Re: [Elecraft] On sunspots, amplifiers, and transceivers: An overview of the K-Line

2017-08-25 Thread N4OI - Ken
Preaching to the choir in this forum, but good to articulate the message once
in a while...  

73 N4OI



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Re: [Elecraft] On sunspots, amplifiers, and transceivers: An overview of the K-Line

2017-08-25 Thread MaverickNH
Yep. Elecraft is great for people who have less knowledge and less
understanding as it take real effort to bust the hardware. But the same
hardware and software can enable advanced users to get amazing results. The
Company support is excellent, if you have to resort to it. But the Forum
usually gets folks past any hurdles encountered other than pure hardware
failure.

I have the K3S/100 with trimmings and P3, and just added a KPA500/KAT500 and
SP3 speakers. Misc wattmeters, directional couplers, P3SVGA, etc., await my
learning. I know I won't easily smoke the hardware and will get sage
guidance from the Elecraft Community. I know I'll figure out why I need a
KPA1500 down the road, and know there will be an integration path. Other
vendors dead-end hardware year after year, but Elecraft has a design
philosophy that works for us and them. Glad I drank the KoolAid!
Bret/N4SRN



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[Elecraft] On sunspots, amplifiers, and transceivers: An overview of the K-Line

2017-08-25 Thread Wayne Burdick
Seeing the eclipse first-hand was amazing! I encourage everyone to get out 
there and see it in 2024 if you missed this one.

This adventure also reminded me of sunspots, or lack thereof. And where an 
amplifier can really make a difference. In this regard, our new KPA1500 would 
make a timely addition to anyone’s arsenal.

Of course the KPA1500 and KPA500/KAT500 will work with any transceiver. But I 
wanted to take a moment to explain why our other K-Line gear (K3S, K-Pod, P3, 
SP3) is still your best choice in complementing our amplifiers. 

K3S:

The K3S is truly an operator’s radio, in the classic sense. Virtually every 
control you depend on during focussed on-air use (DXing, contesting, etc.) is 
at hand in the form of a “hard” switch or knob, right where you need it. Some 
high-end radios depend on the use of a mouse and keyboard for basic control 
activation, or are almost entirely controlled by deep dives through a touch 
screen interface. These may not provide a satisfying ergonomic experience or 
adequate response time for the serious operator.

To mention some of the specifics, the K3S has dedicated 400-count optical 
encoders for both VFO A and B; a full set of message memory and 
user-programmable controls; and top-level (non-menu) controls for all common TX 
and RX settings as well as RIT/XIT/offset clear. There are also rear-panel 
jacks for headphones and mic, allowing you to keep the front panel area free of 
cables. 

The K3S also has outstanding CW performance, unlike some radios that depend on 
networked interfaces or suffer from computational latency. Break-in is fast (up 
to 100 WPM in QRQ mode), transmitted keying bandwidth is the cleanest in the 
industry, and our sidetone uses ultra-smooth sigmoidal shaping (not a harsh 
square wave). It also has unbeatable receive dynamic range (20 dB better than 
the closest competitor on rejection of blocking signals). These attributes, 
along with outstanding diversity receive capability, make the K3S an obvious 
choice for who tackle the most difficult operating scenarios. Like, say, 160 
meter CW contests.

Finally, the K3S’s full-stereo audio (AFX mode) can dramatically reduce 
operating fatigue. AFX creates a sense of space you just can’t get with a 
single audio channel.

K-Pod:

You can extend the K3S's hard controls by one 400-count optical encoder and 16 
switch functions by adding a K-Pod. The K-Pod allows you to create your own 
full set of new controls in the form of macros, allowing one-touch complex 
splits, etc. Many of our customers have created clever macros that they’ve 
shared on our forum. Those who do make frequent use of computer applications 
have told us that the K-Pod provides just the right level of instant manual 
controls to supplement their software use, minimizing effort during extended 
contesting.

P3: 

Like the K3S, the P3 emphasizes hard controls to quickly assert settings you 
use frequently, such as specific scan widths, noise blanker or VFO B cursor 
on/off, pan/waterfall height selections, etc. There are 8 user-programmable 
functions you can adapt to suchrequirements. The P3’s display is also very 
fast, and very clean. We’ve heard comments from those using other high-end 
radios that their built-in displays often reflect evenly spaced spurs that 
result from inadequate shielding of DC-to-DC converters, etc. This can’t happen 
with the P3, which is separately shielded and is connected only to the analog 
IF of the radio.

SP3:

Besides being a ruggedly built, aesthetic complement to the K-Line, the SP3 
speaker has full-bodied sound and convenient source switching. You can use one 
SP3 with two radios, or use two SP3s with two radios when using stereo audio.

* * *

If you have any questions about the new amplifier or any K-Line product, feel 
free to contact us.

73,
Wayne
N6KR




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