[Elecraft] K3 SUB BAND 2 METER
Hi I have a Elecraft K 3 full option. When I have 2 meter in sub band and I active it the rig say use aux and no rx. How can fix it ? 73 de ik4olq Andrea Abati Cell 333 4551059 __ 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 SUB BAND 2 METER
Hi Andrea, this posting from W2ZK (from the archives) gives the answer I hope... 73, Win DK9IP If the two receivers are sharing the main antenna path, putting the sub receiver on a higher-frequency band than main may result in signal loss in the sub. This is due to sharing of the main receiver´s low-pass filters. If you select an incompatible band combination, the K3 briefly displays USE AUX as a warning. To avoid sub receiver signal loss, use the sub´s AUX input. 73, Ted, W2ZK Am 06.08.2013 10:43, schrieb Andrea Abati (ik4olq): Hi I have a Elecraft K 3 full option. When I have 2 meter in sub band and I active it the rig say use aux and no rx. How can fix it ? 73 de ik4olq Andrea Abati Cell 333 4551059 __ 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 Roofing filters
I am about to purchase a K3 (k). My main interest is certainly CW with occasional forays into SSB and even data, and I note the selection of roofing filters available, no doubt the 8-pole are somewhat better but what is the general feeling regarding the bandwidth(s) to be included. Ivan G3IZD __ 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 Roofing filters
Ivan You'll get as many different views here as there are combinations of different filters ! Roofing filters are quite easy to add at a later date (ease depends somewhat on the options installed), so my suggestion is to go lightly at first and see how you get on with just a couple of filters, and rely on the DSP for filtering - which is pretty good. For SSB, consider either 2.4 or 2.1kHz. Anything narrower is obviously more effective, but also tiring to listen to for long periods. For CW I think the choice is easy - head for the 500Hz filter. Regards John G4ZTR -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of g3...@sky.com Sent: 06 August 2013 10:37 To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Roofing filters I am about to purchase a K3 (k). My main interest is certainly CW with occasional forays into SSB and even data, and I note the selection of roofing filters available, no doubt the 8-pole are somewhat better but what is the general feeling regarding the bandwidth(s) to be included. Ivan G3IZD __ 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 Roofing filters
Hi Ivan I use Inrad SSB Wide 2.8khz #716 SSB Narrow 1.5Khz #727 CW / Data 400hz #701 I find these filters outstanding in all conditions and I contest in SSB CW RTTY and PSK31 Jim M0CKE On 6 August 2013 10:50, James Balls makid...@gmail.com wrote: Hi Ivan I use Inrad SSB Wide 2.8khz #716 SSB Narrow 1.5Khz #727 CW / Data 400hz #701 I find these filters outstanding in all conditions and I contest in SSB CW RTTY and PSK31 Jim M0CKE On 6 August 2013 10:37, g3...@sky.com g3...@sky.com wrote: I am about to purchase a K3 (k). My main interest is certainly CW with occasional forays into SSB and even data, and I note the selection of roofing filters available, no doubt the 8-pole are somewhat better but what is the general feeling regarding the bandwidth(s) to be included. Ivan G3IZD __ 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] KX3 12kHz audio spike
Hello Nick, I would like to do similar test for my K3 and KX3. Could you please advise how I can do that? TNX 73, Johnny VR2XMC 寄件人︰ Nicklas Johnson n...@n6ol.us 收件人︰ elecraft elecraft@mailman.qth.net 傳送日期︰ 2013年08月6日 (週二) 1:30 PM 主題︰ [Elecraft] KX3 12kHz audio spike While doing some tests tonight to compare the white noise of my Icom IC-7000 to the white noise of the KX3, both having the AF gain turned all the way down, I noticed something a little unusual in the KX3's spectrum: http://imgur.com/0QF9vXh There is quite a spike of noise at 12kHz (well, relative to everything else around it anyway), with harmonics at 24, 36, and 48 kHz. The latter three of course are inaudible to humans. I found that even without the considerable amplification that I was using to get the levels high enough to analyze, I was able to hear the 12kHz tone in my headphones with the AF gain turned up higher than 30 or so. The sound is present even with everything else disconnected from the unit, and it begins immediately after it is powered up, before it begins receiving. I could see it possibly giving someone fatigue or a headache after a while, even if not consciously aware of it. Has anyone else experienced this, or does anyone have the test equipment to see whether this is present for others and not just me? Nick -- *N6OL* Saying something doesn't make it true. Belief in something doesn't make it real. And if you have to lie to support a position, that position is not worth supporting. __ __ 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] Lulu 20% discount for KE7X books
Thanks for the new code, Fred. It also works in the UK Lulu bookstore so ARDENS20 may be a fully international discount code. It makes a nice sweetener for a couple of books I've had my eye on. By the way, there's a potentially useful freebie available: Amateur Radio Callsign Prefixes by Chris Moore 73 all. Dave G3TJP __ 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 Roofing filters
On Tuesday August 6, Ivan (G3IZD) wrote ... I am about to purchase a K3 ... what is the general feeling regarding [filter] bandwidth(s) ... -- Hi Ivan, In addition to the choices available from Elecraft and INRAD, WB2ART and I also offer a 700 Hz (wide CW) alternative. IMHO 700 Hz fits really well between the INRAD 1.5 k Hz and 400 Hz filters and it's ideal for scanning. The lead-time for the 700 Hz filter is upwards of 14 weeks, as there's a 12-manufacturing lead-time and we only commission production as demand warrants. The current batch (due to arrive in early October) will probably sell out within a matter of hours. The next batch can be expected sometime between December and February. --- - - - --- Our website http://www.unpcbs.com/ features a unique visual comparison of the five 8-pole filters (1,000, 700, 500, 400, and 250 Hz). This comparison is packaged as both an online slideshow and as a (printable) PDF file. Brief descriptions accompany each slide. As a whole, these descriptions create a concise 8-pole CW filter buyer's guide If you are a serious contester, then 700 and 400 Hz would be an excellent choice. Otherwise (if you're not a serious contester) then the 700 is probably the only CW filter you'll ever need. Oh and it's also ideal for 500 Hz digital formats. --- - - - --- Additional suggestions ... 1) Avoid filters whose widths are too similar. Specifically, IMHO a ratio of less than 1.4 (i.e. the square root of two) is an exercise in diminishing returns. 2) For historic reasons, the filter widths are not always the same as their designations. This is especially true of the INRAD 250 Hz 8-pole filter, which is closer 370 Hz wide. 3) INRAD offers two additional 8-pole filters 1500 Hz and 500 Hz which are not available through Elecraft. 4) If you have the sub-RX, then adding/changing filters is a fairly significant undertaking. (Thus the advice about just getting a bare K3 and adding filters later may not apply to you, if your intention is to get a factory assembled K3 with sub-RX.) Cheers, Gary KI4GGX __ 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 Roofing filters
