Re: [Elecraft] Portable antenna for KX3
After buying numerous antennas and spending way too much money on them, I finally came up with a good performer. The best part its cheap easy to build and erect in a short time. It's only a 33' piece of copper wire with a 33' radial when used as a vertical. It can also be used as a sloper, or a dipole just as easy with just a few extra's. 73, Fred/N0AZZ K3 Ser # 6730--KX3 # 5210--K2/100 # 6470-KAT100 P3/SVGA--KAT500--W2 Amps Elecraft KPA500 HF/6m--Alpha's 9500 HF--87A HF--Mirage B-5030-G 300+w--(2) B-5016-G's 165w 2m -Original Message- From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Michael Marx Sent: Monday, March 09, 2015 8:05 PM To: aar...@gmail.com; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Portable antenna for KX3 I have a Transworld antenna. www.twantennas.com http://www.twantennas.com/ They are expensive. They work GREAT. It takes about 2 minutes to put one up and 2 minutes to take it down. If you want a well built product that works look no further. Again they ARE expensive. But so was your KX3. If you can’t make any contacts because your antenna is not effectve, then you’ve wasted your money on the KX3 which makes it far more expensive. Read the testimonials on eham.net and the QST CQ reviews. 73 Mike WB0SND Michael Marx sndtu...@vacuumtubes.com 636-939-9190 SND Tube Sales 105 N. Division St. Bonne Terre, MO 63628 __ 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 m...@totalhighspeed.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
Re: [Elecraft] Software suggestions for KX3
I can appreciate all the utility of the other hardware programs, but it's hard to beat just being able to punch the ON button and be up running with the K3/P3 in a matter of seconds. Push buttons can definitely spoil you, to the point where having to twist a switch knob instead is annoying. (HI) 73, Charlie k3ICH - Original Message - From: Todd - k1tm via Elecraft elecraft@mailman.qth.net To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Monday, March 09, 2015 11:32 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Software suggestions for KX3 Another vote for Win4K3suite plus DXlabs. Asus Xonar U7 for the sound system. See the sound card comparison on Telepost Inc. http://www.telepostinc.com/soundcards.html With the above combo, you get point and click tuning and the integration of third party apps and other hardware/software is great. 73, Todd. -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Software-suggestions-for-KX3-tp762p7600052.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.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 pin...@erols.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
Re: [Elecraft] TS-990
The plain and simple fact is that if you have a Flex you are dependent on the computer you are running. Computer breaks, and of course they do, your off the air. SIMPLE. I read the minimum requirements to run the 6000 series. Half of the PC's in use by Hams won't cut it. Minimum, Windows Vista SP2, Dual Core 64 bit processor, Video card 256 MB memory, Direct X 10 or higher ,Net 4.0 or higher. Those are minimums. You can probably run SmartSDR with that but if it's like most software it will run like crap on it's minimum requirements. SDR's like the K3 aren't dependent on any other piece of hardware or software. You can run it and it will perform well without ever being hooked up to a PC. On 3/9/2015 1:20 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: On 2015-03-09 12:23 PM, Jim Brown posted from Michelle, W5NYV: So, If you want to talk about what the best contesting rig is, then I think you have to consider radios in a more multidimensional manner than by just comparing the equivalent of horsepower. Of which, Flex clearly seems to win. That claim hides a major blind spot. Sherwood's test numbers show that the K3 with the new synthesizer is every bit equivalent to the Flex-6000 series when one considers noise floor (MDS) (weak signal performance) and realizes that the Flex can not handle multiple very strong signals without serious blocking and compromised dynamic range due to A/D limiting. With the new synthesizer the K3 has a better MDS without a preamp than the Flex with its preamp enabled. The measured difference without a preamp on either unit is 18 dB! Even with a 20 dB preamp for the Flex (which reduces the strong signal handling capability by 20 dB and could be fatal with multiple strong signals), the Flex still has a 4 dB higher MDS (less sensitive receiver) that the updated K3 with its 10 dB preamp. So long as direct conversion SDRs have A/D limiting issues that occur at real world signal levels (e.g. on 160 meters within a few miles of 50 KW AM broadcast stations, on 40 meters in Europe with multiple strong broadcast signals in the band, etc.) the Flex SDRs simply can not be said to win any comparison of horsepower (and their user interface sucks!). 73, ... Joe, W4TV __ 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 kevin.sto...@mediacombb.net -- R. Kevin Stover AC0H ARRL FISTS #11993 SKCC #215 NAQCC #3441 __ 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] K3 SMTR Settings for S9
Should the SMTR OF setting that is almost 20% off the factory default be an indication that something is amiss in the receiver gain chain? No, my K3 is farther than that from the default. I've calibrated the S meter using the XG-3 and done the RF gain procedure. There is no issue with levels from the IF output and showing normal (calibrated) signal levels at -107dBm (S3), -73dBm (S9) and -33 (S9+40) dBm on either the P3 or SDR-IQ. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 2015-03-10 9:35 AM, engineercm wrote: Last night I was adjusting the sound levels into my sound card from a new LP-Pan2 and could not get to S9 using my XG3 at -73 dbm unless the preamp is ON. I also noticed the S meter was reading S7. I checked the S meter calibration using the procedure in the manual and found I needed to adjust SMTR OF to 20 instead of the default 24. I checked two bands 20m and 40m and got the same results. The XG3 is connected to the RX Ant and the ATU is BYPASS. My K3 has all of the latest firmware updates. SMTR MD is ABS so the preamp is OFF. I've triple checked the settings on the rig to see if there is something I missed (like RF gain) but all check out. Should the SMTR OF setting that is almost 20% off the factory default be an indication that something is amiss in the receiver gain chain? As far as I can tell, the K3 is working fine except I can't drive the sound card output to S9 without the preamp? 73 de Clark/WU4B -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-SMTR-Settings-for-S9-tp7600057.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.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 li...@subich.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
Re: [Elecraft] TS-990
I've had a Flex-1500, the Flex may be nice for some, but being tied to a PC is a huge shortcoming. It's so much easier (and quicker) to just grab a knob instead of having to use a mouse and keyboard. As for performance, The K3 is the First radio I would ever consider rating a 10. The real beauty of the K3 is the Company behind it; Flex makes a radio, Elecraft makes a Product Line. Being able to have all the various pieces work seamlessly is very slick. From: Kevin Stover kevin.sto...@mediacombb.net To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 9:04 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] TS-990 The plain and simple fact is that if you have a Flex you are dependent on the computer you are running. Computer breaks, and of course they do, your off the air. SIMPLE. I read the minimum requirements to run the 6000 series. Half of the PC's in use by Hams won't cut it. Minimum, Windows Vista SP2, Dual Core 64 bit processor, Video card 256 MB memory, Direct X 10 or higher ,Net 4.0 or higher. Those are minimums. You can probably run SmartSDR with that but if it's like most software it will run like crap on it's minimum requirements. SDR's like the K3 aren't dependent on any other piece of hardware or software. You can run it and it will perform well without ever being hooked up to a PC. On 3/9/2015 1:20 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: On 2015-03-09 12:23 PM, Jim Brown posted from Michelle, W5NYV: So, If you want to talk about what the best contesting rig is, then I think you have to consider radios in a more multidimensional manner than by just comparing the equivalent of horsepower. Of which, Flex clearly seems to win. That claim hides a major blind spot. Sherwood's test numbers show that the K3 with the new synthesizer is every bit equivalent to the Flex-6000 series when one considers noise floor (MDS) (weak signal performance) and realizes that the Flex can not handle multiple very strong signals without serious blocking and compromised dynamic range due to A/D limiting. With the new synthesizer the K3 has a better MDS without a preamp than the Flex with its preamp enabled. The measured difference without a preamp on either unit is 18 dB! Even with a 20 dB preamp for the Flex (which reduces the strong signal handling capability by 20 dB and could be fatal with multiple strong signals), the Flex still has a 4 dB higher MDS (less sensitive receiver) that the updated K3 with its 10 dB preamp. So long as direct conversion SDRs have A/D limiting issues that occur at real world signal levels (e.g. on 160 meters within a few miles of 50 KW AM broadcast stations, on 40 meters in Europe with multiple strong broadcast signals in the band, etc.) the Flex SDRs simply can not be said to win any comparison of horsepower (and their user interface sucks!). 73, ... Joe, W4TV __ 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 kevin.sto...@mediacombb.net -- R. Kevin Stover AC0H ARRL FISTS #11993 SKCC #215 NAQCC #3441 __ 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 hlyin...@yahoo.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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 SMTR Settings for S9
Clark, It is difficult to say whether you have a receive problem or not from that information. Since you have the XG3, use the -107dBm level and measure the MDS of your K3. You can make the audio output measurements as indicated in the XG3 manual or better yet, use the dBV indication of the K3 display. If you have a receiver problem, it will show up in an MDS measurement - compare your result with the K3 spec. and/or Sherwood's MDS listings for the K3. The real determination of receiver sensitivity will be revealed by how well it can receive weak signals. The fact that your setting for the S-9 level does not agree with the default is not a large concern, especially when using SMTR MD = ABS. The factory default is for SMTR MD = NORmal. Note that all the above has to do with the K3 display S-meter reading. It has nothing to do with soundcard levels or the level of the signal on whatever software you are using for the panadapter display. First adjust the K3 for proper S-9 reading on the K3 S-meter and after that, use the soundcard gain controls and the controls in the panadapter software to adjust that applications display as you wish. There is a lot of information about the levels shown in the panadapter display at N8LP's website www.telepostinc.com. You can also signup for the LP-Pan yahoo group and ask questions related to LP-Pan and the various software applications that provide the panadapter display. 73, Don W3FPR 73, Don W3FPR On 3/10/2015 9:35 AM, engineercm wrote: Last night I was adjusting the sound levels into my sound card from a new LP-Pan2 and could not get to S9 using my XG3 at -73 dbm unless the preamp is ON. I also noticed the S meter was reading S7. I checked the S meter calibration using the procedure in the manual and found I needed to adjust SMTR OF to 20 instead of the default 24. I checked two bands 20m and 40m and got the same results. The XG3 is connected to the RX Ant and the ATU is BYPASS. My K3 has all of the latest firmware updates. SMTR MD is ABS so the preamp is OFF. I've triple checked the settings on the rig to see if there is something I missed (like RF gain) but all check out. Should the SMTR OF setting that is almost 20% off the factory default be an indication that something is amiss in the receiver gain chain? As far as I can tell, the K3 is working fine except I can't drive the sound card output to S9 without the preamp? __ 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] K3 SMTR Settings for S9
