people get older, they tend to crave companionship, camaraderie, and communication more than they used to, when they were younger. Maybe they no longer yearn quite so passionately for the unique thrill of radio combat, under whatever guise it might take (contesting, award-chasing, what have you). As Pogo famously said many years ago, "We have met the enemy, and he is US!" In any case... I am close to 100% a 6-meter ham -- probably 95% or so -- and I personally enjoy and participate in chasing DX, pursuing operating awards, working all the VHF contests, and having long ragchews with friends new and old when conditions permit. I hear LOTS of SSB ragchews on 6 meters when the band is strongly open, as it is often -- for hours at a time -- during the summer sporadic-E months we're currently enjoying. Seriously, folks, I really don't think ham radio has changed all that much. :-) Bill W5WVO DM65 New Mexico -- From: "Don Cunningham" Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2010 8:04 PM To: "Sandy" ; Subject: [Elecraft] Short QSO's (was Re: 6M CW) > Although I understand the reason for shortness on 6m QSO's, I really don't > see the reason on HF bands and I am joining you in lamenting the loss of > them, Sandy. I spend DAYS looking for a good, RTTY ragchew, unless one of > my old friends shows up on frequency. I had been off the air mostly, > living > other parts of life, but when I returned in 2004 or so, long gone were > most > of the long winded RTTY guys of old, and I miss it. I thought maybe it > was > a change in technology, so geared up for PSK, but got the very same name, > location, gear, bye, CUL QSO's there too. I'll keep looking though, there > have to be some of the "old guys" still alive and looking. Also, I was > making a few converts on 20m RTTY before a winter ice storm took the quad > down, so maybe I can "grow" some when I get the quad repaired, hi. > 73, > Don, WB5HAK > > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] Short QSO's (was Re: 6M CW)
Although I understand the reason for shortness on 6m QSO's, I really don't see the reason on HF bands and I am joining you in lamenting the loss of them, Sandy. I spend DAYS looking for a good, RTTY ragchew, unless one of my old friends shows up on frequency. I had been off the air mostly, living other parts of life, but when I returned in 2004 or so, long gone were most of the long winded RTTY guys of old, and I miss it. I thought maybe it was a change in technology, so geared up for PSK, but got the very same name, location, gear, bye, CUL QSO's there too. I'll keep looking though, there have to be some of the "old guys" still alive and looking. Also, I was making a few converts on 20m RTTY before a winter ice storm took the quad down, so maybe I can "grow" some when I get the quad repaired, hi. 73, Don, WB5HAK __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Regarding the K3 and high QRN levels
Tom, I do agree that a specially tuned analog system will provide better results for the specific task that it is tuned for than a digital system any day. The advantage of digital is that it can be made "almost as good" while being more flexible through the use of computing power. Your desires tend toward weak signal CW operation on the low bands - we all know that. But an analog system tuned to those needs would not be ideal for ease of operation in say a ragchewing SSB situation - for one thing the filters are too narrow :-) . The major advantage offered by DSP is the ability to change the filtering with the turn of a knob, and process the modulation and demodulation tasks with computational algorithms rather than changing the hardware - tailoring the algorithms to each task. Is it as good as analog tuned for a specific task? NO - but it is usually better than a general purpose analog system that attempts to be "everything to everybody". The equivalent flexibility with the same degree of "best-ness" would be cost prohibitive if attempted in analog. 73, Don W3FPR Tom W8JI wrote: > I'll probably get lynched for saying this, but for my ears I've never found > a DSP system that is as good as a pure analog system when there is rough > noise. The K3 is much better than my Orion I, but I strongly prefer full > analog IF's with rough noise or when a signal is right at noise floor and > the floor is a little rougher than white noise. > > >> Recently, a thread took place on eHam (I know, I know...) about an op's >> issue with another DSP based rig and high levels of QRN. A comment in >> the thread from another op leaves the impression that his K3 also has >> the same response to high levels of QRN, a sort of reverb as he >> described it. >> > > To me it sounds more like a little intermodulation or mixing of the noise > and signal. I've even considered building an analog IF system just to see > if I like it better. :-) > > 73 Tom > > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Regarding the K3 and high QRN levels
