[Elecraft] SWL
Wayne, Eric and crew, Soo, would it be possible to "add" another "band" that would be for SWL only? That way the standard bands would no get jumbled. Also, how about a menu item that would restrict transmitting according to you license. In other words a Tech, General and Extra setting to keep us short term memory guys out of trouble?? Thanks, Clint KI6SSN __ 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] SWL question
I am an avid SWL'er and use the K3 to listen to SW broadcast stations and wefax. Somewhere posted are the curves or ranges that the general coverage receiver offers. Im looking for these posts - more info about the general coverage receive option. I hear that sometimes the general coverage option shares low pass filters with the ones that the option adds. Take 25mhz WWV for example or 6 mhz broadcast stations. My question is what filter scheme is employed for these frequencies I have mentioned and what should I expect rx wise in these ranges as a result of that. Marc, KE2BP __ 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] SWL Spotting software?
As the caller says on talk radio "long time first time..." - I love this reflector, finally have something to toss into the ragchew... With the K3's KBF3 general coverage receiver (and the K3's excellent receive capabilities) I hope to chase some interesting DX of the non-Ham type. After all I got my start in this hobby as a teenage SWL 40 years ago. Recently I've been enjoying N1MM software features with the DX-cluster via telnet and the thought occurs to me: "is there a corresponding dx-cluster program for short wave listeners?" If there is - would someone please advise ASAP. Imagine - a low-power pirate shortwave station coming on line - and the telnet cluster quickly alerting others to tune in. By the way I have not purchased the KBF3 yet but this would put me over the edge in a hurry... -- Bruce Chadbourne KE1CY 8 Forest Dr Merrimack NH 03054 603-429-2943 __ 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] SWL question
If you have the KBPF3 optional (general coverage) input filter installed, you will have consistent reception from 500 kHz up through 30 MHz and again across the 6 meter band (48 to 54 MHz). Note that the KBPF3 is a filter at the antenna input (not the I.F.) to provide coverage in the gaps between the Ham bands. The K3 tunes the entire range with or without out it, but sensitivity will suffer once you tune well outside a Ham band without it since the 'stock' input filters are designed to provide optimum performance only across the Ham bands. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Marc Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 11:32 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] SWL question I am an avid SWL'er and use the K3 to listen to SW broadcast stations and wefax. Somewhere posted are the curves or ranges that the general coverage receiver offers. Im looking for these posts - more info about the general coverage receive option. I hear that sometimes the general coverage option shares low pass filters with the ones that the option adds. Take 25mhz WWV for example or 6 mhz broadcast stations. My question is what filter scheme is employed for these frequencies I have mentioned and what should I expect rx wise in these ranges as a result of that. Marc, KE2BP __ 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 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] SWL question
Hi all How good is the K3 as a general coverage receiver? I know that's a ridiculously broad question but... with the KBPF3 is it fair to say that the receiver performance is similar to what it is on the ham bands? I'm looking at choices right now but very likely to be buying a K3 in a couple of months after I've moved house. I may have some other questions but the KBPF3 is likely to be one of my first extra modules because I enjoy listening around. 73 Ross KT1F __ 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] SWL question
The answer is yes. The "stock" input filters cover the Ham bands. The KBPF3 fills in with similar coverage for the frequencies outside the Ham bands across the tuning range. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Ross Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 12:07 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] SWL question Hi all How good is the K3 as a general coverage receiver? I know that's a ridiculously broad question but... with the KBPF3 is it fair to say that the receiver performance is similar to what it is on the ham bands? I'm looking at choices right now but very likely to be buying a K3 in a couple of months after I've moved house. I may have some other questions but the KBPF3 is likely to be one of my first extra modules because I enjoy listening around. 73 Ross KT1F __ 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 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] SWL question
Hi Ross, I'm sure you'll get opinions from those less biased than me :) But here's some basic info regarding the K3 and short-wave listening: The K3's receive specs are generally the same for the SWL bands as for the ham bands, assuming you have a KBPF3 installed. The sub receiver also has a slot for a KBPF3, and its own antenna jack, allowing diversity receive from 0.5 to 30 MHz (as well as on 6 m). This is a great way to improve copy in fading conditions. If you're using the lower-frequency bands, you might consider using a low-noise loop for one of the antennas. Below about 1.5 MHz, the main receive antenna path gradually introduces some loss via a high-pass filter. This is intended to protect the T/R PIN diodes. Once you get to 500 kHz, attenuation is roughly 20 dB. However, you can bypass the main path if you have a KXV3 module installed; just run your broadcast-band antenna into RX ANT. The KXV3 also allows you to patch filters in-line with the receive antenna path. Such filters would be installed between RX ANT IN and OUT. (Note that the sub's aux antenna can also be used to get around the high-pass filter.) If you have a lot of favorite SWL stations, you can store them in the K3's 100 general-purpose memories. We have an excellent K3 memory management PC program written by Dick, K6KR. One other feature you'll probably like is AM synchronous detection. The K3 can receive AM-S in either upper or lower sideband, selectable from the front panel (SHIFT control). It can optionally auto-lock onto the signal carrier. If you're on 75 meter AM listening to a roundtable, the K3 will auto-lock onto each station in turn, displaying their frequency to the nearest Hz if desired. Or you can manually force lock by tapping SPOT. 73, Wayne N6KR On Apr 22, 2011, at 12:06 PM, Ross wrote: > Hi all > > How good is the K3 as a general coverage receiver? I know that's a > ridiculously broad question but... with the KBPF3 is it fair to say > that the receiver performance is similar to what it is on the ham > bands? > > I'm looking at choices right now but very likely to be buying a K3 in > a couple of months after I've moved house. > > I may have some other questions but the KBPF3 is likely to be one of > my first extra modules because I enjoy listening around. > > 73 > Ross KT1F > __ > 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 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] SWL question
Thanks Wayne I didn't know that about the synchronous AM detection. That sounds very cool. Cheers Ross __ 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] SWL question
Hi Marc, The K3 automatically selects the lowest-frequency low-pass filter available based on the VFO frequency. It also automatically chooses the optimum ham-band filter or KBPF3 filter. The list of frequency boundaries is quite long. Suffice to say that we carefully optimize filter selection to preserve the K3's excellent IMD characteristics, especially IP2. (This refers to the radio's ability to reject images resulting from incoming signal sum/difference products; this is very important for SWL use.) 73, Wayne N6KR On Apr 22, 2011, at 11:31 AM, Marc wrote: > I am an avid SWL'er and use the > K3 to listen to SW broadcast stations > and wefax. > > Somewhere posted are the curves > or ranges that the general coverage > receiver offers. Im looking for > these posts - more info about the > general coverage receive option. > > I hear that sometimes the general coverage > option shares low pass filters with the ones that > the option adds. > > Take 25mhz WWV for example > or 6 mhz broadcast stations. My > question is what filter scheme is > employed for these frequencies > I have mentioned and what should > I expect rx wise in these ranges as > a result of that. > > > Marc, > KE2BP > > > __ > 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 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] SWL question
Oops! In response to my post below, Eric dropped me this note: " Ron - you forgot about the hole around 8.215." He's quite right, of course. The K3's first I.F. is at 8.215 MHz has some tremendous advantages over receivers with a higher I.F. but it does mean that receiver coverage does not cover the area near that frequency. See "Theory of Operation" in the K3 Owner's manual (available on the Elecraft WEB site for more details about the advantages of the K3's I.F. schema). Ron AC7AC If you have the KBPF3 optional (general coverage) input filter installed, you will have consistent reception from 500 kHz up through 30 MHz and again across the 6 meter band (48 to 54 MHz). Note that the KBPF3 is a filter at the antenna input (not the I.F.) to provide coverage in the gaps between the Ham bands. The K3 tunes the entire range with or without out it, but sensitivity will suffer once you tune well outside a Ham band without it since the 'stock' input filters are designed to provide optimum performance only across the Ham bands. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Marc Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 11:32 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] SWL question I am an avid SWL'er and use the K3 to listen to SW broadcast stations and wefax. Somewhere posted are the curves or ranges that the general coverage receiver offers. Im looking for these posts - more info about the general coverage receive option. I hear that sometimes the general coverage option shares low pass filters with the ones that the option adds. Take 25mhz WWV for example or 6 mhz broadcast stations. My question is what filter scheme is employed for these frequencies I have mentioned and what should I expect rx wise in these ranges as a result of that. Marc, KE2BP __ 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] SWL CW Opportunity now!
For anyone not caught up in this weekend's madness and who would like to hear a little "commercial" CW, I just got word that Coast Guard station KSM north of San Francisco is on the air sending press and weather on 6474kc and 12993kc. They're also on the MF band at 426 kc/s for anyone with a suitable receiver. They're pounding in here in N.W. Oregon on 6474. Now for a listen on 426. That's a bit of a long haul in mid-day for that frequency. 73, Ron AC7AC ___ 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] SWL CW Opportunity now!
Thanks Mike. They're just a few miles away from KPH but I don't think I've ever worked them. I've worked KPH when they were active commercially when I was servicing and doing SOLAS certification on shipboard installations. It's good to see them being kept alive for future operators to hear. One of these days I must build an HF converter so I can tune 'em in on the old 500 kc/s "Marine Band" using my K2. For anyone who'd like to get a "head's up" on activities of either KPH, KSM or, on the Ham bands, K6KPH, send an email message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can often get a QSL for a listening report for an SASE to the address on the web site. I've got one printed on a genuine Radiogram form (such as shown in the opening pages below). I don't know if they still have those left. They were using up the left-over blanks after the stations shut down. In any case, I'm sure they'd appreciate reception reports from anyone who can hear them. It's good to let them know there are still SWL's out there who know a 'dit' from a 'dah', Hi! I've visited KPH both before they stopped commercial CW ops and during their last special on-air activity for the "Night of Nights" last July. It's a great experience for any CW buff within range whenever they do one of their regular on-air activities. For more historical photos of KPH (that's not the station on the air today, but it's often activated) go to: http://www.radiomarine.org/kph-proj.html And for a picture of my favorite key that is normally in use at AC7AC whenever I'm on the air, go to the top photo at: http://www.radiomarine.org/historic-5.html That's my old friend, LR at the key. He passed away in the early 90's and his widow passed that key on to me. Note the weight! Some of those Vibroplex bugs were tough to slow down . Yep, it's a real old "bug". No logic circuits. One makes the dashes and inserts the proper spaces by 'ear' . Ron AC7AC -Original Message- Hi Ron, That's the recently licensed station operated by the Maritime Radio Historical Society. Station details at: http://www.radiomarine.org/ksm-proj.html . The rest of the web site is darned interesting too. Wouldn't you love to have one of those Radiomarine 4U communications consoles off the WWII Victory ships, like they've restored (all I have is a 4U installation/operation manual). They're coming in strong in Arkansas right now (2100Z) on 12 mc, weak on 6 mc. The U.S. Coast Guard gave up Morse operation (and monitoring 500 kc) several years before the last US commercial Maritime Morse stations shut down in July 1999. I really miss the days (only about 10 years ago) when interesting Morse traffic could still be copied on the HF maritime bands. I dropped my telegraph license about then too...didn't see much point in the expense of renewing. 73, Mike / KK5F ___ 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
