K3 and the subreceiver
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Hello all, I'm considering a K3 and I'm wondering what the benefit of paying the extra money for the subreceiver is. Can any of you elmers enlighten me on why one should put down the extra cash?
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Two simple benefits:
1. With just one antenna, when a DX station is working split (transmitting on one frequency, listening on another) you can listen on his receive *and* transmit frequency simultaneously when you are trying to work him. This makes it much, much easier to figure out his listening frequency and pattern to adjust your transmit frequency - gets you in and out of the pileup much faster. 2. With a separate antenna on the sub-RX, you can turn on diversity RX: listen to the same signal on the same freq with two different antennas. Fades on one antenna are often filled in by rx from the other antenna. Especially neat on weak signal bands like 160. Definitely worth the $$ to me. 73, John K3TN |
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In reply to this post by K4DSW
Depends on what kind of operating you do. For some things a second receiver
is highly useful, for others, not at all useful. To get the maximum benefit you need a second antenna for each band. Then diversity reception is possible, mitigating QSB and enhancing weak signals. If you like to monitor frequencies you are not transmitting on, especially on another band, the second receiver is excellent. You can do some of this with VFO B, but is limited - see the manual. I have the second receiver but do not use it often. I'm pursuing digital modes right now, not rare DX or weak signals. You can always add the second receiver later. Monty K2DLJ > Hello all, I'm considering a K3 and I'm wondering what the benefit of > paying > the extra money for the subreceiver is. Can any of you elmers enlighten > me > on why one should put down the extra cash? ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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I use the 2nd receiver ... almost without exception ... to keep
an ear on 6M to catch band openings. It's only antenna route is from the BNC connector on the rear. I also have an AlphaDelta 80-10M dipole for general listening on the 2nd RX if needed. 73! Ken Kopp - K0PP [hidden email] ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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In reply to this post by MontyS
Hello guys. I've been thinking about the same question as I ponder ordering a K3. In regard to the working of DX split, I currently have a K2. Why couldn't I just use the receiver on the K2 (15 watts) and get the same results instead of purchasing the K3 second receiver? thanks. chuck AF4XK |
sub RX ant source shared with Main = no RX?
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In reply to this post by MontyS
Hello,
If I select SUB-RX Ant source Main instead of AUX, it does not rx anyting. When I select AUX it works fine from the AUX. According to the manual The K1 relay should be engaged then sharing the Main ant between the two RXs (latest manual page 42 fig 2). When I change it to Aux it receives fine from that port. K3/100 nr 3636 with KXV3A, no ATU, with latest SW revisions. CONFIG:KR3A is Ant-BNC, changing works vis BSET-ANT. Any ideas, pse? I can't imagine this is a real bug. 73, zoli ha1ag ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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What is the Main antenna setting? ANT1 or RX ANT? What are your connections to ANT1, RX ANT (BNC) and AUX RF (BNC)? If RX ANT is selected for the Main RX, but nothing is connected to the RX ANT BNC input, then nothing will be connected to Sub when MAIN is selected. 73, Bill |
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In reply to this post by callen1155
You could if you take care not to dumpt RF into the K2. You cannot do diversity receive however since both receivers must be phase-locked to the same frequency. 73, Bill |
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Thanks Bill. I new the diversity receive was out and I had thought about the RF overload of the K2. That is a concern and I don't really know if there is a solution to it. I don't want to 'fry' the K2. 73. chuck From: Bill W4ZV [via Elecraft] <[hidden email]> To: callen1155 <[hidden email]> Sent: Fri, February 19, 2010 1:46:35 PM Subject: Re: K3 and the subreceiver You could if you take care not to dumpt RF into the K2. You cannot do diversity receive however since both receivers must be phase-locked to the same frequency. 73, Bill
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In reply to this post by callen1155
You probably could, but you would need to rig a QSK system to mute the K2 when the key is pressed. With the sub receiver you tune the DX station with the main receiver and listening with both ears. When you learn that the DX is working split you press the A>B button to put both VFOs on the DX, tap SUB to put the sub in the right ear and the main in the left ear. Then tune to the frequency for transmit with VFO A. You can now listen to the transmit frequency to possibly hear other callers or the QSO you are about to QRM or whatever is going on. It only takes a couple of seconds to set up, much less time than it takes to type the procedure. But, if you are short on cash and don't want to buy the sub-receiver, you can just press and hold the A>B,3,SPLIT button and work the DX in the normal split manner. I would do this before I would spend the time to set up a second transceiver. (I have a TS-850 setting here, ready to go).