Not to say that either of you are using your rigs incorrectly, or that you're opinion is wrong, I loved my TS520 to death, but I've found that people who keep their RF gain cranked all the way up as high as it can go, then rely on the DSP NR to fix the noise for them are almost always disappointed or unimpressed with DSP noise filtering. The only time that I've ever heard the Reverb affect is when I have too much DSP trying to repair a noise issue that could have been taken care of by simply reducing the RF gain down to the noise floor level, or just above it, then introducing as little DSP as necessary to combat the noise. That along with other great features such as the Filters, NB, and Notch filter you can really get a nice clean signal out of the K3. I know this because I have a constant S3 noise level on 30 meters without the Pre-amp on, and S5 with it. On 40 I'll usually peak up to about S8 or S9 noise.. Still, with the above things I've mentioned I've been able to work weak signals with low noise interruption.. All without the mentioned Reverb affect. Being that you own the Orion 1 you should know this better than anyone. With the Orion you MUST keep that RF gain down (usually around 70 - 75) otherwise that DSP will completely fail.. I know the one I had did, every time. > From: ve...@dccnet.com > To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2010 14:02:41 -0800 > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Regarding the K3 and high QRN levels > > >I'll probably get lynched for saying this, but for my ears > I've never found > >a DSP system that is as good as a pure analog system... > > Move over, Tom, we're in the same boat! > > VE7XF > > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html _ The New Busy is not the old busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_3 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Regarding the K3 and high QRN levels
It's getting crowded in here. --- On Thu, 7/8/10, ve7xf wrote: From: ve7xf Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Regarding the K3 and high QRN levels To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Thursday, July 8, 2010, 4:02 PM >I'll probably get lynched for saying this, but for my ears I've never found >a DSP system that is as good as a pure analog system... Move over, Tom, we're in the same boat! VE7XF __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Regarding the K3 and high QRN levels
Possibly I don't understand all of the technical considerations, but doesn't what you say make sense from a theoretical standpoint anyway? An analog system is kind of the equivalent of infinite sampling and processing. I would expect there to be SOME less-than-perfect effect of sampling a weak signal in the presence of spiky noise with any realistic sampling rates. 73, Dave AB7E On 7/8/2010 2:39 PM, Tom W8JI wrote: > I'll probably get lynched for saying this, but for my ears I've never found > a DSP system that is as good as a pure analog system when there is rough > noise. The K3 is much better than my Orion I, but I strongly prefer full > analog IF's with rough noise or when a signal is right at noise floor and > the floor is a little rougher than white noise. > > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Regarding the K3 and high QRN levels
>I'll probably get lynched for saying this, but for my ears I've never found >a DSP system that is as good as a pure analog system... Move over, Tom, we're in the same boat! VE7XF __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Regarding the K3 and high QRN levels
Nate, The K3 has many ways of combating both QRM and QRN. Admittedly, dealing with QRM is the easiest of the two - just narrow the bandwidth and position the passband for the best response. While narrowing the bandwidth will reduce the noise also, that alone is often not enough. The K3 combats QRN with the noise blanker and noise reduction. The K3 noise blanker can be either IF (analog) based or DSP based (or both). A Noise Blanker does exactly as the term says, it creates a "hole" in the signal path for the time of the noise - if the holes are too big, distortion of the received signal will take place - how aggressive those 'holes' are depends on the settings used, and those settings are under control of the operator. A noise blanker works best on short impulse type noise, like that from automotive ignition, it will not do as much for slow risetime and more distributed noise such as powerline noise. In any case, the setting should be adjusted to minimize the noise with as little distortion of the received signal as possible - the K3 has controls for that. Noise reduction is a different animal - it operates on correlation principles. It looks for something that appears to be a signal in the midst of noise, and builds a filter around that "signal". The K3 has 32 different settings for noise reduction, some more aggressive than others, and there is no one NR filter that is best for both CW and SSB - the variety of settings allows the user to set one for CW and another for SSB. Since the NR in the K3 creates a filter, it can make the signals sound "hollow" - perhaps that is what the reviewer called "reverb". The solution is to turn NR off or use a less aggressive setting. The user can (and should) experiment with the particular noise found at each location and on each band (for each season of the year) - the noise encountered will be different for each combination, and no "one size fits all" exists. The K3 does provide a variety of tools to combat noise, but they must be used with a little thought to find the best for any one situation. I guess the fact that the K2 does provide this variety of control can be disconcerting to someone just turning the K3 on and trusting that it will attack noise "magically". I prefer to have the level of control offered by the K3, but mine is only one opinion - I can run the radio, the radio does not run my operation. It sounds to me like the reviewer you ran across on EHam simply turned on the K3 NR (or NB) and expected magic to happen - it will, but it may not necessarily be good 'magic' in all cases, it depends on the noise. The K3 DSP is an integral part of the radio, not an "add-on", so it cannot be turned off. The DSP NR can certainly be turned off, or set to something less aggressive. 73, Don W3FPR Nate Bargmann wrote: > I'm lurking this list to gain a feel for the K3. As it seems to be the > hot item these days, it's growing (glowing?) reputation makes it worth > looking into. > > Recently, a thread took place on eHam (I know, I know...) about an op's > issue with another DSP based rig and high levels of QRN. A comment in > the thread from another op leaves the impression that his K3 also has > the same response to high levels of QRN, a sort of reverb as he > described it. Here is the thread in question: > > http://www.eham.net/articles/23975 > > > My questions are twofold. First, is the "reverb" common or is it just > certain ops who notice it? Second, from my research I know that the K3 > is heavily DSP based, but also has provisions for IF filtering. Can te > DSP essentially be "turned off" or otherwise disabled so that it > functions as an analog rig which posters in that thread claimed as > superior. Perhaps this is much to do about nothing. > > Don't get me wrong, I'm quite impressed by the various videos I've > watched of the K3 in action which is the closest I can get to operating > one before I buy. The numbers and the reviews look very good and I'm > considering purchasing one later in the year. The QRN issue with DSP > took me a bit by surprise which is why I'm asking. > > Thanks! > > 73, de Nate >> > > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Regarding the K3 and high QRN levels
I'll probably get lynched for saying this, but for my ears I've never found a DSP system that is as good as a pure analog system when there is rough noise. The K3 is much better than my Orion I, but I strongly prefer full analog IF's with rough noise or when a signal is right at noise floor and the floor is a little rougher than white noise. > Recently, a thread took place on eHam (I know, I know...) about an op's > issue with another DSP based rig and high levels of QRN. A comment in > the thread from another op leaves the impression that his K3 also has > the same response to high levels of QRN, a sort of reverb as he > described it. To me it sounds more like a little intermodulation or mixing of the noise and signal. I've even considered building an analog IF system just to see if I like it better. :-) 73 Tom __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Regarding the K3 and high QRN levels
Nate All you're going to get is "opinions" so the only way you can form your own is to listen to someone's K3 and compare it with your rig. Perhaps if you will tell us your QTH, someone on the list can let you take a listen some stormy night. 73 Steve N4LQ - Original Message - From: "Nate Bargmann" To: Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2010 4:58 PM Subject: [Elecraft] Regarding the K3 and high QRN levels > I'm lurking this list to gain a feel for the K3. As it seems to be the > hot item these days, it's growing (glowing?) reputation makes it worth > looking into. > > Recently, a thread took place on eHam (I know, I know...) about an op's > issue with another DSP based rig and high levels of QRN. A comment in > the thread from another op leaves the impression that his K3 also has > the same response to high levels of QRN, a sort of reverb as he > described it. Here is the thread in question: > > http://www.eham.net/articles/23975 > > My main desk rig is an FT-920 that I've had for over ten years and its > DSP functions have seemed to help a lot with reducing the effect of QRN > and I've not noticed what was described by the poster. As a K3 would > necessarily replace the '920, I certainly would not want to take a step > backward especially since QRN is common with 75m nets during the summer. > > My questions are twofold. First, is the "reverb" common or is it just > certain ops who notice it? Second, from my research I know that the K3 > is heavily DSP based, but also has provisions for IF filtering. Can te > DSP essentially be "turned off" or otherwise disabled so that it > functions as an analog rig which posters in that thread claimed as > superior. Perhaps this is much to do about nothing. > > Don't get me wrong, I'm quite impressed by the various videos I've > watched of the K3 in action which is the closest I can get to operating > one before I buy. The numbers and the reviews look very good and I'm > considering purchasing one later in the year. The QRN issue with DSP > took me a bit by surprise which is why I'm asking. > > Thanks! > > 73, de Nate >> > > -- > > "The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all > possible worlds. The pessimist fears this is true." > > Ham radio, Linux, bikes, and more: http://n0nb.us/index.html > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] Regarding the K3 and high QRN levels
