For the Amateur Service with its variations in modulation specifications, it
doesn't make any sense to me to put response shaping in the headphones, as
we then might want multiple sets for multiple modes. Also, it doesn't make
sense to limit the bandwidth at a point where it doesn't affect AGC
Gary,
The ones I just bought (see previous post) enter the outer cavity of the ear
but I wouldn't call them earbuds because they they hang on they outer ear
like reading glasses. As such they don't press on the wall of the outer ear
cavity and are therefore very comfortable to me. They also
Sennheiser makes good phones. I still have a pair somewhere (414's I think),
but gave up on them years ago because replacement cords were too expensive
relative to their modest robustness. Of course your HD25's are probably
better made than the 414's. Anyway, now I use AKG's for home qth
, *IF* the EP-220 were identical to my Optimus, then I would gain 1 dB
by getting the Aurvana. However, I can't see paying the $99 for the Aurvana
unless I could try it for comfort first.
73,
Erik K7TV
- Original Message -
From: Brett Howard br...@livecomputers.com
To: Erik N Basilier ebasil
loss.
73,
Erik K7TV
- Original Message -
From: Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com
To: Erik N Basilier ebasil...@cox.net
Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009 5:38 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX1 headphones
Erik,
You might want to look into one of the amplified
either. I think my next step will be to
visit the nearby RS where the mgr recognizes me, and then try as many models
as he will let me...
73,
Erik K7TV
- Original Message -
From: David Woolley (E.L) for...@david-woolley.me.uk
To: Erik N Basilier ebasil...@cox.net
Cc: elecraft
Every time I go out with the KX1, I get annoyed with how my Optimus earbuds
hurt my ears and one falls out repeatedly. I know that Koss earbuds have been
recommended on the list before, but I assume they too are too large for my
ears. The Optimus ones are 0.65 or 16.4 mm in diameter. I do have
Dennis, I was trying to order a Pelican for my K3 from The Case Place (they
have good prices, www.caseplaceusa.com) where I have bought Pelican cases
before. The owner advised me to instead buy a Storm Case, since that brand
has some advantages and is owned by Pelican. I got a Storm Case iM2400
Verticals can be very efficient with just one elevated radial.
Of course, such an antenna can be viewed as a dipole, so yes, dipoles are
good!
Is it better to have one leg of the dipole horizontal at 8 ft or vertical?
My experience is that on dry and rocky ground horizontal is usually better,
If you worked W7MOT on either 15 or 40, you worked my K3. The operators
using the K3 seemed very pleased with it. All who heard the diversity
reception agreed that it is a valuable resource for copying in the face of
QSB. For a second receive antenna we used a BuddiPole configured as
vertical,
I have always found it a bit difficult to judge my own speech quality when
using the monitor function on any radio. Perhaps a substantial delay,
several seconds, would be helpful in letting one listen to oneself after one
has finished speaking.
I'll look into adding some filtering to reduce
Thanks for the idea, but I don't use voice enough to justify a monitoring
solution that has a real cost to it. I don't think I would used the KDVR3
for any other purpose. On the other hand, if there will be a delay for
purposes of anti-aliasing, that might solve the problem at no cost. The
I am in the category of having the relay on top of the tower, so would like
to know.
Also the same question applies to the external Elecraft transverter!
BTW, which of the two products has the edge in terms of clean output (if
there is any difference at all)?
73,
Erik K7TV
- Original
IMHO it seems that Elecraft has a unique formula for superior development
work at lradically lower cost (just look at what they have done with so few
people), and I don't think they want to bring that cost up to what other
companies are paying. Telling them what they are not able to do doesn't
etc. I don't
think there is anybody out there who can speak for all or even for the majority
of hams, and I think the Aptos folks want to know what we want at the
individual level.
