Re: [Elecraft] 6 Meters
David, Your symptoms clearly indicate that you are suffering from 6m Bugitis, and I regret to have to tell you that there is no known cure! As you point out there is a lot going on on 6m, even during the lean times, more than one would believe from reading the text books. Also don't be fooled by Sporadic E, sure it peaks during the summer months and December, but it (or something very similar) can appear for brief periods at any time in the year. Happy hunting! 73, Geoff. GM4ESD (ex VE2AIO etc) David Yarnes wrote on Sunday, June 20, 2010 at 5:18 AM: Point is, I'm getting a little too intrigued with this for my own good! Is there a 12 step program out there for this? Fortunately (?) I'm deed restricted, so there won't be any towers and stacked arrays going up! Hi. There's even some pretty active CW operation at times--I like that! Bottom line--if you haven't put your toe in the water on 6 yet, do it! You probably have an antenna that will work fine, and don't realize it. If you have a K3, and like what you hear initially, get a PR6 pre-amp. Problem is that the sporadic E only lasts for a while, then goes away for several months. But there's a lot more going on with 6 meters, even during the down times, than I realized. If you have a radio that will do 6 meters, the rest is pretty easy. Dave W7AQK __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Low Pass Question
David, A Low Pass filter cutting off above 6m is useful here, because our not so local FM BC station operates just above 100 MHz. I suggest that if you do convert a LPF, do not use small toroidal inductors (unless air wound) if the filter is to be used between a receiver and an antenna feeder. Small cores can create IMD problems ftom BC stations etc, which is one reason why the solenoid type of inductor is used. 73, Geoff GM4ESD David Cutter wrote on Friday, June 18, 2010 9:27 AM: I was idly wondering if I should convert them to something useful, perhaps to a band pass filter. There's room to fit small toroid inductors instead of the solenoid types. Then again, with the Elecraft line up I probably wouldn't benefit much, but it would be an interesting project. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Low Pass Question
Hi David, If of any interest to you I can send you off List some results of my most recent two tone IMD tests on bandpass filters for use in a receiver's front end, which would give you some idea of the effect of a core and its size. These show each filter's 3rd order Output Intercept vs. core size vs. some core mixes. Bands covered are 160m to 6m inclusive. Please let me know off List if you are interested. 73, Geoff GM4ESD From: David Cutter wrote on Friday, June 18, 2010 2:47 PM: Hi Geoff I didn't know that about small cores, but, if I were to take on this idea, I would use the biggest I could get in there, which is around 45mm. There's a local radio station on medium wave which has given me grief in the past, (pre K3 mind you) and I could change it into a high pass filter just for that. Come to think of it, I wonder if I could make such a filter for use with the MFJ259; that might be a better idea. David G3UNA __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] QRQ
Jim, The thumping you hear during contests could be due to overload, especially so if you have the IF noise blanker turned on. The common problem with typical IF noise blankers is that they are hit by *all* of the signals large and small that get through the wide bandpass filters. If the sum total of all of these signals is large in amplitude, then the NB could be overloaded. Backing off the RF gain won't help because it changes the gain of the IF after the NB and roofing filter, not the gain before the NB. To change the gain before the K3's NB you have to change the preamp and attenuator settings. NBs that do not suffer from this problem blank the LO, but that's another subject. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Jim Miller KG0KP wrote on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 7:54 PM: OK, Guys, I'm a newbe to ham(18 years) compared. And I have been avoiding CW until the past few months (after passing my 20 word test for my extra(16 years ago!)). This spring I started Triple Play to force myself to get serious on CW and it has been uphill all the way but I am gaining on it (still missing 15 states CW on LOTW). QRQ? High speed CW ?? OK, so how do you get to 60 or 100 WPM anyway? PC or at least keyboard input? I can't imagine accuracy for copyable code being input via paddle above maybe 40 wpm or so. Also, PC for decode even up to 100 wpm or is that by ear !!! ? Also, during the contests I sometimes hear cw going so fast all that is heard is thumping, there is no tone whatsoever being transmitted. Do I have something set wrong or are some radios prone to transmit like this? These are not close in stations (579 or so) so it shouldn't be overload and backing off the rf gain doesn't make it any different. Thanks, de Jim KG0KP __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Intermod or mixing?
Larry, Is there a Channel 2 TV station in your vicinity? 73, Geoff GM4ESD Larry Godek wrote on Saturday, June 12, 2010 at 10:34 PM: I've got some local noise around here that sounds like a water heater or sorts or something along that line. Anyway it's really giving me fits on 6 meters. I ahve to run the NB almost all the time and that distorts the signals and sometimes it doesn't even clean up the noise. snip __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] XV50 cooling
Don, I do not like to add to your workload, but I would be interested to know if the heat generated by the Mitsubishi power module has any negative effect on the transverter's noise figure (receive mode) if you have the time to measure it. If I understand the layout of the XV50 correctly, the input circuitry of its receive path is placed quite close to the power module. My reason for asking is that I have been considering the option of buying a XV50 for use in a set up dedicated only to 6m EME, rather than building a transverter from scratch 73, Geoff GM4ESD Don Wilhelm wrote on Sunday, June 06, 2010 at 3:59 AM: Gentleman, My promised temperature rise measurements will have to be delayed a bit. This XV50 has a bad power output module and I will have to wait for one to be sent from Watsonville. Later next week, I will have the data. BTW - Mitsubishi in their notes at the end of the data sheet suggest that the module case temperature should be limited to 60 deg/C - but that is too hot to touch (140 deg/F), so the excessively hot criteria may actually be well within the limits of tolerance - I would not want to hold my hand very long on a surface that is at 60 deg/C. Also, I do agree that other components can be affected by the temperature rise, but most are spec-ed at 60 deg/C, so in reality, there may be no problem, just a discomfort zone - details after the new module arrives. 73, Don W3FPR __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] XV50 cooling
Don, Thank you. Yes it is the possible effect on the input L-C circuit that is my main concern. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Don Wilhelm wrote: Geoff, I do not have proper equipment to do a true noise figure measurement, but my signal generator will go down to -140 dBm, and I can give the number of dB above the receive noise floor for that signal strength - I can do that at various temperatures during the other tests. I doubt the temperature rise will affect the active devices, but a change in temperature *could* alter the inductors a bit which could detune the input circuits slightly. At this point, that is all speculation. 73, Don W3FPR __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] XV50 cooling
Would that not depend on whether or not the source impedance presented to the input device has been optimised for lowest noise figure or for optimum power transfer? If the former then the question arises how rapidly does the noise figure change with small deviations from an optimum noise match, even if the effective loaded Q of the input circuitry is suitable to pass the six metre band. I agree that the noise figure need not be very low for terrestrial 6m, but 6m EME requires much lower noise figures when looking away from manmade noise sources. 73, Geoff. Tom W8JI wrote: I would think the major concern would be elevated noise or change in the first stage's semiconductor device parameters from the receiver's input device temperature increase, not from tuned circuit drift or PA noise. I can't imagine a tuned circuit wide enough to pass six meters drifting so far as to change sensitivity, or really any meaningful change on a band like six meters. 73 Tom __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] OT: heat sinking resistors
Vic, I would suggest that you do not clamp each resistor between a couple of pieces of aluminum, because some types of uncapsulated thick film power resistors are quite fragile. They may not appear to break if stressed, but there is the risk of creating a hairline fracture across the resistor element. For the two power attenuators that I use in my Rx IMD test setup before the combiner (precision attenuators not required in this part) I used 20 watt thick film power resistors in TO-220 packages, with their individual heatsinks sitting upright, well separated from any grounded metalwork. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Vic Rosenthal wrote on Friday, May 21, 2010 at 9:27 PM: I just received a few Ohmite thick film power resistors for an attenuator I'm making, rated 20 watts. They are 15mm x 10mm x 3mm. Obviously they have to be heat-sunk (heat-sinked?) if they are going to dissipate that much power. How do you do this? There's no hole in the middle...I can just clamp them between a couple of pieces of aluminum, but is there a right way to accomplish this? -- Vic __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Connections to K3 ant 1 2
To add slightly to Joe's suggestion to use a SPDT relay as an alternative, if a DPDT relay is used one pole can be used to switch the signal path, and by connecting the second pole to ground the second pole can be used to ground the unused signal path - which can improve isolation (reduce crosstalk) if the ground connection to the second pole is short. 73, Geoff GM4ESD On May 20, 2010 at 4:49 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: snip Another source for usable relays is Surplus Sales of Nebraska www.surplussales.com/Relays/rfcoaxialrelays/rfcoaxindex.html. Although some versions are a bit expensive, a simple 12V SPDT relay is an attractive alternative to a manual coax switch. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] AM again
Would you consider building a simple L-C filter consisting of a couple of resonators? This would help to reduce the potential high amplitude spurious responses present on the high frequency side in the 8215 kHz to 15 kHz mixing process. 73, Geoff GM4ESD From: Tom W8JI w...@w8ji.com Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2010 4:02 AM This time receive I have filters from 2.7 kHz narrower in my K3. It just doesn't sound good on AM receive. Isn't there some way to widen it out on AM without buying AM filters I'll hardly use?? I have some AM transmitters so I'm not worried about TX. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Son of K3??
If the TS-590 uses only two roofing filters and has the best receiver specs out there, then I speculate that it could be using an H-Mode mixer, that the roofers exhibit better than average in-passband and skirt IIP3 followed by a decent strong IF, plus a LO whose phase noise is suitably low e.g. -145 dbc/Hz at 1 kHz offset. If they have gone down this route and if they have paid attention to important details such as core sizes and mix, then with the 500 Hz roofer in line we might be seeing spurious free IMDDR3 figures of 120db at spacings of 1kHz, and a HF noise figure of 9-10db without a preamp, based on actual measurements made on a living H-Mode receiver. 73, Geoff GM4ESD From: William Ravenel wm...@triad.rr.com Sent: Sunday, May 16, 2010 1:24 AM I talked to a Kenwood rep at Dayton this morning. He said the TS-590 would have the best receiver specs out there. I asked if it would beat the K3 and he said the TS-590 would have the best receiver specs out there. The radio has an IF of 11MHz and two stock roofing filters - 2.8KHz and 500Hz - no spare slots and no options. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Son of K3??
No criticism of Elecraft nor the K3 was intended, besides I do not have any good hard data as to the receive signal handling capability of the K3's DSP sub-system. What triggered my comment was that the TS-590 is said to use only two roofing filters and it is claimed by the manufacturer that it has the best receiver specs out there. If it is a superhet, this sounds suspiciously like a receiver that uses a H-Mode mixer, high IIP3 roofers, and a strong IF. The H-Mode is a type of mixer which appeared more than 15 years ago and yields very good IMD performance, better than most, and as far as I know is not yet used in commercial amateur receivers - I don't know why not. It will be interesting to see whether or not the designers of the TS-590 receiver have used a proper Gain Distribution analysis to obtain optimum IMDDR3 performance, which should include every stage or element in or which impacts on the signal path, this includes L-C filters, crystal filters as well as LO phase noise. It will also be interesting to see their approach to the LO, because a PLL based synthesiser whose cost is within budget would probably be too noisy. All should be evident from the schematic when and if it becomes available. 73, Geoff GM4ESD On Sunday, May 16, 2010, at 11:30 PM, Karl Marderian karl...@sbcglobal.net wrote: For me and all others (I maybe the only one). Does this imply the enginreers at Elcraft need to do some brushing up on designing of DSPs. Are you saying their heterodynes aren't would they should be. N6XVT 73 Sent from my iPhone __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] dead K2
Mike, My K2/100 #3255 behaved in exactly the same way some years ago, actually on two occasions about a year apart. The problem was caused by dirt or corrosion on the contacts of the socket of the MCU U6 on the Control board. Pulling and reseating the U6 IC cured the problem on each occasion. After the second episode I changed U6's socket to a turned pin (machined) type of socket, and the problem has not reared its ugly head since. The type of socket supplied with the K2 kit is often a cause of problems. 73, Geoff GM4ESD From: worsr Sent: Friday, May 07, 2010 9:47 PM My K2 #5767 suddenly has quit working. Upon power up today, the freq. readout is OK, but none of the buttons work and the tuning dial doesn't change freq. No error messages are seen at powerup. Anyone have any ideas?? --Mike, W0RSR __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] cw 'clicking' ??
