[Elecraft] K2 SSB Performance Improvement
Other K2 owners may be interested in this. After getting many reports of poor quality transmit audio with my K2 (using the Proset K2 Heil boom microphone and headset), I carried out the modifications described by G3RXQ which increase the lower cut off frequency of the microphone circuit on the KSB2. This involves changing C34 from 2.2uF to 1uF, C31 from 2.2uF to 1uF and C20 from 0.33uF to 0.1uF. Now, when I listen to my transmitted signal on another receiver, the audio now sounds much crisper with increased high frequency content. I have also had many comments on the high quality of my audio and even someone reporting "BBC quality" audio. Well done G3RXQ! I also spent considerable time trying to optimise the Tx BFO frequency by listening to my transmission on another receiver. After many hours of careful BFO adjustment I finally ended up with the exact BFO frequency settings recommended in the KSB2 manual. Well done Elecraft! --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K2 SSB Performance Improvement
Thanks for posting this, Ray. I also was getting those kind of reports on my K2. I was able to get the 1uF electrolytics but was unable to find the 0.1uF. G3RXQ was quick to respond to my email and said that a 0.1uF monolithic could be used instead. The results are great, as confirmed by hams I talk to on a regular basis for many years. Now, if I could only get the circuit between my ears to work so that I could tell that I had not put my K2 in split mode while trying to work K1N a little while ago, all would be good. The "frequency police" were not bashful in letting me know the error of my ways. Thanks again. 73, George NC5G >Other K2 owners may be interested in this. >After getting many reports of poor quality transmit audio with my K2 (using the Proset K2 Heil boom >microphone and headset), I carried out the modifications described by G3RXQ which increase the lower cut >off frequency of the microphone circuit on the KSB2. This involves changing C34 from 2.2uF to 1uF, C31 >from 2.2uF to 1uF and C20 from 0.33uF to 0.1uF. -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K2-SSB-Performance-Improvement-tp7596200p7598119.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K2 SSB Performance Improvement
George et al: Did Elecraft ever adopt these (or any other) K2 SSB audio changes? Brian KB1VBF Sent from my iPad > On Feb 9, 2015, at 10:32 PM, George Winship, NC5G > wrote: > > Thanks for posting this, Ray. I also was getting those kind of reports on my > K2. I was able to get the 1uF electrolytics but was unable to find the > 0.1uF. G3RXQ was quick to respond to my email and said that a 0.1uF > monolithic could be used instead. The results are great, as confirmed by > hams I talk to on a regular basis for many years. > > Now, if I could only get the circuit between my ears to work so that I could > tell that I had not put my K2 in split mode while trying to work K1N a > little while ago, all would be good. The "frequency police" were not bashful > in letting me know the error of my ways. > > Thanks again. > > 73, > George NC5G > > >> Other K2 owners may be interested in this. > >> After getting many reports of poor quality transmit audio with my K2 (using > the Proset K2 Heil boom >microphone and headset), I carried out the > modifications described by G3RXQ which increase the lower cut >off frequency > of the microphone circuit on the KSB2. This involves changing C34 from > 2.2uF to 1uF, C31 >from 2.2uF to 1uF and C20 from 0.33uF to 0.1uF. > > > > > > > -- > View this message in context: > http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K2-SSB-Performance-Improvement-tp7596200p7598119.html > Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to b.den...@comcast.net __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K2 SSB Performance Improvement
