Elecraft

K3 Problem

Classic

List

Threaded

10 messages Options

wn3r.us

K3 Problem

I actually sent my rig back for this problem, but I didn't analyze
properly so it came back to me with "no problem found". I now
understand where my distortion is coming from.

With compression above 30, I seem to be getting some RF feedback when
MIC+LIN is ON. When it is OFF, audio is clean. Thinking RF was being
picked up by a cable, I removed them all.

It made no difference. In the TEST mode, tx audio is clean.

I am anxious to get this fixed before the contest so I can use voice
recordings in N1MM.

Thanks

Dick, WN3R

______________________________________________________________
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

Bill W4ZV

Re: K3 Problem

Dick, WN3R wrote

With compression above 30

Wow! The max I ever use is 24. Microphones may vary but CMP=30 seems awfully high.

73, Bill W4ZV

Jim-3

Re: K3 Problem

I was thinking the same thing. I never go above 15 CMP. Mic is set to 30 and I easily get 100 watts PEP.

I would think a CMP set to 30 the receiving station could hear spiders crawling in your room.

KE4WY Jim

Sent from my iPod

On Oct 27, 2012, at 5:37 AM, Bill W4ZV <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Dick, WN3R wrote
>> With compression above 30
>
> Wow! The max I ever use is 24. Microphones may vary but CMP=30 seems
> awfully high.
>
> 73, Bill W4ZV
>
>
>
> --
> View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-Problem-tp7564622p7564650.html
> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.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

______________________________________________________________
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

Nate Bargmann

Re: K3 Problem

* On 2012 27 Oct 05:25 -0500, Jim wrote:
> I was thinking the same thing. I never go above 15 CMP. Mic is set to
> 30 and I easily get 100 watts PEP.

I agree and have my cmp set to 13 and mic to 30 and I get good audio
reports which I consider something of a miracle!

Last night I tuned across 15m for a bit and there were some signals with
very bad audio. One was so poor that after a couple of minutes I still
didn't know what his call was. He wasn't getting any answers which
should have been a clue.

A little is good. More is not always better!

73, de Nate, N0NB >>

--

"The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all
possible worlds. The pessimist fears this is true."

Ham radio, Linux, bikes, and more: http://www.n0nb.us
______________________________________________________________
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

k6dgw

Re: K3 Problem

In reply to this post by Jim-3

I don't do much SSB but when I do I get 10 dB peak compression with the
CMP set at 12. I use a Heil Proset with the electret mic I got from
Elecraft. I regularly get unsolicited comments of "really good audio."
My TX equalizer is set to the "K9YC recommendations." I can't imagine
what it would sound like at CMP=30, but I bet it wouldn't be good.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2013 Cal QSO Party 5-6 Oct 2013
- www.cqp.org

On 10/27/2012 3:24 AM, Jim wrote:

> I was thinking the same thing. I never go above 15 CMP. Mic is set to
> 30 and I easily get 100 watts PEP.
>
> I would think a CMP set to 30 the receiving station could hear
> spiders crawling in your room.
>
> KE4WY Jim
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPod
>
> On Oct 27, 2012, at 5:37 AM, Bill W4ZV <[hidden email]>
> wrote:
>
>> Dick, WN3R wrote
>>> With compression above 30
>>
>> Wow! The max I ever use is 24. Microphones may vary but CMP=30
>> seems awfully high.
>>
>> 73, Bill W4ZV

David Gilbert

Re: K3 Problem

In reply to this post by Bill W4ZV

Include me in that sentiment. I have several times monitored my audio
while adjusting the compression. CMP=20 gives great audio quality and
CMP=25 gives great contest audio. CMP=30 generates significant audio
artifacts without any better intelligibility. In my opinion, CMP above
30 merely adds trash to the bands.

73,
Dave AB7E

On 10/27/2012 2:37 AM, Bill W4ZV wrote:

> Dick, WN3R wrote
>> With compression above 30
> Wow! The max I ever use is 24. Microphones may vary but CMP=30 seems
> awfully high.
>
> 73, Bill W4ZV
>
>
>
> --
> View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-Problem-tp7564622p7564650.html
> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.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
>

Keith Heimbold

Re: K3 Problem

I operate my K3 with compression of 14 and mic gain at 34-38 depending on conditions and environment (contesting, DXing or ragchewing). With the Yamaha MDE-100 microphone I get good audio reports. Guess each microphone has slightly different settings for optimum Audio quality.