73,
Erik
- Original Message -
From: Rudy Bakalov
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net ; Erik N Basilier
I think a lot of us are essentially in the same situation: We already have a
good legal-limit amp covering 160 through 10, but we don't have anything
similar for 6 or 2. It takes real commitment to pay essentially the same
amount over again and get just one more band, and building is a lot of
Exactly. On 144 the weak signals are so weak that TX cleanness as well as RX
dynamic range become a very difficult problems. You want a minimum number of
TX stages to mess up the signal, and minimum phase noise. Most solid state
amp's that might be available in the shack may not be clean enough
David,
W.r.t. radials you may want to study the findings of Rudy Severns, N6LF at
www.antennasbyn6lf.com. His findings have also been published in QEX (spread
over several recent issues). Some of his findings in simplified bullet form:
A number of 1/8 wave radials will be better than half that
system crosses from being poorer than one elevated radial (= half dipole) to
being better, as radials are added. I suggest it is a good idea to know
which side of that point one is at.
73,
Erik K7TV
- Original Message -
From: David Gilbert xda...@cis-broadband.com
To: Erik N Basilier ebasil
I recall that either Rudy or someone else has shown that a gullwing
arrangement where the elevated radial has a sloping section that goes down
to a ground-level feedpoint works well, so you wouldn't have add to the mast
in order to use it. AFAIK the main drawback with a single elevated radial
I have been eyeing the 2m transverter because of an old thing I have about
2m cw and ssb. Really irrational, since neither has any activity here in AZ.
My first reaction to the news was, wow, I bet the new K3 option will cost
less than the transverter, but will it have an oven option? Then when
I find myself always having to set diversity mode on after I switch on the rig.
Is there a way to keep it in diversity mode through a power cycle?
73,
Erik K7TV
__
Elecraft mailing list
Home:
I installed the second receiver recently, and am totally addicted to the
diversity reception. Using my R5 vertical as the second antenna, with my
horizontal beam for the main. The R5 is of course useless as a transmit antenna
on 40, but it picks up enough signal for receive (no tuner on it).
I just proposed to our Field Day chief that we use my K3 this year (with extra
precautions to avoid power interruptions, and with a computer available for
re-loading the firmware if necessary). BTW I first did some hurried testing
with the K3 running off my linear Astron PSU cranked down to
I have not noticed any rust (haven't had the K3 outside the home). However,
when I put the case back together after recent hardware mod's and second rx
installation, I had a couple of cases where the conical part of the screw
head first touched the widest part of the conical hole in the panel,
Merv,
My experience with the FT-1000D was that the S-meter didn't start to move
until the actual signal strength reached S-5 or so. But yes, I believe you
when you say that the switching power supply creates a lot of noise, and the
one in the FT-1000D doesn't.
73,
Erik K7TV
- Original
your FT-1000D
was either broken or not aligned properly.
If you still have it align it per the service manual and
you will see something totally different.
73 Jim SM2EKM
--
Erik N Basilier wrote:
Merv,
My experience with the FT-1000D was that the S-meter didn't
I have never noticed slow variations in output during normal operations on
my K3. However, the other day I installed the external ALC mod. During the
testing step I connected and disconnected a 9 V battery with a series
resistor. It took a couple of seconds for the K3 output to change. Seems
I have had my K1EL Winkeyer USB for a while now.
It is the first keyer I have had which can be set to Ultimatic, and I find I
make fewer mistakes in that mode. A plus over the K3 built-in keyer.
Its computer interfacing is a big plus too.
On the other hand, the speed pot leaves me guessing as to
Configuration:
Computer serial port connected to K3, computer USB connected to Winkeyer,
Winkeyer Key output connected to K3 Key In, No connection to K3 PTT in, CONFIG
PTT-KEY OFF-OFF, QSK full, nothing connected to K3 ACC.
