[Elecraft] P3 Questions
Hi Steve, If you are considering on whether or not to buy a P3, the answer is very easy - GET IT. It is really a great value and I am surprised they do not charge more for them. I cannot say enough good about the P3. It is the most useful and most used ham radio implement I have ever had. I was a ham for 26 years before I got a nice scope. Working CW, I would keep my filters open and use my ears as a band scope as much as I could, tune up and down the band every few minutes and form a mental vision of what is going on above and below. Now with the P3 it is as if I was blind and now I can see. It gives you a constant three dimensional view of the radio spectrum- Frequency, Time and Amplitude. I have found that the waterfall gives you the best three dimensional visualization while the spectrum scope is useful for comparative measurements and such. The color and crispness and smoothness of the presentation is also excellent. It is comfortable to look at for long periods and easy on the eyes. I do not have the SVGA option so my observations are based on the basic P3 (#177). The information that it gives you is probably useful in many more ways you might now imagine. Identifying and understanding the origins of RF noise, what is it really doing across the whole band? All those strange blips or sounds I would hear but only on my freq, are now much easier to identify and understand. You will soon be learning to identify most individual modes of digital signals, PSK31, Olivia, FieldHell, Thor, Throb etc just by seeing it up or down the band. You will probably learn to identify many things about a SSB signal even before you tune to it, and thus decide if you want to tune to it. Is it a narrow signal with a lot of high end, is it a wider signal and full bodied? Consistent repeat, using compression, heavy processing or no processing. Many other details about CW or other digital signals also can tell you if there is multipath or warble in the signal, coming over the north pole etc. All this even before you tune to the signal. I don't contest but I do DX and hunt for weak signals. The P3 is constantly in use for both. In addition to finding the signals that you want, It is very handy for finding and jumping to holes in the QRM or in QRN. I am surprised that even the most expensive rigs from the Japanese manufactures do not have scopes that even come close to the true usefulness of the P3. They have really missed the boat when it comes to band scopes. My request for Elecraft is that they finish the option to monitor your transmitted signal, and I would like to see a peak hold setting on the spectrum scope that decays after a few seconds rather than having to manually reset it. Thank you Elecraft for a job well done! Dean KG7MZ ** Hi, Until recently, I have not been interested in the P3 because I didn't think it would be useful for my way of operating. Now, I think I am missing something quite useful but I need to get educated on it. I am interested in some suggested reading which covers the capabilities and how those capabilities would help me in contesting and dxing. For example, can I see a signal blip, identify it, move my K3 to it, etc. Many more questions but I am sure someone has already documented the advantages. I have two K3's which are ready to accept a P3. Thanks in advance. Steve, K4FJ *** __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] P3 Questions
Based on my discussions with Elecraft personnel at Dayton, I wouldn't be quite so quick to give up on the TX sensor just yet... 73, Scott, N9AA On 6/20/14, 9:15 PM, Gary Gregory wrote: Steve, The only negative is the lack of Tx monitoring. Was promised, and the label on the back of the P3 is beckoning but as nothing is ever mentioned about this option one can only assume it is not going to happen. Gary __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] P3 Questions
Hi, Until recently, I have not been interested in the P3 because I didn't think it would be useful for my way of operating. Now, I think I am missing something quite useful but I need to get educated on it. I am interested in some suggested reading which covers the capabilities and how those capabilities would help me in contesting and dxing. For example, can I see a signal blip, identify it, move my K3 to it, etc. Many more questions but I am sure someone has already documented the advantages. I have two K3's which are ready to accept a P3. Thanks in advance. Steve, K4FJ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] P3 Questions
Steve, This might help: http://www.elecraft.com/P3/How%20to%20Set%20Up%20and%20Interpret%20the%20P3%20Display.pdf http://www.elecraft.com/manual/P3%20Owner%27s%20man%20Rev%20D.pdf And */Note: /*/Either the KXV3 or the KXV3a K3 option is required to feed the K3's IF output to the P3./ I was skeptical of my need for the P3. Now I wish all my rigs had one :-) Phil W7OX On 6/20/14, 2:20 PM, Steve, K4FJ via Elecraft wrote: Hi, Until recently, I have not been interested in the P3 because I didn't think it would be useful for my way of operating. Now, I think I am missing something quite useful but I need to get educated on it. I am interested in some suggested reading which covers the capabilities and how those capabilities would help me in contesting and dxing. For example, can I see a signal blip, identify it, move my K3 to it, etc. Many more questions but I am sure someone has already documented the advantages. I have two K3's which are ready to accept a P3. Thanks in advance. Steve, K4FJ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to w...@socal.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] P3 Questions
Hi Steve, Yes, the P3 is a great tool to use in both contesting and dxing. It also tells a lot about what is going on with the band. Please follow this link to familiarize yourself with the P3: http://www.elecraft.com/manual/P3%20Owner's%20man%20Rev%20D.pdf 73 de Jim - KE8G Steve wrote: Hi, Until recently, I have not been interested in the P3 because I didn't think it would be useful for my way of operating. Now, I think I am missing something quite useful but I need to get educated on it. I am interested in some suggested reading which covers the capabilities and how those capabilities would help me in contesting and dxing. For example, can I see a signal blip, identify it, move my K3 to it, etc. Many more questions but I am sure someone has already documented the advantages. I have two K3's which are ready to accept a P3. Thanks in advance. Steve, K4FJ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to k...@cox.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] P3 Questions