Absolutely. I trust that the 40db maximum level you are suggesting is 40db below test tone, not relative to pep. 73, Geoff GM4ESD From: Paul Christensen w...@arrl.net Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2010 11:06 AM Agreed and that's the next opportunity for improvement. IM effects from transmitters that are only -30dB (I3), can not only be heard, but are clearly visible on a direct-RF-sampling pan adapter. I would like to see I3 improvement to at least -40 dB, and -55 dB is now attainable with pre-distortion techniques like that used on the Swiss ADT-200A. Those numbers are repeatable across bands and the '200A does not reply upon an ATU to get there. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] P3 Questions concerning measurement
Hi John, Indeed it would. The only and very small nit-pick I have about Perseus is that I wish that it had more than the 4 markers available, at times I could use more markers when using it as a Spectrum Analyser. In case you have not seen it, the May 2010 issue of Radcom includes a review of Perseus by Peter Hart, G3SJX. 73, Geoff GM4ESD From: juergen plebia...@yahoo.com Sent: Monday, May 03, 2010 10:52 AM Anything that extends the P3's functionality beyond a simple panadapter would make it an attractive option. The pricing is very close to the Perseus price. People will have to think hard and long about its purchase if the functionality is lacking and they do want to go beyond a simple panadapter __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Why Not Remove the Birdies Through a Firmware Update
From what I understand, the method used to remove birdies in the K3 although clever does not actually remove them, but moves them out of hearing. Before moving all of the Rx birdies using firmware, IMHO it would be wise to take a *comprehensive* look at the transmitter spurs as well, because in a TRANSCEIVER if there are Rx birdie problems present chances are that there could be some Tx spurs which need to be addressed. Unfortunately and obviously Tx spurs cannot simply be moved in frequency using firmware, but if a problem must be reduced in amplitude. Often one result of such work on a transceiver's Tx spurs is to reduce / eliminate some Rx birdies as well. 73, Geoff GM4ESD -.-. --.-N3TU -.-. --.- wrote on Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 8:31 AM: Wouldn't that be easier. Take a pole of all the birdies and take it out with firmware. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K2 Encoder problems continue.
Nidge, Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately I do not know enough about Hamradio Deluxe nor its interface with the K2, but rightly or wrongly I assume that if the radio works properly under computer control, then the MCU (U6) is working as it should during this mode of control. I cannot shake my hunch that something is pulling down to near ground either the ENC A or the ENC B lines (or both) when the MCU is in place. If the encoder is an optical type, then under such a fault condition I would not be too surprised if the voltage on ENC RD also dropped to near ground - which is what you have measured at U3 pin 14. It would be worthwhile to make some resistance measurements between these three lines and ground, with the power off - MCU in place and MCU removed. Not to be overlooked is the possibility that the fault might be mechanical. For instance if a small sliver of solder had worked its way into the MCU's socket, it might create a short when the MCU chip is in place - but open when the chip is removed. Good luck. 73, Geoff GM4ESD On Saturday, April 17, 2010, at 11:13 PM, Nidge (Nigel Smith) wrote: Hi Don and Geoff Thanks for the replies both. First of all Geoff: I'm afraid I don't have a scope here anymore. I did remove the MCU and checked the voltages, and this time on pin 14 of U3 I had the correct voltage close to 3.8V, with the MCU inserted it was below 100mV. The radio, when connected to Hamradio Deluxe works fine under computer control, both on receive and transmit. The filters are off but that's because I'm unable to fine tune them as the encoder isn't working. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Ten Tec never sounded so good!
Hi John, There is a real risk IMHO that the Regulators, in Region 1 anyway, will act and impose tighter requirements on Amateur Tx IMD levels ( and spurii) if we hams do not win this battle - and push for *much* cleaner transmitters. The Regulators by and large are not really concerned if we hams interfere with each other, but are rightly concerned should we interfere with any non-Amateur Service, in particular those using an adjacent frequency allocation. In Europe the problem is easy to see on 40m, where too often somebody operating LSB will snuggle up to the top edge of our allocation at 7200 kHz, and transmit high level IMD products out of band. 73, Geoff GM4ESD On Friday, April 16, 2010, at12:58 AM, John juergen plebia...@yahoo.com wrote: Without people like yourself who highlight these problems we not going to win the battle with these cheap garbage amps being used on the ham bands. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] The no-serial port conundrum
Hello David, Yes I did buy the Keyspan adapter in the UK in May 2007 from MacHeaven - which is a trading name of Allstuff Limited, 1 Lodge Close, Bicester, Oxfordshire OX26 3TE. At the time they had the Keyspan USA-19HS in stock. Their Customer Service Queries email address according to the invoice I received is customerserv...@allstuff.co.uk Hope that this helps. 73, Geoff GM4ESD David Dunn wrote on Monday, March 22, 2010 at 10:58 AM: Thanks Geoff for your comment. Have noted that brand details. Did you get it in UK? I will be over there again in May, and in fact thats where the laptop is as I forgot to bring back with me (as I usually do) last year . snip __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Raspy Audio
Steve, Another cause of intermittent raspy audio during both transmit and receive could be a dicey solder joint in the KSB2's crystal filter circuit. If one of the bandwidth settings you have chosen for the variable bandwidth crystal filter is 1.8 kHz or wider, try switching to this filter setting during receive to see if the rasp disappears. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Steve Anne Ray wrote on 03/22/2010 : I have run into the first problem with my K2 S/N 1422, which has the latest firmware and mods. I built it back in 2000 and not had any problems with it till a few weeks ago. It now has an intermittent problem of receiving and transmitting a very raspy audio. snip __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] RG58U vs RG58A/U
Hi Brett, Certainly there are differences between RG58U and RG58A/U, but if the three 50ft lengths you have are quite old I would suggest that the best way to decide which piece(s) to use would be to measure the insertion loss of each 50ft length at the frequency to be used, using a 50 +j0 load. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Brett Howard wrote on Sunday, March 21, 2010 at 6:23 AM: snip Anyway is there any reason not to use the RG58A/U or a compelling reason to use the RG58U over the RG58A/U? I know I really should use something other than RG58 if I'm going to be going any farther than the length of run that would be needed for a mobile. However at the moment the repeaters that I'm looking to be able to get into with this antenna I can hit with 5 watts (and the antenna in the same room with me). Its a just shy of 10 foot tall antenna in a room with 8 foot ceilings so its not exactly vertically polarized either... ;) __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] The no-serial port conundrum
A Keyspan USA-19HS converter has worked well withou fuss with both my Toshiba Satellite and Toshiba Qosmio F20 Laptops. 73, Geoff GM4ESD David Dunn wrote on Sunday, March 21, 2010 at 10:46 PM: USB/Serial converters may work with most computers most of the time, but I have 4 different models of adapters (one of which cost just £2)all of which work with two different desktop computers but as yet I have *not *found one that will work with my newest computer a Toshiba Satellite Laptop. Wonder if anyone else has had similar problems? __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] 6 meter beam - OT
Hi Gary, What length of boom would be practical for you? In Canada I used homebrewed yagis on 6m from 1956 onwards, singles and stacked, which were not difficult to build, and if I still have the construction detail for the 6 el yagis on 24ft booms I could send it to you, if 24ft is not too long for you. I opted to run the elements through the boom rather than use saddles to mount the elements. The ends of the elements should be plugged, otherwise they might and usually do sing when the wind blows. Beware of 6m, there is no known cure once you become addicted :-) 73, Geoff GM4ESD (ex VE2AIO etc) Gary Smith KA1J wrote on Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 6:18 AM I find I have a place for a 6 meter beam. I don't have one but would like to make one if feasible. Does anyone know of good plans for a 6 meter beam that would be realistic to make? Might as well use the 6M ability of the K3 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Any Consideration of a Receive Only K3?
