Re: [Elecraft] P3 and the Nose Blanker an observation
Yes, I went back and looked and I had it turned up too high Thank you From: Alan n...@sonic.net To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Thursday, January 8, 2015 8:36 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] P3 and the Nose Blanker an observation Also it is important to set the noise blanker level to the minimum that eliminates the noise. Alan N1AL On 01/08/2015 04:00 PM, Harry Yingst via Elecraft wrote: I noticed something on the P3 and maybe it's a known thing. I turned on my Flex-1500 that had been sitting idle for nearly a year and noticedthat the display looked far sharper than the P3's display (Signals more distinct). Then I discovered what I was seeing... I had the noise blanker on the P3 turned on.When I turned off the noise blanker the display looked clear and distinct again. So It appears that the noise blanker algorithm is averaging the signal to remove the noise. Just an observation and something to remember to turn off when not needed. __ 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 Message delivered to n...@sonic.net __ 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 Message delivered to hlyin...@yahoo.com __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] P3 and the Nose Blanker an observation
I noticed something on the P3 and maybe it's a known thing. I turned on my Flex-1500 that had been sitting idle for nearly a year and noticedthat the display looked far sharper than the P3's display (Signals more distinct). Then I discovered what I was seeing... I had the noise blanker on the P3 turned on.When I turned off the noise blanker the display looked clear and distinct again. So It appears that the noise blanker algorithm is averaging the signal to remove the noise. Just an observation and something to remember to turn off when not needed. __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] P3 and the Nose Blanker an observation
Also it is important to set the noise blanker level to the minimum that eliminates the noise. Alan N1AL On 01/08/2015 04:00 PM, Harry Yingst via Elecraft wrote: I noticed something on the P3 and maybe it's a known thing. I turned on my Flex-1500 that had been sitting idle for nearly a year and noticedthat the display looked far sharper than the P3's display (Signals more distinct). Then I discovered what I was seeing... I had the noise blanker on the P3 turned on.When I turned off the noise blanker the display looked clear and distinct again. So It appears that the noise blanker algorithm is averaging the signal to remove the noise. Just an observation and something to remember to turn off when not needed. __ 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 Message delivered to n...@sonic.net __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] [K3] WSJT-X settings for K3
I have tried the last two versions of WSJT-X and there seems to be some problem with the rig control for the K3. I get error messages, something about the program not being able to read the mode of the radio's second VFO. As is often the case, a pretty cryptic error message is what's offered, mostly intended for the programmer, not an end user. I think the program uses hamlib for radio control options. Many attempts at different settings were tried, and the one that works best is to set it for no programmatic rig control, at all (other than RTS for PTT). I have no problem with my K3-P3-KPA500 station, or with other control programs, just WSJT-X. I use only 'real' UART based COM ports, so, that's not the problem. Anybody experience similar? __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] Wanted: KSB2, Sideband option for K2
Hello;Looking for built or unbuilt SSB board for my K2. Please let me know if you have one. Thanks;Jacob K4JQV __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] P3 for Alan: VFO A Cursor color in FixTrack Mode - for Alan
Hmmm ... don't know, but generally speaking anything monochrome works for me. Ansel Adams photos look great to me, monochrome TV is fine too. My wife tells me the P3 spectrum display background is deep blue, which is just barely distinguishable for me from the black WF background in monochrome mode. When information is conveyed on a display, graph, Power Point slide, or whatever using different colors, I do fine if: 1. The various colors look different to me; and 2. They are identified somewhere in text denoting what each means. Scientific American [lots of graphs and color coded diagrams] can often be incomprehensible to me. Well, sometimes the text is incomprehensible for me even without the graphs. :-) Finding the VFO A cursor [green] in the spectrum display [yellow] when the band is full of signals is my real goal. I don't really look much at the spectrum half of the display much except to see what the level of a signal is in dBm and find the cursor, the monochrome WF is much more useful for me. Anything that would make the cursor stand out would be fine. Let us also not forget, this may affect exactly one Elecraft customer, hardly worth a lot of engineering effort. :-) 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 50th Running of the Cal QSO Party 3-4 Oct 2015 - www.cqp.org On 1/7/2015 7:17 PM, a**@sbcglobal wrote: Interesting. Would a straight monochrome spectrum take care of all of this? Al. W6LX __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] New KAT500/KPA500 owner needs help (K3/P3/KAT500/KPA500/Microkeyer II)
