Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[Bill]

After my first post I thought of this link. It will give you a taste of 
SWLing using an SDR receiver. And - it will cost you nothing.


http://websdr.org/

Bill W2BLC - K-line
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[Bill]

SDRplay comes immediately to mind - see at sdrplay.com - because it 
covers from DC to light. I am going to get one, run it from a laptop, 
and use it for SWL, scanning, and local BDCST. All modern and very small.


Bill W2BLC K-Line


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[Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[Dauer, Edward]

Thanks, Ken.  A number of other replies also suggested a Drake, though most 
mentioned the R4 series.

At this point I am thinking of something still in production, since I have 
never gotten into doing restorations and buying used from afar can be an 
expedition to the unknown.  I plan to look at what’s available at hamfests . . 
. where I can touch the goods.

Following the advice I received from others I am trying out two possibilities.  
One is the KX3.  I tried that last weekend.  It has what seems like very good 
sensitivity, and operational ease, though to use it for arm-chair type casual 
listening will require an external audio amp and a decent speaker.  The other 
possibility – at less than $200, near the low cost end of the scale – is a 
Sangean ATS 909X.  TI bought one and it just arrived.  I’ve not yet had a 
chance to hook it to a real antenna.  I plan to do a side-by-side with the KX3 
and will happily share my impressions off list with anyone who asks.

My thanks to the many people who replied to my inquiry post, both on-list and 
off.

Ted, KN1CBR
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2017 05:41:28 -0700 (MST)
From: N4OI - Ken 
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?
Message-ID: <1486644088251-7626571.p...@n2.nabble.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I suggest you consider finding a good, used Drake R8 receiver on eBay.  The
sound of AM HF broadcasts (yes, they are still there -- e.g., Radio Romania)
is second to none.  And listening to SSB has it all over my K3 and other ham
transceivers from a fidelity viewpoint.   

73 ES GOD BLESS U ES URS DE KEN N4OI  



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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[N4OI - Ken]

I suggest you consider finding a good, used Drake R8 receiver on eBay.  The
sound of AM HF broadcasts (yes, they are still there -- e.g., Radio Romania)
is second to none.  And listening to SSB has it all over my K3 and other ham
transceivers from a fidelity viewpoint.   

73 ES GOD BLESS U ES URS DE KEN N4OI  



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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[Wes N7WS]

I don't know about the we part but at my QTH there is often a nice propagation 
peak to the west at, and after, my sunrise. At my sunset I see no such thing. 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 2, 2017, at 3:47 PM, Jim Brown  wrote:
> 
>> On Thu,2/2/2017 2:30 PM, Wes Stewart wrote:
>> What is interesting is that while the station runs 50KW on 1550 KHz, it is 
>> daytime only. 
> 
> Well, we all know what happens on 160M around sunrise and sunset. :)
> 
> 73, Jim K9YC
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[Fred Jensen]

Not all 50 KW AM stations in the US are "clear channel" stations. Many 
run 50 KW daytime and 5 KW and possibly directional at night. A few just 
QRT.  With the introduction of the new synthesizer for the K3 which I 
believe is stock in the K3S, one can SWL the highway and traffic safety 
stations.  They occupy locally unused AM channels, often at either end 
of the AM band.  They're scattered out on the Interstates, and are also 
found at airports giving parking directions among other places.  Audio 
quality is variable. [:-)


When I first got the synthesizer [and was still living in CA], I did 
some poking around below the AM band.  Lots of interesting stuff, I was 
really surprised that the DGPS corrections are broadcast there.


73,

Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

On 2/2/2017 2:30 PM, Wes Stewart wrote:


What is interesting is that while the station runs 50KW on 1550 KHz, 
it is daytime only.


Wes  N7WS


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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[Jim Brown]

On Thu,2/2/2017 2:30 PM, Wes Stewart wrote:
What is interesting is that while the station runs 50KW on 1550 KHz, 
it is daytime only. 