Ivan, You are right to ask, the filters can drive the cost of the K3 spiraling upward. I will not answer simply, but rather give you some guidelines for selection. Your choice of roofing filters will depend a lot on your operating conditions and preferences. Remember that the roofing filters are present NOT to achieve the final bandwidth - that is done in the DSP processing. The roofing filters are used to protect the input of the DAC from strong adjacent signals - ones that you would not hear because they are outside the DSP passband. There is another mechanism - Hardware AGC - that also protects the DAC from overload. Its response is what you will hear when there are strong signals within the passband of the roofing filter but outside the passband you have set in the DSP - the strong unwanted signal will cause pumping of the AGC and constantly change the receivers sensitivity. The Hardware AGC will begin to operate when the signal strength is greater than S-9+30 dB (If I recall correctly). For weaker signals, it will not activate. So -- if you are an SSB ragchewer, the 2.8 kHz filter will likely be sufficient, you probably seek to operate in a clear area of the band anyway. But -- if you are operating in a crowded band with lots of adjacent strong signals (heavy DXing or serious contesting), you will likely want to add roofing filters. How much tolerance you have to those nearby strong signals will influence your choice of filters. Of course, if you want to operate FM, you will need the 13 kHz filter, and for AM transmit, the 6 kHz filter. 5 pole or 8 pole? - if you have the subRX, *and* want to use diversity receive, the filters in the main and the sub must be matched for the filter offset. The choice of 8 pole filters makes it easy, they have zero offset. If you choose the 5 pole filters, matched offset filters are available. If you decide to purchase without the subRX initially, but plan to add it later, order the 8 pole filters unless diversity receive is not a consideration. If you cannot decide by order time, I would suggest you go with the 2.8 kHz 8 pole filter only, then operate using only the DSP filtering for some period of time to allow you to find out where you are experiencing difficulty, then purchase whatever additional filters you need for your operation. The filters are not difficult to add later (unless the subRX is installed, because it must be removed to get to the main filter area). 73, Don W3FPR On 8/6/2013 5:37 AM, g3...@sky.com wrote: I am about to purchase a K3 (k). My main interest is certainly CW with occasional forays into SSB and even data, and I note the selection of roofing filters available, no doubt the 8-pole are somewhat better but what is the general feeling regarding the bandwidth(s) to be included. Ivan G3IZD __ 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 Roofing filters
Hi Ivan, I am a CW guy and agree with John's assessment on the number of answers you will receive! Here's mine: I run 250Hz, 400Hz, 1000Hz, and 2.8Khz. I know folks out there will say that the 250 400 are so close in filter shape when you really take a look at things, that they are somewhat redundant. If you want to cut down on initial expenses, I would start with the 400Hz filter, this will serve the double duty for CW and your occasional dabbles in the digital arena. They are somewhat easy to add at a later date, depending on what other options you have added, which also gives you the opportunity to learn a little more on the workings of the K3. As far as SSB, I can't comment, as I do not even own any microphones! One thing for sure, you will be a very happy CW operator once you learn your way around the K3... it is a fantastic radio! 73 de Jim - KE8G John Lemay j...@carltonhouse.eclipse.co.uk wrote: Ivan You'll get as many different views here as there are combinations of different filters ! Roofing filters are quite easy to add at a later date (ease depends somewhat on the options installed), so my suggestion is to go lightly at first and see how you get on with just a couple of filters, and rely on the DSP for filtering - which is pretty good. For SSB, consider either 2.4 or 2.1kHz. Anything narrower is obviously more effective, but also tiring to listen to for long periods. For CW I think the choice is easy - head for the 500Hz filter. Regards John G4ZTR -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of g3...@sky.com Sent: 06 August 2013 10:37 To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Roofing filters I am about to purchase a K3 (k). My main interest is certainly CW with occasional forays into SSB and even data, and I note the selection of roofing filters available, no doubt the 8-pole are somewhat better but what is the general feeling regarding the bandwidth(s) to be included. Ivan G3IZD __ 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] KX3 power reverts from 10W back to 5W
Arno, Sure someone from Elecraft will respond with a technical explanation...sounds a bit like default behaviour to me and also shows there is a difference in the battery and the internal PA voltage and you are maybe close to the fold back voltage. If the supply voltage drops below 12V (I use 7AH SLA batteries so see this often) then it can be lower at the PA internally (c11V + a bit) when it is the KX3 folds back to 5W, no real warning it just does it. I found it a bit annoying when I knew mine was running hot but then the KX3 was designed with battery /P operation in mind (I assume). The KX3 does the same thing to protect the KX3 if the PA gets too hot (you could try this, not sure it will damage the KX3 so be warned, I did this when I fitted a heatsink to reduce the issue... set power out to 10W, key down or send dah dah constantly with a keyer for a few minutes into a dummy load (not on air!) to make it fun do this in bright sun and watch the PA temp rise and rise and the rear metal panel gets hot, eventually the temperature will exceed what is 'safe' and the power will reduce, same thing happens for excess current say if a PA transistor is failing or an antenna impedance/VSWR changes there are multiple reasons and a few other situations all are designed to protect the KX3. You could monitor the KX3 reported PA temperature and the KX3 reported voltage and see when it happens so you know when to adjust the power out level yourself or know when it is likely to happen. I have a really nice light weight /P switch mode mains power supply it provides 12.2V (was for a CCTV camera) the KX3 will never exceed 8W out with it on CW, if you set 10W it folds back immediately to 5W. 72 Dom M1KTA On 05/08/13 22:49, Arno Dienhart wrote: So I had set up in the park, with a charged 12V 17Ah battery connected. It was a hot day but I was in the shade. Every time I set power level to 10W and keyed the TX, it reverted back to 5W instantly. Why? The Volt meter showed 12.3 V at RX and dropped to 11.7V at TX. Was that the reason (getting below 12V)? Was the PA getting too hot? It never went below 5W. Thanks for any tips, 73, Arno __ 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] KX3 power reverts from 10W back to 5W
