Re: [Elecraft] 250 Hz and 400 Hz Filter Measurements
On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 10:48:36 -0700, John, KI6Wx wrote: My advice would be to disregard this report because the measurements were not made in such a way as to accurately determine the response of the K3 filters John, You are badly mistaken. The K3 was excited by broadband noise, and there was enough of it for none of the noise to be internally generated. I am the author of the study, and if you had read the email that pointed to it you would have seen that. These measurements are QUITE valid, and represent the response of the radio from antenna input to audio output. The wide and narrow measurements on the same page are the same data, plotted to different scale -- the narrow plots to show filter bandwidth, the wide plots to show behavior well down the slope of the filter curve. The dynamic range of the measurement is at least 75dB. 73, Jim Brown K9YC __ 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] K2/100 For Sale
KPA100 and Rev. A to B upgrades built, installed and tested by W3FPR. K2 (SN 2744) filters aligned by W3FPR. Has KSB2, KNB2 modules and K2/10 cover w/speaker for easy conversion back to 10w/QRP. Firmware Rev. 2.04P and IOC 1.09 All manuals, documentation, reciepts, pwr cord and I/O cable. Works FB with no issues, dings or smoking. Free shipping in lower 48 Priced hundreds below cost of the kits. $1100 Please respond off-line to kf...@comcast.net Jerry-KF6XN __ 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] Switching power supplies...yet another comment
I can second that. With no antenna connected I can hear some spurs on the lower bands, mainly 160 meters and a little on the other low bands, but with the antenna connected, band noise covers them up completely. The only complaint I have heard about the MFJ-4125 is that, while it is electrically quiet, acoustical noise is another matter. The internal fan is rather noisy. I designed a proportional fan controller to slow the fan down under normal operation and speed it back up again if the supply gets hot (say for continuous-duty RTTY operation). The article was in February 2010 QST. Al N1AL On Sat, 2010-07-17 at 20:25 -0500, Edwin Johnson wrote: Guess I have to add to the mix by saying I bought several years ago an MFJ-4125 25 amp switching power supply (the one without the meters and about 6x6x2, or so) for portable use. I did a bit of research and at the time I bought it, the hash and output was smoother than anything on the market. (That sounds hard to believe, doesn't it? hi) At any rate, absolutely no noise nor hash of any kind and I usually use random wire or end fed zepps for portable. There have been some new introductions since then to the market which may have other advantages, but I will say this is an excellent choice at a fair price. __ 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] 250 Hz and 400 Hz Filter Measurements
These measurements are QUITE valid, and represent the response of the radio from antenna input to audio output. The wide and narrow measurements on the same page are the same data, plotted to different scale -- the narrow plots to show filter bandwidth, the wide plots to show behavior well down the slope of the filter curve. The dynamic range of the measurement is at least 75dB. I'm still mulling this over butthe curves of the filter response are very similar to the output distribution I've seen when I was using a multiple carriers to measure IMD in CATV amplifiers. The problem is that was over 30 years ago, so my recall might be flawed. I'm having a little trouble understanding how the equivalent of an infinite number of carriers in a passband can be used to measure filter shape when the distortion in every stage after the filter can cause mixing and produce intermodulation products outside the filter passband. If I wanted to know the deeper attenuation response of a filter or system with a filter, I would use an input signal that would not fill the system after the filter with multiple frequencies (that are unattenuated since they are inside filter passband) that could mix and display intermodulation products. I think there is significant risk using broadband noise through the filter might display intermodulation distribution more than filter skirt response. My inclination would be to turn off the AGC and sweep with a single tone. I'm not so sure a measurement like this isn't just a measurement of odd-order IMD in stages following the filter. 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] WRTC - Rig choices for the contest explained!
All: Well, I certainly poked a rather large stick into the Amateur Radio Contesting ant hill, didnt I? Lots of ants are scurrying around wondering if my between-the-lines conjecture is a seachange for some. Aparently, its not. Tim Duffy, K3LR, personally sent me an email regarding my post's questions (!). He asked that I relay his reasons for using a K3 in WRTC to all of you. I have cut them and pasted them in this post. His reasons are certainly plausible. They are as follows (the enphasis is not mine, this is a literal cut and paste): --- snip - K3LR was not the WRTC TEAM LEADER K3LR was a TEAM MATE of N2NT. As a TEAM MATE K3LR did not have the final decision on what radios would be used by our team. K3LR used the radios that the TEAM LEADER selected. However, it was good for K3LR to use a K3 (for the first time). K3LR has been asked many times how a K3 compares to the Icom IC 7800 and IC 7700. Now K3LR knows the operational contest differences between the Icom radios and a K3. So the result is that the K3LR Multi Multi station will STAY 100% Icom IC7800 and IC7700! snip --- So there you have it. I will leave it to others in the contesting ecosystem to add any more conjecture to my thoughts. I had valid questions and opinions, and I got a plausible answer. This discussion has helped me remember why my wife suggests that I wear my wedding ring when I travel out of town and elbows me in the ribs when my flirtations with other ladies at cocktail parties cross her line of reasonableness... :) Best 73 Lu Romero - W4LT __ 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] 250 Hz and 400 Hz Filter Measurements
I just did a quick experiment. First, I lied to my K3 that my 400 Hz filter is really a 2.8 kHz filter. I then turned AGC off and set the K3 WIDTH setting to 2.4 kHz. This way, I will be able to see the response of both the 2.4 kHz DSP filter and the 400 Hz roofing filter, as Dr. Grebenkemper KI6WX had described. Sure enough, with band noise as input to the K3, I see a similar spectrum as Jim showed here http://audiosystemsgroup.com/K3FilterStudy-250HzRoof.pdf In my case, it is a 400 Hz wide hump sitting on a wider 2.4 kHz noise pedestal. I switched to antennas of various gains and directions, and as expected, the peak of the crystal filter hump rises and falls, while the wider DSP filtered noise floor remains constant (lots of spectral averaging of my FFT output :-). Remember that I have turned AGC off. I then changed to using the Elecraft N-gen as the noise source. The noise became stronger now than using band noise -- the peak of the 400 Hz hump is now about 30 dB over the DSP noise pedestal. But the wideband noise pedestal (presumably the internal K3 noise, filtered by the DSP filter) remained at about the same magnitude. When I changed the antenna input a dummy load, the 400 Hz hump disappears into the wider noise pedestal. But again, the 2.4 kHz noise pedestal did not change width nor amplitude. In my case, the DSP pedestal is a little over 20 dB higher than the noise floor outside of the DSP pedestal. Not finding a louder noise source, I resorted to the CW signal from the Elecraft XG2, set to 50 µV output. As I tune across the carrier I can see it rise up to 70 dB above the DSP noise pedestal and then falling back to the DSP noise pedestal. The shape looked very reasonable for a crystal filter. So I can definitely see at least 70 dB worth of decent 400 Hz filtering coming from the roofing filter. The lower amplitude noise humps (from 0 to 30 dB over the DSP noise pedestal, depending upon the strength of the noise source), like the plots by Jim, are in my case, the result of the band noise (and N-gen noise) not being strong enough for me to see the full dynamic range of the roofing filter. The XG2 showed that the filter floor of the roofing filter is at least over 70 dB below the peak 50 µV signal. So, I would like to suggest that Jim try using a stronger noise source than band noise. Even an N-gen (with K3 preamp on) was only giving me 30 dB over the DSP noise floor. Perhaps a receiving preamp would be useful (no, I don't have one to try, otherwise I would :-). I think Jim will see what John was talking about, i.e., the plot with 25 dB to 30 dB hump over a wider pedestal is simply an artifact that the noise source to ping the roofing filter is only 25 dB to 30 dB louder than the internal noise of the K3 between the crystal filter and of the DSP filter. Perhaps, the variation of the hump over the DSP pedestal as you vary the input noise might be persuading enough without resorting to using extremely strong noise sources. 73 Chen, W7AY P.S., now I need to go undo my filter settings, or I might wake up tomorrow thinking that my K3 had been bricked to only seeing a 400 Hz passband! :-) __ 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] WRTC - Rig choices for the contest explained!
Hi Lu All meaningless really. Whats evident from the list is that many still prefer the big radio layout like the FT1000 for its ergonomics. If rig selection was so important we should all go out and buy FT450's since the winner used that radio. I am sure if you had the hardware that K3LR has in the air, you could win any contest even with a IC706! Until a bigger K4 is released the K3's small size and ergonomics will always be a factor in anyone's purchasing decision. Everyone that I have demonstrated the K3 too, that person has always criticized the radios small size and ergonomics for whatever that criticism is worth. I am waiting for the K4 or K3B(BIG)! 73 John --- On Sun, 7/18/10, Lu Romero lrom...@ij.net wrote: From: Lu Romero lrom...@ij.net Subject: [Elecraft] WRTC - Rig choices for the contest explained! To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Sunday, July 18, 2010, 1:48 AM All: Well, I certainly poked a rather large stick into the Amateur Radio Contesting ant hill, didnt I? Lots of ants are scurrying around wondering if my between-the-lines conjecture is a seachange for some. Aparently, its not. Tim Duffy, K3LR, personally sent me an email regarding my post's questions (!). He asked that I relay his reasons for using a K3 in WRTC to all of you. I have cut them and pasted them in this post. His reasons are certainly plausible. They are as follows (the enphasis is not mine, this is a literal cut and paste): --- snip - K3LR was not the WRTC TEAM LEADER – K3LR was a TEAM MATE of N2NT. As a TEAM MATE K3LR did not have the final decision on what radios would be used by our team. K3LR used the radios that the TEAM LEADER selected. However, it was good for K3LR to use a K3 (for the first time). K3LR has been asked many times how a K3 compares to the Icom IC 7800 and IC 7700. Now K3LR knows the operational “contest” differences between the Icom radios and a K3. So the result is that the K3LR Multi Multi station will STAY 100% Icom IC7800 and IC7700! snip --- So there you have it. I will leave it to others in the contesting ecosystem to add any more conjecture to my thoughts. I had valid questions and opinions, and I got a plausible answer. This discussion has helped me remember why my wife suggests that I wear my wedding ring when I travel out of town and elbows me in the ribs when my flirtations with other ladies at cocktail parties cross her line of reasonableness... :) Best 73 Lu Romero - W4LT __ 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 microKeyer2
Hi I have a K3 running PSK (AFSK) and RTTY via Winwarbler which is part ot the DXLab suite of programmes. I installed an old Sound Blaster sound card in my PC. I still own a microKeyer2 which I used to use with my Pro3. I have a two part question to help me decide whether or not to invest in microKeyer2 cables. 1. Are there advantage using the microHam interface rather than the built in interface? 2. I have a PR6 preamp. I believe that the D connector that comes as part of the cabling is filled with material to protect it. If that is the case then what do I do with the white wire? I did see reference to question 2 in another thread but I couldn't understand the answer. I'm a black box operator so keep it simple please. Bill GM0VIT -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-microKeyer2-tp5308352p5308352.html Sent from the [K3] 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] WRTC - Rig choices for the contest explained!
On 7/18/2010 6:44 AM, juergen wrote Until a bigger K4 is released the K3's small size and ergonomics will always be a factor in anyone's purchasing decision. = Egad! a BIGGER K3? I think the K3 is a beautiful example of a Tardis...much larger inside than outside. This is a sign of the large internal positive spatial curvature that the K3 possess. If one wants it bigger outside, one could always get a big box and put the K3 inside. IMNSHO the form factor is pleasantly correct (and I have pudgy fingers). Puh-leez Elecraft, don't expand the form factor! Ham radio is not Detroit. (Well, tail fins, maybe, if they're pink.) John Ragle -- W1ZI __ 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] K2: Is Inventory really a necessity?
I just completed my K2, and I inventoried the components for each board as I progressed through the kit. To echo others, the inventory does help you organize and recognize the components. And yes, I did discover a couple of missing components for the RF board. However, they were not needed until later in the build and Elecraft got them to me in plenty of time. 73 Don W4DHH On Sat, Jul 17, 2010 at 4:06 PM, stan levandowski sjl...@optonline.netwrote: Hello. My name is Stan WB2LQF and I am a new lister, having just received my K2 kit yesterday. My question is, Do you folks think it is really necessary to detail-inventory the Elecraft K2 product?? The packaging was impressive. The task of a complete and detailed inventory looks time consuming, downright boring, and a great opportunity to lose/break/misplace/confuse or static-damage parts. Seems to me that Elecraft should be able to get it mostly correct. My thinking is that all those parts may be safer just sitting in their little bags until it's time to open the bag. if it takes me too long to report a missing part and as a result Elecraft won't replace it for free, I won't exactly go broke buying the missing part from them. Seems like a reasonable risk to offset the investment of time + the aforementioned risks of inventorying. I'm a new Elecraft customer so I'm not in a position to size them up, although I keep hearing they are a first class outfit and I would assume their quality control extends to shipment accuracy. I'd be interested in the majority opinion from Elecraft customers who've faced this same decision - to inventory or not. Thanks! __ 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 - NO SSB TX
Joe, After I found out that by changing the Width beyond 3.0kc SSB RX came back, I suspected a problem with filter configuration, so I checked via the K3 Utility (Configure Crystal Filters) and via the K3 itself. In both cases FL1 was ON, FLTx SB = FL1, FL1 FRQ = -.88, FL1 BW = 2.7. However, I did not try to reset anything, just verify the settings were correct. 73, Bruce - N1LN Date: Sat, 17 Jul 2010 12:08:06 -0400 From: Joe Subich, W4TV li...@subich.com Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 - NO SSB RX To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID: 4c41d566.6060...@subich.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Sounds like something is wiping out (or changing) the SSB filter Offset. Before restoring the configuration, check the offset (CONFIG: FLx FRQ) and see if it is correct. You can also try resetting just the filter offset (from the radio) and see if that restores SSB Receive. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 7/17/2010 9:15 AM, Terry Posey wrote: I think you are not alone, Bruce. I have experienced a similar SSB RX audio loss on several occasions. And there seems to be no recovery other than a RESTORE CONFIGURATION. In my case, I keep my K3 M1 memory loaded with VFO A 50.110 USB and VFO B 50.125 USB, and M2 memory loaded with VFO A 50.100 CW ALT and VFO B 50.110.5 CW ALT. My loss of SSB RX audio seems to occur if I am working CW with the K3, then press the M1 memory and hurry-press the A/B button before the M1 memory change sequence is completed (the K3's frequency and mode changes from memory is not instantaneous). After the K3 settles down, the USB RX audio is completely dead, but the CW, DATA, AM, FM modes audio still work. I have also cycled through the bands, and the USB RX audio is dead on each band. The USB TX audio seems to work; however, I have not tested for that extensively. I have found no way to restore the USB RX audio other than to RESTORE CONFIGURATION. This problem would be most inconvenient if it occurs during a contest or a DXpedition. Do not leave home without your K3 Utility. Something for Wayne to ponder over the weekend. 73, Terry K4RX -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Bruce Meier Sent: Saturday, July 17, 2010 8:04 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K3 - NO SSB RX Now that this problem has occurred twice it is time to ask if I am alone. One of my K3s lost all audio on SSB RX. It still worked fine on CW. TX was fine on both modes. However, if I increased the Width beyond 3.0kc SSB RX audio came back. When the Width was decreased below 3.0kc the audio was again gone. The problem was not band specific - it occurred on all bands. This happened last week during the IARU and again about 10 minutes ago. Last week it occurred while the K3 was powered up and being used. This week, when I it was powered on, it came up in this condition. The fix appears to be a RESET. (Push NORM - power up - EE INIT) Then I run the RESTORE CONFIGURATION from the K3 utility program.The K3 is then back to normal. My concern here is two fold. 1. This should not be happening. 2. This issue could be the beginning of a larger issue that won't be fixable with a RESET. Has anyone else had this issue? K3 # 1193 Firmware: 3.97 Filters: 2.7kc, 400hz, 250hz 73, Bruce - N1LN __ 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] WRTC - Rig choices for the contest explained!
