Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft GC receiver?
I would like Elecraft to come out with two kits that Ten-Tec seems to want to languish or discontinue: 1. Yes, a general coverage receiver. But 0-60MHz and AM/SSB/CW/FM. Shortwave is still active and there are still many utility stations to tune in, including RTTY. And the receiver has to have the dynamics of a K2. and make it with options available for those who want to add them, like the K2. And price it at $500.00, which would be a reasonable price. It could even be designed to use the same DSP and computer I/O as the K2. 2. I always wanted to build a Ten-Tec 2m rig. Elecraft could easily engineer a better FM radio though, in my opinion. And while you are at it, make it an FM-only 144/220/440/902/1270 transceiver, where each band is a daughterboard that plugs into a main RF board. Each daughterboard would have its own memory for storing info. With optional amp like the Ten-Tec rig. This would be a complimentary rig to the K2/Transverter lineup, because that match covers SSB/CW. These may be crazy to think about, but I am seriously considering homebrewing #2 myself. And don't forget #3, the XG3 WARC band signal generator, which is just an XG2 with new crystals for 30, 17 and 12 meters. Okay, feel free to laugh now... Dan - KX1 #1507 K1 # K2 # ___ 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] Elecraft GC receiver?
With the large number of give-away priced 2 meter rice boxes I can't imagine why Elecraft would want to devote its resources to such a project. The same is true of SWL receivers. I have a Radio Shack all band AM/SSB/CW receiver that I recall cost me about $150.00. Admittedly it doesn't have variable bandwidth and other bells and whistles but its fine for SWLing and listening to your own signal when needed. Just MHO. Doug, W6JD -- Original message -- From: Dr. Dan Swartling [EMAIL PROTECTED] I would like Elecraft to come out with two kits that Ten-Tec seems to want to languish or discontinue: 1. Yes, a general coverage receiver. But 0-60MHz and AM/SSB/CW/FM. Shortwave is still active and there are still many utility stations to tune in, including RTTY. And the receiver has to have the dynamics of a K2. and make it with options available for those who want to add them, like the K2. And price it at $500.00, which would be a reasonable price. It could even be designed to use the same DSP and computer I/O as the K2. 2. I always wanted to build a Ten-Tec 2m rig. Elecraft could easily engineer a better FM radio though, in my opinion. And while you are at it, make it an FM-only 144/220/440/902/1270 transceiver, where each band is a daughterboard that plugs into a main RF board. Each daughterboard would have its own memory for storing info. With optional amp like the Ten-Tec rig. This would be a complimentary rig to the K2/Transverter lineup, because that match covers SSB/CW. These may be crazy to think about, but I am seriously considering homebrewing #2 myself. And don't forget #3, the XG3 WARC band signal generator, which is just an XG2 with new crystals for 30, 17 and 12 meters. Okay, feel free to laugh now... Dan - KX1 #1507 K1 # K2 # ___ 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 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] Elecraft GC receiver?
I would like Elecraft to come out with [...]: 1. Yes, a general coverage receiver. But 0-60MHz and AM/SSB/CW/FM. [...] And price it at $500.00, which would be a reasonable price. It could even be designed to use the same DSP and computer I/O as the K2. A smart idea. I would buy one. 2. I always wanted to build a Ten-Tec 2m rig. Elecraft could easily engineer a better FM radio though, in my opinion. And while you are at it, make it an FM-only 144/220/440/902/1270 transceiver, where each band is a daughterboard that plugs into a main RF board. [...] Include 10m and 6m boards and I would be in on this one too. Okay, feel free to laugh now... Na. These seem fair suggestions to me. David, K3TUE . ___ 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] Elecraft GC receiver?