I have found that with even a freshly charged 7Ah battery that the power folds back, on some bands especially, even if the internal atu has found a good match. However, in almost all cases setting the power output to 8W rather than initially 10W it doesn't happen as much, at least not until the battery voltage has fallen well below 12V. 73 Stephen G4SJP On Tuesday, 6 August 2013, Dominic Baines wrote: Arno, Sure someone from Elecraft will respond with a technical explanation...sounds a bit like default behaviour to me and also shows there is a difference in the battery and the internal PA voltage and you are maybe close to the fold back voltage. If the supply voltage drops below 12V (I use 7AH SLA batteries so see this often) then it can be lower at the PA internally (c11V + a bit) when it is the KX3 folds back to 5W, no real warning it just does it. I found it a bit annoying when I knew mine was running hot but then the KX3 was designed with battery /P operation in mind (I assume). The KX3 does the same thing to protect the KX3 if the PA gets too hot (you could try this, not sure it will damage the KX3 so be warned, I did this when I fitted a heatsink to reduce the issue... set power out to 10W, key down or send dah dah constantly with a keyer for a few minutes into a dummy load (not on air!) to make it fun do this in bright sun and watch the PA temp rise and rise and the rear metal panel gets hot, eventually the temperature will exceed what is 'safe' and the power will reduce, same thing happens for excess current say if a PA transistor is failing or an antenna impedance/VSWR changes there are multiple reasons and a few other situations all are designed to protect the KX3. You could monitor the KX3 reported PA temperature and the KX3 reported voltage and see when it happens so you know when to adjust the power out level yourself or know when it is likely to happen. I have a really nice light weight /P switch mode mains power supply it provides 12.2V (was for a CCTV camera) the KX3 will never exceed 8W out with it on CW, if you set 10W it folds back immediately to 5W. 72 Dom M1KTA On 05/08/13 22:49, Arno Dienhart wrote: So I had set up in the park, with a charged 12V 17Ah battery connected. It was a hot day but I was in the shade. Every time I set power level to 10W and keyed the TX, it reverted back to 5W instantly. Why? The Volt meter showed 12.3 V at RX and dropped to 11.7V at TX. Was that the reason (getting below 12V)? Was the PA getting too hot? It never went below 5W. Thanks for any tips, 73, Arno __**__**__ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/**mailman/listinfo/elecrafthttp://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.**htmhttp://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 -- Sent from Gmail Mobile __ 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] KX3 12kHz audio spike
This is most likely power supply ripple from the variable loading of the DSP, which occurs at a 12 kHz rate. You may be able to reduce it by setting MENU:RX ISO to ON. This increases average current in part by preventing the DSP from sleeping between tasks, thus smoothing out some of the power supply load. It is always best to use headphones or external speakers that have limited response above 5 kHz with the KX3. The radio will not pass audio information above this frequency, so the only thing wide response headphones or speakers will provide is additional noise. This is particularly true if your ears haven't aged to provide some low-pass function for you :-) 73, Lyle KK7P While doing some tests tonight to compare the white noise of my Icom IC-7000 to the white noise of the KX3, both having the AF gain turned all the way down, I noticed... __ 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 Roofing filters
I know many users are happy with the 700 Hz roofing filter you guys have had custom-made. However, I am wondering just how helpful it actually is, compared to other, more standard roofing filter BWs. If a 700 Hz bandwidth is ideal for scanning, just how is a roofing filter needed when scanning? By definition, when scanning, one is tuning across a band, looking for a signal of interest. Is a medium-narrow roofing filter really helpful in this case? Does it make scanning more productive than say, a 1 KHz filter? I am not trying to be argumentative, just trying to understand how a roofing filter of this width may be (more) useful (than other choices) in a radio like the K3 with continuously variable final DSP filtering. Thanks for any input, Bruce N1RX In addition to the choices available from Elecraft and INRAD, WB2ART and I also offer a 700 Hz (wide CW) alternative. IMHO 700 Hz fits really well between the INRAD 1.5 k Hz and 400 Hz filters and it's ideal for scanning... __ 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] KX3 12kHz audio spike
Hello Lyle, I really like your last sentence. I can still hear somewhere around 12Khz or higher. This hearing ability is good for Hifi audio but bad for listening to radio. My ears are very sensitive to DSP artifacts. This is the reason why I found the DSP board upgrade for earlier version K3 was necessary. TNX 73, Johnny VR2XMC 寄件人︰ Lyle Johnson kk7p4...@gmail.com 收件人︰ elecraft elecraft@mailman.qth.net 傳送日期︰ 2013年08月6日 (週二) 8:51 PM 主題︰ Re: [Elecraft] KX3 12kHz audio spike This is most likely power supply ripple from the variable loading of the DSP, which occurs at a 12 kHz rate. You may be able to reduce it by setting MENU:RX ISO to ON. This increases average current in part by preventing the DSP from sleeping between tasks, thus smoothing out some of the power supply load. It is always best to use headphones or external speakers that have limited response above 5 kHz with the KX3. The radio will not pass audio information above this frequency, so the only thing wide response headphones or speakers will provide is additional noise. This is particularly true if your ears haven't aged to provide some low-pass function for you :-) 73, Lyle KK7P While doing some tests tonight to compare the white noise of my Icom IC-7000 to the white noise of the KX3, both having the AF gain turned all the way down, I noticed... __ 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 Roofing filters
Hi Ivan, 250 Hz: CW and some data modes 1.8 KHz: Other data modes (MT63, WL2K) and SSB Narrow 2.8 KHz: Normal SSB 6.0 KHz: SWL (AM and DSB) and 80m AM nets 15.0 KHz: FM on 10m and 6m The 250 Hz roofing filter works extremely well in crowded band conditions on CW. It's also just about right for low-bandwidth data modes like PSK, Thor, Olivia, etc. If you only need two, I'd go with 250 Hz and 2.8 KHz. Both are 8-pole. I say this because your main interest is in CW, and either the 2.7 or 2.8 KHz filter is needed no matter what. I've had both 5- and 8-pole filters. The skirts are somewhat steeper with the 8-pole, but both types perform quite well. Just remember that the DSP provides most of the filtering you'll hear. The roofiing filters reduce (or in many cases, eliminate) close-in blocking from adjacent interference. Very handy in crowded contest conditions. 73, matt W6NIA On Tue, 06 Aug 2013 10:37:27 +0100 (BST), you wrote: I am about to purchase a K3 (k). My main interest is certainly CW with occasional forays into SSB and even data, and I note the selection of roofing filters available, no doubt the 8-pole are somewhat better but what is the general feeling regarding the bandwidth(s) to be included. Ivan G3IZD __ 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 Roofing filters
