K3 Internal Digital Modes

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K3 Internal Digital Modes

KK7P
I confess to not being a CW guy.  Yeah, I passed the 20 WPM test for my
Extra many years ago, but that didn't make me a devotee.  I use
microphones or keyboards when I operate.  (With the K3, I've even used
my paddles, but not for CW!)

I find when I have the K3 turned on, I often tune down to the PSK or
RTTY areas of 20 meters and watch the text scroll by on the VFO B
display of the K3.  I used to do this sometimes with my IC746PRO with
its RTTY decoder, but that radio doesn't decode PSK31, so it was mostly
interesting only during RTTY contests or W1AW bulletins :-)

Since my PCs are tied up with my work, I don't usually have soundcard
software running.  With the K3, I don't need the PC or its software!  It
internally decodes RTTY, PSK31 and CW.

This feature has changed my perspective on listening around on the
bands.  RTTY and PSK are now as accessible to causal listening as SSB or CW.

Oh, yes, about CW.  The CW decoder has driven me to listen around in the
CW segments.  I want to see if I can figure what's being sent before the
decoder does, or to see if I can catch the decoder in an error :-)  My
ability to copy CW in my head, never very good, is certainly getting
better with this visual reinforcement.

73,

Lyle KK7P

K2 S/N 000000000000002

PS - I am not unbiased in all of this, of course, having written the DSP
portion of these demodulators.  But making something and finding myself
wanting to use it are two different things :-)






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Re: K3 Internal Digital Modes

M0XDF
Lyle, how good is the decoder? My limited experience of CW decoding in
firmware is that the CW has to be near machine perfect in order for the
decoder to get it.
What's the K3 like?


On 17/9/07 19:29, "Lyle Johnson" <[hidden email]> sent:

> Oh, yes, about CW.  The CW decoder has driven me to listen around in the
> CW segments.  I want to see if I can figure what's being sent before the
> decoder does, or to see if I can catch the decoder in an error :-)  My
> ability to copy CW in my head, never very good, is certainly getting
> better with this visual reinforcement.

--
Once upon a time a man whose axe was missing suspected his neighbour's son.
The boy walked like a thief, looked like a thief, and spoke like a thief.
But the man found his axe while digging in the valley, and the next time he
saw his neighbour's son, the boy walked, looked and spoke like any other
child. -Lao-tzu, philosopher (6th century BCE)
 


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Re: K3 Internal Digital Modes

Greg - AB7R
In reply to this post by KK7P
Just to reinforce this, I now only use software for RTTY if I absolutely have to (mainly
for contesting).  I find it so much easier to use my paddles and the K3's decoder.  You can
even do this for "casual" contesting using the CW Messages M1-4.
An added benefit from this is by getting use to sending RTTY and PSK with your paddles it
makes you better at sending CW.  Since you can see what you are sending, you can tell if
you left just a little too much space between letters, so it helps with your timing.

When working 3B7C last week (I need him again cuz they don't have me in their log!!!) I had
the CW decoder on.  He was an S1-2 and be adjusting the Threshold setting (there's an auto-
threshold option now too) and using a narrow BW filter in the DSP I was able to get about
80-90% print on the decoder (there was some QSB to deal with).

Very Fun Stuff!

-------------------------
73,
Greg - AB7R
Whidbey Island WA
NA-065

On Mon Sep 17 14:29 , Lyle Johnson  sent:

>I confess to not being a CW guy.  Yeah, I passed the 20 WPM test for my
>Extra many years ago, but that didn't make me a devotee.  I use
>microphones or keyboards when I operate.  (With the K3, I've even used
>my paddles, but not for CW!)
>
>I find when I have the K3 turned on, I often tune down to the PSK or
>RTTY areas of 20 meters and watch the text scroll by on the VFO B
>display of the K3.  I used to do this sometimes with my IC746PRO with
>its RTTY decoder, but that radio doesn't decode PSK31, so it was mostly
>interesting only during RTTY contests or W1AW bulletins :-)
>
>Since my PCs are tied up with my work, I don't usually have soundcard
>software running.  With the K3, I don't need the PC or its software!  It
>internally decodes RTTY, PSK31 and CW.
>
>This feature has changed my perspective on listening around on the
>bands.  RTTY and PSK are now as accessible to causal listening as SSB or CW.
>
>Oh, yes, about CW.  The CW decoder has driven me to listen around in the
>CW segments.  I want to see if I can figure what's being sent before the
>decoder does, or to see if I can catch the decoder in an error :-)  My
>ability to copy CW in my head, never very good, is certainly getting
>better with this visual reinforcement.
>
>73,
>
>Lyle KK7P
>
>K2 S/N 000000000000002
>
>PS - I am not unbiased in all of this, of course, having written the DSP
>portion of these demodulators.  But making something and finding myself
>wanting to use it are two different things :-)
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>
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Re: K3 Internal Digital Modes

KK7P
In reply to this post by M0XDF
> Lyle, how good is the decoder? My limited experience of CW decoding in
> firmware is that the CW has to be near machine perfect in order for the
> decoder to get it...

It does a decent job on reasonable code.  I use it as an aid (OK,
crutch) rather than as the Gospel :-)

Lyle

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Re: K3 Internal Digital Modes

wayne burdick
Administrator
In reply to this post by M0XDF
David Ferrington, M0XDF wrote:

> Lyle, how good is the decoder? My limited experience of CW decoding in
> firmware is that the CW has to be near machine perfect in order for the
> decoder to get it. What's the K3 like?

David,

Lyle will give you his observations, I'm sure, but I thought I'd
mention that I've been able to copy some pretty sloppy code with it.
The decoder keeps track of dot/dash ratios, factors out noise to the
extent possible, and now also has an "AUTO" mode where it will try to
select the ideal signal level for element vs. space decisions. I'm also
planning to do additional analysis of element vs. letter vs. word space
lengths, at which point it should handle very individualist sending.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

---

http://www.elecraft.com

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Re: Re: K3 Internal Digital Modes

Vic K2VCO
wayne burdick wrote:

> Lyle will give you his observations, I'm sure, but I thought I'd mention
> that I've been able to copy some pretty sloppy code with it.

When you're ready for final testing, just let me know and I'll get out
my bug collection.

--
73,
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco
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Re: K3 Internal Digital Modes

k0wa@swbell.net
In reply to this post by KK7P



The best CW DSP decoder I've ever used was the one between my ears...sloppy code and all.

Have a great day!

Lee - K0WA




In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short supply.  If you don't have any Common Sense - get some Common Sense and use it.  If you can't find any Common Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some Common Sense.  Is Common Sense divine?
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Re: K3 Internal Digital Modes

M0XDF
In reply to this post by wayne burdick
1 word

WOW!


On 17/9/07 20:01, "wayne burdick" <[hidden email]> sent:

> David Ferrington, M0XDF wrote:
>
>> Lyle, how good is the decoder? My limited experience of CW decoding in
>> firmware is that the CW has to be near machine perfect in order for the
>> decoder to get it. What's the K3 like?
>
> David,
>
> Lyle will give you his observations, I'm sure, but I thought I'd
> mention that I've been able to copy some pretty sloppy code with it.
> The decoder keeps track of dot/dash ratios, factors out noise to the
> extent possible, and now also has an "AUTO" mode where it will try to
> select the ideal signal level for element vs. space decisions. I'm also
> planning to do additional analysis of element vs. letter vs. word space
> lengths, at which point it should handle very individualist sending.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
> ---
>
> http://www.elecraft.com
>

--
Math Anxiety: an intense lifelong fear of two trains approaching each other
at speeds of 60 and 80 MPH. -Rick Bayan


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Re: Re: K3 Internal Digital Modes

Simon (HB9DRV)
In reply to this post by wayne burdick
Wayne,

Any chance that you could publish the algorithm when it's perfected?