Good question. I've never had any issues with my audio reports, using the Elecraft MH2 mic; in fact all audio reports have been positive. It sounds like these mods are for the Proset K2 Heil mic/headset (I'm not sure which Heil mic element is in this model). There were some K2 mods related to the SSB bandwidth, but these were not so much "audio", if I understand the question -- though they would impact the audio. 73, Phil W7OX On 2/9/15 8:33 PM, Brian Denley wrote: George et al: Did Elecraft ever adopt these (or any other) K2 SSB audio changes? Brian KB1VBF Sent from my iPad On Feb 9, 2015, at 10:32 PM, George Winship, NC5G wrote: Thanks for posting this, Ray. I also was getting those kind of reports on my K2. I was able to get the 1uF electrolytics but was unable to find the 0.1uF. G3RXQ was quick to respond to my email and said that a 0.1uF monolithic could be used instead. The results are great, as confirmed by hams I talk to on a regular basis for many years. Now, if I could only get the circuit between my ears to work so that I could tell that I had not put my K2 in split mode while trying to work K1N a little while ago, all would be good. The "frequency police" were not bashful in letting me know the error of my ways. Thanks again. 73, George NC5G Other K2 owners may be interested in this. After getting many reports of poor quality transmit audio with my K2 (using the Proset K2 Heil boom >microphone and headset), I carried out the modifications described by G3RXQ which increase the lower cut >off frequency of the microphone circuit on the KSB2. This involves changing C34 from 2.2uF to 1uF, C31 >from 2.2uF to 1uF and C20 from 0.33uF to 0.1uF. __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K2 SSB Performance Improvement
Phil: Yeah my audio reports are fine with the MH2 as well. I'm not looking to widen the K2 bandwidth. Thanks Brian KB1VBF Sent from my iPad > On Feb 10, 2015, at 12:57 AM, Phil Wheeler wrote: > > Good question. I've never had any issues with my audio reports, using the > Elecraft MH2 mic; in fact all audio reports have been positive. It sounds > like these mods are for the Proset K2 Heil mic/headset (I'm not sure which > Heil mic element is in this model). > > There were some K2 mods related to the SSB bandwidth, but these were not so > much "audio", if I understand the question -- though they would impact the > audio. > > 73, Phil W7OX > >> On 2/9/15 8:33 PM, Brian Denley wrote: >> George et al: >> Did Elecraft ever adopt these (or any other) K2 SSB audio changes? >> >> Brian >> KB1VBF >> Sent from my iPad >> >>> On Feb 9, 2015, at 10:32 PM, George Winship, NC5G >>> wrote: >>> >>> Thanks for posting this, Ray. I also was getting those kind of reports on my >>> K2. I was able to get the 1uF electrolytics but was unable to find the >>> 0.1uF. G3RXQ was quick to respond to my email and said that a 0.1uF >>> monolithic could be used instead. The results are great, as confirmed by >>> hams I talk to on a regular basis for many years. >>> >>> Now, if I could only get the circuit between my ears to work so that I could >>> tell that I had not put my K2 in split mode while trying to work K1N a >>> little while ago, all would be good. The "frequency police" were not bashful >>> in letting me know the error of my ways. >>> >>> Thanks again. >>> >>> 73, >>> George NC5G >>> >>> Other K2 owners may be interested in this. After getting many reports of poor quality transmit audio with my K2 (using >>> the Proset K2 Heil boom >microphone and headset), I carried out the >>> modifications described by G3RXQ which increase the lower cut >off frequency >>> of the microphone circuit on the KSB2. This involves changing C34 from >>> 2.2uF to 1uF, C31 >from 2.2uF to 1uF and C20 from 0.33uF to 0.1uF. > > __ > 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 > Message delivered to b.den...@comcast.net __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K2 SSB Performance Improvement
Those mods are not 'official Elecraft', but will help in reducing the bass response of the KSB2. That is a good thing with any microphone because the low frequency response just wastes power and does not add much to communications quality. It is applicable for any microphone, not just the Heil. 73, Don W3FPR On 2/10/2015 12:57 AM, Phil Wheeler wrote: Good question. I've never had any issues with my audio reports, using the Elecraft MH2 mic; in fact all audio reports have been positive. It sounds like these mods are for the Proset K2 Heil mic/headset (I'm not sure which Heil mic element is in this model). There were some K2 mods related to the SSB bandwidth, but these were not so much "audio", if I understand the question -- though they would impact the audio. 