Willis 'Cookie' Cooke K5EWJ ________________________________ From: callen1155 <[hidden email]> To: [hidden email] Sent: Fri, February 19, 2010 11:50:38 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 and the subreceiver Hello guys. I've been thinking about the same question as I ponder ordering a K3. In regard to the working of DX split, I currently have a K2. Why couldn't I just use the receiver on the K2 (15 watts) and get the same results instead of purchasing the K3 second receiver? thanks. chuck AF4XK -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-and-the-subreceiver-tp4593879p4599207.html Sent from the [K3] 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 |
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In reply to this post by Zoli Pitman HA1AG-2
Zoli just another point of information for you. It's not necessary to go into BSET to change the Sub RX antenna. If you HOLD (instead of TAP) RX ANT on the front panel, the Sub RX antenna will toggle between MAIN and AUX (BNC). This is much easier than having to go into the BSET menu IMHO. Of course if you TAP RX ANT, it will toggle the Main RX antenna between ANT1 and RX ANT (BNC). 73, Bill |
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In reply to this post by callen1155
You need something called a Front End Saver. http://www.aytechnologies.com/TechData/RIP-1.pdf Another alternative to a second receiver is using PowerSDR software with LP-PAN, but this requires additional hardware (KXV3, LP-PAN, decent sound card and a decent computer). You use PowerSDR as your second RX. http://www.telepostinc.com/LP-PAN.html "LP-PAN allows you to use your PC / sound card as a second receiver with lots of nice features if you use the PowerSDRTM app. Shown above is split operation using the main and sub receivers in PowerSDR. VFO A (green) from the K3 is linked to the main receiver in PowerSDR, and VFO B (blue) is linked to the sub receiver. The K3 doesn't need the KRX3 2nd receiver option. PowerSDR provides both receivers. PowerSDRTM has lots of flexibility in terms of modes, bandwidths, interference reduction tools, etc. I find listening to SW broadcasts with the synchronous AM detector very nice." (N8LP's comments) 73, Bill |
Re: sub RX ant source shared with Main = no RX?
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In reply to this post by Bill W4ZV
Hello Bill,
The RX1 has Main selected ANT1: Antenna connected RX ant: no ant connected On main RX I hear sigs as I should. On RX2 I hear nothing when Main is selected as source if I select Aux and connect 2nd antenna to AUX conn. it receives. RX2 is works. It seems the relay marked as K1 on Fig 2 on Page 42 of the current manual is not connecting main ant to RX2 input when it is selected. I guess one of the cables inside the rig is disconnected but I donát want to open up the rig 3 hrs before the contest starts. tnx, Zoli ha1ag --- On Fri, 2/19/10, Bill W4ZV <[hidden email]> wrote: Zoli Pitman HA1AG-2 wrote: > > If I select SUB-RX Ant source Main instead of AUX, it does not rx anyting. > When I select AUX it works fine from the AUX. According to the manual The > K1 relay should be engaged then sharing the Main ant between the two RXs > (latest manual page 42 fig 2). When I change it to Aux it receives fine > from that port. > What is the Main antenna setting? ANT1 or RX ANT? What are your connections to ANT1, RX ANT (BNC) and AUX RF (BNC)? If RX ANT is selected for the Main RX, but nothing is connected to the RX ANT BNC input, then nothing will be connected to Sub when MAIN is selected. 73, Bill -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-and-the-subreceiver-tp4593879p4599444.html Sent from the [K3] 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 |
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Yes, sounds like either a bad relay or disconnected cable.
CU on Topband in the contest! 73, Bill W4ZV On Fri, Feb 19, 2010 at 4:26 PM, Zoli Pitman HA1AG-2 [via Elecraft] <[hidden email]> wrote:
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In reply to this post by MontyS
Note on diversity reception.Way back in early 70ies while using two Drake R4C receivers for contesting, I discovered interesting effect. When using two receivers, L & R, going to two ears L & R, using different antennas - Beverages and Inv Vee, I would come across situations when I can hear weak station using both ears/RXs, but when switching to individual one, signal would not be there. It looked to me like some kind of noise canceling, perhaps in combination with brain processing.Diversity can be with polarization, angles, directions. Having tracking receivers makes it sooo cool.Recently while operating as TF4X in CQ 160 CW while using K3 and array of Beverages, Rhombics and Arctic King (TF4M.com) this again came very handy in digging out the weak ones. Noise floor there was just at about 0 and it was some experience to hear the world, being on the top of the world.K3 is unique in using two RX diversity reception, especially for serious contesting, and when limited with 13
lbs weight limit in carry on luggage - jus' one honey of the radio.Packaging, modularity, circuit design and performance is leaving just about all of my "big boxes" in the dust. Congrats and thanks Elecraft!Yuri, K3BU.us----- Original Message -----From: Monty Shultes Date: Friday, February 19, 2010 11:25 amSubject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 and the subreceiverTo: K4DSW , "[hidden email]" > Depends on what kind of operating you do. For some things a > second receiver > is highly useful, for others, not at all useful.> > To get the maximum benefit you need a second antenna for each > band. Then > diversity reception is possible, mitigating QSB and enhancing > weak signals.> > If you like to monitor frequencies you are not transmitting on, > especially > on another band, the second receiver is excellent. You can do > some of this > with VFO B, but is limited - see the manual.> > I have the second receiver but do not use it often. I'm > pursuing digital > modes right now, not rare DX or weak signals.> > You can always add the second receiver later.> > Monty K2DLJ> > > Hello all, I'm considering a K3 and I'm wondering what the > benefit of > > paying> > the extra money for the subreceiver is. Can any of you elmers > enlighten > > me> > on why one should put down the extra cash?> > > ______________________________________________________________ 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 |
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