Guy-
It would appear that some K-3 owners really enjoy dancing around wasting time and energy "dancing the AGC up and down" ... and forever fooling with DSP adjustments... but there are some of us who do not enjoy that at all! For me, there are MUCH better uses of time when running during a contest than fooling around dancing with the AGC & DSP settings. Further, dancing with the AGC & DSP simply isn't neccessary in a well engineered modern day radio. Therefore, "dancing with the AGC should be optional for those who enjoy doing so. 73, Richard It may be a dance, but hopefully careful intelligent musing over the matter is convincing people that they should get the ambient well down in the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) operating range. If they do, a -99 threshold is a -109 threshold, and further backing off RF gain can make it a -119 or -129 threshold as far as the ADC is concerned, and headroom is being used for what headroom should be used for. Maybe the variable gain by band in the MP (with a menu override) was really a better strategy for a default. This same issue dogged Orion owners, and by the chatter a lot of them never understood either. REPLY: INDEED IT WAS! BUT THE FACT IS WHETHER THE VARIABLE GAIN WAS SET ON OR OFF THE MP'S AGC WAS A JOY TO USE AND LISTEN TO. 73, Guy. ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
Richard,
All controls are not for everyone. There are those who "just want to operate", and the default setting should be their choice. For those who want performance enhancement, then several of us are trying to give instructions about how to effectively do that - because the K3 does provide those performance enhancement tools. We are not making up for deficiencies in the K3 design, but are talking about how to best use the tools available for extreme operating circumstances. These suggestions may not be for everyone. Those performance enhancement tools will be used differently depending on the circumstances of band conditions, antenna selection, and operator preferences. Not everyone will want or need to use those tools. Comparing it to driving a high performance vehicle. If you just want to cruise the streets, the normal settings will suffice, but if you want maximum performance on the race track, you will want to use all the tools at your disposal, and customize them for the track being used and the driver's preferences (these may be different for every race). Those who want to just use the standard setting for this "race" will likely not come in as front-runners, but they certainly can participate. Just how much you want to "dance the AGC up and down" is a decision each owner must decide for him/herself, no one answer fits all. Use the default settings if you do not want to make any decisions or do not want to do any experimenting (trial runs). In the meantime, the information gleaned from the various comments here will allow those interested in fine tuning their K3 to do so in an intelligent and orderly manner. 73, Don W3FPR [hidden email] wrote: > Guy- > > It would appear that some K-3 owners really enjoy dancing around wasting > time and energy "dancing the AGC up and down" ... and forever fooling with > DSP adjustments... but there are some of us who do not enjoy that at all! > For me, there are MUCH better uses of time when running during a contest > than fooling around dancing with the AGC & DSP settings. Further, dancing > with the AGC & DSP simply isn't neccessary in a well engineered modern day > radio. Therefore, "dancing with the AGC should be optional for those who > enjoy doing so. > > 73, > Richard > > Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
Well said!