73, Phil W7OX On 2/9/15 8:33 PM, Brian Denley wrote: George et al: Did Elecraft ever adopt these (or any other) K2 SSB audio changes? Brian KB1VBF Sent from my iPad On Feb 9, 2015, at 10:32 PM, George Winship, NC5G wrote: Thanks for posting this, Ray. I also was getting those kind of reports on my K2. I was able to get the 1uF electrolytics but was unable to find the 0.1uF. G3RXQ was quick to respond to my email and said that a 0.1uF monolithic could be used instead. The results are great, as confirmed by hams I talk to on a regular basis for many years. Now, if I could only get the circuit between my ears to work so that I could tell that I had not put my K2 in split mode while trying to work K1N a little while ago, all would be good. The "frequency police" were not bashful in letting me know the error of my ways. Thanks again. 73, George NC5G Other K2 owners may be interested in this. After getting many reports of poor quality transmit audio with my K2 (using the Proset K2 Heil boom >microphone and headset), I carried out the modifications described by G3RXQ which increase the lower cut >off frequency of the microphone circuit on the KSB2. This involves changing C34 from 2.2uF to 1uF, C31 >from 2.2uF to 1uF and C20 from 0.33uF to 0.1uF. __ 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 Message delivered to w3...@embarqmail.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K2 SSB Performance Improvement
On Mon,2/9/2015 10:28 PM, Brian Denley wrote: Yeah my audio reports are fine with the MH2 as well. Nearly 10 years ago, I worked up some nice improvements to SSB TX that added 6dB of gain to the mic circuit, which improved compression, and tailored the frequency response to remove low end, which increased the talk power. I've posted the mods several times. See the archives. 73, Jim K9YC __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K2 SSB Performance Improvement
Brian, I think Don, W3FPR, answered your question. FYI, My K2 and SSB is a fairly early model from 2001. I did not like the bandwidth and changed it to 2.5khz early on. I believe this was a mod from KI6XX. Don't have those notes handy. Always got many unsolicited good audio reports for many years. Recently, though, I started getting reports that there were some unwanted artifacts in my signal and that the audio had too much bass. This was with the MH2 or the Yamaha CM 500. I also noticed that when I was using the amp(KPA 500) that it only took about 20 to 22 watts to drive the amp to full power in SSB. I guess that it is possible that one or more of the capacitors that I replaced had changed value. The changes that I just made has made big improvements in the audio according to several people that I talk to on a regular basis. It also takes 30 to33 watts to drive the amp to full power now, which I believe is more normal. As always, YMMV. 73, George NC5G >George et al: >Did Elecraft ever adopt these (or any other) K2 SSB audio changes. -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K2-SSB-Performance-Improvement-tp7596200p7598181.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K2 SSB Performance Improvement
Thanks Don, Jim and George. I would guess that any method that shapes the audio would have the same desired effect i.e. different mic element, equalizer, etc. Brian KB1VBF Sent from my iPad > On Feb 10, 2015, at 1:54 AM, Don Wilhelm wrote: > > Those mods are not 'official Elecraft', but will help in reducing the bass > response of the KSB2. That is a good thing with any microphone because the > low frequency response just wastes power and does not add much to > communications quality. > > It is applicable for any microphone, not just the Heil. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > >> On 2/10/2015 12:57 AM, Phil Wheeler wrote: >> Good question. I've never had any issues with my audio reports, using the >> Elecraft MH2 mic; in fact all audio reports have been positive. It sounds >> like these mods are for the Proset K2 Heil mic/headset (I'm not sure which >> Heil mic element is in this model). >> >> There were some K2 mods related to the SSB bandwidth, but these were not so >> much "audio", if I understand the question -- though they would impact the >> audio. >> >> 73, Phil W7OX >> >>> On 2/9/15 8:33 PM, Brian Denley wrote: >>> George et al: >>> Did Elecraft ever adopt these (or any other) K2 SSB audio changes? >>> >>> Brian >>> KB1VBF >>> Sent from my iPad >>> On Feb 9, 2015, at 10:32 PM, George Winship, NC5G wrote: Thanks for posting this, Ray. I also was getting those kind of reports on my K2. I was able to get the 1uF electrolytics but was unable to find the 0.1uF. G3RXQ was quick to respond to my email and said that a 0.1uF monolithic could be used instead. The results are great, as confirmed by hams I talk to on a regular basis for many years. Now, if I could only get the circuit between my ears to work so that I could tell that I had not put my K2 in split mode while trying to work K1N a little while ago, all would be good. The "frequency police" were not bashful in letting me know the error of my ways. Thanks again. 