Elecraft

CW Skimmer & K3

Classic

List

Threaded

31 messages Options

David Gilbert

Re: CW Skimmer & K3

Just to clarify, the +/- 12KHz limitation when using CW SKimmer in IF
Mode is a function of the software itself imposed by the author of that
application for reasons that have never been clear to me. CW Skimmer
will work over wider ranges when separately used with hardware like the
SDR-IQ or QS1-R, but then again the K3 isn't needed in those cases anyway.

Other SDR software like NaP3 will give a "full range" (limited by
whatever the sound card is capable of) display even when used with the
K3 IF output (plus the requisite SDR hardware like the Softrock or
LP-Pan or SDR-IQ or QS1-R or whatever), but of course won't have the
on-screen callsign/CW decoding that CW Skimmer does. And as someone
recently pointed out, you do need the KXV3A option installed in your K3
to get the IF out of the K3 in the first place.

73,
Dave AB7E

On 11/28/2012 10:54 AM, David Gilbert wrote:

>
> That's still limited to +/- 12 KHz for use with CW Skimmer.
>
> By the way, I thought I read somewhere recently that the Softrock Lite
> for use with the K3 IF was no longer offered by Tony although I could
> be wrong about that. If anyone knows for certain, please correct me.
>
> Dave AB7E
>
>
> On 11/28/2012 4:31 AM, Sam Morgan wrote:
>> check out the SoftRock Lite II SDR receiver from Tony Parks KB9RG.
>> You can use his 8.215 MHz SoftRock Lite II for K3 IF application
>> that comes with the xtal for the K3'a IF.
>>
>> Then tap the K3's IF through a buffer amp and bandpass filter from
>> Clifton Laboratories.
>>
>> Run that output into a sound card capable of at least 48khz and you
>> have your feed for the CW Skimmer software.
>>
>> <snip>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 11/28/2012 12:09 AM, Gary Smith wrote:
>>> Ah, I'd never heard of sdr-iq but I just looked for info on it and
>>> for a $500 price tag, I'm not interested. The limitation of +/- 12
>>> KHz with an additional piece of hardware doesn't thrill me either. To
>>> just have the audio be worked with has for me no practical function
>>> so I won't bother. I've heard the K3 described as a SDR radio and
>>> thought the needed outputs would be readily available. Apples &
>>> oranges I guess.
>>>
>>> That's what I needed to know & thanks.
>>>
>>> Now back to DX
>>>
>>> Gary
>>> KA1J
>

______________________________________________________________
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

David Gilbert

Re: CW Skimmer & K3

In reply to this post by k5oai

That's good news ... the Softrock has surprisingly good performance and
is certainly an inexpensive way to get involved with SDR applications.

Thanks for the correction.

73,
Dave AB7E

On 11/28/2012 11:09 AM, Sam Morgan wrote:

> here is the direct link to Tony's site called five dash inc
> where he *IS_STILL* selling the SoftRock needed for the K3 if tap:
> http://tinyurl.com/br28abo
>
> <snip>
>
>
> On 11/28/2012 11:54 AM, David Gilbert wrote:
>>
>> That's still limited to ± 12 KHz for use with CW Skimmer.
>>
>> By the way, I thought I read somewhere recently that the Softrock
>> Lite for use
>> with the K3 IF was no longer offered by Tony although I could be
>> wrong, about
>> that. If anyone knows for certain, please correct me.
>>
>> Dave AB7E
>

alsopb

Re: CW Skimmer & K3

The +/- 12 KHz limit can be overcome by a program called IBSS.
It lets you define segments for each band and how long you want SKIMMER
to spend listening in each segment.

Author is: W3OA @ roadrunner.com (delete spaces).

Used it many contest weekends. With SKIMMER on VFO B reporting spots
and IBSS, you can have a robot operator scanning the band looking for
new ones.

I use a Softrock SDR.

73 de Brian/K3KO

On 11/28/2012 18:23, David Gilbert wrote:

>
> That's good news ... the Softrock has surprisingly good performance and
> is certainly an inexpensive way to get involved with SDR applications.
>
> Thanks for the correction.
>
> 73,
> Dave AB7E
>
>
> On 11/28/2012 11:09 AM, Sam Morgan wrote:
>> here is the direct link to Tony's site called five dash inc
>> where he *IS_STILL* selling the SoftRock needed for the K3 if tap:
>> http://tinyurl.com/br28abo
>>
>> <snip>
>>
>>
>> On 11/28/2012 11:54 AM, David Gilbert wrote:
>>>
>>> That's still limited to ± 12 KHz for use with CW Skimmer.
>>>
>>> By the way, I thought I read somewhere recently that the Softrock
>>> Lite for use
>>> with the K3 IF was no longer offered by Tony although I could be
>>> wrong, about
>>> that. If anyone knows for certain, please correct me.
>>>
>>> Dave AB7E
>>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>
>
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2629/5424 - Release Date: 11/28/12
>
>
>

Tim Herrick

Re: CW Skimmer & K3

Brian, do you have a website. I get a couple of million other references to IBSS. I presently use Skimscanner but would like to
check this one out.

