Re: [Elecraft] K3: An Observation for Struggling Brass-Pounders

[Rob Locher W7GH]

On Tue, 06 Nov 2007 17:08:24 -0800, Ron D'Eau Claire <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:


This is a great feature for anyone who wants to hone their CW skills from
the most basic level on the air. As a  Novice myself back in '52 who  
could

barely get through a short signal exchange before my arm 'fell off' or my
last pencil point broke in my nervous hand I believe that actual on-air
experience is the fastest way to build CW confidence and skill.


Hi Ron,

Last weekend I had an hour or so to operate in the Sweepstakes.  After
having been licensed about a year, and on the air for nine months, the
2006 Sweepstakes was my first ever contest: talk about jumping into the
deep end of the pool!  (I ended up getting massacred with five QSOs for
zero points; I had mis-copied something in every QSO.)

Anyway, this Sweepstakes I was starting to get the hang of it.  My
comfortable ragchew copying speed is about 15-18 wpm, and my contest speed
is as high as 30 wpm for a simple exchange, or about 22-25 wpm under
Sweepstakes conditions.

Someone had given me a Morse decoder based on IK3OIL's design, which has a
NE567 decoding the tones and a PIC translating the Morse.  Usually it
doesn't work very well, because a crash of static will be interpreted as a
dit.  But when I was working some of the loud stations last weekend with
the RF gain of my K2 turned way down, I noticed that my decoder box was
working perfectly!

Well my new-found toy became a crutch very quickly.  I soon found myself
not even listening, and instead watching the text scroll by.  I switched
it off after ten minutes, and was much happier.

My opinion is that a Morse decoder does more harm than good for a
learner.  Maybe it might be helpful for those first few terrifying QSOs
(which are still quite vivid in my memory), but I think that the learner
would be far better off learning to trust his or her own decoding
apparatus.

73,
- Rob W7GH

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Re: [Elecraft] OT: Looking for some foam.

[Rob Locher W7GH]

I have dealt with FoamByMail.com, and I recommend them.  Their customer  
service is quite good.


Here are the largely-irrelevant background details:

At the time I needed a shipping case for a 20 cm Schmidt-Cassegrain  
telescope.  There are companies out there that make custom cases, but they  
are horrendously expensive.  I searched the web and found an article  
describing exactly what I needed; the article also recommended  
FoamByMail.com.  The original article is offline, but I found the version  
preserved by archive.org's Wayback Machine, which unfortunately doesn't  
have the pictures:


http://tinyurl.com/yhl3mw

Following the article's recommendations, I took a plastic container the  
size of a steamer trunk and carefully cut and hot-glued several thick  
closed-cell foam slices to hold the telescope.


To return to the current discussion -- an alternative to the prescored  
foam could be to use a technique similar to the one I used.  To be more  
specific, some wide closed-cell foam could be cut into slices, carved as  
necessary, and then glued or hot-glued together to form the shape required.


By the way, my homemade telescope case works very well.  However the hot  
glue over two years has ceased to hold in several places.  I will probably  
reglue with some other glue, perhaps epoxy or Gorilla Glue.  The hot glue  
was useful however, because it worked well enough for a few months, and  
allowed me to prove the concept without being too permanent.


73,
- Rob W7GH
K2 #5004



On Wed, 25 Oct 2006 12:35:41 -0700, Larry <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

A quick google search got http://www.foambymail.com. Click on Packaging  
Foam on the left and I think you will find exactly what you are looking  
for.


Larry, KB5DXY
K1 #2269


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Re: [Elecraft] Rework Eliminators

[Rob Locher W7GH]

Hi Tom,

Don't forget the Rework Eliminator web site at
http://www.unpcbs.com/ .  There is information
galore there.

73,
- Rob W7GH




On Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:15:08 -0800, Tom Zeltwanger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>  
wrote:



OK I just have to ask:
What the heck are Rework Eliminators?

I am just starting a K2/100, and will be building it for some time. In  
the mean
time, I have been watching this list (an outstanding resoucer, I might  
add), and
Rework Eliminators come up from time to time. I am dying to know what  
they are,

and if they are something I need to help with my move into K2 land.

73,

Tom KG3V




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Re: [Elecraft] Solder

[Rob Locher W7GH]

Hi Rob,

To quote Eric Swartz:

"We -strongly- recommend continuing to use regular lead based solder to  
build our kits. Kester 44, and other 63/37, 60/40 lead/tin mix solders are  
not going away in the US or in Eu and work much better for soldering both  
RoHS and non-RoHS tinned parts. Removal of non-lead solder is difficult at  
best for most builders, potentially damaging PC boards and components, and  
thats why our warranty prohibits its usage. Lead free solder is really  
designed for use in mass production lines."