73, George NC5G > Other K2 owners may be interested in this. > After getting many reports of poor quality transmit audio with my K2 > (using the Proset K2 Heil boom >microphone and headset), I carried out the modifications described by G3RXQ which increase the lower cut >off frequency of the microphone circuit on the KSB2. This involves changing C34 from 2.2uF to 1uF, C31 >from 2.2uF to 1uF and C20 from 0.33uF to 0.1uF. >> >> __ >> 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 >> Message delivered to w3...@embarqmail.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 > Message delivered to b.den...@comcast.net __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K2 SSB Performance Improvement
On Sat,12/20/2014 2:29 PM, Ray Collins wrote: After getting many reports of poor quality transmit audio with my K2 (using the Proset K2 Heil boom microphone and headset), I carried out the modifications described by G3RXQ which increase the lower cut off frequency of the microphone circuit on the KSB2. This involves changing C34 from 2.2uF to 1uF, C31 from 2.2uF to 1uF and C20 from 0.33uF to 0.1uF. I did something quite similar (maybe even those values) with my K2 back around 2004. I also increased the load impedance of the input and another stage to add a few dB of gain so that I would hit the limiter harder. 73, Jim K9YC __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K2 SSB Performance Improvement
Very pleased the mods still work ! 73 Stewart G3RXQ On Sat, 20 Dec 2014 22:29:48 -, Ray Collins wrote: > Other K2 owners may be interested in this. > > After getting many reports of poor quality transmit audio with my K2 (using the Proset K2 Heil boom microphone and headset), I carried out the modifications described by G3RXQ which increase the lower cut off frequency of the microphone circuit on the KSB2. This involves changing C34 from 2.2uF to 1uF, C31 from 2.2uF to 1uF and C20 from 0.33uF to 0.1uF. > > Now, when I listen to my transmitted signal on another receiver, the audio > now sounds much crisper with increased high frequency content. I have also had many comments on the high quality of my audio and even someone reporting "BBC quality" audio. Well done G3RXQ! > > I also spent considerable time trying to optimise the Tx BFO frequency by listening to my transmission on another receiver. After many hours of careful BFO adjustment I finally ended up with the exact BFO frequency settings recommended in the KSB2 manual. Well done Elecraft! > > --- > This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. > http://www.avast.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 > Message delivered to stew...@twinwood.me __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K2 SSB Performance Improvement
I use a Heil HC4 (DX) mike element in an upgraded hand mike. I changed the mike gain with a resistor change as per mod. I get very good audio reports - the mike has the 2K boost and the low end cut... built in. I never did the SSB filter upgrade and still running stock serial number 0985 K2... 72, Steve On 20-Dec-14 5:29 PM, Ray Collins wrote: Other K2 owners may be interested in this. After getting many reports of poor quality transmit audio with my K2 (using the Proset K2 Heil boom microphone and headset), I carried out the modifications described by G3RXQ which increase the lower cut off frequency of the microphone circuit on the KSB2. This involves changing C34 from 2.2uF to 1uF, C31 from 2.2uF to 1uF and C20 from 0.33uF to 0.1uF. Now, when I listen to my transmitted signal on another receiver, the audio now sounds much crisper with increased high frequency content. I have also had many comments on the high quality of my audio and even someone reporting "BBC quality" audio. Well done G3RXQ! I also spent considerable time trying to optimise the Tx BFO frequency by listening to my transmission on another receiver. After many hours of careful BFO adjustment I finally ended up with the exact BFO frequency settings recommended in the KSB2 manual. Well done Elecraft! --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.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 Message delivered to wb3...@verizon.net __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
