Re: [Elecraft] [K3] RX-settings w/ preamp?
Elecrafters, thanks for all the input. So far, the preamp does a good job, now stations are readable i don't even hear with the preamp off. Cu on the Magic Band. -- 73, DM4iM __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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] RX-settings w/ preamp?
Hello Ed, GL and I hope to work you on 6m soon! Both KL7NO and KL7/KB7Q were in here quite nicely on SSB the other night :-) Sorry I missed you! I don't know how many K3 owners are in your situation, but the Es season sure would be a good time to add another 10 or 20 dB on 6m! I have a little 300w solid state amp (6M300PA built by Down East Microwave), that might be of interest. I had been hanging onto it as a spare, but I do also have an 800w Harris TV XMTR that I could use as a spare. Both amps run on 48 VDC. I have not pushed the 6M300PA because there may be no good way to get replacement transistors for it anymore, but with 46 VDC on it and a little less than 2 watts drive, I got 200w output. 3 watts drive took it up to 300w output. A person sure would want to be sure they didn't overdrive it or have any power spikes on XMIT, but a low power K3 should really work FB with it. I would consider parting with it for $400. I can provide a power supply for another $25. Shipping would be extra. GL and VY 73, Lance On 6/1/2010 7:56 PM, Edward R Cole wrote: > > There was an opening from Alaska to PNW (BC/WA/ID) on Sunday evening > (0340-0400utc) where I needed 100w of my FT-847 to make contacts as > the 8w of my K3/10 was not enough. The K3/10 did receive very > nicely. I will eventually add a linear amp to the K3/10 for 6m. > > 73, Ed - KL7UW > http://www.kl7uw.com/6m.htm > > > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > -- Lance Collister, W7GJ (ex: WN3GPL, WA3GPL, WA1JXN, WA1JXN/C6A, ZF2OC/ZF8, E51SIX) P.O. Box 73 Frenchtown, MT 59834 USA QTH: DN27UB TEL: (406) 626-5728 URL: http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj 2m DXCC #11/6m DXCC #815 Interested in 6m EME? Ask me about subscribing to the MAGIC BAND EME email reflector! __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] RX-settings w/ preamp?
Message: 21 Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:41:29 + From: "Lance Collister, W7GJ" Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] RX-settings w/ preamp? To: DM4iM Cc: elecraft Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed On 6/1/2010 11:07 AM, DM4iM wrote: > Elecrafters, > i have a masthead preamp for 6m with 18db gain wich i will install > today. I would like to query the VHF people ... ...snip... > I feel the right answer is PRE OFF in combination with ATT ON > for maximum performance, but i'm not sure. > > Martin Hallo Martin, Others may have other suggestions, but I I usually run it with BOTH and external and the internal preamp on. However, here at my location, almost everything I am trying to work on 6m is very weak. When the band opens up and signals become strong on Es, I have to completely turn off the NB, and then I also can turn off the internal preamp. I have not needed to use the attenuator, but I suspect your strong signal environment over there is a bit more challenging. As far as the tower mounted preamplifier is concerned, most of the weak signal 6m operators I know opt instead for low loss feedline and put the preamplifier in the shack next to the radio. A receive-only preamplifier arrangement is much less expensive (and flexible, since you can easily add an amplifier) and the money saved can be put toward low loss coax, which will help also on transmit. GL on the Magic Band! VY 73, Lance - Lance and Martin, I have my 6m preamp directly connected to the RX ANT/IN and /OUT connectors and powered from the 12vdc out Jack on the lower left side on the back of the K3. To activate the 6m preamp (per page 39), you tap RX ANT button. I see a S3 noise level when I do this and another S-unit of noise if I also turn on the internal preamp. I chose to get the ARR P50VDG GasFet preamp with 0.5 dB NF and approx. 24 dB gain. This preamp may overdrive the K3 if strong 6m signals are received so in that case I would use either the internal preamp or the ARR, but not both. But most of my 6m operation is weak-signals and using both is indicated. I currently have a 3-element yagi at 55-feet with a 80-foot run of LMR-400 coax (~0.5 dB loss). There was an opening from Alaska to PNW (BC/WA/ID) on Sunday evening (0340-0400utc) where I needed 100w of my FT-847 to make contacts as the 8w of my K3/10 was not enough. The K3/10 did receive very nicely. I will eventually add a linear amp to the K3/10 for 6m. 73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com/6m.htm __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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] RX-settings w/ preamp?
On 6/1/2010 11:07 AM, DM4iM wrote: > Elecrafters, > i have a masthead preamp for 6m with 18db gain wich i will install > today. I would like to query the VHF people : What settings do you use > with an external preamp in line? > > ATT ON or OFF? > PRE ON or OFF? > > I feel the right answer is PRE OFF in combination with ATT ON > for maximum performance, but i'm not sure. > > Martin > Hallo Martin, Others may have other suggestions, but I I usually run it with BOTH and external and the internal preamp on. However, here at my location, almost everything I am trying to work on 6m is very weak. When the band opens up and signals become strong on Es, I have to completely turn off the NB, and then I also can turn off the internal preamp. I have not needed to use the attenuator, but I suspect your strong signal environment over there is a bit more challenging. As far as the tower mounted preamplifier is concerned, most of the weak signal 6m operators I know opt instead for low loss feedline and put the preamplifier in the shack next to the radio. A receive-only preamplifier arrangement is much less expensive (and flexible, since you can easily add an amplifier) and the money saved can be put toward low loss coax, which will help also on transmit. GL on the Magic Band! VY 73, Lance -- Lance Collister, W7GJ (ex: WN3GPL, WA3GPL, WA1JXN, WA1JXN/C6A, ZF2OC/ZF8, E51SIX) P.O. Box 73 Frenchtown, MT 59834 USA QTH: DN27UB TEL: (406) 626-5728 URL: http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj 2m DXCC #11/6m DXCC #815 Interested in 6m EME? Ask me about subscribing to the MAGIC BAND EME email reflector! __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] RX-settings w/ preamp?
I should have added that the cable used is H100, about 30m long and has an attenuation of 2.8 db per 100m on 50Mhz. -- 73, DM4iM __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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] RX-settings w/ preamp?
Elecrafters, i have a masthead preamp for 6m with 18db gain wich i will install today. I would like to query the VHF people : What settings do you use with an external preamp in line? ATT ON or OFF? PRE ON or OFF? I feel the right answer is PRE OFF in combination with ATT ON for maximum performance, but i'm not sure. Martin -- 73, DM4iM __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