I agree with Bill's comments about Perseus, I bought one last year to use primarily as a backup spectrum analyser. Not only is Perseus' performance as a receiver good in all modes, but it also does a fine job as a spectrum analyser and/or a panadapter, which would be useful to a SWL should she/he become licensed. The software version I use provides coverage up to 40 MHz. The usual disclaimers apply. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Bill W4ZV wrote on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 7:05 PM I disagree. Perseus is $1199 in the US and is the current hot ticket for SWLers. Why? Because it can receive the entire MW band for recording and analysis later. RX performance is comparable to a K3 (maybe better) and Perseus can receive the entire 10 kHz - 30 MHz range as is (the K3 cannot). __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K2] single tone test - output seems amplitude-modulated
Hi Oleg, One possible cause for the modulation you see could be a test tone harmonic generated by your PC, or by the K2's audio circuits. If, for example, your PC is generating a 1000 Hz test tone *and* a 2000 Hz harmonic, then the output of the transmitter in SSB mode will be a carrier modulated by a 1000 Hz signal. The output carrier is the 1000 Hz tone translated up to RF, and the 1000 Hz modulation is caused by the 2000 Hz harmonic translated up to RF. Can you look at the output spectrum of your PC when it is generating a 1000 Hz test tone (disconnected from the K2) and measure the level of any harmonics relative to the level of the 1000 Hz tone? 73, Geoff GM4ESD dl0tuh wrote on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 12:00 AM: snip I hope somebody can help me explaining the first oscillogram - where is this AM coming from? __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] OT: Transformer oil in DL's
The Cantenna was introduced sometime between late 1959 and 1961 if I remember correctly, without the oil which had to be provided by the buyer. Either 'Transformer' or 'Mineral' oil was used by most people who had bought the Cantenna back then. Geoff GM4ESD On Tuesday, March 02, 2010 at 9:49 PM, Alan Bloom N1AL wrote: When was the Heath Cantenna introduced? I know it was already old news when I got started in 1968. I found a reference to it in an old 73 article in the January 1963 issue: snip __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Super K3
Doug, It has been said that climbing towers keeps the joints in good shape :-) First licensed in 1946 when a young boy, callsign VQ8AK, Rx a TRF with regen detector, Tx a 6L6 - 807, both homebrewed on breadboards borrowed from my Mother ( I did ask her)! 73, Geoff GM4ESD Doug Turnbull wrote: Life is still good even if the joints are stiff. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Short Wave Receiver
Hi Bob, Not a direct answer to your question about favourite programs, but you would find the frequency and time information for English language broadcasts in the World Radio TV Handbook It is not expensive and will provide you with, and I quote, Comprehensive country-by-country listings of Long, Medium and Shortwave Broadcasters by frequency, time and language. The copy that I have includes a separate listing of international (i.e. SW) English language broadcasts, with times, frequency and station, which saves time digging through the main listing for English language broadcasts. Lists of TV stations by country are also included, which can be very useful to anyone interested in 6m or 2m DX. I have no financial interest in this publication. 73, Geoff GM4ESD On Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 12:40 AM, Robert Fish K6GGO wrote: snip SWL'ing, what are your favorite programs. What Freq are they on and when? I did stumble across a Morning show from an African Station one evening late here in Ca. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Competition
Steve, Did the Kenwood sales dude give any hint as to what would be better? Software 'aint everything :-) 73, Geoff GM4ESD S Sacco wrote on Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 7:45 PM While at the Orlando Hamcation, I stopped by the Kenwood booth. The sales dude mentioned that Kenwood would be introducing something in the K3 class, as far as performance, but better. snip __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 in a cw pileup - needs work
Hello Juan, Thanks for your e-mail. I will reply in full after I return home this evening, off-list if my answer is long. The symptoms, and the cures suggested, strongly suggest that it is a well known type of IMD problem caused by the IF hardware - which includes the roofing filter. I understand the AGC recovery problem that you mention, but do you know if the in-passband IMD products of the FT1000MP were actually measured? To measure IMD products with both test signals inside a CW bandwidth passband usually requires crystal controlled generators for reasons of low phase noise, especially if the receiver's in-passband odd-order dynamic range is large. Increasing bandwidth to allow much wider spacings of the test signals usually paints a false picture, because the signal handling capability of narrow bandwidth crystal filters is usually worse than that of the wider filters. 73, Geoff GM4ESD On Sunday, February 07, 2010 at 12:57 PM, Juan EA5RS ea...@ono.com wrote: Are you guys sure this is a frequency domain problem? Has anyone measured those IMD products under the mentioned conditions and concluded from the results that they are the culprit for the mushy (somewhat vague description) audio that makes impossible to copy the different callsigns? Some W6s measured in a lab test setup a similar effect on the FT1000MP years ago and found that the problem was the AGC recovering too fast (in between symbols) making all signals sound as loud as others. The solution was to increase the time constant. The loudest signal would then set the radio gain level. Then characters in-between from weaker signals sounded weaker making them distinct (or maybe buried). I cant think why you would ever need a recovery time constant any shorter than say 150 ms, while shorter time constants are normally used -reading Clifton I think the FAST setting in the K3 is 73 ms-. At 60 WPM, a dit is 20ms long if I am not mistaken, and an intersymbols spacing (7 time units) to full gain recovery seems the shortest time that would be necessary for the receiver to recover full gain. 73 de Juan EA5RS __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 in a cw pileup - needs work
Hi Guy, The problem reported has the classic characteristics of in-passband IMD caused by a small dynamic range (IMDDR3) IF system, rather than being something caused by the AGC sub-system. Yes changing the AGC's loop characteristics will alter the effect, but the root cause is still non-linearity in the signal path. I suspect the second mixer. Trouble is that large IMDDR3 IF systems can consume a lot of power, and low power drain by the K3's receiver was a design goal I believe. 73, Geoff GM4ESD On Saturday, February 06, 2010 at 5:17 AM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote: Hi Dave, Using slope 000 is likely most of your problem. With that setting all signals regardless of strength are set to the same level regardless of how loud they are coming in. If they are zero beat or close, it will mush the dickens out of the copy by making them all the same level in your ear. I set AGC SLP to 15 for contests. I also use slow AGC the entire time. If there are key clicks, I use NB with IF off and dsp to t3-7 or t2-7. It rounds off CW bauds some but does not make them uncopyable. Make sure your ATT/PRE/RFGAIN use conforms to something like: 160m ATT plus RF gain at 2 oclock 80m ATT plus RF gain at 3 oclock 40m ATT plus RF gain fully clockwise. 20m 15m off plus RF gain fully clockwise. 10m PRE plus RF gain fully clockwise. 6m ...if you are listening on your transmit antenna. At least to start. Make sure the ambient noise on the band is moderately low audio listening on a clear frequency. Using the NB with those settings, including the ATT/PRE/RFGAIN settings. Just today I was listening to an S4 Cuban underneath what were S9/5 key clicks with the NB off. Offending station up 500 Hz at 30 over 9 (really), and was using 250 filter running at WIDTH 350. Good luck in Sprint this weekend! 73, Guy. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC and Apparent Noise and Signal Distortion
Hello Paul, Do you hear any raspy sound when listening to quite strong CW sigs - not the sound of real band or thermal noise, but more like the sound of paper being torn? I should not be asking as I do not own a K3, but curiousity is killing this cat! 73, Geoff GM4ESD paulb xtr348...@xtra.co.nz wrote on Wednesday, February 03, 2010 at 10:27 AM Hello folks Just to follow up on this thread...listening to quite strong CW sigs with Slow AGC setting is not too flash. I would guess sigs over 75 uV or so which is well into the 9+ region. It is hard to exactly describe but sounds like the Hardware AGC loop is pumping. It is fine on SSB or weak CW. Not a big deal, I would prefer a longer hardware AGC Hang time, but thats personal preference. I have an aversion to riding RF gain controls, reminds me of the bad old days of rubbish receivers without product detectors :-] cheers Paul zl1ajy 3051 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K2: Old Filter question - - (underwater noise)
Thanks Duane. The coupling between the pcb traces that run between W2 and J9 and between W3 and J10 are the main cause of filter blow-by in my K2/100 #3255. If I did not use my K2 in SSB mode, I would be tempted to cut them. 73, Geoff GM4ESD dw bw...@fastmail.fm wrote on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 5:43 PM: Geoff asked for the web-site Here is one of the links: http://home.pacbell.net/johngreb/Mod_To_Improve_K2_CW_Filter_Rejection.pdf __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 parts delivery in UK
Ken, A method that has worked well for me for several years is to use the tracking number given me by the US supplier of the goods, and then follow the progress of the shipment through UK Customs to Parcel Force's depot which serves this area. When the shipment is reported as reaching our local PF's depot in Perth I call the depot by 'phone quoting the tracking number, and use my bank card or credit card to settle any outstanding payment. PF then delivers the shipment on the next working day. Most of the components that I buy from the US are shipped using FedEx, chosen by the supplier(s).. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Ken Chandler g0...@sky.com wrote on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 9:16 AM: Ok thanks everyone for the comments. I was afraid parcel force would raise it's ugly head! I have had past experiences with this rip-off company, I really don't know how they can get away with it. My k3 was delivered to the door by UPS who I guess had it released from customs. I paid at the door the customs VAT charges etc. QUESTION Who decides on which company handles our parcels from Elecraft once it reaches the UK!!! Is it the postal service used in the USA that determins who handles our goods, if it is, then can Elecraft use a company that goes to UPS when it hits the UK for delivery. Ken..G0ORH __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K2: An old filter question - - the underwater noise
Duane, Can you remember the web-site of this K2 owner? 73, Geoff. GM4ESD dw bw...@fastmail.fm wrote on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 5:50 PM: Hi Gang, I searched the archives but couldn't find anything on this question. A few days ago I browsed into a web-site where a K2 owner described what looked like a modified grounding scheme for the crystal filter cans, saying that it reduced or eliminated what was described as underwater noise The article showed grounding strips bridging all of the crystal cans together, and I think there was a couple of filter caps added. Does anyone know if this grounding scheme was ever considered seriously as an addition to the standard K2 building process? Thanks Duane __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] In band rx IMD
Randy, It sounds as though this fellow is talking about the *In Passband* IMD performance of a receiver, usually expressed in terms of 3rd Order Dynamic Range when BOTH test signals are inside the receiver's passband. This information can provide, for example, a useful indication of how a receiver will cope in a No Split pile-up situation with non-stop callers inside the passband. The ARRL does not publish this information in their regular reviews, but have in their expanded test results for some receivers - the K2 being one example. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Randy Downs wrote on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 9:25 PM: I'm a bit confused about an email I received. A fellow said The TS870S is probably still in your shack because of its INBAND IMD performance. The ARRL does not do the inband IMD test anymore. Many of the complaints about the K3's receiver is related to its poor inband IMD performance. However there is various opinions on this. What is he referring too? I'm not aware of this issue.Randy K8RDD __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] In band rx IMD
On Thursday, January 14, 2010, at 4:53 PM, Guy Olinger K2AV olin...@bellsouth.net wrote: This is another one of those subjects that seems to have advanced on rumor and inuendo. Actually measuring in-band IMD is not as simple as it looks. Basically (whether included on a single chassis or not) the apparatus must be able to generate a pair of signals which are combined in a way that precludes IMD in the test signal to start with. Then the frequencies must be set so that A, B, 2A-B, and 2B-A are all inside the passband, (inside the roofing filter for the K3 with dsp bandwidth set to match) . Hi Guy, I don't know about the subject being one that has advanced on rumour and inuendo, certainly not in non-amateur circles, but I agree that measuring in-passband IMD is not as simple as it looks. To obtain a clean pair of test signals, crystal oscillators whose phase noise is suitably low are often used instead of variable frequency signal generators whose phase noise can be too high. Also all parts of the test jig, not only the method of combining the test signals, must be designed and operated to ensure that receiver IMD measurements are not polluted by test jig generated IMD - which is, of course, a requirement placed on any IMD test jig. snip I for one would like to see some hard lab-grade facts on the existence or non-existence of this problem. I can send you direct if you would like some data in the form of a Gain Distribution Analysis for a receiver in use here. This includes both the in-passband and the out of passband IMDDR3 stage by stage and overall. A critical point often missed during receiver design is the level of IMD generated by a roofing filter, which means that the receiver designer is flying blind. Filter IMD measurement is one case where in-passband IMD measurement is very useful. 73, Geoff GM4ESD __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] IF output
Martin, If the frequency of the LO signal applied to a mixer is higher than that of the incoming signal frequency, as is the case in the K3's receiver on all bands except 6m, then a received LSB signal will appear as a USB signal at the mixer's IF output. Also a received USB signal, for example on 20m, will appear as a LSB signal at the mixer's IF output. If the frequency of the LO signal is lower than that of the received signal, e.g. on 6m in the K3 case, this sideband inversion does not take place. A 6m USB signal will appear as an USB signal at IF. 73, Geoff GM4ESD DM4iM hamra...@vr-web.de wrote on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 11:33 AM I hook my TS-850 to the IF-output, it works fine. Make sure your panorama-radio is not able to transmit into your K3, e.g. use a RX-only input or modify it. I set the TS-850 to USB when listening to LSB-sigs on 80m. Why is this the case? Have not yet verified if that changes when listening to higher bands. Martin -- 73, DM4iM __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Elecraft[K-3] K144XV
David, Wayne said: It's actually more like -144 dBm (500-Hz bandwidth). I assume that this refers to a K144XV installed in a K3. This equates to a noise figure of 3db. To achieve a lower noise figure, the gain used in the K144XV would have to be greater, which would further reduce the overall dynamic range (IMDDR3) of the K3 assembly on 2m. 73, Geoff GM4ESD David Pratt wrote on Friday, January 08, 2010 at 9:34 AM In a recent message, AD6XY m.j.wil...@rl.ac.uk wrote ... I can not see any reference to noise figure in the brochure. Just MDS and FM sensitivity with no bandwidth. The manual gives this as 1dB nominal. See http://www.elecraft.com/manual/K144XV%20Manual%20A3.pdf 73 -- David G4DMP/G3KEP Leeds, UK __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Let me build a K2 for you
I don't know about most either, but I, and our cat, built K2/100 # 3255 some years ago. Beware of cats who try to help, our Temple Cat takes an unhealthy interest in multi pin SMDs. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Conway Yee y...@bronze.lcs.mit.edu wrote: Are most K2 users people who buy it prebuilt? __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Noisy K3 receiver
Wes Stewart, N7WS, wrote on Friday December 18, 2009 at 4:43 PM: snip We have DXpeditions operating on some chunk of coral that are running wireless networks between stations and uploading their logbooks in near real-time to the Internet via satellite yet their operators are still riding the RF gain control. Something is wrong with this picture. Wes, What is wrong IMHO is that many if not most commercial receivers designed for the amateur market are designed with too much gain ahead of their roofing filter, followed by a small dynamic range IF system - not a good mix which requires several roofing filters of various bandwidths, and in some cases multiple loop AGC systems. A multi loop AGC scheme can cause noise problems if any see-sawing between the AGC loops takes place as the result of overshoot in any one loop, for example, certainly if the loop time constants are incorrect. No wonder then that riding the RF gain is required in some cases. One approach used in the design of high performance downconversion superhets is always to use negative gain ahead of the roofing filter, followed by a low noise large IMDDR3 IF system, with minimnal required AGC applied using electronic attenuators, not current starvation of an amplifier, to protect the weakest link, be it the DSP's ADC if used or an audio amp. The HF noise figure of such a receiver without preamp is typically 9 to 10 db. When using these high performance receivers it is not necessary to ride the RF gain control when digging out weak signals in the presence of QRM. 73, Geoff GM4ESD __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] antenna farm
Hello Clint, While planning your antenna farm, have you considered using an antenna modelling program such as EZNEC which could be of great help to you. A free version comes with the ARRL Antenna Handbook. Due to the effect of nearby objects such as above ground power lines, metal gutters etc etc and trees on antennas, such a program cannot be expected to tell the whole truth unless these objects are included in the model, which can be difficult to do properly, but it can and usually does show the effect of other nearby antennas on the pattern of the antenna in use. Unfortunately the geographical bearing to a distant DX station is not always the same bearing at which the signal actually arrives. For example here on 40m the short path into CA is often skewed by as much as 50 degrees via Central /S.America. Also the vertical angle of arrival of the closer East Coast stations can vary considerably - often very high angle. The variation in bearing and angle of arrival of long distance DX stations here on 15m is usually very much less. So my suggestion FWIW is that you consider using EZNEC to plan your farm, put up an antenna which serves your main operating interests and directions (within the imposed constraints), and add other antennas ONLY if they do not compromise the performance of your main antenna. This does not answer your questions directly, but if you use EZNEC you should be able to get some ideas. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Clint clint.st...@sbcglobal.net wrote on Monday, December 14, 2009 at 6:17 PM Fellow Elecrafters, I have a feeling this may open the flood gates but here goes. I am a newbie Ham but a long time SWL going back to my Knight Kit Star Roamer. I am fixin' to set-up my antenna farm. OK, it will be more like an antenna garden as I have a small house and lot. My K3/100 has a KAT3 and KRX3. I plan on using 3 Dipoles and maybe an inverted V for diversity receive (what a great feature). I got on Google Earth and plotted out the areas I am interested in. I live just up the street from Elecrafts new HQ (talk about fast service) on the central coast of California (CM96CX). snip __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] OT: wall wart for RX-only PS?
Doug, As Mel has suggested a laptop supply is an option, I used one to power my K2 in RX mode 24/7 over a period of almost 3 years during a propagation study. The supply I used outputs 15V @ 500mA, so I used a LM317 regulator after the supply to obtain the required output voltage for the K2 and a VHF converter. The LM317 is not a low dropout regulator, but I had some in my junkbox. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Mel Farrer farrerfo...@yahoo.com wrote: Hello Doug, Most of the wall warts are just rectified AC. Very little if any filtering. I would not advise it unless you put it across a battery, however, I would be more comfortable getting a surplus laptop switching power supply and adjust the voltage down to 13.5 VDC or so. Most of the laptop supplies are about 15 VDC and VERY good on filtering and capacity. I used two silicon diodes in series to drop the voltage to run my 817 on both RX and TX. It was the size of a double deck of cards. I got mine for $15. Good luck. Mel, K6KBE __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 in the CQWW contest
Hi John, While I agree with much of your argument, there could be a price to pay in the form of Equipment Type Approval.if further regulations were imposed on the Amateur Service. Without doubt Type Approval would increase the selling price of the black boxes, and put an end to the use of homebrewed equipment. As matters stand, the Amateur Service is viewed by most Authorities as a Self Regulatory Service. The standards for amateur transmitter harmonic and spurious levels are intended to protect Services other than the Amateur Service from interference caused by amateur transmitters, a fact that I am sure you already know. There is talk about reducing these levels. IMHO the problem of clicks, splatter ad nauseum must be solved somehow by us amateurs without having further regulations imposed. For example here in Europe deliberate jamming is a serious problem, but attempts have been and are being made by amateurs to find the culprits. 73, Geoff GM4ESD juergen piezo plebia...@yahoo.com wrote on Tuesday, December 01, 2009 at 8:35 PM: Hi Matt Most of us are black box operators. We need regulations for the amateur service that specifies how our transmitters must perform, just like every other HF spectrum user. Its amazing how the amateur service holds its head up high as some sort of technical demigod society, yet we cant even clean up our own camp. Arguments that transmitter standards interferes with technical development is a nonsense argument in my view. Its time that the ARRL lobbied the FCC for standards for amateur transmitters, and these standards should include keyclicks and SSB transmitter and amplifier IMD levels. We know keyclicks are unacceptable, why would it be so hard to specify by how much keyclicks should be suppressed by and what the maximum bandwidth should be? How does setting such standards interfere with technical development? We already have standards for harmonic and spurious levels. The FCC said a long time ago that we cant interfere with televisions or other services if our transmitters are crap. They set harmonic levels for transmitters. Its now time for them to say its also unacceptable for hams to interfere with hams using crap equipment. Its a disgrace that anyone can go buy a cheap 12 volt mobile radio and then go buy a cheap RM Italy amplifier and then get on the ham bands and call CQDX. Its equally sad that such operators think that they are legally entitled to do so without worrying about the consequences to others. Its selfish and not in the ham spirit. How is it fair that this kind of brain dead operation is classed as technical experimenting when it causes so much interference to others? Why the law stinks, is that if I decided to tune up on this individual for 1 hour I would be breaking the law because I am causing deliberate interference. Yet if I use a class C CB amplifier with a substandard transmitter it would be okay to cause interference all day and I am legal. We need to wake up to ourselves and our regulations. John __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 Antenna Tuner Tutorial
Windy, What sort of arrangement are you using to connect the feeder to the antenna? Do you get a lot of wind-blown dust / sand during the dry weather, some of which might be staying on the feeder until most is washed off by rain. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Windy KM5Q wrote on Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 4:38 AM Here's another question: I have a dipole with 200 feet of window-line feed. It works great with the ATU. When it's wet, I have to re-tune, then it's fine again. I've tuned it at lots of spots in some favorite bands during dry weather (most of the time in New Mexico). But on a rainy day, I end up retuning frequencies here and there. Next sunny day, does the system detune me when I run into a previously wet-tuned segment? Oddly, I haven't observed this, but I don't understand why. Windy KM5Q __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KAT3 Antenna Tuner Tutorial
Dale, I suspect that in Windy's case moisture could be entering via tiny holes drilled in the dielectric by windblown sand or dust. Unfortunately I cannot offer any practical solution to prevent this happening, because I do not use window line. 4 wire open wire feeder behaves like a lovesick octopus unless kept under tension. A very useful type of low cost feeder for long low loss horizontal runs at HF and VHF though. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Dale Putnam wrote on Thursday, October 22, 2009 1:01 PM Geoff has touched on what may be happening. I've seen this on my systems here too... and the issue comes down to the material, in this case mud or water and dust... collecting on the feeder, then as the moisture drys away, the change in transmission line characteristics also change. There are a whole page of math equations and figures that prove this, but suffice it to say for now, that open wire, doesn't have this issue... it has others... more physical, like how to keep it spaced and installed correctly. Retuning isn't a real problem, it is pretty much just adjusting for what the moisture is changing. However... be watchful for the moisture changes to not go away completely then go look for where the moisture isn't leaving and find an opening in the insulation, and repair it, before the feedline becomes damaged too much by the moisture invasion. Still beats coax for losses. --... ...-- Dale - WC7S in Wy __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Flaw in the 1.8 kHz roofing filter - Final for 2009
Dave, Before I list a couple of home truths, may I say that I agree with your comment. 1) The IMDDR3 data from ARRL and others is a report of the receiver's IMDDR3 performance, not that of the filter's IMDDR3 performance. The data does provide some indication that the IMDDR3 performance of filter A might be worse than that of filter B, C or D, but filter A itself might not be the cause of the problem. The filters should be tested as stand-alone items before putting blame on any particular filter. The designer of a receiver should know the IIP3 of the filters to be used, otherwise he is flying blind. 2) The effects of SLC (Surface Layer Contamination) on the performance of crystals have been known for many years, and methods used during the manufacture of crystals to avoid SLC have also been used for many years. SLC is usually caused by dirt or particles of quartz which has / have not been cleaned out during the manufacture of the crystal. So called computer grade crystals, which are cheap, can be expected to be contaminated, because most are produced for non-critical oscillator applications. Dirty crystals if used in a filter will have a bad effect on the filter's IMD performance and its loss. 73, Geoff GM4ESD David Gilbert wrote on Monday, October 19, 2009 at 8:13 PM Personally, I find it easier to believe that Inrad fixed the problem based upon Elecraft's subjective confirmation of such than I do your totally subjective implication that they might be collectively and intentionally lying to us. Dave AB7E __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K2 SSBCAPKT: 2.4kHz or 2.6kHz SSB bandwidth?
Ah but, under noisy band conditions the bandwidth of the listening receiver is most probably set to some value much less than 2.4 kHz. So I would question whether a wider filter in the transmitter does in fact result in improved intelligibility under these conditions. FWIW I find that a 2.1 kHz filter in the transmitter, with the carrier placed so that the audio frequencies from 300 Hz downwards are attenuated, works well under noisy conditions without sounding like a parrot. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Ron D'Eau Claire wrote on Friday, October 16, 2009 at 11:26 PM: The improved intelligibility of the wider filter comes from the better high frequency response. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Clean 600hz signal, full dsp decoupling possible?
Hello Dick, I am not a DSP expert either, but a tracking filter keying an audio oscillator will do exactly what you want. In its simplest form a tracking filter is a phase locked loop, and ICs which can be used at audio for this purpose have been available since the 1960s and are inexpensive. Also a tracking filter working at audio can be connected to a receiver's low level audio output if one is not already in the receiver. I believe that the DSP wizards have already designed something that does the same job. Tracking filters are very useful when searching for signals below the receiver's noise floor, at VHF for example, but listening to a keyed audio oscillator without noise can be quite boring. 73, Geoff GM4ESD - Original Message - From: PA3CW pa...@planet.nl To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Saturday, October 17, 2009 8:57 PM Subject: [Elecraft] Clean 600hz signal, full dsp decoupling possible? Hello forum friends, Not being an expert in the world of DSP, but being an experienced CW operator i often asked myself this question: Why is there no full decoupling between the received signal and the tone in the headset or speaker? In other words is it possible that the dsp discrimiates enough between signal and noise and steers a clean LF oscillator making a clean 600hz or so tone? Is such a setting possible or do i overlook something here? Just a little out of the box thinking... Dick PA3CW __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] has the k2 a future?