ORIGINAL MESSAGE: (may be snipped) On 6/20/2014 2:20 PM, Steve, K4FJ via Elecraft wrote: Until recently, I have not been interested in the P3 because I didn't think it would be useful for my way of operating. Now, I think I am missing something quite useful but I need to get educated on it. REPLY: I use the P3 for two things primarily: 1. Finding stations when the band appears dead and 2. Finding a clear spot to call DX when working split, or alternatively, finding the calling station so I can be on his frequency. There are other radios which have a version of a spectrum scope such as my two recent Icoms, but the P3 is so far superior in resolution and menu options that there is almost no comparison. The P3 is enough reason alone to buy a K3. It is expensive but you get what you pay for. You will not be disappointed. 73, Bill W6WRT dez...@outlook.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] P3 Questions
You will get a lot of replies Steve, they will likely all be positive, the P3 is a really great addition to any station. I bought mine as just a toy ... my wife does needlepoint which is about as expensive as ham radio, we have an equal hobby allowance policy, and the radio balance was climbing. However it has totally changed the way I operate. I watch it now instead of the radio. Not sure what you mean by identify it, but I can see the signals and pick out the RTTY in a RTTY contest, CW, PSK, and JT65 just from the display. PACTOR signals are also obvious although I'm not a PACTOR-ite. It won't give you the call sign however. :-)) [You can also discover that the 5, 10, and 15 MHz WWV signals are somewhat dirtier than you would expect from NIST] Yes, you can put a marker [there are two] on a signal, punch the knob, and your K3 will QSY to that frequency. The display runs rings around the bandscopes on other radios. I have no color vision and the color waterfall wasn't working real well for me, so Alan added a monochrome waterfall option in the next FW update, maybe just for me. :-) I have yet to find a use for all 8 of the programmable function keys. DX'ing is amazing! I see the DX and I see the pileup up a bit [well, not everyone, Up-Cops show up on the DX frequency]. Pileup looks like wide-band noise. DX calls someone, pile dies off, and one signal is there [well, OK, several answer so sometimes I guess wrong], move VFO B to put the TX cursor on that station and at the TU, call. Works about 75% of the time. Also very useful when I'm NCS in the traffic net, I don't send stations up or down 3 and put them on top of someone. I run in Fixed Tune mode [screen displays a segment of the band and my frequency moves across it until I hit the edge of the segment]. There is also a Tracking mode where you're always in the center and the band moves past you. Span is adjustable from 4 KHz to 200 KHz and you can assign specific spans to the function keys. With the P3 Utility you can save screen shots to your computer. I wouldn't be without mine. 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014 - www.cqp.org On 6/20/2014 2:20 PM, Steve, K4FJ via Elecraft wrote: I am interested in some suggested reading which covers the capabilities and how those capabilities would help me in contesting and dxing. For example, can I see a signal blip, identify it, move my K3 to it, etc. Many more questions but I am sure someone has already documented the advantages. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] P3 Questions
Steve, The only negative is the lack of Tx monitoring. Was promised, and the label on the back of the P3 is beckoning but as nothing is ever mentioned about this option one can only assume it is not going to happen. Gary On 21 June 2014 09:01, Fred Jensen k6...@foothill.net wrote: You will get a lot of replies Steve, they will likely all be positive, the P3 is a really great addition to any station. I bought mine as just a toy ... my wife does needlepoint which is about as expensive as ham radio, we have an equal hobby allowance policy, and the radio balance was climbing. However it has totally changed the way I operate. I watch it now instead of the radio. Not sure what you mean by identify it, but I can see the signals and pick out the RTTY in a RTTY contest, CW, PSK, and JT65 just from the display. PACTOR signals are also obvious although I'm not a PACTOR-ite. It won't give you the call sign however. :-)) [You can also discover that the 5, 10, and 15 MHz WWV signals are somewhat dirtier than you would expect from NIST] Yes, you can put a marker [there are two] on a signal, punch the knob, and your K3 will QSY to that frequency. The display runs rings around the bandscopes on other radios. I have no color vision and the color waterfall wasn't working real well for me, so Alan added a monochrome waterfall option in the next FW update, maybe just for me. :-) I have yet to find a use for all 8 of the programmable function keys. DX'ing is amazing! I see the DX and I see the pileup up a bit [well, not everyone, Up-Cops show up on the DX frequency]. Pileup looks like wide-band noise. DX calls someone, pile dies off, and one signal is there [well, OK, several answer so sometimes I guess wrong], move VFO B to put the TX cursor on that station and at the TU, call. Works about 75% of the time. Also very useful when I'm NCS in the traffic net, I don't send stations up or down 3 and put them on top of someone. I run in Fixed Tune mode [screen displays a segment of the band and my frequency moves across it until I hit the edge of the segment]. There is also a Tracking mode where you're always in the center and the band moves past you. Span is adjustable from 4 KHz to 200 KHz and you can assign specific spans to the function keys. With the P3 Utility you can save screen shots to your computer. I wouldn't be without mine. 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014 - www.cqp.org On 6/20/2014 2:20 PM, Steve, K4FJ via Elecraft wrote: I am interested in some suggested reading which covers the capabilities and how those capabilities would help me in contesting and dxing. For example, can I see a signal blip, identify it, move my K3 to it, etc. Many more questions but I am sure someone has already documented the advantages. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to vk1zzg...@gmail.com -- *Gary - VK1ZZ, K3NHLSkype: Gary.VK1ZZhttp://www.qsl.net/vk1zz http://www.qsl.net/vk1zz Motorhome Portable* *Grumpy's House* *Elecraft K3KPA500FTKAT500FT* __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] P3 Questions
