K2 - Best Practices - Optimization
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K2 - Best Practices - Optimization
 
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I have been using my K2 for a bit now. I have done a couple of
alignments on it, as I learned lessons what I did not get quite right previously. I listen quite a bit more than I transmit. I do ok around 15wpm, but I'm not quite happy with where I am, so I listen and work on improving my copy. I have followed Tom and Don's alignments with Spectrogram, as I do not have much in the way of test equipment. I am at the point where I would like to go back through and try it again, and play with the settings a bit more, to get them to fit what I like, where I stayed near the defaults previously. I do have the XG2, the wide band noise generator. Additionally, I have played with the K2 quite a bit to understand how to best use it to pull in marginal signals. This is where best practices would come in handy. How do the folks that are more experienced, pull them in? Has anyone done any write ups on optimizing the K2? Anything on settings for best pulling in the signals? Elecraft, thanks for the radio and the great forum. -- David Wilburn [hidden email] K4DGW K2 #5982 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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I'd like to know of a good procedure for the IF Alignment (L34). I
tried it with Spectrogram but I really don't see any definite "best" alignment point; same for doing it by ear. As for the AGC Threshold adjustment... I read somewhere (sorry, i forget who) that you should adjust it just to the point where turning on the AGC does not result in a reduction of low-level rcvr noise (no antenna). I tried this and it makes for a really hot receiver. 73, Drew AF2Z On Sun, 30 Sep 2007 12:30:40 -0400, David Wilburn wrote: >I have been using my K2 for a bit now. I have done a couple of >alignments on it, as I learned lessons what I did not get quite right >previously. I listen quite a bit more than I transmit. I do ok around >15wpm, but I'm not quite happy with where I am, so I listen and work on >improving my copy. > >I have followed Tom and Don's alignments with Spectrogram, as I do not >have much in the way of test equipment. I am at the point where I would >like to go back through and try it again, and play with the settings a >bit more, to get them to fit what I like, where I stayed near the >defaults previously. I do have the XG2, the wide band noise generator. > >Additionally, I have played with the K2 quite a bit to understand how to >best use it to pull in marginal signals. This is where best practices >would come in handy. How do the folks that are more experienced, pull >them in? > >Has anyone done any write ups on optimizing the K2? Anything on >settings for best pulling in the signals? > >Elecraft, thanks for the radio and the great forum. _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
Re: K2 - Best Practices - Optimization
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Drew,
When adjusting L34, the peak is quite broad and is difficult to determine exactly where to set it - if you can discern no difference, then set it somewhere between 1 and 2 turns in from the top and be done with it. Even if you want to refine the setting, start with this 'adjustment'. When observing with Spectrogram, I find the best signal source is the 7000 kHz birdie. Set the bandwidth to 400 or 500 Hz, turn the preamp on and observe both the peak of the signal and the noise floor of the receiver (outside the receiver passband). While the signal is still at its peak, you will find a point where the noise floor drops by a small amount. If that ' best signal to noise ratio' is not found near the '1 to turns in' setting you initially had, it is the wrong point. As for the AGC Threshold setting, a small amount of difference between AGC on and AGC off is OK, but if the difference is large, decrease the AGC Threshold voltage from the 'standard' value of 3.8 volts. Expect the S-meter response to change with each different setting of the Threshold level, and you will see more interaction between CAL S LO and CAL S HI. If an S-9 response with a 50 uV input is important to you, then some 'playing' with the 3 settings (AGC Threshold, CAL S LO and CAL S HI) will be necessary. If the AGC Threshold is set too low (usually below 3.65 volts), the S-meter readings may become quite 'squirrelly'. So you have 4 parameters that you must compromise with (the 3 above plus the S-9 response) - you may not be able to get them all to fall in line at your chosen AGC Threshold, and you will have to sacrifice one of them. If you use between 3.75 and 3.8 volts as the AGC Threshold, you can usually get the others to fall in line - so take your pick. That is the whole story as I know it. Dave White recently posted a mod to increase the number of adjustment pots from one to 3 which can give more independent control over the AGC and S-meter settings. 73, Don W3FPR [hidden email] wrote: > I'd like to know of a good procedure for the IF Alignment (L34). I > tried it with Spectrogram but I really don't see any definite "best" > alignment point; same for doing it by ear. > > As for the AGC Threshold adjustment... I read somewhere (sorry, i > forget who) that you should adjust it just to the point where turning > on the AGC does not result in a reduction of low-level rcvr noise (no > antenna). I tried this and it makes for a really hot receiver. > > 73, > Drew > AF2Z > > > > On Sun, 30 Sep 2007 12:30:40 -0400, David Wilburn wrote: > > >> I have been using my K2 for a bit now. I have done a couple of >> alignments on it, as I learned lessons what I did not get quite right >> previously. I listen quite a bit more than I transmit. I do ok around >> 15wpm, but I'm not quite happy with where I am, so I listen and work on >> improving my copy. >> >> I have followed Tom and Don's alignments with Spectrogram, as I do not >> have much in the way of test equipment. I am at the point where I would >> like to go back through and try it again, and play with the settings a >> bit more, to get them to fit what I like, where I stayed near the >> defaults previously. I do have the XG2, the wide band noise generator. >> >> Additionally, I have played with the K2 quite a bit to understand how to >> best use it to pull in marginal signals. This is where best practices >> would come in handy. How do the folks that are more experienced, pull >> them in? >> >> Has anyone done any write ups on optimizing the K2? Anything on >> settings for best pulling in the signals? >> >> Elecraft, thanks for the radio and the great forum. >> > > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: [hidden email] > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > > > Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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