K3 Quick-start guide that won't challenge your ink-jet printer

[wayne burdick]

We've posted two versions of the K3 quick-start guide that use line
drawings. These should produce excellent results when printed (and will
use a lot less ink, too!).

There are two different resolutions ("sm" is about 300 kb, "lg" is
about 2.2 Mb):

   http://www.elecraft.com/K3/K3quickstart_web_bw_sm.pdf
   http://www.elecraft.com/K3/K3quickstart_web_bw_lg.pdf

Also note that the quick-start guide is still preliminary. Some
firmware functionality being added as we speak is not represented.
Example: how to select PTT CW vs. Full/Semi QSK (we got the message :)

73,
Wayne
N6KR


---

http://www.elecraft.com

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[Ed Muns, W0YK]

With the KXV3 option in the K3, it is very easy to do real-time receiver
comparison testing between the K3 and brand X.

1.  Connect the antenna to the K3 ANT1 (or, ANT2) jack.

2.  Connect a coax between RX OUT on the K3 and the RX ANT IN on the brand
X.  (If brand X does not have a RX ANT IN feature, you could use the main
antenna jack if you can guarantee that there is no way brand X can go into
transmit and fry the K3.)

3.  Enable the RX antenna input on brand X.

4.  Connect stereo headphones such that one channel is on the K3 and the
other side on brand X.

5.  Tune both receivers to the same frequency.

6.  Toggle the RX ANT button on the K3 to switch the antenna between the two
receivers with the audio tracking between the two stereo channels.

Yes, this could also be done with an external coax switch, but using the
arrangement above, the two radios can be operational in a normal way with no
re-cabling from your normal setup.  In a typical SO2R station, all that
would be required is to perform steps 3, 5 and 6 any time you want to
compare.  Of course, you give up the RX antenna feature on brand X during
SO2R, to have this capability.

I've been using this technique for a couple months now and it really
highlights the differences between the K3 and other receivers.  Even the
background band noise sounds so much better in the K3.  It is bright, crisp
and clear.  The K3 gives much higher confidence that you are "hearing
better".  The other receivers have various degrees of a kind of rushing or
roaring sound from the band noise, just kind of all mushed up.

73,
Ed - W0YK

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[Darwin, Keith]

I have a different A/B approach that I've used with a number of rigs.

1.  Hook the same antenna to each rig in parallel.  This may require
some custom cables depending on the rig.  Since all you're doing is RX,
it doesn't have to be perfect, just get the same sig to all rigs.

2.  Run speaker outputs from both rigs into your Mackie 1202VLZ mixer.
Or, if you must, your Behringer mixer.  Set the volume output of your
rig for best S/N ratio.  Trim the mixer's input channel to get each RX's
signal up to about 0 dB.

3.  Plug your headphones into your mixer.  Now you can A/B by simply
muting one or the other.

This approach really lets you hear the differences.  Both rigs,
connected to the same antenna, listening to the same signal at the same
time, feeding the same headphones.  You can even do things like pan one
L/R or put both rigs in mono and just switch between them.

Differences in AGC action, background noise, filter performance and
overall tone become immediately apparent.  Like night and day.

I did this with a number of rigs:
  IC735
  Drake R4A
  K2
  Drake 2B
  Kenwood TS830s

After my testing I had the rigs stacked in order of best RX performance:
  K2
  TS830s
  Drake 2B
  R4A
  IC735

See if you can guess which rig I kept :-)

- Keith N1AS -
- K2 5411.ssb.100 -


-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Ed Muns
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2007 1:46 AM
To: 'Elecraft Reflector'
Subject: [Elecraft] A/B Receiver Evaluation

With the KXV3 option in the K3, it is very easy to do real-time receiver
comparison testing between the K3 and brand X.

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