I knew I had an issue when I could hear signals on the K3s that weren’t showing on the waterfall.
I need to engage Elecraft tech support to see if I need the mod for my K3s, and see what they say about using an external buffer amp or preamp. When I posted, I thought this might be a common problem that others had fixed before. On Fri, Oct 4, 2019 at 6:59 PM Bob McGraw K4TAX <[email protected]> wrote: > I read that folks have successfully used the Clifton buffer amp. > Certainly worth a try. Others have indicated only about 6 dB of gain is > needed. > > The software I use for my RSP-1 allows RF Gain changes. Thus with the > lower IF output of my K3S, I just raise the gain of the RSP-1 via the > software. I've never considered the SDR receivers of that type to be very > precise with regard to "calibration". Although some seem to think they > can split hairs on a mosquito with the level and frequency accuracy of the > receivers. I do not consider them of instrumentation quality, thus > anything +/-10 dB is deemed satisfactory. Likewise the same with frequency > accuracy. Others may have different experiences with different receivers. > > 73 > > Bob, K4TAX > > > On 10/4/2019 6:34 PM, Fred Massey wrote: > > A friend of mine, Tim AB4B, suggested that I might need a buffer amp to > keep the IF being pulled down by the sdr. DXEngineering sells the Clifton > Z10000. That adds about 6db of gain, but maybe the buffering that it does > has an even bigger effect. > > On Fri, Oct 4, 2019 at 2:18 PM Bob McGraw K4TAX <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> In a word, YES. I find that to be true with my K3S as well as other >> brands/models of radios. Thus you'll need about 20 dB of gain in the >> form of a preamp between the IF output and the QSR receiver. >> >> 73 >> >> Bob, K4TAX >> >> >> On 10/4/2019 12:57 PM, Fred Massey wrote: >> > Some. I was planning on sending an email to Elecraft support with the >> s/n >> > of my K3s to see if I needed the mod. The difference I’m seeing in >> signal >> > strength is about 20+ dB. Is it normal for the if-out to be weaker >> than a >> > direct connection to the antenna? >> > 73, >> > Fred >> > AE4ED >> > >> > On Fri, Oct 4, 2019 at 12:44 PM Don Wilhelm <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> > >> >> Fred, >> >> >> >> Have you looked the K3 IF Output mod? >> >> >> >> >> https://ftp.elecraft.com/K3/Mod%20Notes%20Alerts/IF_Output_Buffer_Gain_Mod_Rev_A.pdf >> >> >> >> If you don't have the 13k SMD resistor or a 1/8 watt 13k resistor, you >> >> can order the kit from Elecraft. >> >> >> >> 73, >> >> Don W3FPR >> >> >> >> On 10/4/2019 1:24 PM, Fred Massey wrote: >> >>> Good afternoon Wes and all, >> >>> >> >>> If I connect the antenna directly to the QSR-1, I get the same signal >> >> level >> >>> as the K3s. But, when I connect to the QSR-1 to the IF-out, the >> signal >> >> is >> >>> about 4 s-units less. >> >>> >> >>> Any ideas...anyone? >> >>> >> >>> Fred >> >>> >> >>> On Thu, Oct 3, 2019 at 4:14 PM Wes <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> >> >>>> I use an SDR-IQ on the i-f output on my (very) early K3S. it works >> >> fine. >> >>>> IIRC, >> >>>> always a dubious proposition, I did the mod on my original K3 and it >> >>>> worked well >> >>>> too without any additional amplification. I think you have another >> >>>> problem. >> >>>> >> >>>> Wes N7WS >> >>>> >> >>>> On 10/3/2019 2:01 PM, Fred Massey wrote: >> >>>>> Good afternoon, >> >>>>> >> >>>>> I have successfully connected my QSR-1 to my K3s if-out, and >> >> immediately >> >>>>> noticed the signal strengths showing on the QSR-1 were much >> weaker. I >> >>>>> probably have an early K3s, so the if-out signal strength is even >> >> weaker. >> >>>>> Any recommendations at a good preamp to use? It seems like 20db is >> >> what >> >>>> I >> >>>>> need: >> >>>>> >> >>>>> 73, >> >>>>> Fred >> >>>>> AE4ED >> >>>> ______________________________________________________________ >> >>>> 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 >> >>>> Message delivered to [email protected] >> >>> ______________________________________________________________ >> >>> 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 >> >>> Message delivered to [email protected] >> >>> >> > ______________________________________________________________ >> > 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 >> > Message delivered to [email protected] >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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 >> Message delivered to [email protected] > > ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [email protected]