Hello Gary, As usually mentioned here, it is on their to-do list but there is no time frame at all. They are still running for the KX3 additions - bigger market, more money. cheers, Johnny VR2XMC 寄件人︰ Gary Gregory vk1zzg...@gmail.com 收件人︰ 副本(CC)︰ Elecraft List elecraft@mailman.qth.net 傳送日期︰ 2014年06月21日 (週六) 9:15 AM 主題︰ Re: [Elecraft] P3 Questions Steve, The only negative is the lack of Tx monitoring. Was promised, and the label on the back of the P3 is beckoning but as nothing is ever mentioned about this option one can only assume it is not going to happen. Gary On 21 June 2014 09:01, Fred Jensen k6...@foothill.net wrote: You will get a lot of replies Steve, they will likely all be positive, the P3 is a really great addition to any station. I bought mine as just a toy ... my wife does needlepoint which is about as expensive as ham radio, we have an equal hobby allowance policy, and the radio balance was climbing. However it has totally changed the way I operate. I watch it now instead of the radio. Not sure what you mean by identify it, but I can see the signals and pick out the RTTY in a RTTY contest, CW, PSK, and JT65 just from the display. PACTOR signals are also obvious although I'm not a PACTOR-ite. It won't give you the call sign however. :-)) [You can also discover that the 5, 10, and 15 MHz WWV signals are somewhat dirtier than you would expect from NIST] Yes, you can put a marker [there are two] on a signal, punch the knob, and your K3 will QSY to that frequency. The display runs rings around the bandscopes on other radios. I have no color vision and the color waterfall wasn't working real well for me, so Alan added a monochrome waterfall option in the next FW update, maybe just for me. :-) I have yet to find a use for all 8 of the programmable function keys. DX'ing is amazing! I see the DX and I see the pileup up a bit [well, not everyone, Up-Cops show up on the DX frequency]. Pileup looks like wide-band noise. DX calls someone, pile dies off, and one signal is there [well, OK, several answer so sometimes I guess wrong], move VFO B to put the TX cursor on that station and at the TU, call. Works about 75% of the time. Also very useful when I'm NCS in the traffic net, I don't send stations up or down 3 and put them on top of someone. I run in Fixed Tune mode [screen displays a segment of the band and my frequency moves across it until I hit the edge of the segment]. There is also a Tracking mode where you're always in the center and the band moves past you. Span is adjustable from 4 KHz to 200 KHz and you can assign specific spans to the function keys. With the P3 Utility you can save screen shots to your computer. I wouldn't be without mine. 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2014 Cal QSO Party 4-5 Oct 2014 - www.cqp.org On 6/20/2014 2:20 PM, Steve, K4FJ via Elecraft wrote: I am interested in some suggested reading which covers the capabilities and how those capabilities would help me in contesting and dxing. For example, can I see a signal blip, identify it, move my K3 to it, etc. Many more questions but I am sure someone has already documented the advantages. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net/ Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to vk1zzg...@gmail.com -- *Gary - VK1ZZ, K3NHLSkype: Gary.VK1ZZhttp://www.qsl.net/vk1zz http://www.qsl.net/vk1zz Motorhome Portable* *Grumpy's House* *Elecraft K3KPA500FTKAT500FT* __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net/ Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to vr2...@yahoo.com.hk __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] P3 Questions
I suspect that’s a reasonably poor assumption based only on the fact that it isn’t in the hype thread. But even it it turns out to be good, the P3 is worth every nickel … Grant NQ5T On Jun 20, 2014, at 8:15 PM, Gary Gregory vk1zzg...@gmail.com wrote: Steve, The only negative is the lack of Tx monitoring. Was promised, and the label on the back of the P3 is beckoning but as nothing is ever mentioned about this option one can only assume it is not going to happen. Gary On 21 June 2014 09:01, Fred Jensen k6...@foothill.net wrote: __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] P3 Questions
Operating without the P3 is like listening to the CD. Running the P3 (and the VGA) with your K3 is like attending a live concert. 73, Charlie k3ICH __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] P3 Questions
I am condidering a purchase of a P3 with my k3. Do I understand correctly that I would need an additional power supply for the P3? Or would I be able to connect it to the power jack on back of the k3 for power? If I need an addiitonal power supply that's going to make the equipment jammed packed. But I also read on the reflector that the power jack on the back of the K3 doesn't have sufficient amps to run the K3. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Mark KB3Z __ 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
Mark, The K3 can power the P3 directly from its switched power output connector (12 V DC Out). If you already are powering other devices make sure you do not exceed the maximum output of 0.5 amps. BTW - I use a relay fed from the K3 switched DC output to turn on everything associated with the K3. George AI4VZ . . . would I be able to connect it to the power jack on back of the k3 for power? __ 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
I don't have a P3, so I don't know what it's power requirements are, but you're going to have to have a power supply anyway for the K3.. 73, Mike NF4L On 12/5/2010 8:23 AM, pastor...@verizon.net wrote: I am condidering a purchase of a P3 with my k3. Do I understand correctly that I would need an additional power supply for the P3? Or would I be able to connect it to the power jack on back of the k3 for power? If I need an addiitonal power supply that's going to make the equipment jammed packed. But I also read on the reflector that the power jack on the back of the K3 doesn't have sufficient amps to run the K3. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Mark KB3Z __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] P3 Questions
From the P3 instruction manual: When used with a K3, this power may be taken from the 12VDC OUT jack on the K3 rear panel. The K3 is capable of supplying power to both the P3 and the Elecraft PR6 six-meter preamplifier at the same time if 12VDC or greater is supplied to the K3’s power connector. Lower voltages at the K3 connector will cause the total current required by the P3 and PR6 to exceed the 500 mA limit from the K3’s 12VDC outlet. P3 requirements: Power: 10-15 VDC is a standard 2.1 mm barrel connector for a 10-15 VDC supply capable of delivering up to 0.5A. 73 Robert, s57aw 2010/12/5 Mike n...@nf4l.com I don't have a P3, so I don't know what it's power requirements are, but you're going to have to have a power supply anyway for the K3.. 73, Mike NF4L On 12/5/2010 8:23 AM, pastor...@verizon.net wrote: I am condidering a purchase of a P3 with my k3. Do I understand correctly that I would need an additional power supply for the P3? Or would I be able to connect it to the power jack on back of the k3 for power? If I need an addiitonal power supply that's going to make the equipment jammed packed. But I also read on the reflector that the power jack on the back of the K3 doesn't have sufficient amps to run the K3. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Mark KB3Z __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ 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