I already have an Elecraft GC receiver.. my KX1... and smaller than my last SWL kit. a Heathkit GR-64 circa 1965. :) Frank. K2PQ -- Original message -- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] With the large number of give-away priced 2 meter rice boxes I can't imagine why Elecraft would want to devote its resources to such a project. The same is true of SWL receivers. I have a Radio Shack all band AM/SSB/CW receiver that I recall cost me about $150.00. Admittedly it doesn't have variable bandwidth and other bells and whistles but its fine for SWLing and listening to your own signal when needed. Just MHO. Doug, W6JD -- Original message -- From: Dr. Dan Swartling I would like Elecraft to come out with two kits that Ten-Tec seems to want to languish or discontinue: 1. Yes, a general coverage receiver. But 0-60MHz and AM/SSB/CW/FM. Shortwave is still active and there are still many utility stations to tune in, including RTTY. And the receiver has to have the dynamics of a K2. and make it with options available for those who want to add them, like the K2. And price it at $500.00, which would be a reasonable price. It could even be designed to use the same DSP and computer I/O as the K2. 2. I always wanted to build a Ten-Tec 2m rig. Elecraft could easily engineer a better FM radio though, in my opinion. And while you are at it, make it an FM-only 144/220/440/902/1270 transceiver, where each band is a daughterboard that plugs into a main RF board. Each daughterboard would have its own memory for storing info. With optional amp like the Ten-Tec rig. This would be a complimentary rig to the K2/Transverter lineup, because that match covers SSB/CW. These may be crazy to think about, but I am seriously considering homebrewing #2 myself. And don't forget #3, the XG3 WARC band signal generator, which is just an XG2 with new crystals for 30, 17 and 12 meters. Okay, feel free to laugh now... Dan - KX1 #1507 K1 # K2 # ___ 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 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 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] Elecraft GC receiver?
Keith, I am a bit surprised with Your 1kHz display resolution requirement its not too much, no? K2 has 10Hz tuning resolution... 72, Petr OK1RP Původní zpráva Od: Darwin, Keith [EMAIL PROTECTED] Předmět: [Elecraft] Elecraft GC receiver? Datum: 31.7.2006 21:25:08 We all want a K2-B (K2 with big knobs display) and I'm sure Elecraft Engineering is working on it as we speak. So how about another idea. I want a separate receiver in the shack. Something to use as a backup. Something I can use to monitor my the TX signal from my K2 so I can hear what it is really doing. Features would include: - Medium size or larger controls. - General coverage SW receive (1.5 - 30 MHz) - 1 KHz display resolution. - Low noise, great sound so you can really tell what your TX signal sounds like. - AM / SSB / CW coverage - wide / medium / narrow filters - Low cost ($300) Nice to have includes - Analog S-Meter. - Memories - IF shift - External mute - Fast / Slow / Off AGC speeds - RF gain control - Synchronous AGC I guess I'm looking for a modern Drake 2B / R-4B but with full coverage. - Keith KD1E - - K2 5411 - ___ 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 Petr Ouředník 00420608230010 (private) [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.qsl.net/ok1rp ___ 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] Elecraft GC receiver?
-Original Message- Jim replies () to my original message () ... - Medium size or larger controls. How big is that? To me, medium size means 1 diameter for most controls and 2-3 for tuning. Yep, sounds sweet to me. The problem is that there's a conflict between that and the general coverage/low cost criteria. Well, I don't know enough to discuss this but it sure seems to me that someone could come up with an R-4B style design using modern parts that would be easy to build and pretty cheap. Well, you'd think it would be at least. After all that rig was nothing more than a receiver that could cover a number of 500 KHz bands and it did it pretty well. Today's approach of using synthesizers has its drawbacks. It may give us more bells whistles (memories, direct freq entry) but it brought a bunch of issues that needed to be solved as well. Consider a K2 with the transmitter section removed. You'd save the finals, a mixer, some control circuitry, and a few other things. But would you save half the cost of the rig? I doubt it. Agreed, but what if you started with a ... KX1? That rig is already close to what I'm asking for (close enough that maybe it will be my next rig). I'm not looking for K2 contest level performance, just something that can tune around and do an OK job receiving and something that has good sound. Simple is good. - Synchronous AGC ?? What is synchronous AGC? Oops, I meant synchronous AM detection ... I guess I'm looking for a modern Drake 2B / R-4B but with full coverage. Those receivers are really good but they lack many of the above features too. Actually, they have most of what I listed, except for memories and a low price. True they were not general coverage, but with a handful of crystals (remember those :-) you could teach them to cover the bands you were interested in. To me that's good enough. What about things like a noise blanker, computer control port or DSP? Computer control DSP? Well, I for one would be very happy to do without those to save some money. Thanks Jim! 73! - Keith KD1E - - K2 5411 - ___ 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] Elecraft GC receiver?
