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K3 - New Synthesizers and Diversity Mode

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Jim Sheldon

K3 - New Synthesizers and Diversity Mode

When I first got my K3 a few years ago (#5027) I tried diversity, but
never really had much luck with it due to the lack of a halfway decent
antenna to put on the 2nd receiver. With the new synthesizers installed
and after doing the experimental VLF sensitivity modification, I used my
QRP portable antenna (PAR EndFedZ) to listen down there.

This morning I was listening to a QSO between K1JD and JA1NUT on 40
meters. JD was running S9+ with QSB down to around S3 and JA1NUT was
about S7 down to S1 or so. Accidentally turned Diversity on and WOW
what a difference that made - Shin (JA1NUT) was totally readable with
diversity mode on. Had to get used to the stereo effect of having the
signal pass between the speakers as the strength changed and one RX took
over from the other but boy, it's much quieter than it used to be and
the "whoosh" when tuning is completely gone. Really like the improved
version of diversity and that alone is worth the cost of the two syn
boards in my opinion.

Someone mentioned "birdies" with the new KSYN3A's but I haven't found
any in mine. He mentioned a much earlier serial number and I suspect
that's the difference. Mine is #5027 and I've had it for a few years
now. I AM running the latest firmware and have kept that current even
through the Beta versions.

Jim - W0EB

Memo to NSA, DHS, FBI, CIA, DIA, DEA, ATF, KGB, MI5, and any other
alphabet soup agencies that might be listening/reading/tracking my email
content, I share this computer with an old lady, an ex-con, a priest, a
used car salesman, a military veteran, a pacifist, a vegetarian, a
hunter, a circus midget, a local politician, a doberman and a demented
cat...so any data you collect from me will be meaningless, random and
therefore useless...good luck.
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John Molenda

Re: K3 - New Synthesizers and Diversity Mode

Hi Folks I am hearing about this new ksyn3a's synthesizer boards late in
the game can some one tell me are these boards approved by elecraft ?
How much are they ? how difficult are they to install . Thanks to all
who try to help this lost one ! JOhn kb2huk

On 5/4/2015 9:33 AM, Jim Sheldon wrote:

> When I first got my K3 a few years ago (#5027) I tried diversity, but
> never really had much luck with it due to the lack of a halfway decent
> antenna to put on the 2nd receiver. With the new synthesizers
> installed and after doing the experimental VLF sensitivity
> modification, I used my QRP portable antenna (PAR EndFedZ) to listen
> down there.
>
> This morning I was listening to a QSO between K1JD and JA1NUT on 40
> meters. JD was running S9+ with QSB down to around S3 and JA1NUT was
> about S7 down to S1 or so. Accidentally turned Diversity on and WOW
> what a difference that made - Shin (JA1NUT) was totally readable with
> diversity mode on. Had to get used to the stereo effect of having the
> signal pass between the speakers as the strength changed and one RX
> took over from the other but boy, it's much quieter than it used to be
> and the "whoosh" when tuning is completely gone. Really like the
> improved version of diversity and that alone is worth the cost of the
> two syn boards in my opinion.
>
> Someone mentioned "birdies" with the new KSYN3A's but I haven't found
> any in mine. He mentioned a much earlier serial number and I suspect
> that's the difference. Mine is #5027 and I've had it for a few years
> now. I AM running the latest firmware and have kept that current even
> through the Beta versions.
>
> Jim - W0EB
>
>
>
>
>
> Memo to NSA, DHS, FBI, CIA, DIA, DEA, ATF, KGB, MI5, and any other
> alphabet soup agencies that might be listening/reading/tracking my
> email content, I share this computer with an old lady, an ex-con, a
> priest, a used car salesman, a military veteran, a pacifist, a
> vegetarian, a hunter, a circus midget, a local politician, a doberman
> and a demented cat...so any data you collect from me will be
> meaningless, random and therefore useless...good luck.
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K3 - New Synthesizers and Diversity Mode

John,

Yes, the new KSYN3A boards are not only "approved" by Elecraft, they are
designed and sold by Elecraft and included in every new K3 since the
announcement. The KSYN3AUPG kit is priced at $189.95. If you have the
KRX3 in your K3, you will need 2 of them.

Installation is a matter of removing the top cover and removing 2 screws
from each synthesizer board, then lift the board out and unplug the
cables. Install the cables on each new board and plug it in - fasten
two screws.

Some have had trouble dropping the lockwashers that are behind the old
synth boards when removing the screws. My method is to almost remove
the screws, then tilt the top of the board to the rear and push the
lockwashers up against the back of the board. Finish removing the
screws and the lockwashers will stay on the screw threads.