Well, we all know what happens on 160M around sunrise and sunset. :)

73, Jim K9YC

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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[Bill Frantz]

When I started, I thought that I could avoid making mistakes in 
front of too many people by running QRP. Then I found I could be 
heard around the world. It never fails to surprise that dummy 
loads get out at times, and that what worked yesterday but 
doesn't today. Propagation never fails to be fascinating.


I do have my SWL QSL from KSM on 426 KC. The K3 makes a good low 
band receiver.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 2/2/17 at 2:30 PM, wes_n...@triconet.org (Wes Stewart) wrote:

On a slightly related note, at our last Southern Arizona DX 
Association club meeting we had an unexpected visitor.  He was 
from the local public radio station and had received a letter 
QSL request from a listener in Norway.  He had no idea what a 
QSL was but after some Googling came up with us and decided to 
see what we could tell him.  He interviewed me and a couple of 
other guys and I sent him some literature.  This may or may not 
make it onto the air.


What is interesting is that while the station runs 50KW on 1550 KHz, it is 
daytime only.

---
Bill Frantz|"Web security is like medicine - trying to 
do good for

408-356-8506   |an evolved body of kludges" - Mark Miller
www.pwpconsult.com |

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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[Wes Stewart]

On a slightly related note, at our last Southern Arizona DX Association club 
meeting we had an unexpected visitor.  He was from the local public radio 
station and had received a letter QSL request from a listener in Norway.  He had 
no idea what a QSL was but after some Googling came up with us and decided to 
see what we could tell him.  He interviewed me and a couple of other guys and I 
sent him some literature.  This may or may not make it onto the air.


What is interesting is that while the station runs 50KW on 1550 KHz, it is 
daytime only.


Wes  N7WS


 On 2/2/2017 2:55 PM, John Meade W2XS wrote:

I just completed a 2 year low-key effort to log an AM BCB station (or
stations - day and night) on every frequency from 530 kHz to 1710 kHz. I
mostly used a Hallicrafters SX-100 and a Hammarlund HQ-145A, both
highly-sensitive and well-calibrated vintage receivers.  To get the hardest
ones, though, the K3 with its synchronous detection was invaluable. For
example, WCBS radio is a powerful clear-channel station on 880 kHz located
here in NYC. Using the K3 and USB, I could copy WLS in Chicago on 890 kHz.
Trying to listen on LSB resulted in a lot of QRM.

I feed my antenna into the "RX-in" jack which bypasses the input filters.  I
sure wish the KX2 had this feature. I use a Bose Soundlink speaker system
plugged into the rear headphone jack. A local oldies station sounds very
nice (although a bit restricted in the treble due to the DSP bandwidth). I
used headphones for the hardest stations.

1620 was the last entry in my log.  Usually, I heard several weak stations
at the same time.  Finally, one night, QSB was in my favor and I heard one
of the stations sign their call letters. Sometimes it took a long time to
identify the stations. I heard stations up and down the east coast and
Canada.  I clearly heard KCJJ in Iowa on 1630 early one evening.

This was actually a lot of fun, especially when the ham bands were closed
down. I was surprised at how crummy (dirty and wide) some of the stations
looked on the P3.

This helped a lot:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1160_AM

Change the 1160 to whatever frequency you are interested in. I would then
jump to the selected station's website.  If they had a "what's on now" link,
then I could verify that that was indeed the station that I was tuned to.

73,  John W2XS



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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[John Meade W2XS]

I just completed a 2 year low-key effort to log an AM BCB station (or
stations - day and night) on every frequency from 530 kHz to 1710 kHz. I
mostly used a Hallicrafters SX-100 and a Hammarlund HQ-145A, both
highly-sensitive and well-calibrated vintage receivers.  To get the hardest
ones, though, the K3 with its synchronous detection was invaluable. For
example, WCBS radio is a powerful clear-channel station on 880 kHz located
here in NYC. Using the K3 and USB, I could copy WLS in Chicago on 890 kHz.
Trying to listen on LSB resulted in a lot of QRM.

