Hi Johnny I have seen many subtle improvements in the K3's receiver with the many successive firmware upgrades. There is no supporting documentary evidence from Elecraft for these subtle changes or improvements that I have noticed.
I have worn out a coaxial switch comparing and testing K3's to other radios. When you have access to as many K3's as I do, all with different serial numbers with which you can play with, upgrade and compare. They belong to my radio club BTW. The improvements that I am seeing is not entirely in my imagination. I am sure that many of the improvements comes about because of better DSP techniques and algorithms thats implemented and not mentioned by Elecraft. SDR techniques and how they are applied to an individual product is not an exact science. I am sure Elecraft has developed many of its own techniques and algorithms for its DSP library. These will never ever be revealed or discussed as its their intellectual property. I own a Watkins Johnson HF1000 and it was returned several times to their factory for updates. The receiver would return and the DSP and receiver would be magically better. When I discussed this once on the phone with one of their engineers, his comments were that that they were improving and tesing new DSP techniques all the time. His comments were also that these would never be discussed nor would the information ever be released to the public. I am sure its the same with Elecraft. Another product like this with propriety DSP techniques is the Perseus, I am sure that there are many who would like to get their hands on some of Niko's code. I had the opportunity to compare a Rohde-Schwarz DSP receiver to the Perseus, and let me tell you that the Perseus was a lot better. Now if a company like Rohde-Schwarz cant beat a one man show like Microtelecom it tells you that DSP programming is not as straightforward as many want you to believe especially when it applies to HF receivers. I think the best bet is to keep your K3 updated with all the mods and upgrades. You will be getting many things for free thats not even mentioned. The small price for the DSP upgrade is minimal compared to what other companies would be charging you for a similar upgrade, thats if you would even get such an opportunity. Certainly if it came from Yaesu or Icom you would have to ship the radio back to the factory. Look at the costly exercise that FT9000 owners went through for the PEP and factory upgrade program. By all accounts that transformed the FT9000 into a new radio. If you own a K3, the ticket price for continual improvement is beer money. While I have to also pay expensive shipping, I still consider it to be cheap way out for a better product in the end analysis. I certainly will be trying and upgrading all our clubs K3's with the upgraded DSP board. 73 John --- On Fri, 1/1/10, Johnny Siu <vr2...@yahoo.com.hk> wrote: > From: Johnny Siu <vr2...@yahoo.com.hk> > Subject: [Elecraft] Re： K3 DIY DSP Rev D - please elaborate > To: "Ralph Parker" <ve...@dccnet.com>, Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Date: Friday, January 1, 2010, 1:38 AM > Hello Ralph, > > Yes, good question. > > In fact, I really want to know: > > 1. Will there be any differences in the key RX > specifications (i.e. BDR and MDS, survival among strong big > guns) if DSP Rev D is installed? > > 2. From the bit and piece of information scattered among > the emails in this forum and the Elecraft web pages, I have > been given to understand that the modifications are related > to the cut off point of the high end and extension of the > low end of the audio specturm. Is my understanding > correct? > > 3. If my understanding is correct, I suppose the TX and > RX EQ in the menu of K3 can address the audio issue. > > 4. If my understanding is NOT correct, what is actual > benefit of all those DSP board modification which cannot be > addressed in the audio section i.e. TX and RX EQ? > > I think Elecraft should set out in a table in their website > comparing the before Vs after modifications in terms > of performance of K3. I agree with you that "It's really > good - buy it." is not enough. I don't mind paying the > extras for the modifications but need to know precisely what > I am paying for. > > 73 & HNY, > > Johnny VR2XMC > > > > ----- 郵件原件 ---- > 寄件人﹕ Ralph Parker <ve...@dccnet.com> > 收件人﹕ Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > 傳送日期﹕ 2010/1/1 (五) 4:48:10 PM > 主題： Re: [Elecraft] K3 DIY DSP Rev D - please > elaborate > > >...so besides the LPF, what else is different on the > DSP "D" board? > >I don't think I've seen any elaboration anywhere. > > I've asked this question before with no answer so far. > I'd like some kind of 'sales talk' so I know what I'm > getting. > "It's really good - buy it." is not enough. > > VE7XF > > > > Yahoo!香港提供網上安全攻略，教你如何防範黑客! > 請前往 http://hk.promo.yahoo.com/security/ > 了解更多! > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 ______________________________________________________________ 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