Eric corrected himself in a later post and said that the use of lead-free  
solder does not violate the warranty.


Here's a link to his original post:
http://tinyurl.com/tw2ra

73 and Happy Holidays,
- Rob W7GH




On Thu, 21 Dec 2006 11:36:04 -0800, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

I just received a box with K2 parts in it and #5924 on the outside, and  
I am REALLY looking forward to some time off this holiday so I can dig  
in. But I have a solder question before I start. I have a brand new  
spool of Kester Pb-free solder (98%Sn and 2%CU+Ag) with what I recall is  
standard active flux. Can I use this on the kit, or should I go with the  
old standby Pb/Sn solder?

Thanks,
Rob
KC6ROC


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Re: [Elecraft] QEX article and K2

[Rob Locher W7GH]

Hi Jack,

My budget unfortunately doesn't have any room for one of your panadapters  
at the moment, but I'm curious anyway: how much bandwidth do your  
panadapters show when connected to a K2?  Does the bandwidth vary  
depending on which crystal filter is selected?


73,
- Rob W7GH




On Mon, 26 Mar 2007 16:43:23 -0700, Jack Smith  
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:



John:

I am the author of the QEX article and the designer of the Z90 and Z91  
digital panadapter.


Although these were designed as a general purpose panadapter, it turns  
out that about 90% of my customers use it with a K2. Consequently, I  
have modified the computer display software to integrate with the K2 to  
permit mouse click tuning, i.e., click on the spectrum display with the  
mouse and you can automatically tune the K2 to that frequency. It's a  
pretty nifty feature and works reasonably well.


The display height is 4.5 inches or so, and with the necessary  
clearances, one needs an enclosure that is about 5 inches tall, and  
preferably a hair taller.


I have one customer  that installed (or he may still be in the process  
of building it) the Z90 in a home made enclosure that is a scaled up K2  
enclosure.


Jack K8ZOA
www.cliftonlaboratories.com



John Wiener wrote:
I remember reading on this reflector that the spectrographic display  
design (Pan-something) in a recent QEX article was designed with the K2  
in mind.
I was wondering whether anyone has considered this to be a worthy  
occupant of an EC2 cabinet (the large one).

Has anyone homebrewed this device?

I think it comes as a kit but from what I recall from the article, it  
seemed to be above my head as I am a pre-computer oldie/newbie or  
whatever.


Sure would give Icom a run for the money to have a K2 with a spectrum  
display.


Any thoughts?

John
AB8O






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Re: [Elecraft] KX1 - when should I add the KXB3080?

[Rob Locher W7GH]

Hi Joel,

Have a look at this:

http://www.ac6rm.net/mailarchive/html/elecraft-list/2006-11/msg00244.html

73,
- Rob





On Sat, 31 Mar 2007 12:25:59 -0700, Joel Weder <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:


Hi folks,

I just received a KX1 kit, with the KXB3080 option.

In the KXB3080 instructions it tells me all about how to modify my KX1 -
AFTER IT IS ASSEMBLED - to include the KXB3080. This includes removing  
parts

and doing other things that would be much easier DURING the KX1's initial
construction.

Is this actually the way people are adding the 30 & 80 board kit? Seems  
like

an awful waste of effort, and adds quite a bit of risk of damaging the
circuit board and other parts.

Thanks for any assistance!

Joel
VE6VOX


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[Elecraft] Re: [OT] CW practice QSOs...

[Rob Locher W7GH]

You might be thinking of Morse Runner
http://www.dxatlas.com/MorseRunner/ .  It's a simulation of running  
stations in the WPX CW contest.  QSB, QRM, fading, and "lids" are  
options.  Even if you have no intention of being a contester, Morse Runner  
is a wonderful trainer for copying callsigns and numbers; the software  
makes it fun.  It will never teach you to copy ragchew text in your head  
though!


- Rob W7GH



On Thu, 31 May 2007 09:47:29 -0700, STEPHEN W BANKS <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:


Hello everyone,

Does anyone on the list happen to recall the website address mentioned  
(I think) on this list a few months ago as being particularly valuable  
in simulating real-life QSOs?  As I recall, the emphasis was on the fact  
that this particular practice software source was good at contest  
simulations with lots of QSB, QRM, pileups and other real-life scenarios  
rather than the usual CW practice tapes, disks and the like.