I just finished building my KAT500 and KPA500. I am trying to integrate them into my existing setup consisting of a K3, P3, and Microham Microkeyer II. This setup was working fine before I cabled up the new equipment, and now I am having some issues. All hardware has been updated to the latest available firmware. I have cabled the equipment as follows (as prescribed in the KAT500 manual, with the addition of the Elecraft Y-Cable so the KAT500 and MKII can access the ACC port on the K3): KAT500:- ANT1 - HexBeam feed- XMTR - KPA500 RF OUTPUT- XCVR - E850463 Aux Cable - Elecraft Y-Cable - K3 ACC (shares ACC w/microHam MicroKeyer II)- AMP - E8509463 Aux Cable - KPA500 AUX- VDC - AC to DC 15V 1000 mA adapter KPA500:- RF OUTPUT - KAT500 XMTR- AUX - KAT500 AMP MicroKeyer II - ACC - Elecraft Y-Cable - K3 ACC K3:- ANT1 - KPA500 RF INPUT - I have set the KAT3 CONFIG menu to Bypass.- I enabled KAT500Y by tapping 1 on the KAT3 CONFIG menu.- KAT500 is in AUTO mode- Tuning power is set to 25W - Power is set to PER BAND- I have used the KAT500 to memorize settings at the low, high, and midpoints of the bands I operate, and I selected the Optimize for KPA500 setting in the KAT500 Utility program. And the problems I am observing so far are: - The KPA500 isn't talking to the K3 (or vice versa); band changes are not being tracked from either device- The KPA500 isn't amplifying any amount of drive (at 35 watts out of the K3, the first LED on the KPA500 lights. Even with the OPER LED lit).- The KAT500 doesn't always power on. Sometimes the K3 has to be on first. Reconnecting the ACC port on the K3 seems to trigger this state.- The K3 isn't responding to mode changes in WinWarbler (RTTY/CW/SSB) Something tells me I've got a problem with the ACC line and or cabling. Thanks for any help you guys can provide!Jeff __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] beta release for K3 - PSK63
Folks, HNY to all I believe that there is a potential firmware upgrade that is imminent that will enable the K3 to be able to generate and receive PSK63 (as well as PSK31). If I have understood correctly, I would be grateful for an idea of likely timescales ? Many thanks 73 Graham G4FNL __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] beta release for K3 - PSK63
Hi Graham, This was added last October. Here are the relevant release notes: MCU 4.93 / DSP 2.83, 10-16-2014 * PSK63 MODE ADDED: To select PSK31 or PSK63, first tap either end of the MODE switch to select DATA, then hold the DATA MD switch and use VFO A to select the PSK data rate. 73, Wayne N6KR On Jan 8, 2015, at 2:29 PM, G4FNL gra...@g4fnl.co.uk wrote: Folks, HNY to all I believe that there is a potential firmware upgrade that is imminent that will enable the K3 to be able to generate and receive PSK63 (as well as PSK31). If I have understood correctly, I would be grateful for an idea of likely timescales ? Many thanks 73 Graham G4FNL __ 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 Message delivered to n...@elecraft.com __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] beta release for K3 - PSK63
Wayne Thank you - wow - what a fantastically fast response! I will check it out. Many thanks 73 Graham G4FNL -Original Message- From: Wayne Burdick [mailto:n...@elecraft.com] Sent: 08 January 2015 22:33 To: gra...@g4fnl.co.uk Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] beta release for K3 - PSK63 Hi Graham, This was added last October. Here are the relevant release notes: MCU 4.93 / DSP 2.83, 10-16-2014 * PSK63 MODE ADDED: To select PSK31 or PSK63, first tap either end of the MODE switch to select DATA, then hold the DATA MD switch and use VFO A to select the PSK data rate. 73, Wayne N6KR On Jan 8, 2015, at 2:29 PM, G4FNL gra...@g4fnl.co.uk wrote: Folks, HNY to all I believe that there is a potential firmware upgrade that is imminent that will enable the K3 to be able to generate and receive PSK63 (as well as PSK31). If I have understood correctly, I would be grateful for an idea of likely timescales ? Many thanks 73 Graham G4FNL __ 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 Message delivered to n...@elecraft.com __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] beta release for K3 - PSK63
I thought that a firmware update that allows PSK63 had already been released but I do not recall what the revision number is. Mike KI0HA On 1/8/2015 4:29 PM, G4FNL wrote: Folks, HNY to all I believe that there is a potential firmware upgrade that is imminent that will enable the K3 to be able to generate and receive PSK63 (as well as PSK31). If I have understood correctly, I would be grateful for an idea of likely timescales ? __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] beta release for K3 - PSK63
