Re: [Elecraft] New KSYN3AUPG Installation
Another customer who just did the installation tested transmit close-in phase noise before/after and saw pretty dramatic results. At ± 0.5 kHz from the carrier, the new synth was down about -133 dBc, while the old was down about -115 dBc. Does the new synth use the same chip as the KX3? It's not clear from the datasheet but it is just conceivable the Si570 could meet this spec. 73, Alan G3XAQ __ 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
[Elecraft] New KSYN3AUPG Installation
After my initial report of no obvious difference in the receiver performance after first installing the new K3 synthesizers, I've now had the pleasure of using them in the ARRL CW DX contest on 40 meters last night. Let me preface my observations by saying that I normally run my DSP at 150 Hz bandwidth after the 5 pole 200 Hz filter. My antenna is a 1/4 wave sloper from the top of a 48' tower with a 3 element Steppir on top. After 10 PM from central Indiana last night, 40 meters was wall-to-wall signals from Northern Asia, all of Europe, Africa and even into the South Pacific. This was great real-world test conditions! In short, there IS a difference and it IS noticeable without using lab test equipment! The reward is of being able to more easily hear really weak ( s3 ) stations sandwiched between other louder stations, often with less than 200 Hz spacing between them. It's sometimes like the unwanted signals are just not there, even though I can watch then on the P3. The band also just sounds quieter between signals, even though there were dozens of big signals within 5 KHz of my tuned frequency. Don't get me wrong, the radio was previously very good in these types of conditions. It just seems to me to be better now! It made me smile. It's also even more obvious who's rigs have offensive transmit characteristics. I'm really enjoying the change in my K3! It will be even more fun in the ARRL 160 contest next December. So now I'm drinking my morning coffee and watching the snow pile up. Perfect contest weather! Back to it... Mike, AB9V __ 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] New KSYN3AUPG Installation
Hi Mike, I'm glad this went well. Another customer who just did the installation tested transmit close-in phase noise before/after and saw pretty dramatic results. At +/- 0.5 kHz from the carrier, the new synth was down about -133 dBc, while the old was down about -115 dBc. (This reduction in noise will provide a substantial benefit in both RX and TX, especially if the other radios you're tuned close to are also using K3s with the new synths.) As you move farther from the carrier the results become less dramatic, with the old and new intersecting in their noise floors somewhere between 5 and 10 kHz. The original synth was no slouch, but the new one takes things to an entirely new level. Two customers have now captured CW keying waveforms from the old and new synths, demonstrating a very significant reduction in timing jitter. Finally, one of my techs called me this morning wondering if we had improved tuning accuracy. The answer is yes--we just forgot to tell them. The new synth has a lot less quantization error in its tuning, so even on the highest bands, VFO fine-tuning increments are very close to 1 Hz. 73, Wayne N6KR On Feb 20, 2015, at 3:26 PM, Mike Cox m...@ab9v.us wrote: I installed the new K3 synthesizer boards last night into s/n 398 (with sub Rx). The installation was very easy, requiring only the removal of the top cover and the old synthesizer boards. I didn't even remove the rig from the operating table, electing to sit my anti-static mat in front of the radio and wearing the grounding strap. The radio remained connected with +12 power turned off (it would have taken me more time to rewire the radio into the station than was required for the actual board swap). Total installation time was about a half hour. The radio powered up without incident and is performing as it should. Config: VCO MD is still present but only displays -- as it is no longer needed to align the synthesizers. As one would expect, there is initially no obvious difference in the before/after modification as far as the function of the radio. It sounds the same as before. Since I only have one K3, I can't do a quick-change A/B comparison of before and after. I'm not set up to perform the types of measurements required to accurately measure the changes regarding phase noise. I'll just have to take the word of others that the radio is now able to perform at a better level than before. I may be able to tell an improvement in CW keying timing at 35+ wpm but it may be my imagination. It does sound good! Here's where performing a before/after test would have real meaning to me. But once again, I'm able to update my old K3 with the latest changes and make it function as a new radio. I didn't have to buy a whole new radio! That's pretty neat! I've saved so much money over the past years (not having to buy a new radio) that I probably should go out and buy a second K3. Maybe if Wayne would give me a hat... I'm going to be operating for a while in the ARRL CW DX contest this weekend so I'll give it a practical test. From my perspective there's probably no compelling reason to make the synthesizer swap but in theory, it should be an even quieter transmitter with regard to phase noise and the cw keying may be a bit cleaner with reduced lock-up time on the synthesizers. It's an easy board swap! 73, Mike, AB9V __ 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 n...@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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] New KSYN3AUPG Installation
I installed the new K3 synthesizer boards last night into s/n 398 (with sub Rx). The installation was very easy, requiring only the removal of the top cover and the old synthesizer boards. I didn't even remove the rig from the operating table, electing to sit my anti-static mat in front of the radio and wearing the grounding strap. The radio remained connected with +12 power turned off (it would have taken me more time to rewire the radio into the station than was required for the actual board swap). Total installation time was about a half hour. The radio powered up without incident and is performing as it should. Config: VCO MD is still present but only displays -- as it is no longer needed to align the synthesizers. As one would expect, there is initially no obvious difference in the before/after modification as far as the function of the radio. It sounds the same as before. Since I only have one K3, I can't do a quick-change A/B comparison of before and after. I'm not set up to perform the types of measurements required to accurately measure the changes regarding phase noise. I'll just have to take the word of others that the radio is now able to perform at a better level than before. I may be able to tell an improvement in CW keying timing at 35+ wpm but it may be my imagination. It does sound good! Here's where performing a before/after test would have real meaning to me. But once again, I'm able to update my old K3 with the latest changes and make it function as a new radio. I didn't have to buy a whole new radio! That's pretty neat! I've saved so much money over the past years (not having to buy a new radio) that I probably should go out and buy a second K3. Maybe if Wayne would give me a hat... I'm going to be operating for a while in the ARRL CW DX contest this weekend so I'll give it a practical test. From my perspective there's probably no compelling reason to make the synthesizer swap but in theory, it should be an even quieter transmitter with regard to phase noise and the cw keying may be a bit cleaner with reduced lock-up time on the synthesizers. It's an easy board swap! 73, Mike, AB9V __ 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] New KSYN3AUPG Installation
Thanks, Mike. I was just about to disconnect all the stuff in back from mine! Phil W7OX On 2/20/15 3:26 PM, Mike Cox wrote: I installed the new K3 synthesizer boards last night into s/n 398 (with sub Rx). The installation was very easy, requiring only the removal of the top cover and the old synthesizer boards. I didn't even remove the rig from the operating table, electing to sit my anti-static mat in front of the radio and wearing the grounding strap. The radio remained connected with +12 power turned off (it would have taken me more time to rewire the radio into the station than was required for the actual board swap). Total installation time was about a half hour. __ 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] New KSYN3AUPG Installation
Wayne, I'd say this would be worth a free hat HI HI!! 73, Al On Fri February 20 2015 5:38:20 pm Wayne Burdick wrote: Hi Mike, I'm glad this went well On Feb 20, 2015, at 3:26 PM, Mike Cox m...@ab9v.us wrote: I installed the new K3 synthesizer boards last night into s/n 398 (with sub Rx). The installation was very easy... ...But once again, I'm able to update my old K3 with the latest changes and make it function as a new radio. I didn't have to buy a whole new radio! That's pretty neat! I've saved so much money over the past years (not having to buy a new radio) that I probably should go out and buy a second K3. ||Maybe if Wayne would give me a hat...|| (emphasis added) __ 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