[the rest was snipped]

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Re: [Elecraft] waaaay OT: Russian Woodpecker

[Rob Locher W7GH]

[Still off-topic]

Here's the same web page, automagically translated into English by Google:

http://tinyurl.com/323pmr

Click on the "next" link, which actually reads "the next page of this
foto-razdela", for more interesting information about the Russian
Woodpecker.

73,
- Rob W7GH




On Fri, 08 Jun 2007 10:00:26 -0700, DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:


http://pripyat.com/ru/internet_photo/chernobyl_2/1/1627.html


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[Elecraft] ac6rm.net down

[Rob Locher W7GH]

www.ac6rm.net has been down for several days.  Unfortunately, this is the
searchable archive; the backup archive isn't searchable.  Currently it is
still possible to do Google searches of the archive by looking at the
cached copies of the pages, but if the site doesn't come back up then
eventually the cached copies will go away too.

73,
- Rob W7GH




On Sun, 15 Jul 2007 08:41:32 -0700, Bob Nielsen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

I suspect a routing issue somewhere along the internet.  I cannot  
currently access the AC6RM site, but have no problems reaching  
.  You might try using  
traceroute (tracert in Windows) to see if there is a route disconnect  
somewhere.


73, Bob N7XY

On Jul 15, 2007, at 8:04 AM, Karsten Eppert (DK4AS) wrote:

Does anybody have an idea, why I can?t access the email-reflector since  
about one week? I tried it from different machies at different  
loctions: the reflector-page can?t be opened. All the rest of the  
elecraft-pages works fine. Also the backup server. I receive my daily  
digest-e-mail.

I also tried just to open www.ac6rm.net. That also was impossible.
Any hint is welcome.
73

Karsten


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Re: [Elecraft] OT: Keying contacts - Clairification

[Rob Locher W7GH]

My Bencher BY-2 paddle has gold-plated silver contacts.  The contacts  
don't wipe.  The paddle is 21 years old.  The contacts have *never* been  
cleaned, and the paddle works great.


73,
- Rob W7GH




On Mon, 30 Jul 2007 15:09:55 -0700, Stuart Rohre <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>  
wrote:


The contact area is a high stress point of pressure, Gold is a soft  
metal and actually can develop films that inhibit good conduction,  
unless the contact "wipes" so as to be self cleaning.




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Re: [Elecraft] Sidetone with harmonics at 400 Hz...

[Rob Locher W7GH]

I find the square wave character of the stock sidetone quite annoying on
my K2 #5004, with the sidetone set at 500 Hz.  However I run the audio
through a SCAF-1 external audio filter, which makes the sidetone much more
of a single tone, and far more pleasant to my ear.  The SCAF-1 also
eliminates the high-frequency hiss in my headphones.  The hiss didn't seem
like a big deal, until I could make it go away; then I realized how much
it had been bugging me.

More information on the SCAF-1 is available here:
http://www.idiompress.com/scaf-1.html

The Standard Disclaimer does not apply...

73,
- Rob W7GH




On Sat, 04 Aug 2007 10:25:07 -0700, Steve Kallal <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

I have a K2, serial #2289, that has a second harmonic in the sidetone.  
The
sidetone is set for 400 Hz because I do much better with lower pitches.  
The

sidetone at 400 Hz has a definite square wave sound to it. The problem
certainly is not present at 600 Hz, and I don't even want to try 500 Hz.  
I'd

go lower than 400 Hz if the K2 allowed it.


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Re: [Elecraft] Sidetone with harmonics at 400 Hz...

[Rob Locher W7GH]

Hi Ken,

Thanks for the email.  I've compared the sidetone from my K2 to the
sidetone from several others, and mine is about typical.  I don't doubt
that my tone would look sinusoidal on a scope, since the harmonics are
probably several dB down from the fundamental tone.  However, they are
there, they can be seen on Spectrogram, and they are annoying (to me at
least, but not to Ron AC7AC).  I also have a problem zero-beating with the
stock tone, like Steve N6VL.

The bottom line is that the audio from the SCAF-1 is much nicer, and I
think that many other K2 users would think so also.

73!
- Rob W7GH




On Sat, 04 Aug 2007 11:47:25 -0700, Ken K3IU <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:


Ho Rob:
If you are getting a square wave out of your sidetone, then you probably  
have a problem someplace. I just put the sidetone from 5413 on the scope  
and is shows an almost perfect sine wave.