The K3 will handle the P3 nicely, but if you don't want the P3 connected to the K3 you don't need to buy another power supply. Just connect it to the one you already have. The P3 draws very little amperage. 73, Tom Childers Radio Amateur N5GE Licensed since 1976 QCWA Member 35102 ARRL Life Member On Sun, 05 Dec 2010 07:23:14 -0600 (CST), pastor...@verizon.net wrote: I am condidering a purchase of a P3 with my k3. Do I understand correctly that I would need an additional power supply for the P3? Or would I be able to connect it to the power jack on back of the k3 for power? If I need an addiitonal power supply that's going to make the equipment jammed packed. But I also read on the reflector that the power jack on the back of the K3 doesn't have sufficient amps to run the K3. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Mark KB3Z [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
[Elecraft] P3 Questions
I may need some assistance on how my P3 should act. My P3 arrived while I was away on an extended trip to the Northwest. I now have it up and running, but I have some questions. I've perused the manual, including the newer version on the website. It seems that my levels may be wrong, but not sure. Here's what I have done--I updated my K3 firmware to the latest version on the website. I also updated the P3 firmware. I also had to make the mod to my K3 (#96) for the I.F. output gain. Prior to making that modification, the noise level seemed to be around -110 dbm, but that was also before I updated my K3 firmware also. Now, I seem to have a reference level way down to around -140 dbm. I do see signal spikes, but it seems to take an S8 or S9 signal to really show on my screen (to differentiate them from just noise), which I assume is indicative of my noise floor. None of the illustrations in the manual show something starting that low. It makes me wonder if I did the K3 mod properly. I did replace the SMT part with the supplied SMT device (or think I did!). Hopefully I didn't screw that up. All of this scaling varies from band to band somewhat, but it's always -120 dbm or lower. I see nice spikes from stronger signals, but some that are quite copiable on the K3 don't seem to make much of a spike at all. The waterfall does seem to show the signal better in those cases. I'm assuming it's just because those signals are right at the noise level, but I was primarily concerned about the fact that my setting has to be so much lower (higher numberical value of minus dbm) than anything shown in the manual. 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] P3 Questions
A noise level of -140 dBm is reasonable with no antenna connected or a quiet band. It also depends on the span and how you have the K3 set up. On mine, the noise level is around -160 dBm with no antenna connected to the K3, the K3 preamp turned on, and the span set to 2 kHz. If I turn off the preamp, turn on the attenuator, and set the span to 200 kHz, the noise level is a little below -120 dBm. With an antenna connected it is higher than that. You can get an idea if everything is working right by comparing the K3 S-meter reading of a signal within the receive passband. S9 should show as roughly -73 dBm on the P3 display and change by 6 dB per S-unit below that. There's a table of dBm levels versus S-units in the latest P3 manual. Alan N1AL On Fri, 2010-10-29 at 11:38 -0700, David Yarnes wrote: I may need some assistance on how my P3 should act. My P3 arrived while I was away on an extended trip to the Northwest. I now have it up and running, but I have some questions. I've perused the manual, including the newer version on the website. It seems that my levels may be wrong, but not sure. Here's what I have done--I updated my K3 firmware to the latest version on the website. I also updated the P3 firmware. I also had to make the mod to my K3 (#96) for the I.F. output gain. Prior to making that modification, the noise level seemed to be around -110 dbm, but that was also before I updated my K3 firmware also. Now, I seem to have a reference level way down to around -140 dbm. I do see signal spikes, but it seems to take an S8 or S9 signal to really show on my screen (to differentiate them from just noise), which I assume is indicative of my noise floor. None of the illustrations in the manual show something starting that low. It makes me wonder if I did the K3 mod properly. I did replace the SMT part with the supplied SMT device (or think I did!). Hopefully I didn't screw that up. All of this scaling varies from band to band somewhat, but it's always -120 dbm or lower. I see nice spikes from stronger signals, but some that are quite copiable on the K3 don't seem to make much of a spike at all. The waterfall does seem to show the signal better in those cases. I'm assuming it's just because those signals are right at the noise level, but I was primarily concerned about the fact that my setting has to be so much lower (higher numberical value of minus dbm) than anything shown in the manual. 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 __ 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
Alan, My S9 appears to be off by about 10db. How are you coming on a level calibration routine? TIA, Rick K6LE On 10/29/2010, at 3:23 , Alan Bloom wrote: A noise level of -140 dBm is reasonable with no antenna connected or a quiet band. It also depends on the span and how you have the K3 set up. On mine, the noise level is around -160 dBm with no antenna connected to the K3, the K3 preamp turned on, and the span set to 2 kHz. If I turn off the preamp, turn on the attenuator, and set the span to 200 kHz, the noise level is a little below -120 dBm. With an antenna connected it is higher than that. You can get an idea if everything is working right by comparing the K3 S-meter reading of a signal within the receive passband. S9 should show as roughly -73 dBm on the P3 display and change by 6 dB per S-unit below that. There's a table of dBm levels versus S-units in the latest P3 manual. Alan N1AL __ 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