Last night I was adjusting the sound levels into my sound card from a new LP-Pan2 and could not get to S9 using my XG3 at -73 dbm unless the preamp is ON. I also noticed the S meter was reading S7. I checked the S meter calibration using the procedure in the manual and found I needed to adjust SMTR OF to 20 instead of the default 24. I checked two bands 20m and 40m and got the same results. The XG3 is connected to the RX Ant and the ATU is BYPASS. My K3 has all of the latest firmware updates. SMTR MD is ABS so the preamp is OFF. I've triple checked the settings on the rig to see if there is something I missed (like RF gain) but all check out. Should the SMTR OF setting that is almost 20% off the factory default be an indication that something is amiss in the receiver gain chain? As far as I can tell, the K3 is working fine except I can't drive the sound card output to S9 without the preamp? 73 de Clark/WU4B -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-SMTR-Settings-for-S9-tp7600057.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.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
Re: [Elecraft] TS-990
Flex makes a radio, Correction - Flex makes a complex analog to digital and digital to analog converter. The ADC/DAC is *not a radio* without all the external computer hardware/software to control the ADC/DAC, process the digital data and handle conversion back to audio for the user. The computer hardware comes from any number of vendors and much of the software (PowerSDR) has been public domain. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 2015-03-10 9:50 AM, Harry Yingst via Elecraft wrote: I've had a Flex-1500, the Flex may be nice for some, but being tied to a PC is a huge shortcoming. It's so much easier (and quicker) to just grab a knob instead of having to use a mouse and keyboard. As for performance, The K3 is the First radio I would ever consider rating a 10. The real beauty of the K3 is the Company behind it; Flex makes a radio, Elecraft makes a Product Line. Being able to have all the various pieces work seamlessly is very slick. From: Kevin Stover kevin.sto...@mediacombb.net To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 9:04 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] TS-990 The plain and simple fact is that if you have a Flex you are dependent on the computer you are running. Computer breaks, and of course they do, your off the air. SIMPLE. I read the minimum requirements to run the 6000 series. Half of the PC's in use by Hams won't cut it. Minimum, Windows Vista SP2, Dual Core 64 bit processor, Video card 256 MB memory, Direct X 10 or higher ,Net 4.0 or higher. Those are minimums. You can probably run SmartSDR with that but if it's like most software it will run like crap on it's minimum requirements. SDR's like the K3 aren't dependent on any other piece of hardware or software. You can run it and it will perform well without ever being hooked up to a PC. On 3/9/2015 1:20 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: On 2015-03-09 12:23 PM, Jim Brown posted from Michelle, W5NYV: So, If you want to talk about what the best contesting rig is, then I think you have to consider radios in a more multidimensional manner than by just comparing the equivalent of horsepower. Of which, Flex clearly seems to win. That claim hides a major blind spot. Sherwood's test numbers show that the K3 with the new synthesizer is every bit equivalent to the Flex-6000 series when one considers noise floor (MDS) (weak signal performance) and realizes that the Flex can not handle multiple very strong signals without serious blocking and compromised dynamic range due to A/D limiting. With the new synthesizer the K3 has a better MDS without a preamp than the Flex with its preamp enabled. The measured difference without a preamp on either unit is 18 dB! Even with a 20 dB preamp for the Flex (which reduces the strong signal handling capability by 20 dB and could be fatal with multiple strong signals), the Flex still has a 4 dB higher MDS (less sensitive receiver) that the updated K3 with its 10 dB preamp. So long as direct conversion SDRs have A/D limiting issues that occur at real world signal levels (e.g. on 160 meters within a few miles of 50 KW AM broadcast stations, on 40 meters in Europe with multiple strong broadcast signals in the band, etc.) the Flex SDRs simply can not be said to win any comparison of horsepower (and their user interface sucks!). 73, ... Joe, W4TV __ 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 kevin.sto...@mediacombb.net __ 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] (Mini)P3 v SubRX
As long as we're on the shrinking of the P3 subject. I would always have preferred a P3/VGA only! That is, one as small as possible with the ability to drive and external monitor but containing NO display itself. I hardly EVER look at the P3, unless it's to set a parameter. I have an old 15 leftover PC monitor that it just perfect for the outboard display. I find that it's my go-to set-up since it's up and running in a second with just two button pushes. (K3 and monitor). 73, Charlie k3ICH - Original Message - From: dyarnes w7...@cox.net To: Elecraft Reflector elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 10:54 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] (Mini)P3 v SubRX Hi All, That modified (cut down) version of the P3 by WA6KBL is quite intriguing. Someone else has suggested that doing this could cause some interference action with the display, which is too bad if it is true. It seems to me that, since the PX3 works fine in a smaller enclosure, why wouldn't the P3 work O.K. as well? Personally, I wish the P3 had less bulk, particularly since it seems excessive and clumsy. I know the P3's dimensions were determined, at least in part, to correlate to the K3's dimensions. However, so much wasted space would be nice to eliminate if possible. __ 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] K3 SMTR Settings for S9
Thanks for Joe and Don all is okay. I made an assumption that if the IQ signal wasn't were it should be using a S9 signal, something must be wrong with the K3. Silly me. After putting SMTR MD back to NOR and using the Preamp (according to the Manual), the S meter was showing S9 to agree with the input signal from XG-3. So, back to the Telepost procedure for LP-Pan. What could I be doing wrong? Simple--had the Sub receiver ON which drops the signal by 3DB. Turning it off and the signal being ready by the digital meter popped up into the zone I expected. Now I have enough headroom for whatever comes my way. Learned a few things about the K3 I didn't know before. I love this radio stuff! Clark/WU4B -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-SMTR-Settings-for-S9-tp7600057p7600104.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.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] [K3] Scanning for repeater tones.
Does the K3 have the ability to scan for tones that are being used on a repeater? -n8 __ 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] (Mini)P3 v SubRX
Hmm .. this discussion makes me wonder if there'd be a way (for some $$) to make a PX3 work with a K3. It's smaller than the P3 and has that Elecraft look :-) Phil W7OX On 3/10/15 5:53 PM, Alan wrote: On 03/10/2015 10:39 AM, Wes (N7WS) wrote: Lyle, KK7P, demoed a pre-production P3 to our DX club. When I picked it up I told him Elecraft better put a steel plate inside if they wanted to get that much money for so little weight. Basically that's what we did. The original prototypes were made with an aluminum chassis but it was so light it would slide on the table when you pushed a button. So we changed to a steel chassis to make it heavier. :=) Alan N1AL __ 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] A datapoint comparing old vs new synthesizer
The new synth uses a hybrid DDS-PLL architecture running at a very high frequency. Many newer transceivers use a DDS only. The PLL is critical to low-noise (low-jitter) performance. The DDS-PLL subsystem is locked to the 49.380-MHz reference to within a small fraction of a Hz over the entire tuning range. 73, Wayne N6KR On Mar 10, 2015, at 1:54 PM, Giuliano Carmignani giulian...@virgilio.it wrote: A simple question : the new synthesizer uses a DDS? If yes what is the type? 73 Giuliano I0CG Italy K1,K2,K3+P3 Message: 18 Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 15:54:24 - From: Dave Oleank1...@metrocast.net To: Elecraft Reflectorelecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] A datapoint comparing old vs new synthesizer boards. Message-ID: 3AE5C8AA7D6B4DF2A2932520B75DCF21@t30ce0d73e1b34 Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1 I recently got a new K3 and it was one of the first units supplied with the new and improved synthesizer board. In reading a few comments on the reflector, a number of people wanted to know if anyone could detect any difference between the old and the new. I also have some older K3s and decided to compare one of them head to head with the new one on ten meter CW using a 500 Hz bandwidth and check for MDS. I used the line out jack and an HP AC VTVM and 8640B signal generator. Here is what I found: K3 #8858 no preamp-137 dBm new synthesizer board preamp ON -139 dBm new synthesizer board K3 #1504 no preamp -134.5 dBm old synthesizer board preamp ON -137 dBm old synthesizer board I also ordered a pair of synth boards for one of my old K3s on March 1, but it will be awhile before it gets here I guess. I ordered a P3 kit with it and included comments that I was in no rush for the P3 so ship it all together. From the comments I have seen on how many have been ordered, I might be waiting a long time for the P3!! At my age, I'll probably forget about the order in another week or so. When it shows up, I'll wonder what it is and who ordered it!! The plan is to put new synth boards into #1504 and then I can check MDS again to see how it looks. From my checking, it looks like the newer K3 is almost 3 dB better than the older one at least as far as minimum discernable signals go. The new board definitely makes a difference, and my result tracks reasonably well with what what others have found. Dave K1WHS __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] TS-990
On Tue, Mar 10, 2015 at 12:23 PM, Wes (N7WS) w...@triconet.org wrote: On the other hand, except for replacing a noisy fan, I've never had a computer hardware failure. Well, you are as rare as hen's teeth. And not only that, you announced it in public, thus notifying the world AND MURPHY that you are WAY on the undeserved side of normal experience. Prepare for an onslaught. You have wakened Smaug with your brag :) At SAS institute, where I worked for 20 years before retirement, there were some 20,000 PC's on campus. They had a PC service department of thirty-some techs, not counting supervisors, who were always busy 16 hours a day fixing/replacing some busted PC or peripheral, or upgrading one so it could keep up with more and more resource-thirsty applications. I had a 21 inch IBM branded Sony Trinitron monitor that made it until drivers for it could no longer be found for the latest version of OS. It was the ONLY PC device I had at SAS in 20 years that did not fail in some manner at some point. There is a point to the idea of not needing a PC for some operations, particularly portable ones. 73, Guy K2AV __ 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] Smaller P3 side panels
A natural project for Scotts SideKX operation. 73 Ken - K0PP __ 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] TS-990
Interesting topic, but due to the large number of posts, and in the interest of keeping list volume reasonable for all, let's end this thread today by 2000z. ( 1 PM PDT). Also, please delete as much copied text from prior posts when replying to a thread. 1-2 sentences is more than enough to retain context in most cases. 73, Eric List Moderator and sometime COO. elecraft.com _..._ On Mar 10, 2015, at 11:09 AM, bs usb bs...@k5dkz.com wrote: My first experience with radios that require computer support was with a Pegasus. I just had to have one. Three months later I just had to sell it because I realized that reliability was compromised when more than one piece of gear was needed for a task that used to be handled by a single piece of gear alone. snip __ 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] N6TV Remarks on KSYN3A Upgrade