73,
Ken Wagner K3IU

Rob Locher W7GH wrote:

I find the square wave character of the stock sidetone quite annoying on
my K2 #5004, with the sidetone set at 500 Hz.  However I run the audio
through a SCAF-1 external audio filter, which makes the sidetone much  
more

of a single tone, and far more pleasant to my ear.  The SCAF-1 also
eliminates the high-frequency hiss in my headphones.  The hiss didn't  
seem

like a big deal, until I could make it go away; then I realized how much
it had been bugging me.

More information on the SCAF-1 is available here:
http://www.idiompress.com/scaf-1.html

The Standard Disclaimer does not apply...

73,
- Rob W7GH




On Sat, 04 Aug 2007 10:25:07 -0700, Steve Kallal <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

I have a K2, serial #2289, that has a second harmonic in the sidetone.  
The
sidetone is set for 400 Hz because I do much better with lower  
pitches. The

sidetone at 400 Hz has a definite square wave sound to it. The problem
certainly is not present at 600 Hz, and I don't even want to try 500  
Hz. I'd

go lower than 400 Hz if the K2 allowed it.


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[Elecraft] OT: external audio filters

[Rob Locher W7GH]

The SCAF-1 and the filters sold by bhi use different technologies.  bhi  
make DSP filters; the SCAF-1 is an analog bandpass filter with a variable  
high frequency cutoff.


73,
- Rob W7GH




On Sat, 04 Aug 2007 23:53:35 -0700, David Cutter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>  
wrote:



How does it [meaning the SCAF-1] compare to the BHI product?
http://www.bhinstrumentation.co.uk/

David
G3UNA
I have no pecuniary interest in either party




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Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft K3 shipping end August ??

[Rob Locher W7GH]

Enough with the flame war already!

73,
- Rob W7GH




On Wed, 29 Aug 2007 10:24:28 -0700, W2AGN <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:


Thom LaCosta wrote:

On Wed, 29 Aug 2007, W2AGN wrote:


money that is in Elecraft's hands. For that, I would expect to be kept
up to
date on shipping. I am sorry if that offends those who worship at the
Elecraft
Altar, but I am not a believer in their divinity, just a customer.


You have such a way with words Johnit;s always amuzing to watch you
turn discussions into personal name-calling.


Personal name calling? I fail to see any personal reference in my  
comment, other
than that that may be taken by someone. In other words, "If the shoe  
fits"




I don't worship at Elecraft's Altar...I am just willing to trade time
for a finished product that has more than I expected at the
outsetbut then again, by doing that I give up my right to whine and
stir bovine output.



Oh, that's OK, Thom, you always find some way to expel the bovine  
output. (Now

THAT was a personal comment!)








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[Elecraft] solution to sliding paddles

[Rob Locher W7GH]

That stuff is sold as shelf and drawer liner, and is available at just  
about everywhere kitchen supplies are sold.  (Mine came from that mecca of  
capitalism, Wal-Mart.)  It works great.  Having never learned how to use a  
bug, I don't smack my paddle around like some do; however, my Bencher BY-2  
did tend to meander a few inches over a period of weeks.  With the rubber  
waffle-style shelf liner under the paddle, it might as well be screwed  
down to the desktop.  I pushed the paddle to see how much force was  
required to move it, and I had to push quite hard to get it to move at  
all.  That rubber waffle-style shelf liner stuff is really amazing.


73,
- Rob W7GH


On Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:39:09 -0700, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:


I got a small swatch of a rubberized waffle like padding - you can see
through the mesh like a screen - and it stops the 'scoot' really great.  
I've had
it so long that I can't remember where it came from, and I'm not even  
sure it
was intended for use with a key. The one I have is blue, quite thin, and  
very
soft. If anyone knows where it comes from or it's original intended use,  
I

think  it would be a boon to all cw ops.


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Re: [Elecraft] K2 microphone advice

[Rob Locher W7GH]

Hi Cary,

Congrats on #5266.  You are asking one of the perennial questions that pop  
up on the reflector.  Doug, VE3MCF, has carefully compiled advice from the  
reflector by topic.  There is good advice on microphones in his archive as  
well as advice on many, many other questions.  (Thanks Doug!)


There are a couple ways to get to his archive from the Elecraft web site.   
One way is to click on "eMail Discussion List" in the left pane, and then  
on "Elecraft email list emails, organized by topic".  Find the K2 area,  
and then the two pages with microphone stuff.