I'm lurking this list to gain a feel for the K3. As it seems to be the hot item these days, it's growing (glowing?) reputation makes it worth looking into. Recently, a thread took place on eHam (I know, I know...) about an op's issue with another DSP based rig and high levels of QRN. A comment in the thread from another op leaves the impression that his K3 also has the same response to high levels of QRN, a sort of reverb as he described it. Here is the thread in question: http://www.eham.net/articles/23975 My main desk rig is an FT-920 that I've had for over ten years and its DSP functions have seemed to help a lot with reducing the effect of QRN and I've not noticed what was described by the poster. As a K3 would necessarily replace the '920, I certainly would not want to take a step backward especially since QRN is common with 75m nets during the summer. My questions are twofold. First, is the "reverb" common or is it just certain ops who notice it? Second, from my research I know that the K3 is heavily DSP based, but also has provisions for IF filtering. Can te DSP essentially be "turned off" or otherwise disabled so that it functions as an analog rig which posters in that thread claimed as superior. Perhaps this is much to do about nothing. Don't get me wrong, I'm quite impressed by the various videos I've watched of the K3 in action which is the closest I can get to operating one before I buy. The numbers and the reviews look very good and I'm considering purchasing one later in the year. The QRN issue with DSP took me a bit by surprise which is why I'm asking. Thanks! 73, de Nate >> -- "The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears this is true." Ham radio, Linux, bikes, and more: http://n0nb.us/index.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3: Noise reduction tutorial/primer available?
Jeff, I see you have gotten a few helpful answers. Let me add something to your questions about shift and width. The shift and width are mostly helpful for CW and possibly DATA modes - the SHIFT centers your receive passband. A rough estimate of the passband is shown in the lower left graphic on the LCD display. You should always keep some part of your passband at the CW pitch you are listening to (the sidetone pitch), otherwise the signal you wish to receive will be attenuated because it is outside the passband. The width simply narrows the passband - and it narrows it from both sides, so as you attempt to use more narrow widths, the setting of the shift control becomes more critical. That is about all there is to shift and width. Now, for SSB, you will find the shift and width more cumbersome to use while trying to maintain SSB intelligibility. The cure is to tap either the shift or width buttons so they become LO CUT and HI CUT instead. Set the LO CUT at 200 to 300 Hz and leave it there. Control the width of the SSB passband only with the HI CUT knob and you will maintain intelligibility as you narrow the passband. If the band is not crowded and you have no QRM on your desired SSB signal, reduce the LO CUT to 150 Hz, and increase the HI CUT to 3.00 kHz (or even 3.50) to achieve the best fidelity. If an interfering signal comes in on the (audio) high frequency side of the desired station, reduce the HI CUT to try to minimize the QRM - conversely, if the interfering signal is on the low frequency end, increase the frequency of the LO CUT to eliminate the QRM - one caution, go slowly with the LO CUT because if the low end of the passband is much above 350 Hz, you will sacrifice a lot of intelligibility for the desired station. I hope that is helpful. If you did not understand, please ask again. 73, Don W3FPR Jeff Hall (W6UX) wrote: > Hi, I've been searching for some operating tips on how to strategically > employ the following K3 controls: > > - NOTCH > - NR > - NB > - WIDTH > - SHIFT > > As good as the manual is, I still feel like I don't understand how these > really work and when I should use them to get the best possible results. To > date, I've been randomly turning them on and off, adjusting their various > settings to see what they do. But I'm hoping some of the experts here can > explain how and when they like to use each of these controls. > > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3: Noise reduction tutorial/primer available?
