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K2 and SSB

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Christophe F8ACF-56

K2 and SSB

Hello to all,

since I installed my KSB2 I correctly RECEIVE SSB only on 14 MHz and 21 MHz 7 is not clear on closer understanding is CW, although this may not be entirely clear.

I would say it is like when you are in AM and you listen a "SSB station"

thank you for your help

K2 # 7369

73 , Christophe F8ACF-56
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DL6OAP

Re: K2 and SSB

I'm no expert in assembling the K2, but, in RX, the SSB option only uses the additional xtal filter. If SSB sounds like SSB received on AM, my guess would be that the BFO (RF board) is not oscillating. Maybe pulling the crystal to far makes it instable. Is it on both sidebands?

Since the K2 switches from a "oscillator above rx frequency scheme" to a "oscillator below rx frequency scheme" somewhere, there are possibly bands where USB doesn't work but LSB does work and reverse.

Greetings,

Ralf, DL6OAP

Am 20.05.2013 um 16:45 schrieb Christophe F8ACF-56 <[hidden email]>:

> Hello to all,
>
> since I installed my KSB2 I correctly RECEIVE SSB only on 14 MHz and 21 MHz 7 is not clear on closer understanding is CW, although this may not be entirely clear.
>
> I would say it is like when you are in AM and you listen a "SSB station"
>
> thank you for your help
>
> K2 # 7369
>
>
> 73 , Christophe F8ACF-56
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

______________________________________________________________
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

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K2 and SSB

In reply to this post by Christophe F8ACF-56

Christophe,

The usual cause is that the LSB BFOs are not set up properly.
I strongly urge the use of Spectrogram or other audio spectrum analyzer
to see where the filter passband is placed.
See part 3 on the K2 Dial Calibration article on my website
www.w3fpr.com. If you need to obtain Spectrogram, look near the bottom
of the opening page on my website for the link.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 5/20/2013 10:45 AM, Christophe F8ACF-56 wrote:

Christophe F8ACF-56

Re: K2 and SSB

Hello Don,

I will review it with the page of your site, the problem for me I think is a misunderstanding of the text in your language, but the idea is to learn your language :-)

I'll let you know as well as the list of results

thank you again for your help !

73 , Christophe F8ACF-56

________________________________
De : Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]>
À : Christophe F8ACF-56 <[hidden email]>
Cc : "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
Envoyé le : Lundi 20 mai 2013 17h15
Objet : Re: [Elecraft] K2 and SSB

Christophe,

The usual cause is that the LSB BFOs are not set up properly.
I strongly urge the use of Spectrogram or other audio spectrum analyzer
to see where the filter passband is placed.
See part 3 on the K2 Dial Calibration article on my website
www.w3fpr.com. If you need to obtain Spectrogram, look near the bottom
of the opening page on my website for the link.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 5/20/2013 10:45 AM, Christophe F8ACF-56 wrote:

DL6OAP

Re: K2 and SSB

Hi, Christophe and Don,

There is a point I don't understand: The K2 switches to "VFO below rx frequency" on 15 and above (main manual page 85) thus resulting in sideband "inversion". So, if Christophe can receive USB on 15, shouldn't that mean that the BFO is properly set for LSB reception on 17 and below? If he can also receive USB on 20, shouldn't that mean that both BFO settings are ok?

Greetings

Ralf, DL6OAP

Am 20.05.2013 um 17:41 schrieb Christophe F8ACF-56 <[hidden email]>:

>
> Hello Don,
>
> I will review it with the page of your site, the problem for me I think is a misunderstanding of the text in your language, but the idea is to learn your language :-)
>
> I'll let you know as well as the list of results
>
> thank you again for your help !
>
>
> 73 , Christophe F8ACF-56
>
>
> ________________________________
> De : Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]>
> À : Christophe F8ACF-56 <[hidden email]>
> Cc : "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
> Envoyé le : Lundi 20 mai 2013 17h15
> Objet : Re: [Elecraft] K2 and SSB
>
>
> Christophe,
>
> The usual cause is that the LSB BFOs are not set up properly.
> I strongly urge the use of Spectrogram or other audio spectrum analyzer
> to see where the filter passband is placed.
> See part 3 on the K2 Dial Calibration article on my website
> www.w3fpr.com. If you need to obtain Spectrogram, look near the bottom
> of the opening page on my website for the link.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 5/20/2013 10:45 AM, Christophe F8ACF-56 wrote:
>> Hello to all,
>>
>> since I installed my KSB2 I correctly RECEIVE SSB only on 14 MHz and 21 MHz 7 is not clear on closer understanding is CW, although this may not be entirely clear.
>>
>> I would say it is like when you are in AM and you listen a "SSB station"
>>
>> thank you for your help
>>
>> K2 # 7369
>>
>>
>> 73 , Christophe F8ACF-56
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K2 and SSB