Also if you go to the "Elecraft Forum Daily List archives" page on the  
Elecraft site, you can search through all the reflector posts.


After doing the research myself I got a Kenwood MC-43S, based on favorable  
reports on the reflector.  I don't have the KSB2 finished yet so I can't  
tell you how well it works though.


73,
- Rob W7GH
K2 #5004



On Wed, 01 Mar 2006 17:25:49 -0800, H. Cary III <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>  
wrote:


I need some help/advice.  I have completed K2 #5266 and want to use it  
on SSB, as well as cw.  The MH2 hand mike offered by Elecraft/Heil is no  
longer available and I don't want to use a head mounted mike with  
earphones which is the only other alternative through Elecraft/Heil.
I admit I'm probably spoiled by the "plug 'n play" hand  mikes I've used  
with previous Kenwood/Icom rigs and I'd really like something like that  
to use with my K2.  If the Elecraft/Heil MH2 were still available I  
wouldn't be asking for help but it's not.
What do others of you use?  Also, does it need to be a mike with any  
special features?
The guys in Elecraft support have been great to work with but I thought  
I'd start here since its after 5pm on the west coast.

73,
Cary, K4TM
K2  #5266


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Re: [Elecraft] Rework kits

[Rob Locher W7GH]

Hi Mike,

Another way to search the reflector archive is to go to the Elecraft site,  
click on "eMail Discussion List" on the left, and then click on "Elecraft  
Forum Daily List archives", which is the big red link at the top.  Then  
you will see a search box.


The Rework Eliminator site is here:

http://home.cfl.rr.com/garyhvizdak/KI4GGX/unpcbs/

I have Rework Eliminators in my K2 and I highly recommend them.  The  
directions to make changes to the K2 build instructions (the "Companion  
Guide") can be quite intimidating at first glance.  However, there is a  
page in the center of the Users' Guide that shows schematically what is  
going on.  If you take ten minutes to thoroughly understand this graphic,  
then the Companion Guide comes to make perfect sense.  Both documents can  
be downloaded from the web site.


I'm busy building options for my K2 now.  My time spent installing the  
Rework Eliminators will have been amply rewarded by the ease of installing  
the options.  And should I need to troubleshoot the rig with options  
installed, I will very quickly be able to find out if an option is at  
fault or not, by swapping the option with its corresponding "un-module".


The standard disclaimer applies -- I have no business relationship with  
Ken and Gary, except as a satisfied customer.


73,
- Rob W7GH
K2 #5004



On Fri, 10 Mar 2006 06:30:11 -0800, Mike Short <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>  
wrote:


I just bought a partially assembled K2, and am wondering where I can get  
the

rework kit.

Also, is there a way to search previous postings? I would just as soon  
read

what I need to know rather than bother everyone with a question that has
already been asked and answered.


Mike
AI4NS


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Re: [Elecraft] K2, Audio Hiss

[Rob Locher W7GH]

Idiom Press makes an external SCAF-based audio filter that does an  
excellent job of eliminating hiss, among other things.  The web site  
http://www.idiompress.com has demo .wav files.


The Standard Disclaimer does NOT apply in this case...

73,
- Rob W7GH
K2 #5004


On Fri, 17 Mar 2006 10:02:45 -0800, Howard W. Ashcraft  
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:



I was listening to 40 meters late last night (virtually no one there so
I had some time to fool around with the rig) and noticed the level of
audio hiss in the K2.  With RF gain off completely and AF gain fully
advanced, there is a fair amount of hiss.  This is also noticeable at
operating levels and is a distraction from listening to weak signals.
(obviously the operating af gain is set much lower and the hiss is also
less obvious.  Since I usually use a very good set of in ear buds, I
normally have the AF gain way down)

All audio amps will create hiss at some gain level because you are
amplifying noise that is inherent in the components.  But I'm wondering
if anyone has tried to mod the K2 to create a quieter audio amp?  This
appears to be an areas where some improvement is possible and it would
make the K2 more pleasurable to use and weak signals more easily heard.
I seem to recall from way back that we used to mod Dynaco stereo preamps
by replacing carbon resistors with low noise equivalents (usually wire
wound at the time) replacing potentiometers with gang switched low noise
resistors, etc.  Some semiconductors and ICs also have low noise
equivalents.