I feed my antenna into the "RX-in" jack which bypasses the input filters.  I
sure wish the KX2 had this feature. I use a Bose Soundlink speaker system
plugged into the rear headphone jack. A local oldies station sounds very
nice (although a bit restricted in the treble due to the DSP bandwidth). I
used headphones for the hardest stations.

1620 was the last entry in my log.  Usually, I heard several weak stations
at the same time.  Finally, one night, QSB was in my favor and I heard one
of the stations sign their call letters. Sometimes it took a long time to
identify the stations. I heard stations up and down the east coast and
Canada.  I clearly heard KCJJ in Iowa on 1630 early one evening.

This was actually a lot of fun, especially when the ham bands were closed
down. I was surprised at how crummy (dirty and wide) some of the stations
looked on the P3.

This helped a lot:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1160_AM

Change the 1160 to whatever frequency you are interested in. I would then
jump to the selected station's website.  If they had a "what's on now" link,
then I could verify that that was indeed the station that I was tuned to.

73,  John W2XS



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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[Jim Brown]

On Thu,2/2/2017 8:45 AM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:

The K3/K3S with the KBPF3A makes Broadcast Band DX-ing interesting too. I've
been doing more of that since the SW broadcasters (other than religious
stations) have largely shut down.


If you already own a K3/K3S, adding the KBPF module makes it a 
spectacularly good general coverage radio. But I wouldn't buy one, or a 
KX3, only for that purpose. Rather, I'd grab one of several very nice 
SDR receive-only radios in the under $200 class. The SDRPlay1 goes for 
about $130; the slightly updated SDR2 about $150. There are several 
others. Feed your computer audio to decent speakers or headphones and 
you're good to go. Depending on which of several free software packages 
you choose to use with it, these radios can be set for pretty wide IF 
bandwidth, so you can get as much audio bandwidth as they're transmitting.


I'm a jazz fan, and listen to jazz stations streaming on the internet. 
About 5 years ago, I bought a dedicated internet "radio" from C Crane. 
It's been a winner. Looks like a small table radio, comes with a remote 
control. I feed it to my living room hi-fi, and also to a Part 15 
"trucker's modulator" set to 87.9 MHz that pumps it around the house and 
to the shack.


There are tens of thousands of streaming sources, most of them run by 
over-the-air broadcasters, but many that are internet only. As others 
have noted, the big shortwave stations we all grew up with have mostly 
gone away.


73, Jim K9YC


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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[Clay Autery]

My phones are on my ears if I am sitting at my desk.  If I am not
actively pursuing DX or on a net, I am using the General Coverage
module.  I absolutely love having the ability to use my K3s for this
purpose.  And I can make it sound pretty much how I want it to sound.
I find it acceptable even with the onboard speaker, but I prefer my
phones and I will be adding a pair of outboard speakers (SP3).

Is it reasonable?  That is a subjective question.  I think the K3s will
accomplish what you want just fine, superbly in fact.  If you have the
funds to do so, then go for it.  Personally, I would go ahead and use a
loop antenna (80m) and add a mic to make it a full 10W station.

73,

__
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MONTAC Enterprises
(318) 518-1389

On 2/1/2017 10:26 PM, Dauer, Edward wrote:
> Is it reasonable to think about using a K3S in just this way?

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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[Walter Underwood]

Radio Australia shortwave went dark on 1/31, but might be back.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-31/xenophon-leads-calls-for-abc-to-reinstate-shortwave-radio/8225694
 


wunder
K6WRU
Walter Underwood
CM87wj
http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog)

> On Feb 2, 2017, at 9:00 AM, Todd  wrote:
> 
> This guy puts out a list pretty regularly:
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FguXf-aalXE&nohtml5=False
> 
> I still like to listen to RNZI and Radio Australia here on the left coast...
> 
> Todd KH2TJ
> 
> 
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[Todd]

This guy puts out a list pretty regularly:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FguXf-aalXE&nohtml5=False

I still like to listen to RNZI and Radio Australia here on the left coast...