Rick, That's what I'm working on right now. 73, Alan N1AL On Fri, 2010-10-29 at 17:20 -0700, Rick Prather wrote: Alan, My S9 appears to be off by about 10db. How are you coming on a level calibration routine? TIA, Rick K6LE On 10/29/2010, at 3:23 , Alan Bloom wrote: A noise level of -140 dBm is reasonable with no antenna connected or a quiet band. It also depends on the span and how you have the K3 set up. On mine, the noise level is around -160 dBm with no antenna connected to the K3, the K3 preamp turned on, and the span set to 2 kHz. If I turn off the preamp, turn on the attenuator, and set the span to 200 kHz, the noise level is a little below -120 dBm. With an antenna connected it is higher than that. You can get an idea if everything is working right by comparing the K3 S-meter reading of a signal within the receive passband. S9 should show as roughly -73 dBm on the P3 display and change by 6 dB per S-unit below that. There's a table of dBm levels versus S-units in the latest P3 manual. Alan N1AL __ 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
Thanks Lyle, Hot Diggidie,..the P3 is going to be some real fun. Amazing...amazing Elecraft products are totally outstanding. Way to go guys at Aptos and where ever else the rest of the crew might be. CU in the Colorado QSO Party Sept 4th, 2010. 73, Jim, W0EM Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2010 14:33:51 -0700 From: k...@wavecable.com To: w...@q.com CC: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] P3 Questions ... Elecraft pictures of the P3 with the K3 shows it on the users right side of the radio. You can place the P3 on either side, your preference. The supplied cables are long enough to accommodate either placement. ...Does the P3 have enough resolution on the more narrow bandwidth sweeps to discern separate signals If the bandwidth is set narrow enough, you can easily see both peaks of an RTTY signal. 73, L:yle KK7P __ 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
Andy, That is good info to know. That enforces my original thoughts. Thank you for sharing. CU in the Colorado QSO Party Sept 4th, 2010. 73, Jim, W0EM From: andrewfa...@ymail.com To: w...@q.com; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] P3 Questions Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2010 15:10:41 -0700 Jim, I can't talk directly about the P3 and RTTY, but in WPX CW, I did use a prototype P3 at P49Y. Right next to it as the second radio was a 756 Pro2. The display on the P3 had a much finer resolution than the Pro2, which looked smoothed in comparison. Individual CW sigs were much narrower on the P3. 73, andy ae6y www.arubaqth.com -- From: Jim Harris w...@q.com Sent: Saturday, July 31, 2010 1:57 PM To: Elecraft Email elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] P3 Questions Hi, Obviously, I'm not a P3 owner but maybe Santa might change that. Last evening I perused the manual. This morning I was rambling through how it might be used in conjunction with my K3. Two questions came to mind that field testers and perhaps others might like to comment on. My favorite activity in amateur radio is RTTY contesting. Elecraft pictures of the P3 with the K3 shows it on the users right side of the radio. My thinking is it might be better on the left side as I use the mouse with my right hand and operate the radio with my left when RTTY contesting. It would seem the point and click and other functions on the P3 would be better accessed with my left hand than putting the radio on the right side and having to reach across with my left or move my right hand from the mouse to access the functions. I realize the side is an operators choice (I think) but I'm wondering if anyone has any meaningful experience or thoughts on the subject. That leads me to my second thought. My prior experience with a bandscope was with a ProIII. (It departed the shack several months ago.) To the best of my ability with it there was no way I could discern separate RTTY signals in a contest. Does the P3 have enough resolution on the more narrow bandwidth sweeps to discern separate signals in a contest or is just a big blurs as the ProIII. If separate signals are discernible in a contest is it possible to point and click on one with the P3, and perhaps with the AFC in MMTTY enabled, be able to near instantly work that signal? I realize there are most likely a lot of variables involved but the thought occurred to me the P3 might be able to add a new dimension to RTTY contesting for me and perhaps others. Perhaps I'm wishing for more than the P3 is capable of but constructive thoughts and ideas would be greatly appreciated. CU in the Colorado QSO Party Sept 4th, 2010. 73, Jim, W0EM __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] P3 Questions
Hi, Obviously, I'm not a P3 owner but maybe Santa might change that. Last evening I perused the manual. This morning I was rambling through how it might be used in conjunction with my K3. Two questions came to mind that field testers and perhaps others might like to comment on. My favorite activity in amateur radio is RTTY contesting. Elecraft pictures of the P3 with the K3 shows it on the users right side of the radio. My thinking is it might be better on the left side as I use the mouse with my right hand and operate the radio with my left when RTTY contesting. It would seem the point and click and other functions on the P3 would be better accessed with my left hand than putting the radio on the right side and having to reach across with my left or move my right hand from the mouse to access the functions. I realize the side is an operators choice (I think) but I'm wondering if anyone has any meaningful experience or thoughts on the subject. That leads me to my second thought. My prior experience with a bandscope was with a ProIII. (It departed the shack several months ago.) To the best of my ability with it there was no way I could discern separate RTTY signals in a contest. Does the P3 have enough resolution on the more narrow bandwidth sweeps to discern separate signals in a contest or is just a big blurs as the ProIII. If separate signals are discernible in a contest is it possible to point and click on one with the P3, and perhaps with the AFC in MMTTY enabled, be able to near instantly work that signal? I realize there are most likely a lot of variables involved but the thought occurred to me the P3 might be able to add a new dimension to RTTY contesting for me and perhaps others. Perhaps I'm wishing for more than the P3 is capable of but constructive thoughts and ideas would be greatly appreciated. CU in the Colorado QSO Party Sept 4th, 2010. 73, Jim, W0EM __ 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
... Elecraft pictures of the P3 with the K3 shows it on the users right side of the radio. You can place the P3 on either side, your preference. The supplied cables are long enough to accommodate either placement. ...Does the P3 have enough resolution on the more narrow bandwidth sweeps to discern separate signals If the bandwidth is set narrow enough, you can easily see both peaks of an RTTY signal. 73, L:yle KK7P __ 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