Unlike many other transceivers, ultimate selectivity in the K3 is not determined by the crystal filter. Ultimate selectivity is determined by the DSP whilst the roofing filter only impacts narrow band dynamic range (the level of close in signals applied to the second mixer and analog to digital converter [ADC]). In this case, the roofing filter sets the maximum bandwidth of the receive chain. See discussions by Elecraft here: http://www.elecraft.com/K3/Roofing_Filters.htm My experience leads me to recommend the standard 2.7 KHz (5 pole) for SSB (based on theexchange price) with the added $130 spent on a 2.1 or 1.8 KHz filter if necessary. For CW and digital I would choose 400 Hz as the primary filter (the 500 Hz INRAD if one uses some of the 500 Hz wide MFSK based modes) and the 200 Hz 5 pole for critical CW (or possibly PSK31 and JT9) in the presence of strong adjacent signals. I don't see the need for a 1000 or 700 Hz filter as when conditions allow wide scanning, one of the SSB filters is generally sufficient in combination with DSP set to 1000/800/700 Hz. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 8/6/2013 5:37 AM, g3...@sky.com wrote: I am about to purchase a K3 (k). My main interest is certainly CW with occasional forays into SSB and even data, and I note the selection of roofing filters available, no doubt the 8-pole are somewhat better but what is the general feeling regarding the bandwidth(s) to be included. Ivan G3IZD __ 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 Roofing filters
Ivan, you wrote: I am about to purchase a K3 (k). My main interest is certainly CW with occasional forays into SSB and even data, and I note the selection of roofing filters available, no doubt the 8-pole are somewhat better but what is the general feeling regarding the bandwidth(s) to be included. From the operating you plan, and having operated many different K-3s, for SSB CW I would suggest: 1. The standard 2.7 KHz filter for occasional SSB. As others have mentioned, the roofing filter is to protect the DSP. 2. A 400 Hz, 8-pole (or 500 Hz-8 pole) filter for general CW operation (I find anything narrower too restricting for general operating band awareness) 3. If you are inclined to contest or dig really deep for rare DX, add a 200 Hz or 250 Hz filter, also. (Crank it in--only when needed.) I'll defer to others about the better bandwidths for data modes. 73 de K3YD __ 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] KX3 12kHz audio spike
Lyle: I gave setting RX ISO to ON a try, and though I can see some small changes in the spectrum analyzer, it doesn't seem to change the 12 kHz spike or its harmonics. Granted, my hearing is abnormally good for my age. I can still hear up to about 18 kHz, which is pretty unusual for an almost-38-year-old I'm told. Flyback transformers in old TVs and monitors are the worst thing in the world. I wonder if connecting a 100uF capacitor across the headphone output would be about right to attenuate noise above 5kHz. Johnny: I did this test by routing the headphone output of the KX3 into the input of a Roland Quad Capture, which is effectively just a really high-quality sound card, turned the gain on the Quad Capture up about halfway, and sampled the audio at 192kHz, 32-bit mono into Sound Forge. Then I ran Sound Forge's spectrum analysis tool on the captured audio. You could probably perform a similar test using an ordinary sound card to see whether you have the spike at 12kHz, but you might not see the ones at 24, 36, and 48kHz if your sound card won't sample above 48000 Hz or won't provide enough gain. Free tools like Audacity also provide spectrum analysis if you don't already have something like Sound Forge. Thanks for the input; it's nice to know at least that I'm not crazy ;-) 73, Nick On 6 August 2013 05:51, Lyle Johnson kk7p4...@gmail.com wrote: This is most likely power supply ripple from the variable loading of the DSP, which occurs at a 12 kHz rate. You may be able to reduce it by setting MENU:RX ISO to ON. This increases average current in part by preventing the DSP from sleeping between tasks, thus smoothing out some of the power supply load. It is always best to use headphones or external speakers that have limited response above 5 kHz with the KX3. The radio will not pass audio information above this frequency, so the only thing wide response headphones or speakers will provide is additional noise. This is particularly true if your ears haven't aged to provide some low-pass function for you :-) 73, Lyle KK7P While doing some tests tonight to compare the white noise of my Icom IC-7000 to the white noise of the KX3, both having the AF gain turned all the way down, I noticed... __**__**__ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/**mailman/listinfo/elecrafthttp://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.**htmhttp://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:elecr...@mailman.qth.**net Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html -- *N6OL* Saying something doesn't make it true. Belief in something doesn't make it real. And if you have to lie to support a position, that position is not worth supporting. __ 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] For Sale: K3/100
Mint K3/100, s/n 4935. Little use. No 2nd rx or tuner. Options: TCXO, KXV3A, KFL3A-200 and 500. $2200.00 shipped FedEx ground. __ 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] Antenna comparisons, WSPRnet and timed serial port macros
I've been doing some performance comparison between two antennas I am using. I'm compiling data of my WSPR transmissions and spots over periods of many hours. I got a little carried away and made up a spreadsheet to compare reciprocal signal reports as well as the performance differences between my two antennas... Basically, I am manually switching from one antenna to the other on a reqular basis, keeping track of which time periods each is in use. What I'd like to do is automate the antenna switching on my K3 at periodic intervals. The question is, what is the simplest solution for achieving this? Don't really want to install some full-blown logging-control software. I am wondering if there is perhaps some little generic utility available that will send user specified commands over the serial port at specified intervals. Is there anything like that available? (Years ago there was a great telecom program called COMMO that could do this.) 73, Drew AF2Z __ 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 roofing filters
My 2 cents worth: Since you are primarily a cw operator, you may now or in the future want the roofing filter that is the ultimate in protecting the DSP in the toughest possible conditions such as when you are running big antennas in a contest on the lower bands. This would mean a very narrow roofing filter. Under other conditions you may encounter conditions that are less severe, but would still cause the DSP to be overwhelmed if you were to use an ssb roofing filter. It would then make sense to have a moderately wide cw roofing filter. Of course, since it is easy to add filters, for many it makes sense to get the latter filter first and add the sharpest filter later if you find you need it. But plan ahead; if you see a possiblity that you will buy a sharper filter later, don't pick the first filter such that it is too similar to that sharp filter to come later. (This advice is given based on your main focus on the cw mode. If you were not mainly a cw operator, it might make more sense to plan for only one cw roofing filter even in the long run.) So, plan ahead right now and decide what is that ultimate narrow filter to you. In practice, that means either the 200 Hz 5-pole or the 250 Hz (in reality about 325 Hz if I remember correctly) 8-pole filter. In other words, what is more useful: the narrower bandwidth at the peak of the 5-pole or the steeper flanks of the 8-pole? I have not made a practical comparison, but my choice was the 200 Hz filter based on a rather simplified argument about what the roofing filter's job is: Most of the time even an SSB roofing filter is fine for cw operation. The need for a narrower roofing filter appears when there are too many, too strong signals in the gaps between the roofing filter passband and the narrower DSP passband (the portion of the band that you are actually listening to). Things are fine until the combined voltage of those unwanted signals as well as the wanted signals (within the dsp passband) exceeds the input voltage capacity of the analog-to-digital converter (or actually the threshold of the hardware agc that will prevent that from happening). While in most casual operation situations there will be no problem even with an ssb roofing filter, most of those situations that require a cw roofing filter will only need the signals in the gaps to be attenuated by a moderate amount, say 10 or 20 dB, to get the job done. I don't see any direct advantage in picking a roofing filter that provides an ultimate attenuation of, say 80 dB over one that provides just 60 dB. I don't remember the ultimate attenuation numbers for the 5-pole and 8-pole filters, so I am just making a general argument here when I suggest that ultimate attenuation is not a reason to use 8-pole filters for the particular reason of ultimate attenuation in selecting a very narrow cw roofing filter. OTOH, the steeper flanks of an 8-pole filter are obviously helpful. How helpful? That depends in the particular situation on how the offending signals are distributed in the passband gaps. Also, while the flanks of the 5-pole filters are not as steep, they may provide better attenuation on a given signal due to the fact that the curve starts closer to the primary wanted signal. Without the benefit of actual comparison, I simply figure that the competition between the filters w.r.t. gap attenuation may be a wash. But remember that signals within the wanted passband also contribute to potential ADC overload. It is therefore very helpful to crank down the dsp bandwidth as long as the roofing filter bandwidth is correspondingly reduced. If we can go from a 325 Hz (nominal 250 Hz) roofing filter to a 200 Hz one, we are reducing the onslaught on the ADC very substantially, by reducing the wanted passband (I assume that the dsp setting changes in the same way), and this in addition to what may happen in what I have called the gaps. Bottom line: I think the 200 Hz filter (and not the 250 Hz one) is the ultimate narrow cw filter. While other list members may have more experience with practical comparison, I don't remember reading about anyone claiming otherwise, for strict cw operation. Of course if you just can't stand listening to just a 200 Hz slice of the band, even in the toughest contest situations, your choice could still be different. Ditto if you are not so much a cw operator as an RTTY operator. Anyway, my own choice was the 200Hz, and I have not regretted it. Now getting back to that other cw filter, which may be the only one you buy to begin with. As many people have pointed out, it makes sense to have significant differences between the roofing filter bandwidths. If the narrowest is 200 Hz, then I wouldn't consider anything narrower than the 400 Hz for the normal cw roofing filter. You probably want something wide enough that you can hear who is next to you. Many people want a really wide cw listening bandwidth for everyday casual
Re: [Elecraft] Antenna comparisons, WSPRnet and timed serial port macros
Here is a link that may answer part of the question: http://batchloaf.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/simple-trick-for-sending-characters-to-a-serial-port-in-windows/ His simple method of doing echo hello or your command string to com1 would probably work. You could then make that a batch file to be run periodically. While I am not currently a Windows user I seem to recall an ON command that can schedule things. Hope this helps. Regards, RayW0PFO -- On 08/06/2013 11:36 AM, drewko wrote: The question is, what is the simplest solution for achieving this? Don't really want to install some full-blown logging-control software. I am wondering if there is perhaps some little generic utility available that will send user specified commands over the serial port at specified intervals. Is there anything like that available? (Years ago there was a great telecom program called COMMO that could do this.) 73, Drew AF2Z __ 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] Antenna comparisons, WSPRnet and timed serial port macros
Get a mechanical timer, one that has the pegs in a wheel to set on and off times to control a lamp etc. Set up an antenna relay that connects one antenna when power is on, and the other when off. 73 - Mike WA8BXN ---Original Message--- From: drewko Date: 8/6/2013 12:36:39 PM To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Antenna comparisons, WSPRnet and timed serial port macros I've been doing some performance comparison between two antennas I am using. I'm compiling data of my WSPR transmissions and spots over periods of many hours. I got a little carried away and made up a spreadsheet to compare reciprocal signal reports as well as the performance differences between my two antennas... Basically, I am manually switching from one antenna to the other on a reqular basis, keeping track of which time periods each is in use. What I'd like to do is automate the antenna switching on my K3 at periodic intervals. The question is, what is the simplest solution for achieving this? Don't really want to install some full-blown logging-control software. I am wondering if there is perhaps some little generic utility available that will send user specified commands over the serial port at specified intervals. Is there anything like that available? (Years ago there was a great telecom program called COMMO that could do this.) 73, Drew AF2Z __ 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] KX3 power reverts from 10W back to 5W
Wayne, I can't confirm a low Z as I don't have an analyzer. If this helps to guess: I was using the ZS6BKW version of the G5RV, with 70' of coax connected to the window line from the doublet and no matching network between that connection. The ATU was able to achieve a 1.0:1 SWR. RX was exceptionally low-noise but TX did not get a lot of contacts (may have been other factors). 73, Arno -Original Message- From: Wayne Burdick [mailto:n...@elecraft.com] Sent: Monday, August 05, 2013 19:46 To: Arno Dienhart Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 power reverts from 10W back to 5W Most likely your antenna load Z was on the low side, increasing TX current drain. Either excess TX current or supply voltage below 11 V can cause power to revert to 5 watts. 73, Wayne N6KR http://www.elecraft.com On Aug 5, 2013, at 5:46 PM, Arno Dienhart a...@broadweave.net wrote: Hi Wayne, I measured with the built-in meter. Sorry, I don't have a dummy load, so I cannot test that. Next time I will connect two of the same sealed lead acid batteries in parallel and see if something changes. No problem to use two. Thank you for the explanation. At least I can be sure that nothing is wrong with my KX3. 73, Arno -Original Message- From: Wayne Burdick [mailto:n...@elecraft.com] Sent: Monday, August 05, 2013 17:02 To: Arno Dienhart Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 power reverts from 10W back to 5W Hi Arno, The KX3 requires 11.0 volts minimum on key-down for power output levels of greater than 5 W. We do this to ensure low IMD in SSB transmit mode, but it's good practice in general because most 12-V batteries can be damaged quickly if you let the voltage go much below 11.0 with a heavy load applied. When you measured the voltage on key-down, were you using a voltmeter at the battery, or the one in the radio? You could have been dropping some voltage across the power supply wires (+ and - leads probably about the same), or in the KX3's DC input circuitry (reverse-polarity diode, current sense resistor, etc.). So even if you read 11.7 V, it's possible that you briefly dipped below that 11.0 threshold. Try running it into a dummy load, using the same battery. What is the voltage on key-down? (Make sure to bypass the ATU or tune it into the dummy load for this test.) 73, Wayne N6KR On Aug 5, 2013, at 2:49 PM, Arno Dienhart a...@broadweave.net wrote: So I had set up in the park, with a charged 12V 17Ah battery connected. It was a hot day but I was in the shade. Every time I set power level to 10W and keyed the TX, it reverted back to 5W instantly. Why? The Volt meter showed 12.3 V at RX and dropped to 11.7V at TX. Was that the reason (getting below 12V)? Was the PA getting too hot? It never went below 5W. Thanks for any tips, 73, Arno __ 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] TDiH Monte Sano QRP Events
Monte Sano BBQ and Buildathon Event: Per Two Days in Huntsville (TDiH) tradition, another mountaintop QRP gathering, complete with Southern BBQ and special QRP events, will occur in Monte Sano State Park Saturday evening, 8/17/13. This year, we will do a Buildathon as our special QRP event! Designer Rex Harper—W1REX of QRPme fame is flying down from Maine to facilitate the building of 35th Anniversary Tuna Tin Transmitters and special QRPme Dummy Load boards. Additional details and sign-up sheets will be located at the QRP ARCI Booth and at the QRP forum room. Attendance will be limited this year, since we are limited as to how many people can be at our Rustic Cabin. We intend to build and test 15 kit sets, so attendee selection criteria will focus on builders first. A modest number of non-kit building attendees will be able to attend as long as we do not exceed a total of 30 attendees. 72, Craig—NM4T __ 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 Roofing filters
Excellent answer from Don, W3FPR. I fit the mostly SSB type with sub-Rx, so I use diversity reception. I chose for the main Rx: 13-KHz (for AM and FM) 2.8-KHz 400-Hz The sub-Rx has just the 2.8-KHz filter I chose the 8-pole for ease in set up for diversity Rx and for the steeper skirts (which I may not really needed up here in AK, but I figured made the resale value better). The DSP bw control works fine and I often narrow the high split on weak or noisy SSB to improve reception. I keep the low split at 200-Hz. The 400-Hz filter makes CW reception of a single station possible. 400-Hz filter is really amazing. I have not used it on CW eme but expect it will provide some advantages in narrowing the noise bw. Typically, I run 100-Hz for eme CW once I have the signal tuned. Scanning for eme signals I use the wider SSB bw and waterfall displays to detect the signal. Most of my eme on 2m is using digital mode so no filter is used as I export the IF of the K3 to LP-Pan and therefore to a soundcard. Digital eme is watched not heard. I actually have the K3 select an empty filter slot when running DATA-A which eliminates a center frequency gain suck out (black zone on zero freq display). 73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com dubus...@gmail.com Kits made by KL7UW __ 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] Huntsville Hamfest--TDiH Monte Sano BBQ Buildathon
Monte Sano BBQ and Buildathon Event:Per Two Days in Huntsville (TDiH) tradition, another mountaintop QRP gathering, complete with Southern BBQ and special QRP event, will occur in Monte Sano State Park Saturday evening, 8/17/13. This year, we will do a Buildathon as our special QRP event! Designer Rex Harper—W1REX of QRPme fame is flying down from Maine to facilitate the building of 35th Anniversary Tuna Tin Transmitters and special QRPme Dummy Load boards. Additional details and sign-up sheets will be located at the QRP ARCI Booth and at the QRP forum room. Attendance will be limited this year, since we are limited as to how many people can be at our Rustic Cabin. We intend to build and test 15 kit sets, so attendee selection criteria will focus on builders first. A modest number of non-kit building attendees will be able to attend as long as we do not exceed a total of 30 attendees. Per TDiH tradition, we will also have some unannounced surprises as well as name drawing for door prizes at each of the forums and at the Cabin. 72,Craig—NM4T __ 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] Antenna comparisons, WSPRnet and timed serial port macros
Brian, Yes, I want to send the ANT 1/2 switch command to the K3, say every quarter hour. I believe there is no serial port rig control from the WSPR software to contend with, just the tones from the soundcard that key the rig periodically. So, I just need a utility to send the ant switch command over the serial port to the K3 at fixed intervals. Actually, I have found an old copy of COMMO that may run in a DOS window. I'll try it later but if someone knows of a more recent similar program pls let me know, thanks. 73, Drew AF2Z On Tue, 06 Aug 2013 17:02:50 +, you wrote: Drew, Do you mean K3's internal antenna 1/2 or some external antenna switch? If K3's internal: Try the commands AN1; and AN2; in the firmware update program to see if it does what you want. That command can easily be programed in a stand alone program. If you are using rig control in WSPR, then you would need to share the COM port with a program like LPBRIDGE. If external box, then you can kluge something mechanical/electrical up to do the switching at prescribed intervals. 73 de Brian/K3KO On 8/6/2013 16:36, drewko wrote: I've been doing some performance comparison between two antennas I am using. I'm compiling data of my WSPR transmissions and spots over periods of many hours. I got a little carried away and made up a spreadsheet to compare reciprocal signal reports as well as the performance differences between my two antennas... Basically, I am manually switching from one antenna to the other on a reqular basis, keeping track of which time periods each is in use. What I'd like to do is automate the antenna switching on my K3 at periodic intervals. The question is, what is the simplest solution for achieving this? Don't really want to install some full-blown logging-control software. I am wondering if there is perhaps some little generic utility available that will send user specified commands over the serial port at specified intervals. Is there anything like that available? (Years ago there was a great telecom program called COMMO that could do this.) 73, Drew AF2Z __ 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] Antenna comparisons, WSPRnet and timed serial port macros
Ray, Thanks! That's what I had in mind... I believe it is the AT command (not ON). Also, SCHTASKS perhaps... 73, Drew AF2Z On Tue, 06 Aug 2013 12:52:57 -0500, you wrote: Here is a link that may answer part of the question: http://batchloaf.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/simple-trick-for-sending-characters-to-a-serial-port-in-windows/ His simple method of doing echo hello or your command string to com1 would probably work. You could then make that a batch file to be run periodically. While I am not currently a Windows user I seem to recall an ON command that can schedule things. Hope this helps. Regards, RayW0PFO __ 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] KX3 12kHz audio spike
Nick, I think Lyle meant to type RX I/Q, not RX ISO. Turning on the RX I/Q outputs (which is accompanied by the DSP load leveling) will reduce the 12 kHz spur by 15 to 20 dB typically. Doing this also increases overall supply current by about 10 mA. When looking at these spurs on an audio spectrum analyzer that uses a very narrow resolution bandwidth, they're quite prominent. But they are at or below the noise in a 12 kHz (or greater) bandwidth. For quite a few of us we would never know they were there without the instrumentation. I guess good hearing can be a blessing or a curse, depending on what you're listening to... :-) 73, Rich AC7MA On 08/06/2013 07:41 AM, Nicklas Johnson wrote: Lyle: I gave setting RX ISO to ON a try, and though I can see some small changes in the spectrum analyzer, it doesn't seem to change the 12 kHz spike or its harmonics. Granted, my hearing is abnormally good for my age. I can still hear up to about 18 kHz, which is pretty unusual for an almost-38-year-old I'm told. Flyback transformers in old TVs and monitors are the worst thing in the world. I wonder if connecting a 100uF capacitor across the headphone output would be about right to attenuate noise above 5kHz. Johnny: I did this test by routing the headphone output of the KX3 into the input of a Roland Quad Capture, which is effectively just a really high-quality sound card, turned the gain on the Quad Capture up about halfway, and sampled the audio at 192kHz, 32-bit mono into Sound Forge. Then I ran Sound Forge's spectrum analysis tool on the captured audio. You could probably perform a similar test using an ordinary sound card to see whether you have the spike at 12kHz, but you might not see the ones at 24, 36, and 48kHz if your sound card won't sample above 48000 Hz or won't provide enough gain. Free tools like Audacity also provide spectrum analysis if you don't already have something like Sound Forge. Thanks for the input; it's nice to know at least that I'm not crazy ;-) 73, Nick On 6 August 2013 05:51, Lyle Johnson kk7p4...@gmail.com wrote: This is most likely power supply ripple from the variable loading of the DSP, which occurs at a 12 kHz rate. You may be able to reduce it by setting MENU:RX ISO to ON. This increases average current in part by preventing the DSP from sleeping between tasks, thus smoothing out some of the power supply load. It is always best to use headphones or external speakers that have limited response above 5 kHz with the KX3. The radio will not pass audio information above this frequency, so the only thing wide response headphones or speakers will provide is additional noise. This is particularly true if your ears haven't aged to provide some low-pass function for you :-) 73, Lyle KK7P While doing some tests tonight to compare the white noise of my Icom IC-7000 to the white noise of the KX3, both having the AF gain turned all the way down, I noticed... __**__**__ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/**mailman/listinfo/elecrafthttp://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.**htmhttp://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:elecr...@mailman.qth.**net 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 Roofing filters
From the operating you plan, and having operated many different K-3s, for SSB CW I would suggest: 1. The standard 2.7 KHz filter for occasional SSB. As others have mentioned, the roofing filter is to protect the DSP. 2. A 400 Hz, 8-pole (or 500 Hz-8 pole) filter for general CW operation (I find anything narrower too restricting for general operating band awareness) 3. If you are inclined to contest or dig really deep for rare DX, add a 200 Hz or 250 Hz filter, also. (Crank it in--only when needed.) I'll defer to others about the better bandwidths for data modes. 73 de K3YD Hello Ivan, and welcome to the K3! Knowing your interests, I'd agree with Blair above, and with Joe before that. Coming to the K3 from the FT-1000MP, I already had a particular liking for the Inrad 400Hz filter for general-purpose CW and RTTY because of its comfortable bandwidth and nicely shaped passband. The Elecraft 200Hz 5-pole filter is useful for really tight spots, and you can hear the difference with strong signals very close in (some people may disagree... but they probably aren't in Europe :-) For casual SSB the stock 2.7kHz 5-pole filter performs quite well, using SHIFT and WIDTH to control most of the QRM. However, I also happened to have a 1.8kHz Inrad 8-pole filter from the 1000MP which needed only a change of interface board to make it compatible with the K3, and I find that very good for SSB contesting. 73 from Ian GM3SEK __ 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] KX3 12kHz audio spike
On 8/6/2013 5:51 AM, Lyle Johnson wrote: It is always best to use headphones or external speakers that have limited response above 5 kHz with the KX3. The radio will not pass audio information above this frequency, so the only thing wide response headphones or speakers will provide is additional noise. Horsepucky. This is nothing more than an excuse for poor design. There are several possible solutions, perhaps in combination, but using lousy headphones or speakers is not one of them -- headphones and speakers with poor HF response are also likely to have very bumpy amplitude and phase response in midrange. First, the audio bandwidth ought to be limited in the radio -- a few poles of low pass around 6 kHz would make a nice dent at 12 kHz. Second, if there's that much ripple, it sure sounds to me like the power supply is either inadequately filtered or poorly regulated, or there's insufficient decoupling somewhere in the audio chain. Or perhaps even a circuit layout issue. On several occasions, I've urged the Elecraft engineering team to attend one of Henry Ott's excellent EMC workshops. Henry talks about keeping track of where the current is flowing -- ALL of the current, not just the intended current, and he talks about the invisible schematic hidden behind the ground symbol, which is one of the most common ways we lose track of the return current. If, for example, the current associated with that 12 kHz clock happens to share a return current path with an audio gain stage, it gets added to the audio. It's the same sort of mechanism that if it's at the junction of the box and the outside world we call a Pin One Problem. 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] KX3 12kHz audio spike
Ahh, that's why I love this reflector. One always has a chance to learn new technical terms On 8/6/2013 12:46 PM, Jim Brown wrote: Horsepucky. . . . . . __ 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] OT: External Speaker Mod
I have a the Altec Lansing BX1221 speakers for an external speaker system for my K3 / KX3. I really like them and they are very RF friendly in my environment. The one thing about them I don't like is the power switch is in the back. Has anyone modded theirs to put the power switch somewhere else? I have a hard time with my meat hooks reaching back in my setup to turn them on and off. 73, Joel - KV4OY __ 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] KAT500 production firmware version updated to 1.41
I did, copied both files to a directory I named KAT500fw0141...pointed to it, works fine, looks like the ones the zip versions did. - Chuck, KE9UW -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KAT500-production-firmware-version-updated-to-1-41-tp7577412p7577461.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] FS: Factory Assembled K3 S/N 6061
I have made the difficult decision of parting with my factory assembled K3 S/N 6061. I have very little time for ham radio right now due to family commitments, and most of my ham radio time is spent operating my KX3. K3 has hardly been used since I bought it in December 2011 (especially after getting the KX3 8 months later), so looks like new with no scratches whatsoever. The radio includes the following options: K3/100-F K3 100W Transceiver- Assembled $2,349.95 KFL3A-500 K3 500 Hz, 5 Pole Filter $89.95 K3SSKT K3 Stainless H/W Kit $19.95 KUSB Universal Serial Bus Adapter $39.95 KXV3A RX Ant., IF Out and Xverter Interface $119.95 Total (If bought today) $2,619.75 I'm asking $2,150 shipped FedEx ground. I can provide pictures upon request. 73, Robert - W4/KP4Y (Tampa,FL) __ 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] Hearing aids, meet K3
So I finally accepted the fact that my hearing isn't what it used to be. I got my hearing tested and hearing aids are in order. No simple hearing aids for me, though. I want the high-tech ones with multiple programs for different environments. I'm interested in how others with hearing aids adjust the K3 receive equalization and AGC to match their hearing aids, or vice versa. Thanks much! 73 Don NA6Z K3-KPA500-KAT500 QRZ? QRZ? __ 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] Hearing aids, meet K3
I've finally accepted the fact that I'm damn near deaf, way too many close explosions in my 20's. My hearing aids work really great. Unfortunately, unless you're a US Veteran, they're going to be costly. Mine are about $6K a pair, and they have multiple programs, when they sense music they change, and when they sense speech, they change again. I'm heading toward totally deaf, not sure what I'll do for CW, but working on it. Bottom line, if you can afford the new digital ones, it's worth it and then some. They really changed my life. Ask me about the K3 EQ. 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2013 Cal QSO Party 5-6 Oct 2013 - www.cqp.org On 8/6/2013 8:06 PM, Don Putnick wrote: So I finally accepted the fact that my hearing isn't what it used to be. I got my hearing tested and hearing aids are in order. No simple hearing aids for me, though. I want the high-tech ones with multiple programs for different environments. I'm interested in how others with hearing aids adjust the K3 receive equalization and AGC to match their hearing aids, or vice versa. Thanks much! __ 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] Antenna comparisons, WSPRnet and timed serial port macros
Ray, Tks again for the idea. I now have the batch files set up to switch the K3's ANT every hour, half-hour or 15 mts while WSPR is running.; no other software needed. My only question is: what happens if the K3 receives a serial command to switch ANT while it is transmitting? I assume the command will just be ignored, but would like to know for sure... 73, Drew AF2Z On Tue, 06 Aug 2013 12:52:57 -0500, you wrote: Here is a link that may answer part of the question: http://batchloaf.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/simple-trick-for-sending-characters-to-a-serial-port-in-windows/ His simple method of doing echo hello or your command string to com1 would probably work. You could then make that a batch file to be run periodically. While I am not currently a Windows user I seem to recall an ON command that can schedule things. Hope this helps. Regards, RayW0PFO __ 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] Hearing aids, meet K3
Don, No adjustment to the K3 should be necessary. Your audiologist should adjust your hearing aids to compensate for your hearing loss, and after that is done, you can adjust the K3 RX EQ for your personal preferences. I have a program in my aids that has no noise reduction, and expands my hearing to be as flat as possible - that is my music program - sustained musical notes do not make the aids think that is noise and suppress it - I like to hear music as it was intended to sound. That is the program I use in normal household (and ham radio) environments. However, I also have 2 programs known as speech in noise that do offer noise cancellation. Those help in noisy environments such as restaurants. The most severe of which cancels sound from the rear so I can best understand the person who is directly in front of me. Work with your audiologist to get the best performance from your hearing aids in those environments that you value the most, and after that, you can make your choices about how you might want to change the response of your K3. My K3 RX EQ settings are all set to zero - my hearing aids are set for maximum intelligibility. YMMV. BTW, I normally use the K3 with speakers (the XYL does not object). If I must use headphones, the hearing aids come out. I may b unique because my lower range hearing without the aids is normal, so I have built-in low pass filters in my ears. Again, YMMV. 73, Don W3FPR 73, Don W3FPR On 8/6/2013 11:06 PM, Don Putnick wrote: So I finally accepted the fact that my hearing isn't what it used to be. I got my hearing tested and hearing aids are in order. No simple hearing aids for me, though. I want the high-tech ones with multiple programs for different environments. I'm interested in how others with hearing aids adjust the K3 receive equalization and AGC to match their hearing aids, or vice versa. Thanks much! __ 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] KX3 12kHz audio spike
That is absolutely a real effect. Back in the mid-70's I was a product engineer responsible trying to sell tuning diodes to the TV tuner industry. UHF tuners in the U.S. back then were still almost all mechanical, and even though the rest of the world had pretty much already converted to electronic tuning it was a tough sell. Those RF engineers back then were VERY conservative but they really, really knew their stuff. I remember a couple of them giving me a mini-primer on how they designed a mechanical tuner, and it was fascinating. Coupling from the oscillator to the mixer was partially affected by current flow in the very heavy stamped chassis (i.e., ground) partition, and they described how if they needed more coupling they just punched a hole here and there to direct the current where it would have more effect. It might be easy to dismiss such effects as being at VHF frequencies, but that would be a mistake. Currents most certainly do not flow uniformly in ground planes, and coupling effects can be real whenever significant gain is involved. 73, Dave AB7E On 8/6/2013 1:46 PM, Jim Brown wrote: Or perhaps even a circuit layout issue. On several occasions, I've urged the Elecraft engineering team to attend one of Henry Ott's excellent EMC workshops. Henry talks about keeping track of where the current is flowing -- ALL of the current, not just the intended current, and he talks about the invisible schematic hidden behind the ground symbol, which is one of the most common ways we lose track of the return current. If, for example, the current associated with that 12 kHz clock happens to share a return current path with an audio gain stage, it gets added to the audio. It's the same sort of mechanism that if it's at the junction of the box and the outside world we call a Pin One Problem. 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