Send CW message from N1MM:
I want QSK but the TX LED stays on
Don, I used to have band stacking on my old Yaesu, and now on the K3 I have
programmed the M buttons to select 3 frequencies in each band. You are
correct w.r.t. the number of button presses: The K3 always needs two, while
band stacking requires anything from one to three (if limited to a stack
Here is my MFJ score:
Over the years I have bought only 4 MFJ products brand new and fully
assembled. Of those, only the first one had a problem. That was a tuner
purchased over 20 years ago. It had a missing solder joint. My later
purchases (noise bridge, RF current sniffer, noise canceler)
The HFPACK yahoo group has conducted tests of shortened antennas which seem
to indicate that losses in loaded antennas are quite small when the total
antenna length is at least half the full length. They compared to reference
full-length antennas *at the same height*. As to bandwidth, the
Ron, I agree on all points.
My first antenna was a 40 m dipole with vertical end sections at about 35
ft. Initially I fed it with 300 ribbon cable. Although the antenna was cut
roughly for 40m it was probably a bit off. The SWR would have been a minimum
of roughly 4:1 but with the vertical
I use an EdgePort with 2 serial ports and can testify to their quality.
Bought this years ago when the cheap versions didn't work very well (at
least that was my experience).
In contrast, the EdgePort worked right from the start, and the EdgePort
people provided great support when I wanted to
My beam pattern may not be as good as usual because the tower is cranked
down (storm last night), but from my QTH in Arizona the beam heading right
now seems to be about 120 degrees, which might put the location in the West
Indies, Venezuela or Brazil.
73,
Erik K7TV
I don't have a beam, but
That is consistent with my beam heading of 120, assuming I am receiving
China long path.
73,
Erik K7TV
The latest IARU Region 1 Monitoring System report published yesterday
mentions it as a Chinese FSK8 ALE net.
73, Markus
__
- Original Message -
From: Erik N Basilier ebasil...@cox.net
To: wayne burdick n...@elecraft.com
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 12:34 PM
Subject: Re: K3 Tuning encoder pulses and birdie problem
With the DSP NR at F1-4, the encoder tics as well as the normal noise
totally disappear
today but plan to do it fairly soon.
73,
Erik K7TV
- Original Message -
From: Erik N Basilier ebasil...@cox.net
To: Elecraft Reflector elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 12:35 PM
Subject: Fw: K3 Tuning encoder pulses and birdie problem
- Original Message
the signal level is very low. I
wonder how this relates to the working conditions in the DSP including the
AGC part of it.
73,
Erik K7TV
- Original Message -
From: Erik N Basilier ebasil...@cox.net
To: Elecraft Reflector elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 1:39 PM
Subject
I agree with Jim, and not just w.r.t. invading contesters but other PSK31
stations as well. The wider the waterfall, the greater the chance that
another
station within it is stronger than the wanted station, and adversely affects
reception through receiver AGC action. The architecture with an
- Original Message -
From: Erik N Basilier ebasil...@cox.net
To: Ignacy n...@arrl.net
Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009 11:09 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Noise Blanker Observations?
I agree that the K3 NB, like any other Noise Blanker I have used, works
mostly on impulse noise. Indeed
Ken, thanks for including the battery information.
I have been attracted to the idea of noise-cancelling headphones for years,
but never had enough information about the power sources.
My interest has never been urgent enough to write or telephone the
manufacturers.
Curiously, mose
Neal, I am also interested. Is the K2 knob covered by rubber, like the main
K3 knob?
73, Erik K7TV
- Original Message -
From: Neal wir...@prodigy.net
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 1:35 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 VFO B Knob
Dave,
I no longer have
For shortened antennas such as the MP-1 there is a wonderful information
resource in the yahoo hfpack group. They have run a lot of comparisons of
portable antennas including MP-1, Buddipole, etc, as well as absurdly
shortened versions. They make somewhat serious antenna range comparisons
to
computerish
characteristics than a PC is, and that is one reason I am using a K3 and not
a radio that depends on a PC to function.
73,
Erik K7TV
- Original Message -
From: Guy Olinger, K2AV olin...@bellsouth.net
To: Erik N Basilier ebasil...@cox.net; elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Sent: Sunday, March
Ron, I have been shutting down the external power rather than using the K3's
power switch hundreds of times, a habit I established with earlier radios.