__ 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] (Mini)P3 v SubRX
I know but I can't fit my laptop, Samplex PSU or BigIR control box in it. Just maybe some cables.These days airlines only allow one carry-on bag. Of course each requirement is different. The only reason I brought this forward is because it sounded 'simple' enough to manufacture smaller sets of panels. 73, Nick ve3ey On Tue, Mar 10, 2015 at 1:06 PM, Jim Brown j...@audiosystemsgroup.com wrote: On Tue,3/10/2015 9:45 AM, Nick - VE3EY wrote: In my case, P3 is too big (volume-wise) and there is no space to fit it in carry on suitcase along with K3, PSU, Cables, Laptop, Keyer etc. K6XX used the void space in the P3 to carry hand tools to WRTC in Russia. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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 nick.ve...@gmail.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
Re: [Elecraft] (Mini)P3 v SubRX
Hi Nick, A P3 was cut in half by Jeff WA6KBL for Andy AE6Y three years ago. You can see the photos here. http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=8644c503bb79157csid=1AbNmTlw1aMWFU You can read the post here: http://www.mail-archive.com/elecraft%40mailman.qth.net/msg132635.html 73, Mike K2MK Nick-VE3EY wrote partial quote By looking at parts list from P3 manual, perhaps we can significantly shrink the depth of the unit by making the Top, Bottom and Side panels (E100362, E100363, and E100361) shorter if Elecraft would be willing to manufacture and provide such kit. We always have an option to use the hacksaw but it would not look pretty :-) 73, Nick ve3ey -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Re-Mini-P3-v-SubRX-tp7600071p7600080.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.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
Re: [Elecraft] (Mini)P3 v SubRX
// When I'm not traveling, I DX (sometimes I *am* the DX). On this topic, maybe I can hijack the thread but it still pertains the P3 functionality. I also occasionally travel down to Caribbean and operate CQ WW from places. I would love to have the pan-adapter handy when faced with pileups. Here are some possible benefits: - You have a visual picture of how large your pile is and it makes it easier to steer clear from congested areas. - You have a visual picture of your own TX FQ. You will know soon enough once lids start causing trouble on your TX frequency so that evasive actions can be taken. - Sometimes there is another pileup going on below or above your frequency. If the callers trying to work someone else overlap with your own,your rate takes a dive as you find yourself answering folks who are actually not calling you. In my case, P3 is too big (volume-wise) and there is no space to fit it in carry on suitcase along with K3, PSU, Cables, Laptop, Keyer etc. By looking at parts list from P3 manual, perhaps we can significantly shrink the depth of the unit by making the Top, Bottom and Side panels (E100362, E100363, and E100361) shorter if Elecraft would be willing to manufacture and provide such kit. We always have an option to use the hacksaw but it would not look pretty :-) 73, Nick ve3ey On Mon, Mar 9, 2015 at 9:59 PM, Rick WA6NHC happymooseph...@gmail.com wrote: You're preachin to da choir son. Fine job though. K1N was awful for DQRM, lids and untrained idiots. 3G0ZC the next week wasn't quite as bad, nor as rare. E30FB is rough here on the West Coast due to lack of signal strength, conditions and the same crowds. You can't hear, what isn't there. I see that problem cause as twofold: Lack of noobs seeking an Elmer for proper training NOT covered adequately in the classes or tests; Lack of folks willing to become an Elmer to guide the newcomers. That's WAY off topic for here. Putting in perspective and back on topic; the P3 was almost totally useless for K1N, except to watch and measure the height and width of the pileup (there WERE no holes to utilize in that pack). What you said is very true, the subreceiver helped, about as much because of the reasons you stated too. Together however, is still a deadly combination, by watching the (group of) signal(s) on the P3 that the DX is working, quickly tuning the receiver to the most likely being worked and confirming by ear, they allowed me to gain 13 Q's with K1N on a low dipole and some power (it's all in the DX pattern recognition, if they're not purposely avoiding a pattern). The other operating style was simply work the edges of the pileup, don't be in the middle. P3 and KRX3 in 'normal' DX collecting... fish:barrel. They are the sole reason I have 250 'entities' in the log over the last couple years. When I'm not traveling, I DX (sometimes I *am* the DX). Oh yes, the KPA500 helps, a LOT since I'm on a sole dipole. I don't see things improving in the ranks, so anyone looking at the purchase of the K Line should simply keep the budget open ended and collect everything as they can. P3 first (plan on the SVGA card too, your eyes will never improve), then a KRX3, then flesh it out with more. Let's look at your budget too. The P3/SVGA combo costs versus the KRX3 with filters (mine are all filled the same in both, for diversity and to minimize what my failing ears are subjected to when listening in two places). Add in that you'll have to replace the Synth card when you add the KRX3 (or obtain two used ones, storing the new one for later, but why) and I suspect that financially as well, the P3/SVGA will be more reachable first. That's my best reasoning for the P3 and why it should be first. It's the better of the two choices and it's more financially obtainable. Whatever you choose, good luck and good hunting. Rick wa6nhc On 3/9/2015 6:02 PM, Randy Farmer wrote: I would agree that the P3 should probably take priority over the Subreceiver for a new buy, mostly due to the many different things it can do for you. But... my experience this weekend trying to work E30FB on 20 CW sure made me glad I had the Sub. I would never have worked them using just the scope. Problem is, it seems the way people try to work DX these days makes it virtually impossible to depend on a visual cue to know who's being worked by the DX if there's a pileup of any size at all. E30FB had the pile spread out for better than 20 kHz, and the scope showed a constant morass of signals all across the entire span. Aside from the obliviots who continually send their call whether the DX is listening or not, there are many who apparently see nothing wrong with coming back or continuing to call when the DX operator replies to a call that obviously isn't theirs. Every time E30FB would answer a complete call there were dozens of perfectly timed signals that jumped up all across the extent of the
Re: [Elecraft] TS-990
This is my first reflector post in the three years that I have been a member. As one of the early adopters of the KX3 and later the PX3, I have a high regard for the excellent Elecraft customer service and quality of engineering. Whenever I am doing portable operations, I carry the KX3 along with a spare LiPO battery (e.g. Field Day or hikes). I am also the owner of a FlexRadio 6700. It is my home station rig along with the Alpha 9500. I have had the Flex for 6 months and am very pleased with it. It replaced my TenTec Orion II and functions well on many, many modes. I operate CW 98% of the time. I am delighted to be able to choose knob radios (SDR nonetheless) from Elecraft AND software HMI radios from FlexRadio. Both are excellent American ham radio firms. George, AB4FH On Mar 10, 2015, at 12:39 PM, Guy Olinger K2AV k2av@gmail.com wrote: On Tue, Mar 10, 2015 at 12:23 PM, Wes (N7WS) w...@triconet.org wrote: On the other hand, except for replacing a noisy fan, I've never had a computer hardware failure. Well, you are as rare as hen's teeth. And not only that, you announced it in public, thus notifying the world AND MURPHY that you are WAY on the undeserved side of normal experience. Prepare for an onslaught. You have wakened Smaug with your brag :) At SAS institute, where I worked for 20 years before retirement, there were some 20,000 PC's on campus. They had a PC service department of thirty-some techs, not counting supervisors, who were always busy 16 hours a day fixing/replacing some busted PC or peripheral, or upgrading one so it could keep up with more and more resource-thirsty applications. I had a 21 inch IBM branded Sony Trinitron monitor that made it until drivers for it could no longer be found for the latest version of OS. It was the ONLY PC device I had at SAS in 20 years that did not fail in some manner at some point. There is a point to the idea of not needing a PC for some operations, particularly portable ones. 73, Guy K2AV __ 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 gobrie...@charter.net __ 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] (Mini)P3 v SubRX
On Tue,3/10/2015 9:45 AM, Nick - VE3EY wrote: In my case, P3 is too big (volume-wise) and there is no space to fit it in carry on suitcase along with K3, PSU, Cables, Laptop, Keyer etc. K6XX used the void space in the P3 to carry hand tools to WRTC in Russia. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] A datapoint comparing old vs new synthesizer boards.
I recently got a new K3 and it was one of the first units supplied with the new and improved synthesizer board. In reading a few comments on the reflector, a number of people wanted to know if anyone could detect any difference between the old and the new. I also have some older K3s and decided to compare one of them head to head with the new one on ten meter CW using a 500 Hz bandwidth and check for MDS. I used the line out jack and an HP AC VTVM and 8640B signal generator. Here is what I found: K3 #8858 no preamp-137 dBm new synthesizer board preamp ON -139 dBm new synthesizer board K3 #1504 no preamp -134.5 dBm old synthesizer board preamp ON -137 dBm old synthesizer board I also ordered a pair of synth boards for one of my old K3s on March 1, but it will be awhile before it gets here I guess. I ordered a P3 kit with it and included comments that I was in no rush for the P3 so ship it all together. From the comments I have seen on how many have been ordered, I might be waiting a long time for the P3!! At my age, I'll probably forget about the order in another week or so. When it shows up, I'll wonder what it is and who ordered it!! The plan is to put new synth boards into #1504 and then I can check MDS again to see how it looks. From my checking, it looks like the newer K3 is almost 3 dB better than the older one at least as far as minimum discernable signals go. The new board definitely makes a difference, and my result tracks reasonably well with what what others have found. Dave K1WHS __ 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] (Mini)P3 v SubRX
On 03/10/2015 12:21 PM, Chris Tate - N6WM wrote: I think there may be some technical issues with shrinking it down.. maybe just in half is ok but I recall some potential visual artifacts if the ribbon cable gets too close to the display... It wouldn't be hard to shorten the ribbon cable. If you're careful you could remove and re-use one of the connectors, install it near the other, and cut off the excess cable. Alan N1AL __ 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] K3 Shift and Width encoders sluggish
They tend to be not very responsive. The power and speed encoders work much smoother. Could they be dirty or is this possibly a known issue? -- Mike W0MU __ 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] (Mini)P3 v SubRX
On 03/10/2015 10:39 AM, Wes (N7WS) wrote: Lyle, KK7P, demoed a pre-production P3 to our DX club. When I picked it up I told him Elecraft better put a steel plate inside if they wanted to get that much money for so little weight. Basically that's what we did. The original prototypes were made with an aluminum chassis but it was so light it would slide on the table when you pushed a button. So we changed to a steel chassis to make it heavier. :=) Alan N1AL __ 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] [K3] Scanning for repeater tones.
