Announcing the Elecraft K3 Transceiver: 10/100W, 160-6m, Assembled or Kit

[KK7P]

> Few questions related to the new panadapter kit I'm working on:
>
> 1. What is the IF frequency at the K3's IF output port?

8.215 MHz

> 2. Is the K3's IF output port wideband (ahead of the roofing filter) or
> narrowband?

Wideband.

> 3. Is the IF frequency sense inverted on some bands, as is the K2?

6 meters uses low side injection, all other bands use high side injection.

73,

Lyle KK7P

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[David A. Belsley]

Thanks, Lyle.  What, then, is the firmware upgrade method if one  
doesn't have a windows thing?

thanks,

dave

On Apr 28, 2007, at 9:14 AM, Lyle Johnson wrote:

>>   This looks beautiful.  Does the firmware download facility work  
>> with all platforms (Mac as well)? or is it only for Windows-based  
>> things?
>
> Currently it is a windoze app.
>
> Lyle KK7P
>

--------------------------------------------
david a belsley
professor emeritus at boston college


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[KK7P]

>>> Does the IF output follow rcvr selection?
>>
>> It is main Rx.

Error on my part. It is main Rx *or* Sub Rx.  At *present* there is no
provision to select between these choices.

Also, the IF output has a separate JFET buffer tapped after the Mixer IF
buffer (and before the noise blanker) to help isolate reverse effects
from whatever might be attached to the IF output jack.

73,

Lyle KK7P

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[Jack Smith-6]

Thanks. No problem working with those specifications.

Jack


Lyle Johnson wrote:

>> Few questions related to the new panadapter kit I'm working on:
>>
>> 1. What is the IF frequency at the K3's IF output port?
>
> 8.215 MHz
>
>> 2. Is the K3's IF output port wideband (ahead of the roofing filter)
>> or narrowband?
>
> Wideband.
>
>> 3. Is the IF frequency sense inverted on some bands, as is the K2?
>
> 6 meters uses low side injection, all other bands use high side
> injection.
>
> 73,
>
> Lyle KK7P
>
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>

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[KK7P]

Hello Dave!

> Thanks, Lyle.  What, then, is the firmware upgrade method if one doesn't
> have a windows thing?

I see two choices:

(a) run windows anyway (late model Macs can do this, and x86-based
Wintel computers can usually bhe set up to boot a Windows partition).

(b) wait until the app is ported to other platforms.  Such porting is
planned.

In the very near term, Windows will be needed to perform updates.

73,

Lyle KK7P

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[Mike Cizek W3MC]

Hello Lyle - here are a few more questions:

1. How does receive performance compare to the K-2; is the raw performance
much better, or are there just more features and flexibility?

2. You said RF Gain is seperate for main & sub rcvr?  There are 2 AF Gain
controls but only one RF - how does this work?

3. Are  the "roofing filters" regular xtal filters - they are in the 8 MHZ
IF - and the DSP filtering in the 15 kHz IF?

4. Is TX general coverage or ham bands only?  I'm a Navy MARS op.

5.  How fast is the QSK compared to the K-2?

6. There are RX ANT IN and OUT jacks on the back panel - what is the OUT
jack for - another receiver?

Thanks for all the answers this morning.   Hope you don't get karpal tunnel
from all the typing.

73,

Mike Cizek  W3MC
[hidden email]
FOC # 1739
HSC # 1849


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[KK7P]

Hello Mike!

> 1. How does receive performance compare to the K-2; is the raw
> performance much better, or are there just more features and flexibility?

Better :-)

> 2. You said RF Gain is seperate for main & sub rcvr?  There are 2 AF
> Gain controls but only one RF - how does this work?

With limited panel space on the radio yet wanting to offer full
flexibility, we have a "B.SET" button that maps the front panel controls
to the subreceiver, among other traits.

When this occurs, the panel is controlling the sub receiver (except for
AF gain as you noted).  This lets you set up the DSP selectivity
controls and RF gain among other things.  It also lets the sub receiver
take over the S Meter display, for example.

> 3. Are  the "roofing filters" regular xtal filters - they are in the 8
> MHZ IF - and the DSP filtering in the 15 kHz IF?

Correct on both points. The DSP also includes audio filters, Tx and Rx
equalizers, etc.

> 4. Is TX general coverage or ham bands only?  I'm a Navy MARS op.

Tx can go outside the ham bands, but is locked out in firmware.  MARS
operation will be possible, however.

> 5.  How fast is the QSK compared to the K-2?

Faster.  Much faster.

> 6. There are RX ANT IN and OUT jacks on the back panel - what is the OUT
> jack for - another receiver?

Yes, or adding a "field day filter" or ??? in line with the receiver.

> Thanks for all the answers this morning.   Hope you don't get karpal
> tunnel from all the typing.

Thanks!

73,

Lyle KK7P

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[Thom LaCosta]

On another list, some users who have both Drake equipment and K2's have been
discussing the relative merits of the Drake NoiseBlankers versus the K2 NB.

There have also been discussions relative to passband tuning.

I'd be very intetested in your comments on the above, and would be more than
happy to pass them on to the folks on the drakelist....a fair number us "wlak
both sides of the street" in terms of rigs.

Thanks

73,Thom-k3hrn
www.zerobeat.net Home of QRP Web Ring, Drakelist home page,Drake Web Ring,
QRP IRC channel, Drake IRC Channel, Elecraft Owners Database
www.tlchost.net/hosting/  ***  Web Hosting as low as 3.49/month
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[dj7mgq]

Hi,

>> 4. Is TX general coverage or ham bands only?  I'm a Navy MARS op.
>
> Tx can go outside the ham bands, but is locked out in firmware.
> MARS operation will be possible, however.

I've playing with the idea of using 35 to 45MHz as an IF for
transverters, e.g. for full coverage of the 430-440MHz band.

Could this be done with the K3?

vy 73 de toby

PS: The more you know, the more you want to know....

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[wayne burdick]

Hi Jack,

Figured we'd hear from you :)


Jack Smith wrote:

> Few questions related to the new panadapter kit I'm working on:
>
> 1. What is the IF frequency at the K3's IF output port?

8.215 MHz.


> 2. Is the K3's IF output port wideband (ahead of the roofing filter)
> or narrowband?

Wideband.


> 3. Is the IF frequency sense inverted on some bands, as is the K2?

Only on 6 meters. In the K3 case, this is totally transparent to the
operator. But yes, the Panadapter will see the inversion since it's
pre-DSP.

Wayne
N6KR


---

http://www.elecraft.com

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[Roger Marrotte]

I see that the back panel of the K3 has a 15 pin "ACC" jack.  It looks like
a video connector for a computer monitor?  Is this what it is to be used
for? Or is it more like the acc jacks on the back of my Yaesu which contain
digital data, band data, FSK functions, 12v power, PTT, etc.?

I'm drooling and my birthday is in JULY!

Roger, W1EM  

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[KK7P]

> I see that the back panel of the K3 has a 15 pin "ACC" jack.  It looks like
> a video connector for a computer monitor?

Same connector type, but not for video.

> Is this what it is to be used for? Or is it more like the acc
> jacks on the back of my Yaesu

Yes.

> which contain digital data, band data, FSK functions, 12v power, PTT, etc.?

yes, yes, yes, no, yes, yes -- all but the 12V power, which is on a
separate connector.

73,

Lyle KK7P

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[Bob Nielsen]

On Apr 28, 2007, at 7:17 AM, Lyle Johnson wrote:

> Hello Dave!
>
>> Thanks, Lyle.  What, then, is the firmware upgrade method if one  
>> doesn't have a windows thing?
>
> I see two choices:
>
> (a) run windows anyway (late model Macs can do this, and x86-based  
> Wintel computers can usually bhe set up to boot a Windows partition).
>
> (b) wait until the app is ported to other platforms.  Such porting  
> is planned.
>
> In the very near term, Windows will be needed to perform updates.
>
> 73,
>
> Lyle KK7P
>

Other possibilities--Virtual PC on a PPC Mac (slow as molasses, but  
that shouldn't be a problem),
Wine, Win4Lin or VMware on Linux.

73 - Bob, N7XY


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[David P SChornak]

Where are the pictures for the k3?


-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Roger Marrotte
Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2007 11:31 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Announcing the Elecraft K3 Transceiver: 10/100W,
160-6m,Assembled or Kit


I see that the back panel of the K3 has a 15 pin "ACC" jack.  It looks like
a video connector for a computer monitor?  Is this what it is to be used
for? Or is it more like the acc jacks on the back of my Yaesu which contain
digital data, band data, FSK functions, 12v power, PTT, etc.?

I'm drooling and my birthday is in JULY!

Roger, W1EM  

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[Jozef Hand-Boniakowski]

Looking at the K3 backside, an DB9 serial connector. Was thought given
to USB and/or Ethernet?

Jozef WB2MIC

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[KK7P]

> Where are the pictures for the k3?

< URL:http://www.elecraft.com/K3/ >

73,

Lyle KK7P

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[KK7P]

> Looking at the K3 backside, an DB9 serial connector. Was thought given
> to USB and/or Ethernet?

Indeed it was.  By using RS232, we allow older computers to connect with
a simple cable, and USB-equipped computers to connect using a cable with
some electronics in it.

I successfully operate and load firmware into my K3 using both methods.
  And believe me, as the guy writing the DSP code, I do a lot of code
loading, so I've exercised this interface a *lot* !

Fortunately, thanks to its plug-in PC board modular design, the K3 has
the potential for future options using dedicated USB, Ethernet -- or ???

73,

Lyle KK7P

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[Simon (HB9DRV)]

What maximum speed does the RS232 interface support?

FWIW I totally support use of RS232, it's the most flexible solution.

Simon Brown, HB9DRV

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lyle Johnson" <[hidden email]>
>
> Indeed it was.  By using RS232, we allow older computers to connect with
> a simple cable, and USB-equipped computers to connect using a cable with
> some electronics in it.
>
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[KK7P]

> What maximum speed does the RS232 interface support?

38k4 is what we use for firmware downloads, and is the current maximum
port speed supported.

73,

Lyle KK7P

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[Simon (HB9DRV)]

Thanks, a big improvement on the K2's 4800.

Simon Brown, HB9DRV

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lyle Johnson" <[hidden email]>


>> What maximum speed does the RS232 interface support?
>
> 38k4 is what we use for firmware downloads, and is the current maximum
> port speed supported.

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