K3 Birdie Screenshots

[David Gilbert]

I've been beta testing using the new SIG RMV feature that Wayne developed for shifting birdies out of the passband, and I must say I'm extremely impressed.  It is very effective, and after addressing a handful of birdies I found it very easy to use as well.  I have been able to totally remove all of the birdies I considered even remotely an issue.  Where else would users be able to expect that kind of support??

I've received quite a lot of feedback (all of it constructive, by the way) , though, that suggests that I am either being overly critical regarding what I hear or that there may be a hardware problem (poor ground or other) with my particular K3.  I would happily recalibrate my thinking if it is the former, but I'd like to rule out the latter as well.  For that, we need a less subjective assessment.

With a standard 1/8" audio cable from the Line Out connector of the K3 to the Line In connector on my computer sound card, together with the free and easy to use Spectrogram application (http://www.visualizationsoftware.com/gram.html), it is quite simple get a spectrum display of any birdie relative to the background noise in the passband.  Spectrogram even lets you take screenshots directly from within the application.  So I went back and found one of the birdies I had removed with SIG RMV and cleared the settings to let the birdie sing again.  I've uploaded the resulting Spectrogram screenshot to PhotoBucket, and it should be viewable simply by clicking on the link below.

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee141/xazdave/K3Birdie-7124r890.jpg

The frequency for this particular birdie is 7124.890 KHz, the mode was LSB, the DSP passband was 2.2 KHz, the roofing filter was 2.8 Khz, the preamp was OFF, and the antenna connector was terminated in a precision 50 ohm load.  The display indicates a birdie strength approximately 30 db greater than the background audio noise level, although I wouldn't place too much credence in the accuracy of that.  This birdie was roughly S2 (two solid bars) on the K3 S-meter, and it's one of six birdies of similar strength I had on 40m before removing them with SIG RMV.

Comments or suggestions ...  even rude ones ;)  ....  would be appreciated, particularly if anyone is willing to compare a Spectrogram plot for the loudest birdie from their rig under similar conditions.

73,
Dave   AB7E









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[DC1RS]

makes me more and more "wanna have"
I'm really looking forward to the release of this firmware!

73 de Roland, DC1RS

[Bill Johnson-9]

Dave,

 Great idea with the screen shots.  I have had the same success with the Signal removal tool.  I have had only one that left a slight artifact on 26.267 mHz that really isn’t an issue for my operation as it doesn’t interfere with my mode of operation and the width is only 50 Hz once I got finished with it.  If it were in the way of anything, the tool that Wayne has designed can be used to move the artifact.  The other two I have removed so far are gone, period.  For what remains, the Auto Notch control takes care of the rest.  Manual notch could also be used if one were on CW at that Freq. which IMHO is unlikely.

 

73,

 

Bill

K9YEQ

K2 #35; KX1 #35; K3 #1744; mini mods

 

From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of David Gilbert
Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 2:56 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Birdie Screenshots

 

I've been beta testing using the new SIG RMV feature that Wayne developed for shifting birdies out of the passband, and I must say I'm extremely impressed.  It is very effective, and after addressing a handful of birdies I found it very easy to use as well.  I have been able to totally remove all of the birdies I considered even remotely an issue.  Where else would users be able to expect that kind of support??

I've received quite a lot of feedback (all of it constructive, by the way) , though, that suggests that I am either being overly critical regarding what I hear or that there may be a hardware problem (poor ground or other) with my particular K3.  I would happily recalibrate my thinking if it is the former, but I'd like to rule out the latter as well.  For that, we need a less subjective assessment.

With a standard 1/8" audio cable from the Line Out connector of the K3 to the Line In connector on my computer sound card, together with the free and easy to use Spectrogram application (http://www.visualizationsoftware.com/gram.html), it is quite simple get a spectrum display of any birdie relative to the background noise in the passband.  Spectrogram even lets you take screenshots directly from within the application.  So I went back and found one of the birdies I had removed with SIG RMV and cleared the settings to let the birdie sing again.  I've uploaded the resulting Spectrogram screenshot to PhotoBucket, and it should be viewable simply by clicking on the link below.