Not a difficult task at all.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 5/4/2015 10:47 AM, John Molenda wrote:

> Hi Folks I am hearing about this new ksyn3a's synthesizer boards late
> in the game can some one tell me are these boards approved by elecraft
> ? How much are they ? how difficult are they to install . Thanks to
> all who try to help this lost one ! JOhn kb2huk
>
> On 5/4/2015 9:33 AM, Jim Sheldon wrote:
>> When I first got my K3 a few years ago (#5027) I tried diversity, but
>> never really had much luck with it due to the lack of a halfway
>> decent antenna to put on the 2nd receiver. With the new synthesizers
>> installed and after doing the experimental VLF sensitivity
>> modification, I used my QRP portable antenna (PAR EndFedZ) to listen
>> down there.
>>
>> This morning I was listening to a QSO between K1JD and JA1NUT on 40
>> meters. JD was running S9+ with QSB down to around S3 and JA1NUT was
>> about S7 down to S1 or so. Accidentally turned Diversity on and WOW
>> what a difference that made - Shin (JA1NUT) was totally readable with
>> diversity mode on. Had to get used to the stereo effect of having
>> the signal pass between the speakers as the strength changed and one
>> RX took over from the other but boy, it's much quieter than it used
>> to be and the "whoosh" when tuning is completely gone. Really like
>> the improved version of diversity and that alone is worth the cost of
>> the two syn boards in my opinion.
>>
>> Someone mentioned "birdies" with the new KSYN3A's but I haven't found
>> any in mine. He mentioned a much earlier serial number and I suspect
>> that's the difference. Mine is #5027 and I've had it for a few years
>> now. I AM running the latest firmware and have kept that current
>> even through the Beta versions.
>>
>> Jim - W0EB
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Memo to NSA, DHS, FBI, CIA, DIA, DEA, ATF, KGB, MI5, and any other
>> alphabet soup agencies that might be listening/reading/tracking my
>> email content, I share this computer with an old lady, an ex-con, a
>> priest, a used car salesman, a military veteran, a pacifist, a
>> vegetarian, a hunter, a circus midget, a local politician, a doberman
>> and a demented cat...so any data you collect from me will be
>> meaningless, random and therefore useless...good luck.
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
>
> ---
> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
> http://www.avast.com
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

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

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Message delivered to [hidden email]

John Molenda

Re: K3 - New Synthesizers and Diversity Mode

Thanks guys ! I am excited to try them and it sounds like it is very
easy to install . Great thinkers at Elecraft . John Molenda kb2huk

On 5/4/2015 12:07 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> John,
>
> Yes, the new KSYN3A boards are not only "approved" by Elecraft, they
> are designed and sold by Elecraft and included in every new K3 since
> the announcement. The KSYN3AUPG kit is priced at $189.95. If you
> have the KRX3 in your K3, you will need 2 of them.
>
> Installation is a matter of removing the top cover and removing 2
> screws from each synthesizer board, then lift the board out and unplug
> the cables. Install the cables on each new board and plug it in -
> fasten two screws.
>
> Some have had trouble dropping the lockwashers that are behind the old
> synth boards when removing the screws. My method is to almost remove
> the screws, then tilt the top of the board to the rear and push the
> lockwashers up against the back of the board. Finish removing the
> screws and the lockwashers will stay on the screw threads.
>
> Not a difficult task at all.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 5/4/2015 10:47 AM, John Molenda wrote:
>> Hi Folks I am hearing about this new ksyn3a's synthesizer boards late
>> in the game can some one tell me are these boards approved by
>> elecraft ? How much are they ? how difficult are they to install .
>> Thanks to all who try to help this lost one ! JOhn kb2huk
>>
>> On 5/4/2015 9:33 AM, Jim Sheldon wrote:
>>> When I first got my K3 a few years ago (#5027) I tried diversity,
>>> but never really had much luck with it due to the lack of a halfway
>>> decent antenna to put on the 2nd receiver. With the new
>>> synthesizers installed and after doing the experimental VLF
>>> sensitivity modification, I used my QRP portable antenna (PAR
>>> EndFedZ) to listen down there.
>>>
>>> This morning I was listening to a QSO between K1JD and JA1NUT on 40
>>> meters. JD was running S9+ with QSB down to around S3 and JA1NUT
>>> was about S7 down to S1 or so. Accidentally turned Diversity on and
>>> WOW what a difference that made - Shin (JA1NUT) was totally readable
>>> with diversity mode on. Had to get used to the stereo effect of
>>> having the signal pass between the speakers as the strength changed
>>> and one RX took over from the other but boy, it's much quieter than
>>> it used to be and the "whoosh" when tuning is completely gone.
>>> Really like the improved version of diversity and that alone is
>>> worth the cost of the two syn boards in my opinion.
>>>
>>> Someone mentioned "birdies" with the new KSYN3A's but I haven't
>>> found any in mine. He mentioned a much earlier serial number and I
>>> suspect that's the difference. Mine is #5027 and I've had it for a
>>> few years now. I AM running the latest firmware and have kept that
>>> current even through the Beta versions.
>>>
>>> Jim - W0EB
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Memo to NSA, DHS, FBI, CIA, DIA, DEA, ATF, KGB, MI5, and any other
>>> alphabet soup agencies that might be listening/reading/tracking my
>>> email content, I share this computer with an old lady, an ex-con, a
>>> priest, a used car salesman, a military veteran, a pacifist, a
>>> vegetarian, a hunter, a circus midget, a local politician, a
>>> doberman and a demented cat...so any data you collect from me will
>>> be meaningless, random and therefore useless...good luck.
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> 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
>>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>
>>
>> ---
>> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
>> http://www.avast.com
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>
>

drewko

Re: K3 - New Synthesizers and Diversity Mode

In reply to this post by Jim Sheldon

If that's all the antenna it takes to do successful diversity
reception I'd like to try it. But I don't want to pay the price of a
sub receiver. I wonder if a diversity receiver board could be
manufactured that would be significantly cheaper than a full function
sub-receiver...

Re birdies/noise: I haven't heard any with my new synth board, 40m or
elsewhere.

73,
Drew
AF2Z

On Mon, 04 May 2015 13:33:43 +0000, you wrote: