[Elecraft] K4 Experience
Got my new K4 - just before FD, so naturally hauled it out and ran it all day and night.It is a real thing of beauty and grace - for sure. A pleasure to operate and many. many, excellent features. Well worth the money and wait. Gonna take a little while to get to know it well. Its a good thing that the basic control is so similar to the K3. Here is a bit of information that may be of interest to those thinking about the K4HD.We were operating the K4, CW (BTW - fabulous QSK!) on a 40M ground plane antenna about 150 ft from a station on 40M SSB using an inverted vee antenna.. The SSB station was a K3 (new synth) at 100 watts. S-meters both pegged when tuned to each other - with no damage occurring to either. radio. The K4 (version 13 software delivered in it) was showing a red + sign, indicating A/D overload and was producing some obvious "splatter" from the headset on CW frequencies. By cranking in attenuation we found the splatter would disappear with 9 to 15 dB. There was no other discernable artifact - like pumping of AGC in either case. We put another K3 right on top of the K4 - tuned to the CW frequencies, switched the antenna - and no splatter. Then turned off the K3 and operated all day and night with the K4 - what a pleasure. So, conclusions... no surprises. The direct sampling SDR is not quite as robust as the superhet. Just as the Sherwood data shows. I think if we had been able to load the version 18 firmware before field day - we would have never known the SSB station was on the air. I wish we could have tried that. This is not a rigorous investigation at all. No notes were taken or measurements made. - please don't beat up the messenger. This is just a single anecdotal experience. IMHO - a multi-multi contest station might want the HD version, maybe? Rest of us - not so sure. 73, Bruce Whitney W8RA __ 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] K4 reflector?
I thought I saw a post by Wayne a little while back saying that there would be a Elecraft reflector established dealing only with the K4?I don't see it at QTH.net. Did I miss it? Or not gonna happen?Maybe that no other product gets its own reflectorBruce WhitneyW8RA __ 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 Attenuator
Anyone know how many dB comes it with the attenuator switch? How much does it improve the intercept? Bruce W8RA __ 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] K4 Remote Ops Q?
Quote from the Elecraft Newsletter"100% Control one K4 from another K4, or from S/W apps" How will we turn it on remotely?I've not gotten any answer from Elecraft HDQ on this Q. I hope NOT some cheap Chinese aftermarket WIFI power plug switch like the Flex radios. I hope instead something like the KPA1500 WoL featureBruce W8RA __ 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] K4 Features
Please Wayne, Eric.. tell me the K4 will have the "wake on LAN" feature like the KPA1500??? Just gotta love that! __ 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] QRQ QSK - specs?
Anyone know? - Does Elecraft offer any specifications for QSK performance? Perhaps some sort of T/R turnaround time or a claim for some max. WPM with acceptible performance? I've been in discusions with some friends that do QRQ QSK with K3's and the K3s - seems to be some slight disappointment. No problem for me - But I have noticed that my Orion II seems better than my K3 (with the new Synth) in QSK... Anything official on this? __ 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 Shift and Width encoders sluggish
Perhaps Eric will clear this up but maybe my experience can help with this issue. The last time I sent one of my K3's back for some work - I mentioned that those four encoders in that cluster had a noticeable and undesirable 'backlash' feel to them - could they do something about it?I was told by the Elecraft tech that they had supplied several generations of those controls - I think - one was arbitrarily changed by the supplier and another Elecraft changed suppliers, or part numbers - or whatever. The bottom line being that not all encoders are alike. I had them changed out for the latest generation which are just great. They were very inexpensive - and very little labor - provided you already had the front cover removed for other purposes. I recommend the new controls and when I send my other K3 back in a few days for the new synthesizer, and a few other upgrades - I am going to get the new controls on it as well.73, Bruce W8RA __ 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] KX3-PX3-KXPA100 problem
I have experienced all of these problems with this combination in my mobile set-up. I have no idea why the KX3 switches out of PA mode all on its own but this has not been a frequent problem. The PX3 problem of not turning on HAS been an issue and I am sending it back to Elecraft today for them to look at, actually. In my case at least, there is definitely a temperature relationship to the problem. The colder it is the harder to get it to turn on - sometimes many pushes do it, sometimes not. Overall it is a great combo for mobile ops and these are not major issues - just a little annoying at times. 73, Bruce __ 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