Yes, it was done before you asked about it, Graham: That *is* fast :-) Phil W7OX On 1/8/15 2:36 PM, G4FNL wrote: Wayne Thank you - wow - what a fantastically fast response! I will check it out. Many thanks 73 Graham G4FNL -Original Message- From: Wayne Burdick [mailto:n...@elecraft.com] Sent: 08 January 2015 22:33 To: gra...@g4fnl.co.uk Cc: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] beta release for K3 - PSK63 Hi Graham, This was added last October. Here are the relevant release notes: MCU 4.93 / DSP 2.83, 10-16-2014 * PSK63 MODE ADDED: To select PSK31 or PSK63, first tap either end of the MODE switch to select DATA, then hold the DATA MD switch and use VFO A to select the PSK data rate. 73, Wayne N6KR On Jan 8, 2015, at 2:29 PM, G4FNL gra...@g4fnl.co.uk wrote: Folks, HNY to all I believe that there is a potential firmware upgrade that is imminent that will enable the K3 to be able to generate and receive PSK63 (as well as PSK31). If I have understood correctly, I would be grateful for an idea of likely timescales ? Many thanks 73 Graham G4FNL __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KX3 + iMic Sound Card = Wild Scan
Use a 4 pole jack plug too helps. Tip, Ring, Ring, Sleve. They are relatively easy to obtain. You may also (probably will) need a resistive atenuator, and maybe a DC blocking cap between the iMic's line out, and the KX3's Mic input. Or setting levels gets tricky! For receive, there are other issues, using the Phones jack, mutes the rig's speaker. Using the I/Q output, is another way, but I've had poor results with that. I ended up making a cable that had a floating jack socket, to connect a small speaker or 'phones to, while using digimodes, that in turn connects to the Phone socket on the rig. For Fldigi use, set the rig into USB and DATA A mode (turns off any/all TX/RX equalisation, but keeps the settings you have for voice modes.) Set the rig's filters so that it passes just about everything between 100 and 3000Hz to the iMic. Let Fldigi do all the heavy lifting. Use USB for ALL Fldigi work, even if you are working on the low bands. If you need to swap tones (for some RTTY needs) use Fldigi's Rev button (lower right.) If you have the USBKX3 serial lead, try using the K3 driver XML file (download from the Fldigi XML archives page http://www.w1hkj.com/xmlarchives.html) Or try using Flrig also set to use a K3. Hamlib results vary! Then the frequency values in Fldigi follow what the rig is doing, much easier to use that way. (The RIGCAT XML route is my preference, edited so that JUST the tuning and frequency data passes back/forth, I prefer to manipulate the radio's other settings by mk1 fingers at this time.) Note, the KX3 and K3 use a CAT protocol that is very similar to that used by Kenwood. There is a lot you can do with it, but there are some significant differences! Enjoy! 73. Dave. G0WBX. David, Set MIC BTN to OFF That should fix it I think. 73 David Anderson GM4JJJ On 7 Jan 2015, at 02:53, David Ahrendts davidahren...@me.com wrote: Strange one. Trying to make audio in and out connections with my Mac Mini and my KX3 Line for use with cocoaModem and FLDigi. Mac Mini ?sees the Mic, and responds to the RX I/Q stream from the PX3. BUT, when I connect the iMic to the KX3 MIC port, it sends the KX3 into a scan frequency mode. What am I doing wrong? David Ahrendts, KC0XT, LA __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] P3 for Alan: VFO A Cursor color in FixTrack Mode - for Alan
Fred, Thanks for the fascinating description of your monochromacy. I have never come across anyone with this, though did know the condition existed. As a photographer I am conscious of colours and had an amusing incident when I had a faulty iPad display where the colours were posterised in certain shades of yellow and took it back to the shop to get it replaced under warranty. The young gentleman that looked at it declared he could not see anything wrong with it when I compared the same photo on the faulty one with another in the shop. I almost gave up then asked if I could get a female assistant to have a look and she immediately saw what I was complaining about. Of course being male he suffered from colour blindness of some kind and didn't realise it until then. It occurred to me as I wrote that, I assume that like the days of monochrome film photography when we used yellow colour filters to emphasise the contrast of things like clouds and blue sky, that you will be see similar effects if you place different colour filters in front of the colour display of the waterfall on the P3 with your monochrome vision? Glad that Elecraft are able to do something to make the P3 as useable as possible for those with similar conditions. 73 David Anderson GM4JJJ On 8 Jan 2015, at 00:35, Fred Jensen k6...@foothill.net wrote: I may be the only Elecraft customer with this problem, monochromacy is extremely rare [poor choice of both Mom and Dad :-)], but other forms of defective color vision are much more common, mainly in males and most hams are male. __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 , Elecraft Transverter K144XV-K
Mine goes down to 1W which is the level I use now on my db6nt transverters. I initially used 3W (to simulate my IC202 power) but the db6nt IF pin diodes kept breaking Dave G4FRE -- Hello K3 owners ! Want to know the lowest power setting Elecraft internal 2 meter transv.( K144XV-K)??, know the max out is 8 to 10 watt approx... My DB6NT transverters ( IF 144 MHz) need 0,5 to 5 watt ,(IF power settings are adjustable in the DB6NT Transverter) 73' Viggo LA9NEA __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] vexing K3 transverter problem solved
Lew, Excellent observation (and troubleshooting). Too often a problem can be due to something very simple but unnoticed. If you build kits (the kind you solder components to a pc board) you may have noticed many holes place in strategic areas of the board that have no components installed thru them. They are call via's and are place to ground the circuit board to avoid sneak paths for currents that can cause sporadic oscillation in the circuit. Often there are more screws holding down a board than just at the corners and they also help proper grounding. A lose screw or board can lead to very strange operating characteristics. This issue gets rapidly more complicated designing for VHF and higher frequencies, but can cause issues even in audio stages. This magic that good RF designers have is what you pay more for. 73, Ed - KL7UW my first job out of college was as Technician in a small RD engineering dept. Our job was to build up design prototypes from the engineers initial design and test them for proper operation - which they typically did not do. Then we searched for some of those magic little fixes to the real circuit that did not show in the schematic. Many rerouting of circuits and bypass capacitors and RF chokes are placed as result of this type of fine tuning of a design. Your alpha tester do this. -- Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2015 18:50:00 -0800 From: Lewis Phelps l...@n6lew.us To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net List elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] vexing K3 transverter ptoblem solved Message-ID: a066df1d-70c0-4433-8fdd-7d9e6ac34...@n6lew.us Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 For what it?s worth, I thought I would pass along my recent experience with a vexing transverter problem, and the cause of the problem that I eventually identified. The issue was that my XV432 would light up its power output LEDs ever so briefly when the transmitter was keyed, and then shut down. It was pretty obviously a shorted output situation. I first assumed it was a faulty coax cable connecting either the K3 to the XV432 or the SV4 32 to the antenna. So I substituted different cables all the way around, with no benefit. I even tested the hypothesis that the dummy load had gone bad, and substituted an older and smaller dummy load. Still no joy. About the only thing left in the chain between the K3 and the XV432 was the KXV3 transverter I/O board. Upon initial inspection, I saw that it was wobbling back and forth about 1/4?. Upon closer inspection (requiring removal of the side panel of the case) it became clear that a 1/2? long 4-40 machine screw was missing, allowing the board to flex backward and forward, and apparently shorting the output. I replaced the missing machine screw, tightened the other machine screw on the opposite corner of the I/O board, and the problem was gone. Moral to the story: mechanical problems can cause electrical problems. At least I got it fixed in time for the upcoming VHF contest. 73, Lew Lew Phelps N6LEW Pasadena, CA DM04wd Elecraft K3-10 Yaesu FT-7800 l...@n6lew.us www.n6lew.us 73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com Kits made by KL7UW Dubus Mag business: dubus...@gmail.com __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Hearing Loss
On 1/8/2015 7:32 AM, Larry Boekeloo wrote: I have a small cable I plug into my external speaker and then into my blue tooth box around my neck. The audio from the K3 is pumped into both hearing aids. I have the same type of device (Phonak ComPilot). The only downside is that it runs the battery in the device down rapidly when used in the streaming mode. But you are right - it makes all the difference in the world. __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3, Elecraft Transverter K144XV-K