Nate, I'll preface this by stating that I'm the repeater coordinator for Montana, and a retired career 2-way radio tech. It's common for repeaters to require a CTCSS tone for access, but is -very- rare to find one in the amateur world that also transmits the CTCSS tone. Out of almost 300 I have in Montana I'm aware of none. The ARRL Repeater Directory lists the tone required if it's needed for accessing a repeater. Yes, one can listen to the station that's accessing the repeater and perhaps ascertain the frequency of the CTCSS tone, but this is difficult to do since the tones are in the sub - audible range. There -are- scanners and amateur transceivers that can do this and of course professional test equipment. BTW ... CTCSS stands for Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System. The tones are standardized and are the same for all brands of 2-way radios but each has their own trade marked names ... (Motorola = PL / Private Line), GE = CG / Channel Guard), etc. A Google search will tell you more. 73 Ken - K0PP __ 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] (Mini)P3 v SubRX
Chris, As the owner of the subject shrunken P3, I can testify that there are no adverse effects on performance. I just brought it back from yet another trip to Aruba, and it really is helpful to have it half-sized. 73, Andy, AE6Y -- From: Chris Tate - N6WM ct...@ewnetinc.com Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 12:21 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] (Mini)P3 v SubRX I think there may be some technical issues with shrinking it down.. maybe just in half is ok but I recall some potential visual artifacts if the ribbon cable gets too close to the display... its been a couple years since I build one but I seen to recall...? it may be a bit more complex than just a smaller box... but I am sure those types of things could be easily worked out. Chris N6WM From: Elecraft [elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] on behalf of Mike K2MK [k...@comcast.net] Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 11:11 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] (Mini)P3 v SubRX Hi Nick, A P3 was cut in half by Jeff WA6KBL for Andy AE6Y three years ago. You can see the photos here. http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=8644c503bb79157csid=1AbNmTlw1aMWFU You can read the post here: http://www.mail-archive.com/elecraft%40mailman.qth.net/msg132635.html 73, Mike K2MK Nick-VE3EY wrote partial quote By looking at parts list from P3 manual, perhaps we can significantly shrink the depth of the unit by making the Top, Bottom and Side panels (E100362, E100363, and E100361) shorter if Elecraft would be willing to manufacture and provide such kit. We always have an option to use the hacksaw but it would not look pretty :-) 73, Nick ve3ey -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Re-Mini-P3-v-SubRX-tp7600071p7600080.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.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 ct...@ewnetinc.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 andrewfa...@ymail.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
Re: [Elecraft] (Mini)P3 v SubRX
Hi All, That modified (cut down) version of the P3 by WA6KBL is quite intriguing. Someone else has suggested that doing this could cause some interference action with the display, which is too bad if it is true. It seems to me that, since the PX3 works fine in a smaller enclosure, why wouldn't the P3 work O.K. as well? Personally, I wish the P3 had less bulk, particularly since it seems excessive and clumsy. I know the P3's dimensions were determined, at least in part, to correlate to the K3's dimensions. However, so much wasted space would be nice to eliminate if possible. Some time back, a friend of mine was casually asked whether he and his wife did much cooking at home. After a brief pause, my friend's tongue in cheek response was that We store very valuable documents in our oven! That's sort of how I felt about my old Orion II, which is (in my view) enormously oversized, and takes up a lot of desk space. There is a lot of empty space inside. Same goes for the P3 I now have. The width and height are fine, which accommodates the display size, but the depth is seemingly excessive, and not by just a little bit. I suppose some would say that the additional room you might gain by having a reduced sized P3 would just be dead space anyway. However, I think a smaller version would add significantly to the portability and handling ease of the unit without any sacrifice in utilization--assuming the interference concerns are unfounded. Even the modified version by WA6KBL doesn't cause things inside to seemingly be cramped. I've traveled with my K3 several times, but I have never taken the P3 along, and mainly because I thought it was just too much additional bulk. I might feel differently if my P3 was more in line size wise with the WA6KBL version. So, if Elecraft feels they could offer a modified enclosure kit, I, for one, very well might be interested. It looks to me like it might just be a matter of providing shortened top, bottom, and side plates. The back plate could be preserved. Would this be all that expensive or problematic to do??? Dave W7AQK __ 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] P3 vs Sub RX
I worked K1N on RTTY using my K3 using the sub rx to find holes. No P3, although a may get one. The method I use is to run a second MMTTY window fed by the sub rx output on the audio right channel, an easy set up in MMTTY. While it only gives a 3 or 4 khz spectrum, it is helpful, so I was able to find that hole. Oh, yeah, I was running one watt, so there was a hole. So I guess I vote for the sub rx first. Dave, K2YG On 3/10/2015 7:31 PM, elecraft-requ...@mailman.qth.net wrote: Message: 10 Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 12:26:24 -0600 From: Don Butlern...@comcast.net To: 'Nick - VE3EY'nick.ve...@gmail.com, 'Rick WA6NHC' happymooseph...@gmail.com Cc: 'Elecraft'elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] (Mini)P3 v SubRX Message-ID:01d05b5f$b756e390$2604aab0$@comcast.net Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii I find both the K3 subreceiver and P3 very helpful in cracking DX pileups. Without the subreceiver it's really not that big of a deal to toggle back and forth between VFOs to monitor the pileup, but it's still much better when the subreceiver is available and turned on with a wide filter setting. I find myself watching the pileup much more than listening to it nowadays, so I'd definitely pick the panapter first if I had to choose one option only. I posted a link to a similar video a few weeks ago, but this 10 minute video is different and shows how I was able to continuously find K1N's listening frequency while he was working a 20+ KC wide pileup and when he started getting louder to me I fired up my amp and worked him with just a few calls. Take a Look: https://vimeo.com/119076467/settings Don, N5LZ -Original Message- From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Nick - VE3EY Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 10:46 AM To: Rick WA6NHC Cc: Elecraft Subject: Re: [Elecraft] (Mini)P3 v SubRX // When I'm not traveling, I DX (sometimes I*am* the DX). On this topic, maybe I can hijack the thread but it still pertains the P3 functionality. I also occasionally travel down to Caribbean and operate CQ WW from places. I would love to have the pan-adapter handy when faced with pileups. Here are some possible benefits: - You have a visual picture of how large your pile is and it makes it easier to steer clear from congested areas. - You have a visual picture of your own TX FQ. You will know soon enough once lids start causing trouble on your TX frequency so that evasive actions can be taken. - Sometimes there is another pileup going on below or above your frequency. If the callers trying to work someone else overlap with your own,your rate takes a dive as you find yourself answering folks who are actually not calling you. In my case, P3 is too big (volume-wise) and there is no space to fit it in carry on suitcase along with K3, PSU, Cables, Laptop, Keyer etc. By looking at parts list from P3 manual, perhaps we can significantly shrink the depth of the unit by making the Top, Bottom and Side panels (E100362, E100363, and E100361) shorter if Elecraft would be willing to manufacture and provide such kit. We always have an option to use the hacksaw but it would not look pretty:-) 73, Nick ve3ey On Mon, Mar 9, 2015 at 9:59 PM, Rick WA6NHChappymooseph...@gmail.com wrote: You're preachin to da choir son. Fine job though. K1N was awful for DQRM, lids and untrained idiots. 3G0ZC the next week wasn't quite as bad, nor as rare. E30FB is rough here on the West Coast due to lack of signal strength, conditions and the same crowds. You can't hear, what isn't there. I see that problem cause as twofold: Lack of noobs seeking an Elmer for proper training NOT covered adequately in the classes or tests; Lack of folks willing to become an Elmer to guide the newcomers. That's WAY off topic for here. Putting in perspective and back on topic; the P3 was almost totally useless for K1N, except to watch and measure the height and width of the pileup (there WERE no holes to utilize in that pack). What you said is very true, the subreceiver helped, about as much because of the reasons you stated too. Together however, is still a deadly combination, by watching the (group of) signal(s) on the P3 that the DX is working, quickly tuning the receiver to the most likely being worked and confirming by ear, they allowed me to gain 13 Q's with K1N on a low dipole and some power (it's all in the DX pattern recognition, if they're not purposely avoiding a pattern). The other operating style was simply work the edges of the pileup, don't be in the middle. P3 and KRX3 in 'normal' DX collecting... fish:barrel. They are the sole reason I have 250 'entities' in the log over the last couple years. When I'm not traveling, I DX (sometimes I*am* the DX). Oh yes, the KPA500 helps, a LOT since I'm on a sole dipole. I don't see things improving in the ranks, so anyone looking at the purchase of the K Line should simply keep the budget open ended and
Re: [Elecraft] [Bulk] [K3] My K3 needs pimping
On Mar 9, 2015, at 12:24 PM, Don Putnick via Elecraft elecraft@mailman.qth.net wrote: Okay, folks. Please advise me on a worthy cause - my K3. I'm a casual DXer and I don't contest. My main modes are SSB and soundcard digital. I'm fully stocked with roofing filters, and I have the KPA500 and KAT500. Should my next purchase be a subreceiver or a panadapter, and why? 73 Don NA6Z K3 #5495 If you chase DX, the sub receiver makes it much easier to find the DX’ listening frequency — which means you can work him faster. You can get some of the same effect by judiciously pressing the REV button, but using the sub receiver is way better. Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASELMail: aa...@arrl.net Web: http://boringhamradiopart.blogspot.com Quote: Not within a thousand years will man ever fly! -- Wilbur Wright, 1901 __ 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] TS-990
First a disclaimer: I don't own a Flex radio (and it is a radio) The closest I've come is using an LP Pan on the i-f output of a K3, which I do own. But this argument is simply nonsense. If the radio breaks---they actually do you know---you're (note spelling) off the air too. And try as I might, I can't see Internet spots on my K3, nor can I use it to keep my banking records, write email, do antenna modeling, etc. For this I still need a computer. And believe it or not, that same computer is connected to my K3 and I would be lost without it. I don't want to go back to my BC-342 and crystal-controlled 6L6, which some still think are the only real radios. Time marches on...try to keep up. Wes N7WS 3/10/2015 6:04 AM, Kevin Stover wrote: The plain and simple fact is that if you have a Flex you are dependent on the computer you are running. Computer breaks, and of course they do, your (sic) off the air. SIMPLE. I read the minimum requirements to run the 6000 series. Half of the PC's in use by Hams won't cut it. Minimum, Windows Vista SP2, Dual Core 64 bit processor, Video card 256 MB memory, Direct X 10 or higher ,Net 4.0 or higher. Those are minimums. You can probably run SmartSDR with that but if it's like most software it will run like crap on it's minimum requirements. SDR's like the K3 aren't dependent on any other piece of hardware or software. You can run it and it will perform well without ever being hooked up to a PC. __ 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] A datapoint comparing old vs new synthesizer boards.
