Don is spot on. I have filter macros built in DM780 to center my signal of choice and then narrow the filters SW needed. This greatly helps grabbing those weak signals of interest.
73 KD8NNU Don Sent from my HTC on the Now Network from Sprint! ----- Reply message ----- From: "Don Wilhelm" <[email protected]> Date: Sat, Jan 12, 2013 1:25 am Subject: [Elecraft] KX3 digital To: <[email protected]> It used to be that 5 watts on PSK31 was all that was needed, most all operators were using low power because it worked well. Most advice was to keep the power low - below 20 watts if I recall. As time went by, the power levels used on PSK31 have crept up and many operators are now using 100 watts or more. That kind of power in the narrow bandwidth of common PSK wattering holes will take over the AGC in the receiver because most are using bandwidths of 2.5 kHz or greater to see the full waterfall display. The AGC will respond to the strongest signal within the filter bandwidth and will make weaker stations more difficult to copy. Sometimes turning off the AGC will help, but concentrating on the station you wish to copy and narrowing the IF filter bandwidth will help even more. If you only want to work one station, there is no need to see the entire PSK31 band. Narrow the receiver filter and use the VFO to tune the desired station to the center of the IF passband. 73, Don W3FPR On 1/11/2013 6:13 PM, Ariel Jacala wrote: > 5 watts on PSK will work if you are in an empty section on the waterfall. In > a crowded situation with strong signals nearby, you will be stepped on and > obliterated by the strong signal. Certain DX stations are notorious for > overdriving the waterfall and wiping out other signals. You are better off > calling CQ in location away from nearby strong signals. At 5 watts your > printing on the waterfall can be faint depending on propagation. I did get > Hawaii once on PSK with my K2. My luck with PSK has always been better at > 25-30 watts. That is just the nature of this mode. At QRP power, CW is much > more efficient. Make sure you have enough drive to just trigger the ALC > circuit. You are also better off decoding the PSK signal with Fldigi or > DM780 - just a better PSK experience with the macros and all. > > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
