Tony Estep wrote: >On Fri, May 13, 2011 at 10:18 PM, Gary K9GS <garyk...@wi.rr.com> wrote: > >> ....a P3 driving a nice big 20 something inch monitor would be the way to >> go.... >> >> I set up a panadaptor display on my computer in parallel with my P3. It >gives a nice big, detailed picture, but I soon scrapped it. Why? Because the >monitor is a step backward from the P3 if it doesn't have point-and-shoot. >There has to be communication between computer and K3. This adds complexity, >software, and another cable. So it's not such a simple task. >
I came to the P3 from an SDR-IQ using a 15in second monitor [1], linked to the K3 and N1MMLogger through LP-Bridge. For the moment, the much tighter integration between the P3 and the K3 (particularly the tracking cursors on *both* VFOs) overrides the need to peer at a small screen that is lacking in detail. The 480x272 display of the P3 is pin-sharp and superb for its size, but the fine detail is still a major loss. A 1024x768 display with appropriate sampling provides much clearer information on other stations' signal quality and spectrum occupancy, and it gives the operator a much better understanding of what's happening on the band. With plenty of space for the waterfall, it has extra clarity in two dimensions, both frequency and time. From experience, the more detailed display allows *much* better judgements when choosing a 'clear' frequency. The loss of detail in the P3 has brought back an uncomfortable element of guesswork. Anyone who has used a larger, more detailed panadapter display to choose a clear frequency will know exactly what I mean. Anyone who has only ever viewed seen the band through a P3... well, continue to enjoy; but when the VGA adapter arrives, you'll be due for a big surprise! Elecraft have already promised that the VGA adapter will allow a more detailed display (it won't be simply a block graphics version of the existing screen) and I'm very much looking forward to that. [1] By the way, the 15in display was the *smallest* 1024x768 monitor that I could find. Filling the screen, the panadapter display is just about the right size to take in all the information at a glance. A larger-screen, wide-format monitor looks great from a distance, but the operator soon develops a severe case of swiveling eyeballs :-) -- 73 from Ian GM3SEK http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek ______________________________________________________________ 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