Sure its all meaningless! Its only Ham Radio! But rig selection is such a personal thing! The winners must be extremely talented operators to win using FT450's! Imagine what they would have done with a real radio :) On the K3, I look at it the other way. A 7800/7700 would have collapsed my operating table. I really dont want to call my neighbor to help me lift it out of the shipping crate. I wanted something small with high performance. I used to have a house full of Heathkits, built all of them, and really miss the kit building experience. I wanted something that resembled my Kenwood rigs which I have owned for the past 25 years in operating logic. I wanted something that I would not be afraid to open up and modify myself. I wanted something with reasonable performance at a reasonable cost. Im not in this to impress my friends with my financial ability, Im in this to make QSO's and have fun and still be able to take my family to dinner out and go on vacation. My 7800 owning friends all have a leather jacket they got for free with their rig they cant wear in Florida. I have a Elecraft K3 button that I can pin on my name tag that I got for free at the Orlando Hamcation. If Kenwood had had something worth using, the decision would have been easy. I would have looked there first. I have a long history with Kenwood (TS520 to TS570 over 25 years), and I love their ergonomics. Im not a fan of Yaesu and I tolerate Icom and TenTec ergonomics. If I could have bought a TS950SDX new in the box, I would have. But its 15 year old technology now. I will seriously look at the TS590 when its released to replace my TS570. If the performace/price ratio is what they say it is, it will make a formidable second rig for me (and keep me in Kenwoods). My club has a 7700. Four of my friends have 7800'ds. Nice rigs, but I have two kids in college and I have a hard time justifying spending eleven grand on a rig because I have to have a real second receiver for my main radio. Plus its so damn big and heavy! I struggled with Flex 5000 vs K3 for a long time. Do I really need to replace my beloved 14 year old TS850? K3 won out because of its form factor and its upgradeability. I like the fact that its small and light. I rarely touch knobs other than the volume, RF gain and bandwidth controls and the VFO. Everything else is done through my logger computer. But I STILL have knobs to twirl when I dont have a computer running. And I dont have to be at the mercy of Windows to run my radio. Its size is not a problem to me, its knobs are big enough and its form factor simplicity is beautiful in its own way. I am still debating a P3... Do I even need the features of a band scope? When I use Icoms, I hardly ever look at the scope, I use my ears and that big knob in the center of the panel to find multipliers. In my book, K3 was the perfect compromise between performance form factor cost and utility. That is the glory of life! We have choices! -lu- - Original Message Follows - From: juergen plebia...@yahoo.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net, lrom...@ij.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] WRTC - Rig choices for the contest explained! Date: Sun, 18 Jul 2010 03:44:24 -0700 (PDT) Hi Lu All meaningless really. Whats evident from the list is that many still prefer the big radio layout like the FT1000 for its ergonomics. If rig selection was so important we should all go out and buy FT450's since the winner used that radio. I am sure if you had the hardware that K3LR has in the air, you could win any contest even with a IC706! Until a bigger K4 is released the K3's small size and ergonomics will always be a factor in anyone's purchasing decision. Everyone that I have demonstrated the K3 too, that person has always criticized the radios small size and ergonomics for whatever that criticism is worth. I am waiting for the K4 or K3B(BIG)! 73 John --- On Sun, 7/18/10, Lu Romero lrom...@ij.net wrote: From: Lu Romero lrom...@ij.net Subject: [Elecraft] WRTC - Rig choices for the contest explained! To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Sunday, July 18, 2010, 1:48 AM All: Well, I certainly poked a rather large stick into the Amateur Radio Contesting ant hill, didnt I? Lots of ants are scurrying around wondering if my between-the-lines conjecture is a seachange for some. Aparently, its not. Tim Duffy, K3LR, personally sent me an email regarding my post's questions (!). He asked that I relay his reasons for using a K3 in WRTC to all of you. I have cut them and pasted them in this post. His reasons are certainly plausible. They are as follows (the enphasis is not mine, this is a literal cut and paste): --- snip - K3LR was not the WRTC TEAM LEADER â K3LR was a TEAM MATE of N2NT. As a TEAM MATE K3LR did not have the final decision on what radios would be used by our team. K3LR used the radios that the TEAM LEADER selected.
Re: [Elecraft] 250 Hz and 400 Hz Filter Measurements
Kok Chen wrote: So, I would like to suggest that Jim try using a stronger noise source than band noise. Yes, think about this using common sense. Assuming typical band noise might typically be -120 to -130 dBm, and the internal noise floor of the radio is -137 dBm, you cannot expect to measure 60-70 dB down from such a low level noise source without running into internal noise floor problems. KS7D's swept measurement program does a much better job and requires only a signal source such as the XG1 or XG1. http://www.ks7d.com/Downloads.htm It also removes typical mistakes such as: 1. Not remembering to turn AGC Off. 2. Not remembering to lock the DSP filter much higher than the filter being measured so that there is no cascading effect. 3. Not adjusting Pitch to a frequency such that the low end is not truncated at 200 Hz by the MCU shifting the lower cutoff at low Pitch settings. 4. Not remembering the effect Mode (CW vs Data A) can have on measurements 73, Bill -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/250-Hz-and-400-Hz-Filter-Measurements-tp5300671p5308596.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] WRTC - Rig choices for the contest explained!
That might be the opinion of K3LR of chosing Icom radios for contesting but here in FL the big contesters are all replacing their IC-7700/7800 and FT-1000MP for K3's because after all the tests done in the last contests K3 has been better in performance within a very crowded band. Its just a matter of opinions and operating skills. AD4C If you see a driver handling a cell phone on her/his hands while driving,do please stay away from that vehicle,its a moving bomb.Your life is at danger.Keep yourself and your family alive --- On Sun, 7/18/10, Lu Romero lrom...@ij.net wrote: From: Lu Romero lrom...@ij.net Subject: [Elecraft] WRTC - Rig choices for the contest explained! To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Sunday, July 18, 2010, 8:48 AM All: Well, I certainly poked a rather large stick into the Amateur Radio Contesting ant hill, didnt I? Lots of ants are scurrying around wondering if my between-the-lines conjecture is a seachange for some. Aparently, its not. Tim Duffy, K3LR, personally sent me an email regarding my post's questions (!). He asked that I relay his reasons for using a K3 in WRTC to all of you. I have cut them and pasted them in this post. His reasons are certainly plausible. They are as follows (the enphasis is not mine, this is a literal cut and paste): --- snip - K3LR was not the WRTC TEAM LEADER – K3LR was a TEAM MATE of N2NT. As a TEAM MATE K3LR did not have the final decision on what radios would be used by our team. K3LR used the radios that the TEAM LEADER selected. However, it was good for K3LR to use a K3 (for the first time). K3LR has been asked many times how a K3 compares to the Icom IC 7800 and IC 7700. Now K3LR knows the operational “contest” differences between the Icom radios and a K3. So the result is that the K3LR Multi Multi station will STAY 100% Icom IC7800 and IC7700! snip --- So there you have it. I will leave it to others in the contesting ecosystem to add any more conjecture to my thoughts. I had valid questions and opinions, and I got a plausible answer. This discussion has helped me remember why my wife suggests that I wear my wedding ring when I travel out of town and elbows me in the ribs when my flirtations with other ladies at cocktail parties cross her line of reasonableness... :) Best 73 Lu Romero - W4LT __ 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] WRTC - Rig choices for the contest explained!
I was wondering when you would chime in, Amigo! The winners used FT450's. That ought to tell you the caliber of those operators :) Anyway, lets argue about something more substantiatable, like Religion or Politics :) -lu- - Original Message Follows - From: Hector Padron ad4c2...@yahoo.com To: lrom...@ij.net Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] WRTC - Rig choices for the contest explained! Date: Sun, 18 Jul 2010 05:30:17 -0700 (PDT) That might be the opinion of K3LR of chosing Icom radios for contesting but here in FL the big contesters are all replacing their IC-7700/7800 and FT-1000MP for K3's because after all the tests done in the last contests K3 has been better in performance within a very crowded band. Its just a matter of opinions and operating skills.  AD4C  If you see a driver handling a cell phone on her/his hands while driving,do please stay away from that vehicle,its a moving bomb.Your life is at danger.Keep yourself and your family alive --- On Sun, 7/18/10, Lu Romero lrom...@ij.net wrote: From: Lu Romero lrom...@ij.net Subject: [Elecraft] WRTC - Rig choices for the contest explained! To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Sunday, July 18, 2010, 8:48 AM All: Well, I certainly poked a rather large stick into the Amateur Radio Contesting ant hill, didnt I? Lots of ants are scurrying around wondering if my between-the-lines conjecture is a seachange for some. Aparently, its not. Tim Duffy, K3LR, personally sent me an email regarding my post's questions (!). He asked that I relay his reasons for using a K3 in WRTC to all of you. I have cut them and pasted them in this post. His reasons are certainly plausible. They are as follows (the enphasis is not mine, this is a literal cut and paste): --- snip - K3LR was not the WRTC TEAM LEADER â K3LR was a TEAM MATE of N2NT. As a TEAM MATE K3LR did not have the final decision on what radios would be used by our team. K3LR used the radios that the TEAM LEADER selected. However, it was good for K3LR to use a K3 (for the first time). K3LR has been asked many times how a K3 compares to the Icom IC 7800 and IC 7700. Now K3LR knows the operational âcontestâ differences between the Icom radios and a K3. So the result is that the K3LR Multi Multi station will STAY 100% Icom IC7800 and IC7700! snip --- So there you have it.   I will leave it to others in the contesting ecosystem to add any more conjecture to my thoughts. I had valid questions and opinions, and I got a plausible answer. This discussion has helped me remember why my wife suggests that I wear my wedding ring when I travel out of town and elbows me in the ribs when my flirtations with other ladies at cocktail parties cross her line of reasonableness... :) Best 73 Lu Romero - W4LT ___ ___ 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] 250 Hz and 400 Hz Filter Measurements
Yes, think about this using common sense. Assuming typical band noise might typically be -120 to -130 dBm, and the internal noise floor of the radio is -137 dBm, you cannot expect to measure 60-70 dB down from such a low level noise source without running into internal noise floor problems. I'm not sure how much this problem manifests itself in the K3 noise measurement system, but you guys might not be seeing noise floor in the receiver at all. One way to measure intermodulation is to use a broadband noise source and notch the signal from one area prior to injecting the signal into amplifier stages. The noise, from intermodulation products of the noise mixing with noise, fills the hole notched on the broadband noise. I recall the passband displayed for the filter bandwidth noise test when the notch is turned onto a passband of noise as being about like the display of typical IMD. I think that measurement is also measuring the total IMD of every stage (at least in part) from the roofing filter to the soundcard, not just bandwidth or background noise. I just can't imagine measuring a filter followed by multiple stages with limited IM performance, especially including a DSP system and audio amplifier, that way in an effort to determine bandwidth. Is anyone else here familiar with notched noise IMD measurements?? I only used them a few times in the 80's, so my recall is limited. 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] K3 microKeyer2
Bill, I can answer the second question. The shell of the PR6 connector is not filled, and it is very easy to open and add additional cables. I have a pair of RG-174/U cables for FSK and PTT going into it with no issues which go to my HB (http://www.aa5au.com/rttyinterface.html ) interface. Jim N7US -Original Message- Hi I have a K3 running PSK (AFSK) and RTTY via Winwarbler which is part ot the DXLab suite of programmes. I installed an old Sound Blaster sound card in my PC. I still own a microKeyer2 which I used to use with my Pro3. I have a two part question to help me decide whether or not to invest in microKeyer2 cables. 1. Are there advantage using the microHam interface rather than the built in interface? 2. I have a PR6 preamp. I believe that the D connector that comes as part of the cabling is filled with material to protect it. If that is the case then what do I do with the white wire? I did see reference to question 2 in another thread but I couldn't understand the answer. I'm a black box operator so keep it simple please. Bill GM0VIT __ 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] May I build or service your Elecraft?