In reply to this post by Christophe F8ACF-56

Christophe,

If you do not understand the language on my website, let me know
privately and I will try to explain in different words. Unfortunately, I
cannot write in French.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 5/20/2013 11:41 AM, Christophe F8ACF-56 wrote:

> Hello Don,
>
> I will review it with the page of your site, the problem for me I think is a misunderstanding of the text in your language, but the idea is to learn your language :-)
>
> I'll let you know as well as the list of results
>
> thank you again for your help !
>
>
> 73 , Christophe F8ACF-56
>
>
> ________________________________
> De : Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]>
> À : Christophe F8ACF-56 <[hidden email]>
> Cc : "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
> Envoyé le : Lundi 20 mai 2013 17h15
> Objet : Re: [Elecraft] K2 and SSB
>
>
> Christophe,
>
> The usual cause is that the LSB BFOs are not set up properly.
> I strongly urge the use of Spectrogram or other audio spectrum analyzer
> to see where the filter passband is placed.
> See part 3 on the K2 Dial Calibration article on my website
> www.w3fpr.com. If you need to obtain Spectrogram, look near the bottom
> of the opening page on my website for the link.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 5/20/2013 10:45 AM, Christophe F8ACF-56 wrote:
>> Hello to all,
>>
>> since I installed my KSB2 I correctly RECEIVE SSB only on 14 MHz and 21 MHz 7 is not clear on closer understanding is CW, although this may not be entirely clear.
>>
>> I would say it is like when you are in AM and you listen a "SSB station"
>>
>> thank you for your help
>>
>> K2 # 7369
>>
>>
>> 73 , Christophe F8ACF-56
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K2 and SSB

In reply to this post by DL6OAP

Ralf and Christophe,

Yes, what you say is true, but the answer is still in the filter alignment.
All the SSB filters should be aligned - AND - in many (most) K2s built
in the last several years, the suggested settings for the SSB filters
other than the OP1 BFOs do not work well. That is because the varactors
have changed (the type has not changed, but the capacity range has
increased - blame the manufacturer!).
The result of this varactor variation is that the filter width displayed
by the K2 is usually much more narrow than the actual width (not true
for the OP1 filter which has no varactors). I do not know of any way to
easily find the actual width of the filter other than using an audio
spectrum analyzer like Spectrogram.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 5/20/2013 1:25 PM, Ralf Wilhelm wrote:

> Hi, Christophe and Don,
>
> There is a point I don't understand: The K2 switches to "VFO below rx frequency" on 15 and above (main manual page 85) thus resulting in sideband "inversion". So, if Christophe can receive USB on 15, shouldn't that mean that the BFO is properly set for LSB reception on 17 and below? If he can also receive USB on 20, shouldn't that mean that both BFO settings are ok?
>
> Greetings
>
> Ralf, DL6OAP
>
>
> Am 20.05.2013 um 17:41 schrieb Christophe F8ACF-56 <[hidden email]>:
>
>> Hello Don,
>>
>> I will review it with the page of your site, the problem for me I think is a misunderstanding of the text in your language, but the idea is to learn your language :-)
>>
>> I'll let you know as well as the list of results
>>
>> thank you again for your help !
>>
>>
>> 73 , Christophe F8ACF-56
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>> De : Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]>
>> À : Christophe F8ACF-56 <[hidden email]>
>> Cc : "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
>> Envoyé le : Lundi 20 mai 2013 17h15
>> Objet : Re: [Elecraft] K2 and SSB
>>
>>
>> Christophe,
>>
>> The usual cause is that the LSB BFOs are not set up properly.
>> I strongly urge the use of Spectrogram or other audio spectrum analyzer
>> to see where the filter passband is placed.
>> See part 3 on the K2 Dial Calibration article on my website
>> www.w3fpr.com. If you need to obtain Spectrogram, look near the bottom
>> of the opening page on my website for the link.
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>>
>> On 5/20/2013 10:45 AM, Christophe F8ACF-56 wrote:
>>> Hello to all,
>>>
>>> since I installed my KSB2 I correctly RECEIVE SSB only on 14 MHz and 21 MHz 7 is not clear on closer understanding is CW, although this may not be entirely clear.
>>>
>>> I would say it is like when you are in AM and you listen a "SSB station"
>>>
>>> thank you for your help
>>>
>>> K2 # 7369
>>>
>>>
>>> 73 , Christophe F8ACF-56
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> 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
>>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

DL6OAP

Re: K2 and SSB

Don,

OK, didn't know that...
I have to admit I didn't build my K2 myself but bought a used one. The guy who sold it to me actually has done what is described on your page, the rig was delivered with some kind of "test protocol" that includes a "filter response" measured with your approach.