Thanks Gary and "The Smiths" (great 80s band, BTW!) for those very helpful pointers! Can't wait to try those techniques out tonight! 73 de Jeff, W6UX __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3: Noise reduction tutorial/primer available?
I can help with some of these (though I'm clueless on the NB...) It helps if you visualize the "passband" of the receiver as a small part of the entire RF spectrum that the radio lets into your speaker (or headphone.) This would be similar to a movable and resizable window on your house - so you can move the window to different places on your house to see different things outside (or make it larger/smaller to see more at once or less at once.) This window analogy, being visual, makes things easier to visualize... Notch: This is like blocking out just a tiny portion of your "window." For me, it's most useful for those times that a LID decides to spend an hour tuning up and their tuning carrier is right in the middle of my "window." In SSB, the K3 will (by default) use "auto-notch" - so it'll look for a carrier within your passband (window) and automatically block it out. The best analogy I can come up with would be that the sun is shining directly into your window, so you put your hand between your eyes and the sun. Thats a "notch filter." Width: Simply, this is the size of your window. Usually, you only want to "see" one thing at a time, and for SSB, that width is 2.7. However, when stations are too close together, you can make that window smaller so that adjacent stations aren't interfering with your view. (If that adjacent station is putting out splatter or a really wide signal, this might not help...) I usually end up shifting (see below) when messing with the width. Shift: This is just moving your window around on your house. If you look out your window and there is a naked guy that you don't want to see on the left side of the window, you can just move the window a bit to the right. Of course, now you might be seeing something undesirable on the right side... Ideally, a combination of shifting the window and making it narrower (width) will let you see only what you want to see. NB: No idea how this works on the K3. The documentation suggests the NAR/MED/WID "if" settings are useful for some types of noise and the DSP settings are useful for other types of noise - but I haven't seen anything that narrows it down more than that. NR (noise reduction) is a mechanism of pushing the audio through a "DSP" (computer program) to try and clean it up. My understanding is that the DSP works by analyzing the audio and only letting through audio that forms certain patterns (such as speech) as opposed to completely random audio. The different settings for NR use slightly different mechanisms to try and clean thing up, some more aggressive than others. The more aggressive mechanisms tend to be more "destructive" to the audio which gives it that "hollow" or "echoing" sound. Take care Gary / k3wow On Jul 8, 2010, at 1:34 PM, Jeff Hall (W6UX) wrote: > Hi, I've been searching for some operating tips on how to strategically > employ the following K3 controls: > > - NOTCH > - NR > - NB > - WIDTH > - SHIFT > > As good as the manual is, I still feel like I don't understand how these > really work and when I should use them to get the best possible results. To > date, I've been randomly turning them on and off, adjusting their various > settings to see what they do. But I'm hoping some of the experts here can > explain how and when they like to use each of these controls. > > I have been using my K3 for about 4 months. Lately, 40m has been a little > more noisy for me (about 4 bars of noise). I suspect its QRN, but there may > be some QRM as well. Activating the noise blanker (NB) will usually drop > the noise by 1 S unit. Recently, I've been fiddling with the NR settings to > improve the signal quality (this was very helpful on last night's 3905 40m > SSB net - the noise without NR on was just horrible). > > I don't understand what the different NR settings are doing, as you move > from 1-1 thru 3-7. Going from 1-1 to 1-4, it sounds like the person on the > other end is moving farther down a long hallway - the signal gets more > faint, disappearing into a surrounding quietness. 