Hello, Have you always wanted an Elecraft? A KX1, K1, K2, K3, whatever? I build them all! See what my clients have said about my construction and service work at http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/6768 I also build and service all the QRP radios from Small Wonder Labs. See feedback http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/8841 Visit my website at http://WilcoxEngineering.com for more details, including photos of some of my projects. Cheers, Alan Alan D. Wilcox, W3DVX (K2-5373, K3-40) 570-321-1516 Williamsport, PA 17701 __ 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] Build or Service your Elecraft ?
Hello, Have you always wanted an Elecraft? A KX1, K1, K2, K3, whatever? I build them all! See what my clients have said about my construction and service work at http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/6768 I also build and service all the QRP radios from Small Wonder Labs. See feedback http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/8841 Visit my website at http://WilcoxEngineering.com for more details, including photos of some of my projects. Cheers, Alan Alan D. Wilcox, W3DVX (K2-5373, K3-40) 570-321-1516 Williamsport, PA 17701 __ 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] 250 Hz and 400 Hz Filter Measurements
Sure enough, with band noise as input to the K3, I see a similar spectrum as Jim showed here http://audiosystemsgroup.com/K3FilterStudy-250HzRoof.pdf Gentlemen, this is the typical noise response of a distributed filter system. The noise peak is front end noise through the roofing filter and the broader pedestal is the noise generated within the receiver following the roofing filter. This greater the gain in the 2nd IF (or 3rd IF for upconversion receivers like the FT-1000MP) the more pronounced the pedestal and the less the hump produced by the roofing (or 2nd IF) filter. Jim/Chen, you can see this very effect in your Yaesu rigs by forcing it to use the widest available 2nd IF filter with a narrow 3rd IF filter (easy to do on the MP) and using band noise to excite the radio. This hump effect is one of the reasons for such approaches as minimum gain IF stages following the last IF filter, post IF filtering (e.g., a filter just before the product detector) and active audio filtering following the product detector. In all cases, these design approaches were intended to remove the broadband noise generated in the last IF stage. When operated as designed with the DSP providing the last frequency selectivity, the K3 actually provides matched filtering as the last stage in the IF and the first stage of AF and shows no pedestal. The FT-1000 family, on the other hand, still shows a noise pedestal with its cascaded filters due to the excess gain in the 3rd IF unless one follows W8JI's recommendations and reduces the IF gain or enables DSP demodulation/audio DSP. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 7/18/2010 5:10 AM, Kok Chen wrote: I just did a quick experiment. First, I lied to my K3 that my 400 Hz filter is really a 2.8 kHz filter. I then turned AGC off and set the K3 WIDTH setting to 2.4 kHz. This way, I will be able to see the response of both the 2.4 kHz DSP filter and the 400 Hz roofing filter, as Dr. Grebenkemper KI6WX had described. Sure enough, with band noise as input to the K3, I see a similar spectrum as Jim showed here http://audiosystemsgroup.com/K3FilterStudy-250HzRoof.pdf In my case, it is a 400 Hz wide hump sitting on a wider 2.4 kHz noise pedestal. I switched to antennas of various gains and directions, and as expected, the peak of the crystal filter hump rises and falls, while the wider DSP filtered noise floor remains constant (lots of spectral averaging of my FFT output :-). Remember that I have turned AGC off. I then changed to using the Elecraft N-gen as the noise source. The noise became stronger now than using band noise -- the peak of the 400 Hz hump is now about 30 dB over the DSP noise pedestal. But the wideband noise pedestal (presumably the internal K3 noise, filtered by the DSP filter) remained at about the same magnitude. When I changed the antenna input a dummy load, the 400 Hz hump disappears into the wider noise pedestal. But again, the 2.4 kHz noise pedestal did not change width nor amplitude. In my case, the DSP pedestal is a little over 20 dB higher than the noise floor outside of the DSP pedestal. Not finding a louder noise source, I resorted to the CW signal from the Elecraft XG2, set to 50 µV output. As I tune across the carrier I can see it rise up to 70 dB above the DSP noise pedestal and then falling back to the DSP noise pedestal. The shape looked very reasonable for a crystal filter. So I can definitely see at least 70 dB worth of decent 400 Hz filtering coming from the roofing filter. The lower amplitude noise humps (from 0 to 30 dB over the DSP noise pedestal, depending upon the strength of the noise source), like the plots by Jim, are in my case, the result of the band noise (and N-gen noise) not being strong enough for me to see the full dynamic range of the roofing filter. The XG2 showed that the filter floor of the roofing filter is at least over 70 dB below the peak 50 µV signal. So, I would like to suggest that Jim try using a stronger noise source than band noise. Even an N-gen (with K3 preamp on) was only giving me 30 dB over the DSP noise floor. Perhaps a receiving preamp would be useful (no, I don't have one to try, otherwise I would :-). I think Jim will see what John was talking about, i.e., the plot with 25 dB to 30 dB hump over a wider pedestal is simply an artifact that the noise source to ping the roofing filter is only 25 dB to 30 dB louder than the internal noise of the K3 between the crystal filter and of the DSP filter. Perhaps, the variation of the hump over the DSP pedestal as you vary the input noise might be persuading enough without resorting to using extremely strong noise sources. 73 Chen, W7AY P.S., now I need to go undo my filter settings, or I might wake up tomorrow thinking that my K3 had been bricked to only seeing a 400 Hz passband! :-) __ Elecraft mailing list Home:
Re: [Elecraft] 250 Hz and 400 Hz Filter Measurements
Nicely done. One caveat: when using the audio out, have the equalizer flat. Personally, when I wanted to measure my crystal filters, I pulled them out a looked at them with my N2PK network analyzer. Wes N7WS --- On Sun, 7/18/10, Kok Chen c...@mac.com wrote: I just did a quick experiment. First, I lied to my K3 that my 400 Hz filter is really a 2.8 kHz filter. I then turned AGC off and set the K3 WIDTH setting to 2.4 kHz. This way, I will be able to see the response of both the 2.4 kHz DSP filter and the 400 Hz roofing filter, as Dr. Grebenkemper KI6WX had described. Sure enough, with band noise as input to the K3, I see a similar spectrum as Jim showed here http://audiosystemsgroup.com/K3FilterStudy-250HzRoof.pdf In my case, it is a 400 Hz wide hump sitting on a wider 2.4 kHz noise pedestal. I switched to antennas of various gains and directions, and as expected, the peak of the crystal filter hump rises and falls, while the wider DSP filtered noise floor remains constant (lots of spectral averaging of my FFT output :-). Remember that I have turned AGC off. I then changed to using the Elecraft N-gen as the noise source. The noise became stronger now than using band noise -- the peak of the 400 Hz hump is now about 30 dB over the DSP noise pedestal. But the wideband noise pedestal (presumably the internal K3 noise, filtered by the DSP filter) remained at about the same magnitude. When I changed the antenna input a dummy load, the 400 Hz hump disappears into the wider noise pedestal. But again, the 2.4 kHz noise pedestal did not change width nor amplitude. In my case, the DSP pedestal is a little over 20 dB higher than the noise floor outside of the DSP pedestal. Not finding a louder noise source, I resorted to the CW signal from the Elecraft XG2, set to 50 µV output. As I tune across the carrier I can see it rise up to 70 dB above the DSP noise pedestal and then falling back to the DSP noise pedestal. The shape looked very reasonable for a crystal filter. So I can definitely see at least 70 dB worth of decent 400 Hz filtering coming from the roofing filter. The lower amplitude noise humps (from 0 to 30 dB over the DSP noise pedestal, depending upon the strength of the noise source), like the plots by Jim, are in my case, the result of the band noise (and N-gen noise) not being strong enough for me to see the full dynamic range of the roofing filter. The XG2 showed that the filter floor of the roofing filter is at least over 70 dB below the peak 50 µV signal. So, I would like to suggest that Jim try using a stronger noise source than band noise. Even an N-gen (with K3 preamp on) was only giving me 30 dB over the DSP noise floor. Perhaps a receiving preamp would be useful (no, I don't have one to try, otherwise I would :-). I think Jim will see what John was talking about, i.e., the plot with 25 dB to 30 dB hump over a wider pedestal is simply an artifact that the noise source to ping the roofing filter is only 25 dB to 30 dB louder than the internal noise of the K3 between the crystal filter and of the DSP filter. Perhaps, the variation of the hump over the DSP pedestal as you vary the input noise might be persuading enough without resorting to using extremely strong noise sources. 73 Chen, W7AY P.S., now I need to go undo my filter settings, or I might wake up tomorrow thinking that my K3 had been bricked to only seeing a 400 Hz passband! :-) __ 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 microKeyer2
Jim Thanks for taking the time to reply. I don't think that my 2nd question was clear. It is the D connector for the microKeyer 2 that is filled with stuff and not that of the Pro6 amp. If I can't get the white wire from the Pro6 into the microKeyer2 D connector what do I do? 73 Bill -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-microKeyer2-tp5308352p5308978.html Sent from the [K3] 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] K3 microKeyer2
2. I have a PR6 preamp. I believe that the D connector that comes as part of the cabling is filled with material to protect it. If that is the case then what do I do with the white wire? The appliance operator solution is to purchase one of the all 15 DB15HD Y cables so both the microHAM and PR6 cables can be connected at the same time. The alternative is to disassemble one of the two DB15HD connectors and move the wires to a single connector. The PR6 white wire connects to pin 11 which is on one corner of the DB15HD. It should be fairly easy to expose that pin on the microHAM connector. 73, ... Joe Subich, W4TV microHAM America, LLC. http://www.microHAM-USA.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/microHAM On 7/18/2010 6:34 AM, Bill Henderson wrote: Hi I have a K3 running PSK (AFSK) and RTTY via Winwarbler which is part ot the DXLab suite of programmes. I installed an old Sound Blaster sound card in my PC. I still own a microKeyer2 which I used to use with my Pro3. I have a two part question to help me decide whether or not to invest in microKeyer2 cables. 1. Are there advantage using the microHam interface rather than the built in interface? 2. I have a PR6 preamp. I believe that the D connector that comes as part of the cabling is filled with material to protect it. If that is the case then what do I do with the white wire? I did see reference to question 2 in another thread but I couldn't understand the answer. I'm a black box operator so keep it simple please. Bill GM0VIT-- __ 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] WRTC - Rig choices for the contest explained!
Lu Romero wrote: I am still debating a P3... Do I even need the features of a band scope? When I use Icoms, I hardly ever look at the scope, I use my ears and that big knob in the center of the panel to find multipliers. End snip I agree. My previous 3 rigs were Jupiter, Orion (1) and then OMNI VII. For me, their bandsopes were more of a distraction than a help. On the other hand, the P3's waterfall will add a new dimension to contesting and DXing. If you are in a QSO party for your state, then you are DX. In that case the waterfall will visualize frequencies that are less crowded. Added to that, the P3 lets you spot the K3 right on a discovered frequency with a push of a button. I'd rather have a capability that helps than a useless toy. 73, Fred, AE6IC, K3 2241 Do or Do-not. There is no 'Try'... ~ Yoda __ 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] WRTC - Rig choices for the contest explained!
Many years ago as a teen ham [OK, way more years ago than many, dirt was young then] I had an SX-28 receiver. For the newbies, radioblvd.com/SX28Notes I sold it when I was about to graduate from Cal Poly in 1962. Several years ago, I inherited a stock SX-28 with speaker from the estate of Woody, W6ANX. Nostalgia reigned for awhile, I used it on CW with my K2 as the TX on SKN and a few others. Then nostalgia faded, and I began to realize: 1. The RX, which sounded really good on AM left a lot to be desired in the stability, resetability, sensitivity, selectivity, noise reduction, AGC, and size departments, not to mention SSB reception capability. 2. It weighed in a close to 100 US lbs, I could no longer lift it by myself as I could at 16, and it's primary purpose in the shack seemed to have faded to holding down the operating desk against gravity outages. I finally donated it to the radio museum in Virginia City where it was restored and resides today. Scroll down the above URL a bit to S/N H-130170 for a peek. I had a little problem at first with the lack of weight of my K3 ... pushing the buttons caused it to slip a little on the rubber feet. I cut a piece of that non-slip stuff [sort of a lacework] and solved the problem. I do not want a heavy radio anymore, K3 is great for me. 73, Fred K6DGW Lu Romero wrote: A 7800/7700 would have collapsed my operating table. I really dont want to call my neighbor to help me lift it out of the shipping crate. __ 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] My question is, Do you folks think it is really necessary to , detail-inventory the Elecraft K2 product??