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee141/xazdave/K3Birdie-7124r890.jpg

The frequency for this particular birdie is 7124.890 KHz, the mode was LSB, the DSP passband was 2.2 KHz, the roofing filter was 2.8 Khz, the preamp was OFF, and the antenna connector was terminated in a precision 50 ohm load.  The display indicates a birdie strength approximately 30 db greater than the background audio noise level, although I wouldn't place too much credence in the accuracy of that.  This birdie was roughly S2 (two solid bars) on the K3 S-meter, and it's one of six birdies of similar strength I had on 40m before removing them with SIG RMV.

Comments or suggestions ...  even rude ones ;)  ....  would be appreciated, particularly if anyone is willing to compare a Spectrogram plot for the loudest birdie from their rig under similar conditions.

73,
Dave   AB7E

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[Bill Johnson-9]

That was supposed to be 29.267  I must be 6/9 impaired J

 

 

73,

 

Bill

K9YEQ

K2 #35; KX1 #35; K3 #1744; mini mods

 

From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Bill Johnson
Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 3:14 PM
To: 'David Gilbert'
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Birdie Screenshots

 

Dave,

 Great idea with the screen shots.  I have had the same success with the Signal removal tool.  I have had only one that left a slight artifact on 26.267 mHz that really isn’t an issue for my operation as it doesn’t interfere with my mode of operation and the width is only 50 Hz once I got finished with it.  If it were in the way of anything, the tool that Wayne has designed can be used to move the artifact.  The other two I have removed so far are gone, period.  For what remains, the Auto Notch control takes care of the rest.  Manual notch could also be used if one were on CW at that Freq. which IMHO is unlikely.

 

73,

 

Bill

K9YEQ

K2 #35; KX1 #35; K3 #1744; mini mods

 

From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of David Gilbert
Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 2:56 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Birdie Screenshots

 

I've been beta testing using the new SIG RMV feature that Wayne developed for shifting birdies out of the passband, and I must say I'm extremely impressed.  It is very effective, and after addressing a handful of birdies I found it very easy to use as well.  I have been able to totally remove all of the birdies I considered even remotely an issue.  Where else would users be able to expect that kind of support??

I've received quite a lot of feedback (all of it constructive, by the way) , though, that suggests that I am either being overly critical regarding what I hear or that there may be a hardware problem (poor ground or other) with my particular K3.  I would happily recalibrate my thinking if it is the former, but I'd like to rule out the latter as well.  For that, we need a less subjective assessment.

With a standard 1/8" audio cable from the Line Out connector of the K3 to the Line In connector on my computer sound card, together with the free and easy to use Spectrogram application (http://www.visualizationsoftware.com/gram.html), it is quite simple get a spectrum display of any birdie relative to the background noise in the passband.  Spectrogram even lets you take screenshots directly from within the application.  So I went back and found one of the birdies I had removed with SIG RMV and cleared the settings to let the birdie sing again.  I've uploaded the resulting Spectrogram screenshot to PhotoBucket, and it should be viewable simply by clicking on the link below.

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee141/xazdave/K3Birdie-7124r890.jpg

The frequency for this particular birdie is 7124.890 KHz, the mode was LSB, the DSP passband was 2.2 KHz, the roofing filter was 2.8 Khz, the preamp was OFF, and the antenna connector was terminated in a precision 50 ohm load.  The display indicates a birdie strength approximately 30 db greater than the background audio noise level, although I wouldn't place too much credence in the accuracy of that.  This birdie was roughly S2 (two solid bars) on the K3 S-meter, and it's one of six birdies of similar strength I had on 40m before removing them with SIG RMV.

Comments or suggestions ...  even rude ones ;)  ....  would be appreciated, particularly if anyone is willing to compare a Spectrogram plot for the loudest birdie from their rig under similar conditions.

73,
Dave   AB7E

______________________________________________________________
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html