Note that the K3 includes a true RMS voltmeter function that can be displayed in VFO B, along with dB volts-relative-to-a-previous-reading display capability. 73, Lyle KK7P ... I used the line out jack and an HP AC VTVM and 8640B signal generator. __ 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] TS-990
The difference, of course, is that a computer is not REQUIRED to use a K3. The Flex will not function at all without the computer, so the comments about the Flex being dependent on computer hardware are hardly nonsense. 73, Scott, N9AA On 3/10/15 10:45 AM, Wes (N7WS) wrote: First a disclaimer: I don't own a Flex radio (and it is a radio) The closest I've come is using an LP Pan on the i-f output of a K3, which I do own. But this argument is simply nonsense. If the radio breaks---they actually do you know---you're (note spelling) off the air too. And try as I might, I can't see Internet spots on my K3, nor can I use it to keep my banking records, write email, do antenna modeling, etc. For this I still need a computer. And believe it or not, that same computer is connected to my K3 and I would be lost without it. I don't want to go back to my BC-342 and crystal-controlled 6L6, which some still think are the only real radios. Time marches on...try to keep up. Wes N7WS __ 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] TS-990
The nonsense part is the argument that a computer can fail and leave you without a radio and a K3 never fails so you always have a radio. I wish that were the case but my K3 has failed before and my BC-342N after only sixty years of service has developed a B+ short. On the other hand, except for replacing a noisy fan, I've never had a computer hardware failure. On 3/10/2015 7:56 AM, Scott Manthe wrote: The difference, of course, is that a computer is not REQUIRED to use a K3. The Flex will not function at all without the computer, so the comments about the Flex being dependent on computer hardware are hardly nonsense. 73, Scott, N9AA On 3/10/15 10:45 AM, Wes (N7WS) wrote: First a disclaimer: I don't own a Flex radio (and it is a radio) The closest I've come is using an LP Pan on the i-f output of a K3, which I do own. But this argument is simply nonsense. If the radio breaks---they actually do you know---you're (note spelling) off the air too. And try as I might, I can't see Internet spots on my K3, nor can I use it to keep my banking records, write email, do antenna modeling, etc. For this I still need a computer. And believe it or not, that same computer is connected to my K3 and I would be lost without it. I don't want to go back to my BC-342 and crystal-controlled 6L6, which some still think are the only real radios. Time marches on...try to keep up. Wes N7WS __ 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 w...@triconet.org __ 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] BC-342 and 6L6
The comment about the BC342 brought back memories of my actual setup in 1968 right after I got my first license. I built the 6L6 transmitter myself, so can definitely relate. Now I have the KX3, and am seriously considering the amp for it to use in the fifth-wheel. This would make it more like the K3, of course. But I have been having so much fun running QRP that I've decided to hold off on the amp. Do I use a laptop computer with my KX3 - you bet! That way I get all the benefits of the panadaptor, FLdigi, FLamp, etc. And a laptop has the added benefit of a battery (my Dell convertible using Win 8.1 gets 6-8 hours on a charge). Talk about portability - this is it! I used to have a Flex-1500, but the unreliability of the software drove me to sell it. Unfortunately I sold the 100-watt linear I had with it. Wes lives just a few miles south of me (I am in Picture Rocks about a mile west of Panther Peak). Ron W7HD Wes (N7WS) wrote: First a disclaimer: I don't own a Flex radio (and it is a radio) The closest I've come is using an LP Pan on the i-f output of a K3, which I do own. But this argument is simply nonsense. If the radio breaks---they actually do you know---you're (note spelling) off the air too. And try as I might, I can't see Internet spots on my K3, nor can I use it to keep my banking records, write email, do antenna modeling, etc. For this I still need a computer. And believe it or not, that same computer is connected to my K3 and I would be lost without it. I don't want to go back to my BC-342 and crystal-controlled 6L6, which some still think are the only real radios. Time marches on...try to keep up. Wes N7WS __ 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] Home and portable antenna issues.....
Mark;At a winter condo in FL, I am using an MFJ telescoping SS Whip 12.5' long on a Hustler mobile antenna Mast Extension 4.5' long attached to a removable mobile twist mount ball antenna mount (Total 17'). This is fed by an LDG RT-100 Remote antenna Tuner then 25' RG-58 coax to my K3. It is mounted on the concrete balcony railing 30' above ground, pointed to Africa (East) at a 45 degree angle. I do have 2 16' radials running along the railing, N and S. I use 2 Palomar Ferrite Bead Chokes, 1 at the RT-100 and 1 at the K3. The LDG RC-100 Tuner Controller completes the RF path for the antenna. I can disconnect the antenna with the twist mount and telescope it in and lay it on the balcony, with only the bare ball mount slightly showing.In previous years I had been putting #28 white teflon coated wire out to Palm trees out about 30' away and 30' high. Wind and swinging trees (Bird strikes? blowing branches, etc. also) have taken them down several times each season and they didn 't work any better than the whip. Also, their visibility, even so thin, depended on the sun angles and water drops sliding down.I routinely am able to contact my Mothership RMS VA3LKI Pactor station up in Ontario about 1200 miles and can make contacts with almost any station that I can hear. It works the best that I've found with trying all sorts of antennas that I could try. The other, as good as, or better, antenna was the endfed one using a 9:1 homemade balun http://www.earchi.org/92011endfedfiles/Endfed6_40.pdf from the Hawaii Club. I used Teflon #22 wire about 33 ' long, and just loaded it with the K3 internal tuner. However, it was too visible and came down regularly also.So, try what you can and keep at it. Something should work OK for you.Mike VE3EQP/W4 . __ 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] TS-990
I'm an IT (computer) and have been one for nearly 30 years. There was a time I was hot on the whole FlexRadio game, but after a year of running one the novelty wore off. By The Way, in that year of running one I longed for conventional filters (roofing filters) From: Scott Manthe scott.man...@gmail.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 10:56 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] TS-990 The difference, of course, is that a computer is not REQUIRED to use a K3. The Flex will not function at all without the computer, so the comments about the Flex being dependent on computer hardware are hardly nonsense. 73, Scott, N9AA On 3/10/15 10:45 AM, Wes (N7WS) wrote: First a disclaimer: I don't own a Flex radio (and it is a radio) The closest I've come is using an LP Pan on the i-f output of a K3, which I do own. But this argument is simply nonsense. If the radio breaks---they actually do you know---you're (note spelling) off the air too. And try as I might, I can't see Internet spots on my K3, nor can I use it to keep my banking records, write email, do antenna modeling, etc. For this I still need a computer. And believe it or not, that same computer is connected to my K3 and I would be lost without it. I don't want to go back to my BC-342 and crystal-controlled 6L6, which some still think are the only real radios. Time marches on...try to keep up. Wes N7WS __ 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 hlyin...@yahoo.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
Re: [Elecraft] Macro programming for KX3
I had a quick look at the programmer's reference, and saw some commands: IC will read the status of the OFS LED MP can be used to set the VFO OFS menu setting (maybe setting to off and back to on will put the OFS LED in a known state?) SWT can be used to tap the OFS knob, which will toggle the LED Maybe if you have a play with these commands you'll find out what is possible. 73, Matt VK2RQ On 11 Mar 2015, at 6:37 am, geoff allsup gall...@whoi.edu wrote: Been playing with macros a bit and am wondering if there is a command available to set the Offset/VFO B control to VFO B? Haven't spotted something like that in the programmer's reference. geoff - W1OH -- *** Geoff Allsup, W1OH gall...@whoi.edu or w...@whoi.edu Senior Engineer Upper Ocean Processes Group Woods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionWoods Hole, MA, USA *** __ 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 matt.vk...@gmail.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
Re: [Elecraft] Flex VS K3
This so-called minimum was state of the art 8-10 years ago. Modern computers would have no problem handling the Flex software. The past few years have brought us System-on-a-Chip computers that only require a handful of parts - vastly less than a typical transceiver. I can't imagine someone investing the serious amount of money a Flex gets and then running it on an antiquated computer. 73, Doug -- K0DXV On 3/10/15 7:04 AM, Kevin Stover wrote: Minimum, Windows Vista SP2, Dual Core 64 bit processor, Video card 256 MB memory, Direct X 10 or higher ,Net 4.0 or higher. Those are minimums. You can probably run SmartSDR with that but if it's like most software it will run like crap on it's minimum requirements. __ 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] (Mini)P3 v SubRX
I find both the K3 subreceiver and P3 very helpful in cracking DX pileups. Without the subreceiver it's really not that big of a deal to toggle back and forth between VFOs to monitor the pileup, but it's still much better when the subreceiver is available and turned on with a wide filter setting. I find myself watching the pileup much more than listening to it nowadays, so I'd definitely pick the panapter first if I had to choose one option only. I posted a link to a similar video a few weeks ago, but this 10 minute video is different and shows how I was able to continuously find K1N's listening frequency while he was working a 20+ KC wide pileup and when he started getting louder to me I fired up my amp and worked him with just a few calls. Take a Look: https://vimeo.com/119076467/settings Don, N5LZ -Original Message- From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Nick - VE3EY Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 10:46 AM To: Rick WA6NHC Cc: Elecraft Subject: Re: [Elecraft] (Mini)P3 v SubRX // When I'm not traveling, I DX (sometimes I *am* the DX). On this topic, maybe I can hijack the thread but it still pertains the P3 functionality. I also occasionally travel down to Caribbean and operate CQ WW from places. I would love to have the pan-adapter handy when faced with pileups. Here are some possible benefits: - You have a visual picture of how large your pile is and it makes it easier to steer clear from congested areas. - You have a visual picture of your own TX FQ. You will know soon enough once lids start causing trouble on your TX frequency so that evasive actions can be taken. - Sometimes there is another pileup going on below or above your frequency. If the callers trying to work someone else overlap with your own,your rate takes a dive as you find yourself answering folks who are actually not calling you. In my case, P3 is too big (volume-wise) and there is no space to fit it in carry on suitcase along with K3, PSU, Cables, Laptop, Keyer etc. By looking at parts list from P3 manual, perhaps we can significantly shrink the depth of the unit by making the Top, Bottom and Side panels (E100362, E100363, and E100361) shorter if Elecraft would be willing to manufacture and provide such kit. We always have an option to use the hacksaw but it would not look pretty :-) 73, Nick ve3ey On Mon, Mar 9, 2015 at 9:59 PM, Rick WA6NHC happymooseph...@gmail.com wrote: You're preachin to da choir son. Fine job though. K1N was awful for DQRM, lids and untrained idiots. 