--
Idiom Press supplies the world's finest Morse Code keyers,
computerized antenna rotator controls, audio filters for serious hams,
books of interest to DX'ers and more.  http://www.idiompress.com

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Re: [Elecraft] Lists vs BB's vs Forums

[Rob Locher W7GH]

I'll second Andrea's remarks on mail lists being far superior to web
forums.  I would say that if the mailing list were to be replaced with
anything, it should be a usenet group.  But then the usenet group would
need to be moderated to avoid being completely overrun by spam -- so I
still think the mailing list is the best.

A decent email client (meaning a non-web-based client) will download the
latest messages and sort them by thread, assuming you're not subscribed in
digest mode.  It also should be easy to set up a "kill" file of people
whose blatherings you don't ever want to see; fortunately I have yet to
need that feature for this list.

An off-topic rave: I would recommend to everybody to try the Opera
browser.  It's significantly faster and just plain better than any other
browser I've ever seen, and it's free.  The best feature is the email
client, which is a generation ahead of any other.  It indexes emails into
an internal database instead of just dumping them in a pile.  This means
you don't need to manually sort your emails into folders any more (but you
still can if you just can't give up the habit -- they're called "labels"
in Opera).  The whole thing, browser and email client, are just a 3.7 MB
download!  The Standard Disclaimer applies as usual.

73,
- Rob W7GH
K2 #5004



On Thu, 16 Mar 2006 23:50:59 -0800, Andrea Borgia <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:



I suggest that you visit this site and get started with Thunderbird:
http://www.mozilla.com/thunderbird/


B73,
Andrea.


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Re: [Elecraft] Plug wiring for Model CMOS-4 Keyer

[Rob Locher W7GH]

Hi Gary,

Sorry for the delayed response to your question.  I was away from email  
for a long weekend (hooray!).  I don't have a KX1, so I don't know  
exactly, but I do have a CMOS-4 (and an Elecraft K2).  The CMOS-4 uses an  
RCA jack for the key output.  To interface my K2 to my CMOS-4 keyer, I  
took an RCA patch cable, cut off the RCA connector on the end, and  
soldered a 1/8" stereo plug instead.  Of course the cable ground shield  
should be connected to the RCA ground shield on one end and the stereo  
ground shield on the other.  I can't recall if the inner connector from  
the RCA plug should be connected to the tip or the ring of the stereo  
plug, but I suspect it doesn't matter.


73,
- Rob W7GH
K2 #5004



On Sat, 25 Mar 2006 14:03:27 -0800, Gary H Evans  
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:


I would like to use my CMOS-4 keyer with my KX1. Can anyone help with  
the wiring of the cable between the keyer and the KX1? Thanks...Gary -  
AA6R


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Re: [Elecraft] KAF2 or KDSP2 for K2 #5287

[Rob Locher W7GH]

Idiom Press make a SCAF-based audio filter called the SCAF-1.  It's a  
low-pass filter with a variable upper cutoff frequency.  It also operates  
in real-time with no ringing.  Recordings of the SCAF-1 in action are  
available on the web site:


http://www.idiompress.com/scaf-1.html

The standard disclaimer does NOT apply...

73,
- Rob
K2 #5004



On Thu, 06 Apr 2006 11:24:55 -0700, Rick Dettinger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

Keith - I do CW only and use the KAF2 and think that it is an  
improvement.
But not to decrease bandwith, the IF filters handle that chore very  
well.  A
bandpass or lowpass  AF filter cleans up internal noise that I find  
tiring.

Another solution maybe headphones that cut off high frequencies.  I
currently use Sony headphones that have good high audio frequency  
response
so the audio filter is very helpfull.  I like the comfort of the Sonys  
but
would like CW phones that cut off frequencies above 600 hz. or so.  I  
also

have a passive outboard bandpass filter constructed from 88mh inductors.
The signal is very clean but the response is actually too sharp for most
use.  I would rather it were designed as a low pass filter.  This would
clean up all electronic noise.73 - Rick - K7MW


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[Elecraft] EFHWA / Fuchs / z-match thread

[Rob Locher W7GH]

http://www.ac6rm.net/mailarchive/html/elecraft-list/2006-06/msg00464.html

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[Elecraft] OT: in defense of the BY-series

[Rob Locher W7GH]

Hi all,

I've heard criticisms of the Bencher BY-series paddles over and over again  
on this reflector, and honestly I don't have any idea what these critics  
are talking about.  Of course, I learned to send iambically on one from  
the beginning.  I've never used a bug, and I didn't even use a straight  
key for very long.