2-1 and 3-1 sound very > similar to 1-1. And, I don't understand what NAR1,NAR2,NAR3 through WIDE1, > WIDE2, WIDE3 settings on the NR feature are doing for me. I don't notice > much difference no matter what I select with those. > > What about NOTCH? I don't seem to notice any difference whether it is > engaged or not. > > Finally, I can sometimes use the WIDTH control to reduce interference from > nearby signals, but if someone is booming in 2 kHz away, I can't seem to > shut them out. Anything else I can do here? I am not sure what SHIFT is > used for, perhaps this can be utilized? I have the 2.7kHz, 1.8 kHz and 400 > Hz filters installed. > > Thanks for helping a newbie! > > 73 de Jeff, W6UX > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/m
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] weird VOX experience with headset mic
Try to fit a rubber or Neoprene sleeve/grommet between the mic boom and the body of the ear shell. David G3UNA - Original Message - From: "David Gilbert" To: Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2010 6:20 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] weird VOX experience with headset mic > > If I understand you correctly, I experienced a similar situation with a > very nice Razer gaming headset (for video games, etc). It has great > over-the-ear cloth padded cups, an electret microphone element, and is > built very solidly. In VOX mode on SSB it kept triggering into transmit > unless I turned the headphone volume way down. As best I can tell, the > boom for the microphone is so solid that sound vibrations from the cup > are traveling down to the microphone element. Thus far I haven't been > able to make it go away with ANTIVOX. I have a half dozen other > headsets and none of them exhibit that problem, but none are built as > mechanically solid as that one either. > > 73, > Dave AB7E > > > > > On 3/14/2010 10:52 AM, Monty Shultes wrote: >> I just bought a Plantronics computer gaming headset, model 377, to use >> with my K3 after reading some of the posts about the Yamaha headset. (I >> had some bonus bucks to use at Best Buy. They don't carry the Yamaha >> CM-500) It works beautifully with one funny problem - if I try to use >> VOX, the radio goes into transmit mode even if I have the microphone >> muted. I figure the receive audio must be inducing enough signal on the >> mic leads to trip the VOX. No setting of ANTIVOX gets rid of this. I >> have the audio from the K3 as low as possible. Any experiences and >> suggestions welcome! >> >> Monty K2DLJ > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] weird VOX experience with headset mic
Sorry about the reply to a really old posting. I had inadvertently resorted some older emails by topic instead of date. (sigh) 73, Dave AB7E On 7/8/2010 10:20 AM, David Gilbert wrote: > If I understand you correctly, I experienced a similar situation with a > very nice Razer gaming headset (for video games, etc). It has great > over-the-ear cloth padded cups, an electret microphone element, and is > built very solidly. In VOX mode on SSB it kept triggering into transmit > unless I turned the headphone volume way down. As best I can tell, the > boom for the microphone is so solid that sound vibrations from the cup > are traveling down to the microphone element. Thus far I haven't been > able to make it go away with ANTIVOX. I have a half dozen other > headsets and none of them exhibit that problem, but none are built as > mechanically solid as that one either. > > 73, > Dave AB7E > > > > > On 3/14/2010 10:52 AM, Monty Shultes wrote: > >> I just bought a Plantronics computer gaming headset, model 377, to use with >> my K3 after reading some of the posts about the Yamaha headset. (I had some >> bonus bucks to use at Best Buy. They don't carry the Yamaha CM-500) It >> works beautifully with one funny problem - if I try to use VOX, the radio >> goes into transmit mode even if I have the microphone muted. I figure the >> receive audio must be inducing enough signal on the mic leads to trip the >> VOX. No setting of ANTIVOX gets rid of this. I have the audio from the K3 >> as low as possible. Any experiences and suggestions welcome! >> >> Monty K2DLJ >> > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K3: Noise reduction tutorial/primer available?