3G0ZC the next week wasn't quite as bad, nor as rare. E30FB is rough here on the West Coast due to lack of signal strength, conditions and the same crowds. You can't hear, what isn't there. I see that problem cause as twofold: Lack of noobs seeking an Elmer for proper training NOT covered adequately in the classes or tests; Lack of folks willing to become an Elmer to guide the newcomers. That's WAY off topic for here. Putting in perspective and back on topic; the P3 was almost totally useless for K1N, except to watch and measure the height and width of the pileup (there WERE no holes to utilize in that pack). What you said is very true, the subreceiver helped, about as much because of the reasons you stated too. Together however, is still a deadly combination, by watching the (group of) signal(s) on the P3 that the DX is working, quickly tuning the receiver to the most likely being worked and confirming by ear, they allowed me to gain 13 Q's with K1N on a low dipole and some power (it's all in the DX pattern recognition, if they're not purposely avoiding a pattern). The other operating style was simply work the edges of the pileup, don't be in the middle. P3 and KRX3 in 'normal' DX collecting... fish:barrel. They are the sole reason I have 250 'entities' in the log over the last couple years. When I'm not traveling, I DX (sometimes I *am* the DX). Oh yes, the KPA500 helps, a LOT since I'm on a sole dipole. I don't see things improving in the ranks, so anyone looking at the purchase of the K Line should simply keep the budget open ended and collect everything as they can. P3 first (plan on the SVGA card too, your eyes will never improve), then a KRX3, then flesh it out with more. Let's look at your budget too. The P3/SVGA combo costs versus the KRX3 with filters (mine are all filled the same in both, for diversity and to minimize what my failing ears are subjected to when listening in two places). Add in that you'll have to replace the Synth card when you add the KRX3 (or obtain two used ones, storing the new one for later, but why) and I suspect that financially as well, the P3/SVGA will be more reachable first. That's my best reasoning for the P3 and why it should be first. It's the better of the two choices and it's more financially obtainable. Whatever you choose, good luck and good hunting. Rick wa6nhc
Re: [Elecraft] (Mini)P3 v SubRX
Yep, That's how to do it. Followed the same strategy here and worked him 21 up. 73, Arie PA3A Don Butler schreef op 10-3-2015 om 19:31: I apologize ...but sent the wrong link in previous email. This is the link to show monitoring the K1N pileup with KRX3 and P3: https://vimeo.com/119076467 Don, N5LZ __ 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] (Mini)P3 v SubRX
I think there may be some technical issues with shrinking it down.. maybe just in half is ok but I recall some potential visual artifacts if the ribbon cable gets too close to the display... its been a couple years since I build one but I seen to recall...? it may be a bit more complex than just a smaller box... but I am sure those types of things could be easily worked out. Chris N6WM From: Elecraft [elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] on behalf of Mike K2MK [k...@comcast.net] Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 11:11 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] (Mini)P3 v SubRX Hi Nick, A P3 was cut in half by Jeff WA6KBL for Andy AE6Y three years ago. You can see the photos here. http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=8644c503bb79157csid=1AbNmTlw1aMWFU You can read the post here: http://www.mail-archive.com/elecraft%40mailman.qth.net/msg132635.html 73, Mike K2MK Nick-VE3EY wrote partial quote By looking at parts list from P3 manual, perhaps we can significantly shrink the depth of the unit by making the Top, Bottom and Side panels (E100362, E100363, and E100361) shorter if Elecraft would be willing to manufacture and provide such kit. We always have an option to use the hacksaw but it would not look pretty :-) 73, Nick ve3ey -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Re-Mini-P3-v-SubRX-tp7600071p7600080.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.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 ct...@ewnetinc.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] Macro programming for KX3
Been playing with macros a bit and am wondering if there is a command available to set the Offset/VFO B control to VFO B? Haven't spotted something like that in the programmer's reference. geoff - W1OH -- *** Geoff Allsup, W1OH gall...@whoi.edu or w...@whoi.edu Senior Engineer Upper Ocean Processes Group Woods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionWoods Hole, MA, USA *** __ 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] Macro programming for KX3
Geoff, Switch 35 Tap will toggle it. I do not see an explicit command to set it to VFO B. You can explicitly set the frequency of VFO B with the FB command. I do not understand the utility of simply changing the Offset/VFO B switch if you have to turn the knob. If it is set incorrectly, just tap the knob - but then, you have apparently not presented the entire picture of what you are trying to accomplish via the macro. 73, Don W3FPR On 3/10/2015 3:37 PM, geoff allsup wrote: Been playing with macros a bit and am wondering if there is a command available to set the Offset/VFO B control to VFO B? Haven't spotted something like that in the programmer's reference. __ 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] BC-342 and 6L6
My very first transmitter in 1953 was xtal (of course) with a 6L6 driven by a 6AG7. In the 60s I was given a BC-342. Man did it drift! I never could sort that out, though it was never vital to my station so I never worked too hard at it. 73, Phil W7OX On 3/10/15 8:48 AM, w...@msn.com wrote: The comment about the BC342 brought back memories of my actual setup in 1968 right after I got my first license. I built the 6L6 transmitter myself, so can definitely relate. Now I have the KX3, and am seriously considering the amp for it to use in the fifth-wheel. This would make it more like the K3, of course. But I have been having so much fun running QRP that I've decided to hold off on the amp. Do I use a laptop computer with my KX3 - you bet! That way I get all the benefits of the panadaptor, FLdigi, FLamp, etc. And a laptop has the added benefit of a battery (my Dell convertible using Win 8.1 gets 6-8 hours on a charge). Talk about portability - this is it! I used to have a Flex-1500, but the unreliability of the software drove me to sell it. Unfortunately I sold the 100-watt linear I had with it. Wes lives just a few miles south of me (I am in Picture Rocks about a mile west of Panther Peak). Ron W7HD __ 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] Flex VS K3
I just bought a new box with these specs: 8 core 4 GHz AMD processor, 16 GB RAM (in a 64 bit system), 4 GB of video memory, a small SSD with a 1 TB storage drive. I put Windows 7 on it because it is stable and I like it. I have no idea about Vista, I have never used it. This new box runs in conjunction with a headless Ubuntu 14 server for network attached storage and the repository for Subversion. My old computer will soon be set up the same way for even more attached storage. With most of the files off loaded to the servers my CPU rarely gets to 50% usage and then only when I run multiple instantiations of a variety of my simulations. There is no lag now which is greatly appreciated. So state of the art has changed quite a great deal from your minimum standard. This describes my ten year old machine except for the fact it had dual video cards to power four monitors. 73, Kevin. KD5ONS On 3/10/2015 2:05 PM, Doug Person via Elecraft wrote: This so-called minimum was state of the art 8-10 years ago. Modern computers would have no problem handling the Flex software. The past few years have brought us System-on-a-Chip computers that only require a handful of parts - vastly less than a typical transceiver. I can't imagine someone investing the serious amount of money a Flex gets and then running it on an antiquated computer. 73, Doug -- K0DXV On 3/10/15 7:04 AM, Kevin Stover wrote: Minimum, Windows Vista SP2, Dual Core 64 bit processor, Video card 256 MB memory, Direct X 10 or higher ,Net 4.0 or higher. Those are minimums. You can probably run SmartSDR with that but if it's like most software it will run like crap on it's minimum requirements. __ 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 kev...@coho.net __ 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] Flex VS K3
On Tue, Mar 10, 2015 at 4:05 PM, Doug Person via Elecraft elecraft@mailman.qth.net wrote: ...investing the serious amount of money a Flex gets and then running it on an antiquated computer. = One of the various things that conspired to kill the previous version of the Flex software was the proliferation of cloud-related software on newer machines. A Microsoft Skydrive, or a Google update program, or one of a large number of other stuff, would periodically issue an interrupt that would take the CPU's attention away from the Flex data stream, introducing latency and/or crashes. The first design was a recipe for obsolescence. Besides, if you wanted PSDR, a K3 with LP-Pan and NaP3 has a superset of the capabilities of a Flex 5000, and none of the endless series of bugs that plagued the Flex version of PSDR. The new Flex stuff brings the data path inside the radio, so that the dependency on the OS is reduced, and it probably works okay if you want to try to operate your station with the mouse. But at least IMHO, a DXer working split in a big CW pile without knobs is at an overwhelming disadvantage. 73, Tony KT0NY __ 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] TS-990
You can't see Internet spots or balance your checkbook or read the Elecraft reflector and run that radio at the same time. I guarantee it. Soyou get to buy a top of the line high performance PC to run your radio. I find it interesting that nowhere that I've seen does Flex give a minimum requirement for om-board memory. I had a Polycom salesman try that while selling us an H.323 video conferencing system. I couldn't get the man to tell me exactly how much of my T1 connection to home office in Green Bay was going to be used for our daily teleconference. Finally got a ridiculous number out of him (256 Kb/s). The truth was 3X that much, half my T1 while trying to send real time data to GB. Now I always multiple minimum retirements by threefour if it's Microsoft, Cisco, or Polycom. Windows 7 and Vista need 4G of memory to run well. There is a difference between running well and running. How much memory does SmartSDR require to run well? I couldn't find it but I couldn't spend an hour looking. That number isn't a sales bullet point on the Flex website. H, makes me wonder. Maybe it's just me. After a long day of dealing with the machinations of MS, IBM, VM Ware, Cisco, Barracuda, Dell and HP, all day along with 700 users who sometimes I'm convinced are UN-trainable, All I want to do is lay my hands on a radio, even though I know it's mostly firmware, and not another keyboard. On 3/10/2015 9:45 AM, Wes (N7WS) wrote: And try as I might, I can't see Internet spots on my K3, nor can I use it to keep my banking records, write email, do antenna modeling, etc. For this I still need a computer. And believe it or not, that same computer is connected to my K3 and I would be lost without it. I don't want to go back to my BC-342 and crystal-controlled 6L6, which some still think are the only real radios. Time marches on...try to keep up. Wes N7WS -- R. Kevin Stover AC0H ARRL FISTS #11993 SKCC #215 NAQCC #3441 __ 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] TS-990
Ok - We are now well past the posted closing time for this thread, due to the large number of postings. Thread is now closed. 73, Eric List moderator elecraft.com _..._ On Mar 10, 2015, at 4:17 PM, Kevin Stover kevin.sto...@mediacombb.net wrote: You can't see Internet spots or balance your checkbook or read the Elecraft reflector and run that radio at the same time. I guarantee it. Soyou get to buy a top of the line high performance PC to run your radio. I find it interesting that nowhere that I've seen does Flex give a minimum requirement for om-board memory. I had a Polycom salesman try that while selling us an H.323 video conferencing system. I couldn't get the man to tell me exactly how much of my T1 connection to home office in Green Bay was going to be used for our daily teleconference. Finally got a ridiculous number out of him (256 Kb/s). The truth was 3X that much, half my T1 while trying to send real time data to GB. Now I always multiple minimum retirements by threefour if it's Microsoft, Cisco, or Polycom. Windows 7 and Vista need 4G of memory to run well. There is a difference between running well and running. How much memory does SmartSDR require to run well? I couldn't find it but I couldn't spend an hour looking. That number isn't a sales bullet point on the Flex website. H, makes me wonder. Maybe it's just me. After a long day of dealing with the machinations of MS, IBM, VM Ware, Cisco, Barracuda, Dell and HP, all day along with 700 users who sometimes I'm convinced are UN-trainable, All I want to do is lay my hands on a radio, even though I know it's mostly firmware, and not another keyboard. On 3/10/2015 9:45 AM, Wes (N7WS) wrote: And try as I might, I can't see Internet spots on my K3, nor can I use it to keep my banking records, write email, do antenna modeling, etc. For this I still need a computer. And believe it or not, that same computer is connected to my K3 and I would be lost without it. I don't want to go back to my BC-342 and crystal-controlled 6L6, which some still think are the only real radios. Time marches on...try to keep up. Wes N7WS -- R. Kevin Stover AC0H ARRL FISTS #11993 SKCC #215 NAQCC #3441 __ 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 elist_c...@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
