K2 crystal filter question

[lstavenhagen]

Hi all,
Just remembered something from my K2 build that I'm still wondering about and never asked on the reflector about. On P54, the 5th step of the build manual: you're instructed to read the number written on the package containing the 7 crystals for the crystal filter. I remember there being such a number on there and writing it down in this step.

However, I don't ever recall being asked to use this figure in any of the steps having to do with the crystal filter. Or indeed use that number at all. Unless I goofed up and skipped it somewhere?

So my question is, what is this measurement/number ever used for? Just wondering as my K2 seems to work fine and the filters seem to work fine too...

Thanks es 73,
LS
W5QD

[Don Wilhelm-4]

LS,

That number is ignored in the base K2 manual, but if you add the KSB2
board, the number that is printed on the crystal set for that option is
important to initially set the SSB filter passband right.

If you just used the default values for your filter, they will be close,
but you will find an improvement if you refine the filter alignment.  It
is not difficult, and there are several methods, but bite the bullet and
use Spectrogram.  Go to my website www.w3fpr.com and read the article on
K2 Dial Calibration.  Part 3 of that article deals with the filter
setup, and has links and references.  You can download version 5 of
Spectrogram (it is freeware) from www.n0ss.net.  Note that it is no
longer available at Visualization Sofrware's website.

73,
Don W3FPR

lstavenhagen wrote:

> Hi all,
> Just remembered something from my K2 build that I'm still wondering about
> and never asked on the reflector about. On P54, the 5th step of the build
> manual: you're instructed to read the number written on the package
> containing the 7 crystals for the crystal filter. I remember there being
> such a number on there and writing it down in this step.
>
> However, I don't ever recall being asked to use this figure in any of the
> steps having to do with the crystal filter. Or indeed use that number at
> all. Unless I goofed up and skipped it somewhere?
>
> So my question is, what is this measurement/number ever used for? Just
> wondering as my K2 seems to work fine and the filters seem to work fine
> too...
>  
>

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[lstavenhagen]

Ok thanks Don. I'll be darned hi hi.
Unfortunately, I'm Mac only so can't use Spectrogram.  It's not really critical tho as the chances of me adding the SSB module are pretty close to zero.

Will Spectrogram work in a Windows VM (i.e. through VMWare)? If so might be nice to tweak the filter settings for CW anyway...

Tnx es 73,
LS
W5QD

[John Lonigro]

LS:
As a test, I just installed spectrogram 16 on my Sun VirtualBox virtual
Windows XP machine (Ubuntu).  It installed with no problems and seems to
run.  I didn't take the time to insert an audio input to the sound card,
but I suspect that should work as well.

Haven't tried VMware.

lstavenhagen wrote:
> Will Spectrogram work in a Windows VM (i.e. through VMWare)? If so might be
> nice to tweak the filter settings for CW anyway...
>
> Tnx es 73,
> LS
> W5QD
>  
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[lstavenhagen]

Hi John,

Ok, tnx for the info. I think it'll be easier to just borrow my work laptop for this anyway hi hi (I don't keep my MacOS VMWare up to date since I'm completely Microsoft-free here at home as of a few years ago).

73,
LS
W5QD

[Peter Wollan-2]

You can get a pretty good frequency display from CocoaModem.

    Peter N8MHD

On Sat, Feb 27, 2010 at 8:07 AM, lstavenhagen <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
> Ok thanks Don. I'll be darned hi hi.
> Unfortunately, I'm Mac only so can't use Spectrogram.  It's not really
> critical tho as the chances of me adding the SSB module are pretty close to
> zero.
>
> Will Spectrogram work in a Windows VM (i.e. through VMWare)? If so might be
> nice to tweak the filter settings for CW anyway...
>
> Tnx es 73,
> LS
> W5QD
> --
> View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K2-crystal-filter-question-tp4642184p4645038.html
> Sent from the [K2] mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> ______________________________________________________________
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[Bill Coleman-2]

On Feb 27, 2010, at 10:03 AM, lstavenhagen wrote:

>
> Hi John,
>
> Ok, tnx for the info. I think it'll be easier to just borrow my work laptop
> for this anyway hi hi (I don't keep my MacOS VMWare up to date since I'm
> completely Microsoft-free here at home as of a few years ago).

You don't have to use a Windows computer to adjust your filters. I have good luck using CocoaModem and going to the config window, which has a spectrum display.

There are also a few other programs on the Mac, such as iSpectrum and (I think) MacCRO. CocoaModem is at http://homepage.mac.com/chen. The others you can probably google.

Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: [hidden email]
Web: http://boringhamradiopart.blogspot.com
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
            -- Wilbur Wright, 1901

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[lstavenhagen]

Hi Bill,
Ah yes, I missed this in CocoaModem, thanks. I actually tried the alignment method "for the tonally challenged" from the article on elecraft's web site, tho, and that has turned out to be the easiest method for me (long as I leverage my 6th grade education on the math correctly hi hi).

However, now with the discovery of cocoamodem, I've got a real hankering to try PSK31. I can already receive it pretty well just using the internal microphone in my mac (I have 2, my macbook pro and an older macbook). I just set the rig next to it and turn the volume up a bit and viola I can hop around in the waterfall in the PSK window and "read the mail" on all the PSK sigs. It even works on RTTY fairly well in the Wideband RTTY window.
So I may end up revisiting the spectrum analyzer method if I do any alignment of filters for digital modes.

I may have to put off enabling transmit for a little bit, tho, as I'm planning on getting a K3 at some point. If I decide against that I'll just put the KSB2 module in my K2, but I'm trying to, er, make the financial numbers work on a K3 first hi hi.

73,
LS
W5QD

[Bill Coleman-2]

On Mar 19, 2010, at 9:04 AM, lstavenhagen wrote:

> However, now with the discovery of cocoamodem, I've got a real hankering to
> try PSK31. I can already receive it pretty well just using the internal
> microphone in my mac (I have 2, my macbook pro and an older macbook). I just
> set the rig next to it and turn the volume up a bit and viola I can hop
> around in the waterfall in the PSK window and "read the mail" on all the PSK
> sigs. It even works on RTTY fairly well in the Wideband RTTY window.
> So I may end up revisiting the spectrum analyzer method if I do any
> alignment of filters for digital modes.

All of these computer "soundcard" programs work tons better if you buy or build an audio adapter. Mine used a couple of transformers out of the junkbox, a few resistors and trim pots. I even put in an audio jack so I can listen with headphones (at reduced volume).

> I may have to put off enabling transmit for a little bit, tho, as I'm
> planning on getting a K3 at some point. If I decide against that I'll just
> put the KSB2 module in my K2, but I'm trying to, er, make the financial
> numbers work on a K3 first hi hi.

I know what you mean. I love my K2, and I'd love to get a K3.

Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: [hidden email]
Web: http://boringhamradiopart.blogspot.com
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
            -- Wilbur Wright, 1901

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[lstavenhagen]

Hi Bill,

Well I've decided to just go with a K3 dedicated base anyway, so I'll just pick up where I left off on the digital modes with that rig instead. I really want my K2 to do portable duty anyway and that's 100% CW for me hi hi. So I'm not going to tear it up again to put the KSB2 module in it as it really won't get used once the K3 goes online in the shack.....

Now that spring is coming Ill have more opportunities to go portable and it really is a pain to schlep the K2 back and forth between the bag and the operating table hi hi.

Tnx es 73,
LS
W5QD