Wayne Burdick wrote: The K2 is a very mature product, and I don't anticipate adding further internal modules to it. Hi Wayne, Assuming that you had nothing else to do (!!), a Mk II version of the K2 using a different and higher IF than the presently used 4.914 MHz IF might be worth considering if it is a viable commercial proposition. The benefits gained of course would include a reduction in the number of troublesome receiver spurious responses, many of which are responsible for the many birdies found in the K2, and a reduction in the number of close-in and crossover transmitter spurs. I have been tempted to make this change and other RF/ IF circuit changes to my K2, also add some minimal shielding on the RF board which need not be expensive nor heavy. 73, Geoff GM4ESD __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Shorthand
Back in 1946 -1948 ish, C for yes, and R or EN for Received and understood was used on the amateur bands. The same practice was used by my school's cadet signal corps and the army in South Africa during and after WWII. 73, Geoff GM4ESD - Original Message - From: David Cutter d.cut...@ntlworld.com To: Lee Buller k...@swbell.net; Elecraft Reflector elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Monday, October 12, 2009 7:21 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Shorthand I agree with others that on the amateur bands we use R or EN for yes. Thanks for the correction. David G3UNA - Original Message - From: Lee Buller To: David Cutter ; Elecraft Reflector Sent: Sunday, October 11, 2009 9:39 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Shorthand Actuallythe c come from Spanish. At least, that is what I always thought se senior or yes mister Lee K0WA Making up life as I go :) I can see how c = yes, derived from confirm = cfm, but when I was a marine op it was y = yes David G3UNA __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 bad TX
Toni, Do I understand correctly that the transmitter spur is always about 7 kHz away from your actual frequency, regardless of what your actual frequency might be? Or does the spacing change when you change the actual frequency by say 10 kHz? 73, Geoff GM4ESD Toni Lindén wrote: Hi! I was trying K3 for first time in SAC contest a couple of weeks ago. During the contest I got multiple reports that besides of my run frequency, I also had other reasonable strong signals around the band. It cleared out that I had at least one other signal about 7kHz away from my actual freq. It was quite strong, maybe 40dBs down from my running freq. Have anyone else had similar problems and do you have any suggestion how to fix this? I was using only about 60 to 70 watts drive for the amp and amp was not pushed over. The same appears on both, CW and SSB. Radio has the most resent FWs available via K3 utility SW. I'm planning to take K3 with me to CU2 for CQWW, but after getting such a bad reports about my 2nd pileup on the same band, I'm not sure if I'm willing to make such an interference to others on CQWW... So if anyone has any advice, I'm more than pleased to hear! 73 de Toni, OH2UA __ 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 No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.416 / Virus Database: 270.14.3/2411 - Release Date: 10/03/09 06:20:00 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Astron 25 amp supply
Thom, A PSU rated for 25 amps should be adequate in terms of current for a 100 watt transmitter. Something else that must be considered, especially if SSB is used, is that the PSU's output voltage should remain constant at all transmitter power levels. Also the DC supply voltage measured at the rig's DC input connector should remain reasonably constant under the same conditions of current draw. With a well regulated PSU supplying +13.8 VDC and low resistance connecting leads and connectors, the voltage droop as seen at the rig end can be held to 0.5 volts or less. 73, Geoff GM4ESD - Original Message - From: Thom LaCosta k3...@zerobeat.net To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 10:21 AM Subject: [Elecraft] Astron 25 amp supply Can I use an Astron 25 amp supply a K3-100? Thanks Thom __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K2 cannot be swithed ON properly.
Ueli, My K2/100 #3255 has frozen on two occasions. Try removing the MCU (U6) on the Control Board from its socket, and then plug it back into its socket. Doing this should clean the connections between the IC and its socket, and should defrost your K2 if that is the source of the problem.. Because the type of socket used is well known for corrosion problems, after the second Freeze I changed U6's socket in my K2 to a Turned Pin type (aka Machined Pin type). Good luck! 73, Geoff GM4ESD Ueli Zulauf HB9MFK wrote on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 5:06 AM After years of operation my K2 cannot be swithed ON properly. - Configuration: K2 (No. 3680) with KDSP2, KSB2, KNB2, KAT2, K160RX. - By switching ON the display shows Elecraft for 3 seconds and thereafter the last used frequency (28.15 MHz). - All keys and the VFO are inactive. - Current drain is 400mA (to high). - Noise of several relays during power-ON is audible. - Speaker brings (AF-gain dependend) audio for 1 second and thereafter the audio is muted. - by changing TX power, the level appears on display as normal. - Transmit is not possible. - LED on KDSP2 extinguish after 1 second (communication schould be OK) - 5 VDC and 8 VDC on the control board are OK. Has someone a good idea how to de-freeze this blocked K2 ? 73, Ueli / HB9MFK __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Re： [K3] K3 VS 7600 Sherwood Lis t
From Guy Olinger K2AV Sunday, September 06, 2009 3:24 AM In general are you talking about CW or SSB or both? If SSB, I find that the controlling aspect of close signals is transmitted splatter, which no receiver can do anything to improve. Some really poor front ends make that worse. Hi Guy, Without doubt there are many SSB transmitters heard on the ham bands which do generate splatter, but the operator of a clean and properly driven SSB transmitter risks being accused of generating splatter by somebody whose receiver is generating the splatter. You have mentioned poor front ends, to which I would add poor filters (in terms of Group Delay Variations out to the stopband regions), and small dynamic range IF systems as found in many if not most commercial amateur receivers. If the ARRL would run complete dynamic range tests, then 'weak' IF systems would be exposed in the reviews. Transmitter generated splatter can be dealt with by a receiver, but the receiver's IF system MUST have a large in-passband 3rd order dynamic range if analog splatter removal techniques are used. 73, Geoff GM4ESD __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 VS 7600 Sherwood List
Hi Craig, The spacing of the two test signals used to determine a receiver's 3rd Order Dynamic Range (IMMDR3) should include tests with both test signals inside the receiver's *overall* passband, which in the case of receivers designed for amateur use would provide us with some measure of receiver performance in the presence of strong QRM inside the IF passband (and up on the filter skirts) e.g. in a no-split pileup. The results of tests, in which the spacing between the two test signals is much greater than the receiver's overall passband, do not provide this measure of performance because the IF and stages which follow see only one healthy test signal due to the presence of an IF filter, e.g. 2 kHz spacing with 400 Hz filter. Thus the post filter stages do not or should not generate significant IMD products during this test. In reality these test results reflect the IMDDR3 of the front end, sometimes coloured by the input crystals of the filter. The phase noise generated by the test equipment must be suitably low of course. Deliberately I am not making comment on the effects of receiver LO phase noise, nor multi-signal IMDDR3 evaluation. Sorry to be slow to reply and brief, we have visitors staying. I will reply to you later about splatter removal. 73, Geoff GM4ESD - Original Message - From: Craig vk...@yahoo.com Sent: Monday, September 14, 2009 11:19 AM Hi Geoff What do you mean by complete dynamic range tests ? Could give us a brief description of what these analog splatter removal techniques are and how they are used? 73 Craig VK3HE. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K2 Problem ???
Hello Hisashi, Yes, I have a KAF2 and hear a tick every second when the time is displayed, so I don't use this feature. The tick could probably be eliminated, but I have not taken time out to look at the problem. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Hisashi T Fujinaka wrote on Sunday, August 23, 2009 12:47 AM Does it happen on the KAF2 as well? I thought about getting one of those to play with. On Sat, 22 Aug 2009, Don Wilhelm wrote: Jim, That 'ticking' noise when in the DSP menu is present on all K2s with the KDSP2 option. I believe it is the sound of the clock updating. It is not a problem and goes away when you exit the DSP menus. I am surprised that you just now noticed it. 73, Don W3FPR __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Channel Hopping
Lance Collister, W7GJ, wrote: I am looking ahead to the next F2 cycle on 6m, when it will be helpful to have dozens (actually over a hundred) different memories stored to be able to watch for propagation indicators below 50 MHz. The problem IMHO with having a receiver hop channels to watch or follow the MUF, is that while it is doing this the receiver is not available for normal use. If a panadapter with lots of markers (a form of stored memories) is available, then there is no need to have the receiver hop channels. What is then required is some form of selective alert arrangement which sounds off should a signal appear at one or more of the marked frequencies. This is not a new idea. 73, Geoff GM4ESD __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Heavy P3
From: Jim Hester sent Monday, August 17, 2009 8:19 PM To overcome the issue of a featherweight P3 Elecraft could provide an internal 1 kw dummy load. Then perhaps the P3 could display a spectrum of the transmitted signal, with a couple of gear changes when transmitting. 73, Geoff GM4ESD __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Fwd: [Elecraft_K3] Filter Confusion
Jim, If you have a *long* length of old 50 ohm coax hiding somewhere, it might be useful as a dummy load at some frequencies if its loss is high enough, but make sure that its centre conductor and braid are not shorted. IMHO a good dummy load is worth buying or building. 73, Geoff GM4ESD From: Jim Rossell k3...@yahoo.com Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 12:35:58 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific . It seems one needs a dummy load to finish xmit setup. Well I sold mine YEARS ago. Is there a way around my having to purchase one ? __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Another Better Mouse-trap?