Todd KH2TJ



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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[Rick WA6NHC]

For that, just watch the news networks.


On 2/2/2017 8:33 AM, GRANT YOUNGMAN wrote:

It’s good to take a break from reality once in a while :-)
Grant NQ5T
K3 #2091, KX3 #8342


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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

The K3/K3S with the KBPF3A makes Broadcast Band DX-ing interesting too. I've
been doing more of that since the SW broadcasters (other than religious
stations) have largely shut down. 

It is interesting searching for the low-powered local stations around the
country at night. Listened to some Navajo chants from New Mexico one evening
a while back from my Oregon Coast QTH. 

And, of course, there is no end of fervent political talk - almost as much
as the 75 meter Ham band, Hi! 

73, Ron AC7AC 


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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[joeduerbusch]

Instead of SWL Stations, what about Internet Radio?  I  have a bedroom
alarm clock that is Internet only.  there are over 31,000 stations that you
can listen to.
Most of the SWL stations have went to the Internet.  You can listen to all
those stations on your computer but an Internet Radio makes it easier.
I listen to Rock and Roll from England and various Oldies stations around
the USA.
Here is a link to Grace Radio, which I use, but there are others.

https://gracedigital.com/shop/rfb-mondo/

Why waste a good Elecraft radio on SWL?

Joe K0BX
WPE0AYA


On Thu, Feb 2, 2017 at 4:09 PM, Dave Hartzell  wrote:

> On Thu, Feb 2, 2017 at 9:04 AM, GRANT YOUNGMAN 
> wrote:
>
> >
> > Not much, unless your thing is the hell fire and damnation variety of
> > religious broadcasting, whack job conspiracy theorists, or folks pitching
> > gold, apocalypse survival kits, and colloidal silver.
>
>
> So, you're saying I should just watch free OTA TV?  ;-)
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[GRANT YOUNGMAN]

> 
> 
> So, you're saying I should just watch free OTA TV?  ;-) 
> 



Even the crazy stuff can be interesting.  It’s good to take a break from 
reality once in a while :-)

Grant NQ5T
K3 #2091, KX3 #8342



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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[Dave Hartzell]

On Thu, Feb 2, 2017 at 9:04 AM, GRANT YOUNGMAN  wrote:

>
> Not much, unless your thing is the hell fire and damnation variety of
> religious broadcasting, whack job conspiracy theorists, or folks pitching
> gold, apocalypse survival kits, and colloidal silver.


So, you're saying I should just watch free OTA TV?  ;-)
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[GRANT YOUNGMAN]

> 
> Just getting back on to the ham bands, and not having SWL'd for many years,
> what stations are still broadcasting?
> 
> I noticed Monitoring Times no longer publishes, and I think I recall
> hearing the BBC no longer broadcasts on the SW bands?
> 



Not much, unless your thing is the hell fire and damnation variety of religious 
broadcasting, whack job conspiracy theorists, or folks pitching gold, 
apocalypse survival kits, and colloidal silver.  Cuba, China, and sometimes 
Australia are around and the most prevalent.  VOA still broadcasts, but not to 
the US (currently) and much of it is not in English.

One of the best resources is http://www.short-wave.info 
, which gives live schedules and language 
information.  Unpublished numbers stations and other interesting stuff can be 
found if you poke around enough.  The dwindling propagation conditions are not 
helping.

I use both of my E’craft radios from time to time for SWLing, They work fine.  
The sync detector in the K3(s) is excellent.  Usually, though, it’s a 
GPR-90/GSB-1, Hammarlund PRO-310, or 51J-4 with Lankford’s SSB mods and a 
Sherwood sync detector for AM.

Grant NQ5T
K3 #2091, KX3 #8342



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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[Dave Hartzell]

Just getting back on to the ham bands, and not having SWL'd for many years,
what stations are still broadcasting?

I noticed Monitoring Times no longer publishes, and I think I recall
hearing the BBC no longer broadcasts on the SW bands?