I think it's a good idea. The serious screwup is not being shorted by Elecraft for a 50 cent component, it is installing the wrong component somewhere. Doing a careful identification of all the parts by inventory is a good way to avoid this. You match up each component with its descriptions by doing the inventory and filing the components accordingly [I use muffin tins, with all of the diodes in the same dish, etc. You are less likely to install a diode in a resistor's place , or the wrong value resistor, if you do that. I find that modern, tiny components are harder to identify, and thus easier to confuse, than their huge 1960s ancestors were. Doing the inventory also encourages patience, rather than the get 'er done fast approach which leads to sorrow. eric VA7DZ -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. __ 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] what are x marks
Peoples: I know this is off topic but I need helpI switched to Mozilla and now a box called xmarks keeps popping up asking me to use it ,what is it? Great Grandmaw Susan If you don't change direction you WILL arrive exactly where you're headed!! Susan Meckley, Skipper W7KFI-mm AFA9SM USSV DHARMA --- On Sun, 7/18/10, FredJensen k6...@foothill.net wrote: From: FredJensen k6...@foothill.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] WRTC - Rig choices for the contest explained! To: Elecraft Reflector elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Sunday, July 18, 2010, 5:53 AM Many years ago as a teen ham [OK, way more years ago than many, dirt was young then] I had an SX-28 receiver. For the newbies, radioblvd.com/SX28Notes I sold it when I was about to graduate from Cal Poly in 1962. Several years ago, I inherited a stock SX-28 with speaker from the estate of Woody, W6ANX. Nostalgia reigned for awhile, I used it on CW with my K2 as the TX on SKN and a few others. Then nostalgia faded, and I began to realize: 1. The RX, which sounded really good on AM left a lot to be desired in the stability, resetability, sensitivity, selectivity, noise reduction, AGC, and size departments, not to mention SSB reception capability. 2. It weighed in a close to 100 US lbs, I could no longer lift it by myself as I could at 16, and it's primary purpose in the shack seemed to have faded to holding down the operating desk against gravity outages. I finally donated it to the radio museum in Virginia City where it was restored and resides today. Scroll down the above URL a bit to S/N H-130170 for a peek. I had a little problem at first with the lack of weight of my K3 ... pushing the buttons caused it to slip a little on the rubber feet. I cut a piece of that non-slip stuff [sort of a lacework] and solved the problem. I do not want a heavy radio anymore, K3 is great for me. 73, Fred K6DGW Lu Romero wrote: A 7800/7700 would have collapsed my operating table. I really dont want to call my neighbor to help me lift it out of the shipping crate. __ 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] 250 Hz and 400 Hz Filter Measurements
Is anyone else here familiar with notched noise IMD measurements?? I only used them a few times in the 80's, so my recall is limited. Tom - This is the way we used to measure our analg FM and SSB microwave radios at Collins/Rockwell. A broadband noise source with a very high-Q notch filter was injected into the transmitter baseband input. We had notch filters at low, mid- and high baseband frequencies, though the highest baseband frequency was always the worst. However, we were using pre- and de-emphasis to compensate the baseband signal. We looked at total noise (normal KTB plus IMD) in the received channen associated with the notches. Since we knew the KTB noise floor, we could then determine the IMD noise. Brings back memories. Phil - AD5X __ 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] My question is, Do you folks think it is really necessary to , detail-inventory the Elecraft K2 product??
I agree. The biggest risk is misidentification. I prefer to use sheets of paper and scotch tape. I group similar components together and tape them together lightly to sheets of 8x11 paper, writing the identification number on the paper next to the component(s). I try to keep the sheets flat to minimize the need for tape, and I clean tape residue off the lead before installing. This makes organizing and sorting through components really easy and reliable. -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of eric manning Sent: Sunday, July 18, 2010 9:55 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] My question is, Do you folks think it is really necessary to , detail-inventory the Elecraft K2 product?? I think it's a good idea. The serious screwup is not being shorted by Elecraft for a 50 cent component, it is installing the wrong component somewhere. Doing a careful identification of all the parts by inventory is a good way to avoid this. You match up each component with its descriptions by doing the inventory and filing the components accordingly [I use muffin tins, with all of the diodes in the same dish, etc. You are less likely to install a diode in a resistor's place , or the wrong value resistor, if you do that. I find that modern, tiny components are harder to identify, and thus easier to confuse, than their huge 1960s ancestors were. Doing the inventory also encourages patience, rather than the get 'er done fast approach which leads to sorrow. eric VA7DZ -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. __ 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] what are x marks
Susan, If you use multiple computers, x-marks is a must-have in my opinion. You allows you to synchronize your bookmarks (and optionally passwords) on all your computers. I prefer not to use it for passwords, but I certainly don't care if someone in cyberspace cracks in and finds what my bookmarks are - they will find the weather links, and a lot of ham radio sites, and they will find where I get my parts. OTOH, if you use only one computer, you will have little use for it. I have 4 desktops scattered around that I use and a laptop for the occasional portable use, so Xmarks is a valuable tool for me. 73, Don W3FPR ussv dharma wrote: Peoples: I know this is off topic but I need helpI switched to Mozilla and now a box called xmarks keeps popping up asking me to use it ,what is it? Great Grandmaw Susan If you don't change direction you WILL arrive exactly where you're headed!! Susan Meckley, Skipper W7KFI-mm AFA9SM USSV DHARMA __ 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 microKeyer2
You can also use a breakout similar to this from Winford Engineering. http://www.winfordeng.com/products/brk9mf.php This is for a DB9 but if you call them they do have the same thing for an HD15. 73 Greg AB7R On 7/18/2010 8:03 AM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: 2. I have a PR6 preamp. I believe that the D connector that comes as part of the cabling is filled with material to protect it. If that is the case then what do I do with the white wire? The appliance operator solution is to purchase one of the all 15 DB15HD Y cables so both the microHAM and PR6 cables can be connected at the same time. The alternative is to disassemble one of the two DB15HD connectors and move the wires to a single connector. The PR6 white wire connects to pin 11 which is on one corner of the DB15HD. It should be fairly easy to expose that pin on the microHAM connector. 73, ... Joe Subich, W4TV microHAM America, LLC. http://www.microHAM-USA.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/microHAM On 7/18/2010 6:34 AM, Bill Henderson wrote: Hi I have a K3 running PSK (AFSK) and RTTY via Winwarbler which is part ot the DXLab suite of programmes. I installed an old Sound Blaster sound card in my PC. I still own a microKeyer2 which I used to use with my Pro3. I have a two part question to help me decide whether or not to invest in microKeyer2 cables. 1. Are there advantage using the microHam interface rather than the built in interface? 2. I have a PR6 preamp. I believe that the D connector that comes as part of the cabling is filled with material to protect it. If that is the case then what do I do with the white wire? I did see reference to question 2 in another thread but I couldn't understand the answer. I'm a black box operator so keep it simple please. Bill GM0VIT-- __ 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] New automatic SSB transmissions with VoiceKey Deluxe!
I just wanted to share with you the news about the very quietly introduced new VoiceKey Deluxe program. I have no affiliation with N7QJP, but have happily used his Windows program VoiceKey Express for a number of years for transmitting SSB during contests and band openings. It is especially useful for VHF, since you can use the automatic sequencing and timing options for meteor scatter or even during just normal Es searches on 6m. I think one of the nicest things is that it does permit closure of all relays before beginning the messages, and permits use of an automatic interrupt line for manual override. Anyway, if you are interested in a full featured program with great flexibility, you might want to take a look at the information about the new improved VoiceKey Deluxe, which I have been using very successfully here: http://www.qsl.net/n7qjp/VKE/VKDSupport.htm It also is compatible with TRX-Manager if you also want to use that through the same COM port to control your radio. GL and VY 73, Lance -- Lance Collister, W7GJ (ex: WN3GPL, WA3GPL, WA1JXN, WA1JXN/C6A, ZF2OC/ZF8, E51SIX, 3D2LR) P.O. Box 73 Frenchtown, MT 59834 USA QTH: DN27UB TEL: (406) 626-5728 URL: http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj 2m DXCC #11/6m DXCC #815 Interested in 6m EME? Ask me about subscribing to the MAGIC BAND EME email reflector! __ 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] WRTC - Rig choices for the contest explained!
Lu Romero - W4LT wrote: The winners used FT450's. Wrong. The #1 and #2 teams both used FT-1000MPs. http://wrtc2010.ru/result_table.php NOBODY used FT-450s. 73, Bill -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/WRTC-Rig-choices-for-the-contest-explained-tp5308153p5309432.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] 250 Hz and 400 Hz Filter Measurements
W8JI wrote: Is anyone else here familiar with notched noise IMD measurements?? I only used them a few times in the 80's, so my recall is limited. I suspect this guy might. ;-) http://www.triquint.com/prodserv/tech_info/docs/WJ_classics/vol8_n6.pdf (last page) 73, Bill -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/250-Hz-and-400-Hz-Filter-Measurements-tp5300671p5309525.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] 250 Hz and 400 Hz Filter Measurements
On Sun, 18 Jul 2010 02:10:38 -0700, Kok Chen wrote: So, I would like to suggest that Jim try using a stronger noise source than band noise. You're exactly right, Kok. I wasn't pushing the K3 front end hard enough. I found a much stronger noise source (a nasty switching power supply that runs some low voltage lighting), fed it through a DXE preamp and into the K3. The K3 was set for max RF gain, but all the user gains were adjusted to minimize any obvious overloading of the signal chain. I could, for example, hit the audio chain harder and see significant harmonics and IM. The new data is at the same link as the old data http://audiosystemsgroup.com/K3FilterStudy-250HzRoof.pdf Executive Summary The plateau effect WAS an artifact of my not driving the K3 hard enough. My higher level noise source was enough to move that plateau down to about -60dB (referenced to the peak of filter response). Another point relative to the dynamic range of this measurement -- this is a somewhat impulsive noise signal - individual, un-averaged, measurements show peaks 6-10dB greater than the averaged data, so the K3 is, indeed, being rather robustly excited. IM would show up mostly as LF noise. The wide plots of response with 250Hz DSP IF show LF noise to be more than 66dB down. The small broad peaks at about 1.4kHz and 2.65kHz are also probably IM, but they're at least 78dB down. As to the use of broadband noise as a source -- the real world of contesting and DX chasing does not consist of a few big sine waves, rather, there are often several signals, plus noise, within a few kHz of bandwidth, and for many hams, that noise can often be nearly as strong as a strong signal. If you can figure out how to use it as a measurement tool, noise is a FAR better representation of the real world than even the world's best sine wave generators! The new data DOES show tha the Inrad filters, as integrated into the K3, are well behaved at their skirts. The curves showing the roofing filter response with a 1kHz wide IF clearly show that the 250 Hz filter is about 22% narrower than the 400 Hz filter in the range where my data can be trusted (above about -48dB). That's 333 Hz vs. 464 Hz at -6dB, 501 Hz vs. 645 Hz at -30dB, 620 Hz vs 771 Hz at -48dB. As a roofing filter, it is clearly a 22% improvement the 400 Hz filter. That does, however, fall far short of the 38% improvement suggested by the ratio of the nominal bandwidth of these filters, 400 Hz and 250 Hz. I think many of us still want a real 250 Hz filter! The curves showing the cascaded response of the two filters with the 250 Hz DSP IF shows very little narrowing of the response by the narrower filter. To see significant benefit from cascading, one would need to set the switching point of these two filters to wider bandwidths perhaps 500 Hz and 350 Hz. K2AV noted that many users have chosen this path, and it does make sense. If you have both filters, it might also make sense to set the 400 Hz filter to 400 Hz, allowing you to hear a bit more bandwidth when you're running, and set the 330 Hz filter to 350 Hz so that you can quickly narrow it down when the going gets rougher. Thanks to all those who have commented on my previous measurements and shown me the error of my ways. Two things I learned long ago: 1) You learn a lot when you stick your neck out and say what you think you know. When you're wrong, or when there are things you haven't learned yet, someone will tell you. If you don't have an ego problem, that's a good thing. 2) He who does nothing does nothing wrong. 73, Jim Brown K9YC __ 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] 250 Hz and 400 Hz Filter Measurements