I guess I don't hit the arms hard enough for them to feel "mushy".  I  
tried a hex key and it didn't do anything for me; I don't like the grossly  
non-linear feel of the magnet return, which feels way too "clicky" for  
me.  I tried an original Mercury key -- same feel, didn't like it.  I much  
prefer the long spring of my BY-2, which assures that the tension is  
practically constant across the gap.  And I can't imagine setting the  
tension so lightly that the paddle sticks and hangs up.


I haven't tried a Schurr or a Bengali, and I imagine that those are fine  
paddles.  To me, my BY-2 is a wonderful instrument that is finely  
adjustable over the range of parameters at which I feel comfortable.  I  
use it every day, and I would never want to get rid of it.


I submit that those who say that the BY-series paddles are poorly designed  
or lousy or plain just use a different style of keying that is not suited  
to the BY-series.  I feel sure that most such critics learned to send on  
devices other than iambic paddles, and still use some of the old habits.   
There's nothing wrong with that, but that fact doesn't make the BY-series  
lousy.  Admittedly I'm relatively new to CW, but I can send up to about 25  
wpm effortlessly (faster than I can receive of course).  I know several  
people who use Bencher BY-series paddles a lot faster than that.


In any event, one's personal paddle is obviously a very personal choice.   
Trying a paddle yourself beats listening to advice from a reflector any  
day.


Sorry about helping to flog the dead horse...

73,
- Rob W7GH



On Fri, 16 Jun 2006 07:35:37 -0700, David A. Belsley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>  
wrote:


The BY paddles are plain and simply not at all like a fine sports car.   
They are more like an old-style Beetle (or possible a Yugo).




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[Elecraft] OT: audio filters

[Rob Locher W7GH]

Idiom Press sells a filter called the SCAF-1 which acts as a bandpass  
filter with a variable high end.  With one you could narrow things down  
for a CW signal quite well.


More information and demo .wav files are available at:
http://www.idiompress.com/scaf-1.html

The standard disclaimer does NOT apply...

73,
- Rob W7GH



On Wed, 21 Jun 2006 20:56:50 -0700, Alexandra Carter  
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:


And #2, how well do audio filters, or even audio DSP like SGC sells, for  
narrowing things down for listening to CW?


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Re: [Elecraft] Rework Eliminator

[Rob Locher W7GH]

Hi Bill,

Welcome to the list!  I added the Rework Eliminator boards to my K2, and  
I'm happy I did.  I would recommend it to you for two reasons.  First, you  
will spare yourself from reworking your K2 when you add the accessories.   
With the Rework Eliminators, to install an accessory board you just pull  
out the un-module and plug in the accessory board.  Second, should you  
ever need to troubleshoot your K2, the Rework Eliminators make it very  
easy to discover whether the problem lies with an accessory board.   
Otherwise, should that happen you would be forced to rework your K2 just  
to do that simple troubleshooting step.


The Rework Eliminator web site at http://www.unpcbs.com/ has all the  
documentation you will need to make an informed decision.  The diagram at  
the very center of the User's Guide is very helpful for getting the basic  
idea.


I agree with Don that you don't need the Upgrade Combo, which includes all  
the headers and standoffs and such which come with the accessory boards.   
Just get the "Missing PCB Parts" kits for the options you didn't buy.   
That will also save you a good fraction of the expense.


If you do decide to go with the Rework Eliminators, make sure that you  
read the Companion Guide before you start building the K2.


The Usual Disclaimer applies -- I have no financial connection to Ken and  
Gary other than being a satisfied customer.


73,
- Rob W7GH
K2 #5004



On Mon, 17 Jul 2006 15:03:47 -0700, Bill Carpenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

New to the list and I will be building the K2/100 with KSB2, K160RX, and  
K60XV soon.  I recently saw the Rework Eliminator Plug &  Play kit and  
I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to incorporate it into my K2.   
Since I'm adding most of the accessories I want during the building  
process I'm not sure if it's worth the $$.


Any input will be appreciated!

73,

Bill NZ0T


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Re: [Elecraft] New Mini-Modules - They're here!!

[Rob Locher W7GH]

The Idiom Press SCAF-1 audio filter is a lowpass filter with a variable  
cutoff frequency.  The cutoff frequency is adjusted via a (decently-sized)  
knob.  It does a great job of filtering audio and also killing white noise  
in the headphones.  There is no ringing and no digital delay.  It comes  
with a silkscreened case, and in my opinion it goes very well with the K2  
in both appearance and function.