On Thu, Feb 2, 2017 at 7:43 AM, Harry Yingst via Elecraft <
elecraft@mailman.qth.net> wrote:

> Sadly the days of Good shortwave seem to have passed, I also used to enjoy
> listening to SW in my younger years.
>
> That being said the with the optional General coverage board the K3 does
> make a good receiver but it lacks the highs in the audio.  There is a
> filter board that was added in the audio chain that rolls off the highs
> above 4kHz,  depending on your ears that may or may not be a factor for you
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[Harry Yingst via Elecraft]

Sadly the days of Good shortwave seem to have passed, I also used to enjoy 
listening to SW in my younger years.

That being said the with the optional General coverage board the K3 does make a 
good receiver but it lacks the highs in the audio.  There is a filter board 
that was added in the audio chain that rolls off the highs above 4kHz,  
depending on your ears that may or may not be a factor for you 






   
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[Bill]

I use my K3 for SWL and broadcast listening from time to time and have 
found the K3 to be perfectly capable of doing the job very well. Just 
use some of the menus and make settings (many to be made) until you are 
happy - and you will find just as good audio as any 10 tube old 
fashioned receiver. AGC and EQ menus come to mind.


I used to think the K3 would be out the door quickly, as I hated the 
stock audio. I am into 75 and 40 meter armchair listening/copy. After a 
while I discovered all the settings and started experimentation. A 
couple of hints and a very good link can be found here: 
http://www.w2blc.net/K3.htm


My K3 has grown roots on my desk. It is all about the settings you make.

Bill W2BLC K-Line
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[Stephen Prior]

If I were looking for something like that I'd be thinking about the Elad
receiver or a second hand Lowe-150, depending on how much you want to spend.

73 Stephen, G4SJP

On 2 February 2017 at 09:37, John  wrote:

> Hi Edward,
>
> I had a thought, for a short time, that this would be a perfect use for a
> K3/0... Until I realised that it doesn't actually even have the option for
> running a receiver and is literally just a remote head.
>
> Perhaps Elecraft might consider a receiver-only board for the K3/0 which
> would turn it into a reasonable SWL rig? I'm not sure of the feasibility of
> this idea, of course, but it's something that came to mind and might be
> useful for folk who wish to listen only, or run a receiver which can also
> be used to control a remote K3/100 or similar...
>
> Not sure how much backing there would be though...
>
> 73, and a firm left handshake,
> John (XLX)
>
> -Original Message-
> From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of
> Dauer, Edward
> Sent: 02 February 2017 04:27
> To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?
>
> I would like to hear from anyone who uses a K3 or K3S extensively for
> general coverage HF / short-wave listening.
>
> I am looking for a table-top receiver with general coverage strictly for
> bedroom listening, as the station downstairs already includes a K3/100
> system, a KX3 system, two K2s, and a K1.  This seems to be a neglected part
> of the radio market.  What is available seems pretty slim and, frankly,
> tinny.  The Sangean ATS-909X has the best reviews but still looks like
> something I would have taken to the beach rather than sat in front of while
> transfixed with the global reach of radio.  The new ICOM IC-R8600 looks
> good, with a range up to 3 gigs, but it’s not available yet and the price
> is likely to be in the multi-kilobuck range when it is released.
>
> So, being a loyal member of the Elecraft community, I thought about a K3S
> with just the basic 10 watt TX that this particular radio would never use,
> no sub-RX, the general coverage bandpass filter and the other accessories
> that would extend its range down to LF, an AM roofing filter and naught
> else.
>
> Then I thought about the ongoing commentary about the K3’s audio . . . .
>  because . . .
>
> I confess that what I am trying to recreate is the warm sound of a 10-tube
> supperhet in a large walnut cabinet with a cloth speaker grille and an
> amber back-lighted circular dial driven by dial cord and ganged capacitors
> while listening to a Radio Moscow announcer crow about Sputnik.  Or so I
> now fantasize about my early radio experiences in the 1950s.
>
> I will spend some quality time with my own K3 trying this idea out, but
> thought I would also ask for counsel from the group.  Is there something
> out there I haven’t seen yet?  Is it reasonable to think about using a K3S
> in just this way?
>
> Thanks for whatever thoughts anyone can offer . . .
>
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[John]

Hi Edward,

I had a thought, for a short time, that this would be a perfect use for a 
K3/0... Until I realised that it doesn't actually even have the option for 
running a receiver and is literally just a remote head.

