[Elecraft] Blue Tooth
Get a Jabra A210 bluetooth adapter which was designed for older cell phones without Bluetooth. You will have to convert the 2.5mm jack to different dimensions. Plug the Xcvr headphone out to the Jabra and synch to your hearing aids. They can still be found on eBay. This will also work on the microphone side for two way hands free, requires a Bluetooth headset with boom mic. AE6WA Mike Scott Tarzana, CA After many decades of Ham Radio (licenced 1953) my ears are showing lack of sensitivity and signal to noise! My friend showed me her new hearing aid and it is Blue Tooth capable, her cell phone connects directly to her hearing aids. It would be absolutely marvellous if the K3 could do the same. I could sit at my desk copying CW without headphones or loudspeaker. What about it Eric and Wayne? Vy 73 Max/ZL4VV/G3JJT __ 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] P3 S meter variance
My K3 S-meter and P-3 show identical S-9/S-3 readings at 50 uV and 1uV with an XG-2 on 40M. Sideband and particularly band noise are different as noted in previous posts for obvious reasons. If your readings are miles apart, time to check calibration of both units. I went through the calibration procedure of the K3 and P3 long before the change to S-meter scales and I find that the calibration of the P3 held when shifting to S-meter scaling. AE6WA Mike Scott Tarzana, CA Roy wrote: I have checked the calibration on both of my K3s with my XG-1, and the K3 S meter is miles apart from the P3 readings in S units. If this is going to be the case especially in SSB, just please say thats the way it going to be. There are a lot of us apparently who are perplexed by these incongruent readings. If this is normal, just say so. Thanks. Roy Morris W4WFB __ 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] P-3 background noise level interpretation
I wonder if someone would check my understanding of interpreting broadband noise on the P-3 display. I have gone through the P-3 calibration procedure on 40M as well as calibrating my S-Meter on the same band. Now when looking at band noise I see the tops of the yellow line at around the -110 dBm level. If I run peak-hold, the peaks are maybe -108 dBm in the region where the K3 is tuned (between the MKR A cursor). Without further interpretation this would indicate S-3 or so. The K3 S-Meter shows S-6 to S-7, hmmm. Should I be adding 10+log(K3 bandwidth/P3 resolution) to my P-3 view to compare with K-3 S-Meter? +/- 10 KHz span: P3 resolution = 20,000/450 = 44.4 Hz K3 bandwidth = 2700 Hz (stock filter) 10*log(2700/44.4) = 17.8 dB -110 dBm +17.8 dB = -92 dBm or around S-6. AE6WA Mike Scott Tarzana, CA __ 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 Rf gain tracking (main vs. sub)
Further to the issue that my K3 RF gain on the sub Rx won't cause the RF gain to go very low (I can still hear band noise and signals on the sub Rx at minimum gain). With the help of Guy I found the RF gain pots on the front panel schematic and understand how they might work. The high end of each 10K RF pot is at +5 volts, the low end is ground. The wiper is a voltage divider which goes to a PIC on the MCU board for decoding through an A-D converter on the PIC. The decoded pot voltage is then used later to compute RF (really IF) gain after some translation magic happens in the PIC and later after all the magic an analog IF gain level is created in a DAC to bias the RF IF amp stage. At least this is my understanding with a lot missing in between. It looks to me that there are HAGC1 and HAGC2 test points on the two RF boards. The HAGC is the hardware AGC which is derived from either the RF gain position Pots or H/W AGC circuitry. If I could find these test points and measure the 0 to 3 volts expected (0 = max gain and 3V = minimum gain) in the respective IF amplifiers I might learn that the sub RX never goes to 3V at minimum RF gain pot setting. The 0-3 volts is biasing a J309 IF amplifier. Because it might have been possible that the ground end of the Sub Rx RF pot was not at ground potential it was possible that the voltage signal on the wiper was not correct and never going to zero. This might be caused by a poor solder connection for example or just a faulty pot. The RF gain pots are accessible by removing the front bottom cover plate. Each of the RF-gain pot connections can be seen by inspecting the location. With a volt meter and tiny hook probes I measured the wiper voltage on the main and sub RF-gain pots at three gain settings: full on (CW), full off (CCW) and 12 o'clock. Pot full on full off 12 o'clock Main 4.682V .002V2.36V Sub 4.682V .002V ` 2.40V It looks to me like both RF-gain pots are doing exactly the right thing. So, now I am down to one MCU PIC A/D port is not working properly, a bad solder connection between the wiper arm and the PIC or Wayne is not decoding the two pots the same way in my serial 506 K3 or the main and sub Rx are treating the decoded RF gain positions differently or some other gain calculation is going on to modify the gain requested by the RF gain pots. I don't know how the variable RF gain setting is accomplished once the PIC decodes the pot position. Since there is no real current draw through the Pot I don't believe a bad solder joint is causing a partial voltage to arrive at the MCU PIC, it should either work or not. To the person who has weird main receiver RF gain action the test I did could help you determine if it is the Pot. As you are looking at the pot with the bottom front cover off put a volt meter on the middle of the three pot connections, the ones on the mic connector side of the pot, the other side of the meter to a convenient ground. You should be working with the most accessible or bottom-most pot. With K3 power on move the main Rx RF gain and check to see that voltage moves from ~5v to 0v smoothly as you turn the pot counter clockwise. I used mini hook grabbers to hook up the meter before turning power on and verified that pot resistance to ground moved properly when gain was moved. I didn't want to have a slip up and short something, this verifies I was connected to the wiper arm of the pot. You can't really test the full range of the pot in circuit with power off with an ohm meter as the high side shows something like 900 ohms resistance to ground with power off. AE6WA Mike Scott Tarzana, CA __ 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 RF gain
Joe (W4TV) Yes I have performed the gain calibration many times on both receivers using the K3 Utility with the XG2. I recently did it after loading the new K3 Utility that supposedly fixed some issue about writing receiver gains to memory. So now you make two people whose RF gain tracks. I can't begin to speculate anymore as to the difference in RF gain behavior in the two receivers. So to repeat: same antenna (to XG2), same stock filters with matched offset, same (0) filter gain, same ATT on, same PRE off, same IF filter width, same NB off, same NR off. Sub Rx gain set to minimum I can still copy signals and hear band noise, Main Rx RF gain set to minimum is dead band. This difference in RF-gain tracking makes it difficult to use reduction in RF gain as a method to manage high band noise conditions. I can't just grab both controls and move them the same, like I can with AF controls which track very well. Stan KR7R Main Rx RF gain behavior is bizarre. In the days of old potentiometers this would be explainable but not with gain controlled by firmware. Maybe a bad RF gain control with odd switch bounce behavior at some gain setting... I would try to move the RF gain knob while K3 is shut down to a new position and then turn it back on to see if the RF gain nonlinearity location changed to someplace other than 9 o'clock. AE6WA Mike Scott Tarzana, CA >>Joe W4TV said. Both of mine operate as expected (same RF/AF gain response for main and KRX3). Have you performed the RF Gain calibration on both of the receivers using a calibrated 50 uV signal source (e.g., XG-2)? __ 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 RF gain
I followed the procedure Markus suggested with no change to my K3 RF gain tracking between main and sub Rx. I have been listening through the 2.7 KHz stock filter in both receivers with identical PRE and ATT and both filter gains set to 0 and identical IF filter bandwidth settings and both receivers sharing the main antenna. I have SQ MAIN = 0; SQ SUB = 0, SUB AF = nor. The offsets are matched on both filters and set properly. Still full CCW on the sub is about 12:00 O'clock on the main. At full RF gain both are about equal. Strong signals are still copyable on the sub Rx with full off RF gain, the main is dead when RF gain is minimum. So I tried an experiment, set main IF Filter (stock filter) to a maximum of +8 dB gain leaving the sub at 0. I still have more gain on the sub Rx than the main at low RF gain settings. At high gain settings, now the main is louder than the sub. So back to zero on the filter gain and very different gain tracking between the receivers. Audio gain perfectly tracks by the way. My K3 behavior is as if Wayne were reading every other RF-Sub gain control impulse and every one on Main. I received a few direct emails from other K3 users and theirs act just like mine. Markus' K3 is now the only one I have heard of that is acting like expectations. AE6WA Mike Scott Tarzana, CA >>Markus said: Problem solved: At identical settings (PRE, ATT, RF/AF Gain), main and sub signal lelvels are now fully identical. __ 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 Sub RF gain
I have noticed a difference in behavior of K3 main and sub receiver RF gain behavior. Listening to a strong signal over S9 on the main Rx as I turn down the RF gain the signal disappears around the 11:30 position. On the sub receiver the signal is still fully copyable with the RF gain full counter clockwise. 12 O'clock on the main is like full CCW on the sub Rx. Both appear full gain at the full CW position. I am operating in diversity at the moment on 40M with ATT in and preamp off, I checked both Receivers show the same. I am listening to both Rx using 2.7 KHz filters. I have performed the K3 gain calibration procedure using an XG2. I am using what I think is the latest utility version 1.3.10.15. Is it possible that others see this behavior and do you find it normal? AE6WA Mike Scott Tarzana CA __ 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 AGC THR doesn't go low enough
I have thought about John's wish for more AGC control. The K3 has a lot of gain, I wonder if greater attenuator control would be more useful. I would like to rotate in another 10 or 20 dB attenuation at times when operating lower bands. I would guess my that wishes would require hardware modifications and John's may not. AE6WA Mike Scott K3, KX1 >John G3XRJ said: I've played around with various AGC settings and in particular the AGC THR - which if it would go 2 or 3 points lower would appear to address the problem. __ 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 and Susan's audio complaint
I think K3 HW modifications were the nail in the coffin for me also. I was asked off line what my AGC setting are. This was my reply... AE6WA Mike Scott Tarzana, CA I have AGC settings as follows: AGC Decay Soft AGC Hold 0.15 AGC Pulse Nor (Default) AGC Slope 12 (Default) AGC Threshold 003 AGC -F 120 (Default) AGC -S 020 (Default) I might be running AGC Slope higher but I want to hear the difference in signal strength in the two receivers when running in diversity mode. Wayne created the soft decay and AGC hold settings in the case that intermodulation distortion caused by noise modulating AGC gain was the culprit. I don't know the exact modification that changed things for me as too many changes were made near the same time. Perhaps the hardware modifications were the big help (LP filter, 100 uF audio out coupling). Both of the HW mods are on the revised RF board. Wayne's FW mod to extend low frequency audio capability may have helped also. I was a beta tester of the LP filter modification and that came almost at the same time as Wayne's FW modification. I suspect audio artifacts above the audio pass band were effecting me in the original case, artifacts that Wayne couldn't hear. I am surprised and grateful that he persevered to help me given that he thought everything was swell... Psychoacoustics is strange and probably very personal... -Original Message- From: Brett Howard [mailto:br...@livecomputers.com] Sent: Saturday, September 18, 2010 12:25 AM To: m...@paxsen.com Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 and Susan's audio complaint I've had the same experience and the LPF board being added to my DSP board is what was the final nail in the coffin to the annoying sound. The low audio extension by changing caps here and there helped a little but the low pass filter to help pull the high frequency stuff out of the audio signature. ~Brett (N7MG) On Fri, Sep 17, 2010 at 8:49 PM, Mike Scott wrote: > I agree with Lou about Susan's CW audio complaint but I did not once. > When I read Susan's plaint I thought that she probably has not gone > through the K3 audio modifications. There was a time that I could not > listen to the K3 in CW mode for very long; it was like fingernails scratching on a blackboard. > The sound so grated on my nerves that I needed to turn it off or stop > operating CW altogether. Somewhere along the path after the audio low > pass filter, the audio output coupling capacitor modifications, and > firmware modifications enhancing LF response the K3 CW mode audio > mellowed for me, actually night and day. The other thing that make a > difference is AGC settings. AGC settings effect IF gain which can > raise background noise level. All of the comments about running RF > gain lower come to play also but I now find that I normally run full > RF gain and I am not bothered by audio issues anymore. > > > > So Susan, what have you done to fix your audio problems in CW? I > propose that you can remedy this. > > > > > >>>I'm surprised you find the CW mode so noisy. I find that one of the >>>best > > things about the DSP in CW mode is that the more you narrow it, the > more the > > noise disappears. If the signal is strong enough, I can get rid of > the > > noise completely. Lou WA3MIX > > > > AE6WA > > Mike Scott > > Tarzana, CA > > > > __ > 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 and Susan's audio complaint