That measured 464 vs 333 is very close to what I have measured, and why I set these two filters as 450 and 350 in the K3 utility setup. In contesting lingo former is regular run width, the latter is tight run width. It is important to keep that guy up 350 Hz OUT of the IF in a tight situation. Opening up the pre-digital gain some to hear someone at the noise level needs that down 70 skirt positioned correctly to deal with the 70 dB wanted/unwanted differential and keeping the unwanted from adding to IN-band crud before DSP can deal with it. Calling the 333 filter 250 is left over from Inrad supplying it for a dual filter setup in the FT1000MP where the 250 was the COMBINED result of TWO filters in successive IF's. With the 50 Hz incremental DSP width, identifying a filter by a combined bandpass number no longer makes sense. If one sets the DSP to 350 or 300 using the 333 filter, you will get a very decent 250-ish overall passband. With the flexibility of the K3, it is left to the operator to figure out the result when combining 333 and 350. I would like to have an 8 pole Inrad roofer that is designed specifically for the optimum RTTY bandwidth presuming that the DSP was set just a little wider for uncrowded and pulled in one step for crowded. What number do you call that? I don't know. I'd put it in the narrow slot in the KRX3. 73, Guy. On Sun, Jul 18, 2010 at 2:33 PM, Jim Brown j...@audiosystemsgroup.com wrote: On Sun, 18 Jul 2010 02:10:38 -0700, Kok Chen wrote: So, I would like to suggest that Jim try using a stronger noise source than band noise. You're exactly right, Kok. I wasn't pushing the K3 front end hard enough. I found a much stronger noise source (a nasty switching power supply that runs some low voltage lighting), fed it through a DXE preamp and into the K3. The K3 was set for max RF gain, but all the user gains were adjusted to minimize any obvious overloading of the signal chain. I could, for example, hit the audio chain harder and see significant harmonics and IM. The new data is at the same link as the old data http://audiosystemsgroup.com/K3FilterStudy-250HzRoof.pdf Executive Summary The plateau effect WAS an artifact of my not driving the K3 hard enough. My higher level noise source was enough to move that plateau down to about -60dB (referenced to the peak of filter response). Another point relative to the dynamic range of this measurement -- this is a somewhat impulsive noise signal - individual, un-averaged, measurements show peaks 6-10dB greater than the averaged data, so the K3 is, indeed, being rather robustly excited. IM would show up mostly as LF noise. The wide plots of response with 250Hz DSP IF show LF noise to be more than 66dB down. The small broad peaks at about 1.4kHz and 2.65kHz are also probably IM, but they're at least 78dB down. As to the use of broadband noise as a source -- the real world of contesting and DX chasing does not consist of a few big sine waves, rather, there are often several signals, plus noise, within a few kHz of bandwidth, and for many hams, that noise can often be nearly as strong as a strong signal. If you can figure out how to use it as a measurement tool, noise is a FAR better representation of the real world than even the world's best sine wave generators! The new data DOES show tha the Inrad filters, as integrated into the K3, are well behaved at their skirts. The curves showing the roofing filter response with a 1kHz wide IF clearly show that the 250 Hz filter is about 22% narrower than the 400 Hz filter in the range where my data can be trusted (above about -48dB). That's 333 Hz vs. 464 Hz at -6dB, 501 Hz vs. 645 Hz at -30dB, 620 Hz vs 771 Hz at -48dB. As a roofing filter, it is clearly a 22% improvement the 400 Hz filter. That does, however, fall far short of the 38% improvement suggested by the ratio of the nominal bandwidth of these filters, 400 Hz and 250 Hz. I think many of us still want a real 250 Hz filter! The curves showing the cascaded response of the two filters with the 250 Hz DSP IF shows very little narrowing of the response by the narrower filter. To see significant benefit from cascading, one would need to set the switching point of these two filters to wider bandwidths perhaps 500 Hz and 350 Hz. K2AV noted that many users have chosen this path, and it does make sense. If you have both filters, it might also make sense to set the 400 Hz filter to 400 Hz, allowing you to hear a bit more bandwidth when you're running, and set the 330 Hz filter to 350 Hz so that you can quickly narrow it down when the going gets rougher. Thanks to all those who have commented on my previous measurements and shown me the error of my ways. Two things I learned long ago: 1) You learn a lot when you stick your neck out and say what you think you know. When you're wrong, or when there are things you haven't learned yet, someone will tell you. If you don't have an
Re: [Elecraft] 250 Hz and 400 Hz Filter Measurements
I write software for vibration data collection and the test case with a narrow hardware filter followed by a wider dsp filter really looks like the case that I often see where there are not of bits in the analog data driving the A/D converter. In our case, we use hardware from vendors such as National Insturments. When NI first introduced their 24 bit USB A/D converters, they seemed to think this would give adequate dynamic range but eventually realized that additional hardware amplification was needed. 24 bit A/D converter resolution may seem like a lot, it's not . We still need adjustable gain and attenuation front ends. I don't know of any way to look at the K3 A/D output in a way that would allow assessment of this. If you could calculate a spectrum of the A/D converter output, you could compare the peak and average spectrum output to the noise floor of the spectrum. Back in the 12 and 16 bit A/D converter days, we found that 12 to 14 bit A/D converter output was necessary for good performance and our transducer signals levels typically range from 5 to 20volts peak down to fractional microvolt levels. You might look at the audio output but I'm not at all sure that there wouln't be other issues that would spoil the measurement. 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] 250 Hz and 400 Hz Filter Measurements typo
Duncan Carter wrote: I write software for vibration data collection and the test case with a narrow hardware filter followed by a wider dsp filter really looks like the case that I often see where there are not ENOUGH of bits in the analog data driving the A/D converter. In our case, we use hardware from vendors such as National Insturments. When NI first introduced their 24 bit USB A/D converters, they seemed to think this would give adequate dynamic range but eventually realized that additional hardware amplification was needed. 24 bit A/D converter resolution may seem like a lot, it's not. We still need adjustable gain and attenuation front ends. I don't know of any way to look at the K3 A/D output in a way that would allow assessment of this. If you could calculate a spectrum of the A/D converter output, you could compare the peak and average spectrum output to the noise floor of the spectrum. Back in the 12 and 16 bit A/D converter days, we found that 12 to 14 bit A/D converter output was necessary for good performance and our transducer signals levels typically range from 5 to 20volts peak down to fractional microvolt levels. You might look at the audio output but I'm not at all sure that there wouln't be other issues that would spoil the measurement. 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 __ 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 microKeyer2
Yes, the BRKSD15HDM-C (captive screws) is interesting - see: http://www.winfordeng.com/download/brksd15hdm_datasheet.pdf However, the screw clamp terminals are not particularly easy to use or reliable and strain relief might be an issue. It would be nicer if the board contained two or three female DB15HD connectors. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 7/18/2010 1:22 PM, Greg wrote: You can also use a breakout similar to this from Winford Engineering. http://www.winfordeng.com/products/brk9mf.php This is for a DB9 but if you call them they do have the same thing for an HD15. 73 Greg AB7R On 7/18/2010 8:03 AM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: 2. I have a PR6 preamp. I believe that the D connector that comes as part of the cabling is filled with material to protect it. If that is the case then what do I do with the white wire? The appliance operator solution is to purchase one of the all 15 DB15HD Y cables so both the microHAM and PR6 cables can be connected at the same time. The alternative is to disassemble one of the two DB15HD connectors and move the wires to a single connector. The PR6 white wire connects to pin 11 which is on one corner of the DB15HD. It should be fairly easy to expose that pin on the microHAM connector. 73, ... Joe Subich, W4TV microHAM America, LLC. http://www.microHAM-USA.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/microHAM On 7/18/2010 6:34 AM, Bill Henderson wrote: Hi I have a K3 running PSK (AFSK) and RTTY via Winwarbler which is part ot the DXLab suite of programmes. I installed an old Sound Blaster sound card in my PC. I still own a microKeyer2 which I used to use with my Pro3. I have a two part question to help me decide whether or not to invest in microKeyer2 cables. 1. Are there advantage using the microHam interface rather than the built in interface? 2. I have a PR6 preamp. I believe that the D connector that comes as part of the cabling is filled with material to protect it. If that is the case then what do I do with the white wire? I did see reference to question 2 in another thread but I couldn't understand the answer. I'm a black box operator so keep it simple please. Bill GM0VIT-- __ 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] My question is, Do you folks think it is really necessary to , detail-inventory the Elecraft K2 product??
Ditto, mis-identification during inventory is a headache that at least results finally in proper identification before assembly, and the quickest possible replacement of missing parts. Mis-identification DURING assembly at best results in passing email with W3FPR about mysterious symptoms. Mis-identification during assembly at worst results in smoking circuits, removal and replacement of components after awaiting replacement from Elecraft AND still passing email with W3FPR about mysterious symptoms. It's like stretching before a race, or warming up before playing baseball. One really just needs to do it, total utter lack of excitement or entertainment value notwithstanding. 73, Guy. On Sun, Jul 18, 2010 at 1:09 PM, George A. Thornton gthorn...@thorntonmostullaw.com wrote: I agree. The biggest risk is misidentification. __ 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 microKeyer2
I use the Digi Keyer here and also PR6. Found it very easy to open the plug coming from the Digikeyer that connects to the acc connector on the K3, and solder in the white wire coming from the PR6. I didn't find the connector filled with anything. 73, Tim - N3XX - Original Message - From: Bill Henderson b...@brofcally.plus.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, July 18, 2010 10:56 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 microKeyer2 Jim Thanks for taking the time to reply. I don't think that my 2nd question was clear. It is the D connector for the microKeyer 2 that is filled with stuff and not that of the Pro6 amp. If I can't get the white wire from the Pro6 into the microKeyer2 D connector what do I do? 73 Bill -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-microKeyer2-tp5308352p5308978.html Sent from the [K3] 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] K3 microKeyer2
Not so bad provided the leads are not too long. I used the terminals for the FSK keying from the SO2R box. But I agree...more connectors would be nice. They don't make them with more than two. But I think if there was enough interest thay may. Dick and I had asked and they were asking about the size of the order. Greg On 7/18/2010 12:59 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: Yes, the BRKSD15HDM-C (captive screws) is interesting - see: http://www.winfordeng.com/download/brksd15hdm_datasheet.pdf However, the screw clamp terminals are not particularly easy to use or reliable and strain relief might be an issue. It would be nicer if the board contained two or three female DB15HD connectors. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 7/18/2010 1:22 PM, Greg wrote: You can also use a breakout similar to this from Winford Engineering. http://www.winfordeng.com/products/brk9mf.php This is for a DB9 but if you call them they do have the same thing for an HD15. 73 Greg AB7R On 7/18/2010 8:03 AM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: 2. I have a PR6 preamp. I believe that the D connector that comes as part of the cabling is filled with material to protect it. If that is the case then what do I do with the white wire? The appliance operator solution is to purchase one of the all 15 DB15HD Y cables so both the microHAM and PR6 cables can be connected at the same time. The alternative is to disassemble one of the two DB15HD connectors and move the wires to a single connector. The PR6 white wire connects to pin 11 which is on one corner of the DB15HD. It should be fairly easy to expose that pin on the microHAM connector. 73, ... Joe Subich, W4TV microHAM America, LLC. http://www.microHAM-USA.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/microHAM On 7/18/2010 6:34 AM, Bill Henderson wrote: Hi I have a K3 running PSK (AFSK) and RTTY via Winwarbler which is part ot the DXLab suite of programmes. I installed an old Sound Blaster sound card in my PC. I still own a microKeyer2 which I used to use with my Pro3. I have a two part question to help me decide whether or not to invest in microKeyer2 cables. 1. Are there advantage using the microHam interface rather than the built in interface? 2. I have a PR6 preamp. I believe that the D connector that comes as part of the cabling is filled with material to protect it. If that is the case then what do I do with the white wire? I did see reference to question 2 in another thread but I couldn't understand the answer. I'm a black box operator so keep it simple please. Bill GM0VIT-- __ 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] 250 Hz and 400 Hz Filter Measurements
Jim, The curves showing the cascaded response of the two filters with the 250 Hz DSP IF shows very little narrowing of the response by the narrower filter. This is because your choice of a 250 Hz DSP bandwidth makes the DSP the dominant filter. The DSP filters have a skirt selectivity (slope) of about .6dB/Hz which can be seen in the upper skirt of the 400 Hz filter (nearly the entire 60dB range is within the -6dB passband of the 450 Hz wide filter). The new data DOES show tha the Inrad filters, as integrated into the K3, are well behaved at their skirts. No, your data - particularly the first two graphs show only the skirt selectivity of the DSP filtering. The third graph begins to show the skirt selectivity of the 250 Hz (300+ Hz) crystal filter but the DSP bandwidth would need to be considerably wider - its corners must be wider than the expected -80 dB points of the filter being measured to avoid coloring the results. To see significant benefit from cascading, one would need to set the switching point of these two filters to wider bandwidths perhaps 500 Hz and 350 Hz. I don't know that benefit is necessarily the correct word to use ton describe cascading. The better term would be effect. The K3 still exhibits benefits from the distributed filter design - the roofing filter protects the 2nd IF and DSP from overload, AGC pumping and IMD from strong signals outside the passband of the DSP filter. However, the roofing filter is not intended to contribute significant selectivity within the DSP passbad. That's not the function of a roofing filter - just like the VHF filter in an upconversion based receiver is not intended to provide significant baseband selectivity. In an upconversion receiver the baseband (ultimate) selectivity is provided by the 2nd/3rd IF filters (FT-1000MP/MKV, etc) or DSP (IC- 756Pro/ProII/ProIII, FT-2000/5000/9000). In either case the sole design function of the roofing filter is to protect the IF chain from strong out of band signals. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 7/18/2010 2:33 PM, Jim Brown wrote: On Sun, 18 Jul 2010 02:10:38 -0700, Kok Chen wrote: So, I would like to suggest that Jim try using a stronger noise source than band noise. You're exactly right, Kok. I wasn't pushing the K3 front end hard enough. I found a much stronger noise source (a nasty switching power supply that runs some low voltage lighting), fed it through a DXE preamp and into the K3. The K3 was set for max RF gain, but all the user gains were adjusted to minimize any obvious overloading of the signal chain. I could, for example, hit the audio chain harder and see significant harmonics and IM. The new data is at the same link as the old data http://audiosystemsgroup.com/K3FilterStudy-250HzRoof.pdf Executive Summary The plateau effect WAS an artifact of my not driving the K3 hard enough. My higher level noise source was enough to move that plateau down to about -60dB (referenced to the peak of filter response). Another point relative to the dynamic range of this measurement -- this is a somewhat impulsive noise signal - individual, un-averaged, measurements show peaks 6-10dB greater than the averaged data, so the K3 is, indeed, being rather robustly excited. IM would show up mostly as LF noise. The wide plots of response with 250Hz DSP IF show LF noise to be more than 66dB down. The small broad peaks at about 1.4kHz and 2.65kHz are also probably IM, but they're at least 78dB down. As to the use of broadband noise as a source -- the real world of contesting and DX chasing does not consist of a few big sine waves, rather, there are often several signals, plus noise, within a few kHz of bandwidth, and for many hams, that noise can often be nearly as strong as a strong signal. If you can figure out how to use it as a measurement tool, noise is a FAR better representation of the real world than even the world's best sine wave generators! The new data DOES show tha the Inrad filters, as integrated into the K3, are well behaved at their skirts. The curves showing the roofing filter response with a 1kHz wide IF clearly show that the 250 Hz filter is about 22% narrower than the 400 Hz filter in the range where my data can be trusted (above about -48dB). That's 333 Hz vs. 464 Hz at -6dB, 501 Hz vs. 645 Hz at -30dB, 620 Hz vs 771 Hz at -48dB. As a roofing filter, it is clearly a 22% improvement the 400 Hz filter. That does, however, fall far short of the 38% improvement suggested by the ratio of the nominal bandwidth of these filters, 400 Hz and 250 Hz. I think many of us still want a real 250 Hz filter! The curves showing the cascaded response of the two filters with the 250 Hz DSP IF shows very little narrowing of the response by the narrower filter. To see significant benefit from cascading, one would need to set the switching point of these two filters to wider bandwidths perhaps 500 Hz and 350 Hz. K2AV noted that many users