Keith KD1E wrote: Well, I don't know enough to discuss this but it sure seems to me that someone could come up with an R-4B style design using modern parts that would be easy to build and pretty cheap. Well, you'd think it would be at least. After all that rig was nothing more than a receiver that could cover a number of 500 KHz bands and it did it pretty well. Today's approach of using synthesizers has its drawbacks. It may give us more bells whistles (memories, direct freq entry) but it brought a bunch of issues that needed to be solved as well. --- Methinks that a Direct Conversion receiver is worth considering with a pair of robust mixers up front, preferably not diode rings, and with a premix type of LO - bag of crystals or maybe a few crystals. You would probably have to settle for 50 - 60db of unwanted sideband suppression in CW and SSB modes if not using audio notching, but you get CW, USB, LSB, AM, and a form of Binaural output. Bandwidth determined by filters at audio. All quite simple. Amen to your comment about synthesizers, although improvements are being made. 73, Geoff GM4ESD ___ 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] Elecraft GC receiver?
In a message dated 8/1/06 12:32:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: -Original Message- Jim replies () to my original message () ... - Medium size or larger controls. How big is that? To me, medium size means 1 diameter for most controls and 2-3 for tuning. Yep, sounds sweet to me. That means a pretty big front panel, because knobs that size fill up lots of space. You wind up with a front panel that looks like this: http://www.qsl.net/k5bcq/Jim/SilverRX1.jpg http://hometown.aol.com/n2ey/myhomepage/ The problem is that there's a conflict between that and the general coverage/low cost criteria. Well, I don't know enough to discuss this but it sure seems to me that someone could come up with an R-4B style design using modern parts that would be easy to build and pretty cheap. Only if it's possible. There are a bunch of issues to be resolved in such a design, and they all involve compromises. Well, you'd think it would be at least. Why would I think that? After all that rig was nothing more than a receiver that could cover a number of 500 KHz bands and it did it pretty well. And look what an R-4 cost! Adjust the price of an R-4 (ABC, whatever) to 2006 dollars and be ready for a shock. Today's approach of using synthesizers has its drawbacks. It may give us more bells whistles (memories, direct freq entry) but it brought a bunch of issues that needed to be solved as well. Synthesizers became popular for whole bunch of reasons. One of them was cost. The R-4 family use a premixer design. There's a tunable oscillator (PTO) controlled by the tuning knob. There's a crystal oscillator with a crystal for each 500 kc. segment. The outputs of the two oscillators are mixed in a premixer, then filtered, to generate the local oscillator signal that mixes with the incoming signals in the first mixer (a 6EJ7 IIRC). Such a design uses a lot of custom-made parts. The PTO and dial assembly are mostly precision mechanical parts. There's a custom-made crystal for each 500 kc segment. Custom-made crystals cost several dollars each in the R-4's day and even more now. Most of the coils in the premixer are custom made, as is the bandswitch. Even with Drake's buying power, all those custom parts push the price up. A big part of cost reduction is using stock parts rather than custom ones. While homebrewers can use one-of-a-kinds, surplus, and found parts, manufacturers are pretty much forced to use current-production new parts. One of the elegant features of Elecraft designs is its almost complete lack of custom parts. In a K2, the case, circuit boards, the firmware chip and xtals are the only custom parts. The firmware chip is a stock part that Elecraft programs, and the xtals are selected microprocessor crystals. Consider a K2 with the transmitter section removed. You'd save the finals, a mixer, some control circuitry, and a few other things. But would you save half the cost of the rig? I doubt