I agree with Lou about Susan's CW audio complaint but I did not once. When I read Susan's plaint I thought that she probably has not gone through the K3 audio modifications. There was a time that I could not listen to the K3 in CW mode for very long; it was like fingernails scratching on a blackboard. The sound so grated on my nerves that I needed to turn it off or stop operating CW altogether. Somewhere along the path after the audio low pass filter, the audio output coupling capacitor modifications, and firmware modifications enhancing LF response the K3 CW mode audio mellowed for me, actually night and day. The other thing that make a difference is AGC settings. AGC settings effect IF gain which can raise background noise level. All of the comments about running RF gain lower come to play also but I now find that I normally run full RF gain and I am not bothered by audio issues anymore. So Susan, what have you done to fix your audio problems in CW? I propose that you can remedy this. >>I'm surprised you find the CW mode so noisy. I find that one of the best things about the DSP in CW mode is that the more you narrow it, the more the noise disappears. If the signal is strong enough, I can get rid of the noise completely. Lou WA3MIX AE6WA Mike Scott Tarzana, CA __ 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] P3 ideas
I am enjoying my P3-K3 combination. I find that the second Rx seems more useful to me now. I used to operate almost all the time in diversity mode. Now I find that I can do that or what I explain below. One of the ways I am using it is setting the center frequency of VFO A to 7.015 MHZ with a +/- 15 KHz span. Then I operate split. I tune with VFO B or cursor B to look at signals. My second Rx is on my vertical, the primary Rx is on an inverted V. So the waterfall is on the inverted V but I am listening and transmitting on the vertical. I can reverse the antennas if I wish depending on what works best. Using this method I keep the waterfall/spectrum fixed, no jumping of the center frequency when I QSY. I know some wished that the spectrum could be fixed while the Rx tunes within the space. This approach does this with the limitation that I am limited to operating with the second Rx. It would be useful to be able to have a fixed spectrum center and span and tune both Rx within the span. Also it would be useful to have one or two demodulators in the P3 producing audio out for cursor A and B. Okay, now I would need four speakers. I like that the spectrum display is calibrated (or will be). I would like the option to be able to switch to an S-meter scale vs. dBm, or maybe dBm left and S-units on the right. I find that I am adjusting REF LVL often. My background noise level must move up and down perhaps with band conditions. I can set it just right and then come back after a period and find the waterfall mostly dark because the background noise has dropped. My thought is that I would like the P3 to have a very-long time AGC that auto adjusts the REF LVL to maintain perhaps some percent speckle rate on the waterfall. AE6WA Mike Scott Tarzana, CA __ 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] P3 amplitude calibration
Given Alan's plans, I detect a need for an XG3 now that he wants to make the P3 amplitude calibration per band. The XG3 could be ten band 160 through 6M accurate 50 uV and 1uV source. Actually I might want something other than 1 uV as that is an awkward value between S3 and S2. So a 10-band source with -73 dBm and -103 dBm outputs might be better because -103 dBm would be S-4 for those who like 6dB per S-unit and S-3 for those who want 5dB per S-unit. AE6WA Mike Scott Tarzana, CA --- Alan N1AL said: On my list of features to add is amplitude calibration, similar to the S-meter calibration in the K3. I plan to make it per-band to account for variations in the K3 RF chain and to separately measure the gain of the K3's preamp and the attenuator. This level of accuracy isn't really needed for normal operation of a radio, but as an ex-Agilent/HP engineer I'm kind of a perfectionist when it comes to measurement accuracy. :=) __ 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] TMP-Taiko Denki connector source
I was looking for a source for TMP cables connector sources. Steve Jackson sent me this source: http://therfc.com/taiko.htm AE6WA Mike Scott Tarzana, CA __ 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] P3 amplitude calibration -4dB
I connected my SG2 on 40M to K3 antenna 1 and ran an amplitude measurement test on the P3 and find a -4dB difference in expectations. I tested P3 level readings with K3 antenna tuner in bypass and P3 IF OUT switch set to off, sub receiver off (this is to make sure I am not sharing the antenna). Configuration of K3 per S-meter calibration set up: Preamp on, ATT off, AGC slow, CW mode, bandwidth normalized using 500 Hz filter. K3 has had the IF modification for the P3 by swapping out a surface mount resistor. For 50 uV on SG2 I read -111 dBm on the P3, expected is -107 dBm For 1 uV on SG2 I read -77 dBm on the P3, expected is -73 dBm So I see a -4 dB gain offset at both SG2 settings. The gain offset was larger when I had the P3 IF OUT switch in the wrong position J Would anyone like to speculate where the gain offset is coming from? This is not earthshattering, just curious. 1. SG2 needs a new battery or just isn't accurate enough for this test. (I have a 100 MHz oscilloscope but I don't know about its ability to measure 50 uV) 2. K3 amplitude gain is different than the P3 expects, I did an S-Meter calibration but this shouldn't make a difference. 3. P3 calibration is off 4. I didn't do the test right Preamp in or out, ATT in or out didn't change the readings. I have 500 Hz filter gain set to 4dB but changing this does not affect P3 readings as the P3 tap must precede the filter. AE6WA Mike Scott Tarzana, CA __ 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] TMP cable source
I am intrigued by the board interconnect cables used in the K3 and P3. They are mini inter-board coaxial cable interconnects and I am interested in purchasing the components and crimp tool or pre-terminated cables for home brew projects. I found that there is a distributor called Spectrum Components. Now I am looking for a retail outlet or wonder if Elecraft would could supply part numbers that they use in the K3. AE6WA Mike Scott Tarzana, CA __ 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] P3 ser 320 alive and well
P3 serial 320 up and running. I don't remember the date in June that I ordered it. I added KXV3A and did the IF modification at the same time. I was quite pleased when I hit the K3 power button and signals were visible immediately on the display. Good job Alan. AE6WA Mike Scott Tarzana CA __ 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 K3 Line Out Setting
I played with line out settings today to determine for my soundcard-K3 setup what an optimum line out setting might be. I think of optimum as that setting that produces adequate speckling on a waterfall display with minimum harmonic distortion. My K3 serial 508 has all of the audio modifications that I am aware of. I can remember conducting a study like this prior to modifications unfortunately I can not find my old data. Bottom line I have my line out set at 3 now. This gives good copy on PSK signals, good speckling on a waterfall and maximum signal-to-3rd-harmonic ratio. Spot pitch = 500, CW signal centered, 3rd harmonic well outside of roofing filter as well as 50 Hz IF filter. The only way for the 3rd harmonic to be seen is if it is created in the analog post digital audio stages. For PSK copy I would be using wider filters but much wider would mask the 3rd harmonic measurements which I wanted to be well beyond the processing pass band. Using Spectrogram for signal measurement and Ham Radio Deluxe-Digital Master 780 for PSK copy I took some data below. At line out set at 3 I found maximum base signal to 3rd harmonic ratio. I find this is pretty good at the lower line out settings and up to 15 dB worse at significantly higher settings. I would guess that most could live with the higher settings if the sound card needs it. IF BW = 50 Hz Roofing Filter BW = 500 Hz LineReference 3rd Delta Out dB Harmonic 3rd 0 -68.6 noise limited 1 -55 noise limited 2 -41.7-11371.3 3 -38.2-11172.8 4 -35.8-10771.2 5 -33.5-10167.5 10 -27.8-87.5 59.7 15 -24.5-82 57.5 20 -21.5-80.3 58.8 25 -19.4-78.5 59.1 30 -18.1-75.8 57.7 50 -13.7-72.1 58.4 100 -7.7 -67.8 60.1 Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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 NR in deversity mode
I know that independent Rx control of NR was added some time ago. It would be useful in Diversity mode if there was a way to adjust NR in both receivers simultaneously. Maybe I am in the minority here... Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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] W2IHY 8 band equalizer and EQ Plus
>>By the same reasoning, we might obtain improvement to our analog solid state transceivers by adding some front end vacuum tube gear! :-) Sweet! Now we are talking about real radios! Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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 KXV3A without Xverters, sub receiver or P3
>You can also use the KAT3 to provide two antenna connectors for diversity >(with a sub receiver), with the main Rx on ANT1 and the sub Rx on ANT2 if >you've decided not to invest in a KXV3A. This is my set up. I have a vertical on antenna 2 and inverted V on antenna 1. I can tell immediately which polarization is working by ear. Then with one push of the ANT switch you can switch to the best polarization if needed. To hear the difference requires the AGC to be set up to not have a flat response. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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] Ferrite beads on TMP cables
>However, what are you expecting the ferrite beads to accomplish? There >shouldn't be any currents on the outside of the coax cables. There are always currents running on the outside of coax cables unless perfectly terminated at both ends which they never are. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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 Needs Survey
Here are my inputs to K3 needs survey (I took a little license and went way outside the K3 box) : 1. Keyboard for digital /CW modes coupled with P3 onscreen digital mode decode 2. Antenna management unit that is aware of K3 mode and band. This would be an antenna switch unit that would simultaneously direct the proper antennas to the various UHF/BNC antenna ports for diversity receive if the K3 is in Diversity mode. If one Rx is on a different band, the antenna switch unit would connect the proper antenna to the proper port for that Rx. Antenna switch unit could be remote. 3. External panel that can actuate K3 macros and direct band access switches as well as offer independent control of the SubRx such as direct frequency enter, NB, NR, Notch, Hi-Cut, Low-Cut, etc. Buttons for macros need to be able to be labeled even if it is just a place to place placard labels. Place for this panel could be the space below the K3 when the K3 bail is lowered. Wouldn't it be nice if it had an independent sub Rx S-meter? Maybe this panel could be integrated with two speakers. 4. Separate Tx equalization for front and back microphone connections as well as normal/ESSB modes 5. Desktop kilowatt amplifier with wide range antenna tuner in same size box as K3. Should have internal power supply and weigh 8 pounds :) Mike Scott AE6WA Tarzana, CA K3/100 SN508 __ 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 Diversity and filter selection
If filters are not matched when operating in diversity mode you can set up a kind of beat note between the two receivers. In my case I hear no such effect using mismatched filters, which is why I say I may be lucky... Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 -Original Message- From: Steve Ellington [mailto:n...@carolina.rr.com] Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2009 8:41 AM To: m...@paxsen.com; Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Diversity and filter selection What is supposed to happen if one uses "unmatched" filters in main/sub rx? Steve N4LQ n...@carolina.rr.com - Original Message - From: "Mike Scott" To: Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2009 10:43 AM Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Diversity and filter selection >I use my K3 in diversity receive 90% of the time. I have matched 2.7 KHz > filters in both receivers. The sub receiver has only the one filter the > main > also has 500 Hz, 6 KHz and 13 KHz filters. > > I have had no issues when the two receivers are using different filters. I > may be lucky. I understand that when operating in a CW contest environment > that I will be disadvantaged because of the sub Rx using a broad roofing > filter. I am not a contester. > > Your mileage may vary and you can always add filters later. > > Mike Scott - AE6WA > Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) > NAQCC 3535 > K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 > > > __ > 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 No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.722 / Virus Database: 270.14.117/2581 - Release Date: 12/22/09 03:09:00 __ 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 Diversity and filter selection
