Hardware mods before update to 3.24 Beta?

[Lu Romero - W4LT]

All:

Am I correct in assuming that I *MUST* perform at least the Tuning Noise
Reduction hardware mod before installing 3.24 Beta and checking out the new
DSP NR "enhancements"?

The Automatic Front End Protection mod release notes say that the firmware
checks for the mod and ignores the change if the mod is not there, but the
Tuning Noise mod states that "erratic behavior" of the rig can be expected
if you install the new firmware WITHOUT adding the two diodes and two
resistors.

Words!  "Erratic behavior" reminds me of the infamous Grass Valley Group
manual admonitions regarding "unexpected results"... :)

Thanks in advance for the clarification.

Lu Romero - W4LT
K3 #3192



No virus found in this outgoing message
Checked by PC Tools AntiVirus (6.0.0.19 - 10.004.078).

______________________________________________________________
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

[KK7P]

> Am I correct in assuming that I *MUST* perform at least the Tuning Noise
> Reduction hardware mod before installing 3.24 Beta and checking out the new
> DSP NR "enhancements"?

No.

> The Automatic Front End Protection mod release notes say that the firmware
> checks for the mod and ignores the change if the mod is not there, but the
> Tuning Noise mod states that "erratic behavior" of the rig can be expected
> if you install the new firmware WITHOUT adding the two diodes and two
> resistors.

Erratic behavior *if* you go to CONFIG:VCO MD and tap "7" until you see
SPI 2.

If you leave it at SPI 1, nothing has changed and it will not be erratic
(but will not have reduced noise, either).

73,

Lyle KK7P

______________________________________________________________
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

[Lu Romero - W4LT]

Thanks, Lyle:

I barely hear the noise on 6 and I want to try the DSP enhancement, so I
will upload the firmware in a few and give it a go.  Good time  for testing
DSP here in Florida tonight with thunderstorms all around.  But I will
eventually install the mod just to keep the system up to latest hardware rev
levels.

With two weeks of operational experience now under my belt, I will agree
with some other observations that the existing DSP is very "peaky".  Reports
I see are that this change makes it less peaky.  Also, the level drop was
very annoying.

That said, I'm still on the left edge of the learning curve with 3192.

-lu-  

-----Original Message-----
From: Lyle Johnson [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Friday, August 21, 2009 8:08 PM
To: [hidden email]
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Hardware mods before update to 3.24 Beta?

> Am I correct in assuming that I *MUST* perform at least the Tuning
> Noise Reduction hardware mod before installing 3.24 Beta and checking
> out the new DSP NR "enhancements"?

No.

> The Automatic Front End Protection mod release notes say that the
> firmware checks for the mod and ignores the change if the mod is not
> there, but the Tuning Noise mod states that "erratic behavior" of the
> rig can be expected if you install the new firmware WITHOUT adding the
> two diodes and two resistors.

Erratic behavior *if* you go to CONFIG:VCO MD and tap "7" until you see SPI
2.

If you leave it at SPI 1, nothing has changed and it will not be erratic
(but will not have reduced noise, either).

73,

Lyle KK7P



No virus found in this outgoing message
Checked by PC Tools AntiVirus (6.0.0.19 - 10.004.078).

______________________________________________________________
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

[Lu Romero - W4LT]

Lyle:

Just installed the two hardware mods and the 3.24 Beta Firmware.  I was most
interested in the DSP system modifications.

The DSP parameters are now really good for SSB.  No more raspy peakyness
like before, very smooth and very effective, especially on 40 and 80 loaded
with QRN that we have here in Florida in the summer, and much less level
drop than before (but there is still some there).

Although I can understand the reticence of the CW guys who like the peaking
action of the previous DSP parameters, its very effective as it is for SSB
and not so bad for CW.

I really like it, much improved from the previous parameters.

With careful adjustment of RF gain, this combination seems like it will be a
winner in the low band battleground.  

Lu Romero - W4LT
K3 #3192

-----Original Message-----
From: Lyle Johnson [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Friday, August 21, 2009 8:08 PM
To: [hidden email]
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Hardware mods before update to 3.24 Beta?

> Am I correct in assuming that I *MUST* perform at least the Tuning
> Noise Reduction hardware mod before installing 3.24 Beta and checking
> out the new DSP NR "enhancements"?

No.

> The Automatic Front End Protection mod release notes say that the
> firmware checks for the mod and ignores the change if the mod is not
> there, but the Tuning Noise mod states that "erratic behavior" of the
> rig can be expected if you install the new firmware WITHOUT adding the
> two diodes and two resistors.

Erratic behavior *if* you go to CONFIG:VCO MD and tap "7" until you see SPI
2.

If you leave it at SPI 1, nothing has changed and it will not be erratic
(but will not have reduced noise, either).

73,

Lyle KK7P



No virus found in this outgoing message
Checked by PC Tools AntiVirus (6.0.0.19 - 10.004.078).

______________________________________________________________
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

[Guy, K2AV]

Hmm.  Version 3.25 is current beta.  3.23 and 3.24 very short-lived.

On Sat, Aug 22, 2009 at 10:03 PM, Luis V. Romero<[hidden email]> wrote:
> Lyle:
>
> Just installed the two hardware mods and the 3.24 Beta Firmware.  I was most
> interested in the DSP system modifications.
>
...snip...
______________________________________________________________
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

[Lu Romero - W4LT]

That's cuz I was off by one.  I have 3.25 installed.

----- Original Message Follows -----
From: Guy Olinger K2AV <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] 3.24 Beta FW DSP comment
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 2009 12:54:19 -0400

>Hmm.  Version 3.25 is current beta.  3.23 and 3.24 very
>short-lived.
>
>On Sat, Aug 22, 2009 at 10:03 PM, Luis V.
>> Romero<[hidden email]> wrote: Lyle:
>>
>> Just installed the two hardware mods and the 3.24 Beta
>> Firmware.  I was most interested in the DSP system
>>modifications.
>..snip...

______________________________________________________________
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