it. Agreed, but what if you started with a ... KX1? That rig is already close to what I'm asking for (close enough that maybe it will be my next rig). And look what a KX1 costs! Remove the transmitter section and you'll save some money, but you'll spend it all on other things like a bigger case and custom filters. I'm not looking for K2 contest level performance, just something that can tune around and do an OK job receiving and something that has good sound. Can the KX1 drive a speaker? Simple is good. The KX1 is hardly simple! - Synchronous AGC ?? What is synchronous AGC? Oops, I meant synchronous AM detection ... OK - whole bunch of issues with that. I guess I'm looking for a modern Drake 2B / R-4B but with full coverage. Those receivers are really good but they lack many of the above features too. Actually, they have most of what I listed, except for memories and a low price. See above for the cost problem. True they were not general coverage, but with a handful of crystals (remember those :-) you could teach them to cover the bands you were interested in. To me that's good enough. Then and now, the crystal cost was a big issue. Covering 1.5 to 30 takes 57 crystals! If the stock R-4 comes with 9 crystals, you need to come up with 48 more What about things like a noise blanker, computer control port or DSP? Computer control DSP? Well, I for one would be very happy to do without those to save some money. There's another point: A lot of the market would want those features. Elecraft neatly solves the problem by making many features optional, which permits those who are not interested to leave them out, and also permits those who have limited resources to add them later rather than having to buy everything at once. Thanks Jim! You're welcome! 73 de Jim, N2EY ___ Elecraft mailing
Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft GC receiver?
This conversation has coincided with some decisions I have been making radio-wise lately, FWIW. Also being a member of the AM/Boatanchor croud, there always seems to be a big push to get GC receivers. But I was listening to a friend recently on the air who has owned an R-390A for years (arguably the top of the top in (heavy) tube receivers) and now and finds himself not using it at all, but instead using what some would argue are lesser ham-band-only receivers. And I started thinking, how many GC receivers do I need (I already have a Drake R-8B w/ VHF converter), given the dearth of shortwave broadcasts and the apparent winnowing of shortwave proadcast content. If I am going to be engaged in QSO's or monitoring my own signals wth a receiver, I don't transmit outside the ham bands. Ham-band-only receivers in general are more stable, precise, quiet, simple, and affordable and a comparably designed GC RX. Don't get me wrong. If Elecraft came out with a GC RX kit I would certainly be in line to buy/build/use one. But don't you think they are doing a stellar job of supporting the QRP/CW/Builder communities with products we will want to buy/build/use? Do we really weant to encourage them to dilute their efforts and loose their focus on who cares most about their products? Many a company has gone broke designing something that was agreed to be great but that few bought because of the expense required to produce it. I say good job to Elecraft. I can't wait to see what you are coming out with next. David, K3TUE . ___ 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] Elecraft GC receiver?
On Tuesday 01 August 2006 22:13, David Toepfer wrote: Ham-band-only receivers in general are more stable, precise, quiet, simple, and affordable and a comparably designed GC RX. Isn't it telling that the Ten-Tec Orion II has two separate receivers, one amateur bands only and the other general coverage? My K2 with 160m on the amateur bands is all I need. Ian, G4ICV, AB2GR, K2 #4962 -- ___ 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] Elecraft GC receiver?
I want a separate receiver in the shack. [...] - Low cost ($300) Man, you are funny. ___ 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] Elecraft GC receiver?