I use my K3 in diversity receive 90% of the time. I have matched 2.7 KHz filters in both receivers. The sub receiver has only the one filter the main also has 500 Hz, 6 KHz and 13 KHz filters. I have had no issues when the two receivers are using different filters. I may be lucky. I understand that when operating in a CW contest environment that I will be disadvantaged because of the sub Rx using a broad roofing filter. I am not a contester. Your mileage may vary and you can always add filters later. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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 audio filter board
In the past I complained about harsh receiver audio characteristics similar to some of the audio characteristics being posted recently. It got to the point that I stopped operating as the listener fatigue was so apparent. The effect seemed to be most apparent at CW filter bandwidths. I am apparently sensitive to something that was present, either high frequency trash or 3rd harmonic distortion. I have external rat shack book shelf speakers. If you google audio fatigue you will eventually find that with some people even a tiny bit of 3rd order harmonic distortion can cause audio fatigue, 60 or 70 dB down. I have installed a beta version audio frequency low pass filter. It involved cutting two traces and soldering in a very small board that contains two SMT low pass filters for the two audio channels. The new board matches up with appropriate tie points on the DSP board (I think it was DSP anyway) for power, ground, two input and two output channels. I had to clear out some vias that were supposed to be solder-free but which were not on my K3. Except for clearing the vias the modification was straight forward. I should have remembered that a stainless steel needle pushed into a via after melting the solder with a soldering iron is the magic trick. The K3 became a different radio after the modification that I am quite pleased with. One of the problems we have is that no one who works at K3 can apparently hear the problem, thus no hurry or they think we are crazy. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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] M1-M4: Can a CW Paddle that has four memory
An accessory keypad or keyboard that plugs into the front panel jack would be welcome here. A keyboard with the Function keys mapped to different macros would be interesting. >Wayne said: Better yet: An Elecraft accessory keypad that plugs into the front-panel jack under the VFO B and RIT controls. That's certainly something we're considering. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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 S Meter
Geoff said>For practical purposes S3 is probably close enough rather than "about S2 or 3" as shown in the manual. Or is it more complicated than that? Geoff, lets do the math... S-9 is 50 uV at the antenna terminals by convention 1 uV is equal to 20 * log (1/50) = -33.98 dB below S-9 Say we define 6 dB per S-unit; let's not start a conventions war please. -33.98 dB divided by 6 dB/S-unit = -5.66 S-units from the S-9 50 uV signal reference. 9 S-units - 5.66 S-units = 3.34 S-units for a 1 uV signal using 6 dB per S-unit If we do the same math for 5 dB per S-unit we get: -33.98/5 = -6.8 S-units lower than S-9 or 1 uV = 2.2 S-units So it all depends on what convention you want to use. Selecting S-2 or S-3 gets you in the ball park. I am not positive but I think region 1 has a standard of 5 dB per S-unit; we don't have a standard here. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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 Firmware Uploads
>Jeff Said... When I try to upload new firmware, I seem to get frequent failures during the FPF load. I used to get failed loads all the time. Then I worked with Dick and he found a bug that affects some K3s but not all and definitely not his K3. Check which version of the K3 Utility you are using. If you have not updated very recently your problem might be fixed if you do. I am running version 1.2.10.23 Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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 macros
>Jaime wrote: I would like to have more programmable switches I keep staring at the triangular space below the K3, I have my mine up on the bale. What a great place to have a row of programmable switches and an extra set of controls for the sub receiver only. Imagine an AP3 (auxiliary panel) add on. Mike Scott AE6WA Tarzana, CA K3/100 SN508 __ 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 Beta Firmware
Lee said >>>It would be nice if all the stable items in these betas were incorporated into a regular release so those of us not interested in being beta testers could catch up to some degree. Lee, I have installed every K3 beta version and almost all of the pre-beta firmware. Your statement about stability is not founded in reality. Every installation has been stable. I have never had the urge to go back to a prior version after installing a beta or pre-beta. You are missing out on all the new features. If you think about it, what risk are you taking? If it doesn't work out for you, just go back to the older version. You are always just five minutes away from having whatever version of FW that you wish. It isn't like the K3 is going to blow up in your face. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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] K3 Rev C DSP with Low Freq Enhancement
>Wished I had a set of ears like yours. 12 KHz alias signals measure 65 dB down from CW beat note in my K3 while 3rd harmonic is 55 dB down. Juan, I think your 3rd harmonic measurement is the key. If you research audio fatigue you may find that odd harmonics are particularly troublesome and that they can cause audio fatigue even when the level is below what you might consider audible. My ears are not that good, ask my wife... I wear a hearing aid in my left ear. I just may more susceptible to audio fatigue than the next guy. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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] [KX1] "It's alive," sort of!
Ed, welcome to Elecraft. I wish to relate my own experience. I had been off the air for 30 years. I got the bug to return to the community. I took the tests in November 2005 and for Christmas I asked for a KX1. I built it and in January 2006 I finished. I put up a 40M inverted vee (still up and my main antenna). The acid test soon came. I was tuning around 7.040 and I heard JA3OLW call CQ. His signal was okay and I thought, why not? I returned the call and he came right back. Suke was my first QSO in 30 years on a radio that had never transmitted before. I was just as nervous as when I was a novice in 1967. The best part: I built it myself! Crikey! Any time you wish to get on the air with whatever Morse you can bring, I am game. Mike Scott AE6WA Tarzana, CA K3/100 SN508 >first thing I found was I never installed R2x, then in a close inspection I found L10 was cracked, crikey! So I installed the missing resistor and ordered a new L10. After installing L10 this morning I was amazed to hear a signal on my radio. I have not had time for the alignment yet but I will get to it this afternoon. So I hope to get finished and on the air soon, so I can frustrate everyone with my poor morse. Another learning process. 73, Ed KE7HGA __ 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 Rev C DSP with Low Freq Enhancement
I have installed the beta version of the Low Pass filter board. It turned my K3 into a whole different radio. I had been experiencing audio fatigue to the point I just stopped using the K3 for CW. I know Paul says the audio is one of the best designed audio circuits for a communications receiver. I say it is now but not before. I may have had a singular issue with my K3 or I have a singular set of ears. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 > Unfortunately, the issue with the 12 kHz leakage (DAC clock?) and beat > notes (+/- CW sidetone around 12 kHz) make for some awful audio in CW. > I guess most folks don't hear it, but given previous reports from > others, it is an issue. I can't comfortably use the K3 for CW unless > using outboard low-pass audio filters to knock the high end garbage > down > to an in-audible level. > > 73 > Eric NO3M __ 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] Headphone audio is reveresed and I can't figure
Tad wrote>>>somehow my main (A) receiver is now in my right ear and my sub (B) is in my left.? I can't figure out how I reversed them and need to get them back.? Anyone No wisecracks about turning the headphones around.Grin. It's a boomset! I have the same relationship, main on the right, sub on the left. I have a boom mike. My microphone boom will rotate in its socket to allow the mic to be on the left or right side. My headset is not marked for R/L so I never knew what side was proper. I never cared which side was which as long as I knew the mapping. I have my speaker pair set up to match my headset, main on the right, sub on the left. Two wrongs makes it just fine. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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 03.33 New Low Freq Beta, loud audio blast
I am testing the advanced beta with enhanced LF audio capability. I have not performed any hardware modifications to enhance LF performance. I have the beta hardware band pass filter installed. I like the fuller sounding audio. It is possible to shift the IF pass band too low such that can you lose opposite sideband suppression (CW). I am still experimenting with settings and can shift the IF pass band down partially for fuller sound and still have quite good opposite sideband suppression. So this just becomes a matter of optimizing what I hear in the headphones. I found a new desire to shift my side tone lower. I got one of those loud audio blasts, first one ever. I was on 40M CW mode 500 Hz filter on the main Rx; 2.7 KHz filter in the sub Rx. I was in diversity reception mode. I shifted bands down to the broadcast band to see what 13 KHz AM sounded like. I got a very loud sound blast in one ear (sub receiver). I have never experienced this phenomenon before. I can not repeat the problem. The sub receiver does not have a 13 KHz filter, just a 2.7. I normally turn the sub Rx off when I listen to wideband. Perhaps the filter switching got confused when I went to the broadcast band and there was a momentary time when the IF was being routed through a nonexistent filter slot. I am just speculating what might have happened. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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] filters
>> filters where never designed for AM receving. The FM filter is the best AM receive filter I have! I always use it on broadcast band. I have never transmitted FM. If I had to choose, I could do without the AM filter. I would give up ESSB, only used it to test a couple of times and AM transmitting which I have not done yet. I would still be able to experiment with those modes by telling the K3 that the 13 KHz filter was 6 KHz. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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] P3 first look
I had a short introduction to the P3 today from Wayne and Alan (N1AL) at the Santa Barbara ham fest. Wayne warned us that the P3 was an engineering prototype; I was expecting something less finished and with less functionality than what I found. It looked real nice sitting next to the K3. Display resolution is the first thing that I noticed, very high. The P3 and K3 were both propped up on their front bails. Having both units the exact same depth makes them match perfectly when sitting side-by-side. The prototype I saw had smooth black sides that matched the K3 finish. Wayne says there will be ventilation holes in the top of a production version. From Wayne's description, maybe 2/3s of the interior is open space for unknown future expansion ideas. There is a knob on the front to move the frequency cursor. Buttons are there on the right side of the display to change modes and select how much of the IF bandwidth is displayed. Up to 400 KHz and down to much tighter spreads. If I were operating CW on 40M for example I would probably be looking at a 30 KHz spread that covered a little bit more than the DX window. Other times I can imagine watching a much larger IF window, such as 10M phone. When I walked up the P3 was operating in split display mode with a waterfall on top and spectrum plot below. The waterfall is quite sensitive to picking up weak signals. I think it was Jim K9YC that said that his panadapter has led him to find all the troublesome wall warts in his house and quiet them. I can fully believe that this is going to be a result of many users of this technology as you will find all the donor signals readily. I asked if the P3 will have independent audio out (say of the cursor position). It is possible technically but is this really valuable? Hooks are in the K3 for the possibility to view sub receiver IF but the independent IF I/O isn't there so this isn't possible for now if I understood the answer correctly. The P3 sure has a wow factor going for it. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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] PB=.01
I also see and hear the emphasized low-frequency audio response when I configure pass band shift to 10 Hz steps. The audio actually sounds much fuller. In CW mode, filter set for 2.7 KHz there is a clear audio roll off below 300 Hz. With Shift = .01 and filter set for 2.7 KHz that roll off shoulder moves down to 50 Hz. The two lower equalizer bands actually have control now. Since the K3 can clearly process audio down to 50 Hz, can we have it available in all modes? Those who don't want it can equalize it out. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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] RF Calibrate
I used the new RF Calibration feature of the K3 utility this morning. I calibrated both main and sub receivers. My S-meter now reads S9 at 50 uV with ATT on, PRE off. I am not sure if that was the intended result or not. Since I normally operate this way it works for me. I am not set up with S meter in normal mode, not absolute... Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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] Recent Firware down load failures
I have downloaded a lot of firmware in my K3 without any trouble whatsoever until the last two firmware downloads where an issues has come up that I am able to work around. What happened this last time and is typical of the prior time is that MCU 03.25 loaded but DSP1 and DSP2 02.21 failed to load. On the second try DSP1 loaded but DSP2 failed. On the third try DSP2 loaded then and all was fine. I am using Utility 1.2.3.18. Any ideas why this is happening? Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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) Updates and chatter
> What has happened to the frequent K3 beta updates and all the >chatter that accompanied them? I haven't kept up with the list very well >but have noticed that content seems to be missing these days. Wayne went on a 3-week vacation :) Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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 Audio Low Pass Filter
>G'day, >What about - how did it perform? >...does it in any way respond to the "pink" vs. "white" noise thread of a few weeks ago. >Mike VP8NO Mike, I am still evaluating but I believe the LP filter took the harshness out of my audio. I had been one of people with a complaint about harsh audio and so far I like it. I seem to have distortion products above the intended audio passband that this filter cuts out. That extra stuff made it fatiguing for me; other people don't hear it. I understand that some people can be fatigued by odd order harmonic distortion even when the distortion is way down. I am not set up to compare with another radio and I can't do an A-B test as the filter is hardwired in. I plan to live with this set up for a while and maybe put in larger coupling caps to bring up the audio warmth. Perhaps I will replace with 100 uF SMD devices like the current production caps. The filter is a 4th order Chebyshev low pass filter with a -6dB shoulder somewhere around 4.5 KHz judging by looking at a plot. It is flat below 3.2 KHz and low ripple, so, nothing to do with pink noise. Maybe Wayne will get around to putting a pink noise filter into the DSP. I am experimenting with the following Rx EQ settings from another post to simulate a pink noise filter: 1 +0 2 +8 3 +2 4 -1 5 -1 6 -3 7 -5 8 -10 Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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 Audio Low Pass Filter
I just completed an installation of the K3 audio low pass filter board, the one Lyle put out to individuals who wanted to try it. I was busy until now as the boards came out some time ago. It took a lot longer than expected because all the K3 DSP board holes were full of solder. The instructions seemed to indicate that four of the holes should have been clear, i.e., just stick the leads through. The instructions seemed to be missing a section though as they never suggested soldering four of the wires. I thought maybe a page was missing but the step numbers didn't seem to indicate missing steps. Anyway, solder wick and solder suckers didn't work. The holes are very small and it is tight quarters where a miscue of the soldering iron could cause damage. I finally had to heat the wire I wanted to put in the holes (resistor leads) and heat my way through the soldered holes. For future reference, what would be the right way to do this? I would like to consider making more audio modifications, the one changing headphone audio coupling capacitors to larger values for example. I looked at those capacitors and I wondered how I was going to get them out. The solder leads on one side seemed to be down at the bottom of a narrow canyon caused by interfering components. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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 QSK
I can duplicate what might be called QSK thumps with high volume settings and using earphones or speakers. I have the choke change but have not modified low frequency response with larger caps. I think the thumps come on key up not key down. Everything is fine when I have the volume set at a normal level. I begin hearing thumps at a volume setting of 11 O'Clock. What I believe I am hearing though is not an artifact but just high band noise between dits that give an impression of thumps. The high band noise is being gated by TR switching. I suspect if I didn't live in a high noise environment I wouldn't here this. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 I sat down in TEST mode and tried all the combinations you mentioned again and can't produce thumps. I even tried every possible combination of AF/RF and MON levels with no thump. So I'm sri to say obviously something is different between our rigs and setups, but I can't imagine what. The only audio mod involving a change on the main board is to change a choke, not a cap. It reduces the resistance of the choke to improve the voltage regulation at the AF Amp. I've made that too. When I said my K3 was "stock" Elecraft, it does have the Elecraft-approved and documented mods made while writing the app notes. I asked wondering if the capacitor changes some have made to improve the low-frequency response were making the low frequency 'thumps' stronger and audible. If you've not done them, we should have similar rigs. Ron AC7AC __ 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] Poor Transmit Audio USB
I have had a pinched audio problem similar to the issue you mention. Recycling the power cured it for me in the past. I have the 5 pole stock 2.7 KHz filter with proper offset. I never attempted to redo the reference oscillator. The issue usually came up for me right after downloading new firmware. My pinched audio has not returned for months but was quite common maybe six months ago. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 I have a K3/100 ser. # 1485 that has very thin audio, my first guess is that the filter went bad or is very far off original freq. On upper sideband it has only highs and sounds very restricted (pinched) tried adjusting the transmit BW settings. On lower ssb my close friends state it sounds ok, but not great like the old ts 2000 sounded like. The audio is so restricted that it is very difficult for someone to understand what you're saying. Will call factory on Monday morning and see what they say, in the mean time anyone else have this kind of problem. ? Thanks Alex kr6g __ 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] K3 beta firmware revision 3.14 now
I think higher audio levels may be needed to test the speaker protection function. I inadvertently tested speaker protection. I was using the XG2 to do some K3 audio tests. I had the XG2 off and I turned the RF gain to full, AGC off and audio up to where I could hear "Band" noise. Turning the audio up that high was a mistake on my part. I then hit the K3 with an S9 signal. I woke up the neighbors and triggered speaker protection as I was really over driving the audio at that point. I thought I had blown an audio stage but remembered the protection feature that worked on over current. So, sure enough the speaker setting had been changed to Speakers = 1. At least I didn't put 100 watts into the XG2 :) Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 Message: 32 Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 07:54:23 -0700 (PDT) From: pd0psb Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] K3 beta firmware revision 3.14 now available To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID: <1242917663790-2952396.p...@n2.nabble.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Anybody else tested this? I can't get speaker protection to work. Or does it only work with higher AF levels? 73' Paul PD0PSB __ 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] Sneak Peak Preview
Wayne, The very first capability I looked for on your W2 Watt Meter was two port measurement. The K3 can quickly change which port it is transmitting on. I would hope to have a Watt Meter that hooked up to both Antenna A and B and would know which port was active. The W2 requires a manual switch it seems to know which antenna is active. Why doesn't the W2 read the K3 active port or use RF carrier detection to know? Mike Scott AE6WA Tarzana, CA K3/100 SN508 From: "wayne burdick" To: "Elecraft Reflector" Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 5:44 PM Subject: [Elecraft] Sneak Preview: New Elecraft products > See you at Dayton :) > > 73, > Wayne > N6KR > > http://www.elecraft.com/manual/W2%20Data%20Sheet%20rev%204sm.pdf > > http://www.elecraft.com/manual/K144XV%20Data%20Sheet%20rev%204sm.pdf > > --- > > http://www.elecraft.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 Kit Building
Wayne said> Our little "2D" fasteners are an integral part of these designs, holding together PCBs and panels at edges and corners. Wayne, I have thought about your unique construction technique and am impressed with the results. When the K3 box arrived a year ago I thought: Where's the case? Something must be missing. All of us home builders fret over cases. I know you guys are not in the parts business but it would be nice if you could offer 2-D fasteners and blank panels. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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 add on kit idea
>>This is what you need: http://k9ay.com/Products/RAS8x2data.htm ...available from Array Solutions. Bill, This is close but for selection of receive antennas only. All of my current antennas are transmit/receive and of course the two primary K3 ports will be antenna 1 and antenna 2, both are transmit capable. So this product wouldn't last long after I made the first mistake. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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 add on kit idea
Cookie wrote> Array solutions has such a product called Six Pack. You will >like the product, I think, but you may choke at the price. I am not sure the Six Pack will do the job. From a review of the Six Pack I found this little piece of information: "There is one scenario that the user must always be aware of. For example, if Radio A is on the 20-meter position and Radio B is also switched to 20 meters, Radio B is interlocked out and therefore is disconnected from any antenna." I am not really sure that I read this as a limitation for a single K3 or not. The price is too high anyway. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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 add on kit idea
Recently there was a request for ideas for kits that could be useful to accompany a K3. When we use diversity mode antenna switching becomes a different problem than I have run into before. The usual antenna switch routes many antennas to one radio port. Some of us have many antennas that need routing to two or more radio ports. So I could imagine a useful kit would read K3 band decode and map something like 6 or 8 antennas to 2 or 3 ports and makes sure the K3 does not transmit into the other radio ports. Some attention to stations using two K3's or a second receiver might be useful also. Not sure what this would entail because I don't operate that way. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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][K3] Rework Eliminator(TM) Milestones & Plans
>Ken Kaplan wrote>We are considering aftermarket accessories for the K3 and welcome your ideas for new products. We are especially interested in kits ... Idea #1. K3 Audio adapter that selects main and sub audio allowing selectable mixing of the two into both ears plus allowing main in both ears or sub in both ears Provide multiple phone out sockets Idea #2. K3 External panel extender, a cord tethered subpanel with direct band select, direct mode select, receive and transmit audio equalization (sliders?) and additional assignable programmable keys. This could have selections for modifying parameters of the sub receiver without having to press BSET (NB, ATT, PRE, Antenna routing). Might as well put an additional PTT and repeat the M1-M4 buttons. Maybe make it so a key paddle could weight it down and stay put and always where you think it is. Idea #3. Plug-in keyboard adapter allowing typing CW and data modes with no attached computer Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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 RF Gain difference, main and sub
I am wondering if the RF gain encoders are read exactly the same between main and sub receivers. There is a significant difference in RF gain when I move them both down together. I can turn the sub Rx RF all the way down and still have appreciable RF gain, about equivalent to Main at half gain, 12 O'clock. I monitored both receiver outputs on Spectragram with a noise source going to both receivers, sharing ANT 1. I believe both receivers had identical filters and settings. Very different gain response and no ability to reduce sub Rx gain to zero or very low. Audio gain tracks very well by ear. I can grab both AF gain controls and move them together and audio remains balanced. It is quite easy to rotate them together and have them not move differentially. Mike Scott AE6WA Tarzana, CA K3/100 SN508 __ 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-Measuring Filter Offset
>It's not unusual for the 8-pole filters to have small offsets, which would be particularly noticeable if on the bass side of the >passband. I've heard of up to 80 Hz (0.08) in some CW filters. Anything large than that, indicates something else may be going >on (like accidentally resetting the 5-pole offset to zero as K7SV noted in the original post). Could someone describe a procedure to measure filter offset. I have spectragram (can't remember the real name) software on my PC. I have a five pole 2.7 KHz in each of main and subreceiver. They are matched to -0.87 but I would like to measure and split the difference if there is one. I do notice that the main rx filter has enough of a passband slope that USB and LSB frequency response is notably different. I can hear a significant change to background noise color when I change modes. For this I am hoping to have mode-specific equalization some day. It is also possible that a different offset might improve what I am hearing. Mike Scott AE6WA Tarzana, CA K3/100 SN508 __ 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] Improved K3 Audio experience
>Just curious - I notice that your setting for AGC PLS (agc pulse noise >reject) is Off. Did that make a significant difference in your case? Bob, I haven't noticed a difference with AGC PLS on or off. I haven't played with it much so it may or may not make a difference in different conditions. Mike Scott Tarzana, CA __ 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] Improved K3 Audio experience
I was one of the people who wasn't quite happy with K3 audio. Perhaps my experience will help others. I worked with Wayne and he noticed something in my audio recordings and made some suggestions. There are a lot of combinations of AGC settings that I had worked through but the background noise in my high-noise environment always left me fatigued. Note this is not hiss just loud band noise as presented to my ears, the narrower the filter the more tiring the noise. (Think of a windstorm outside whistling through the trees the narrower the filter the more band-limited the noise and the more whistle-like.) Well now, it seems Wayne asked me where my Pitch setting was. I hadn't thought about moving it before he asked. I now set Pitch to 420 and the "color" of the background noise has changed, significantly. I have been sitting here for a couple of hours working on my computer with the K3 tuned to just noise and it seems like I am listening to a different receiver. High noise environments are a major bummer but I am finding ways to cope. This Pitch effect is probably psychological but higher pitched whistling through the trees left me significantly more tired. Changing Pitch has had a major effect on these tired ears. Other than the Pitch, here are the settings I find the best for my environment: AGC DCY = Soft AGC Hold = 0.3 AGC PLS = Off AGC SLP = 8 AGC THR = 2 AGC-F = 80 FGC-S = 20 (I normally operate in slow now) Comments: There have been many comments about AGC induced IMD in pileups. Large noise backgrounds may act like its' own pileup. I am not an expert here but noise can cause AGC gain fluctuations just like one signal in a pileup causing gain fluctuations that the rest of the signals mix with. The larger the fluctuations and the faster the fluctuations the more chances there are for creating mixing products in the audio range. Operating with AGC off and riding the RF gain control is the most pleasing audio solution but going to soft decay and slow AGC makes sense and helps a lot. AGC THR=2 causes the AGC to engage sooner, in effect this sounds to the ear like turning down the RF gain reducing background noise. Reduced RF gain always helps when the signal is strong enough. This may actually not help the IMD situation, don't really know. AGC SLP = 8 doesn't quite sound as good as 12 but this is a tradeoff to be able to distinguish weak from strong signals. I operate in diversity mode most of the time with a vertical and a dipole. I like to be able to hear which path is producing the stronger signal. AGC-F = 80 reduces the decay rate after noise events. This then is a compromise between stock 120 dB per second decay and the slow AGC decay rate of 20 dB per second. Think of this now as AGC-Medium, this is not a major effect. Thanks for taking the time Wayne. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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] OT: J and -31 mix toroids
>Fair-Rite has a quite high minimum order value, several hundred dollars as >I recall. OTOH Mouser stocks most of the 31 material you would likely find >useful including the 2.4 inch toroids and the monster snap-on. The Fair->Rite web site has all the technical info you will need to cross-reference >to the correct part on Mouser. Mouser unit cost is also quite high. I joined forces with a local ham friend and we purchased our mix 31 toroids and the biggest clamp on at Lodestone Pacific http://www.lodestonepacific.com/ You might see if you can get some friends to go in with you and save some money. We purchased in quantities of 20 each and they were quite happy to deal with us, fast and courteous. I don't know if we had requested a smaller quantity if they would be so willing. They are a distributor not a retail house. You have to know exactly what you want so know the Fair-Rite catalog number. The Fair-Rite catalog is on the Lodestone Pacific site. The 2.4 inch toroid is part number 2631803802 The biggest clamp on number is 0431177081, This is a substantial clamp on and is quite useful. It can handle 1 inch cable but is really good for example for passing RG8X through it 7 or so times to create a really high impedance common mode choke at your antenna feed point or elsewhere. For shopping comparison purposes here is what we paid in January of this year: --2.4 inch toroid (mix 31): $5.46 each, quantity 20 --Biggest clamp on (Round Cable Snap-it, mix 31): $9.39 each, quantity 20. Tax was zero and shipping was $7.60 for entire lot. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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 Hissy and Noisy Audio
>Audio is notorious for having a very subjective vocabulary, and this may make it hard to understand what is meant. I hear terms like hissy, rounder, lack of bass etc in this discussion. In an attempt to make this discussion more to the point I would suggest this list compiled by Bruce Bartlett from Pro Audio 1997. I find it helpful in making discussions focused: http://www.linkwitzlab.com/images/graphics/sd-qulty.gif >According to the list, I would suggest that those who have a problem with the K3 audio look up these terms: > 'bright', 'edgy', 'grainy', 'grungy', 'hard', 'harsh', 'muddy', 'piercing', 'thin' > to find what best describes what they hear. That may give a common ground for describing the effects. Okay, based on the referenced descriptions I can 100% definitely with absolute assurance say that my K3 audio is edgy, grainy, grungy and strident. Now can we get on with a solution? Mike Scott Tarzana, CA __ 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] How to record Audio on K3
I wish to be able to record my K3 audio to explain a problem I am having to Elecraft. I have no idea how to do this. I have my Line Out connected to my sound card. How can I record what I hear and make a file and send it out? Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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 remote
Terry said: >...Some day, rig manufacturers will just put Ethernet in the rigs and we will have native control! I have been thinking about this for a while. What an opportunity for Elecraft to upgrade the K3 when they release a stand-alone (no PC attached) band scope. Wouldn't it be great if that add-on device provided both a USB and internet port to the K3... Mike Scott Tarzana, CA __ 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 AGC changes not working on main receiver, 3.03, 2.10
I have the new firmware 3.03 with DSP 2.10 I am trying to adjust AGC parameters while in diversity receive mode, CW AGC-F. When I adjust AGC THR the sub receiver (left speaker in my set up) obviously changes loudness (8 is maximum background noise, 2 is minimum), the main receiver has no change and the background noise is about equal when I set AGC THR at 2. AGC SLP shows the same problem, max background noise at SLP = 000, minimum with SLP = 15. Main Rx indicates no change. With sub receiver off AGC parameter changes have no effect on Rx. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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] Boom Mic/Stereo Headsets for the K3
Mike Scott-7 wrote: > > I saw the questions about K3 headsets. > I have the "ON'AIR" Headset offered by US Interface for about $40. > http://www.usinterface.com/naviusa_012.htm > I have no relationship with the company. Their service was good and I can > recommend the product with the caveats mentioned below. > > The headsets are stereo; it comes with a Kenwood adapter plug. You can > plug > > I ordered one of these on Feb 14 and still haven't seen delivery or even an order confirmation. Is this a company a scam? - AB2TC - Knut Gosh I hope not Knut. I received my headset quickly as advertised and have no connection with US Interface other than a happy customer. I think I remember calling them on the phone and got the owner to answer; I had a few questions. Question: did you order by credit card? If so then call your credit card company and challenge the charge. If the charge didn't show up then maybe they didn't receive your order. Call them on the phone. The guy who owns the company is a ham. Mike Scott AE6WA Tarzana, CA K3/100 SN508 __ 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 ATU readout
>Wayne gave us a way to read out what the ATU settings. >Does anyone have the formula or formulae for using "CT or CA and the L and C values to determine the impedance presented to the ATU? The K3 tuner looks like an L network with series L and shunt C that is placed either on the antenna side or transmitter side of the inductor. When the shunt capacitance is on the antenna side the impedance of the antenna is higher than 50 ohms. When it is on the transmitter side the antenna is showing less than 50 ohms. Right now I show on my K3 CA = 0.16 nF and L = 0.70 uH, I am matched at frequency of 7.025 MHz. I now start cheating and use a program called L TUNER at: http://www.smeter.net/feeding/l-network-terminating-impedance.php I click on the L TUNER link and run the program (does not require installation) and choose the topology (series inductor shunt capacitance on the output or right side, network #1). I would choose network #3 if my capacitance value was on the transmitter side. I then enter the inductance of 0.7 uH, capacitance of 160 pF (convert from nF shown on K3). Enter generator impedance (K3 transmitter) of 50 Ohms. And now enter frequency of 7.025 MHz. And the program computes the following values for the terminating impedance of the network assuming a proper conjugate match to the 50-Ohms resistive load of the transmitter: Series Resistance R = 67.9 Ohms Series Reactance X = -8.8 Ohms Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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 Audio out artifacts
I have been investigating audio artifacts in connection with the K3 AGC hold experimental firmware. As a reminder, I live in a high noise area. As part of the investigation I have been looking at both Line Out and headphone audio using Spectrumlab on my PC. I am finding substantial 60-hz contamination on headphone audio that I do not see on Line Out. On Line Out I see what looks like fairly clean audio with donor lines at 2400 Hz and 3600 Hz outside the rx filter pass band (1 KHz DSP filtering). I presume these are the 40th and 60th harmonics of 60 Hz. They are 50 dB below noise background noise. With only a change of where I plug the PC audio cable (moving from Line Out jack to rear headphone jack) the audio looks quite different. Now I see a whole array of 60 Hz artifacts. The 3rd and 5th harmonics are about equal to comfortable listening level audio. As I look higher in frequency the harmonics generally reduce in level but only to about 20 dB below comfortable audio listening level. There is also a broad artifact (300 Hz wide) at roughly 3300 Hz that is also 25 dB down. The artifacts do not go away with reduced volume control settings but remain a constant feature of headphone audio out at any setting. Is there something about my test set up that I do not understand? Does anybody else see contamination of headphone audio on their K3? Could there be something wrong with my K3? Could transformer coupling (Line Out) vs direct coupling (headphone) be adding something to my test set up that I am not factoring into the problem? I have never quite believed the audio of my K3 was like Wayne says it should be but can make it better using slow AGC (separate post), I doubt that has anything to do with the artifacts I see here. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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 Audio and RF gain balance Main vs. Sub