I am comforted to know that you have also shut down your K3 in a similar
way with no ill effects. But one thing now comes to mind that I didn't
incidents and my power shutdown habits. And because you suggested it,
I now think that I should write Elecraft again about it. Thanks.
Erik K7TV
- Original Message -
From: Ron D'Eau Claire r...@cobi.biz
To: 'Erik N Basilier' ebasil...@cox.net; elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Sent: Sunday, March
I just shut down the station by pulling the big switch and then turned it
back on soon after. Of course I had to push the power button on the K3 to
get it going again. Then I noticed what I never noticed before: The K3,
while still tuned to the same 40m cw frequency, came up in LSB mode, with
Hi Vic,
In my opinion, Kok Chen and you have said it best so far.
The bottom line is that someone could get perfect CW (without using audio)
from older as well as newer computers, and could repeat the feat over and
over
on different machines, while another person has the opposite experience,
Julius,
Thanks for the heads-up. I did order the USB version, and just assumed that
it would not be a problem since so many people have said good things about
them. Did you install successfully on Vista 32?
73,
Erik K7TV
- Original Message -
From: Julius Fazekas n2wn
Andy,
Thanks for your input, it is helpful to me. Sorry if this is too much OT,
but I see an additional benefit in the WinKeyer in that it lets you use
paddles. I don't know how deep into contest-land I will go, but at this
point it feels like cheating to use the keyboard, even though it is
Group, I am sorry to harp on this, but it seems someone thought I was not
thinking I could key the K3 directly when using N1MM. Of course one could do
that. But I was assuming that running through N1MM would give me a specific
benefit: Not to have to enter callsigns and exchange info twice
I believe the hardware AGC would be activated if the *combined* strength of
all signals within the crystal filter passband gets above the threshold of
S9+25 dB or so. This means that multiple unwanted signals don't have to
reach the threshold strength *individually* for AGC pumping to occur,
There are two separate AGC functions:
1. Hardware AGC is activated when the combined signals that get through the
roofing filter reach a certain level, about S9+25.
When it is activated, all those signals, including the wanted signal, are
attenuated before the DSP.
AFAIK the hardware AGC cannot
AM audio much more understandable (pleasant) on the FM filter, the extra 1
KHz helps.
To those who feel that AM reception with the 6 kHz filter is not very
understandable:
I had that same impression the first day or so after assembling my K3. Then
I discovered that, with my small hi-fi
Very interesting Ron!
This suggests that the radios where AM broadcast sounds good (portable
radios and car radios) have built-in
bass suppression and/or treble emphasis for AM, which supports the need to
use the equalizer on the K3.
Since the K3 is primarily for amateur communications, and
Interesting idea Keith!
I must admit that I too have often been turning down gain controls while
transmitting, not only on the K3, but even more on other rigs. At other times I
have been using semi-QSK with a *LONG* timeout, even though the rig including
amp can handle full QSK. The reason is
Douglas,
To avoid bringing down the audio level of the station you are working,
again, the ducking might be better done by automatic change of
bandwidth instead of automatic change of gain setting:
I would be listening around the band with, say 500 Hz, find a station, use
e.g. CWT to tune
Guy,
Forgive me for putting bandwidth change into the already complex argument,
but since you mentioned it, here is further explanation of my view on that:
When I'm operating QSK I want to hear my frequency between dits
but *only my* frequency. All too easily I make transmission errors
if the
Jim,
If you aren't using digital modes, you probably don't need to worry about
stability, but...
* Before I got a K3, I mostly used a TS-570 for digital modes, with somewhat
limited success. It turned out it was drifting way too much, even during a
quick qso. Transmitting would raise the
Doug,
I find the DSP NR to be quite effective even with a 200 Hz roof and
100 Hz DSP. No specific experience with impulse noise and NR only (if I have
impulse noise, I turn on the NB).
Running 2.67 with default AGC settings.
