K2 SSB Question
Locked
 
|
Completed K2 s/n 6424 a few months back, am thinking of adding a KSB2
adapter kit I own. I've seen several threads indicating that the SSB performance of the K2 with the adapter isn't very good. Would adding this capability be worthwhile, or is leaving the K2 as CW only a better option? 73, Curt KB5JO _______________________________________________ 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 |
|
|
If you want to wow the hi-fi crowd with your SSB prowess, the K2 isn't
the rig. If you're wanting a good sounding SSB rig, the K2 is fine. It generates perfectly workable SSB comms despite rumors to the contrary. It is important that you align the filters correctly to get the best audio it can give. I did mine with a 2nd receiver and my computer. I transmitted into a dummy load and recorded my audio as monitored on the 2nd RX. I then listened to the recording and decided whether I wanted more / less lows & highs. I went back to the K2, made adjustments to the filter and re-recorded. Continue until the recording sounds the way you want it to. The simpler approach of listening to your voice as you speak is a poor substitute since your spoken voice messes up ability to hear your transmitted voice. - Keith N1AS - - K3 711 - -----Original Message----- Completed K2 s/n 6424 a few months back, am thinking of adding a KSB2 adapter kit I own. I've seen several threads indicating that the SSB performance of the K2 with the adapter isn't very good. Would adding this capability be worthwhile, or is leaving the K2 as CW only a better option? _______________________________________________ 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 |
|
|
In reply to this post by Curt
I've had my K2 (5705) for a couple of years, with the KSB2. Alignment is a
little tricky and it is important that it is done correctly, but I've had no problems with it. I've made a good many contacts (been using CW more) and have gotten some complements on the audio, so I think the bad reputation is a little unfair. Bernie W1AZ On Friday 07 November 2008, Curt wrote: > Completed K2 s/n 6424 a few months back, am thinking of adding a KSB2 > adapter kit I own. I've seen several threads indicating that the SSB > performance of the K2 with the adapter isn't very good. Would adding this > capability be worthwhile, or is leaving the K2 as CW only a better option? > > 73, Curt KB5JO > > _______________________________________________ > 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 |
|
|
In reply to this post by Curt
Curt,
I do not know which threads you are referring to. The K2 with the KSB2 is quite good with excellent carrier suppression and will provide an audio passband consistent with the filter width you have installed on the KSB2 board. If you have the older 2.1 kHz filter width, the passband placement becomes critical and may require some experimenting. The 2.4 kHz width has been provided with the KSB2 for several years now and is not as critical. The 2.6 kHz bandwidth gives excellent audio with even less concern for the exact placement of the passband. No matter what filter width you have installed now, it is a simple matter of changing a few capacitors to alter the width - Elecraft provides a kit to do that if you wish. The downside of the KSB2 is that it has no anti-vox, and that fact makes the VOX operation 'touchy' for data modes - it is better to use PTT for data modes, and the KSB2 does have limited microphone gain - it works very well with electret element mics and with the higher output dynamic mics, but if you are planning to use the lower output Heil dynamic mics (HC-4/5 elements), then you may have to add a microphone preamp. Those are the pros and cons that I know about. 73, Don W3FPR Curt wrote: > Completed K2 s/n 6424 a few months back, am thinking of adding a KSB2 > adapter kit I own. I've seen several threads indicating that the SSB > performance of the K2 with the adapter isn't very good. Would adding > this capability be worthwhile, or is leaving the K2 as CW only a > better option? > _______________________________________________ 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 |
|
|
In reply to this post by Curt
I used and did some testing with original KSB2 and QRP mode. The SSB signal is readable and useful although neither contest nor HiFi quality. While it does not have RF processing, it has some compression to a degree that outboard speech processors do not help any more. The narrow signal may be an advantage if running QRP where readability is more important than fidelity.
I used K2 in my home country, SP, using a 60 ft long wire at 20ft with 2 15ft radials, all directly attached to KAT2. On 80m, I worked many of my old buddies within a 250 miles radius, and nobody had any trouble copying. A feat with a 4 lb self contained radio (powered by 2 x 11V/1.5AH LI-Ion batteries)+ 1 lb bag of accessories. Ignacy, NO9E |
|
|
In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4
On Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:34:02 -0500, Don Wilhelm wrote:
>Those are the pros and cons that I know about. I'll add a few things. 1) The K2 with KSB2 is a bit low on transmit audio gain, so with some mics, you may not get as much "processing" as in some other rigs. 2) The K2 with KSB2 has a bit more low frequency response than is ideal for agressive audio in a competitive situation. 3) The K2 when adjusted for narrowband SSB reception aligns the RX filters to form a "staggertuned" IF, so the audio quality (on RX) is something that only the programmer's mother could love. These issues matter only if you're a contester or serious DX chaser. For more casual operation it doesn't matter much. There are mods for #1 and #2 that improve things significantly, and they're pretty easy to do. One of the more powerful solutions to # 1 involves cutting some circuit board traces. Bottom line -- the K2 and K2/100 are excellent CW rigs and good (but not great) SSB rigs. The KSB2 IS a good plug-in, and well worth doing, but don't expect it to be competitive in a serious contest. For other operation you'll be quite happy with it. 73, Jim Brown K9YC _______________________________________________ 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 |
«
Return to Elecraft
|
1 view|%1 views
| Free forum by Nabble | Edit this page |