On my K3 the two audio pots for main and sub seem to track each other quite well, I generally align the white marks and turn them together and audio remains quite balanced. This is not so with the RF pots. The RF gain on the main will drop much-much quicker than the sub particularly as I go below the 12 o'clock position. I don't consider this a real problem, just an observation. It would be nicer if they tracked though. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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 AGC hold, initial comments on beta v2.98
I live in a noisy environment (typical S-7) and have in the past complained about K3 audio. I was never sure what was going on but it just sounded rough and unpleasant. The hardware audio modifications I think helped a little and most certainly cleaned up the line-out IMD. Mostly I operate CW mode using fast AGC. The narrower the bandwidth the more unpleasant the audio became. I operated mostly above 1 KHz bandwidth just to smooth the sound of background noise as anything narrower was just so tiring. So I volunteered for the AGC hold version of the firmware. I can say that I can improve the audio on my end. I can find a way to operate with the rough audio edge reduced, perhaps by 8-10 dB when I look at spectrum lab headphone audio. I am guessing that with fast AGC and high noise that I was hearing IMD products caused by noise modulating the receiver gain and the effect of gain modulation on the noise [or signal] in the pass band. At S-7 the DSP AGC really has significantly reduced system gain so the gain modulation at fast AGC might be substantial in high background noise areas. I never really tried slow AGC for CW mode prior to this and I was not in the habit of riding the RF gain. Note: If I operate with fast AGC I have to reduce RF gain quite a bit for the audio to lose its edge. Fast AGC just isn't working well in my environment. I hadn't discovered slow AGC or AGC off with reduced RF gain as a way to operate. I am right this moment operating with maximum [1.99 second] AGC hold, I will play with different settings over time. Listening to a weak signal and varying the hold parameter I can hear that things seem to improve a little with the AGC hold greater than 1 second, RF gain at maximum. Larger AGC hold is probably achieving something similar to my riding the RF gain control. As a plus I am getting to use band independent VFOs as that is in the prerelease firmware also. So far it works with no hitches. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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]PSK31 & DM780
>Dave Wrote...but did apply all of the applicable hardware mods to date. So hopefully the distortion is not hardware related but operator error in driving my soundcard too hard. Dave, When I have my K3 Line Out plugged into my sound card rear microphone input I see IMD products that I don't see when I plug into the Line In on the PC soundcard. It is difficult for me to know which one I am plugged into because I do not understand the color code on the PC sound input output panel. The only way I make sure I am plugged into Line In is to bring up the Windows microphone panel and mute all inputs but Line In and make sure that I am getting a waterfall trace with only Line In selected. If no noise on the waterfall I plug into another socket until I finally arrive at Line In. I found this made quite a difference on my set up when I finally plugged into the correct place. Mike Scott Tarzana, CA __ 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]PSK31 & DM780
>Jim Brow wrote: That's harmonic or intermod distortion. Something in your audio chain is being overdriven. Could be the sound card. Or if it's an older K3, it could be the radio. Older versions of the K3 produce a LOT of audio distortion at the Line Out for settings of Line Out gain greater than about 10. Distortion starts showing up weakly with a setting around 5, and is bonkers up around 50. Jim, your K3 and mine seem a bit different. Before I put the audio modification in my K3 [ser 508] I would see obvious IMD on the DM780 waterfall or Spectrumlab with Line Out set anywhere above 3, 10 was problematic. Even at 3 I could see harmonics of S9 tones. After the modification I run Line Out about 10 and see I see slight IMD above band noise 60-70dB below the carrier tone, passable. I have played with sound card gain to try and make sure that the sound card is not being over driven but I have to admit that I don't really know how to distribute the gain between the sound card and the K3 Line Out. DM780 has a soundcard Receive Signal Level; I run it in the lower 25% of the scale and seem to see nice traces. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) K3-100 #508/ KX1 #1311 __ 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 power out vs commanded
I spent some time measuring K3 power out vs. TUN PWR setting. I used a 60 MHz scope for power measurement and a dummy load that measures 1.06 SWR with the 10X scope probe connected. I did all measurements on 40M and I did these tests after conducting the power calibration procedure that is part of the Elecraft K3 utility. In general I found plus or minus 5% agreement with the Tune power setting from 5 to 100 watts. With less than 5 watts power out the K3 seemed to have greater errors with more output power than requested. Worse case was 0.1 watts commanded with 0.16 watts measured. At 100 watts I measured 95 watts out, 5% low. I suspect +/- 5% is what I can measure with my equipment so I find good agreement. The measurements were very repeatable and I saw no evidence of power fluctuations on Tune power or later SSB tests. I looked at PEP power out at two commanded power settings (100 watts and 30 watts). PEP was a tad low but it is now the same as CW tune (my TXG VCE is +1 dB which I set based on these measurements). After looking at output in SSB I decided I could probably back my microphone gain off a bit. Perhaps I was pressing the number of ALC bars more than I needed to. There doesn't seem to be an advantage to pushing this. Details are in this table, I hope it renders properly. TUN MeasuredError 0.1 0.1658% 0.2 0.3051% 0.3 0.4652% 0.5 0.7040% 1 1.2 16% 2 2.3 13% 5 5.1 1% 10 10.22% 12 12.11% 15 15.43% 20 19.8-1% 30 30.31% 40 39.1-2% 50 49.7-1% 60 58.1-3% 70 68.1-3% 80 77.4-3% 90 85.6-5% 100 95.1-5% Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) K3-100 #508/ KX1 #1311 __ 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] Boom Mic/Stereo Headsets for the K3
I saw the questions about K3 headsets. I have the "ON'AIR" Headset offered by US Interface for about $40. http://www.usinterface.com/naviusa_012.htm I have no relationship with the company. Their service was good and I can recommend the product with the caveats mentioned below. The headsets are stereo; it comes with a Kenwood adapter plug. You can plug it into the K3 rear connectors without any modifications. The noise-canceling boom microphone is electret and if you wish to use the Kenwood adapter on the K3 front panel you will have to rewire the adapter plug to move the bias pin attachment. I did the rewire the connector, it was easy enough but I usually use the rear connectors and have a second microphone plugged in through the front using the Kenwood adapter. You will need a separate push to talk switch. I built one and plug it into the back connector. The headset is very comfortable and works quite well with the K3. I know they are stereo because the K3 audio effects are evident as well as separate audio for the sub receiver when I have it turned on. I get great audio reports. There is one thing that I don't like about the product. The cord attaches to the same earpiece as the boom mic. You can see this in the photo of the girl wearing the headset on the web site. If I am talking and moving my head the cord vibrations can be picked up by the mic. When I speak to a local ham (very strong signal) he could hear the artifacts. So, I made a simple modification routing the cord over the headset band to the other side to alleviate the problem. I secured the cord to the headband via wire ties. Now I have a completely satisfactory product. When I operate CW I just swivel the boom mic up out of the way. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) K3-100 #508/ KX1 #1311 __ 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 Birdies
>Still, I'm wondering if this is normal behavior, or whether all these >birdies might be a symptom of something else out of whack. Comments >appreciated. Dave, just thinking out loud about birdies... I have a few birdies myself but because I live in a noisy environment they don't bother me. I would love to have an S-1 to S-3 noise floor but alas I don't. I am wondering that since cable placement is critical there must be common mode pick up coupling back into the unbalanced circuits at either end of the cables. This is probably much the same as a coaxial feed line picking up local noise and coupling that noise back into the antenna because the antenna has become unbalanced for any myriad of reasons. The traditional way of addressing antenna common-mode pick up due to unbalance is to use common mode chokes. I don't know if TMP cables could be dressed with bead chokes of say #31 or #47 ferrite and obtain enough common mode impedance but it might be worth a try. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) K3-100 #508/ KX1 #1311 __ 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 Diversity antenna selection
I operate currently with two transmit capable antennas (vertical and horizontal). When I am operating in diversity mode or perhaps any time I have the sub receiver on it would be nice to be able to easily swap which antenna is transmitting (i.e., which antenna is routed to Main Rx.) So I am thinking a single button (or assigned button) that toggles the antenna 1 and 2 assignments for the Sub Rx and Main simultaneously. Unless I am missing something this is the current 4-step procedure to accomplish the same: 1. Tap ANT (Swaps Main from ANT 1 to ANT 2 or vice versus). 2. Hold B SET 3. Tap ANT (Swaps Sub Receiver from ANT 2 to ANT 1 or vice versus). 4. Tap or Hold B SET to return to normal operation. Any which way you do this the left and right ear assignments will change. I kind of keep track by knowing that my right ear is what ever Antenna shows on the front panel antenna readout. I have to check B SET to see what my left ear is doing. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) K3-100 #508/ KX1 #1311 __ 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] changing sub receiver antenna routing
When I installed the sub receiver I had not spent enough time figuring out how I wanted to operate in diversity mode. I originally installed the Aux Receiver BNC cable and later changed my mind. If this seems like you, read on. I have two 40M antennas that are both transmit capable (Inverted V and Vertical) and I wanted to operate in diversity mode and to be able to easily change which antenna is transmit. With my prior set up I would have to manually change which antenna was plugged into the Antenna 1 and Aux Receiver ports. So I opened my K3 this morning to change the antenna setup for the sub receiver. There isn't a published procedure for this that I know of. This is what I did in case anyone feels the need to do the same. 1. Remove the top. 2. Find the spare TMP cable and plug it into the KAT3 antenna tuner J43. This is easily assessable. I routed the TMP cable near the fans along side the other TMP cable going to the Aux RF BNC connector. Note: There isn't enough room to remove the sub receiver RF TMP cable without partially removing the sub receiver. 3. Remove the left side panel and two long screws holding the sub receiver in. I did not remove the cross brace. Removing the side panel makes it easier reinstall the sub receiver in a subsequent step. 4. Remove the two knurled nuts and unplug (lift) the sub receiver from the sub receiver SUBIN and SUBOUT boards. 5. Maneuver the sub receiver just enough to gain finger access to the sub receiver RF in port. 6. Unplug the Aux Receiver TMP cable. I left this TMP cable in the rig and later taped it to the sub Rx shield top to keep it from rattling. If my situation changes I can easily change back. 7. Plug in the newly install TMP cable that is routed to the KAT3 into the sub receiver RF in port. 8. Plug the sub receiver back into the SUBIN and SUBOUT boards; make darn sure the connectors are correctly mated. It is possible to short 12V power to ground and smoke the Sub Out board if you do this wrong. (Don't ask). 9. Secure the sub receiver with removed screws and knurled nuts. Check tight all sub receiver TMP cables and that no wires block the fans from rotating. 10. Replace side panel and top. 11. Turn on rig and select Config KRX3 Ant = Atu 12. Read manual and Operate Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) K3-100 #508/ KX1 #1311 __ 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] ATU Manual Adjust not working ?