Keith
AG6AZ

Sent from my iPhone please excuse typos

On Oct 27, 2012, at 9:45 AM, "David Gilbert" <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
> Include me in that sentiment. I have several times monitored my audio
> while adjusting the compression. CMP=20 gives great audio quality and
> CMP=25 gives great contest audio. CMP=30 generates significant audio
> artifacts without any better intelligibility. In my opinion, CMP above
> 30 merely adds trash to the bands.
>
> 73,
> Dave AB7E
>
>
>
> On 10/27/2012 2:37 AM, Bill W4ZV wrote:
>> Dick, WN3R wrote
>>> With compression above 30
>> Wow! The max I ever use is 24. Microphones may vary but CMP=30 seems
>> awfully high.
>>
>> 73, Bill W4ZV
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-Problem-tp7564622p7564650.html
>> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.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
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

Joe Subich, W4TV-4

Re: K3 Problem

In reply to this post by David Gilbert

> CMP=20 gives great audio quality and CMP=25 gives great contest
> audio. CMP=30 generates significant audio artifacts without any
> better intelligibility.

My threshold for "crap" is a little lower. CMP=20 is fine, the
audio gets "rough" much above that and by CMP=25 it is badly
distorted (even with PWR=0 so it's not RF feedback).

73,

... Joe, W4TV

On 10/27/2012 12:43 PM, David Gilbert wrote:

>
> Include me in that sentiment. I have several times monitored my audio
> while adjusting the compression. CMP=20 gives great audio quality and
> CMP=25 gives great contest audio. CMP=30 generates significant audio
> artifacts without any better intelligibility. In my opinion, CMP above
> 30 merely adds trash to the bands.
>
> 73,
> Dave AB7E
>
>
>
> On 10/27/2012 2:37 AM, Bill W4ZV wrote:
>> Dick, WN3R wrote
>>> With compression above 30
>> Wow! The max I ever use is 24. Microphones may vary but CMP=30 seems
>> awfully high.
>>
>> 73, Bill W4ZV
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-Problem-tp7564622p7564650.html
>> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.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
>>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

Lu Romero - W4LT

Re: K3 Problem

In reply to this post by wn3r.us

Yes, I also agree that CMP 30 is a bit much. On my rig, the
"open ragchew wide dynamic range" setting is 18 and the "in
your face contest compression punch" setting is 24. Any
more than 25, and you start to reach the point of
diminishing returns in inteligibility. I use the Yamaha
Boomset here, so other mike's milage may vary.

Also, pay attention to the mic level setting, which is also
important. Both settings interact grately. Set the mic level
first, then add CMP to the mix. Not the other way around.

You shouldnt be afraid to light up all the lights on the
right side of the meter consistently with the last light
flickering with mod peaks. This is really an amazingly
clean audio chain we are working with. But as in everything,
too much of a good thing is often detrimental.

IMO, K3's audio processing chain seems to like consistent
input levels (still wish we could have attack and decay
handles for CMP, Lyle!). The more consistent the input, by
close talking, by keeping control of your voice, even if it
is a P5 pileup, by managing the overall gain of your audio
chain, and by keeping external noise down, the more
modulation density you will get from this radio without
sounding like something from Guns and Roses record.

Lu - W4LT (currently /HK3)
K3, K1, P3

==================================

Message: 3
Date: Sat, 27 Oct 2012 09:43:29 -0700
From: David Gilbert <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Problem
To: [hidden email]
Message-ID: <[hidden email]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Include me in that sentiment. I have several times
monitored my audio
while adjusting the compression. CMP=20 gives great audio
quality and
CMP=25 gives great contest audio. CMP=30 generates
significant audio
artifacts without any better intelligibility. In my
opinion, CMP above
30 merely adds trash to the bands.

73,
Dave AB7E

______________________________________________________________
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

Edward R Cole

Re: K3 Problem

In reply to this post by wn3r.us

I run COMP=20 on my K3 with a Heil HM10-5 desk mic (older model I
bought in 1998 with wide freq element). Get great audio reports on
SSB on either HF or 2m-SSB. I have only modified Tx equalization for
three lowest audio freq bands as mainly running conversational
operating on a couple HF Nets and most operating is VHF+.

I checked my COMP on the KX3 and it is only set to 8 with the MH3
hand-mic. On FM I had reports of overdeviation so lowered mic gain
to 15. SSB mic level appears to work at that level without complaint.

73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 (500-KHz)

______________________________________________________________
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