Perhaps Elecraft might consider a receiver-only board for the K3/0 which would 
turn it into a reasonable SWL rig? I'm not sure of the feasibility of this 
idea, of course, but it's something that came to mind and might be useful for 
folk who wish to listen only, or run a receiver which can also be used to 
control a remote K3/100 or similar...

Not sure how much backing there would be though...

73, and a firm left handshake,
John (XLX)

-Original Message-
From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Dauer, 
Edward
Sent: 02 February 2017 04:27
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

I would like to hear from anyone who uses a K3 or K3S extensively for general 
coverage HF / short-wave listening.

I am looking for a table-top receiver with general coverage strictly for 
bedroom listening, as the station downstairs already includes a K3/100 system, 
a KX3 system, two K2s, and a K1.  This seems to be a neglected part of the 
radio market.  What is available seems pretty slim and, frankly, tinny.  The 
Sangean ATS-909X has the best reviews but still looks like something I would 
have taken to the beach rather than sat in front of while transfixed with the 
global reach of radio.  The new ICOM IC-R8600 looks good, with a range up to 3 
gigs, but it’s not available yet and the price is likely to be in the 
multi-kilobuck range when it is released.

So, being a loyal member of the Elecraft community, I thought about a K3S with 
just the basic 10 watt TX that this particular radio would never use, no 
sub-RX, the general coverage bandpass filter and the other accessories that 
would extend its range down to LF, an AM roofing filter and naught else.

Then I thought about the ongoing commentary about the K3’s audio . . . .   
because . . .

I confess that what I am trying to recreate is the warm sound of a 10-tube 
supperhet in a large walnut cabinet with a cloth speaker grille and an amber 
back-lighted circular dial driven by dial cord and ganged capacitors while 
listening to a Radio Moscow announcer crow about Sputnik.  Or so I now 
fantasize about my early radio experiences in the 1950s.

I will spend some quality time with my own K3 trying this idea out, but thought 
I would also ask for counsel from the group.  Is there something out there I 
haven’t seen yet?  Is it reasonable to think about using a K3S in just this way?

Thanks for whatever thoughts anyone can offer . . .

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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[W0MU Mike Fatchett]

I bought a nearly perfect Zenith shortwave and am set at auction for 
about $150.00  The filter caps need to be replaced as there is some 
hum.  Watch Craigs list.  Younger people have no interest in this stuff 
and when their folks or grandparent pass away they just want to get rid 
of them.



On 2/1/2017 11:32 PM, Wes Stewart wrote:
Why don't you just buy a10-tube superhet in a large walnut cabinet 
with a cloth speaker grille and an amber back-lighted circular dial 
driven by dial cord and ganged capacitors?  Maybe throw in a magic eye 
tube. :-)


On 2/1/2017 9:26 PM, Dauer, Edward wrote:
I confess that what I am trying to recreate is the warm sound of a 
10-tube supperhet in a large walnut cabinet with a cloth speaker 
grille and an amber back-lighted circular dial driven by dial cord 
and ganged capacitors while listening to a Radio Moscow announcer 
crow about Sputnik.  Or so I now fantasize about my early radio 
experiences in the 1950s.



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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[Wes Stewart]

Why don't you just buy a10-tube superhet in a large walnut cabinet with a cloth 
speaker grille and an amber back-lighted circular dial driven by dial cord and 
ganged capacitors?  Maybe throw in a magic eye tube. :-)


On 2/1/2017 9:26 PM, Dauer, Edward wrote:

I confess that what I am trying to recreate is the warm sound of a 10-tube 
supperhet in a large walnut cabinet with a cloth speaker grille and an amber 
back-lighted circular dial driven by dial cord and ganged capacitors while 
listening to a Radio Moscow announcer crow about Sputnik.  Or so I now 
fantasize about my early radio experiences in the 1950s.