73,
Tim Herrick, KQ8M
Charter Member North Coast Contesters
[hidden email]

AR-Cluster V6 kq8m.no-ip.org
User Ports: 23, 7373 with local skimmer, 7374 without local skimmer
Server Ports: V6 3607, V4 Active 3605, V4 Passive 3606

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Brian Alsop
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2012 1:48 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] CW Skimmer & K3

The +/- 12 KHz limit can be overcome by a program called IBSS.
It lets you define segments for each band and how long you want SKIMMER
to spend listening in each segment.

Author is: W3OA @ roadrunner.com (delete spaces).

Used it many contest weekends. With SKIMMER on VFO B reporting spots
and IBSS, you can have a robot operator scanning the band looking for
new ones.

I use a Softrock SDR.

73 de Brian/K3KO

On 11/28/2012 18:23, David Gilbert wrote:

-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2629/5424 - Release Date: 11/28/12

______________________________________________________________
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

Gary Smith-2

Re: CW Skimmer & K3

In reply to this post by David Gilbert

Thanks for all the helpful replies. I do have the KXV3A (never used
it yet) in this K3, subreceiver too. I've considered the LP-Pan which
looks really nice and I have the LP-100A and it's stellar so I know
the LP-Pan will be as effective but can't afford to go the LP-Pan
route or the P3 either.

I just had read a little about the CW Skimmer and was curious as to
how it would be of interest to me if I tried it, it seemed like all
that was needed for it was to work was a soundcard and all would hook
up readily & the monitor would show the information. I didn't realize
all the extra accouterments needed to make it useful; I've never seen
it in operation and don't know anyone using it to go & have a look
see.

Think I'm going back to my rock & wait for some Dx to fly by for
supper.

Gary
KA1J

>
> Just to clarify, the +/- 12KHz limitation when using CW SKimmer in IF
> Mode is a function of the software itself imposed by the author of
> that application for reasons that have never been clear to me. CW
> Skimmer will work over wider ranges when separately used with hardware
> like the SDR-IQ or QS1-R, but then again the K3 isn't needed in those
> cases anyway.
>
> Other SDR software like NaP3 will give a "full range" (limited by
> whatever the sound card is capable of) display even when used with the
> K3 IF output (plus the requisite SDR hardware like the Softrock or
> LP-Pan or SDR-IQ or QS1-R or whatever), but of course won't have the
> on-screen callsign/CW decoding that CW Skimmer does. And as someone
> recently pointed out, you do need the KXV3A option installed in your
> K3 to get the IF out of the K3 in the first place.
>
> 73,
> Dave AB7E
>
>
>
> On 11/28/2012 10:54 AM, David Gilbert wrote:
> >
> > That's still limited to +/- 12 KHz for use with CW Skimmer.
> >
> > By the way, I thought I read somewhere recently that the Softrock
> > Lite for use with the K3 IF was no longer offered by Tony although I
> > could be wrong about that. If anyone knows for certain, please
> > correct me.
> >
> > Dave AB7E
> >
> >
> > On 11/28/2012 4:31 AM, Sam Morgan wrote:
> >> check out the SoftRock Lite II SDR receiver from Tony Parks KB9RG.
> >> You can use his 8.215 MHz SoftRock Lite II for K3 IF application
> >> that comes with the xtal for the K3'a IF.
> >>
> >> Then tap the K3's IF through a buffer amp and bandpass filter from
> >> Clifton Laboratories.
> >>
> >> Run that output into a sound card capable of at least 48khz and you
> >> have your feed for the CW Skimmer software.
> >>
> >> <snip>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On 11/28/2012 12:09 AM, Gary Smith wrote:
> >>> Ah, I'd never heard of sdr-iq but I just looked for info on it and
> >>> for a $500 price tag, I'm not interested. The limitation of +/- 12
> >>> KHz with an additional piece of hardware doesn't thrill me either.
> >>> To just have the audio be worked with has for me no practical
> >>> function so I won't bother. I've heard the K3 described as a SDR
> >>> radio and thought the needed outputs would be readily available.
> >>> Apples & oranges I guess.
> >>>
> >>> That's what I needed to know & thanks.
> >>>
> >>> Now back to DX
> >>>
> >>> Gary
> >>> KA1J
> >
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

Iain MacDonnell - N6ML-2

Re: CW Skimmer & K3

In reply to this post by Tim Herrick

Maybe he meant this:

http://home.roadrunner.com/~w3oa/SkimScan/

(from Google for "w3oa skimmer")

73,

~iain / N6ML

On Wed, Nov 28, 2012 at 10:56 AM, KQ8M <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Brian, do you have a website. I get a couple of million other references to IBSS. I presently use Skimscanner but would like to
> check this one out.
>
> 73,
> Tim Herrick, KQ8M
> Charter Member North Coast Contesters
> [hidden email]
>
> AR-Cluster V6 kq8m.no-ip.org
> User Ports: 23, 7373 with local skimmer, 7374 without local skimmer
> Server Ports: V6 3607, V4 Active 3605, V4 Passive 3606
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Brian Alsop
> Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2012 1:48 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] CW Skimmer & K3
>
> The +/- 12 KHz limit can be overcome by a program called IBSS.
> It lets you define segments for each band and how long you want SKIMMER
> to spend listening in each segment.
>
> Author is: W3OA @ roadrunner.com (delete spaces).
>
> Used it many contest weekends. With SKIMMER on VFO B reporting spots
> and IBSS, you can have a robot operator scanning the band looking for
> new ones.
>
> I use a Softrock SDR.
>
> 73 de Brian/K3KO
>
> On 11/28/2012 18:23, David Gilbert wrote:
>>
>> That's good news ... the Softrock has surprisingly good performance and
>> is certainly an inexpensive way to get involved with SDR applications.
>>
>> Thanks for the correction.
>>
>> 73,
>> Dave AB7E
>>
>>
>> On 11/28/2012 11:09 AM, Sam Morgan wrote:
>>> here is the direct link to Tony's site called five dash inc
>>> where he *IS_STILL* selling the SoftRock needed for the K3 if tap:
>>> http://tinyurl.com/br28abo
>>>
>>> <snip>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 11/28/2012 11:54 AM, David Gilbert wrote:
>>>>
>>>> That's still limited to ± 12 KHz for use with CW Skimmer.
>>>>
>>>> By the way, I thought I read somewhere recently that the Softrock
>>>> Lite for use
>>>> with the K3 IF was no longer offered by Tony although I could be
>>>> wrong, about
>>>> that. If anyone knows for certain, please correct me.
>>>>
>>>> Dave AB7E
>>>
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>>
>>
>> -----
>> No virus found in this message.
>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>> Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2629/5424 - Release Date: 11/28/12
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2629/5424 - Release Date: 11/28/12
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

alsopb

Re: CW Skimmer & K3

That's the guy but not the program. SKIMSCAN is for jumping from band to
band on a single frequency.

Contact him directly to get the program.

I asked him if he could mod it to scan several frequencies in a single
band-- definable for each band. He came up with IBSS.

73 de Brian/K3KO

On 11/28/2012 19:02, iain macdonnell - N6ML wrote:

> Maybe he meant this:
>
> http://home.roadrunner.com/~w3oa/SkimScan/
>
> (from Google for "w3oa skimmer")
>
> 73,
>
> ~iain / N6ML
>
>
> On Wed, Nov 28, 2012 at 10:56 AM, KQ8M <[hidden email]> wrote:
>> Brian, do you have a website. I get a couple of million other references to IBSS. I presently use Skimscanner but would like to
>> check this one out.
>>
>> 73,
>> Tim Herrick, KQ8M
>> Charter Member North Coast Contesters
>> [hidden email]
>>
>> AR-Cluster V6 kq8m.no-ip.org
>> User Ports: 23, 7373 with local skimmer, 7374 without local skimmer
>> Server Ports: V6 3607, V4 Active 3605, V4 Passive 3606
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Brian Alsop
>> Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2012 1:48 PM
>> To: [hidden email]
>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] CW Skimmer & K3
>>
>> The +/- 12 KHz limit can be overcome by a program called IBSS.
>> It lets you define segments for each band and how long you want SKIMMER
>> to spend listening in each segment.
>>
>> Author is: W3OA @ roadrunner.com (delete spaces).
>>
>> Used it many contest weekends. With SKIMMER on VFO B reporting spots
>> and IBSS, you can have a robot operator scanning the band looking for
>> new ones.
>>
>> I use a Softrock SDR.
>>
>> 73 de Brian/K3KO
>>
>> On 11/28/2012 18:23, David Gilbert wrote:
>>>
>>> That's good news ... the Softrock has surprisingly good performance and
>
>>> is certainly an inexpensive way to get involved with SDR applications.
>>>
>>> Thanks for the correction.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> Dave AB7E
>>>
>>>
>>> On 11/28/2012 11:09 AM, Sam Morgan wrote:
>>>> here is the direct link to Tony's site called five dash inc
>>>> where he *IS_STILL* selling the SoftRock needed for the K3 if tap:
>>>> http://tinyurl.com/br28abo
>>>>
>>>> <snip>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 11/28/2012 11:54 AM, David Gilbert wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> That's still limited to ± 12 KHz for use with CW Skimmer.
>>>>>
>>>>> By the way, I thought I read somewhere recently that the Softrock
>>>>> Lite for use
>>>>> with the K3 IF was no longer offered by Tony although I could be
>>>>> wrong, about
>>>>> that. If anyone knows for certain, please correct me.
>>>>>
>>>>> Dave AB7E
>>>>
>>>
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> 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
>>>
>>>
>>> -----
>>> No virus found in this message.
>>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>>> Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2629/5424 - Release Date: 11/28/12
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----
>> No virus found in this message.
>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>> Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2629/5424 - Release Date: 11/28/12
>>
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>
>
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2629/5424 - Release Date: 11/28/12
>
>
>

k5oai

Re: CW Skimmer & K3

or just enter IBSS instead of SkinScan

http://home.roadrunner.com/~w3oa/IBSS/

On 11/28/2012 1:15 PM, Brian Alsop wrote:
> That's the guy but not the program. SKIMSCAN is for jumping from band to band on
> a single frequency.
>
> Contact him directly to get the program.
>
> I asked him if he could mod it to scan several frequencies in a single band--
> definable for each band. He came up with IBSS.
>
> 73 de Brian/K3KO

--

GB & 73
K5OAI
Sam Morgan
______________________________________________________________
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

Christian AK4VV

Re: CW Skimmer & K3

In reply to this post by Christian AK4VV

Argh. Showed up in my KX3 folder. Sorry. Disregard.
On Nov 28, 2012 11:37 AM, "Christian AK4VV" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Yes. It works. Need to connect I/Q out to your E-MU and probably need
> isolation transformers to keep the noise out. The cable kit is an easy way
> to do to get there. But you probably still need to fiddle with getting
> audio isolation inline. At least I did.
>
> 73,
> Christian
> AK4VV
> On Nov 28, 2012 12:19 AM, "Gary Smith" <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> I'm always curious to try a new software & I thought CW skimmer looks
>> interesting. I'm wondering if anyone here is using it with their K3
>> and if so, what did you find was the best way to connect it to the
>> K3?
>>
>> I have both the internal Realtek soundcard built into the PC
>> motherboard and I have a E-MU USB soundcard which has XLR & 1/4"
>> inputs for left & right. There's optical & S/PDIF inputs as well but
>> the K3 doesn't have those outputs.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Gary
>> KA1J
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>>
>

David Gilbert

Re: CW Skimmer & K3

In reply to this post by alsopb

Good point ... and if you want to carry that idea a bit further you can
actually accomplish a similar thing without any SDR hardware at all.
Just use CW Skimmer in audio mode (K3 Line Out to sound card input) with
the K3 passband opened up to whatever your widest filter is, and then
use a macro application like AutoHotKey to step CW Skimmer up in
increments of approximately that bandwidth. The downside, of course, is
that it can take a while to step through an entire band. CW Skimmer
decodes plenty fast enough, but you need to delay at each jump long
enough to reasonably expect a callsign to be sent. Either that or you
just step through more quickly and let the bandmap gradually fill up as
CW Skimmer happens to stumble on each callsign.

73,
Dave AB7E

On 11/28/2012 11:47 AM, Brian Alsop wrote:

> The +/- 12 KHz limit can be overcome by a program called IBSS.
> It lets you define segments for each band and how long you want
> SKIMMER to spend listening in each segment.
>
> Author is: W3OA @ roadrunner.com (delete spaces).
>
> Used it many contest weekends. With SKIMMER on VFO B reporting spots
> and IBSS, you can have a robot operator scanning the band looking for
> new ones.
>
> I use a Softrock SDR.
>
> 73 de Brian/K3KO
>
> On 11/28/2012 18:23, David Gilbert wrote:
>>
>> That's good news ... the Softrock has surprisingly good performance and
>> is certainly an inexpensive way to get involved with SDR applications.
>>
>> Thanks for the correction.
>>
>> 73,
>> Dave AB7E
>>
>>
>> On 11/28/2012 11:09 AM, Sam Morgan wrote:
>>> here is the direct link to Tony's site called five dash inc
>>> where he *IS_STILL* selling the SoftRock needed for the K3 if tap:
>>> http://tinyurl.com/br28abo
>>>
>>> <snip>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 11/28/2012 11:54 AM, David Gilbert wrote:
>>>>
>>>> That's still limited to ± 12 KHz for use with CW Skimmer.
>>>>
>>>> By the way, I thought I read somewhere recently that the Softrock
>>>> Lite for use
>>>> with the K3 IF was no longer offered by Tony although I could be
>>>> wrong, about
>>>> that. If anyone knows for certain, please correct me.
>>>>
>>>> Dave AB7E
>>>
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>>
>>
>> -----
>> No virus found in this message.
>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>> Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2629/5424 - Release Date:
>> 11/28/12
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2629/5424 - Release Date: 11/28/12
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

David Gilbert

Re: CW Skimmer & K3

In reply to this post by Gary Smith-2

For what it may be worth, I have indeed found CW Skimmer to be useful
even when only used in audio mode (K3 Line Out fed directly to the input
of the sound card). It won't give you much of a spectrum display since
it will be limited to however wide your K3 passband filter is, but it
will do other potentially useful things.

a. It will decode callsigns and text of whatever falls within your
listening passband. You ear/brain may only lock onto one caller but CW
Skimmer will often catch more than that. Work one station and then
immediately call the next, assuming you are operating assisted.

b. The resolution of the waterfall display in CW Skimmer is
superlative, and it scrolls from right to left (meaning we can read it
normally from left to right). I have sometimes used CW Skimmer (audio
only) in Blind Mode (meaning it does not display callsigns or text)
purely for the visual representation of the Morse Code I'm receiving.
With a reasonably high resolution monitor I can get about 12 seconds of
"CW banner" running across my screen. I narrow the CW Skimmer window
vertically to just a stripe that I can squeeze between the various N1MM
logger windows, and if I miss something that has been sent to me I can
quickly glance up and usually see what it was. It takes some mental
retraining to add visual decoding to the reception process, but I read
the dots and dashes as dits and dahs so that helps. My CW recognition
isn't too bad on its own so I don't often have to use this technique,
but like many I often confuse S with H or H with 5, and it is very quick
to simply glance up and count dots for verification. It has saved me
several times from having to ask for a repeat. I even wrote some
AutoHotKey scripts to pause/unpause the CW Skimmer waterfall for those
times when I knew I missed something but couldn't immediately glance up
to check it.

c. You see how bad the clicks are on some hams' signals (assuming you
aren't overdriving your sound card and producing them internally). They
look as bad as they sound.

Whether any of that is worth the price of the program to you is another
matter, but I found that it was for me.

73,
Dave AB7E

On 11/28/2012 12:00 PM, Gary Smith wrote:

> Thanks for all the helpful replies. I do have the KXV3A (never used
> it yet) in this K3, subreceiver too. I've considered the LP-Pan which
> looks really nice and I have the LP-100A and it's stellar so I know
> the LP-Pan will be as effective but can't afford to go the LP-Pan
> route or the P3 either.
>
> I just had read a little about the CW Skimmer and was curious as to
> how it would be of interest to me if I tried it, it seemed like all
> that was needed for it was to work was a soundcard and all would hook
> up readily & the monitor would show the information. I didn't realize
> all the extra accouterments needed to make it useful; I've never seen
> it in operation and don't know anyone using it to go & have a look
> see.
>
> Think I'm going back to my rock & wait for some Dx to fly by for
> supper.
>
> Gary
> KA1J
>
>> Just to clarify, the +/- 12KHz limitation when using CW SKimmer in IF
>> Mode is a function of the software itself imposed by the author of
>> that application for reasons that have never been clear to me. CW
>> Skimmer will work over wider ranges when separately used with hardware
>> like the SDR-IQ or QS1-R, but then again the K3 isn't needed in those
>> cases anyway.
>>
>> Other SDR software like NaP3 will give a "full range" (limited by
>> whatever the sound card is capable of) display even when used with the
>> K3 IF output (plus the requisite SDR hardware like the Softrock or
>> LP-Pan or SDR-IQ or QS1-R or whatever), but of course won't have the
>> on-screen callsign/CW decoding that CW Skimmer does. And as someone
>> recently pointed out, you do need the KXV3A option installed in your
>> K3 to get the IF out of the K3 in the first place.
>>
>> 73,
>> Dave AB7E
>>