Jim, I can't talk directly about the P3 and RTTY, but in WPX CW, I did use a prototype P3 at P49Y. Right next to it as the second radio was a 756 Pro2. The display on the P3 had a much finer resolution than the Pro2, which looked smoothed in comparison. Individual CW sigs were much narrower on the P3. 73, andy ae6y www.arubaqth.com -- From: Jim Harris w...@q.com Sent: Saturday, July 31, 2010 1:57 PM To: Elecraft Email elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] P3 Questions Hi, Obviously, I'm not a P3 owner but maybe Santa might change that. Last evening I perused the manual. This morning I was rambling through how it might be used in conjunction with my K3. Two questions came to mind that field testers and perhaps others might like to comment on. My favorite activity in amateur radio is RTTY contesting. Elecraft pictures of the P3 with the K3 shows it on the users right side of the radio. My thinking is it might be better on the left side as I use the mouse with my right hand and operate the radio with my left when RTTY contesting. It would seem the point and click and other functions on the P3 would be better accessed with my left hand than putting the radio on the right side and having to reach across with my left or move my right hand from the mouse to access the functions. I realize the side is an operators choice (I think) but I'm wondering if anyone has any meaningful experience or thoughts on the subject. That leads me to my second thought. My prior experience with a bandscope was with a ProIII. (It departed the shack several months ago.) To the best of my ability with it there was no way I could discern separate RTTY signals in a contest. Does the P3 have enough resolution on the more narrow bandwidth sweeps to discern separate signals in a contest or is just a big blurs as the ProIII. If separate signals are discernible in a contest is it possible to point and click on one with the P3, and perhaps with the AFC in MMTTY enabled, be able to near instantly work that signal? I realize there are most likely a lot of variables involved but the thought occurred to me the P3 might be able to add a new dimension to RTTY contesting for me and perhaps others. Perhaps I'm wishing for more than the P3 is capable of but constructive thoughts and ideas would be greatly appreciated. CU in the Colorado QSO Party Sept 4th, 2010. 73, Jim, W0EM __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] P3 Questions
If I'm not mistaken the p3 will only go down to a 2KHz display. That seems VERY wide an area to view for a cw guy who is trying to use the display to zero beat on a cw signal using the 50 hz filter width. That and the ability to adjust the notch filter just above or below the zero beat freq. Is there any talk about software to zoom in to a smaller region like 100 or 200 Hz for example? The p3 can be used for more than just finding signals across an entire band. I see great uses for it as a convenient spectrum analyzer. Also, is there a reason that you can't toggle into full screen waterfall display? I can see this being very helpful to the digital mode guys. On Jul 31, 2010, at 2:33 PM, Lyle Johnson k...@wavecable.com wrote: ... Elecraft pictures of the P3 with the K3 shows it on the users right side of the radio. You can place the P3 on either side, your preference. The supplied cables are long enough to accommodate either placement. ...Does the P3 have enough resolution on the more narrow bandwidth sweeps to discern separate signals If the bandwidth is set narrow enough, you can easily see both peaks of an RTTY signal. 73, L:yle KK7P __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] P3 Questions
.How many lines does the spectrum that's displayed on screen have. The manual gives the display pixels but I didn't see the actual spectrum information. Dunc, W5DC __ 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
Full screen waterfall seems to be one of the settings - see the manual page 14 under Configuring the Display. 73, Doug VE3MV - Original Message - From: The Smiths notforc...@hotmail.com To: Lyle Johnson k...@wavecable.com Cc: Elecraft Email elecraft@mailman.qth.net; Jim Harris w...@q.com Sent: Saturday, July 31, 2010 8:06 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] P3 Questions If I'm not mistaken the p3 will only go down to a 2KHz display. That seems VERY wide an area to view for a cw guy who is trying to use the display to zero beat on a cw signal using the 50 hz filter width. That and the ability to adjust the notch filter just above or below the zero beat freq. Is there any talk about software to zoom in to a smaller region like 100 or 200 Hz for example? The p3 can be used for more than just finding signals across an entire band. I see great uses for it as a convenient spectrum analyzer. Also, is there a reason that you can't toggle into full screen waterfall display? I can see this being very helpful to the digital mode guys. __ 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
Hi Doug, You found a misprint in the manual. Full-screen waterfall is in the works but it's not there yet. It turns out that for technical reasons it is harder to implement than you might think. But it is definitely on the list. Alan N1AL On Sat, 2010-07-31 at 20:35 -0400, Doug Joyce wrote: Full screen waterfall seems to be one of the settings - see the manual page 14 under Configuring the Display. 73, Doug VE3MV - Original Message - From: The Smiths notforc...@hotmail.com To: Lyle Johnson k...@wavecable.com Cc: Elecraft Email elecraft@mailman.qth.net; Jim Harris w...@q.com Sent: Saturday, July 31, 2010 8:06 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] P3 Questions If I'm not mistaken the p3 will only go down to a 2KHz display. That seems VERY wide an area to view for a cw guy who is trying to use the display to zero beat on a cw signal using the 50 hz filter width. That and the ability to adjust the notch filter just above or below the zero beat freq. Is there any talk about software to zoom in to a smaller region like 100 or 200 Hz for example? The p3 can be used for more than just finding signals across an entire band. I see great uses for it as a convenient spectrum analyzer. Also, is there a reason that you can't toggle into full screen waterfall display? I can see this being very helpful to the digital mode guys. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] P3 Questions