Hi, I've been searching for some operating tips on how to strategically employ the following K3 controls: - NOTCH - NR - NB - WIDTH - SHIFT As good as the manual is, I still feel like I don't understand how these really work and when I should use them to get the best possible results. To date, I've been randomly turning them on and off, adjusting their various settings to see what they do. But I'm hoping some of the experts here can explain how and when they like to use each of these controls. I have been using my K3 for about 4 months. Lately, 40m has been a little more noisy for me (about 4 bars of noise). I suspect its QRN, but there may be some QRM as well. Activating the noise blanker (NB) will usually drop the noise by 1 S unit. Recently, I've been fiddling with the NR settings to improve the signal quality (this was very helpful on last night's 3905 40m SSB net - the noise without NR on was just horrible). I don't understand what the different NR settings are doing, as you move from 1-1 thru 3-7. Going from 1-1 to 1-4, it sounds like the person on the other end is moving farther down a long hallway - the signal gets more faint, disappearing into a surrounding quietness. 2-1 and 3-1 sound very similar to 1-1. And, I don't understand what NAR1,NAR2,NAR3 through WIDE1, WIDE2, WIDE3 settings on the NR feature are doing for me. I don't notice much difference no matter what I select with those. What about NOTCH? I don't seem to notice any difference whether it is engaged or not. Finally, I can sometimes use the WIDTH control to reduce interference from nearby signals, but if someone is booming in 2 kHz away, I can't seem to shut them out. Anything else I can do here? I am not sure what SHIFT is used for, perhaps this can be utilized? I have the 2.7kHz, 1.8 kHz and 400 Hz filters installed. Thanks for helping a newbie! 73 de Jeff, W6UX __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Good side cutter pliers for PC board assembly
A good set of fingernail clippers worked fine for me on about 90% of the cuts. Two K2's and a K1 were built using them. They are very good for some tight areas. john k7up __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] weird VOX experience with headset mic
If I understand you correctly, I experienced a similar situation with a very nice Razer gaming headset (for video games, etc). It has great over-the-ear cloth padded cups, an electret microphone element, and is built very solidly. In VOX mode on SSB it kept triggering into transmit unless I turned the headphone volume way down. As best I can tell, the boom for the microphone is so solid that sound vibrations from the cup are traveling down to the microphone element. Thus far I haven't been able to make it go away with ANTIVOX. I have a half dozen other headsets and none of them exhibit that problem, but none are built as mechanically solid as that one either. 73, Dave AB7E On 3/14/2010 10:52 AM, Monty Shultes wrote: > I just bought a Plantronics computer gaming headset, model 377, to use with > my K3 after reading some of the posts about the Yamaha headset. (I had some > bonus bucks to use at Best Buy. They don't carry the Yamaha CM-500) It > works beautifully with one funny problem - if I try to use VOX, the radio > goes into transmit mode even if I have the microphone muted. I figure the > receive audio must be inducing enough signal on the mic leads to trip the > VOX. No setting of ANTIVOX gets rid of this. I have the audio from the K3 > as low as possible. Any experiences and suggestions welcome! > > Monty K2DLJ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Good side cutter pliers for PC board assembly
Mike, That would be Radio Shack's "lifetime", correct? ;o) Terry W0FM -Original Message- From: Mike Short [mailto:mike.sh...@mchsi.com] Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2010 6:24 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Good side cutter pliers for PC board assembly I use the ones from Radio Shack. They work very well, and have a lifetime warranty. Mike AI4NS __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K3 (gain) problem solved! Many thanks to all!
Gentlemen, To all a hardy "Thank you" for those who gave me timely advice on how to fix our "RF gain" problem with our K3! Though it took a bit of rooting around it eventually worked! By doing a "RF gain re-calibrate" thru the utility software program to factory-default, it rectified the lower-than-normal gain/S-meter readings (s-1 back up to the normal S-5) on 20 & 17m.! Jim/nn6ee __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Disabling VOX on CW.
