re: [Elecraft] K3 - Latest firmware (last nite) FM test results, not good for U.S.
Sorry for the last "incomplete" post. Josh, K6ZRX wrote: - My FM measurements were as follows: Frequency was 52.525, did not check 10 meters. 12Db SINAD .47uV -113.4dBm Looses squelch (13) takes .79uV -109.0dBm to break Squelch closes at .33uV -116.5dBm Max modulation acceptance 4.90kHz TX CTCSS deviation .3kHz (at 114.8Hz) Maximum mic deviation 2.0kHz (at 1000 Hz mod frequency) Max overall deviation 2.29kHz (above two tones)- I no longer work in the 2-way field... so I don't have easy access to a Communications service monitor, but I can say that on-air tests on a 6-meter repeater bear out the lack of audio... When I worked in a Motorola shop (half-a-lifetime ago)we used to shoot for a CTCSS deviation of between 450 and 600Hz... and Josh is right on with his comment regarding a target voice deviation of 5.5KHz. I also agree that the squelch needs some work... As the operator at the far end during my on air testing commented... "You'll need a lot more audio if you expect to work anyone in a mobile who may be riding with the windows open!" I am certain that these problems will be addressed in a subsequent firmware update... and hope it will be soon. I've tried some of the other enhancements... I love the ability to send CW while in SSB mode with an offset that will allow a station zero beat (on ssb) to hear the CW. Thanks guys, for adding this feature... and for all the tremendous work on firmware to enhance and improve the K3 experience. 73, Joe - W1AIU ___ 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 - Latest firmware (last nite) FM test results, not good for U.S.
Dave G4AON wrote: > > Elecraft need to see how other manufacturers configure their > transceivers... The TS480, which covers the same bands as a K3, has > wide/narrow TX deviation which toggles between the two when the FIL/Nar > button is held down, this switches between 2.5 KHz and 5 KHz maximum > deviation and also shows "NAR" on the display when set for 2.5 KHz dev. > It's not easily implemented when the display and front panel don't > include "NAR". > Perhaps they could make it change depending on whether you have selected an HF or a VHF band. I agree it needs to be selectable by one means or another. Lower deviation is needed on 10m where there is no strict channelization and people tend to operate on 5KHz multiples than on 2m where 12.5KHz (15KHz in the USA?) channels are the norm. - Julian, G4ILO K3 s/n: 222 K2 s/n: 392 G4ILO's Shack: www.g4ilo.com Zerobeat Ham Forums: www.zerobeat.net/smf -- View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/K3---Latest-firmware-%28last-nite%29-FM-test-results%2C-not-good-for-U.S.-tp17064915p17066013.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ___ 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 - Latest firmware (last nite) FM test results, not good for U.S.
Josh Elecraft need to see how other manufacturers configure their transceivers... The TS480, which covers the same bands as a K3, has wide/narrow TX deviation which toggles between the two when the FIL/Nar button is held down, this switches between 2.5 KHz and 5 KHz maximum deviation and also shows "NAR" on the display when set for 2.5 KHz dev. It's not easily implemented when the display and front panel don't include "NAR". 73 Dave, G4AON K3/100 #80 (and a TS480) ___ 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 - Latest firmware (last nite) FM test results, not good for U.S.
I brought the K3 (#722) to work today once again, this time to check the FM operation of the radio. I had calibrated the oscillator a couple of weeks ago, and it has only drifted 16Hz since then! Measurements taken on the same equipment, same freq standard Motorola 2670, Spectracom 8195A. My FM measurements were as follows: Frequency was 52.525, did not check 10 meters. 12Db SINAD .47uV -113.4dBm Looses squelch (13) takes .79uV -109.0dBm to break Squelch closes at .33uV -116.5dBm Max modulation acceptance 4.90kHz TX CTCSS deviation .3kHz (at 114.8Hz) Maximum mic deviation 2.0kHz (at 1000 Hz mod frequency) Max overall deviation 2.29kHz (above two tones) Here are the issues. The TX deviation and RX mod acceptance are for narrowband operations. We need the CTCSS to be around .6kHz deviation and mic audio around 4.2kHz or so. Maximum overall deviation should not exceed 5kHz. In the US we are still "wideband" on these frequencies, in both commercial and amateur service, emission designator 20KOF3E. We need more deviation to sound good here in the US. That said, the recovered TX audio waveform looks great! With mic gain turned up all the way with the Elecraft mic, there was no distortion at all on the mod scope. Looked really nice, better than a $14k Motorola Quantar. Very nice modulation. It also simply takes too much signal to break squelch. Loose squelch should be able to break below the 12dB SINAD point. So, please more TX audio, or a way to select wide/narrow if narrow is needed elsewhere in the world, and better squelch action. So, for now, still on the MASTR II for 6 meters... 73 Josh K6ZRX ___ 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