Germany's QST equivalent "cq DL" also described this method a few months ago, I think the author was the "official" german Elecraft importer DL2FI...

Vy 73

Ralf, DL6OAP

Am 20.05.2013 um 19:59 schrieb Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]>:

> Ralf and Christophe,
>
> Yes, what you say is true, but the answer is still in the filter alignment.
> All the SSB filters should be aligned - AND - in many (most) K2s built in the last several years, the suggested settings for the SSB filters other than the OP1 BFOs do not work well. That is because the varactors have changed (the type has not changed, but the capacity range has increased - blame the manufacturer!).
> The result of this varactor variation is that the filter width displayed by the K2 is usually much more narrow than the actual width (not true for the OP1 filter which has no varactors). I do not know of any way to easily find the actual width of the filter other than using an audio spectrum analyzer like Spectrogram.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 5/20/2013 1:25 PM, Ralf Wilhelm wrote:
>> Hi, Christophe and Don,
>>
>> There is a point I don't understand: The K2 switches to "VFO below rx frequency" on 15 and above (main manual page 85) thus resulting in sideband "inversion". So, if Christophe can receive USB on 15, shouldn't that mean that the BFO is properly set for LSB reception on 17 and below? If he can also receive USB on 20, shouldn't that mean that both BFO settings are ok?
>>
>> Greetings
>>
>> Ralf, DL6OAP
>>
>>
>> Am 20.05.2013 um 17:41 schrieb Christophe F8ACF-56 <[hidden email]>:
>>
>>> Hello Don,
>>>
>>> I will review it with the page of your site, the problem for me I think is a misunderstanding of the text in your language, but the idea is to learn your language :-)
>>>
>>> I'll let you know as well as the list of results
>>>
>>> thank you again for your help !
>>>
>>> 73 , Christophe F8ACF-56
>>>
>>>
>>> ________________________________
>>> De : Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]>
>>> À : Christophe F8ACF-56 <[hidden email]>
>>> Cc : "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
>>> Envoyé le : Lundi 20 mai 2013 17h15
>>> Objet : Re: [Elecraft] K2 and SSB
>>>
>>>
>>> Christophe,
>>>
>>> The usual cause is that the LSB BFOs are not set up properly.
>>> I strongly urge the use of Spectrogram or other audio spectrum analyzer
>>> to see where the filter passband is placed.
>>> See part 3 on the K2 Dial Calibration article on my website
>>> www.w3fpr.com. If you need to obtain Spectrogram, look near the bottom
>>> of the opening page on my website for the link.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> Don W3FPR
>>>
>>> On 5/20/2013 10:45 AM, Christophe F8ACF-56 wrote:
>>>> Hello to all,
>>>>
>>>> since I installed my KSB2 I correctly RECEIVE SSB only on 14 MHz and 21 MHz 7 is not clear on closer understanding is CW, although this may not be entirely clear.
>>>>
>>>> I would say it is like when you are in AM and you listen a "SSB station"
>>>>
>>>> thank you for your help
>>>>
>>>> K2 # 7369
>>>>
>>>> 73 , Christophe F8ACF-56
>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>> 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
>>>>
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> 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
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>

Christophe F8ACF-56

Re: K2 and SSB

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4

Good evening to all,

the problem is fixed by the memorandum of K2, I have not managed to valid the PC and spectrogram, I know it's going to laugh ...

Now I get properly LSB / USB and all the filters are OK

thank you to all who help me

73 , Christophe F8ACF - K2 # 7369

________________________________
De : Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]>
À : Ralf Wilhelm <[hidden email]>
Cc : Christophe F8ACF-56 <[hidden email]>; "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
Envoyé le : Lundi 20 mai 2013 19h59
Objet : Re: [Elecraft] K2 and SSB

Ralf and Christophe,

Yes, what you say is true, but the answer is still in the filter alignment.
All the SSB filters should be aligned - AND - in many (most) K2s built
in the last several years, the suggested settings for the SSB filters
other than the OP1 BFOs do not work well. That is because the varactors
have changed (the type has not changed, but the capacity range has
increased - blame the manufacturer!).
The result of this varactor variation is that the filter width displayed
by the K2 is usually much more narrow than the actual width (not true
for the OP1 filter which has no varactors). I do not know of any way to
easily find the actual width of the filter other than using an audio
spectrum analyzer like Spectrogram.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 5/20/2013 1:25 PM, Ralf Wilhelm wrote: