K3 - What settings to use for RX and TX Audio

[Elecraft mailing list]

Is there a list somewhere that gives some guidance on setting up the K3 for good Audio.I've read a little about some of the various AGC settings, but would like a bit more details.

I also would like the settings for TX audio, particularly for 2 groups of settings one for Ragchew and one for punch.
Thank you

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[Ross Primrose]

TX audio you're pretty much going to have to figure out on-air with
someone who's got great copy on you.  What works for you is highly
dependent on your voice, mic etc. and will be different than what works
for me or anyone else....

73, Ross N4RP

On 2/26/2015 3:53 PM, Harry Yingst via Elecraft wrote:
> I also would like the settings for TX audio, particularly for 2 groups of settings one for Ragchew and one for punch.
> Thank you
>
>

--
FCC Section 97.313(a) “At all times, an amateur station must use the minimum transmitter power necessary to carry out the desired communications.”

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[Bill-3]

Take a look at:   http://www.w2blc.net/K3.htm

Just be forewarned - these are settings I use and other users may not
like them.

Bill W2BLC K-Line

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[Matt Murphy]

If you want ragchew audio it probably makes sense to:

- turn the preamp off
- use slow AGC
- use as wide a passband as band conditions permit (phone) and about 800Hz
on CW
- in the receive EQ perhaps reduce band 7 and 8 a bit to remove some of the
highest pitched sounds/noise
- listen through a larger speaker to add a bit more resonance than the
built-in speaker can provide.



- For TX you can listen on the monitor using headphones and fine tune it to
be exactly how you want. I think K9YC had some recommended presets for TX
EQ for contest audio.

73,
Matt NQ6N

On Thu, Feb 26, 2015 at 3:04 PM, Bill <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Take a look at:   http://www.w2blc.net/K3.htm
>
> Just be forewarned - these are settings I use and other users may not like
> them.
>
> Bill W2BLC K-Line
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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[Phil Wheeler-2]

Thanks for posting, Bill. That will make a nice
point of reference.

Phil W7OX

On 2/26/15 1:04 PM, Bill wrote:
> Take a look at:   http://www.w2blc.net/K3.htm
>
> Just be forewarned - these are settings I use
> and other users may not like them.
>
> Bill W2BLC K-Line

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[k6dgw]

Don't know your call Harry, but your question about RX EQ is a bit like
going into a mattress store and asking, "What pillow will be most
comfortable for me?":-)  Only you hear like you do, only you can tell
what you like and then only by adjusting and trying it out.  A couple of
suggestions however:

1.  One adjustment at a time followed by way more than 60 seconds of
listening.  The effects are subtle, and if you move too fast, you'll
just get frustrated ... and be tempted to post that the K3 RX EQ is
worthless, which has happened once. :-))

2.  Test each setting under varied band conditions ... quiet SSB, CQ WPX
SSB [or whatever] before more adjusting.

My hearing is severely compromised and has been since one night 50 years
ago on the other side of the planet.  I adjusted mine to look roughly
like the inverse of my audiogram.  I need about 80 dB above 1200 Hz and
over 95 dB above 2 KHz, which is beyond the range of the RX EQ, but you
can get an effective 30 dB of adjustment range by lowering the low
frequencies, boosting the highs, and turning up the AF gain, if that's
your goal.  It's not as good as my hearing aids, but then, my K3 is a
ham radio, not a hearing aid.

I've actually found that just using the SHIFT knob when on SSB, I can
quickly adjust the response for different voices if I'm having a hard
time copying a DX call or a really weak station.
 >
 > I also would like the settings for TX audio, particularly for 2
 > groups of settings one for Ragchew and one for punch. Thank you

I don't ragchew much and I'm not sure how to measure "punch," but I
started with K9YC's settings since he retired out of professional audio
and I know him, tweaked them a tiny bit for my voice with a local who
knows what I sound like, and often get unsolicited "great audio"
comments on SSB.  My settings are:

1: -16
2: -12
3: -6
4: -2
5: 0
6: +4
7: +6
8: +10

YMMV, but in general the lower 2 registers, and even #3 to some extent
do not contribute much at all to communications efficiency.  The upper 2
or so boost the sibilant components which do enhance the difference
between many words.

I use a Heil ProSet with the iC2 electret element I got from Elecraft.
I think you will find, if you spend enough time with it, that your
compression and mic gain/ALC settings will have at least as much effect
on the "quality" of your TX signal as the TX EQ, and maybe more.

The first four bars on the ALC meter are not ALC, they're showing audio
level.  ALC action is indicated by the 5th and above [I think I have
that right, I'm sure I'll be corrected if necessary]. My shack is pretty
quiet when I'm on SSB, I run between 8 and 10 dB peak compression, and
set the mic gain so the 5th bar flickers as I speak.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 50th Running of the Cal QSO Party 3-4 Oct 2015
- www.cqp.org

On 2/26/2015 12:53 PM, Harry Yingst via Elecraft wrote:
> Is there a list somewhere that gives some guidance on setting up the
> K3 for good Audio.I've read a little about some of the various AGC
> settings, but would like a bit more details.

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[Phil Wheeler-2]

On 2/26/15 2:33 PM, Fred Jensen wrote:
>
> My hearing is severely compromised and has been
> since one night 50 years ago on the other side
> of the planet.  I adjusted mine to look roughly
> like the inverse of my audiogram.
Funny about that, Fred. I listen with both a
speaker and an earbud (one ear has deaf for 49
years). With the speaker I have my hearing aid to
compensate as above. The earbud bypasses the
hearing aid's mic so its as tho it's not there.
Over the ear headphones are troublesome with the
hearing aid and glass frames behind one ear.

Such problems we have. The good news is I don't
need a second RX in my K3 :-)

At least Elecraft is not like a mattress store:
That would drive me out of the hobby!

73, Phil W7OX

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