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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[Leroy Marion]

Well with the short wave stations just about gone, except for the religious 
stations, I not sure I see the point.  But  my K3s with the sub receiver so you 
can run diversity receive is the hottest receiver I have owned in my 50 years 
of doing so.   Way overkill to receive the few multi kilowatt AM stations.

Leroy  AB7CE

-Original Message-
From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Dauer, 
Edward
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2017 9:27 PM
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

I would like to hear from anyone who uses a K3 or K3S extensively for general 
coverage HF / short-wave listening.



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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[Walter Underwood]

I was curious, so I tried an A/B test between my KX3 and my Lowe HF-150 Europa. 
Listening to Radio Havana Cuba on 6100, I eventually preferred the KX3. The 
Lowe had more highs, especially with the synchronous detector, but the signal 
was cleaner from the KX3. The KX3 does have a somewhat better antenna, a dipole 
with a balun and coax feed instead of a wire stapled to the top of the fence. I 
listened in USB with the filters wide open (0.05 to 4.05), NR off. To be fair, 
this was a fine signal, S9+10.

This was with my ham-cheap external speaker setup, an $8 audio amp and a $22 
per pair set of Pyle 3” speakers.

wunder
K6WRU
Walter Underwood
CM87wj
http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog)

> On Feb 1, 2017, at 9:07 PM, Walter Underwood  wrote:
> 
> This might help. It is a review of the KX3 as an SWL receiver. The K3 would 
> add synchronous AM reception and wider filters.
> 
> http://swling.com/blog/2013/07/a-review-of-the-elecraft-kx3-a-world-class-transceiver-superb-shortwave-receiver/
>  
> 
> 
> wunder
> K6WRU
> Walter Underwood
> CM87wj
> http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog)
> 
>> On Feb 1, 2017, at 8:26 PM, Dauer, Edward  wrote:
>> 
>> I would like to hear from anyone who uses a K3 or K3S extensively for 
>> general coverage HF / short-wave listening.
>> 
>> I am looking for a table-top receiver with general coverage strictly for 
>> bedroom listening, as the station downstairs already includes a K3/100 
>> system, a KX3 system, two K2s, and a K1.  This seems to be a neglected part 
>> of the radio market.  What is available seems pretty slim and, frankly, 
>> tinny.  The Sangean ATS-909X has the best reviews but still looks like 
>> something I would have taken to the beach rather than sat in front of while 
>> transfixed with the global reach of radio.  The new ICOM IC-R8600 looks 
>> good, with a range up to 3 gigs, but it’s not available yet and the price is 
>> likely to be in the multi-kilobuck range when it is released.
>> 
>> So, being a loyal member of the Elecraft community, I thought about a K3S 
>> with just the basic 10 watt TX that this particular radio would never use, 
>> no sub-RX, the general coverage bandpass filter and the other accessories 
>> that would extend its range down to LF, an AM roofing filter and naught else.
>> 
>> Then I thought about the ongoing commentary about the K3’s audio . . . .   
>> because . . .
>> 
>> I confess that what I am trying to recreate is the warm sound of a 10-tube 
>> supperhet in a large walnut cabinet with a cloth speaker grille and an amber 
>> back-lighted circular dial driven by dial cord and ganged capacitors while 
>> listening to a Radio Moscow announcer crow about Sputnik.  Or so I now 
>> fantasize about my early radio experiences in the 1950s.
>> 
>> I will spend some quality time with my own K3 trying this idea out, but 
>> thought I would also ask for counsel from the group.  Is there something out 
>> there I haven’t seen yet?  Is it reasonable to think about using a K3S in 
>> just this way?
>> 
>> Thanks for whatever thoughts anyone can offer . . .
>> 
>> __
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[Walter Underwood]