I'm just glad I bought my K3 before I got too involved in some of the discussion on here. If I hadn't I might not have done it and then I would be missing out on this wonderful radio. To paraphrase what some others have said: "This one is a keeper and I am taking it with me to my final resting place!" Rick K6LE #3757 On 2/8/2010, at 6:29 , Don Wilhelm wrote: > Richard, > > All controls are not for everyone. There are those who "just want to > operate", and the default setting should be their choice. > For those who want performance enhancement, then several of us are > trying to give instructions about how to effectively do that - because > the K3 does provide those performance enhancement tools. We are not > making up for deficiencies in the K3 design, but are talking about how > to best use the tools available for extreme operating circumstances. > These suggestions may not be for everyone. > > Those performance enhancement tools will be used differently depending > on the circumstances of band conditions, antenna selection, and operator > preferences. Not everyone will want or need to use those tools. > > Comparing it to driving a high performance vehicle. If you just want to > cruise the streets, the normal settings will suffice, but if you want > maximum performance on the race track, you will want to use all the > tools at your disposal, and customize them for the track being used and > the driver's preferences (these may be different for every race). Those > who want to just use the standard setting for this "race" will likely > not come in as front-runners, but they certainly can participate. > > Just how much you want to "dance the AGC up and down" is a decision each > owner must decide for him/herself, no one answer fits all. Use the > default settings if you do not want to make any decisions or do not want > to do any experimenting (trial runs). In the meantime, the information > gleaned from the various comments here will allow those interested in > fine tuning their K3 to do so in an intelligent and orderly manner. > > 73, > Don W3FPR ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
In reply to this post by RLVZ
I've experimented almost daily during the last two Winter seasons
searching 160M CW signals and making a few contacts. Not S9+, not loud and crowded Contesting or operating EU from the East Coast of NA, but typically weak signals from the middle of KL7. I'm under the Aurora's influence in a typical S5-7 city noise floor, even with 100-150Hz filters enabled and all of the K3's arsenal brought to bear. It's typically S9+10-15 at 2.4 KHz for me. I have an Inv-L up 70'/out 55' with seven tuned elevated radials, and a rotatable Wellbrook receiving loop located on a 120x120' city lot surrounded by three power distribution lines. Yea I know - move. If I only used AGC-on to hear the weak I may as well find another hobby. ATT on, RF (IF) gain up or down, doesn't matter. Threshold 08, Slope 000, filter gain up or down, doesn't matter. If the AGC (S or F) is used, the weak blend into the noise floor. I typically listen at a 450-500Hz tone. However, if I turn the AGC off I can usually fine tune the AF and RF levels well enough hear, and usually work all heard. On 160M I've yet to hear as well with the AGC enabled as with it off. Loud signals well out of my noise floor and on higher bands are another matter. 73, Gary NL7Y ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
In reply to this post by Rick Prather
Fully agree !
Race cars need fine (and often) tuning to get their best for each races, K3's are the same. But my main main thing is to enjoy and have a lot of fun to chase the weak signal, specially in big pilups in SSB with my exotic callsign. Using for ssb FC: 0.95 and Width: 1.6k (6k, 2.8 & 1.8k filter installed) AGC mainly OFF in that case and do not attempt I will respond first to the biggest signal. Use the N1EU AGC settings http://n1eu.com/ with good results. Personal rule: ssb=qro if needed but cw, exclusively qrp max 5w or qrpp. MIC= MH2 and SONY MDR 7505 Headset, Keys: Vibroplex + straight key Siemens Baumuster T1, both connected. Bst 73's Philippe A65BI (F5LTB) k3#3616 Elecraft, by Hams, for Hams...What else ! >>> K6LE <[hidden email]> 09-02-2010 6:46 >>> Well said! I'm just glad I bought my K3 before I got too involved in some of the discussion on here. If I hadn't I might not have done it and then I would be missing out on this wonderful radio. To paraphrase what some others have said: "This one is a keeper and I am taking it with me to my final resting place!" Rick K6LE #3757 On 2/8/2010, at 6:29 , Don Wilhelm wrote: > Richard, > > All controls are not for everyone. There are those who "just want to > operate", and the default setting should be their choice. > For those who want performance enhancement, then several of us are > trying to give instructions about how to effectively do that - because > the K3 does provide those performance enhancement tools. We are not > making up for deficiencies in the K3 design, but are talking about how > to best use the tools available for extreme operating circumstances. > These suggestions may not be for