Re: [Elecraft] Tuning Clunks was:K2 compared to others rigs
On Mar 24, 2007, at 1:14 PM, Darrell Bellerive wrote: I agree that the synthesizer "tuning clunks" every 5 kHz in the presence of strong signals needs to be addressed. Agreed. It would be really nice to eliminate these. When I'm tuning the bands and I encounter one of these clunks, I often tune back to see what the signal was that I missed. I've noticed that the rig will often clunk one way, but not the other. Another related issue is the appearance of phantom signals while keying CW under QSK. This is especially apparent during contests. You'll hear someone sending something, so you'll stop sending -- and the signal disappears. Kinda defeats the purpose of all that big dynamic range Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASELMail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!" -- Wilbur Wright, 1901 ___ 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] Tuning Clunks was:K2 compared to others rigs
Good idea. As I understand it 'Clicks' = clicks heard every 5 kHz or thereabouts even if the antenna is discoinnected, generated inside the K2. 'Clunks' = strange behaviour noticed or sounds heard while tuning when *very* strong signals are being received in or close to the band in use. 'Clunks' disappear as signal levels decrease. This nomenclature is a disaster :-) Geoff GM4ESD Darrell Bellerive" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: First of all let's be sure we are all on the same page. Please define "Clunks" vs. "Clicks". While it would be best to find a total cure for the problem, anything that reduces the severity or frequency of them would be most welcome. Darrell VA7TO ___ 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] Tuning Clunks was:K2 compared to others rigs
First of all let's be sure we are all on the same page. Please define "Clunks" vs. "Clicks". While it would be best to find a total cure for the problem, anything that reduces the severity or frequency of them would be most welcome. Darrell VA7TO On March 25, 2007 03:16 am, Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy wrote: > This might be a tough nut to crack in terms of the surgery required. From > a quick thus limited investigation into this "clunk" problem in my K2 I > am reasonably certain that the lack of shielding to protect the VCO and > Reference, together with the lack of suitable interface filtering , is > responsible. I don't think that the BFO is directly involved but I could > well be wrong. In my K2 the "clunks" appear, as you say, in the presence > of strong signals, and are found on every band that I have been able to > check so far, 40m is perhaps the worst case. What appears to happen is > that the strong incoming signals leak into the VCO / Reference area, and > when their composite level exceeds some value, which is frequency and > leakage dependent, attempt to take over control of the VCO which results > in "clunks". The frequency separation between "clunks" is not always 5kHz > but does seem to be related to the frequencies of the incoming signals > which are attempting to take over. I must stress that I have not had the > opportunity yet to undertake an in depth investigation, but I am very > aware of the leakage between the front end and the VCO / Reference from > earlier work with my K2. "Clunks" should not be confused with "Clicks" > whose cause(s) are quite different! > > Here the received individual carrier levels of the BC stations above 7100 > kHz can approach -10dbm / -5dbm with an antenna looking East, and there > are many of them. It is not uncommon for my K2's LO system to lock onto > one of these carriers, and only let go after the receiver has been > retuned about 1 kHz. > > 73, > Geoff > GM4ESD > > Darrell Bellerive <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >I agree that the synthesizer "tuning clunks" every 5 kHz in the presence > > of strong signals needs to be addressed. > > > > I know that Elecraft found that muting the receiver to eliminate these > > noises was worse than the noises, but there must be a solution to at > > least lessen these "tuning clunks." > > > > On March 24, 2007 03:25 am, Dave-Boat Guy wrote: > >> A bare-bones K2 is a fine radio, although there are > >> still a couple of unresolved issues, like the tuning > >> clunks you hear on crowded bands, due to the > >> synthesizer. I'm still puzzled why it hasn't been > >> addressed. > -- Darrell Bellerive Amateur Radio Stations VA7TO and VE7CLA Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada ___ 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] Tuning Clunks was:K2 compared to others rigs
This might be a tough nut to crack in terms of the surgery required. From a quick thus limited investigation into this "clunk" problem in my K2 I am reasonably certain that the lack of shielding to protect the VCO and Reference, together with the lack of suitable interface filtering , is responsible. I don't think that the BFO is directly involved but I could well be wrong. In my K2 the "clunks" appear, as you say, in the presence of strong signals, and are found on every band that I have been able to check so far, 40m is perhaps the worst case. What appears to happen is that the strong incoming signals leak into the VCO / Reference area, and when their composite level exceeds some value, which is frequency and leakage dependent, attempt to take over control of the VCO which results in "clunks". The frequency separation between "clunks" is not always 5kHz but does seem to be related to the frequencies of the incoming signals which are attempting to take over. I must stress that I have not had the opportunity yet to undertake an in depth investigation, but I am very aware of the leakage between the front end and the VCO / Reference from earlier work with my K2. "Clunks" should not be confused with "Clicks" whose cause(s) are quite different! Here the received individual carrier levels of the BC stations above 7100 kHz can approach -10dbm / -5dbm with an antenna looking East, and there are many of them. It is not uncommon for my K2's LO system to lock onto one of these carriers, and only let go after the receiver has been retuned about 1 kHz. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Darrell Bellerive <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I agree that the synthesizer "tuning clunks" every 5 kHz in the presence of strong signals needs to be addressed. I know that Elecraft found that muting the receiver to eliminate these noises was worse than the noises, but there must be a solution to at least lessen these "tuning clunks." On March 24, 2007 03:25 am, Dave-Boat Guy wrote: A bare-bones K2 is a fine radio, although there are still a couple of unresolved issues, like the tuning clunks you hear on crowded bands, due to the synthesizer. I'm still puzzled why it hasn't been addressed. ___ 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] Tuning Clunks was:K2 compared to others rigs
I agree that the synthesizer "tuning clunks" every 5 kHz in the presence of strong signals needs to be addressed. I know that Elecraft found that muting the receiver to eliminate these noises was worse than the noises, but there must be a solution to at least lessen these "tuning clunks." On March 24, 2007 03:25 am, Dave-Boat Guy wrote: > A bare-bones K2 is a fine radio, although there are > still a couple of unresolved issues, like the tuning > clunks you hear on crowded bands, due to the > synthesizer. I'm still puzzled why it hasn't been > addressed. -- Darrell Bellerive Amateur Radio Stations VA7TO and VE7CLA Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada ___ 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
