Help needed - checking out a used K3

[Eric Rosenberg]

Maybe it’s the lousy propagation, but it seems to me that my new-to-me K3
isn’t performing quite up to snuff.



I’d like to run a couple of tests to determine whether I need to send the
rig to Elecraft.



Other than running an A/B test with another radio, the only test gear I
have is an Elecraft XG-3 RF Signal source.



Are there test or a series of tests I can run?



Thanks, & 73,



Eric W3DQ
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[Don Wilhelm]

Eric,

The most important parameters (IMHO) for receiver performance are the
noise floor, MDS and dynamic range for adjacent signal rejection.

You can use your XG3 (note, no hyphen) to get a very close approximation
of the MDS - the information is in the XG3 manual.
That measurement will give you some insight into the noise floor,
because the two are related.

As for adjacent signal rejection, look around any band and see if you
can find 2 signals that are close to each other (do that with a wide
filter).  Then narrow the filtering to see if you can separate them
sufficiently to copy each one - use CW for that test.

Yes, band conditions have been quite "iffy" particularly on the higher
frequency bands.  You may find some activity on 20 meters and above
during the day, but it fades off when the sun sets.  40 meters will be
shorter distances during the daylight and will go out 'long' after
sunset.  80 and 160 meters will be quite noisy during the day, but is
good for local contacts - DX will come in after sunset.
Pray for more sunspots.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 3/22/2018 10:26 AM, Eric Rosenberg wrote:

> Maybe it’s the lousy propagation, but it seems to me that my new-to-me K3
> isn’t performing quite up to snuff.
>
>
>
> I’d like to run a couple of tests to determine whether I need to send the
> rig to Elecraft.
>
>
>
> Other than running an A/B test with another radio, the only test gear I
> have is an Elecraft XG-3 RF Signal source.
>
>
>
> Are there test or a series of tests I can run?
>
>
>
> Thanks, & 73,
>
>
>
> Eric W3DQ
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
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