My observations on most RF power amplifiers is that gain is higher at lower drive levels so proportionally there is more output. e.g. full drive =10w, half drive = 7w, quarter drive = 5w. You are describing classic compression in the amplifier [chain]. Where you have cascaded amplifiers, measure the Po/Pi slope *for each device* and adjust the relative gains/drive levels so that each device has a similar curve - or at least all begin to compress at the same level - and operate below the onset of compression. Yet these amplifiers sound fine in SSB so must have good linearity. You can't say that. Non-linearity will show up first in IMD products *outside the SSB bandwidth* - your neighbors will hear the distortion before your QSO partner does or you hear it in your monitor. Now, there is no issue using these amplifiers in CW/RTTY/JT-mode as all of those modes are one tone at a time and do not generate significant IMD when feeding even a class C amplifier (transitions will become a bit sharper/more clicky). However in general, one should keep any *amplifier chain* used for linear modes (SSB, PSK31/63/125, etc.) below the 1 dB compression point. In other words, if 10W drive gives 750W output you should need any more than 25W for 1500W output. The 1 dB compression point is generally associated with IMD in the -33 to -35 dB range provided other issues (e.g. crossover distortion, bias stability, etc.) are well controlled. Ideally one would keep any gain compression well below 1 dB (20%) but that is often difficult with solid stage devices at high power levels - particularly since solid state devices tend to be rated for saturated mode (class C, pulse) outputs without regard for compression. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 2015-01-08 12:03 PM, Edward R Cole wrote: David and Lexa, My observations on most RF power amplifiers is that gain is higher at lower drive levels so proportionally there is more output. e.g. full drive =10w, half drive = 7w, quarter drive = 5w. So one finds that an amplifier hits a minimum output with lowered drive that is not linear with change in drive level. Yet these amplifiers sound fine in SSB so must have good linearity. My 50w 2m transverter actually will produce nearly 60w with 1.5mw drive and 35w with 0.73 mw, but minimum output with 0.1mw is about 15w. I insert a 3-dB attenuator to get down to 7w output to drive my 150w amp to 55w which is the drive required for 1400w with my 2m-8877. I prefer this arrangement vs running the transverter near max at 55w when running digital modes (less heat stress on the transverter amp which also translates as less thermal frequency drift). My 25w 1296 transverter runs 20w at full output and about 8w with minimum drive. I've seen this consistently with RF power amplifiers (my HF amps operate similarly) 73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com Kits made by KL7UW Dubus Mag business: dubus...@gmail.com __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KX3 rev. 2.33: Improved NEW QSK mode, flat RX EQ in DATA modes
Just finished a nice QSO on 40 meters and the right channel click using NEW QSK seems to be completely gone (or so low my old ears can't detect it). I set the 60 meter channels up in memories using the K3/KX3 memory editor and tried running through the modes and used TUNE and ATU-TUNE into a dummy load. They seem to work okay. I didn't put a signal on the air as there were QSO's in progress on all the channels. Channel hopping - My PX3 updates properly, changing modes and it works on 2 meters with the transverter as well. I hooked up my SignaLink USB and checked the EQ settings - they now auto-set to no EQ when DATA modes are selected - Ran my HAL ST-8000 super RTTY AFSK modem through it and same there on RTTY. My testing shows everything is OK, but it's possible I missed something. However, I'd put it up for Beta and get a wider range of testers for a deeper perspective - I beat on it pretty hard, but there are some guys out there that could break a steel beam without even trying - LOL. Jim - W0EB -- Original Message -- From: Wayne Burdick n...@elecraft.com To: Steve Buroker sburo...@msn.com; Reed w...@bellsouth.net; canis...@gmail.com; Ron w...@epbfi.com; Ray Sills raysil...@verizon.net; Leroy Marion lmar...@mt.net; Art Nienhouse ka9...@gmail.com; Charles Powell cwpow...@gmail.com; Jim Sheldon w...@cox.net; Greg Franklin greg.frank...@gmail.com; Hjalmar Duklæt dukl...@broadpark.no; Don Palmer d.pal...@btinternet.com; Randy Moore ai...@outlook.com; Jean-François Ménard jean-francois.men...@outlook.com; John Oppenheimer j...@kn5l.net; ct1dr...@gmail.com Quental ct1dr...@gmail.com; Darren Long darren.l...@mac.com; Matt Zilmer ma...@elecraft.com; Gary - NC3Z nc3z.g...@gmail.com; Edouard Lafargue edou...@lafargue.name; Paul Locker pmlo...@yahoo.com; Sven Ladegast s...@ladegast.info; John and Rita Freitag jpfrei...@mac.com; Rick Tavan N6XI rta...@gmail.com; ka5wrg ka5...@yahoo.com Sent: 1/7/2015 9:39:16 PM Subject: KX3 rev. 2.33: Improved NEW QSK mode, flat RX EQ in DATA modes Hi all, The attached KX3 field-test firmware is improved over the release I sent most of you previously (2.32). NEW QSK mode should now produce fewer receive artifacts while keying with AFX=DELAY. DATA mode RX EQ should be completely flat. Please give it a good workout, using as many bands, modes and features as possible, as we'd like to go to beta with this rev if possible. See release notes below, which include a proposed method of testing NEW QSK vs. OLD QSK. 73, Wayne N6KR * * * __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] Hearing Loss