Re: [Elecraft] TS-990
I am old school. Yes, I have a 6 core AMD computer with 8GB of memory dedicated to the ham station, but I do not use it a lot for rig control - its main use right now is to give me a panadapter display, but that part will soon be replaced by a P3. I still paper log, and automated spots do not excite me - I can bring up the spots on the computer and then dial the K3 to that frequency should I be so inclined. It causes me to think about what I am doing in the hamshack. Those hams who arbitrarily click on spots do not excite me. I prefer to hear the DX first rather than just transmitting without regard to others just because a spot says there is something of interest at that frequency. In other words, if you can't hear them, don't transmit - the ham bands would be much more sane if everyone did likewise. Just my not so humble opinion. 73, Don W3FPR On 3/10/2015 7:17 PM, Kevin Stover wrote: You can't see Internet spots or balance your checkbook or read the Elecraft reflector and run that radio at the same time. I guarantee it. Soyou get to buy a top of the line high performance PC to run your radio. I find it interesting that nowhere that I've seen does Flex give a minimum requirement for om-board memory. __ 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] BC-342 and 6L6
Somewhere around 1956 I acquired a BC342 without a AC power supply because the Dyno made way to much noise. Then came the 6AG7 and 6L6 right out of the handbook with the basket weave coils, double cotton covered of course. Lots of fun in those days. Got my CW skills up also. But, then I got a couple of fingers singed touching that old 6L6 metal tube, ouch. Fun none the less, which makes me love the KX3 all the more Mel, K6KBE From: Phil Wheeler w...@socal.rr.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 12:30 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] BC-342 and 6L6 My very first transmitter in 1953 was xtal (of course) with a 6L6 driven by a 6AG7. In the 60s I was given a BC-342. Man did it drift! I never could sort that out, though it was never vital to my station so I never worked too hard at it. 73, Phil W7OX On 3/10/15 8:48 AM, w...@msn.com wrote: The comment about the BC342 brought back memories of my actual setup in 1968 right after I got my first license. I built the 6L6 transmitter myself, so can definitely relate. Now I have the KX3, and am seriously considering the amp for it to use in the fifth-wheel. This would make it more like the K3, of course. But I have been having so much fun running QRP that I've decided to hold off on the amp. Do I use a laptop computer with my KX3 - you bet! That way I get all the benefits of the panadaptor, FLdigi, FLamp, etc. And a laptop has the added benefit of a battery (my Dell convertible using Win 8.1 gets 6-8 hours on a charge). Talk about portability - this is it! I used to have a Flex-1500, but the unreliability of the software drove me to sell it. Unfortunately I sold the 100-watt linear I had with it. Wes lives just a few miles south of me (I am in Picture Rocks about a mile west of Panther Peak). Ron W7HD __ 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 farrerfo...@yahoo.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
Re: [Elecraft] (Mini)P3 v SubRX
You could always put a block or bag of lead inside From: Wes (N7WS) w...@triconet.org To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 1:39 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] (Mini)P3 v SubRX Lyle, KK7P, demoed a pre-production P3 to our DX club. When I picked it up I told him Elecraft better put a steel plate inside if they wanted to get that much money for so little weight. On 3/10/2015 10:06 AM, Jim Brown wrote: K6XX used the void space in the P3 to carry hand tools to WRTC in Russia. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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 hlyin...@yahoo.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
Re: [Elecraft] K2 Settings Retrieval Software
Hi Mike The K2 program compiles fine locally on my Windows 7 PC and runs without security warnings now. Thanks! -- If you reply to this email, your message will be added to the discussion below: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K2-Settings-Retrieval-Software-tp7599921p753.html To unsubscribe from K2 Settings Retrieval Software, click here http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/template/NamlServlet.jtp?macro=unsubscribe_by_codenode=7599921code=TEEzWkFAbnJybC5ub3w3NTk5OTIxfDE5MzEwNzE4Nzg= . NAML http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/template/NamlServlet.jtp?macro=macro_viewerid=instant_html%21nabble%3Aemail.namlbase=nabble.naml.namespaces.BasicNamespace-nabble.view.web.template.NabbleNamespace-nabble.view.web.template.NodeNamespacebreadcrumbs=notify_subscribers%21nabble%3Aemail.naml-instant_emails%21nabble%3Aemail.naml-send_instant_email%21nabble%3Aemail.naml - Sverre, LA3ZA K2 #2198, K3 #3391, LA3ZA Blog: http://la3za.blogspot.com, LA3ZA Unofficial Guide to K2 modifications: http://la3za.blogspot.com/p/la3za-unofficial-guide-to-elecraft-k2.html -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K2-Settings-Retrieval-Software-tp7599921p7600053.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.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
Re: [Elecraft] (Mini)P3 v SubRX
in the mid-50's two youngish teenagers with new General licenses decided to build a puzzle for the next radio club meeting. It consisted of two of those Bud aluminum boxes. Box 1 had a cord to plug into the wall, two switches, and two single wires coming from each end. It weighed about 1/4 of a brick. The two single wires went into the ends of Box 2 which had two #47 dial lamps poking through rubber grommets on top. It weighed almost nothing. Plugged in, Switch 1 turned Lamp 1 on and off, Switch 2 turned Lamp 2 on and off. We hacked 1/4 of a brick off and put it inside Box 2 with duct tape. You could have both lamps off, one or the other on, or both on, however binary arithmetic had not yet arrived in Los Angeles and we failed to sense the significance of that. Convinced we were going to stump everyone at the meeting, we brought it out during the coffee break before the raffle. None of our teen friends could figure it out. The OT's remained silent but smiled a lot. We finally said we'd give them a hint. Box 1 contains a transformer, two switches and two solid state diodes, just then coming onto the market. Box 2 contain two more diodes, two lamps, and 1/4 of a brick. Still no one could draw the circuit, so Terry did for them. They asked, What's the 1/4 of a brick for? Terry said, To make it seem substantial. Rather than put a brick inside my P3, I put two little squares of double-stick automobile moulding tape under the two front feet to keep it planted on the shelf. While I'd like to think Elecraft has a whole bunch of cool electronics and features to make use of all that empty space about to be released, I suspect it is as long as it is so it would keep the K-Line symmetric when lined up on the desk. 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 50th Running of the Cal QSO Party 3-4 Oct 2015 - www.cqp.org On 3/10/2015 4:14 PM, Harry Yingst via Elecraft wrote: You could always put a block or bag of lead inside From: Wes (N7WS) w...@triconet.org To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 1:39 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] (Mini)P3 v SubRX Lyle, KK7P, demoed a pre-production P3 to our DX club. When I picked it up I told him Elecraft better put a steel plate inside if they wanted to get that much money for so little weight. On 3/10/2015 10:06 AM, Jim Brown wrote: K6XX used the void space in the P3 to carry hand tools to WRTC in Russia. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] Computers In The Shack
On Tue,3/10/2015 4:35 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: I am old school. Yes, I have a 6 core AMD computer with 8GB of memory dedicated to the ham station, but I do not use it a lot for rig control - its main use right now is to give me a panadapter display, but that part will soon be replaced by a P3. I still paper log, and automated spots do not excite me - I can bring up the spots on the computer and then dial the K3 to that frequency should I be so inclined. Since getting back on the air in 2003, I've always had a laptop in the shack. It great at taking care of the routine stuff, like day to day logging. With the push of a few buttons, I can upload my log to LOTW and eQSL. When I enter a call, I can see vitals for previous QSOs if I want them. When I hear a DX station (or see a spot), I can immediately see if I need a QSO for some goal. LOTW and eQSL mean that I only need to send cards to guys who really want a paper card. That sames me a LOT of time. It also saves me a lot of time and money if I need confirmations for awards. All of that is without rig control, without digital operation, without contesting, just logging and log-related stuff. I view the shack computer as making my life easier, freeing up my time to play radio, upgrade the antenna system and the station (or repair it), and so on. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] TS-990
My goodness! So, now a Flex is nothing more than an expensive sound card? I wonder what happens when the K3 CPU goes squirrely, or the FP LCD has an issue. Or a software upload/upgrade causes the K3 to brick itself? Or a FP switch/button/control goes bad? I've seen these issues on the reflectors before, and just as bad as a computer problem. Maybe worse, as the K3 hardware is not necessarily off-the-shelf, and software source not available. Elecraft does a GREAT job to offset these problems, but shipping stuff across the country takes longer than going to the local Best Buy/Staples/local computer store. Hey Joe, you still watching NTSC television as well? Or is that black and white KoolAid still in control? I've got a K3/P3/SVGA, a KX3, a Flex 6700, an SDR-1000, an openHPSDR rig, an SDR-IQ, an SDR Cube, a HiQSDR, an STM32SDR, and several SoftRocks. And an FT-817. I like them ALL! My main rig is the K3, it works really, really well. I LOVE IT! The KX3 sees portable operation. The Flex allows me to see multiple bands at once, and/or more of one band than the K3/P3 does. The Flex 6x00 is also becoming a much more integrated digital radio, thanks to keeping ALL the demod sampling as digital, as it interfaces with FLDIGI, etc... programs. The K3 must still use analog audio interfacing, unless you use the internal decoder/encoder. Couldn't one argue therefore that the K3 is only an analog radio, based on this one weaklink? I am certainly NOT doing that, but it's as ridiculous as saying the Flex is NOT a radio. The Flex 6x00 series actually uses the newerSmartSDR software, that source is not publicly available. The older PowerSDR did have its source code available. Can you get the source code for the K3 or KX3? Not that I'd ever want Elecraft to do that! NO But, that's another point that Flex had. With the new synth, Elecraft just proved that their already wonderful radio CAN BE significantly improved. Congrats to them! Good Job! I love seeing an improvement like that, regardless of the platform. Elecraft is paying attention to both its hardware AND software/firmware. I SEE NO REASON TO TRASH ONE TYPE OF RIG FOR ANOTHER. Those that disparage one brand over another are likely insecure with their prior purchase decisions. Over the last two decades or so, it was Yaesu vs Kenwood vs Icom. At least now it's one SDR versus another. YES, the K3 IS generally considered an SDR, even by the original K3 software engineer. How about giving this product bashing a rest fellows? Implying a Flex is not a radio is just going too far. It shows personal bias and thick-headedness to the extreme. And BTW, there's this new thing called Cable TV, and some future stuff called streaming video that may impact OTA TV. I'm keeping an eye on these new technologies as well, even though I've spent over 30 years as a broadcast TV engineer - and corporate engineering director, responsible for only 23 OTA TV stations throughout the country (including during the DTV transition). Before I saw the handwriting and retired. 73, Terry, WB4JFI (now N4TLF) -Original Message- From: Joe Subich, W4TV Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 10:18 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] TS-990 Flex makes a radio, Correction - Flex makes a complex analog to digital and digital to analog converter. The ADC/DAC is *not a radio* without all the external computer hardware/software to control the ADC/DAC, process the digital data and handle conversion back to audio for the user. The computer hardware comes from any number of vendors and much of the software (PowerSDR) has been public domain. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 2015-03-10 9:50 AM, Harry Yingst via Elecraft wrote: I've had a Flex-1500, the Flex may be nice for some, but being tied to a PC is a huge shortcoming. It's so much easier (and quicker) to just grab a knob instead of having to use a mouse and keyboard. As for performance, The K3 is the First radio I would ever consider rating a 10. The real beauty of the K3 is the Company behind it; Flex makes a radio, Elecraft makes a Product Line. Being able to have all the various pieces work seamlessly is very slick. From: Kevin Stover kevin.sto...@mediacombb.net To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 9:04 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] TS-990 The plain and simple fact is that if you have a Flex you are dependent on the computer you are running. Computer breaks, and of course they do, your off the air. SIMPLE. I read the minimum requirements to run the 6000 series. Half of the PC's in use by Hams won't cut it. Minimum, Windows Vista SP2, Dual Core 64 bit processor, Video card 256 MB memory, Direct X 10 or higher ,Net 4.0 or higher. Those are minimums. You can probably run SmartSDR with that but if it's like most software it will run like crap on it's minimum requirements. SDR's like the K3 aren't
Re: [Elecraft] TS-990
(Sorry Eric, I did not see your closing of this topic because I was typing my response) -Original Message- From: wb4...@knology.net Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 7:52 PM To: Joe Subich, W4TV ; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] TS-990 My goodness! So, now a Flex is nothing more than an expensive sound card? I wonder what happens when the K3 CPU goes squirrely, or the FP LCD has an issue. Or a software upload/upgrade causes the K3 to brick itself? Or a FP switch/button/control goes bad? I've seen these issues on the reflectors before, and just as bad as a computer problem. Maybe worse, as the K3 hardware is not necessarily off-the-shelf, and software source not available. Elecraft does a GREAT job to offset these problems, but shipping stuff across the country takes longer than going to the local Best Buy/Staples/local computer store. Hey Joe, you still watching NTSC television as well? Or is that black and white KoolAid still in control? I've got a K3/P3/SVGA, a KX3, a Flex 6700, an SDR-1000, an openHPSDR rig, an SDR-IQ, an SDR Cube, a HiQSDR, an STM32SDR, and several SoftRocks. And an FT-817. I like them ALL! My main rig is the K3, it works really, really well. I LOVE IT! The KX3 sees portable operation. The Flex allows me to see multiple bands at once, and/or more of one band than the K3/P3 does. The Flex 6x00 is also becoming a much more integrated digital radio, thanks to keeping ALL the demod sampling as digital, as it interfaces with FLDIGI, etc... programs. The K3 must still use analog audio interfacing, unless you use the internal decoder/encoder. Couldn't one argue therefore that the K3 is only an analog radio, based on this one weaklink? I am certainly NOT doing that, but it's as ridiculous as saying the Flex is NOT a radio. The Flex 6x00 series actually uses the newerSmartSDR software, that source is not publicly available. The older PowerSDR did have its source code available. Can you get the source code for the K3 or KX3? Not that I'd ever want Elecraft to do that! NO But, that's another point that Flex had. With the new synth, Elecraft just proved that their already wonderful radio CAN BE significantly improved. Congrats to them! Good Job! I love seeing an improvement like that, regardless of the platform. Elecraft is paying attention to both its hardware AND software/firmware. I SEE NO REASON TO TRASH ONE TYPE OF RIG FOR ANOTHER. Those that disparage one brand over another are likely insecure with their prior purchase decisions. Over the last two decades or so, it was Yaesu vs Kenwood vs Icom. At least now it's one SDR versus another. YES, the K3 IS generally considered an SDR, even by the original K3 software engineer. How about giving this product bashing a rest fellows? Implying a Flex is not a radio is just going too far. It shows personal bias and thick-headedness to the extreme. And BTW, there's this new thing called Cable TV, and some future stuff called streaming video that may impact OTA TV. I'm keeping an eye on these new technologies as well, even though I've spent over 30 years as a broadcast TV engineer - and corporate engineering director, responsible for only 23 OTA TV stations throughout the country (including during the DTV transition). Before I saw the handwriting and retired. 73, Terry, WB4JFI (now N4TLF) -Original Message- From: Joe Subich, W4TV Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 10:18 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] TS-990 Flex makes a radio, Correction - Flex makes a complex analog to digital and digital to analog converter. The ADC/DAC is *not a radio* without all the external computer hardware/software to control the ADC/DAC, process the digital data and handle conversion back to audio for the user. The computer hardware comes from any number of vendors and much of the software (PowerSDR) has been public domain. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 2015-03-10 9:50 AM, Harry Yingst via Elecraft wrote: I've had a Flex-1500, the Flex may be nice for some, but being tied to a PC is a huge shortcoming. It's so much easier (and quicker) to just grab a knob instead of having to use a mouse and keyboard. As for performance, The K3 is the First radio I would ever consider rating a 10. The real beauty of the K3 is the Company behind it; Flex makes a radio, Elecraft makes a Product Line. Being able to have all the various pieces work seamlessly is very slick. From: Kevin Stover kevin.sto...@mediacombb.net To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 9:04 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] TS-990 The plain and simple fact is that if you have a Flex you are dependent on the computer you are running. Computer breaks, and of course they do, your off the air. SIMPLE. I read the minimum requirements to run the 6000 series. Half of the PC's in use by Hams won't cut it. Minimum, Windows Vista SP2, Dual Core 64 bit processor, Video card 256 MB memory,
Re: [Elecraft] (Mini)P3 v SubRX
Perhaps you missed the P3BRK option. Only $1, but the shipping is brutal. I did the same thing with a Christmas present for my sister when she was twelve. She always checked out all the presents, so I packed a brick and earrings in a long box. To get back on topic, I have a KX3 and the only thing I miss about the IC-756 that preceded it is the rudimentary bandscope. A P3 or PX3 would be light years beyond that. I don’t have either of those, but I’d buy them first. wunder K6WRU CM87wj http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog) On Mar 10, 2015, at 4:44 PM, Fred Jensen k6...@foothill.net wrote: in the mid-50's two youngish teenagers with new General licenses decided to build a puzzle for the next radio club meeting. It consisted of two of those Bud aluminum boxes. Box 1 had a cord to plug into the wall, two switches, and two single wires coming from each end. It weighed about 1/4 of a brick. The two single wires went into the ends of Box 2 which had two #47 dial lamps poking through rubber grommets on top. It weighed almost nothing. Plugged in, Switch 1 turned Lamp 1 on and off, Switch 2 turned Lamp 2 on and off. We hacked 1/4 of a brick off and put it inside Box 2 with duct tape. You could have both lamps off, one or the other on, or both on, however binary arithmetic had not yet arrived in Los Angeles and we failed to sense the significance of that. Convinced we were going to stump everyone at the meeting, we brought it out during the coffee break before the raffle. None of our teen friends could figure it out. The OT's remained silent but smiled a lot. We finally said we'd give them a hint. Box 1 contains a transformer, two switches and two solid state diodes, just then coming onto the market. Box 2 contain two more diodes, two lamps, and 1/4 of a brick. Still no one could draw the circuit, so Terry did for them. They asked, What's the 1/4 of a brick for? Terry said, To make it seem substantial. Rather than put a brick inside my P3, I put two little squares of double-stick automobile moulding tape under the two front feet to keep it planted on the shelf. While I'd like to think Elecraft has a whole bunch of cool electronics and features to make use of all that empty space about to be released, I suspect it is as long as it is so it would keep the K-Line symmetric when lined up on the desk. 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 50th Running of the Cal QSO Party 3-4 Oct 2015 - www.cqp.org On 3/10/2015 4:14 PM, Harry Yingst via Elecraft wrote: You could always put a block or bag of lead inside From: Wes (N7WS) w...@triconet.org To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2015 1:39 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] (Mini)P3 v SubRX Lyle, KK7P, demoed a pre-production P3 to our DX club. When I picked it up I told him Elecraft better put a steel plate inside if they wanted to get that much money for so little weight. On 3/10/2015 10:06 AM, Jim Brown wrote: K6XX used the void space in the P3 to carry hand tools to WRTC in Russia. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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 wun...@wunderwood.org __ 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] K3 voltage indicator
Graham: I think what Joe and others have tried to tell you is your power lead represents a variable and until you properly account for the variable voltage drop in your power lead comparison is meaningless. You say power lead appears to be OK. Appears??? How did you come to that conclusion? If you placed your hand on the cable and said it is not hot and therefore concluded the cable appears OK you have again missed the point. At low voltages (and high currents) the quality of the cable (and connectors) is determined by the voltage drop. Additionally the voltage read on the front panel is read through a poly fuse which has a voltage drop that is greater than the voltage seen by the 100 watt amplifier which is alternatively feed through a 22 amp circuit breaker. The current that passes through the poly fuse is further regulated down to 5 volts so the voltage drop across the poly fuse is immaterial but it does represent an insignificant error that the 100 watt amp does NOT see. Ergo where you measure your voltages is all important to your pass/fail calculations. What to do? Measure the voltage at your power supply and then again at the K3 circuit breaker. If the difference is more than 0.5 volts I would use a heaver power lead. 73, Fred, AE6QL -Original Message- From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of G4FNL Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2015 4:24 AM To: 'Robin Moseley'; 'Elecraft Reflector' Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 voltage indicator Guys I may need to re-enforce my power lead and connections - but they appear OK. What I was asking was what does the voltage display indicator show on your K3 - when compared to mine? I have since understood that the voltage drop that I see (at the 3 power settings mentioned) is about normal.. 73 Graham G4FNL __ 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