How about a Kenwood TH-F6A? It fits your price point, has CW and SSB coverage, and receives 0.1-1300MHz, and supports RS232 control so you can use it for your computer control. Plus when you aren't using it as a station monitor, you can use it on 2/1.25/70cm TX. 73, Leigh/WA5ZNU On Mon, 31 Jul 2006 12:25 pm, Darwin, Keith wrote: So how about another idea. I want a separate receiver in the shack. Something to use as a backup. Something I can use to monitor my the TX signal from my K2 so I can hear what it is really doing. Features would include: - Medium size or larger controls. - General coverage SW receive (1.5 - 30 MHz) - 1 KHz display resolution. - Low noise, great sound so you can really tell what your TX signal sounds like. - AM / SSB / CW coverage - wide / medium / narrow filters - Low cost ($300) Nice to have includes - Analog S-Meter. - Memories - IF shift - External mute - Fast / Slow / Off AGC speeds - RF gain control - Synchronous AGC I guess I'm looking for a modern Drake 2B / R-4B but with full coverage. - Keith KD1E - - K2 5411 - ___ 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] Elecraft GC receiver?
-Original Message- From: David Toepfer I want a separate receiver in the shack. [...] - Low cost ($300) Man, you are funny. Yea, but looks aren't everything :-) If Elecraft can build a transceiver for less than $300 that gives RX coverage from 6 to 16 MHz (or whatever the KX1 does) then I bet they can do a receiver for the same, give or take. No TX components, no TX/RX switching, use a bit bigger case, bigger knobs, analog S-meter, etc. Yea, I bet they could. What I'd REALLY like is K2 level RX performance from a dedicated receiver for $150 but that ain't gonna happen. LOL! 73! - Keith KD1E - - K2 5411 - ___ 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] Elecraft GC receiver?
In a message dated 7/31/06 3:25:23 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: We all want a K2-B (K2 with big knobs display) and I'm sure Elecraft Engineering is working on it as we speak. Well, some of us want one (I suggest the name K2Big). But I don't know that the folks in Aptos are working on it, because the market may not be there for it. So how about another idea. I want a separate receiver in the shack. Something to use as a backup. Something I can use to monitor my the TX signal from my K2 so I can hear what it is really doing. Features would include: - Medium size or larger controls. How big is that? To me, medium size means 1 diameter for most controls and 2-3 for tuning. - General coverage SW receive (1.5 - 30 MHz) That's a problem - see below. - 1 KHz display resolution. Not a problem, really. - Low noise, great sound so you can really tell what your TX signal sounds like. The problem is that there's a conflict between that and the general coverage/low cost criteria. The usual way to get general coverage these days is to convert up to a first IF around 70 MHz, then convert down to a second IF of 9 MHz or so. This approach preduces spurs and similar problems. The problem is that you have at least two stages before the serious selectivity, and the demands on the synthesizer are much tougher. The K2 avoids these problems with a unique synthesizer design and a single IF of 4.915 MHz. That approach works great for the ham bands but isn't well adapted to the ham bands. - AM / SSB / CW coverage - wide / medium / narrow filters That means separate filters, and a way to switch them. Not inexpensive. - Low cost ($300) If anybody can do it, Elecraft can. But it may not be doable at all. Consider a K2 with the transmitter section removed. You'd save the finals, a mixer, some control circuitry, and a few other things. But would you save half the cost of the rig? I doubt it. Nice to have includes - Analog S-Meter. - Memories - IF shift IF shift is rather complicated to implement. Either you need another conversion in the IF chain, or some way of moving the BFO one way while moving the synthesizer the other way exactly the same amount. Not easy! - External mute - Fast / Slow / Off AGC speeds - RF gain control All pretty basic - why would they be extras? I say they were essentials. - Synchronous AGC ?? What is synchronous AGC? I guess I'm looking for a modern Drake 2B / R-4B but with full coverage. Those receivers are really good but they lack many of the above features too. What about things like a noise blanker, computer control port or DSP? 73 de Jim, N2EY ___ 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