On Sat, 2010-07-31 at 17:06 -0700, The Smiths wrote: If I'm not mistaken the p3 will only go down to a 2KHz display. That seems VERY wide an area to view for a cw guy who is trying to use the display to zero beat on a cw signal using the 50 hz filter width. That and the ability to adjust the notch filter just above or below the zero beat freq. At the 2 kHz span in CW mode the markers are adjusted in 5 Hz steps, so you can easily center the passband, even with a 50 Hz bandwidth. Alan N1AL __ 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 Alan Does the P3 also have a peak hold function? How does the P3 integrate with the K3 for transmit signal monitoring? How many markers can you set and are the markers smart indicating peak or average values? I am using a Perseus with Linrad in TX TEST mode, its excellent. If the P3 can emulate some of Linrads TX Test mode functionality it would be a mandatory test tool for every ham station. I like the ability to monitor simultaneously average and peak signal traces in Linrad. 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 John --- On Sun, 5/2/10, Alan Bloom a...@elecraft.com wrote: From: Alan Bloom a...@elecraft.com Subject: Re: [Elecraft] P3 Questions concerning measurement To: Fred Atchley hamkt...@att.net Cc: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Sunday, May 2, 2010, 5:44 PM Hi Fred, The amplitude scale on the P3 shows the signal level in dBm at the K3's antenna connector. As the K3 attenuator and preamp are turned on or off, the P3 automatically adjusts its internal gain so the display always reads the correct signal level. The reference level and scale can be adjusted from the P3 front panel. Reference level is the level in dBm at the bottom of the display. Scale is the difference in dB between the top and bottom of the display. So, for example, if the REF LVL is -120 dBm and the SCALE is 80 dB, then signal levels between -40 dBm and -120 dBm can be seen. One complicating factor is that the P3 automatically adjusts its DSP sample rate proportional to the frequency span. As a consequence, the noise level drops as you narrow the span. (That works both for thermal noise and band noise coming in the antenna.) There is a MENU option to have the REF LVL change automatically as you vary the span to keep the noise level at the same point on the display. In this way you always get the best possible dynamic range. On my to-do list is to add a calibration routine, similar to the S-meter calibration in the K3. The signal level at the K3's IF output connector changes somewhat from band to band and from unit to unit. The accuracy should be plenty good enough for giving signal reports on the air, but for those who want to do more accurate measurements it would be nice to be able to calibrate it. Even without calibration, the RELATIVE amplitude accuracy is excellent, limited only by the display resolution. So if you tell Alex that his signal is 7 dB weaker than Monica's, he will have no grounds for argument. :=) 73, Alan N1AL On Sun, 2010-05-02 at 13:12 -0700, Fred Atchley wrote: Hi all. While waiting for the P3 I have a few questions on setup and measurement. Since I have never used LP pan or similar devices I’ll need some Elmering. Specifically there are two capabilities listed in the Elecraft P3 page that I need help on: 1. Adjustable reference level and amplitude range scaling 2. User calibration of the display to show absolute signal level in dBm Number 1 suggests two parts. It has an “adjustable reference level”. Question: WRT what reference: 0 dBm, the bottom of the spectrum display baseline or some particular value? The other part adds “amplitude range scaling”. Is this a separate function or is part 2 the conclusion of the process? My second question concerns the use of the absolute signal level in dBm. If I am assisting a Ham friend in adjusting his signal, will this capability allow me to evaluate such things as his BW and compression? I know that I can do that now by ear but will the P3 give me a visual clue WRT onset of changes over-the-air? I have an HP Spectrum Analyzer that I have used to check my own K3 on- the-bench. So the phrase “over-the-air” is the big question. These questions do not pertain to the main reason I am looking forward to the P3 (I.e. operating) but rather to the “other” useful possibilities. I appreciate the group’s Elmering. 73, Fred, AE6IC, K3 #2241, P3 #? __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
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] P3 Questions concerning measurement
Yes it does. 73,Eric WA6HHQ -- On 5/3/2010 2:52 AM, juergen wrote: Hi Alan Does the P3 also have a peak hold function? __ 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, As you might imagine for a former Agilent/HP design engineer, I have all kinds of grandiose fantasies about adding test equipment features to the P3. But panadapter operation comes first and I expect I'll be working on that for some time. Does the P3 also have a peak hold function? Yes. It's a MENU selection, but you can assign it to a programmable-function key so you can toggle it on and off with a keystroke. Averaging is available also. It has its own dedicated front-panel key function. Alan On Mon, 2010-05-03 at 02:52 -0700, juergen wrote: Hi Alan Does the P3 also have a peak hold function? How does the P3 integrate with the K3 for transmit signal monitoring? How many markers can you set and are the markers smart indicating peak or average values? I am using a Perseus with Linrad in TX TEST mode, its excellent. If the P3 can emulate some of Linrads TX Test mode functionality it would be a mandatory test tool for every ham station. I like the ability to monitor simultaneously average and peak signal traces in Linrad. 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 John --- On Sun, 5/2/10, Alan Bloom a...@elecraft.com wrote: From: Alan Bloom a...@elecraft.com Subject: Re: [Elecraft] P3 Questions concerning measurement To: Fred Atchley hamkt...