More information can be found here:
http://www.idiompress.com/scaf-1.html

The standard disclaimer does NOT apply...

73,
- Rob W7GH



On Wed, 27 Sep 2006 06:02:16 -0700, Darwin, Keith  
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:



The audio filter looks really cool but, again, no case.

A power meter and an audio filter to me are not test equipment things,
their part of the basic station equipment.  They'd get used every time
I'm on the air and as such they really should be in a finished case with
real silk screen labels and knobs.


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elecraft@mailman.qth.net

[Rob Locher W7GH]

Is there any way to tell if this has actually been released, and is not  
just a draft copy?  I don't see any mention of it anywhere else on the  
FCC's site, or on any other site for that matter.


73,
- Rob W7GH



On Wed, 11 Oct 2006 11:14:02 -0700, John D'Ausilio <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>  
wrote:



http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-149A1.pdf


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Re: [Elecraft] Newbie requests advice

[Rob Locher W7GH]

I've used the Rework Eliminators, and the only trouble I've had with  
testing and alignment is remembering to plug the Rework Eliminators in  
first.  (You shouldn't leave them in when installing parts, because some  
are easily damaged if you rest the RF board on the bench upside down.)


- Rob W7GH
K2 #5004 (Stage III Alignment & Test in progress)



On Fri, 27 Jan 2006 10:05:29 -0800, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

[a chunk of R.E.'s post was snipped]

In particular, if anyone has experience with the rework eliminator  
please reply.  I'm concerned that the test and alignment procedure may  
not work as it should with these mods.


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[Elecraft] BFO low freq too high -- a problem or not?

[Rob Locher W7GH]

When I did Alignment and Test Part II the first time, my BFO low frequency  
was slightly too high: 4912.85 kHz, which is not <= 4912.7 kHz (the  
official specification).  After having done Assembly Part III and having  
checked the calibration of the master oscillator using WWV, I know that  
the calibration of the master oscillator is not the fault.


I carefully calibrated my filters using Tom NØSS's Spectrogram procedure.   
According to my filter calibration table, the lowest frequency required of  
the BFO is 4913.20 kHz, which is still 0.35 kHz higher than my BFO's  
minimum frequency.  Is my slightly-out-of-spec BFO really a problem?


73,
- Rob W7GH

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Re: [Elecraft] PLL es BFO range test

[Rob Locher W7GH]

Hi Dave,

Sorry I missed you the first time.  I would think that your problem is not  
that the PLL reference oscillator and BFO ranges aren't being displayed; I  
think your problem is that the ranges are incorrect.


I had the same problem with the BFO range when I was building my K2.  I  
didn't have the reference oscillator problem though.  Here's a quote from  
the manual:


"If your BFO range is less than 3.6 kHz, you may have the wrong
varactor diodes installed at D37 or D38, or the wrong crystals
installed at X3 or X4."

In my case, I had D37 and D38 backwards, despite the prominent warnings to  
not get things backwards in the assembly section of the manual.


Actually, if I were you, I wouldn't even look at the BFO range until you  
sort out your PLL reference oscillator range problem.  Here's a quote from  
the troubleshooting section of the manual:


"If the PLL reference oscillator range is found
to be inadequate, X1 may be defective. Also
check D16, D17, C84, C85, and L31 for
proper value."

I would also triple-check the part values and orientation, and also your  
solder work.  Or if you can find another Elecrafter living nearby, have  
him or her check things over, since another pair of eyes will frequently  
spot something you've overlooked many times.


If all that fails, the next step should probably be to contact  
[EMAIL PROTECTED] .


gud luck es 73,
- Rob W7GH
K2 #5004



On Thu, 23 Feb 2006 13:01:15 -0800, Dave <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

I didn't get much of a response to my first request of help so I thought  
I'd

try again.

I have spent most of the day checking and re-checking and am not making  
any

headway.



I am building a K2 and everything has been going fine until the "PLL
Reference Oscillator Range test". Pressing the Band+ switch does not  
change

the PLL reference display (12113). The Band- switch changes the reference
display to 12067. Pressing the Band + switch again displays the PLL
reference freq. of 12113.


I looked for bad solder connections, incorrect or missing components and
could not find any.


Pressing on with the alignment process I found that the "BFO range test"

gave similar results. In this case neither the band+ nor the band-  
displayed

the BFO range. The display stayed at 4912 khz.


Any Ideas?




Dave N1IX


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