Hi Jerry,
Since the KB9YIG 6.2 lite is no longer available, a super deluxe replacement
designed specifically for the K3 is available. Of course I talking about
Larry's (N8LP) LP-PAN Software Defined IQ Panadapter. He is taking orders
at his web site <http://www.telepostinc.com/LP-PAN.html> and has just
released the PRELIMINARY Manual
<http://www.telepostinc.com/LP-PAN-Manual.pdf>.
I totally agree with your comments regarding the panadapter display
resolution provided by PowerSDR. I own a Icom 7800 and the PowerSDR display
is far, far superior. I can easily see signals at the noise level and the
detail is so sharp I can often tell the modulation being used. Coupled with
Larry's free LP-Bridge software (available soon) or Ham Radio Deluxe and you
have full "point and click" frequency control of the K3 (not to mention that
PowerSDR has it's own SDR receivers which can be used to simultaneously
listen to two inband frequencies at once. It's a very powerful addition to
the K3.
Just passing along info to K3 users who may be interested in adding a
computer supported panadapter to their K3.
73,
Frank - W6NEK
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jerry Flanders" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 25, 2008 12:39 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] Using the V6.2 lite Softrock Rx as a panadaptor with
Elecraft K3
As a panadaptor for my Elecraft K3, I have one of KB9YIG's 6.2 lite SR40
receivers with the special IF for the K3 (32764 KHz crystal). This gives
the SR40 a LO freq of 8191, 24 Khz below the 8215 IF of the K3. I
routinely watch a panorama of about +/- 12 Khz on the PowerSDR display
(using 96 KHz samping). I was watching +/- 24 KHz initially but my power
supply gave me a weak constant waterfall birdie that I haven't eliminated
yet.
I also have one of Jack Smith's Z-10000U buffer amplifiers (Clifton
Laboratories) running between the K3's KXV3 output and the SR40 for
isolation. (I didn't test to see if the isolation is really needed - maybe
not, since the LO is offset 24 KHz.)
The above combination is giving me the best panadaptor I have ever used,
and I have been using them since Heathkit made one for the Heathkit SB303
in the early '70's. The current ICOM receivers have panadaptors, but the
resolution is lacking. With KB9YIG's SR40 rx and PowerSDR, I can even
identify the various signal types on sight. I am using the version of
PowerSDR that has simultaneous waterfall and panorama.
I have PowerSDR calibrated so that the display gives an S9 reading when
the K3 sees a 50uV S9 signal from my XG-2 generator. Sensitivity is
amazing - I can see signals on the waterfall well down into the noise
level.
As an indication of what is possible software-wise with the Panadaptor
add-on, I am able to run PowerSDR and Skimmer (or Rocky, just as well)
simultaneously here on a Sempron 2 GHz 1GB machine, along with Writelog
with RTTYRITE in CW mode as well as CWGET all simultaneously. PSDR and
Skimmer are both using the same two input channels of my Delta-44, and
Skimmer sees the entire I/Q IF range, not just the audio. No audio routing
tricks or "Y cables" are needed. The remainder are using the on-board VIA
AC97 sound card. Total CPU usage ranges 50 - 70% with all running or
around 20-40% with PowerSDR but without Skimmer/Rocky. The computer also
generates CW and I have not seen any CW keying hiccups so far in limited
S&P yesterday in the contest even at 70% CPU. This machine does not use
on-board video, which might slow it further - it has a dual-monitor AGP
video card.
This is a simple panadaptor setup - I view only and have no K3 control or
click tuning from PowerSDR or Rocky/Skimmer.
FYI, it is often possible to run multiple apps on the same sound card - I
once had 8-10 copies of MMTTY running on a VIA AC97 on-board sound "card"
under XP home as a test to see if multiple simultaneous RTTY profiles
worked. Each copy only added about 2% to the CPU load.
Note: I understand KB9YIG has retired this particular kit, but a
replacement may be available in the future (see
[EMAIL PROTECTED] ).
Jerry W4UK
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