A noise gate placed in the signal path can be a source of IMD products, even when it is not active. IMHO a separate noise receiver which can be tuned over a limited frequency range above the band in use to avoid real signals, whose output inhibits LO drive when noise is present, plus the required delay in the signal path, is a useful recipe for a noise blanker. 73, Geoff GM4ESD __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Off-Topic: CW sending vs. recieving speed
Not always. Even if the Op who answers your call can copy high speed CW, he might be replying at slow speed for some good reason such as echo on your signal, which can make copy of high speed CW difficult, hoping that you will slow down. At this latitude 56N multipath echo occurs quite frequently on 40m signals from the West Coast. A reply at 15wpm seems to work, but a reply at a higher speed can become garbled when echo is present. FWIW 73, Geoff GM4ESD. dw wrote: What's the general consensus? Is it logical to assume that a person's CW sending speed approximates their copy speed? __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 BC Reception
David, My Perseus SDR has both SAM and DRM capability, but I have not tried ( keep forgeting) to listen to a station using DRM. Its SAM works well. If of any use to you, I can try the DRM feature when my Perseus is not tied up doing something else, and report back later. 73, Geoff GM4ESD - Original Message - From: David Lankshear d...@lanks.plus.com To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, August 02, 2009 8:55 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 BC Reception May I add a tiny voice in support of synchronous AM detection, too. I prefer to listen to a new BC station while I'm building stuff and SAM would improve the experience. Does anyone receive/listen to DRM (digital radio mondiale? 73 Dave Lankshear, G3TJP __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] LP PAN
Vic Rosenthal wrote on Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 7:14 AM: I too admit that I've watched all of these LPPans go by at attractive prices because -- much as I want a panoramic display -- I am waiting for the Elecraft product. And I also hope it will be a standalone device that does not require a computer. Hi Vic, It would be a pity if Elecraft's product could only be used to display the K3's receiver IF, and could not be tuned to other frequencies and used to display transmitter IMD products for example. Perhaps that would make the product too expensive. 73, Geoff GM4ESD __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Big Coax on Dipoles
Good morning Jim, Thanks for your e-mail. I also use tall trees to support antenna catenarys, which are made from 6mm dia woven marine rope, along with marine pulleys, and a counterweight at one end of each catenary. The counterweight for each catenarys is fused, so if another tall tree falls across a catenary or antenna during a storm, the catenary/ antenna will come down under the tree without serious damage, and the rope will still be running through the support pulley which makes it easy to hoist again after the fallen tree is removed. At one time I used airborne coax feeders here but replaced them with open wire feeders, after somebody shooting pheasant on the farm filled a coax feeder with lead shot. 73, Geoff GM4ESD On Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at 6:03 AM, Jim Brown wrote: I have four fan dipoles suspended at 100-120 ft between tall trees (redwoods), all fed with RG8 or RG11. There is no problem supporting the big coax. The keys to success are robust mechanical construction so that you can establish high lateral tension. If one of the objects you're suspending from is a tree, one end needs a weight and pulley to adjust to wind conditions. I use 6.5 gallon water jugs filled with dry sand (roughly 95 pounds), and the trees are typically 140-220 ft apart. I use 5/16-inch dual woven poly rope, #10 solid copper, and robust insulators. Do they sag? Sure -- at least 10 ft on the long dipoles. Does it matter? No. One of the side benefits of the big coax is that my 80/40 fans (at right angles) work quite well on 30M, 17M, 12M, and 6M, thanks to the lower loss with moderate degrees of mismatch. With relatively litte time on 6M, I've made nearly two dozen QSOs of more than 2,500 miles with my K3 and one of those dipoles. 73, Jim Brown K9YC No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.23/2254 - Release Date: 07/22/09 05:59:00 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] (K3) Updates and chatter
You mean his book of spells and black cat? Geoff GM4ESD On Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 6:00 PM, Stewart Baker wrote: I hope that he took his laptop with the K3 development software installed :-)) On Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:29:18 -0700, Mike Scott wrote: Wayne went on a 3-week vacation :) No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.21/2252 - Release Date: 07/21/09 05:58:00 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] OT: Balanced Feedlines
Joe, Forgetting about RF performance for a moment, wouldn't the weight of RG-8/ RG-213 create a problem unless the antenna is supported at its feedpoint ? If it is not supported, Don could end up with an inverted inverted V, aka a Droopy Dipole. BTW I do not use the plastic window/ ladder line stuff here because we get a lot of rain and use 4 wire open wire line for long runs, which is a hassle to build but which has very low loss at HF and VHF wet or dry. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Joe Planisky wrote on Friday, July 17, 2009 2:20 AM I know it doesn't answer the question you asked, but RG-8/RG-213 has a loss of about 0.85 dB/100 ft at 20m. Your 3:1 SWR will add a little less than 0.4 dB additional loss for a total loss of 1.25 dB. Is the added hassle of running balanced line worth the extra 1.1 dB? Are there other reasons you want to use balanced line? 73 -- Joe KB8AP __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Diversity Rocks!
Vic K2VCO wrote: Possibly the noise is picked up differently by the antennas...I'm not sure, but when diversity is on, the signal seems to stand out, less damaged by the noise. Far fewer letters get crunched -- it makes it much easier to copy. Space Diversity can work wonders on 6m and 4m with DX signals at or just below the noise floor. 73, Geoff GM4ESD __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] New list member/T1 tuner questions
Rick, A long wire antenna can be fed at any point along its length, not only at one end, but at any given frequency the antenna's pattern will change as will the antenna's feedpoint impedance as the position of the feedpoint is changed. Some schemes such as the Off Centre Fed wire place the feedpoint at a position where the feedpoint impedance is lowish and similar on several bands, allowing the use of a coax feeder, but radiation from the coax feeder can be a problem if not prevented. When I was a young ham, a long wire had to be at least three or four wavelengths in length. They have shrunk in recent years :-) 73, Geoff GM4ESD - Original Message - From: qr...@juno.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, July 12, 2009 7:54 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] New list member/T1 tuner questions I do not understand this statement. How can a long wire antenna have 2 sides ? A long wire is fed from one end only, so are you speaking of an endfed wire with an equal length counterpoise laying on the ground or are you speaking of a doublet antenna fed in the center with a feedline ? I do have manual tuners but want something much simpler like and end fed wire with an auto tuner for quick band changes in the field - don't want to pack something the size of a MFJ-941 tuner into the woods ! __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [SPAM] Re: K3 Audio Low Pass Filter
On Sunday, July 05, 2009 at 3:54 PM, Wes Stewartn...@yahoo.com wrote: It seems to me that since audio is the desired output, the design process should be to design an excellent audio system first and then work back toward the antenna. Regrettably, it seems this is the converse of how it works and the audio system becomes an afterthought, with some designers believing that 10% THD is good enough for communications audio. Another good reason for running odd order dynamic range tests with both applied signals inside the overall passband when reviewing a receiver, may I suggest. 73, Geoff GM4ESD __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 eHam review after 2+ years
It is with some reluctance that I write this Howard, but because I do not own a K3, I thought that you might be interested in an opinion that cannot be thought of being biased in response to some of your comments, which I respect. As someone who has been involved with the hardware design of high performance comms equipment for the military and others, I can assure you that some form of work in progress is the norm in this branch of engineering. If you take a good look at the design of commercial receivers designed for the amateur market, you will find more often than not that the design of this year's model sold by company X is a version of their last year's model with a few modifications, along with some cosmetic changes to the box and / or front panel - be it a new bandscope or whatever - which is expensive for buyers who want the latest version. Where Elecraft have got it right with the K3 I believe, is that they released a radio which performed well, then improved it and are continuing to improve it without having to release a new model. The people who benefit from this are, of course, the owners of the K3 who don't have to buy a new K3 MK II next year with some improvements incorporated, and later on a K3 MKIII with further improvements, ad nauseum. I do not believe that neither an amateur nor a non-amateur rig exists which cannot be improved upon. The K3 when released performed well with a a few bugs I understand. I believe that during my 50+ years association with the comms industry and comms equipment Users, I have very seldom seen equipment released that was 100% bug free, and feedback from Users and customers is vital. It is rare to get a response from the Principals of a manufacturing company as is frequently offered by Elecraft's Principals. Without going through all of the customer feedback regarding the K3 that has been posted on the Elecraft Reflector, I suspect that there have been far fewer postings concerning bugs than suggestions for improvement, or help to other owners of the K3. I cannot make comment on the ARRLs K3 transmitter tests without verifying the test results. I have no financial interest in Elecraft. Regards, Geoff GM4ESD - Original Message - From: HowardZ howa...@howardz.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Saturday, July 04, 2009 8:44 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 eHam review after 2+ years Well, I see the elecraft K3 as still a work in progress. No, I am not referring to the firmware/software mods. I am referring to continuing hardware mods. The latest is the audio filter to make SSB audio actually sound good - like a good radio sounds. It was very nice of you all to buy the radios before everything worked right, and provide feedback to Elecraft, and test the hardware and software improvements, and open your multi-thousand dollar radios and stick your soldering iron in there but that's not for me. I want to buy a factory built radio - and be happy and done with it. Now, some things just don't make any sense whatsoever to me - but must to others. Why in world will someone pay so much money for 10watt 2meter in their elecraft, when they can buy a 50 watt 2m/70cm radio with more power, can be used for MARS, and maybe even a built-in TNC for around the same amount? I don't know - maybe someone wants to do weak signal SSB on 2m? Well with 10 watts you'll also be providing weak signals for others to enjoy - hihi. I would never buy a new ICOM model in the first year - because usually there are some hardware bugs found during the first year. How many years should one wait for Elecraft? I'm not sure. Then there is the K3's transmitter. ARRL test reviews shows it on par with the old 746pro's transmitter. The Flex 5000's new redesigned transmitter scores top of the class in ARRL testing. Leaps and bounds better than the K3's transmitter. I bet Elecraft may soon be redesigning its transmitter to meet or even 1-up Flex's transmitter. Why not have the best cleanest transmitter to go along with the best receiver? Maybe I should wait for 2 years of no further hardware modifications - then I'll know Elecraft finally finished the radio's hardware. I just don't have the self-confidence to go hardware-modding such an expensive radio. So, you are enjoying the world's best receiver nowand I'll enjoy it a few years from now. Yes, I can think this and not write it. But then you went and wrote how Elecraft has finished the radio. No hard feelings. Howard -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-eHam-review-after-2%2B-years-tp3202931p3206781.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.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
Re: [Elecraft] [SPAM] KRX3 vs K3 rx sensitivity , one band only (30m)
Allan, If the KRX3's bandpass filter for 30m has been aligned properly, one thing worth checking is that the 8.215 MHz trap ahead of the bandpass filters is aligned properly. From looking at the schematic of the trap, it is likely that the top of the trap's response is not very narrow in terms of attenuation vs. frequency, so if it was tuned too high in frequency it could possibly attenuate 30m signals, but not affect signals on other bands. 73, Geoff GM4ESD On Friday, July 03, 2009 at 4:21 AM, Allan Taylor wrote: I finally emerged from a very busy spring and had a chance today to go over operation of the KRX3 in my K3. Joe, KB8AP, came over and we played for most of the afternoon. Things are just peachy except that we noticed on 30m (only) that the KRX3 is consistently much less sensitive on 30m than the main RX. Other bands appear to be operating correctly. We tried all combinations of input antennas, etc. Filters are identical. All settings apparently identical. In fact, this discrepancy won't likely be a major issue for me, but I would like to figure out what's up and get it fixed! K3 S/N 740, factory updated with KRX3 in April. Identical filters in both. Running 3.19 firmware now but behavior identical to that of April (2.??). Any ideas?? -- 73 AllanK7GT __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Audio Low Pass Filter
Mike, The method that I use to clear holes in pcbs that are filled with solder is similar to pushing a heated wire through the hole, but I use a sewing needle instead because solder will not stick to a needle. As you did with with the wire, keep heating the needle with an iron while pushing it gently down through the hole, until some of the needle passes through the hole.You will have to get rid of any blobs of solder that fall out during the process of course. Working in close quarters is not difficult with this method I keep a number of sewing needles of different diameters/ lengths at hand for this purpose which I borrowed temporarily from my XYL many years ago, and to some of them I have added a small diameter grip at the thread end, so that I can hold the needle by hand when I do not want to use needle nose pliars. It is a good idea to keep Vias open and not filled with solder, otherwise they may not function properly in some cases, but be careful not to damage a Via when removing solder. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Mike Scott wrote on Friday, July 03, 2009 at 9:04 PM: I just completed an installation of the K3 audio low pass filter board, the one Lyle put out to individuals who wanted to try it. I was busy until now as the boards came out some time ago. It took a lot longer than expected because all the K3 DSP board holes were full of solder. The instructions seemed to indicate that four of the holes should have been clear, i.e., just stick the leads through. The instructions seemed to be missing a section though as they never suggested soldering four of the wires. I thought maybe a page was missing but the step numbers didn't seem to indicate missing steps. Anyway, solder wick and solder suckers didn't work. The holes are very small and it is tight quarters where a miscue of the soldering iron could cause damage. I finally had to heat the wire I wanted to put in the holes (resistor leads) and heat my way through the soldered holes. For future reference, what would be the right way to do this? I would like to consider making more audio modifications, the one changing headphone audio coupling capacitors to larger values for example. I looked at those capacitors and I wondered how I was going to get them out. The solder leads on one side seemed to be down at the bottom of a narrow canyon caused by interfering components. Mike Scott - AE6WA Tarzana, CA (DM04 / near LA) NAQCC 3535 K3-100 #508 / KX1 #1311 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] How susceptable is K2 to antenna static shock?