@att.net Cc: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Sunday, May 2, 2010, 5:44 PM Hi Fred, The amplitude scale on the P3 shows the signal level in dBm at the K3's antenna connector. As the K3 attenuator and preamp are turned on or off, the P3 automatically adjusts its internal gain so the display always reads the correct signal level. The reference level and scale can be adjusted from the P3 front panel. Reference level is the level in dBm at the bottom of the display. Scale is the difference in dB between the top and bottom of the display. So, for example, if the REF LVL is -120 dBm and the SCALE is 80 dB, then signal levels between -40 dBm and -120 dBm can be seen. One complicating factor is that the P3 automatically adjusts its DSP sample rate proportional to the frequency span. As a consequence, the noise level drops as you narrow the span. (That works both for thermal noise and band noise coming in the antenna.) There is a MENU option to have the REF LVL change automatically as you vary the span to keep the noise level at the same point on the display. In this way you always get the best possible dynamic range. On my to-do list is to add a calibration routine, similar to the S-meter calibration in the K3. The signal level at the K3's IF output connector changes somewhat from band to band and from unit to unit. The accuracy should be plenty good enough for giving signal reports on the air, but for those who want to do more accurate measurements it would be nice to be able to calibrate it. Even without calibration, the RELATIVE amplitude accuracy is excellent, limited only by the display resolution. So if you tell Alex that his signal is 7 dB weaker than Monica's, he will have no grounds for argument. :=) 73, Alan N1AL On Sun, 2010-05-02 at 13:12 -0700, Fred Atchley wrote: Hi all. While waiting for the P3 I have a few questions on setup and measurement. Since I have never used LP pan or similar devices I’ll need some Elmering. Specifically there are two capabilities listed in the Elecraft P3 page that I need help on: 1. Adjustable reference level and amplitude range scaling 2. User calibration of the display to show absolute signal level in dBm Number 1 suggests two parts. It has an “adjustable reference level”. Question: WRT what reference: 0 dBm, the bottom of the spectrum display baseline or some particular value? The other part adds “amplitude range scaling”. Is this a separate function or is part 2 the conclusion of the process? My second question concerns the use of the absolute signal level in dBm. If I am assisting a Ham friend in adjusting his signal, will this capability allow me to evaluate such things as his BW and compression? I know that I can do that now by ear but will the P3 give me a visual clue WRT onset of changes over-the-air? I have an HP Spectrum Analyzer that I have used to check my own K3 on- the-bench. So the phrase “over-the-air” is the big question. These questions do not pertain to the main reason I am looking forward to the P3 (I.e. operating) but rather to the “other” useful possibilities. I appreciate the group’s Elmering. 73, Fred, AE6IC, K3 #2241, P3
[Elecraft] P3 Questions concerning measurement
Hi all. While waiting for the P3 I have a few questions on setup and measurement. Since I have never used LP pan or similar devices I'll need some Elmering. Specifically there are two capabilities listed in the Elecraft P3 page that I need help on: 1. Adjustable reference level and amplitude range scaling 2. User calibration of the display to show absolute signal level in dBm Number 1 suggests two parts. It has an adjustable reference level. Question: WRT what reference: 0 dBm, the bottom of the spectrum display baseline or some particular value? The other part adds amplitude range scaling. Is this a separate function or is part 2 the conclusion of the process? My second question concerns the use of the absolute signal level in dBm. If I am assisting a Ham friend in adjusting his signal, will this capability allow me to evaluate such things as his BW and compression? I know that I can do that now by ear but will the P3 give me a visual clue WRT onset of changes over-the-air? I have an HP Spectrum Analyzer that I have used to check my own K3 on- the-bench. So the phrase over-the-air is the big question. These questions do not pertain to the main reason I am looking forward to the P3 (I.e. operating) but rather to the other useful possibilities. I appreciate the group's Elmering. 73, Fred, AE6IC, K3 #2241, P3 #? __ 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 Fred, The amplitude scale on the P3 shows the signal level in dBm at the K3's antenna connector. As the K3 attenuator and preamp are turned on or off, the P3 automatically adjusts its internal gain so the display always reads the correct signal level. The reference level and scale can be adjusted from the P3 front panel. Reference level is the level in dBm at the bottom of the display. Scale is the difference in dB between the top and bottom of the display. So, for example, if the REF LVL is -120 dBm and the SCALE is 80 dB, then signal levels between -40 dBm and -120 dBm can be seen. One complicating factor is that the P3 automatically adjusts its DSP sample rate proportional to the frequency span. As a consequence, the noise level drops as you narrow the span. (That works both for thermal noise and band noise coming in the antenna.) There is a MENU option to have the REF LVL change automatically as you vary the span to keep the noise level at the same point on the display. In this way you always get the best possible dynamic range. On my to-do list is to add a calibration routine, similar to the S-meter calibration in the K3. The signal level at the K3's IF output connector changes somewhat from band to band and from unit to unit. The accuracy should be plenty good enough for giving signal reports on the air, but for those who want to do more accurate measurements it would be nice to be able to calibrate it. Even without calibration, the RELATIVE amplitude accuracy is excellent, limited only by the display resolution. So if you tell Alex that his signal is 7 dB weaker than Monica's, he will have no grounds for argument. :=) 73, Alan N1AL On Sun, 2010-05-02 at 13:12 -0700, Fred Atchley wrote: Hi all. While waiting for the P3 I have a few questions on setup and measurement. Since I have never used LP pan or similar devices I’ll need some Elmering. Specifically there are two capabilities listed in the Elecraft P3 page that I need help on: 1. Adjustable reference level and amplitude range scaling 2. User calibration of the display to show absolute signal level in dBm Number 1 suggests two parts. It has an “adjustable reference level”. Question: WRT what reference: 0 dBm, the bottom of the spectrum display baseline or some particular value? The other part adds “amplitude range scaling”. Is this a separate function or is part 2 the conclusion of the process? My second question concerns the use of the absolute signal level in dBm. If I am assisting a Ham friend in adjusting his signal, will this capability allow me to evaluate such things as his BW and compression? I know that I can do that now by ear but will the P3 give me a visual clue WRT onset of changes over-the-air? I have an HP Spectrum Analyzer that I have used to check my own K3 on- the-bench. So the phrase “over-the-air” is the big question. These questions do not pertain to the main reason I am looking forward to the P3 (I.e. operating) but rather to the “other” useful possibilities. I appreciate the group’s Elmering. 73, Fred, AE6IC, K3 #2241, P3 #? __ 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