That said, I agree that it is useful to be able to change roofing
Right after a firmware change a few weeks ago I noticed that my in-band
(band segment) settings for M1 through M3 had disappeared for all the bands.
Cause and effect not proven.
73,
Erik K7TV
- Original Message -
From: ab2tc [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Sent:
For each radio with a dimpled tuning knob I have had, I always end up not
using the dimple. Instead I tune by rolling the tip of the index finger
aroud the outermost part of the cylindrical knob surface. This just seems
much better for generating the slight torque required to overcome either
One more comment: While I find the K3's main tuning knob to be very good, I
do find fault with the VFO B knob. It really needs to be rubberized.
73,
Erik K7TV
- Original Message -
From: Erik N Basilier [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: Rob May [EMAIL PROTECTED]; elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Sent
I find the K3 NR to be rather good, but what strikes me the most is how I can't
find a favorite setting, but I always have to go through the available settings
to find something that suits a given signal. That would suggest that even more
settings could be useful, if they bring anything new to
emphasis, that would be parametric
based on the general pitch (not like the existing equalizer).
73,
Erik K7TV
- Original Message -
From: Erik N Basilier
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2008 9:29 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 NR
I find the K3 NR
Thanks, Don for your thoughts.
I am familiar with the relationship between sound card sampling frequency
and achievable spectrum width, and also with the SoftRock Yahoo group,
athough it has been a while since I have been there. Sound card choice is
complicated by the fact that the K3 invites
Thanks, Lyle.
Most laptops do not include a stereo LINE IN jack, only a monophonic MIC
jack. An I/Q based panadaptor (Softrock, LP-PAN) requires a stereo input.
Yes, I know that, but forgot to mention it, and yes, mine is only mono.
Maybe you have looked at all the software packages
Barry, I agree with you. In voice modes it would be very helpful to be able to
switch receive and or transmit eq in and out with a button press.
Such a capability would also be a quick fix for my problem of inadvertent
equalization in data modes.
Potentially, equalization save/restore is a
Works fine here! (Vista 32 bit, IE7)
Definitely useful, but doesn't prevent me from forgetting to change eq when
I change modes.
Thanks,
Erik K7TV
- Original Message -
From: Jim Miller [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: Barry N1EU [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Sent: Saturday,
These sound like good ideas, but please don't forget separate eq modes for
the
data modes, unless flat eq is set automatically for all the data modes.
The latter approach would be fine for me, and a lot simpler. Does anyone
have
a need for other than flat settings for data? As to the approach
Don't apologize for those dreams. Although I have never tried WSJT, I too am
a fan of meteor scatter, moonbounce etc, and if different rx and or tx eq's
would be helpful for a range of related protocols, why not have a submenu
under the DATA selection in your main new CONFIG menu? That said,
Rivard [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: Erik N Basilier [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Elecraft Reflector
elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2008 8:17 AM
Subject: re elecraft mics
Good morning Erik: If you would like a good comparison between a dynamic
mic and the MH-2 electret mic, I would
When I received my MH-2, I almost put it up for sale because it is so bulky
in the
hand, especially with the non-removable hanger, and yes, the ptt button is a
bit of
a pain. Then I listened to it with the monitor and found that the sound
quality is
much better than the dynamic Kenwood mike I
Not to discourage innovation, but I ran the program and as expected it did
only the meter on the radio already does.
I have spent too many years working with computers to think anything is neat
just because it is done on the computer.
Personally I will not use it, as I don't want to have to
Bill,
I may have exaggerated when I said the noise needs to be quite loud,
but what I meant was the it should be loud enough to be easily heard,
or else the desired signal won't be easily heard. (I do think I can copy
a signal that is about equal to the noise level.) Probably when you
copy a
All,
My K3 (with one extra roofing filter for CW) is not here yet, so I am asking
this question without direct experience.
It will be interesting to do an A/B comparison to see how the receiver sounds
with/without the narrow crystal filter for a given bandwidth.
I suspect this kind of test is
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