K3 AGC settings for weak signal CW

[Chad Wasinger]

Would anyone be willing to share their preferred AGC settings for receiving weak cw signals? Specifically, I'm wanting to fine tune my settings for listening to "at the noise" 2 meter and 6 meter beacons.
Thanks!ChadN0YK    
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[Chad Wasinger]

Thanks for the explanation and plot. I will try your settings for the slope/threshold. I do run a mast-mount SP-2000 for 2 meters with the internal K144XV, works well together. I have not added a preamp on 6 meters yet.

> Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2013 16:28:55 +0000
> From: [hidden email]
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 AGC settings for weak signal CW
>
> Chad,
>
> AGC doesn't kick in till way above weak signal on any reasonable values
> of THR and slope.  Of course a mast mounted preamp on 2M would help a
> lot.  One can get by with a back of the rig preamp for 6M.  The stock K3
> is deaf on 6M.  For weak CW signal DXing, I had to add 15 db of low NF
> preamp gain.  Managed to finally finish 6M DXCC last year.
>
> The prevailing DXer's are all over the map on where to set the threshold
> on HF bands.
>
> I've decided to set slope/threshold to 12/12 here based upon some
> measurements.   Attached is the curve I generated.
>
> The threshold determines where the AGC action starts.  The slope is how
> fast the audio rises with increasing signal above this point.
>
> 73 de Brian/K3KO
>
>
> On 1/17/2013 16:15, Chad Wasinger wrote:
> > Would anyone be willing to share their preferred AGC settings for
> > receiving weak cw signals? Specifically, I'm wanting to fine tune my
> > settings for listening to "at the noise" 2 meter and 6 meter
> > beacons. Thanks!ChadN0YK
> > ______________________________________________________________
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>

     
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[Don Wilhelm-4]

Chad,

You will be better off setting the AGC parameters to match your
operating needs.
Go to my website www.w3fpr.com and read the article on "Noisy K3" to
guilde you.
The menu parameters have been expanded since that article was written,
but the principles are the same, but they now cover a greater range.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 1/17/2013 11:15 AM, Chad Wasinger wrote:
> Would anyone be willing to share their preferred AGC settings for receiving weak cw signals? Specifically, I'm wanting to fine tune my settings for listening to "at the noise" 2 meter and 6 meter beacons.
> Thanks!ChadN0YK  
>

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