Clas, I figured out what I was doing wrong with my manual antenna tuner adjustment. This is how to do it: 1. CONFIG KAT3: LC Set 2. Tap Menu to exit CONFIG menu 3. Tap ATU TUN 4. Adjust L and C parameters using VFO knobs The key was to exit the menu prior to tapping ATU TUN; the KAT3 will remain in manual LC Set mode until you change it again. I think possibly exiting the menu mode was left out of the procedure or I didn't understand what was written. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) K3-100 #508/ KX1 #1311 __ 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] K3 owner in spe
>Any comments >regarding the suitability of the following configuration for the mentioned >purposed will be appreciated. K3/100-F (100 W Transceiver KPA3-F (ATU 100W) KRX3 (Subreceiver) KTCXO3-1 (Stable oscillator) KUSB (USB) KDVR3 (Digital Voice Recorder) KXV3 RX Ant 2 pcs KFL3A-2.8_2.7sw replacement K3 and KRX3 2 pcs KFL3A-1.8 K SSB 2 pcs KFL3A-250 CW 2 pcs KFL3A-6K AM 2 pcs KFL3B-FM FM Kenwood MC-60 microphone Kjeld, You have a very complete configuration here. If you want to save some money you might drop the wide filters for the Sub Rx as they probably won't help you attain your stated DXCC goals. They might help bag some broadcast band DX if that is important to you. You may or may not need the KXV3 for Rx antenna as the sub receiver allows you to install a receive antenna BNC connector without the KXV3. The KPA3-F also adds a second RF connector for transmit/receive. Study the antenna switching part of the manual and determine if you need the KXV3 for your stated purpose of adding an Rx antenna. I don't have the KXV3 and I do have a separate Rx antenna port. If a band scope is important down the road you will need the KXV3. Depending on your operating style the band scope would help you attain your goals, your mileage may vary. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) K3-100 #508/ KX1 #1311 __ 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] AM receive band width
>So my questions are: (1) Is audio distortion on AM a known problem with the >K3? (2) What does the LCD BW actually read? Is it an IF BW, an audio BW, or >what, and does the displayed BW actually correspond to reality? On my K3 I see and measure the following: 6 KHz AM filter AM mode Band width displayed as 3.00 KHz, Spectrum lab -10 dB audio band 100 Hz to 3100 Hz 6 KHz AM filter LSB mode Band width displayed as 4.00 KHz Spectrum lab -10 dB audio band 120 Hz to 3500 Hz 13 KHz FM filter AM mode Bandwidth displayed as 5.00 KHz, Spectrum lab -10 dB audio band 100 Hz to 4200 Hz 13 KHz FM filter LSB mode Bandwidth displayed as 5.00 KHz Spectrum lab -10 dB audio band 120 Hz to 3600 Hz If I had a second 13 KHz filter in the sub receiver I would try linking VFOs and place one on upper sideband and the other on lower sideband (otherwise know as ISB mode). -- AM audio much more understandable (pleasant) on the FM filter, the extra 1 KHz helps. AM on the 6 KHz filter on LSB is okay and using LSB/USB is best possible reception of AM if you only have a 2.7 KHz filter. I will leave it up to you to decide what the LCD BW corresponds to. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) K3-100 #508/ KX1 #1311 __ 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 Sub Rx idea
I have been using the K3 sub rx for a while now. What I would like to see is a totally interchangeable main and sub. I want to be able to switch sub for main in a way that the sub rx is acting like the main without a shadow of a difference. Right now if I press Sub I can change sub rx settings but I can't change frequency for example. I would like to be able to operate as if the Sub were main and the Main were Sub and vice versus perhaps by pressing a single button. Mike Scott AE6WA Tarzana, CA K3/100 SN508 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] K3 Diversity and AGC slope
I am getting some more experience with the K3 in diversity mode connected to horizontal and vertical antennas. I decided to change the AGC slope to 10 from the default 12. This gives me the ability to more easily distinguish vertical from horizontal paths, at 12 the AGC makes most of the signals equi-volume. I may reduce the slope further but slope of 10 is enough to make a difference. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) K3-100 #508/ KX1 #1311 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Antenna switching [K3]
I put up a vertical yesterday to begin playing with diversity mode. When I installed the sub receiver I opted to connect the Aux RF BNC connector. Now I am not sure I made the right decision for me as I want to be able to easily switch transmit and receive antennas. Of course then my 20M dipole and my 6 M vertical would be just sitting there unconnected and to switch bands I have to plug new cables in. I have more antennas planned for the future and I may try some kind of low noise receive-only antenna. In the old days a simple antenna switch would be all I need but now I have multiple simultaneous antennas to switch and I need to make sure I don't transmit out of Antenna 1 into the Aux Rx port ;-) So now I am considering building some kind of well isolated Antenna switch matrix. I am interested in what others are doing. If I use relays, how does one build for good cross-talk isolation between antennas? Maybe all I need is two or three simple antenna switches. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) K3-100 #508/ KX1 #1311 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 temperature
Tom N0SS said >What bothers me, a bit, is that my cooling fans seem to be running a LOT >more frequently, and at higher speeds, than they did several firmware >versions ago. My FP temperature rose from 18 C to 35 C in a three-hour test yesterday. I don't believe the fans came on but not sure as I can't hear them. When ever I look at them they are not running. The PA temp rose from 17 C to 25 C over the same period. (I may have transmitted a short SSB period, can't remember). So I am wondering at what temperature the fans come on and where that temperature is measured. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) K3-100 #508/ KX1 #1311 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] [K3] Main vs. Config Menus
I don't know about anyone else but I don't understand the K3 Main vs. Config menus. The Main menu is supposedly the menu of items that one would need to select the most often. Well for me, I almost never visit the main menu. I will visit the Config menu almost every day. It seems that my experience is just the opposite of what was planned for the menus. Maybe someone should take a statistical measure of the menu items most needed and place the top ten items in the Main menu. I would bet that the top ten items are not in the current Main Menu at all. Mike Scott AE6WA Tarzana, CA K3/100 SN508 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] [K3] front mic not working after subRx install
I installed the second receiver in my K3 and at the same time made the prescribed audio and line out modifications. After checking out the receiver my microphone is now dead using the front panel. Rear connection works okay. I have been using the front panel microphone connector without a hitch up until the time I went off line to make the above modifications. So has this happened to anyone else and is there something obvious before I start taking covers off? One thing to note, I did have a problem with the SubRx install. The Sub-In and Sub-Out board connections to the SubRx are very difficult to tell when they are mated correctly as most of the pins are not visible. I apparently ended up with an improper mating and smoked the sub-out board. A quick call to Elecraft identified the problem and a new sub-out board put me on the air after a very careful inspection of the connectors this time. I am wondering if the sub-out is the only thing that I smoked now. The microphone-audio path seems quite remote from all this activity but I don't know what sneak paths I might have created with a misconnected sub-out connection. I checked microphone gain (it is set at 30 with front panel-high, no bias), just as it was before this problem arose. Those mic settings work well for the rear connector using the same microphone. I use one of those Kenwood adapters to audio plugs that came with a microphone and the microphone has a dynamic element. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) K3-100 #508/ KX1 #1311 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] K3: Still unable to set power correctly in Data A (sigh)
>Setting a power control calibrated for CW and expecting that level to be accurate for PSK31 or any other arbitrary digital modulation is complete folly and utter hubris. I also read another post that the K3 watt meter is an average power responding device and there in lies a problem of setting power for an arbitrary waveform that will not create IM products. In the old days we could use a monitor scope to make sure we weren't clipping. An interesting thought about a future K3 band scope is to provide a station monitor mode... I also wonder why the internal K3 wattmeter does not have a peak detecting mode and set the PEP power to the requested level. That doesn't take care of directional coupler errors but I suspect it would drop the complaint level down 6 dB. K3 output power vs. requested power has been a continuous theme on the reflector. What is wrong about setting and displaying peak envelope power or at least have the ability to switch to a peak detecting mode? It seems to me that if we are worried about IM products when approaching PA clipping levels that PEP is what we should be monitoring for any transmitted waveform. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) K3-100 #508/ KX1 #1311 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] k3 SWR readings seem generous
>However, the Gap SWR is around the >2.3:1 range when the K3 (or PW-1 tuner) reads about 1.5:1 or less. I then >realized it was showing me the real SWR, not the tuned SWR. >I think I am correct in this assumption. John, your understanding is correct unless the K3 ATU is in bypass mode which it was for my tests. The K3 then should be measuring the feed line SWR because there is no tuner in the circuit. Also I used tune mode which shows the digital readout of SWR, not the number of bars on the SWR readout. So try it with the K3 tuner bypassed and see what you get. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) K3-100 #508/ KX1 #1311 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] k3 SWR readings seem generous
I have been working on antennas today and have a puzzle. I am finding that the K3 SWR indications are unbelievable generous. With my 40M inverted V fed with RG8X (50 ohm) coax I see that the K3 seems generous in the SWR indication on tune with ATU bypassed. I have noticed a slight change in SWR with K3 power setting so the following was taken with K3 tune power set to 100 watts. If I set it to 10 watts the discrepancy is greater... SWR SWR SWR Freq. K3 VA1 Daiwa 7.00 MHz 1.3 1.922.0 7.05 MHz 1.2 1.921.9 7.1 MHz 1.2 1.981.95 7.15 MHz 1.3 2.262.1 7.2 MHz 1.9 2.602.3 7.25 MHz 1.5 2.882.6 7.3 MHz 1.6 3.322.7 The Daiwa is the CN-101L cross needle meter. The VA1 is the Autek Rx Vector antenna analyzer. The VA1 does not have a tuned input so it is possible that it can be fooled by local broadcast stations. I don't suspect this issue here as there aren't any close by broadcast stations that I am aware of. The Daiwa and the VA1 tend to agree pretty well anyway. The K3 measurements are the outliers. This antenna on a "Tenna Dipper" shows minimal SWR at 7.040 MHz, just where I tuned it a few years ago. The LED does not extinguish indicating higher than 1:1 SWR at the minimum. If you look at the numbers, I guess I don't believe the K3, Do you think my antenna is below 1.6 to 1 across the entire 40M band? So now on to 20M dipole fed with RG58 (50 Ohm Coax)... The Tenna Dipper fully extinguishes at 13.805 MHz indicating that my antenna is bit too long but is close to 1:1 at that frequency. FreqK3 VA1 Daiwa 13.81 -- 1.12-- 14.0 MHz1.11.241.31 14.1 MHz1.11.301.70 14.2 MHz1.11.551.85 14.3 MHz1.21.691.85 RG58 may have some losses on this band so perhaps all of the SWR indications are generous, some more than others. The dipole is a low one and probably isn't 72 ohms at the feed point. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) K3-100 #508/ KX1 #1311 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
re: [Elecraft] K3: Using 40m Loop for 10m
>Believe it or not, my ground wave signal for our local 10m CW net has been reported by the net control station as much better with the loop than it is with the 10m rotatable dipole. Phil, this is to be expected, ground waves are vertically polarized transmission modes. Your rotatable dipole is cross polarized for this mode. A simple vertical would probably work better yet. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) K3-100 #508/ KX1 #1311 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Audio blast fixed
Thank you Elecraft for the firmware change that fixed the audio blast at start up. You guys who live in a now noise environment don't know what you were missing. Merry Christmas to all and to all good DX Mike Scott AE6WA Tarzana, CA K3/100 SN508 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Strange problem when switching modes from VFO A to
>I have VFO A programmed for CW on each band, VFO B programmed for SSB. Power up the K3 on VFO A then switch over to VFO B and the signal generated is extremely distorted and sounds like it is being transmitted via a very narrow filter. To correct this problem simply switch the mode from L or USB to CW and back again to L or USB. >Any suggestions ? >Jack, W3TMZ Jack, I sometimes come up with the same pinched audio that you are reporting. My situation is not as repeatable as yours. I have the same VFO A and VFO B set up as you do for CW/SSB. When my pinched audio has occurred I believe it happened after an operation just like you describe by switching over to VFO B. I tend to correct the problem with a power-off reset and haven't tried your mode-change solution. For what it is worth, this problem has been reported a few times by me and one other person that I know of. It has occurred over multiple firmware installations. My problem seems to have not occurred in quite some time now, ever since I enabled the noise gate function. Since Elecraft has been unable to duplicate the problem they are of course stuck. They have been diligent in trying to replicate the problem. If you have not enabled the noise gate, try it and let us all know if you still have the problem. I am wondering if the noise gate is causing the state of the audio path to be different such that it avoids the issue from surfacing. One other tidbit, perhaps unrelated but I pass on just in case it is related. I notice that when the K3 powers up in SSB mode (2.7 KHz filter) that the receive audio initially comes up in a narrow band pass and then shifts to the 2.7 KHz filter bandwidth. I am wondering if the transmit audio is in a similar sequence and gets stuck in a narrow pass band and the startup sequence on the transmit side never completes until a mode change. Here is the start up sequence as seen through the receive side: 1. Hit the power button at time zero 2. Audio comes up in a band limited to approximately 450 Hz to 850 Hz at roughly 2 1/2 seconds after sequence starts. The band limited phase lasts maybe a half second or less. I note that if we tried to transmit through that kind of band pass filter the audio would indeed be pinched. 3. Then broadband audio comes up through the 2.7 KHz filter with AGC wide open at 3.4 to 3.5 seconds 4. Then normal audio with under AGC control after 3.6 seconds (the 100 msec or so at the end of the sequence seems to cause the noise blast that some of us have been reporting, Elecraft is testing a change to this right now). Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) K3-100 #508/ KX1 #1311 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] [K3} fatiguing auido, high noise environment
I have been realizing over time that my QTH/antenna is high noise even though I have underground utilities. I have been one of the complainers about the startup blast of noise when the rig is first turned on. I now know that my normal S-7 band noise is the underlying problem and when the K3 turns on I get a +30dB blast of noise that is just shocking. That blast will go away soon in a new firmware release. But the problem of high noise remains. So what to do? I hate narrow bandwidth filters because they sound like a hurricane whistling in a cave. Anything less than 1 KHz sounds terrible to my ears. I think many of you cannot understand this but until now I thought the K3 had terrible audio. I have been seeing many of you operate with 200 Hz or so filters and I just shudder at the thought. The narrower the filter the worse the audio. If you put a noise generator into your K3 and listened to the hollow sound with narrow filters you might begin to understand my problem. I use an inverted V on 40M, center up 35 feet. Okay this is a cloud burner and maybe this is my real problem. I do see seasonable and daily variations in background noise so my background noise is not 100% local. I have seen S3 on 40M on occasion, usually early morning or night as we head into winter. My S-Meter has been calibrated. I know that people use separate antennas on the low bands because of noise. Is there a suggestion for a really low noise antenna on 40M? I need a drastic reduction or I need to move. My audio is quite fatiguing and it has been quite a problem to operate CW if I need narrow filters to discriminate. When I can copy at 1 KHz or broader, life is good. I operate on phone when the SNR is good, if not I just don't operate. Mike Scott AE6WA Tarzana, CA K3/100 SN508 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] K3 Noise Transient measurements
I put an oscilloscope on the right external speaker (8-ohms) of my K3 and set up on 40M SSB @ 2.7 KHz bandwidth. The audio gain is at 9 O'clock. Band noise is high at S-7, no signals heard. I measured steady state and start-up noise transient voltages. Audio gain is set to Hi. peak-to-peak noise in steady state is 0.3 volts peak-to-peak noise during start-up transient is 5 volts I compute this as a +24-dB start-up blast, very startling to hear On CW 400 Hz filter I get 0.3 volts and 3.5 volts peak-to-peak or +21 dB start up transient. I believe that a signal or strong band noise needs to be present for this effect to be heard. I went to 10M with S-0 band noise and I can not measure or hear a startup transient at all. So if anyone tries to replicate this problem from a quiet location, better hook up a noise bridge. I believe that someone has noted that the effect has something to do with AGC. I believe this to be correct as I can get the same noise blast by turning the AGC off. AGC settings as follows (I believe all default): AGC Hold 000 AGC PLS nor AGC SLP 012 AGC THR 005 AGC -F 120 AGC -S 020 Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) K3-100 #508/ KX1 #1311 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] K3 - 2.73/1.98 Clicks on Power On
The power on rush of noise is almost earsplitting here in headset and external speakers, K3 serial 509. It lasts for about a quarter of a second. If I had the volume turned up it could cause damage to a speaker or my ears, it is that loud. For this reason alone it should be a high priority fix. Perhaps just blank the receiver in the turn on sequence for enough time to cover the transient. It has existed over the last several firmware updates. I notice that it is worse when the bandwidth is set wider such as 2.7 KHz SSB mode. It does not matter if a signal is present or not. I have high background noise level here (S-7) so I expect that might be equivalent to having a signal present. When set for CW at 400 Hz the momentary noise is there but much-much subdued and not objectionable at all so CW operators may not notice the effect. The effect is there in SSB/Data/CW modes. I don't hear it in AM/13KHz. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) K3-100 #508/ KX1 #1311 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
re: [Elecraft] Variable filters for K3
>Is there any news on when the variable filters might be available? Tnx & 73 Paul NN5G This is speculation on my part but I suspect that the variable filter is a bigger challenge than originally envisioned. The K3 is in a different league, it may not be possible to produce a variable crystal filter and still hold the K3 specifications. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) K3-100 #508/ KX1 #1311 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
re: [Elecraft] K3 Noisy fans?
Has anyone tried to quiet them down with vibration isolators, etc? Wow, I have never heard my fans, not a peep. I have seen them run and felt the air flow out the back but sound, no. Something sounds wrong with your fans. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) K3-100 #508/ KX1 #1311 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Sub receiver on the way
Katiegram received for second receiver ordered on Jun 7, 2008. We seem to be advancing through the backlog. Mike Scott AE6WA Tarzana, CA K3/100 SN508 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Pinched Transmit Audio
I was the original poster of a situation where transmit SSB audio was too pinched to be understood. The condition could always be fixed with a power-off reset. Since I have enabled the microphone noise-gate feature (or something else that happened around this time frame) I have not had a single instance of pinched transmit audio. Time has passed long enough that I would have expected another occurrence. I am not saying it won't return but I am wondering if the selection of the noise gate has made a significant change that prohibits the condition. On a positive note I am getting great unsolicited audio reports with my dynamic microphone that I bought new at a swap meet for $10. It is a wide-band studio-type microphone but obviously very cheap. People keep saying to not change anything. Mike Scott AE6WA Tarzana, CA K3/100 SN508 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] [K3] Loud audio blast on power up
Something seems to have crept into the last firmware build that I don't remember hearing before. When I turn the rig on there is a momentary loud blast from the speakers. It lasts maybe 250 milliseconds and then everything is normal. I get the phenomena when in CW, data, SSB modes. I do not see it show up in AM. When I watch the filter display on the K3 front panel the bandwidth seems to change in concert with the sound blast. For example if I am running SSB with normalized bandwidth the K3 powers up with the filter narrower and then shortly thereafter widens. I am running MCU 2.63 and DSP 01.95. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) K3-100 #508/ KX1 #1311 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Re: Help with distorted transmit audio
>I experienced this pinched audio problem this weekend. Using the current >beta firmware, I noted severely pinched transmit audio (using the transmit >monitor). It occurred on some bands but not all, and was present sometimes >on only one of the sidebands (i.e., when switching sidebands the audio >pinching was gone, and returned when switched to the original sideband). >The problem disappeared upon reboot. >Steve N9SZ Steve, I have had the same problem multiple times; I am glad to hear someone else has the same problem. People I am talking to say to take the clothespin off of my nose. In the transmit monitor I can hear thin audio. My problem is that I don't know how to replicate the distorted audio problem. A power off reset fixes it every time when it shows up. I have been experiencing this problem over many firmware downloads. I suspect there is a root problem that is rare that stems back to the original firmware. I have serial number 508 if that helps. I have engaged Elecraft help [Gary] but I am waiting for the next instance of the problem. I don't operate SSB very often so it may be a while before it happens again. For the record Lyle asked that next time it happens to change frequency or change transmit audio equalization to force a new set up of transmit audio chain. Since I received these instructions nothing has happened on my end so I am still waiting. The fact that you are changing bands and the problem stays is an important input. Please keep reporting this issue and I will too when it happens again. Mike Scott AE6WA Tarzana, CA K3/100 SN508 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] K3 with birdie at 3.580.61
>I notice a birdie at 3580.61 and wondered if this is normal or just my K3 >needing something adjusted.de gary, kd9sv Same here, my birdie shows S3 with antenna disconnected, so the equivalent of about one microvolt if it was a signal at the antenna terminals. You need a quiet band to hear this level. My 80M band is never that quiet. Just tuning around a bit with antenna disconnected and found these potential additional birdies. Definitely not an exhaustive search...Most are not audible over band noise with an antenna connected. 2.00879 2.56715 3.30527 3.58061 (yours) 3.594 4.479 4.490 4.7218 6.87934 7.16043 7.12503 Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) K3-100 #508/ KX1 #1311 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [K3] [Elecraft] FLx GN Adding Db gain
>There is a table of starting values for each of the crystal filters in the >K3 Utility Help for the Filter Configuration page. >Dick, K6KR Dick I notice that the table from K3 Utility Help (snippet below) does not show the stock 2.7 KHz filter. I would guess 0 dB but strange that it wasn't included. Part Number Bandwidth Gain KFL3A-200 0.20 kHz 8 dB KFL3A-250 0.25 kHz 8 dB KFL3A-400 0.40 kHz 7 dB KFL3A-500 0.50 kHz 6 db KFL3A-1.0K 1.00 kHz 1 dB KFL3A-1.8K 1.80 kHz 2 dB KFL3A-2.1K 2.10 kHz 2 dB KFL3A-2.8K 2.80 kHz 0 dB KFL3A-6K 6.00 kHz 0 dB KFL3B-FM 13.00 kHz 0 dB Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) K3-100 #508/ KX1 #1311 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [K3] [Elecraft] FLx GN Adding Db gain
>What setting >are most CW operator using? Here are my K3 filter gain settings that make for mostly seamless transitions. I did this by ear and looking at AFV. 13 KHz +1 dB 6 KHz +2 dB 2.7 KHz 0 dB 0.5 KHz +6 dB So I agree that the narrower filters seem to need more than 2 dB gain adjustment. The wider filter gain adjustments above are probably normal filter variations within a lot, possibly because my 2.7 KHz filter has maybe a dB less than average loss Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) K3-100 #508/ KX1 #1311 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