This might help. It is a review of the KX3 as an SWL receiver. The K3 would add 
synchronous AM reception and wider filters.

http://swling.com/blog/2013/07/a-review-of-the-elecraft-kx3-a-world-class-transceiver-superb-shortwave-receiver/
 


wunder
K6WRU
Walter Underwood
CM87wj
http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog)

> On Feb 1, 2017, at 8:26 PM, Dauer, Edward  wrote:
> 
> I would like to hear from anyone who uses a K3 or K3S extensively for general 
> coverage HF / short-wave listening.
> 
> I am looking for a table-top receiver with general coverage strictly for 
> bedroom listening, as the station downstairs already includes a K3/100 
> system, a KX3 system, two K2s, and a K1.  This seems to be a neglected part 
> of the radio market.  What is available seems pretty slim and, frankly, 
> tinny.  The Sangean ATS-909X has the best reviews but still looks like 
> something I would have taken to the beach rather than sat in front of while 
> transfixed with the global reach of radio.  The new ICOM IC-R8600 looks good, 
> with a range up to 3 gigs, but it’s not available yet and the price is likely 
> to be in the multi-kilobuck range when it is released.
> 
> So, being a loyal member of the Elecraft community, I thought about a K3S 
> with just the basic 10 watt TX that this particular radio would never use, no 
> sub-RX, the general coverage bandpass filter and the other accessories that 
> would extend its range down to LF, an AM roofing filter and naught else.
> 
> Then I thought about the ongoing commentary about the K3’s audio . . . .   
> because . . .
> 
> I confess that what I am trying to recreate is the warm sound of a 10-tube 
> supperhet in a large walnut cabinet with a cloth speaker grille and an amber 
> back-lighted circular dial driven by dial cord and ganged capacitors while 
> listening to a Radio Moscow announcer crow about Sputnik.  Or so I now 
> fantasize about my early radio experiences in the 1950s.
> 
> I will spend some quality time with my own K3 trying this idea out, but 
> thought I would also ask for counsel from the group.  Is there something out 
> there I haven’t seen yet?  Is it reasonable to think about using a K3S in 
> just this way?
> 
> Thanks for whatever thoughts anyone can offer . . .
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[Dauer, Edward]

Oops.  Forgot to sign my previous message about using a K3 or K3S for SWL.  It 
is

Ted, KN1CBR

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[Elecraft] K3 for SWL?

[Dauer, Edward]

I would like to hear from anyone who uses a K3 or K3S extensively for general 
coverage HF / short-wave listening.

I am looking for a table-top receiver with general coverage strictly for 
bedroom listening, as the station downstairs already includes a K3/100 system, 
a KX3 system, two K2s, and a K1.  This seems to be a neglected part of the 
radio market.  What is available seems pretty slim and, frankly, tinny.  The 
Sangean ATS-909X has the best reviews but still looks like something I would 
have taken to the beach rather than sat in front of while transfixed with the 
global reach of radio.  The new ICOM IC-R8600 looks good, with a range up to 3 
gigs, but it’s not available yet and the price is likely to be in the 
multi-kilobuck range when it is released.

So, being a loyal member of the Elecraft community, I thought about a K3S with 
just the basic 10 watt TX that this particular radio would never use, no 
sub-RX, the general coverage bandpass filter and the other accessories that 
would extend its range down to LF, an AM roofing filter and naught else.

Then I thought about the ongoing commentary about the K3’s audio . . . .   
because . . .

I confess that what I am trying to recreate is the warm sound of a 10-tube 
supperhet in a large walnut cabinet with a cloth speaker grille and an amber 
back-lighted circular dial driven by dial cord and ganged capacitors while 
listening to a Radio Moscow announcer crow about Sputnik.  Or so I now 
fantasize about my early radio experiences in the 1950s.

I will spend some quality time with my own K3 trying this idea out, but thought 
I would also ask for counsel from the group.  Is there something out there I 
haven’t seen yet?  Is it reasonable to think about using a K3S in just this way?

Thanks for whatever thoughts anyone can offer . . .

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