I've struggled with 35% hearing loss over the past 9 years. I finally spent the money and bought hearing aids 3 years ago - what a difference for normal every day life. However, they didn't help me much with ham radio but I suffered through by putting the small Heil headset ear piece on top of the hearing aid where the microphone was located. A month ago, I purchased new hearing aids (well my insurance did) and they are fitted with blue tooth. I wear a small blue tooth box around my neck which is connected to my cell phone via blue tooth. It's incredible talking on the phone now. But the best part - I have a small cable I plug into my external speaker and then into my blue tooth box around my neck. The audio from the K3 is pumped into both hearing aids. I can't believe the difference it has made. With the new QSK feature on the K3 and the blue tooth hearing aids, I can pick out CW signals that I would have never deciphered before. And, copying SSB is incredible too. If you can afford the hearing aids with blue tooth - don't hesitate. Larry, KN8N __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] KPA500 does not use EBS, and doesn't have any associated bias noise
A side note to this topic for RF amplifiers, in general: I have not heard of this paper crunch noise description, before this, but it's well known with VHF and up operation that one does want to remove bias during receive on many amplifiers due to white noise being generated. Perhaps this is not detected from HF amplifiers because sky noise is much higher and it is not heard. I initially ran a 50w modified 900-MHz amplifier on 1296-eme and making a quick connection did not bother with switching the keying line which enabled/disabled bias. I was puzzled why my noise floor was 6-dB higher than normal (I monitor the noise floor in receive with a SDR-IQ set for maximum span (190-KHz)). Someone replied to my e-mail comment suggesting that bias might not be set to cutoff. That was the solution and once I connected up a TR line to key the amp for Tx (and unkey it in Rx) Rx noise was back to normal (sky noise at 1296-MHz is in the region of 10K vs 20,000K at 28 MHz). This is probably not related to the paper crunch. 73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com Kits made by KL7UW Dubus Mag business: dubus...@gmail.com __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 does not use EBS, and doesn't have any associated bias noise
I'll add to this in that I just tested my KPA500 to see what the noise floor did with it on or off. On an antenna, I noticed absolutely no change in noise floor on any band 160-6, but just to kill the atmospheric noise, I connected a dummy load to the output of the KPA500. Again, absolutely no change in noise floor, either by ear or visually on the P3 with the KPA500 in operate, standby or power off (normal and also completely off via back panel switch). Jim - W0EB -- Original Message -- From: Edward R Cole kl...@acsalaska.net To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: 1/8/2015 10:41:06 AM Subject: [Elecraft] KPA500 does not use EBS, and doesn't have any associated bias noise A side note to this topic for RF amplifiers, in general: I have not heard of this paper crunch noise description, before this, but it's well known with VHF and up operation that one does want to remove bias during receive on many amplifiers due to white noise being generated. Perhaps this is not detected from HF amplifiers because sky noise is much higher and it is not heard. __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3, Elecraft Transverter K144XV-K
David and Lexa, My observations on most RF power amplifiers is that gain is higher at lower drive levels so proportionally there is more output. e.g. full drive =10w, half drive = 7w, quarter drive = 5w. So one finds that an amplifier hits a minimum output with lowered drive that is not linear with change in drive level. Yet these amplifiers sound fine in SSB so must have good linearity. My 50w 2m transverter actually will produce nearly 60w with 1.5mw drive and 35w with 0.73 mw, but minimum output with 0.1mw is about 15w. I insert a 3-dB attenuator to get down to 7w output to drive my 150w amp to 55w which is the drive required for 1400w with my 2m-8877. I prefer this arrangement vs running the transverter near max at 55w when running digital modes (less heat stress on the transverter amp which also translates as less thermal frequency drift). My 25w 1296 transverter runs 20w at full output and about 8w with minimum drive. I've seen this consistently with RF power amplifiers (my HF amps operate similarly) 73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com Kits made by KL7UW Dubus Mag business: dubus...@gmail.com __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] For Sale: K2-100 with KAT100 ATU
K2-100 SN 03429 for sale. Contact Jeff, K6JW at k...@arrl.net for full information and photo. __ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