> but it seems to key the PTT line for some odd reason. Because the output generally called "PTT Out" is actually "key out." It is the logical or of all keying signals (key in, keyer out, PTT input, VOX and "Tune"). 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 7/7/2010 5:30 PM, Gary Hinson wrote: > On my K3, with the VOX set to off, the K3 still keys the PTT line out to my > amp when I hit the paddle. It doesn't actually transmit any CW unless I hit > the PTT footswitch, but it seems to key the PTT line for some odd reason. > > 73 > Gary ZL2iFB > > PS Hi Ian! > >> -Original Message- >> From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net >> [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of W6NEK >> Sent: Thursday, 8 July 2010 9:19 AM >> To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Disabling VOX on CW. >> >> Hello Ian, >> While in CW mode just "press and hold" the VOX function Off >> (press left side >> of Band Select Button in upper left corner of K3). With the >> VOX function >> Off in CW mode the PTT function will be enabled which will >> allow you to use >> your foot switch for Tx/Rx change over. >> >> 73, >> Frank - W6NEK >> >> - Original Message - >> From: "G0AFH" >> To: >> Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2010 1:53 PM >> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Disabling VOX on CW. >> >> >>> Hi >>> >>> I would like to disable VOX in CW mode so that when I touch >> the key the >>> rig does not go into transmit. Is this possible? >>> >>> My primary use for the K3 is to drive transverters and I use manual >>> tx/rx change over or a foot switch - even on cw. >>> >>> 73 >>> Ian >>> G0AFH. >> >> __ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Good side cutter pliers for PC board assembly
Pete, For general basic understanding, here is a guide to the differences among cutting pliers: http://www.stanleysupplyservices.com/product/pdf/toolselectGuide.pdf For your purposes, the desired cutting profile would be flush or semi-flush cutting. Tapered semi-flush cutters are perhaps the most flexible for the occasional user as the semi-flush cutting design provides some protection for the circuit board and the tapered profile provides better access in some areas. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 7/7/2010 3:54 PM, Pete Smith wrote: > This is only tangential to Elecraft (via kit assembly) but I am looking > for a good pair of small side cutter pliers (I think that's the right > nomenclature) to use in PC board assembly. The problem with most I have > seen is that they have a small angled area before the cutting edge on > the non-recessed side, which prevents my cutting wire leads as close to > the top of the solder bulge on the bottom of the PC board as I would > like. If you know of a good specific model number or maker, I'd > appreciate a direct e-mail. I'll summarize for the group if there is > interest. > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] Re： Internal battery for K3/ QRP
Hello Ignacy, Yes, correct, I am thinking of using Li-Po pack which is cheaply available in Hong Kong. BTW, are there any ways to keep the standy current of K3 down to minimium? Perhaps, some of the experienced K3 users may have a cue. Li-Po batteries can be charged by multifunction intelligent charger which is also cheaply available as well. cheers, Johnny VR2XMC - 郵件原件 寄件人﹕ Ignacy 收件人﹕ elecraft@mailman.qth.net 傳送日期﹕ 2010/7/8 (四) 10:05:29 PM 主題： Re: [Elecraft] Internal battery for K3/ QRP I think that SLA is too heavy LiFePO4 battery packs are much more efficient yet have a max voltage around 14.5, within the K3 specs. A 6A pack, e.g, as in http://www.batteryspace.com/12-8v-lifepo4-battery-packs-from-6-6ah-to-9-9ah.aspx may fit inside the KPA3 space and may be good for a few hrs of operation. These batteries need a charger with a limit on max voltage and max current, but a simple voltage regulator + a wart or a laptop PS will do. Ignacy -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Internal-battery-for-K3-QRP-tp5268764p5270251.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Internal battery for K3/ QRP
I think that SLA is too heavy LiFePO4 battery packs are much more efficient yet have a max voltage around 14.5, within the K3 specs. A 6A pack, e.g, as in http://www.batteryspace.com/12-8v-lifepo4-battery-packs-from-6-6ah-to-9-9ah.aspx may fit inside the KPA3 space and may be good for a few hrs of operation. These batteries need a charger with a limit on max voltage and max current, but a simple voltage regulator + a wart or a laptop PS will do. Ignacy -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Internal-battery-for-K3-QRP-tp5268764p5270251.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] Let me build your K2
I have built more than 325 K2's to date as well as many of the other Elecraft kits. Let me build your K2 or other Elecraft product. My prices are reasonable, and you receive a new radio with the options you want. Please respond off of the reflector. 73 Alan W1HYV _ Hotmail has tools for the New Busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_1 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Internal battery for K3/ QRP
Or because the K3 current drain is 800mA minimum, while the K2 ranges from just 150-200mA? 73' Paul PD0PSB >This idea may not be welcome by Elecraft (sorry, only my wild guess) because it >will kill the sales of K2? -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Internal-battery-for-K3-QRP-tp5268764p5269109.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] Internal battery for K3/ QRP
Hello Group, In the case of K2 QRP version, there is an internal 12v lead acid battery. Is there any possibility that the K3/10 has the same arrangement? In other words, can the space occupied by the PA module be replaced with battery pack (say Li-Po battery pack) so that the K3 can then be turned into a portable field day radio? This idea may not be welcome by Elecraft (sorry, only my wild guess) because it will kill the sales of K2? Any views? 73 Johnny VR2XMC __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