Simon Brown, HB9DRV

----- Original Message -----
From: "wayne burdick" <[hidden email]>
>
> Lyle will give you his observations, I'm sure, but I thought I'd
> mention that I've been able to copy some pretty sloppy code with it.
> The decoder keeps track of dot/dash ratios, factors out noise to the
> extent possible, and now also has an "AUTO" mode where it will try to
> select the ideal signal level for element vs. space decisions. I'm also
> planning to do additional analysis of element vs. letter vs. word space
> lengths, at which point it should handle very individualist sending.
>

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Re: Re: K3 Internal Digital Modes

Simon (HB9DRV)
Bit more - FWIW I am looking at CW decoding software on the PC.

Once the K3 is shipping and you and the internal firmware team have caught a
breath of air I wouldn't mind looking at this.

Simon Brown, HB9DRV

----- Original Message -----
From: "Simon Brown (HB9DRV)" <[hidden email]>
>
> Any chance that you could publish the algorithm when it's perfected?
>

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Re: Re: K3 Internal Digital Modes

John Sims-3
In reply to this post by wayne burdick
I am normally a 99.9 % lurker on the Elecraft list since I find most of the
information I am interested in without further cluttering up things, but
here is one I haven't seen discussed.  Will the CW decoder show your
outgoing (real time - not message memories) sending?  My MFJ 495 keyer does
this and I have found it to be a VERY helpful feature.

John, K4JDW


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Re: Re: K3 Internal Digital Modes

Greg - AB7R
In reply to this post by KK7P
Hi John.

When you turn on the decoder there are presently a few options available.

TX ONLY
TWO SPEED RANGES
WPM CHECK

When the decoder is on, you will also see your outgoing CW from the paddle.

-------------------------
73,
Greg - AB7R
Whidbey Island WA
NA-065

On Mon Sep 17 17:40 , "John Sims"  sent:

>I am normally a 99.9 % lurker on the Elecraft list since I find most of the
>information I am interested in without further cluttering up things, but
>here is one I haven't seen discussed.  Will the CW decoder show your
>outgoing (real time - not message memories) sending?  My MFJ 495 keyer does
>this and I have found it to be a VERY helpful feature.
>
>John, K4JDW
>
>
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Re: Re: K3 Internal Digital Modes

KK7P
In reply to this post by John Sims-3
> ... Will the CW decoder show your
> outgoing (real time - not message memories) sending?

Yes, as long as you use the internal keyer.

73,

Lyle KK7P

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Re: K3 Internal Digital Modes

wayne burdick
Administrator
A future firmware revision will also decode and display CW sent via an
external keyer, handkey, or computer plugged into the K3. This is even
easier than decoding on-the-air CW  ;)

73,
Wayne
N6KR

On Sep 17, 2007, at 2:49 PM, Lyle Johnson wrote:

>> ... Will the CW decoder show your outgoing (real time - not message
>> memories) sending?
>
> Yes, as long as you use the internal keyer.
>
> 73,
>
> Lyle KK7P
>
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>
>

---

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Re: K3 Internal Digital Modes

Tom Hammond-2
In reply to this post by M0XDF
Hi David:

UNfortunately, you're not going to find many devices (other than the
human brain) which will decode poorly sent CW... and the K3 is no
different... the CW must be pretty well sent before it can decode it,
but it seems to do decently well on less than 'perfect' fists.

The brain is still your VERY BEST decoder!  Just takes some
practice... well, OK... a LOT of practice... <G>

Cheers,

Tom   N0SS


At 13:43 09/17/2007, David Ferrington, M0XDF wrote:

>Lyle, how good is the decoder? My limited experience of CW decoding in
>firmware is that the CW has to be near machine perfect in order for the
>decoder to get it.
>What's the K3 like?
>
>
>On 17/9/07 19:29, "Lyle Johnson" <[hidden email]> sent:
>
> > Oh, yes, about CW.  The CW decoder has driven me to listen around in the
> > CW segments.  I want to see if I can figure what's being sent before the
> > decoder does, or to see if I can catch the decoder in an error :-)  My
> > ability to copy CW in my head, never very good, is certainly getting
> > better with this visual reinforcement.
>
>--
>Once upon a time a man whose axe was missing suspected his neighbour's son.
>The boy walked like a thief, looked like a thief, and spoke like a thief.
>But the man found his axe while digging in the valley, and the next time he
>saw his neighbour's son, the boy walked, looked and spoke like any other
>child. -Lao-tzu, philosopher (6th century BCE)
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
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>Post to: [hidden email]
>You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
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>
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>Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

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Re: K3 Internal Digital Modes

David Pratt-2
In reply to this post by k0wa@swbell.net
In a recent message, Lee Buller <[hidden email]> wrote ...
>The best CW DSP decoder I've ever used was the one between my
>ears...sloppy code and all.

Well said, Lee. So many people these days seem obsessed on trying to
decode CW with electronics rather that taking the bother of training
their brain.

Now if the K3 could read CW sent from a variety of straight key
operators, recognise the operator and display their callsign on the
display and then enter it into the log together with the genuine RST or
SINPO report, then I could be persuaded!

73
--
David G4DMP
Leeds, England, UK
------


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Re: K3 Internal Digital Modes

Julian, G4ILO
I don't agree with your implication that people using CW decoders are
lazy. Some people's brains just aren't good at certain tasks. There is
just no way I can read (or send) code the speed most people do during
contests, for example. It is like trying to decode machine gun fire.

Computer decoding has enabled me to make contacts with many places I
might not otherwise have done, giving out points during contests. I
just hope my K3 is here in time for the CQ WW CW contest.

--
Julian, G4ILO K2 s/n: 392  K3 s/n: ???
G4ILO's Shack: www.g4ilo.com
Ham-Directory: www.ham-directory.com


On 9/18/07, David Pratt <[hidden email]> wrote:

> >The best CW DSP decoder I've ever used was the one between my
> >ears...sloppy code and all.
>
> Well said, Lee. So many people these days seem obsessed on trying to
> decode CW with electronics rather that taking the bother of training
> their brain.
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Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392  K3 #222 KX3 #110
* G4ILO's Shack - http://www.g4ilo.com
* KComm - http://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html
* KTune - http://www.g4ilo.com/ktune.html
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Re: K3 Internal Digital Modes

M0XDF
In reply to this post by Tom Hammond-2
Yes, thanks Tom, perhaps I should have made it clearer that I to think that
"the brain is best". I'm still working on my Morse and will continue to do
so. But was just interested, since what I've seen so far shows just how much
better the brain is. But Lyle's comments made me wonder if Wayne had
'cracked it'. Perhaps he has, hopefully will know in a couple of weeks time
:-)


On 17/9/07 23:43, "Tom Hammond" <[hidden email]> sent:

> Hi David:
>
> UNfortunately, you're not going to find many devices (other than the
> human brain) which will decode poorly sent CW... and the K3 is no
> different... the CW must be pretty well sent before it can decode it,
> but it seems to do decently well on less than 'perfect' fists.
>
> The brain is still your VERY BEST decoder!  Just takes some
> practice... well, OK... a LOT of practice... <G>
--
Everything secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing
is safe that does not show how it can bear discussion and publicity.
-Lord Acton, historian (1834-1902)


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Re: K3 Internal Digital Modes

David Pratt-2
In a recent message, "David Ferrington, M0XDF" <[hidden email]>
wrote ...
>But Lyle's comments made me wonder if Wayne had
>'cracked it'. Perhaps he has, hopefully will know in a couple of weeks time

The same thoughts crossed my mind, David.  When I read that Lyle was not
a CW operator it did make me wonder how good the DSP in the K3 would
deal with CW.

Up to now I can only speak for the K2.  The KDSP2 might be fine for SSB,
but I certainly prefer the KAF2 audio filter for CW.

We shall have to wait until after 8th October to find out.

73
--
David G4DMP
Leeds, England, UK
------


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