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Help with the KX3 and FT8

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Help with the KX3 and FT8

With FT8 coming on strong as a popular communications and testing tool, it is
tempting to dedicate your KX3 to this mode for a slice of time each day. There has been little to no
update info for the KX3 with popular sound card interfaces (eg Signalink) as well as suggested
settings for the KX3 and WTSJ-x itself. A little info would be very much appreciated from Elecraft or a crafty
experienced user. Thanks in advance. alan….K6ADG
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Jim Rhodes-2

Re: Help with the KX3 and FT8

I did very little to set up FT modes on my KX3. Got a cheap USB sound card
with a line in jack. Use 2 stereo audio cables with 3.5 mm plugs at each
end. One from phones jack on KX3 to line in on sound card, Other cable goes
from mic connector on KX3 to speaker jack of sound card. Set mode to Data,
set submode to Data A. Using WSJT-X there is a rig selection for Elecraft
KX3. I set it up for CAT PTT if I remember correctly. Once you have the rig
set properly you need to set the levels, I find it is best to set both the
WSJT-X level slider about a third of the way up and the output level of the
sound card similarly. Then using the Tune button in WSJT-X adjust the
MIC/LINEIN pot on the KX3 to get 4 solid bars of ALC with the 5th one just
flashing then use Power setting to adjust output level. Adjust output level
to your sound card for a reasonable level on the waterfall display.

On Fri, Mar 5, 2021 at 6:56 PM Alan Geller via Elecraft <
[hidden email]> wrote:

> With FT8 coming on strong as a popular communications and testing tool, it
> is
> tempting to dedicate your KX3 to this mode for a slice of time each day.
> There has been little to no
> update info for the KX3 with popular sound card interfaces (eg Signalink)
> as well as suggested
> settings for the KX3 and WTSJ-x itself. A little info would be very much
> appreciated from Elecraft or a crafty
> experienced user. Thanks in advance. alan….K6ADG
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

--
Jim K0XU
[hidden email]
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Tim Tucker

Re: Help with the KX3 and FT8

In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list

Using FT8 with the KX3 is pretty simple. I've used it with both the
standard USB and USB DATA A mode. Hook it up just like any other digital
mode, adjust the volume on the rig and level out on the PC, look at the
meter settings in the software and make contacts.

Don't make it more complicated than it is - try it, adjust, and have fun.

On Fri, Mar 5, 2021 at 4:55 PM Alan Geller via Elecraft <
[hidden email]> wrote:

--
Owner, worldwidedx.com
AE6LX, Amateur Radio
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David Haines

Re: Help with the KX3 and FT8 and SignaLink

In reply to this post by Jim Rhodes-2

I had the very same set up for a couple years, which was easy and worked
fine with FT-8. When I was having trouble with WinLink, another ham
suggested a Signalink sound card would help, and he was right. I now
use the SignaLink with FT-8, with maybe better results, but it's hard to
tell.

Anyway, the SignaLink Web site says to change the name of the radio in
settings in FT-8 from KX-3 to <none>, but I'm not sure why. All works
fine either way, except I lose CAT control, so have to change the
frequency on the KX-3 manually when I change bands. Any thoughts?

david KC1DNY
in the woods of Maine.

On 3/6/2021 12:49 AM, Jim Rhodes wrote:

> I did very little to set up FT modes on my KX3. Got a cheap USB sound card
> with a line in jack. Use 2 stereo audio cables with 3.5 mm plugs at each
> end. One from phones jack on KX3 to line in on sound card, Other cable goes
> from mic connector on KX3 to speaker jack of sound card. Set mode to Data,
> set submode to Data A. Using WSJT-X there is a rig selection for Elecraft
> KX3. I set it up for CAT PTT if I remember correctly. Once you have the rig
> set properly you need to set the levels, I find it is best to set both the
> WSJT-X level slider about a third of the way up and the output level of the
> sound card similarly. Then using the Tune button in WSJT-X adjust the
> MIC/LINEIN pot on the KX3 to get 4 solid bars of ALC with the 5th one just
> flashing then use Power setting to adjust output level. Adjust output level
> to your sound card for a reasonable level on the waterfall display.
>
> On Fri, Mar 5, 2021 at 6:56 PM Alan Geller via Elecraft <
> [hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> With FT8 coming on strong as a popular communications and testing tool, it
>> is
>> tempting to dedicate your KX3 to this mode for a slice of time each day.
>> There has been little to no
>> update info for the KX3 with popular sound card interfaces (eg Signalink)
>> as well as suggested
>> settings for the KX3 and WTSJ-x itself. A little info would be very much
>> appreciated from Elecraft or a crafty
>> experienced user. Thanks in advance. alan….K6ADG
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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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