> If you plan on a bit more digital work I strongly suggest an > external USB or Firewire soundcard. Laptops often have a rotten > soundcard, an external card can be amazing.
I hate to disagree with Simon but I do want to answer the old wives' tale about internal sound cards and laptops ... The issue with internal soundcards - both desktop and laptop is much more one of sensitivity than internal noise. Many amateur transceivers have severely limited audio levels from their "line level" outputs - in some cases it can be as little as 50 mV (-25 dBu) at 10k Ohms. This is generally insufficient when driving the "600 Ohm" inputs of most soundcards. The problem with low input levels is that many inexpensive laptop and internal sound systems may have noise floors as high as -30 to -40 dBu due to poor bypassing and grounding of signals within the computer. If such a soundcard is used with low drive and poor connections that result in external bum/buzz, the results will be poor. Fortunately, the K3 has plenty of drive and due to its ability to produce more than 1 volt RMS output is more than capable of obtaining excellent results with even a very noisy soundcard. One only need adjust the K3's Line Out level until the "no signal" noise from the K3 raises the noise floor as seen on a spectrum (not waterfall) display by 6 - 10 dB. This will provide nearly 40 dB of dynamic range from even a "noisy" soundcard system. The situation is far different with one of the radios that provides only 50 to 100 mV. 73, ... Joe, W4TV > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Simon > Brown (HB9DRV) > Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:10 PM > To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] k3/psk on laptop > > > Don, > > If you plan on a bit more digital work I strongly suggest an > external USB or > Firewire soundcard. Laptops often have a rotten soundcard, an > external card > can be amazing. Laptop soundcards are OK for Beep and Ding > but for digital > mode work they really can be the limiting factor. > > The K3 has a stonking receiver, it's a shame to cripple it > with a laptop > soundcard. > > Simon Brown, HB9DRV > > -------------------------------------------------- > From: "Blachura" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > thanks for all the replys on the k3 and getting the digital > modes to work > > on > > a laptop. > > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