Re: [Elecraft] 250 Hz and 400 Hz Filter Measurements
Agreed with one exception; in the K3 the roofing (I hate that term) filter also rejects the 2nd i-f image. Wes N7WS --- On Sun, 7/18/10, Joe Subich, W4TV li...@subich.com wrote: In either case the sole design function of the roofing filter is to protect the IF chain from strong out of band signals. __ 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] test
Just a test email. Chris __ 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] Rig choices
Lu, You have voiced well the decision process I went thru for arriving at the K3 as my choice. My last Kenwood was the TS-180S (1981) and I liked it quite well. It only had four memories (one of the first synth rigs) but the receiver was very quiet on 80m. Alast, I connected the B+ backward, fired the final transistors, and sold it a couple years later (1992). I have had a TenTec Sixty, FT-840, and FT-847(still) since then. The FT-840 had a good receiver and excellent NB but was traded to get the 847. The 847 was bought for VHF satellites; HF is mediocre (well known). The control layout on the 847 is tighter by a factor of 0.75:1 of the K3 so I find the K3 size just about perfect for at home or on the road. I have a FT-817, that is my microwave IF (portable) radio, for hauling up to hill-tops, but the K3/10 is light enough to replace it someday. Oh, yeah: started ham radio with HQ-100/DX-35 and built a SX-110 (loved those Heathkits). Now I build my own, pretty much. Assembling a TenTec 1208 6m xvtr that has sat on the shelf for a few years (will be offering it on e-bay). Then I shall begin work on the CCI 300w HFA kit. I just purchased a 150w 6m linear for the K3. 73, Ed - KL7UW -- Message: 10 Date: Sun, 18 Jul 2010 07:28:22 -0400 From: Lu Romero lrom...@ij.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] WRTC - Rig choices for the contest explained! To: juergen plebia...@yahoo.com,elecraft@mailman.qth.net,lrom...@ij.net Message-ID: 4c42e556.3e4.1a4.15574...@ij.net Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Sure its all meaningless! Its only Ham Radio! But rig selection is such a personal thing! The winners must be extremely talented operators to win using FT450's! Imagine what they would have done with a real radio :) On the K3, I look at it the other way. A 7800/7700 would have collapsed my operating table. I really dont want to call my neighbor to help me lift it out of the shipping crate. I wanted something small with high performance. I used to have a house full of Heathkits, built all of them, and really miss the kit building experience. I wanted something that resembled my Kenwood rigs which I have owned for the past 25 years in operating logic. I wanted something that I would not be afraid to open up and modify myself. I wanted something with reasonable performance at a reasonable cost. Im not in this to impress my friends with my financial ability, Im in this to make QSO's and have fun and still be able to take my family to dinner out and go on vacation. My 7800 owning friends all have a leather jacket they got for free with their rig they cant wear in Florida. I have a Elecraft K3 button that I can pin on my name tag that I got for free at the Orlando Hamcation. If Kenwood had had something worth using, the decision would have been easy. I would have looked there first. I have a long history with Kenwood (TS520 to TS570 over 25 years), and I love their ergonomics. Im not a fan of Yaesu and I tolerate Icom and TenTec ergonomics. If I could have bought a TS950SDX new in the box, I would have. But its 15 year old technology now. I will seriously look at the TS590 when its released to replace my TS570. If the performace/price ratio is what they say it is, it will make a formidable second rig for me (and keep me in Kenwoods). My club has a 7700. Four of my friends have 7800'ds. Nice rigs, but I have two kids in college and I have a hard time justifying spending eleven grand on a rig because I have to have a real second receiver for my main radio. Plus its so damn big and heavy! I struggled with Flex 5000 vs K3 for a long time. Do I really need to replace my beloved 14 year old TS850? K3 won out because of its form factor and its upgradeability. I like the fact that its small and light. I rarely touch knobs other than the volume, RF gain and bandwidth controls and the VFO. Everything else is done through my logger computer. But I STILL have knobs to twirl when I dont have a computer running. And I dont have to be at the mercy of Windows to run my radio. Its size is not a problem to me, its knobs are big enough and its form factor simplicity is beautiful in its own way. I am still debating a P3... Do I even need the features of a band scope? When I use Icoms, I hardly ever look at the scope, I use my ears and that big knob in the center of the panel to find multipliers. In my book, K3 was the perfect compromise between performance form factor cost and utility. That is the glory of life! We have choices! -lu- 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 == BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com EME: 144-QRT*, 432-100w, 1296-QRT*, 3400-fall 2010 DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubus...@hotmail.com == *temp __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help:
[Elecraft] Data Filter for K3
To start off with, what would be the filter to add for Data? Thanks Chris W7CTH __ 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] Data Filter for K3
To start off with, what would be the filter to add for Data? That depends on the data mode and your operating style (FSK vs. AFSK or click on the waterfall vs. tune the signal). For traditional FSK RTTY the best overall choice among currently available filters is the INRAD/Electraft 250 Hz, 8-pole filter. The second choice is probably the INRAD/Elecraft 400 Hz, 8-pole filter. The two filters are two close in performance to justify both in the same rig and the 250 Hz filter is too narrow for general (non-contest) CW operation so the edge probably goes to the 400 Hz, 8-pole filter unless you're a RTTY contest op. If you're an AFSK/PSK click in the waterfall type operator, either the 2.7 or 2.8 KHz filter will give you plenty of room to click. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 7/18/2010 5:14 PM, Chris Hembree wrote: To start off with, what would be the filter to add for Data? Thanks Chris W7CTH __ 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] NAQCC Sprint Wednesday night!
NAQCC Sprint Wednesday night! This coming Wednesday evening will be the monthly NAQCC Sprint for July, 2010. I will refer you to the proper URL: http://home.windstream.net/yoel/sprint201007.html There you will find all the details as to time, frequencies and also a special prize. This month's Special Prize goes to the winner, to be decided by drawing among all who submit a valid log, gets a choice of paddle handles, straight key knobs, and/or K2 knob inserts donated by Gregg WB8LZG. This is a monthly event that caters to the CW veteran, the CW newcomer, straight key and bug fans. All are welcome to participate (this includes QRO); but you must use QRP power levels to compete for awards. Come join us and have a real good time! 72/73 de Dave VA3RJ NAQCC #0004 __ 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] Data Filter for K3
How about if you are a tune in the signal| type and run various data modes up to 500 hz wide MSK modes? Looks like the choices are 500 and 1000 hz. 73 Jack KZ5A On 7/18/2010 4:31 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: To start off with, what would be the filter to add for Data? That depends on the data mode and your operating style (FSK vs. AFSK or click on the waterfall vs. tune the signal). For traditional FSK RTTY the best overall choice among currently available filters is the INRAD/Electraft 250 Hz, 8-pole filter. The second choice is probably the INRAD/Elecraft 400 Hz, 8-pole filter. The two filters are two close in performance to justify both in the same rig and the 250 Hz filter is too narrow for general (non-contest) CW operation so the edge probably goes to the 400 Hz, 8-pole filter unless you're a RTTY contest op. If you're an AFSK/PSK click in the waterfall type operator, either the 2.7 or 2.8 KHz filter will give you plenty of room to click. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 7/18/2010 5:14 PM, Chris Hembree wrote: To start off with, what would be the filter to add for Data? Thanks Chris W7CTH __ 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
[Elecraft] Final Scores with Ops, Rigs and Loggers - WRTC
Here is the final scores with additional information regarding the operators, country, logger software, radio and referee. This link was sent to me courtesy Tim, K3LR. http://www.wrtc2010.ru/?id=75 Note the guys with both K3 and Yaesu FT857 were the ones that suffered a dual catastrophic destruction of both of their Elecraft K3's to a lightning strike. From the sounds of it it was either a direct strike or a very near one. The Yaesus were found around the area and given to them to get them back on the air. Im told they never gave up, so they earned a new 857 for their effort. -lu- __ 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] Data Filter for K3
How about if you are a tune in the signal| type and run various data modes up to 500 hz wide MSK modes? There are many choices depending on how close the data modes push the 500 Hz bandwidth. Elecraft's 500 Hz, 5-pole filter is very close to 500 Hz at the -6 dB points (mine all measure 480 - 490 Hz). INRAD have a 500 Hz, 8-pole filter but do not publish any curves or specific -6dB/-60dB data but the one 8-9 MHz 500Hz, 8-pole filter for which they do publish curves is about 590 Hz wide at -6dB. The INRAD/Elecraft 1000 Hz, 8-pole filter is an option as are any of the narrow SSB filters including the INRAD 1500 Hz, 8-pole, and INRAD/Elecraft 1800 or 2100 Hz, 8-pole filters. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 7/18/2010 5:47 PM, Jack Brabham wrote: How about if you are a tune in the signal| type and run various data modes up to 500 hz wide MSK modes? Looks like the choices are 500 and 1000 hz. 73 Jack KZ5A On 7/18/2010 4:31 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: To start off with, what would be the filter to add for Data? That depends on the data mode and your operating style (FSK vs. AFSK or click on the waterfall vs. tune the signal). For traditional FSK RTTY the best overall choice among currently available filters is the INRAD/Electraft 250 Hz, 8-pole filter. The second choice is probably the INRAD/Elecraft 400 Hz, 8-pole filter. The two filters are two close in performance to justify both in the same rig and the 250 Hz filter is too narrow for general (non-contest) CW operation so the edge probably goes to the 400 Hz, 8-pole filter unless you're a RTTY contest op. If you're an AFSK/PSK click in the waterfall type operator, either the 2.7 or 2.8 KHz filter will give you plenty of room to click. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 7/18/2010 5:14 PM, Chris Hembree wrote: To start off with, what would be the filter to add for Data? Thanks Chris W7CTH __ 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 __ 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] Data Filter for K3
Hi Joe, Thanks for the reply. I have a 6.0 and a 1.8 that I expect to swap out for the 1.5 for SSB contesting, and am having a lot of fun between contests exploring various data modes, all of which, except PSK31 etc, are fairly new to me. The next addition to my K3 is going to be a better filter than the 1.8/1.5 for all round data usage. Considering that my CW skills have never risen to contesting level, my CW operations are all casual, so this will might end up being the narrowest filter in the radio. Sounds like the 500 is probably wide enough for 500 hz modes like Olivia 8/500, which is my favorite keyboard rag chew mode, so would probably well serve the purpose I have in mind. That would leave the last slot for a 2.1 or a 250 later, TBD. 73 Jack KZ5A On 7/18/2010 5:24 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: How about if you are a tune in the signal| type and run various data modes up to 500 hz wide MSK modes? There are many choices depending on how close the data modes push the 500 Hz bandwidth. Elecraft's 500 Hz, 5-pole filter is very close to 500 Hz at the -6 dB points (mine all measure 480 - 490 Hz). INRAD have a 500 Hz, 8-pole filter but do not publish any curves or specific -6dB/-60dB data but the one 8-9 MHz 500Hz, 8-pole filter for which they do publish curves is about 590 Hz wide at -6dB. The INRAD/Elecraft 1000 Hz, 8-pole filter is an option as are any of the narrow SSB filters including the INRAD 1500 Hz, 8-pole, and INRAD/Elecraft 1800 or 2100 Hz, 8-pole filters. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 7/18/2010 5:47 PM, Jack Brabham wrote: How about if you are a tune in the signal| type and run various data modes up to 500 hz wide MSK modes? Looks like the choices are 500 and 1000 hz. 73 Jack KZ5A __ 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] Data Filter for K3
The 500 Hz filter will work for 500 Hz Olivia but you'll probably need to tune carefully. 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] Final Scores with Ops, Rigs and Loggers - WRTC
Er, Jim... I didnt expect any Kenwoods to make the WRTC field. They have lagged in their contest radio development since the 90's. As I said... if Kenwood had anything worth using, the decision would have been easy. I would have looked there first... But I now own K3 #3192. Kenwood had nothing worth looking at that fit my requirements when I made my purchasing decision last year. Has not had anything worth looking at for years. Just because the ergonomics fit my operating style and brain logic doesnt mean the receivers are up to par. My TS850 was no slouch, but it was designed in the early 80's when conditions were very different. The first rig with reversible sideband CW, a breakthru feature back in the 80's. Great CW contest rig, slick 1hz analog quality digital VFO tuning for its day and wonderfully punchy audio with Hi-Boost. Without the DSP unit, the 12 volt finals were not the cleanest, tho. While I find my TS570 egonomics great (except for the blasted MULTI knob, which is often mistaken for the RIT knob when not paying attention and creates a QSY disasters) that does not mean its to the level of my K3 receiver's ability. Far from it. Its a great contester training rig and I recommend it for a first time HF radio. Its not really in the same class as a 1K-MP or even a 7600. But its ergonomics are great and light years ahead of the TS2000 with its wierd layered panel. I dont enjoy the S-Meter AGC Dance of Death on the '570. I do like the layout, especially for someone like me that uses the main radio offset to the right of the computer keyboard and screen. K3 feels like a Kenwood with the volume and RF gain on the correct side of the VFO for a main-rig-offset-to-the-right user. Because of the screen, the Icom Pro series VFO knobs are too far to the right for me. On my 850, I remoted the volume control to the left. The 570 works perfectly as a second radio on the left side of the computer screen, the controls are in the right place there. No eggs on my face, my friend. -lu-w4lt- - Original Message Follows - From: JIM DAVIS nn...@astound.net To: lrom...@ij.net, elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Final Scores with Ops, Rigs and Loggers - WRTC Date: Sun, 18 Jul 2010 15:29:39 -0700 On Sun, 18 Jul 2010 18:20:24 -0400 Lu Romero lrom...@ij.net wrote: Here is the final scores with additional information regarding the operators, country, logger software, radio and referee. This link was sent to me courtesy Tim, K3LR. http://www.wrtc2010.ru/?id=75 Note the guys with both K3 and Yaesu FT857 were the ones that suffered a dual catastrophic destruction of both of their Elecraft K3's to a lightning strike. From the sounds of it it was either a direct strike or a very near one. The Yaesus were found around the area and given to them to get them back on the air. Im told they never gave up, so they earned a new 857 for their effort. -lu- ___ ___ Hey Lu'y, Your Kenwoods are no where to be FOUND are they! Wipe the Egg off your face and move on! 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] K2: Is Inventory really a necessity?
