Re: [Elecraft] KBPF3 upgrade kit and instructions now available

2015-06-25 Thread Joe Subich, W4TV


However, if you are installing a KBPF3A in an existing K3 you
will still want to add the bypass capacitors to the regulators
on the main board and in the KRX3 if installed.

73,

  ... Joe, W4TV


On 2015-06-25 12:34 AM, Wayne Burdick wrote:


On Jun 24, 2015, at 9:23 PM, Michael Eberle mtebe...@mchsi.com wrote:



Will new orders for the KBPF3 have the modification already done…


Yes. That's the KBPF3A.

Wayne
N6KR




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[Elecraft] KBPF3 upgrade kit and instructions now available

2015-06-24 Thread Wayne Burdick
Hi all,

The long-promised KBPF3 modification kit is now available. It applies to the 
KBPF3, K3 RF board, and optionally to the KRX3 sub receiver. It allows the K3 
or K3S to receive signals in the 100-500 kHz range with good sensitivity. This 
is an interesting part of the spectrum, with 

For full details on the mod kit, see:

   http://www.elecraft.com/order_form_parts.htm#K3%20Parts

Also see below for an excerpt from my original posting about signals in the 
100-500 kHz range.

73,
Wayne
N6KR


* * *

In honor of the FCC's proposed 2200 meter allocation (137 kHz), we decided to 
see if we could improve the K3's receive sensitivity in the 100-500 kHz range. 
This extended coverage is made possible by the new synth (KSYN3A). 

After a lot of digging, we discovered the cause of the wide-band low-frequency 
noise. We also found a way to shift the passband of the KBPF3 lower. 

With a couple of simple modifications, the MDS (minimum discernible signal) can 
be improved by about 25 dB at the low end (100 kHz). Here are some test results 
(preamp off, 400-Hz bandwidth): 

137 kHz -114 dBm FCC's proposed 2200 meter band
160 kHz -117 dBm low end of the Low-Fer band
250 kHz -126 dBm test frequency in the long-wave beacon band
472 kHz -133 dBm 630 meter experimental band

This represents an improvement throughout the range, but especially at the low 
end. I believe -114 dBm MDS should suffice at 137 kHz, given the high band 
noise in this range. 

Another indication of how well the mods work: With no antenna connoted, the 
K3's S-meter now just barely flickers (S1) at 100 kHz. Without the mods, the 
no-antenna S-meter reading could be as high as S7 due to the noise source we've 
now identified (a voltage regulator). (By the way, this regulator noise had no 
impact on frequencies about about 500 kHz.)

...

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Re: [Elecraft] KBPF3 upgrade kit and instructions now available

2015-06-24 Thread Joe Subich, W4TV


Neither the instructions nor the errata speak to the regulator bypass
in the KRX3.  The instructions do not provide information in either
bypass.

73,

  ... Joe, W4TV


On 2015-06-24 8:42 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote:

Hi all,

The long-promised KBPF3 modification kit is now available. It applies to the 
KBPF3, K3 RF board, and optionally to the KRX3 sub receiver. It allows the K3 
or K3S to receive signals in the 100-500 kHz range with good sensitivity. This 
is an interesting part of the spectrum, with

For full details on the mod kit, see:

http://www.elecraft.com/order_form_parts.htm#K3%20Parts

Also see below for an excerpt from my original posting about signals in the 
100-500 kHz range.

73,
Wayne
N6KR


* * *

In honor of the FCC's proposed 2200 meter allocation (137 kHz), we decided to 
see if we could improve the K3's receive sensitivity in the 100-500 kHz range. This 
extended coverage is made possible by the new synth (KSYN3A).

After a lot of digging, we discovered the cause of the wide-band low-frequency 
noise. We also found a way to shift the passband of the KBPF3 lower.

With a couple of simple modifications, the MDS (minimum discernible signal) can 
be improved by about 25 dB at the low end (100 kHz). Here are some test results 
(preamp off, 400-Hz bandwidth):

137 kHz -114 dBm FCC's proposed 2200 meter band
160 kHz -117 dBm low end of the Low-Fer band
250 kHz -126 dBm test frequency in the long-wave beacon band
472 kHz -133 dBm 630 meter experimental band

This represents an improvement throughout the range, but especially at the low 
end. I believe -114 dBm MDS should suffice at 137 kHz, given the high band 
noise in this range.

Another indication of how well the mods work: With no antenna connoted, the 
K3's S-meter now just barely flickers (S1) at 100 kHz. Without the mods, the 
no-antenna S-meter reading could be as high as S7 due to the noise source we've 
now identified (a voltage regulator). (By the way, this regulator noise had no 
impact on frequencies about about 500 kHz.)

...

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Re: [Elecraft] KBPF3 upgrade kit and instructions now available

2015-06-24 Thread Michael Eberle


Will new orders for the KBPF3 have the modification already done or 
would one need to purchase both the KBPF3 and the KBPF3MDKT if they 
wanted to receive 100-500 kHz?


Mike
KI0HA

On 6/24/2015 7:42 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote:

Hi all,

The long-promised KBPF3 modification kit is now available. It applies to the 
KBPF3, K3 RF board, and optionally to the KRX3 sub receiver. It allows the K3 
or K3S to receive signals in the 100-500 kHz range with good sensitivity. This 
is an interesting part of the spectrum, with

For full detailms on the mod kit, see:

http://www.elecraft.com/order_form_parts.htm#K3%20Parts

Also see below for an excerpt from my original posting about signals in the 
100-500 kHz range.

73,
Wayne
N6KR





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Re: [Elecraft] KBPF3 upgrade kit and instructions now available

2015-06-24 Thread Wayne Burdick

On Jun 24, 2015, at 9:23 PM, Michael Eberle mtebe...@mchsi.com wrote:

 
 Will new orders for the KBPF3 have the modification already done…

Yes. That's the KBPF3A.

Wayne
N6KR




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