Hi Bill, Yes I agree that it would take a considerable discharge to cause a problem of this type, however this incident took place during a severe gale, without any lightning in the area, during a CQ WW. It is a moot question whether the wind plus rain resulted in the tree becoming charged after it was uprooted and still falling.. The receiver was unharmed, but most if not all of the KAT100's LEDs came on. This was one occasion when catenary fused counterweights proved their worth, allowing the 15m Lazy H to come down under the tree suffering minor damage. 73, Geoff GM4ESD On Thursday, July 02, 2009 5:22 at AM, Bill Coleman wrote: On Jul 1, 2009, at 8:31 AM, Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy wrote: Yes some years ago, after a falling pine brought down the antenna in use while the K2/100 was transmitting (CW). Diodes D12 and D14 in the KPA100's T-R switch both failed into a shorted condition, and one of the diodes in the K2's T-R switch failed as well. I was very lucky that the KPA100's transistors did not blow. My K2/100 now shares a protective shutdown system. A couple of years ago, when trying to use the K2 as a receiver with a homebrew transmitter for Straight Key Night, I accidentally transmitted about 12 or so watts directly into the front end of the K2/100 for over 30 seconds. The K2/100 isn't apparently any worse for wear. So, it would take a considerable discharge to cause a problem of this type. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] How susceptable is K2 to antenna static shock?
Has anyone seen the K2 act like this before? Yes some years ago, after a falling pine brought down the antenna in use while the K2/100 was transmitting (CW). Diodes D12 and D14 in the KPA100's T-R switch both failed into a shorted condition, and one of the diodes in the K2's T-R switch failed as well. I was very lucky that the KPA100's transistors did not blow. My K2/100 now shares a protective shutdown system. I suggest that you do not use the transmitter until you have checked out the T-R switches in the KPA100 and the K2. 73, Geoff GM4ESD __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Stealth antenna insulators
.075 in dia black Kevlar string rated at 400 lbs strain IIRC is almost invisible, and is UV resistant, although the colour does change to grey after a few years outside. 73, Geoff GM4ESD - Original Message - From: Mike Harris mike.har...@horizon.co.fk To: Fred Atchley hamkt...@att.net; Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 6:43 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Stealth antenna insulators G'day, Why bother with insulators if you are using a non-conducting synthetic rope/string to hold the antenna up. Why turn something long and slim into a snake that has eaten a pig. Regards, Mike VP8NO __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 vs. Icom IC-7600
Doug, From a European perspective, and this is a personal opinion, while the 3rd Order dynamic range performance at 2kHz is certainly very important, it is the Spurious Free 3rd Order dynamic range at spacings less than the IF bandwidth that really matters, i.e. both test signals INSIDE the IF passband. Over here, working a weak DX station on say 40m, who is operating No-Split and who is covered by non-stop callers with strong signals, does require good in-passband performance to help the filter between the ears. Tx phase noise and clicks have been secondary issues. It is an unfortunate fact that while receiver A's IMDDR3 performance might be quoted as being better than receiver B's at 2kHz spacing (outside of the passband), receiver B might be the better performer at spacings inside the passband, and more useful, because it has a better IF design than A's. The problem of course is that the reviews seldom include in-passband IMDDR3 performance, thus do not expose poor/ lousy IF systems. I understand that the present bar for in-passband Spurious Free 3rd Order dynamic range is 120db, set in 2007, but not on the market. 73, Geoff GM4ESD DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL wrote on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 6:58 PM Yeah...at what spacing? From the ARRL pages, for the IC7800 (I don't think anyone is saying teh 7600 is better than the 7800, but I could be wrong) At 2kc, 3rd order dynamic range for 7800 =86 db; for the K3=103db At 2kc, 3rd order intercept for 7800 = 21 dbm; for the K3=28dbm At 20kc spacing, things may change (I didn't bother to look), but who cares...if the band is dead (few signals), these numbers won't matter anyway. If the band is hopping (crowded), 20kc spacking specs are meaningless (to me)it's the nearby signals that will get your front end. de Doug KR2Q __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 vs. Icom IC-7600
Toby dj7...@muenchen-mail.de wrote: You are, I think, referring to http://www.xs4all.nl/~martein/pa3ake/hmode/ and the work done by CDG2000 group. Imho, Martein's site is really worth reading. Hi Toby, Yes, followed by a large spurious free IMDDR3 IF system whose noise figure is 2db. 73, Geoff GM4ESD __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Overload from WYFR
Hi Lyle, You might try adding an attenuator between the K3 IF out and the LP-PAN IF in and see if the overloading disappears. If so, it might indicate the LP-PAN system is overloading rather than the K3. 73, Lyle KK7P PS - The K3 blocking dynamic range is 20 to 30 dB better than PC-based SDRs. So I suspect you are seeing a weakness in the PC-based SDR system rather than the K3, but I've been wrong before! :-) I'll probably have to eat Humble Pie, but with respect I don't believe that Steve has an overload problem, but could have a spurious mixing problem, the result being similar to intermodulation. Also, the problem might or might not be caused by the K3 nor LP-PAN, which would not be difficult to determine if another receiver is available. The screen capture of WYFR's carrier at 6985 kHz, and a family of products, shows that the spacing product to adjacent product is roughly 4.64 kHz if the low level intermediate products are ignored, which they can be in this exercise. If these products are the result of mixing (or are IMD products), there has to be of course another signal spaced 4.64 kHz from WYFR's carrier - and there is one at 6980.36 kHz, whose amplitude fits the amplitude pattern of the products. Of course, the device or transmitter generating this signal at 6980.36 kHz might in fact be operating at a sub-harmonic frequency e.g. a MF BC station, and the rogue mixer itself is generating the 6980.36 kHz harmonic. 73, Geoff GM4ESD __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Overload from WYFR
Yes indeed as both you and Joe, W4TV, have suggested before. Nickel plated coax connectors can create similar problems. Geoff GM4ESD David G3UNA wrote on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at 3:19 PM And the rogue mixer could be our old friends Rusty Bolt, Anode and Cathode. David G3UNA Of course, the device or transmitter generating this signal at 6980.36 kHz might in fact be operating at a sub-harmonic frequency e.g. a MF BC station, *and the rogue mixer itself is generating the 6980.36 kHz harmonic.* 73, Geoff GM4ESD __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [LP-PAN] Re: K3 Overload from WYFR
Steve, Although a long shot, among the possible causes of your problem is a defective roofing filter, defective in terms of signal handling capability but otherwise OK. To eliminate this possibility, have you tried switching roofing filters with the LP-Pan disconnected? 73, Geoff GM4ESD - Original Message - Steve Ellington n...@carolina.rr.com To: k...@bosscher.org; 'Elecraft Reflector' elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 2:37 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [LP-PAN] Re: K3 Overload from WYFR Thanks for the tip. I disconnected the LP-Pan and didn't notice any difference in the buckshot level. I really can't judge what the S meter is telling me due to QRN etc. but when ATT is engaged, the QRN drops down somewhat but the buckshot actually comes through more clearly. Steve Ellington n...@carolina.rr.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
Re: [Elecraft] Workaround for providing automatic SSB CW VFOoffset
It is Friday :-) If the receive and transmit modes can each be selected separately using a front panel control, likewise the transmit frequency offset when required, it can be done using just one VFO. This leaves the second VFO available for other purposes such as monitoring another station on the fly. Whether or not this is possible with the K3, I do not know. 73, Geoff GM4ESD - Original Message - From: pd0psb p.s.bijp...@gmail.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Friday, June 12, 2009 8:11 AM Oops, that's what the first poster suggested isn't it? 73' Paul PD0PSB Just a quick thought: Isn't all this possible by: -setting VFO A to your SSB prefs -setting VFO B to your CW prefs. -make the right offset for sidetone -link VFO's -work split A/B ? 73' Paul PD0PSB __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 not transmitting anymore
Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: An orderly shutdown requires the POWER button be pressed on the K3 before the power supply is shut down. --- Ron, Is there any interface available on the K3 which would allow an external automatic protective shutdown system to meet this requirement, rather than having to press the POWER button by hand? 73, Geoff GM4ESD __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 not transmitting anymore
Joe, Many thanks for your help. I had been toying with the idea of buying a K3 for use at another QTH, but there the mains supply is not 100% reliable. If bad things can happen if the 13.8V supply shuts down as the result of a mains outage, that is serious. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Joe Planisky wrote on Sunday, June 07, 2009 5:45 PM From the owners manual (page 44 in rev D2): Remote Power On/Off A remote-control system can pull the POWER ON line to ground (ACC connector, pg. 18) to turn the K3 ON. To turn it OFF, the controller must send the K3 a PS0; remote-control command via the RS232 interface, then deactivate the POWER ON signal. This sequence ensures that nonvolatile memory is updated correctly before shut-down. Note that it doesn't say how long it takes to update the NVRAM after the above process is completed. In other words, how soon after deactivating the POWER ON signal can I shut down the 13.8V supply? 73 -- Joe KB8AP On Jun 7, 2009, at 9:10 AM, Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy wrote: Is there any interface available on the K3 which would allow an external automatic protective shutdown system to meet this requirement, rather than having to press the POWER button by hand? __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3/100 kit
Hello Dave, I hope that your warning about the effect that a magnet can have on cores will be noted by those who use magnetized screwdrivers to recover hardware. To recover parts that have gone AWOL I would srongly recommend the use of an inexpensive Grabber tool, which can also be used to install a screw and lockwasher together in one shot before the screw is tightened by a screwdriver (non magnetic). IMHO the use of magnetized tools is asking for trouble. 73, Geoff GM4ESD . Dave G4AON wrote on Saturday, May 23, 2009 6:59 AM I wouldn't be in a hurry to wave a strong magnet anywhere near radio equipment that contains ferrite or dust cores. When I worked in the mobile radio industry we occasionally came across a mobile that had been carried or stored with a magnetic mount antenna on it... The radio had below specification performance with no obvious fault except the alignment didn't seem right. The fix was to replace the cores. It's over 20 years since I worked on a bench repairing those radios, so I can't recall the type of core. Old Weller TCP irons with the magnetic switch near the tip are something else to watch... You might get away with it building an Elecraft kit, but I wouldn't risk it. 73 Dave, G4AON K3/100 #80 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] New Elecraft stuff (surface mount)
Brett, If you have not built anything yet using SMDs, I believe that you will probably be converted to using SMDs after you have. Just be very careful to keep chip capacitors of the same value separated from others before using them, because the cap.value is usually not marked on the chip. I do not own a microscope, and have found that a good magnifying glass is a useful alternative for this OT when working with very small chip capacitors (.05 in x .05 in). 73, Geoff GM4ESD - Original Message - From: Brett Gazdzinski brett.gazdzin...@verizon.net To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 2:53 AM Subject: [Elecraft] New Elecraft stuff (surface mount) I could do surface mount, I would think some aspects of it is easier, but its hard to see the values on some through hole parts in the k2, and figuring out what parts go where in something like a K2 kit would NOT be fun I think I almost needed a microscope for some K2 parts as it is... Brett N2DTS __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Put your K3 on 6M tonight
Be warned Vic, you might become addicted to working long haul DX on 6m! 73, Geoff GM4ESD (Seduced by 6m in 1956) Vic K2VCO v...@rakefet.com wrote on Saturday, May 09, 2009 11:14 PM I have a K3, an HF beam which shows a 2.5:1 SWR on 6 (tunable to 1:1, of course) and I've never had a 6 meter QSO in 53 years as a ham! __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 on-channel strong signal overload?
Hi Mike, There is a penalty to be paid if diodes are used to clamp the level of strong signals in a receiver's signal path, and that is the generation of intermodulation products. In a no-split pile-up situation where two or more closely spaced strong signals from other callers are in the passband, but not zero beat with the DX, chances are that an intermodulation product will land on top of the DX's signal if he returns to somebody before the others stop calling. You may ask how a weak DX station could be heard at all in this situation even if intermodulation products did not exist, to which my reply must be that it is possible. From reading the posts, my impression is that this case of in-passband strong signal overload could be viewed in the same fashion as a classic example of 3rd Order Dynamic Range droop or bottoming. There is a similarity in the causes even though only a single signal is involved in the overload case. Among the usual causes for the dynamic range droop problem are (1) too much gain in the front end before the roofer to overcome the insertion loss of the roofer, and to maintain a useful overall noise figure, or (2) The Input IP3 of the roofer itself is too low, or (3) the 3rd Order Dynamic Range of the IF cascade and what follows is inadequate, or (4) a combination of these three. All of these are relevant when considering overload. According to my back of envelope calculations, the 3rd Order Dynamic Range of the K3's 8.215 MHz IF amplifier and the second mixer is in the region of 80db before the onset of hardware AGC, the second mixer being the dominant element. This calculation does not include the stages after the second mixer nor the roofer nor LO phase noise, so I believe that the actual in-passband dynamic range looking into the roofer would be less than 80db. I can only speculate on the effect that the application of hardware AGC might have on the dynamic range of this part of the receiver. What this means of course is that while the overall 3rd Order Dynamic Range of the K3 is very good in an enviroment where strong unwanted signals are outside of the roofer's passband, one should expect some decrease within the roofer's passband, likewise possible overload. The cure could be difficult to implement. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Mike Harris mike.har...@horizon.co.fk wrote on Monday, May 04, 2009 at 7:20 PM Just been looking through my archives. I remembered that there was a simple mod to the K2 to overcome audio distortion in an extreme overload environment, I installed it on my K2 and it was totally immune to co-channel audio distortion when my very near neighbour VP8LP transmitted: K2 - Improved Handling of Extremely strong (and nearby) Signals. Maybe the K3 architecture offers similar opportunities. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] oh no, another crazy audio idea from Holland
Hi Paul, How well your idea performs in practice would, I suggest, depend on the strength of the wanted and unwanted signals of course, but also on the *in passband* and skirt region IMD behaviour of the roofer(s), and all 'stages' that follow vs.applied AGC. Any IMD 'weakness' in this area would result in a compromise. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Paul, PD0PSB wrote on Tuesday, April 28, 2009, at 8:16 AM My thought is that especially in wider modes,where you have a mix of wanted/non-wanted signals, to let the AGC focus on the wanted signal and prevent it from overreacting to unwanted signals by pre-EQ ing the the AGC detector. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3: Brush or Blow Dust?
Stewart, To remove dust and dead beasties from circuit boards, I use the type of vacuum cleaner that you describe powered by DC, which I was lucky to be able to buy at low cost in Luxembourg many years ago. To clean other parts of my equipment I use the vacuum cleaner and a 'make-up' brush when required, which has very soft and small diameter bristles, 'acquired' from our daughter before she used it (I did ask). I do not use liquid cleaners nor 'wipes'. Fortunately spiders have never managed to get into the sensitive RF circuitry, which is contained in metal enclosures/ boxes. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Stewart GW0ETF wrote: I have a question about removing dust particularly on circuit boards...I'm wary of inducing static by blasts of air or physical brushing with bristles and I know you can buy expensive vacuum cleaners to clean out the inside of IT equipment to avoid static damage; all the tools and tubing contain carbon to prevent the build up high air friction induced voltages which could fry sensitive ICs. So as my K3 #145 ages and needs a wash and brush up I wonder what is the safest way to remove the dust and spiders from inside? __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] [K2] Fun times on 20m SSB tonight
Hello Mike, Here I use a Heil ProSet Plus headset which has the HC-4 and HC-5 mike elements, although I do not use the HC-4 DX element with my K2/100 #3255 which does not contain any of the official mods. I do not use any external mic preamp with this K2/100 because one is not required, i.e.100 watts pep output is delivered on all bands without an external mic preamp. SSBA and SSBC are both set to 3, but I do not use VOX. When using the K2/100 I try to avoid heavy ALC action, just a flicker of one bar, too much ALC might result in buckshot splatter. Because most of my operating involves DX, mostly on 40m and 15m, the nominal bandwidth of the SSB transmit crystal filter in my K2 and other rigs is 2.1 kHz. If a DX's receiver bandwidth is set narrowish, I would suggest that using a wider transmit bandwidth is not really desireable. I did modify my K2's SSB2 filter to reduce its passband ripple, but the change in component values could well be different in other K2's. I won't bore you with the reasons for that. I must admit that I set the PA bias while looking at the IMD products during two tone tests, within the limits of allowed power dissipation of course. Hope that this helps. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Mike-WE0H w...@yahoo.com wrote on Monday, April 20, 2009 at 5:04 AM Has anyone used a MC-60 mic with a K2? The first comment I got when I went over to the '930 was more punch to the audio. The '930 was setup kind of light audio with the ALC barely moving the needle. I use a MC-60 mic on that radio. The mic preamp was on. I am using a MC-43s hand mic on the K2, and it is set to the recommended audio and compression levels. Would the MC-60 drive it a bit stronger yet not destroy the audio quality? I suspect the K2 might be running super clean audio with no compression or processing. Could it benefit from a bit more audio drive or processing? I don't know. What do you guys run for audio settings on the K2? __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K2: KPA 100 Capacitor Specification?
John, If the voltage rating of these relay coil bypass caps is somehow being exceeded in your shipboard installation causing the caps to fail, and if you cannot find suitable higher DC voltage rated leaded replacements, you might like to consider using SMD (chip) capacitors instead. AVX include in their product line of multilayer ceramic SMD capacitors for low frequency use, as opposed to microwave rated devices, .01uF 100 VDC caps in both 0805 and 1206 sizes, and 0.015 uF caps rated at 500 and 600 VDC in 1206 packages. I have no financial interest in AVX, but do use their microwave rated capacitors. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Don Wilhelm wrote on Friday, April 03, 2009 at 3:29 PM. John, I have never found one of those caps shorted, and I believe the DC rating on them is 50 volts, so they should have an adequate safety margin since they are used in a 12 volt DC circuit. I have trouble imagining a condition that would cause them to fail, but then I recall that your 'shipboard' operation is unusual and may introduce 'perils' that I cannot imagine. There would be no harm in replacing those capacitors with 100 volt caps *if* you can get them to fit physically. You may have to solder them flat against the bottom of the board. The other problem is that 100 volt caps may be difficult to procure with 0.1 inch lead spacing and you may have to get creative to substitute caps with 0.2 inch lead spacing. 73, Don W3FPR __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Calibrate Solder Station
Walter, For many years I have used a Weller TC 3001 iron (temperature control) with various types of tip, and its WTCP 51 power supply, and I have not found a temperature calibration unit to be necessary. This iron has been and is used a lot while building homebrew equipment, most using SMD components, which includes the soldering of the seams of metal enclosures used for shielding. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Walter V. Gilles wrote on Wednesday, April 01, 2009, at 12:06 AM Greetings, I'm going to purchase a solder station, probably one of the popular Weller or Hakko units, with additional tips. Both manufacturers sell accessories to calibrate the stations. Some recommend performing a temp calibration whenever you replace the tip or the iron. All well and good until you see the cost of these calibration (test) units. Would it be prudent to forego the calibrations altogether, and just swap tips as needed, and rely on the initial cal to keep it in the ballpark? I'm guessing after getting used to the station, you will have a sense of proper temp for a particular job, and could just tweak the temp setting up or down as needed without really getting into the calibration arena. Just wanted to see what folks thought about calibration and if it was worth it. Thanks. 73 Walter, WB2IDK (ex-N0DZJ) __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K2: The Dog Ate My Part
Our Temple Cat likes SMD parts, but only those types that have lots of legs. She's not interested in inexpensive SMD capacitors/ resistors, leaves those for the dogs. 73, Geoff GM4ESD Jon Perelstein wrote: How embarrassing is this? As I was working on the KPA100 last night, the EL5146CN op-amp (a small 8-pin IC) slipped out of my fingers and fell to the floor - right in front of the idiot lab/pit mix who promptly decided to taste it. She didn't swallow it (fortunately), but it's well chewed and I have to order a replacement from Elecraft. Why me? Jon KB1QBZ __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3
Phil, If your 75A3 does not hear anything on 20m, but your watt meter shows 100 watts, suggests that your K3 when it is supposed to be transmitting on 20m is generating RF in some other part of the spectrum, hopefully not a parasitic. Does the K3's transmitter work as it should on all of the other bands? Can you listen across the entire HF spectrum to find out where the K3 might be transmitting when 20m is selected? 73, Geoff GM4ESD Phil LaMarche plama...@verizon.net wrote on Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 2:24 PM: I want to give one last try on the reflector before going to Elecraft tomorrow. Thanks for all the suggestions so far but still not working. My K3 works on 75 meters but not on 20. Shows 100 watts on the external watt meter. Listening on the same freq with my 75A3, nothing. Calling people, nothing. The Sub is off. Split is off. Arrow is pointing to main. Not in TEST. The only thing I did after getting it back from the factory, having the sub installed, is set up the sub per the instructions. Works perfectly on 75. Thanks Phil __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3
Apart from 75m and 20m, does the external watt meter indicate any output when on the other bands? Geoff GM4ESD - Original Message - From: Phil LaMarche plama...@verizon.net To: 'Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy' gm4...@btinternet.com Sent: Sunday, March 22, 2009 3:02 PM Subject: RE: [Elecraft] K3 Only working on 75. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3
Steve, I agree. Smells like feedback rather than a parasite. 73, Geoff GM4ESD - Original Message - From: Steve Ellington n...@carolina.rr.com To: Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy gm4...@btinternet.com; Elecraft Discussion List elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, March 22, 2009 3:29 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Geoff Off-line I recommended that he beg borrow or steal a frequency counter and find out where he's transmitting. He's making some calls right now. Should be interesting to see how this one pans out. Steve Ellington n...@carolina.rr.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] OT Wet 450 ohm ladder line
Sorry for an off-topic question. Does anyone have any information about the dry vs wet characteristics of 450 ohm ladder line? I have never used this type of line, but I might have to use it for mechanical reasons to feed another antenna now being built. I am told that its characteristics change when wet from rain, but which characteristics change and by how much at HF. A remote ATU to compensate is not to be used with this particular antenna / feeder. Any comment would be appreciated. 73, Geoff GM4ESD __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] OT Wet 450 ohm ladder line
Many thanks for all the comments about wet 450 ohm ladder line. There is no doubt in my mind about open wire line being the better choice, and I would normally use it. But in this particular application there is the risk of open wire line being damaged by or ensnarled in a fairly dense growth of small trees while hoisting the antenna. The feeder run is about 300ft between the antenna and my remote antenna select switch box. Further thought required. 73, Geoff GM4ESD __ 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