DETAILED INVENTORY? No. However I am a pretty experienced builder/home brewer which may have influenced my decision. My inventory consisted of separating things like hardware, resisters, electrolytic caps, etc, into large piles of like parts PER ASSEMBLY section. I did this using a commercial egg carton (has 30 depressions) I picked up from a local diner. I built 1 assembly at a time, leaving the remaining assemblies still in their unopened packaging. If you notice, the instructions have you put all (or a bunch of) the resisters in at once, or all the caps. When I got to that particular step I would then detail inventory before performing that step. Then I would solder all the parts at once. I also found a couple of parts missing BUT, since I had bought 2 K2s at once, I took the parts from the second one, to complete the step in the first one. So for me no waiting for parts being sent. However, even if I did not have that luxury, the replacements came very fast without question. My K2 has all options except the 100W amp (I only wanted mine for QRP), so it's pretty full in there! So out of the 1000s of parts I received I was amazed at how well these kits are packed. John K2QY __ 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: Added protection for RS-232 port
I've been thinking about how one might go about adding some protection for the apparently fragile (and expensive) RS-232 port on the K3. It might be possible, if the components were small enough, to add them on the KIO3 I/O daughterboard, or perhaps on a little external board mounted at the port. But the question is, what components? I have seen small gas tube units, but suspect that by the time the potential reaches 90 volts or so and the tube flashes over, the RS-232 transceiver is probably toast anyway. Would it be feasible to use fast diodes to shunt the data lines to ground at .7 volts or so, or would that introduce other problems (stray capacitance, etc.)? Anything else that might make sense? -- 73, Pete N4ZR The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at www.conteststations.com The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net, blog at reversebeacon.blogspot.com, spots at telnet.reversebeacon.net, port 7000 __ 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 - 250 Hz and 400 Hz Filter Settings
I chose the 250 and 500 filters for my narrow ones. I set the 250(370) at 400 and the 500(565) at 600. Works great for me. Just played in the RTTY contest last night and with the bandwidth down to 400 or 350(bringing on the select for the 250) if needed after tuning to the signal (SP) I was able to work them all even though some were closer to the next station than their own mark and space traces were to each other (one exception, one had the space of his directly on top of the next guys mark signal or he was running RTTTY). Made me wonder though if one could decode two signals intertwined but individual mark and spaces traces in the clear form each other?. I would think it might be possible. Anybody done this? 73, de Jim KG0KP - Original Message - From: Joe Subich, W4TV li...@subich.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net; Jim Brown j...@audiosystemsgroup.com Sent: Sunday, July 18, 2010 3:33 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] 250 Hz and 400 Hz Filter Measurements Jim, The curves showing the cascaded response of the two filters with the 250 Hz DSP IF shows very little narrowing of the response by the narrower filter. This is because your choice of a 250 Hz DSP bandwidth makes the DSP the dominant filter. The DSP filters have a skirt selectivity (slope) of about .6dB/Hz which can be seen in the upper skirt of the 400 Hz filter (nearly the entire 60dB range is within the -6dB passband of the 450 Hz wide filter). The new data DOES show tha the Inrad filters, as integrated into the K3, are well behaved at their skirts. No, your data - particularly the first two graphs show only the skirt selectivity of the DSP filtering. The third graph begins to show the skirt selectivity of the 250 Hz (300+ Hz) crystal filter but the DSP bandwidth would need to be considerably wider - its corners must be wider than the expected -80 dB points of the filter being measured to avoid coloring the results. To see significant benefit from cascading, one would need to set the switching point of these two filters to wider bandwidths perhaps 500 Hz and 350 Hz. I don't know that benefit is necessarily the correct word to use ton describe cascading. The better term would be effect. The K3 still exhibits benefits from the distributed filter design - the roofing filter protects the 2nd IF and DSP from overload, AGC pumping and IMD from strong signals outside the passband of the DSP filter. However, the roofing filter is not intended to contribute significant selectivity within the DSP passbad. That's not the function of a roofing filter - just like the VHF filter in an upconversion based receiver is not intended to provide significant baseband selectivity. In an upconversion receiver the baseband (ultimate) selectivity is provided by the 2nd/3rd IF filters (FT-1000MP/MKV, etc) or DSP (IC- 756Pro/ProII/ProIII, FT-2000/5000/9000). In either case the sole design function of the roofing filter is to protect the IF chain from strong out of band signals. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 7/18/2010 2:33 PM, Jim Brown wrote: On Sun, 18 Jul 2010 02:10:38 -0700, Kok Chen wrote: So, I would like to suggest that Jim try using a stronger noise source than band noise. You're exactly right, Kok. I wasn't pushing the K3 front end hard enough. I found a much stronger noise source (a nasty switching power supply that runs some low voltage lighting), fed it through a DXE preamp and into the K3. The K3 was set for max RF gain, but all the user gains were adjusted to minimize any obvious overloading of the signal chain. I could, for example, hit the audio chain harder and see significant harmonics and IM. The new data is at the same link as the old data http://audiosystemsgroup.com/K3FilterStudy-250HzRoof.pdf Executive Summary The plateau effect WAS an artifact of my not driving the K3 hard enough. My higher level noise source was enough to move that plateau down to about -60dB (referenced to the peak of filter response). Another point relative to the dynamic range of this measurement -- this is a somewhat impulsive noise signal - individual, un-averaged, measurements show peaks 6-10dB greater than the averaged data, so the K3 is, indeed, being rather robustly excited. IM would show up mostly as LF noise. The wide plots of response with 250Hz DSP IF show LF noise to be more than 66dB down. The small broad peaks at about 1.4kHz and 2.65kHz are also probably IM, but they're at least 78dB down. As to the use of broadband noise as a source -- the real world of contesting and DX chasing does not consist of a few big sine waves, rather, there are often several signals, plus noise, within a few kHz of bandwidth, and for many hams, that noise can often be nearly as strong as a strong signal. If you can figure out how to use it as a measurement tool, noise is a FAR better representation of the real world than even the world's best sine wave generators! The
[Elecraft] K2 Inventory Thread
May I once again thank everyone for expressing such enthusiasm toward helping me. The advice keeps pouring in both within and outside of this reflector. I guess you Elecraft builders love your rigs and have developed a very supportive network. I hope I can contribute someday. For now I'm just a taker. Yes, I intend to inventory my K2 very carefully, identifying and staging all the components for the actual build. While many helpful suggestions have been made about how to do this, I will do what I've been doing since the Heathkit daysand that is to bust up corrugated cardboard boxes and then reengineer them with duct tape so I have compartments for bigger components and plenty of vertical corrugated sides to stick the things with leads in. Works for me. It's more difficult to explain than it is to just do it. Strange as it may seem, I'm going to reseal my K2 package, as received a couple days ago, and put it on a shelf in the bedroom closet until the autumn. Instead, I'm going to build the fully optioned KX-1 which I just ordered about two hours ago! Should arrive by midweek. I've always wanted both of them and struggled with which one to build first. I think I'd like to practice on the simpler KX-1 first. I can get comfortable with my new soldering station, that ridiculously thin solder, and practice how to handle all those static-sensitive components. Then I can use it kayak mobile with my homebrewed mag loop mounted on the boat throughout this summer. I also like to roam around the beautiful Hudson Valley's higher terrain and the KX-1 looks like a hands-down winner for my kind of QRP CW only roaming around. When I finally attack the K2 in the autumn, I'll be more Elecraft-educated and that's got to be an advantage. Thanks again! Stan WB2LQF __ 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 - 250 Hz and 400 Hz Filter Settings
Made me wonder though if one could decode two signals intertwined but individual mark and spaces traces in the clear form each other?. I would think it might be possible. Anybody done this? RTTY tones have sidebands, and since the Tx logic is not usually shaped to move optimally between the tones, but instead tends to switch abruptly, each tone has sidebands beyond the minimum necessary. I've often thought it might be fun to create an FSK demodulator for systems that use more spacing than is needed (for 45.45 baud RTTY, that is about 30 Hz spacing) that would examine and attempt to demodulate using three parallel algorithms: 1) The typical differential amplitude algorithm using dual filters feeding a data rate filter and slicing the output. 2) A single tone amplitude algorithm using just the space tone filter and a reference derived from hi/low values in that filter (or some more-sophisticated sliding reference), feeding a data rate filter and slicer... 3) The same as 2, but using the mark tone filter only. In most cases, the first algorithm will give best results of the three. But in cases where signals are overlapping, or partially overlapping, or there is selective fading or QRM on one tone, the demodulator looking at the other tone is likely to give useful copy if the S/N is sufficient. Implemented in a PC with the three text streams aligned, it could make the difference between a contact or not, or a repeat or not. Stream it with the output from your DXP-38, also with text aligned... 73, Lyle KK7P __ 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] K2 Inventory Thread
Stan, You may be making a mistake by thinking the KX1 is easier than the K2. Yes, it has fewer parts, but the construction is more demanding because of the smallness. None-the-less, if you follow the KX1 instructions to the letter, you should be successful - read (and heed) all tha cautionary notes too. If you also ordered the KXB3080, be aware that that option installation is more critical than the base KX1 - the instructions and diagrams are correct, but follow them exactly - there is no room in that small space for builder variation. Even though the K2 has many parts, it is the easiest of the Elecraft transceivers. If you can do a good job of soldering and follow the written instructions without error, the K2 will go together without incident. 73, Don W3FPR stan levandowski wrote: May I once again thank everyone for expressing such enthusiasm toward helping me. The advice keeps pouring in both within and outside of this reflector. I guess you Elecraft builders love your rigs and have developed a very supportive network. I hope I can contribute someday. For now I'm just a taker. Yes, I intend to inventory my K2 very carefully, identifying and staging all the components for the actual build. While many helpful suggestions have been made about how to do this, I will do what I've been doing since the Heathkit daysand that is to bust up corrugated cardboard boxes and then reengineer them with duct tape so I have compartments for bigger components and plenty of vertical corrugated sides to stick the things with leads in. Works for me. It's more difficult to explain than it is to just do it. Strange as it may seem, I'm going to reseal my K2 package, as received a couple days ago, and put it on a shelf in the bedroom closet until the autumn. Instead, I'm going to build the fully optioned KX-1 which I just ordered about two hours ago! Should arrive by midweek. I've always wanted both of them and struggled with which one to build first. I think I'd like to practice on the simpler KX-1 first. I can get comfortable with my new soldering station, that ridiculously thin solder, and practice how to handle all those static-sensitive components. Then I can use it kayak mobile with my homebrewed mag loop mounted on the boat throughout this summer. I also like to roam around the beautiful Hudson Valley's higher terrain and the KX-1 looks like a hands-down winner for my kind of QRP CW only roaming around. When I finally attack the K2 in the autumn, I'll be more Elecraft-educated and that's got to be an advantage. Thanks again! Stan WB2LQF __ 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 - 250 Hz and 400 Hz Filter Settings
On Jul 18, 2010, at 6:11 PM, Jim Miller KG0KP wrote: Made me wonder though if one could decode two signals intertwined but individual mark and spaces traces in the clear form each other?. Yes, you can, and the method is regularly used by some RTTY folks. It is called Mark-only or Space-only copy. You basically treat the corrupted FSK signal as an OOK (on-off keyed) signal by only listening to one of the two FSK tones. If you go back to your communications theory textbooks, you will notice that under quiet band conditions -- the so called Additive White Gaussian Noise or AWGN case, you just need to raise the peak transmit power by about 3 dB to attain the same error rate as binary FSK OOK radioteletype was actually the original mode that is used by hams. Hams eventually migrated to binary (two tone) FSK to do better under selective fading. With Mark-only or Space-only, you basically compare the single demodulated output against the noise floor (setting the decision threshold at 1/2 of the long term peak voltage) instead of comparing the matched filtered output of the Mark tone against the Space tone in the case of binary FSK. Binary FSK got another boost after the discovery of the automatic threshold correction (ATC) circuit (see US Patent 2,999,925 that was issued in 1961; the same patent also has claims on a method of copying RTTY using diversity reception). With good demodulators today, when you switch from FSK to OOK, you also lose the additional robustness that the ATC circuit provides under selective fading, in addition to the aforementioned 3 dB. Many modems support Mark-only and Space-only copy. The legendary HAL ST-8000 has MO and SO as two of the settings in the Detector Mode switch. Many big gun RTTY contesters and DX'ers still have an ST-8000 or two sitting next to their radios (when new, they sold for about $3,000 :-). (The CEO of HAL is a ham, by the way.) Some software modems also directly support Mark-only and Space-only copy. For modems that don't support it directly, you can still get a good approximation of Mark-only or Space-only copy by using a very narrow filter that passes only the uncorrupted tone as long as the modem also has a decent ATC circuit/algorithm. By using Mark-only copy on one signal and Space-only copy on a second signal, I have successfully copied both RTTY signals that are overlapped to the point were a tone of one signal is located at the center of the second signal. 73 Chen, W7AY __ 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 - 250 Hz and 400 Hz Filter Settings
RTTY tones have sidebands, and since the Tx logic is not usually shaped to move optimally between the tones, but instead tends to switch abruptly, each tone has sidebands beyond the minimum necessary. I should add that most systems, including the K3, use phase-continuous tone switching to reduce the switching transient. 73, Lyle KK7P __ 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: Added protection for RS-232 port
I've been thinking about how one might go about adding some protection for the apparently fragile (and expensive) RS-232 port on the K3. It might be possible, if the components were small enough, to add them on the KIO3 I/O daughterboard, or perhaps on a little external board mounted at the port. The ideal solution is to use a shielded cable, the shortest possible cable, and have the frame or cabinet of the computer grounded to the same station common point as the radio and all other gear. Nearly all of the solution is in how you wire the desk and the radio room antenna cable and power entrance. 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] K3: Added protection for RS-232 port
Pete, I am not certain why you believe the K3 RS-232 port to be fragile. I have not seen a large number of failures identified on this reflector. There have been quite a number of users who have had problems with USB to RS-232 adapters, but that is not a failure of the K3 RS-232 port. Can you give me some examples of RS-232 port failures on the K3? 73, Don W3FPR Pete Smith wrote: I've been thinking about how one might go about adding some protection for the apparently fragile (and expensive) RS-232 port on the K3. It might be possible, if the components were small enough, to add them on the KIO3 I/O daughterboard, or perhaps on a little external board mounted at the port. But the question is, what components? I have seen small gas tube units, but suspect that by the time the potential reaches 90 volts or so and the tube flashes over, the RS-232 transceiver is probably toast anyway. Would it be feasible to use fast diodes to shunt the data lines to ground at .7 volts or so, or would that introduce other problems (stray capacitance, etc.)? Anything else that might make sense? __ 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] Elecraft CW Net Report for July 18th 19th, 2010
Good Evening, I had an odd occurrence between nets. I was sitting at this computer checking a call. When I turned around to get to my chores I saw there was a car parked on the road through my property. This is not normal since I rarely get any traffic on Sunday and never a car. I walked outside to see what they wanted and found it was the sheriff. I stood there wondering what in the world the sheriff would want when I realized he was looking at my truck which I had left parked in the woods after I got tired of chucking wood into it. He must have thought that strange. He soon drove off but all I could figure was he was calling in my truck to see if it was stolen ;) City folks don't think like us who live in the country. Twenty meters was a bit better than last week but forty meters was filled with summer QRN. Lightning static was strong occasionally wiping out parts of or even entire characters. Once again I only got one op east of me: John, N0TA. I heard him 579 but he gave me 449. There was a little QSB on forty but once again it could not support long distance contacts at this time of day. It was louder than last week but the QRN was louder too. A break outside to listen to the wind was soothing after having both gain controls turned up. Hopefully one day the bands will improve. Supposedly the sunspot cycle has started upward again but it sure seems to be going about it rather gradually :) On to the lists = On 14050 kHz at 2200z: NO8V - John - MI - K3 - 820 N0TA - John - CO - K3 - 994 W0CZ - Ken - ND - K3 - 457 W0RSR - Mike - CO - K2 - 5767 K9ZTV - Kent - MO - K3 - 21 AB9V - Mike - IN - K3 - 398 W8OV - Dave - TX - K3 - 3139 K0DTJ - Brian - CA - K3 - 4113 WB8ENE - Art - OH - K3 - 4319 KB3FBR - Joe - PA On 7045 kHz at z: K0DTJ - Brian - CA - K3 - 4113 N0TA - John - CO - K3 - 994 K6DGW - Fred - CA - K3 - 642 K7SJ - Roger - WA - K3 - 75 I have yet to complete the database repair work. It has been put on the back burner as I cut wood and perform house repair work. Long days with no rain mean I have many chores on my list which cannot be done during the rainy season. I am sleeping better though :) I took a walk through the most devasted area of my forest before the first net. Luckily most of the down trees are not on the ground but rather off of it stacked on layer after layer of interwoven broken trees. They won't rot quickly but it is going to be tough work to get all that area cleared. However it is good exercise ;) Until next week stay well, 73, Kevin. KD5ONS (Net Control Operator 5th Class) - __ 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] Elecraft SSB Net results (7-18-10)
Propagation was spotty this week, but the whole continent was present. There were no discussions today beyond the check-ins. There were 27 of us over 26 minutes. Thanks to everyone who checked in. Here is the list of participants. Station NameQTH Rig S/N VE3QF TonyON K3 137 KD0HII Brian IA K3 3672 KK7PLyleWA K3 3036 W0FMTerry MO K3 474 K5LAD Jim OK K3 1068 NT5QDon NM K3 4179 AC9D/VE1DickNS K3 3697 K6VWE StanMI K3 650 K4GCJ Gerry NC K3 1597 WB8ENE Art OH K3 4319 K6DSW Don CA K3 3138 N3XPD MikePA K2 4935 K8DJC Nelson OH K3 560 AF1EJoe NC K3 4091 NU4CPaulFL K3 3993 W4RKS Jim AL K3 3618 N1JMJohnAZ K3 2555 K3WOW GaryPA K3 4407 KE4IMN Jim FL K3 3307 K6EQRoger CA TS480SAT W5ETJ GaryTX K3 3227 N6CCH Rebar CA K3 3680 K7SJRoger WA K3 75 W0CZKen ND K3 457 KG7UY Dennis OR K2 1982 KA5KKT DickKY K3 1030 NS7PPhilOR K3 1826 73, Phil, NS7P __ 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] K2 BFO problem
Don - It gets weirder and weirder. I did the test of the Q24 drain voltage. When I tapped Band+ I got 3.4V. BAND- dropped to a little less than a volt. Then I went on to check the following things you suggested. Now here's where it got weird... I went back to redo the Q24 drain voltage and now I get around 0 volts no matter which BAND button I tap. I didn't change anything - honest! I'm less convinced that the problem lies within Q24. Perhaps Q24 is not getting the right signals from the other side. My first K2 went together with nary a glitch, and I have been even more deliberate and careful with this one. If you still have the patience, suggest what I ought to do next. 73, Ken K0WKM -Original Message- From: Don Wilhelm [mailto:w3...@embarqmail.com] Sent: Saturday, July 17, 2010 7:57 PM To: Ken Mohler Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 BFO problem Ken, The fuzzy waveform on the 'scope is normal - but how much so is difficult for me to say whether yours is normal or abnormal. Check the value of C169 - it should be 390 pF (marked 391). OK, the BFO is oscillating, so look at Q24 carefully - is it oriented correctly? If so, enter CAL FCTR and tap the BAND+ button while measuring the voltage on the drain (see the schemastic key page if you are not familiar with the pinout). The voltage should go high(almost 8 volts), and then tap BAND- and the voltage should go nearly to zero. Other things to check - look for a solder bridge between pins 1 and 2 of U10;, check the SMT1B for correct orientation; re-check the orientation of D36, and check the soldering of R98, C168, D36, R99 and SMT1B. If all the above is correct, try replacing Q24. If you have a J309 around, try that (if you have the KDSP2 kit, there are J309s in there). 73, Don W3FPR Ken Mohler wrote: Don - You have me on the right track. I have a valid frequency reading at pin 6 of U11 and I can follow it back through L33 and C169 to the gate of Q24. The waveform gets fuzzier and has lower amplitude past L33 (I do have a scope) but is still countable at C169. Past Q24 I don't have anything recognizable. I have reflowed the solder on everything around there. D36 appears to be installed correctly. I don't have an extra J310 to swap out Q24, but will get one if you think that's the next step. BTW, I measured the voltages at U11 and all are what you told me to expect except pin 8 is around 6 volts. Still, the BFO seems to be working, just not getting anything as far as TP2. Thanks for the help and please keep it coming. 73, Ken K0WKM -Original Message- From: Don Wilhelm [mailto:w3...@embarqmail.com] Sent: Friday, July 16, 2010 6:49 PM To: Ken Mohler Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 BFO problem Ken, Did you obtain a good frequency reading when you did the PLL Reference Oscillator test back on page 36? If so, check the probe again by putting the probe into either TP3 or TP1. If you see a valid frequency displayed, your probe is OK. The most common problem builders have are soldering problems. Re-flow the soldering in the BFO and U11 area with a hot soldering iron (750 deg/F). Also check carefully for solder bridges. Unfortunately, one lead of both X3 and X4 are under the pad for L33, so ignore those for the time being (if nothing else works, Lift one end of the resistor securing L33 and re-flow the soldering at those leads). Do you have near 8 volts at U11 pin 8? Is U11 pin 1 and 2 close to 1.4 volts? Do you have about 6 volts at U11 pin 6? Touch the counter probe to U11 pin 6 (careful not to short to an adjacent pin). Do you have a valid frequency reading? If you do, then the BFO is working, and the problem is with Q24 and its associated components. Be certain you have mounted D36 (the SMT1B) part correctly, and the soldering of Q24, RP6, R98, and R99 is good. If still no progress, either assemble the parts provided in your K2 kit for the RF Probe (schematic in Appendix E) or let us know that you have an oscilloscope available. 73, Don W3FPR Ken Mohler wrote: Hi Gang - I'm building my 2nd K2 and am at the point of Alignment and Test, Part II. All of the tests and alignment steps through the VCO alignment have been completed successfully. Everything has been right in the center of the expected parameters. Then I got to the BFO test. I'm getting a reading of .00. Here's what I know so far: D37 and D38 are the correct types and oriented properly. I have measured the resistance across the resistor holding L33 down (or up?) and get a reading of 1.5 ohms, indicating to me that L33 is intact and effectively soldered to the resistor leads. I have checked the positioning of Q24 and it looks correct. The right crystals are installed at X3 and X4 and grounding the cases went smoothly, so I don't think I overheated them. I have
[Elecraft] K3: Added protection for RS-232 port
Hi Don, I had a failure of RS 232 port in my K3 # 282.Had to change KIO3 board. From reporting the defect to change of board took one week.For me,whatever defect I encounter in my K3,shipping the whole rig to US is not an option. I was given an option of changing U1 but I did not 'cos the cost of failure in terms of down time was unaffordable.So,I opted to change the whole board. You know the price of the board,shipping was 80$. I have qty.2 chips( U1 ) on hand which will be used to attempt salvage of KIO3 board for spare. So,I wish this board could be made more robust. Re: WRTC K3's--any defect analysis? 73 de Nandu VU2NKS __ 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: Added protection for RS-232 port
On Sun, 18 Jul 2010 20:59:43 -0400, Pete Smith wrote: I've been thinking about how one might go about adding some protection for the apparently fragile (and expensive) RS-232 port on the K3. I strongly suspect this is more pin 1 stuff. Connect the shield, if there is one, to the CHASSIS, not the so-called signal common (pin 5 on DB9s). I also strongly recommend using CAT5 for serial cables, using one pair for each communications circuit, and tying all the signal returns to the chassis (via the DB9 shell), NOT pin 5. Most DB9s support that. Details on my website, both in the RFI Tutorial (Solving Problems in the Shack), and in the Ham Interfacing power point. Another point. Study the material on my website about shunt mode and serial mode surge suppression. Most lightning-induced failures of interconnected equipment is caused by shunt mode surge suppressors (MOVs). 73, Jim Brown K9YC __ 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] 250 Hz and 400 Hz Filter Measurements
On Sun, 18 Jul 2010 16:33:40 -0400, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: I don't know that benefit is necessarily the correct word to use ton describe cascading. The better term would be effect. The K3 still exhibits benefits from the distributed filter design - the roofing filter protects the 2nd IF and DSP from overload, AGC pumping and IMD from strong signals outside the passband of the DSP filter. Of course. But as contesters and DXers, we always look for more, and the cascading of filter responses can certainly be beneficial. However, the roofing filter is not intended to contribute significant selectivity within the DSP passband. That's not the function of a roofing filter Yes, but the laws of physics does result in cascaded response. Just because a tool is designed for one purpose doesn't necessarily mean that it can't be used for others. :) Repeating what I stated earlier -- when 100 big signals like W8JI, W4ZV, N6RO, and K1TTT are crammed into 15-25 kHz to work EU or JA, you can never have enough front end! And thankfully, I think all those stations are running K3s (I'm not sure about TTT). 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] 250 Hz and 400 Hz Filter Measurements
Of course. But as contesters and DXers, we always look for more, and the cascading of filter responses can certainly be beneficial. Yes, cascading can be beneficial but the DSP filter set for 200 Hz at the corners is narrower that the cascaded response of the 250 Hz, 8-pole filter and the DSP set to align with the corners of the 250 Hz filter. Yes, but the laws of physics does result in cascaded response. Just because a tool is designed for one purpose doesn't necessarily mean that it can't be used for others. Yes, the laws of physics result in a cascaded response. However, when the DSP filter is significantly more narrow than the roofing filter, the roofing filter provides very little in the way of cascade gain. Consider that the DSP filter set for 250 Hz is about 350 Hz wide at -50 dB and the 250 Hz, 8-pole filter response is only about -6dB at 350 Hz bandwidth, the roofing filter is not providing much if any selectivity (cascade effect). Repeating what I stated earlier -- when 100 big signals like W8JI, W4ZV, N6RO, and K1TTT are crammed into 15-25 kHz to work EU or JA, you can never have enough front end! That's true but even the 250 Hz, 8-pole filter is not doing much except keeping them away from the DSP (and the hardware AGC) to the extent that they are more than +/- 300 Hz off frequency. The difference is one of receive (base band) selectivity vs. front end (or 1st IF) selectivity. The front end (IF selectivity) is only important in its effects on blocking (HAGC pumping) and wide spaced IMD (where wide is defined as greater than the DSP bandwidth). In a multiple strong signal situation it is convenient to have front end selectivity as closely matched to the DSP bandwidth as possible to protect the IF, 2nd Mixer and DSP. *IF* strong signals exist within the IF bandwidth but not the DSP bandwidth they can cause blocking and IMD effects. This is most apparent with narrow bandwidth modes like CW and RTTY where the interfering bandwidth can be quite small and the interfering power concentrated on a single frequency. The issue is not nearly as acute on SSB where the channels are wider and the power density is lower. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 7/19/2010 12:39 AM, Jim Brown wrote: On Sun, 18 Jul 2010 16:33:40 -0400, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: I don't know that benefit is necessarily the correct word to use ton describe cascading. The better term would be effect. The K3 still exhibits benefits from the distributed filter design - the roofing filter protects the 2nd IF and DSP from overload, AGC pumping and IMD from strong signals outside the passband of the DSP filter. Of course. But as contesters and DXers, we always look for more, and the cascading of filter responses can certainly be beneficial. However, the roofing filter is not intended to contribute significant selectivity within the DSP passband. That's not the function of a roofing filter Yes, but the laws of physics does result in cascaded response. Just because a tool is designed for one purpose doesn't necessarily mean that it can't be used for others. :) Repeating what I stated earlier -- when 100 big signals like W8JI, W4ZV, N6RO, and K1TTT are crammed into 15-25 kHz to work EU or JA, you can never have enough front end! And thankfully, I think all those stations are running K3s (I'm not sure about TTT). 73, Jim K9YC __ 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