everyone. > > Those performance enhancement tools will be used differently depending > on the circumstances of band conditions, antenna selection, and operator > preferences. Not everyone will want or need to use those tools. > > Comparing it to driving a high performance vehicle. If you just want to > cruise the streets, the normal settings will suffice, but if you want > maximum performance on the race track, you will want to use all the > tools at your disposal, and customize them for the track being used and > the driver's preferences (these may be different for every race). Those > who want to just use the standard setting for this "race" will likely > not come in as front-runners, but they certainly can participate. > > Just how much you want to "dance the AGC up and down" is a decision each > owner must decide for him/herself, no one answer fits all. Use the > default settings if you do not want to make any decisions or do not want > to do any experimenting (trial runs). In the meantime, the information > gleaned from the various comments here will allow those interested in > fine tuning their K3 to do so in an intelligent and orderly manner. > > 73, > Don W3FPR ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] 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:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
In reply to this post by RLVZ
Hi Richard,
The "Dance" referred to the posted conversations about AGC, not changing settings while operating the K3. The only time I monkey with DSP and the AGC is when I'm testing something out. And before all the testing the last couple of weeks, I had not changed the AGC settings in over a year. Likewise I had not changed where PRE/ATT are set per band since that's been available. I never need to touch AGC or DSP config settings in a contest. I change the RF gain occasionally as a band opens and closes, but not really that much. I am well acquainted with MP's. I would agree with you on the MP's AGC, to a point. The MP's audio was smooth. I still own an MP and use it from time to time (as I do a 75A3 and a Yaesu FT101ZD). I have used maybe ten different MP's over the last decade, but it has been forever replaced as the prime rig by the K3. At NY4A when we gather for the multi/op DX contest operations, for a decade we brought in extra MP's to go with Howie's MP's. My MP was the first one we used out there. We did all the key-click mods, did the AGC mod where the MP's fast AGC was TOO fast on CW and mushed the CW in pileups (sound familiar?). In the K3 that's a setting and a choice. There have been 10 different operators out at the DX wars at NY4A over the decade, all serious contest guys, with wins in ARRL and CQ DX and WPX. Among them they owned 9 MP's. Two MP owners (3 MP's) are no longer active on the bands. The other six MPs are replaced with K3's. Among the 8 operators still active there are 7 K3's, an eighth K3 that we hope will be built for the ARRL DX CW, and one op is waiting for a budget opportunity to replace his Pro III with a ninth K3 for the diversity on 160. One of the ops replaced his Kenwood main rig with an Orion II which he prefers over the K3 but now only brings to NY4A as a backup in case we blow up a position. We have used his Orion at a run position several times but most of the ops originally found it hard to get used to, and the menu RF gain was a never-ending source of confusion the first time anyone used it. Those of us who have learned the Orion have no qualms about using it. Yet six of the seven ops who used both a K3 and an Orion bought K3's. One thing that NOBODY misses from the MP days is the extra layer of crud at the bottom of every band added by its RF/IF string. K3 complaints have been dealt with by mods and firmware changes. Howie is happy with his two fairly early K3's and has to be goaded into updating his firmware so that we're all at the same level and don't lose features we've gotten used to. 73, Guy. On Mon, Feb 8, 2010 at 8:11 PM, <[hidden email]> wrote: > Guy- > > It would appear that some K-3 owners really enjoy dancing around wasting > time and energy "dancing the AGC up and down" ... and forever fooling with > DSP adjustments... but there are some of us who do not enjoy that at all! > For me, there are MUCH better uses of time when running during a contest > than fooling around dancing with the AGC & DSP settings. Further, dancing > with the AGC & DSP simply isn't neccessary in a well engineered modern day > radio. Therefore, "dancing with the AGC should be optional for those who > enjoy doing so. > > 73, > Richard > > > It may be a dance, but hopefully careful intelligent musing over the matter > is convincing people that they should get the ambient well down in the > analog-to-digital converter (ADC) operating range. If they do, a -99 threshold > is a -109 threshold, and further backing off RF gain can make it a -119 or > -129 threshold as far as the ADC is concerned, and headroom is being used > for what headroom should be used for. > > Maybe the variable gain by band in the MP (with a menu override) was > really a better strategy for a default. This same issue dogged Orion > owners, and by the chatter a lot of them never understood either. REPLY: > INDEED IT WAS! BUT THE FACT IS WHETHER THE VARIABLE GAIN WAS SET ON OR OFF > THE MP'S AGC WAS A JOY TO USE AND LISTEN TO. > > 73, Guy. > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > 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:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
In reply to this post by RLVZ
For me, there are MUCH better uses of time when running during a contest
than fooling around dancing with the AGC & DSP settings. Further, dancing with the AGC & DSP simply isn't neccessary Totally agree! We hams should not be experimenting with our equipment, we should just buy a radio and make contacts. No need at all to waste any time on useless studying the working and technology of our gear. This has totally nothing to do with hamradio. ahum... 73' Paul PD0PSB |
Hi Paul,
Where is the Ham spirit, even if we are not able today to do our own equipment as during the past. Modern Hams became lazzy because technology give us everything on a plate without any efforts ! May be I'm jurassic but Elecraft waked up my Ham spirit after decades of using commercial rigs, professionally and on the Ham side. Bst 73's Philippe K3#3616 By Hams, for Hams...What else ! Philippe TROTTET Head of Field Telecom Unit - DUBAI United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees International Humanitarian City Office Building Nº3 - Room 2, 1st Floor Doha Street PO BOX: 506013 DUBAI - U.A.E. Dubai time: GMT +4 W: Sunday to Thursday HQ Ext: 7120 Vsat: xx 41 22 7120 External: +971 4 3601753 +41 22 739 7120 Mobile: +971 504531756 Website: www.unhcr.org ( http://www.unhcr.org/ ) >>> pd0psb <[hidden email]> 09-02-2010 11:50 >>> For me, there are MUCH better uses of time when running during a contest than fooling around dancing with the AGC & DSP settings. Further, dancing with the AGC & DSP simply isn't neccessary Totally agree! We hams should not be experimenting with our equipment, we should just buy a radio and make contacts. No need at all to waste any time on useless studying the working and technology of our gear. This has totally nothing to do with hamradio. ahum... 73' Paul PD0PSB -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/AGC-DSP-Rain-Dance-tp4538336p4539741.html Sent from the [K3] mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] 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:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
In reply to this post by pd0psb
Hi Paul,
Where is the Ham spirit, even if we are not able today to do our own equipment as during the past. Modern Hams became lazzy because technology give us everything on a plate without any efforts ! May be I'm jurassic but Elecraft waked up my Ham spirit after decades of using commercial rigs, professionally and on the Ham side. Bst 73's Philippe A65BI K3#3616 By Hams, for Hams...What else ! Philippe TROTTET Head of Field Telecom Unit - DUBAI United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees International Humanitarian City Office Building Nº3 - Room 2, 1st Floor Doha Street PO BOX: 506013 DUBAI - U.A.E. Dubai time: GMT +4 W: Sunday to Thursday HQ Ext: 7120 Vsat: xx 41 22 7120 External: +971 4 3601753 +41 22 739 7120 Mobile: +971 504531756 Website: www.unhcr.org ( http://www.unhcr.org/ ) >>> pd0psb <[hidden email]> 09-02-2010 11:50 >>> For me, there are MUCH better uses of time when running during a contest than fooling around dancing with the AGC & DSP settings. Further, dancing with the AGC & DSP simply isn't neccessary Totally agree! We hams should not be experimenting with our equipment, we should just buy a radio and make contacts. No need at all to waste any time on useless studying the working and technology of our gear. This has totally nothing to do with hamradio. ahum... 73' Paul PD0PSB -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/AGC-DSP-Rain-Dance-tp4538336p4539741.html Sent from the [K3] mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] 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:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4
Maybe I'm not awake yet, but I'm trying to figure out what the differences
are between a KXV3A, and a KXV3 with the KXV3 RXA board. I'm getting close to receiving a K144XV board (ordered at Dayton) and need to know if I need the KXV3A_UPGR to work with it, or will the KXV3 with the KXV3 RXA board work. Its been awhile since I ordered the K144XV (10 months ago) and I seem to have lost track of the situation. Thanks in advance for any information... 73 Jeff kb2m ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
In reply to this post by Philippe Trottet
Phillipe
Mine has 6.0, 2.8, 1.8, 1.0, and 500hz I keep dxing every night on 40M with the 1.8 roofer engaged and the DSP set at same BW with the width at 1.0 and what impress me the most is how I can be at just 2Khz away from a signal of 20db over S9 and still be able to pull a 55 to 57 signal from Europe without been bothered by the close station,I have never been able to do this with any of the good radios I owned before. I am using also the AGC settings of N1EU with satisfactory results. Like I said,its a total enjoyment to operate this K3 73 AD4C "For a refined ham it is compulsory to own a k3" --- On Tue, 2/9/10, Philippe Trottet <[hidden email]> wrote: From: Philippe Trottet <[hidden email]> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] AGC & DSP Rain Dance To: "K6LE" <[hidden email]>, [hidden email] Cc: "Elecraft Reflector" <[hidden email]> Date: Tuesday, February 9, 2010, 5:21 AM Fully agree ! Race cars need fine (and often) tuning to get their best for each races, K3's are the same. But my main main thing is to enjoy and have a lot of fun to chase the weak signal, specially in big pilups in SSB with my exotic callsign. Using for ssb FC: 0.95 and Width: 1.6k (6k, 2.8 & 1.8k filter installed) AGC mainly OFF in that case and do not attempt I will respond first to the biggest signal. Use the N1EU AGC settings http://n1eu.com/ with good results. Personal rule: ssb=qro if needed but cw, exclusively qrp max 5w or qrpp. MIC= MH2 and SONY MDR 7505 Headset, Keys: Vibroplex + straight key Siemens Baumuster T1, both connected. Bst 73's Philippe A65BI (F5LTB) k3#3616 Elecraft, by Hams, for Hams...What else ! >>> K6LE <[hidden email]> 09-02-2010 6:46 >>> Well said! I'm just glad I bought my K3 before I got too involved in some of the discussion on here. If I hadn't I might not have done it and then I would be missing out on this wonderful radio. To paraphrase what some others have said: "This one is a keeper and I am taking it with me to my final resting place!" Rick K6LE #3757 On 2/8/2010, at 6:29 , Don Wilhelm wrote: > Richard, > > All controls are not for everyone. There are those who "just want to > operate", and the default setting should be their choice. > For those who want performance enhancement, then several of us are > trying to give instructions about how to effectively do that - because > the K3 does provide those performance enhancement tools. We are not > making up for deficiencies in the K3 design, but are talking about how > to best use the tools available for extreme operating circumstances. > These suggestions may not be for everyone. > > Those performance enhancement tools will be used differently depending > on the circumstances of band conditions, antenna selection, and operator > preferences. Not everyone will want or need to use those tools. > > Comparing it to driving a high performance vehicle. If you just want to > cruise the streets, the normal settings will suffice, but if you want > maximum performance on the race track, you will want to use all the > tools at your disposal, and customize them for the track being used and > the driver's preferences (these may be different for every race). Those > who want to just use the standard setting for this "race" will likely > not come in as front-runners, but they certainly can participate. > > Just how much you want to "dance the AGC up and down" is a decision each > owner must decide for him/herself, no one answer fits all. Use the > default settings if you do not want to make any decisions or do not want > to do any experimenting (trial runs). In the meantime, the information > gleaned from the various comments here will allow those interested in > fine tuning their K3 to do so in an intelligent and orderly manner. > > 73, > Don W3FPR ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] 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:[hidden email] 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:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
In reply to this post by Philippe Trottet
Actually, I think Paul was just joking ;-)
73 Barry N1EU
|
You tuned in correctly :-)
73' Paul Actually, I think Paul was just joking ;-) 73 Barry N1EU |
In reply to this post by Jeff kb2m
Jeff,
I am not certain what you are referring to as "a KXV3 with the KXV3 RXA board". If you are referring to the RX Antenna, I believe that always has been a part of the KXV3. If there was a different KXV3 RXA version, would someone please inform me. Yes, the KXV3A is required to install the K144XV - the "A" version has the switching for the K144XV, and the "non-A" version does not. I would say you need to order the KXV3_UPGR so you can be prepared when your K144XV arrives. 73, Don W3FPR Jeff KB2M wrote: > Maybe I'm not awake yet, but I'm trying to figure out what the differences > are between a KXV3A, and a KXV3 with the KXV3 RXA board. I'm getting close > to receiving a K144XV board (ordered at Dayton) and need to know if I need > the KXV3A_UPGR to work with it, or will the KXV3 with the KXV3 RXA board > work. Its been awhile since I ordered the K144XV (10 months ago) and I seem > to have lost track of the situation. Thanks in advance for any > information... > > 73 Jeff kb2m > > Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
In reply to this post by RLVZ
I assembled my K3 less then a week ago, and I don't see where you have to dance around at all. There are certainly a lot of different settings, and I am sure I will spend quite a bit of time finding the right settings for certain conditions. But that is a good thing. Flexibility is good, and once dialed in, you just operate.
The AGC on my Mark-V does operate better then the K3 AGC, at least with the default settings. But then default setting is the key word, as I haven't messed with the K3 settings. From what I read, there may be some changes needed for the K3 AGC algorithms, but unlike some rigs, those changes will amount to a firmware download. For weak signal CW, I have found that AGC isn't so good anyway, and turning it off on the K3 works magic. All you need to do is adjust the RF gain, and the results are well worth a small effort. So simple a caveman can do it. Personally, I want all the adjustment I can get. The Mark-V is a good radio, and I still prefer it for SSB over the K3. But, I have found that the K3 Noise Blanker is a bit better then the Mark-V with some QRN, so it will get some use on SSB for sure. On CW and digital, the K3 just blows the Mark-V out of the water, and every other rig I have ever used. Maybe the K3 isn't for those that don't want to learn how to actually operate a receiver properly. For those that do know how to use the controls, the K3 is a masterpiece in functionality. The ergonomics aren't like a full sized rig, so it takes some added effort to learn the controls, but in less then a week, I find it easy to do what I want, and while not as convenient as the Mark-V, when the conditions are tough, the K3 performs. Maybe the FT-5000 will have the best compromise in easy function and great performance, but I don't need another giant brick that I can't take portable, and I sure wont play that much money for a rig. If it's a dance, it's a dance in heaven. :>) 73, Bob <<<<<<<<< It would appear that some K-3 owners really enjoy dancing around wasting time and energy "dancing the AGC up and down" ... and forever fooling with DSP adjustments...>>>>>>>>>>> |
In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4
The RXA mod had nothing to do with the transverters. It increased the isoation of the receive antenna on the KXV3 board.
Jeff, you need to get the KXV3A, and there is an upgrade purchase price that gives you a break and you have to send your old KXV3 back to Elecraft. Stan Rife W5EWA --- On Tue, 2/9/10, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote: From: Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KXV3 RXA board vs KXV3A To: "Jeff KB2M" <[hidden email]> Cc: [hidden email] Date: Tuesday, February 9, 2010, 6:49 AM Jeff, I am not certain what you are referring to as "a KXV3 with the KXV3 RXA board". If you are referring to the RX Antenna, I believe that always has been a part of the KXV3. If there was a different KXV3 RXA version, would someone please inform me. Yes, the KXV3A is required to install the K144XV - the "A" version has the switching for the K144XV, and the "non-A" version does not. I would say you need to order the KXV3_UPGR so you can be prepared when your K144XV arrives. 73, Don W3FPR Jeff KB2M wrote: > Maybe I'm not awake yet, but I'm trying to figure out what the differences > are between a KXV3A, and a KXV3 with the KXV3 RXA board. I'm getting close > to receiving a K144XV board (ordered at Dayton) and need to know if I need > the KXV3A_UPGR to work with it, or will the KXV3 with the KXV3 RXA board > work. Its been awhile since I ordered the K144XV (10 months ago) and I seem > to have lost track of the situation. Thanks in advance for any > information... > > 73 Jeff kb2m > > Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] 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:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html |
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