K3 configuration finalization plus diversity receive antenna question
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Dear group, I’m just about ready to place my order for a K3
(hopefully by tomorrow…yay!) After some good discussions with list members, I think I’ve
finally narrowed down my option choices:
I’m mostly an SSB guy, but do play around with PSK31
and RTTY. I also like to listen to shortwave broadcast stations.
The sub receiver will get the gen coverage module plus a 13, 2.7, and 500
filter. The 2.7 and 500 will be matched for diversity receive. The
FM filter on the RF board will be used for 10m repeaters, while the FM filter
on the sub will be used for broadcast reception. I don’t know if anyone here has heard of the AOR
LA-390 active loop RX antenna, but I’m thinking this might work well for
my diversity experiments. I’m space limited, and this thing can be
kept on my window ledge. http://universal-radio.com/catalog/sw_ant/2320.html I plan on using a Buddipole for my TX antenna connected to
input 1 on the KAT3. The AOR loop antenna will be connected to the AUX RF
BNC input. The loop antenna will also be used for SWL’ing. I’m
assuming that the gen coverage module will function with the sub receiver using
the AUX RF BNC input? Does this sound like a well rounded package for my needs? 73, James KC2UEE ______________________________________________________________ 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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Hi Bruce, No, the 13KHz filter will be used for AM
SW/MW/LW reception, not FM on the sub. The other FM filter on the main
will only be used for 10m FM TX/RX. Here’s an excerpt from a
conversation I had with another fellow regarding the use of FM filters for AM
broadcast reception: > Just to make sure I
understand you, the AM filter is only required if > one desires to transmit
in AM or use ESSB. > Otherwise, AM reception
like SW can still be piped through the 13KHz > FM filter? Correct, I use the FM filter
for listening to AM broadcast or SWL on a fairly regular basis. > How does the audio of
AM SW sound going through the FM filter? > Bandwidth is obviously
wider, so I'm assuming higher fidelity? Somewhat higher
fidelity. The K3's DSP has a fairly sharp cutoff at 4200 Hz so you will
never get more than that but the FM filter allows the full 4.5 KHz where the AM
filter starts to roll off at 3 KHz but still has some audio response down the
filter skirts. I hope that someday Elecraft will "open up" the
audio in AM so we can hear 5.5 or 6 KHz which as good as it gets these days. Hope that helps to clarify. 73, James KC2UEE From: Bruce McLaughlin
[mailto:[hidden email]] That sounds like a
well-rounded package, although, I'm a bit confused by your plan to use the FM
filter on the sub receiver for broadcast reception. The K-3 will not go
to the FM broadcast band and I don't think you can get there using a
transverter either. Also, the 13 kHz roofing filter, and the DSP are not
really wide enough for broadcast FM. The 15 kHz deviation is such that I
think you will have considerable distortion on a system designed for a maximum
of 5 kHz deviation if it is recognizable at all. I could be mistaken
about that, but you may want to check with others. I also wonder if you
could save a bit of money by having only one 13 kHz filter installed on the
main receiver. Assuming it will work for FM broadcast reception, unless
you plan to listen to FM broadcasts for long periods of time, I would think
using the main receiver for that purpose would probably be sufficient. It
also could be used for FM transmission on the ham bands. As I am sure you
know, you cannot transmit using the sub receiver. I have 2 K3s. The
older unit has an FM filter installed in the main receiver. The newest
unit has no FM receiver filter since my use of FM is likely to be very limited
and certainly not at all until 10 meters begins to work again. But your
plans may be different and you may have different needs. Bruce-W8FU ______________________________________________________________ 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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Re: K3 configuration finalization plus diversity receive antenna question
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Okay. You plan to use it on the HF bands and not the FM
broadcast band. I guess I jumped to an unwarranted conclusion about
that. I'm sure you will enjoy your new radio very much. I hope to
hear you on the air in their future. Bruce-W8FU From: James Sarte
[mailto:[hidden email]] Hi Bruce, No, the 13KHz filter will be used for AM SW/MW/LW reception, not FM
on the sub. The other FM filter on the main will only be used for 10m FM
TX/RX. Here’s an excerpt from a conversation I had with another
fellow regarding the use of FM filters for AM broadcast reception: > Just to make sure I understand you, the AM
filter is only required if > one desires to transmit in AM or use ESSB. > Otherwise, AM reception like SW can still be
piped through the 13KHz > FM filter? Correct, I use the FM filter for listening to AM
broadcast or SWL on a fairly regular basis. > How does the audio of AM SW sound going through
the FM filter? > Bandwidth is obviously wider, so I'm assuming
higher fidelity? Somewhat higher fidelity. The K3's DSP has a
fairly sharp cutoff at 4200 Hz so you will never get more than that but the FM
filter allows the full 4.5 KHz where the AM filter starts to roll off at 3 KHz
but still has some audio response down the filter skirts. I hope that
someday Elecraft will "open up" the audio in AM so we can hear 5.5 or
6 KHz which as good as it gets these days. Hope that helps to clarify. 73, James KC2UEE From: Bruce McLaughlin
[mailto:[hidden email]] That sounds like a well-rounded package, although, I'm a bit
confused by your plan to use the FM filter on the sub receiver for broadcast
reception. The K-3 will not go to the FM broadcast band and I don't think
you can get there using a transverter either. Also, the 13 kHz roofing
filter, and the DSP are not really wide enough for broadcast FM. The 15
kHz deviation is such that I think you will have considerable distortion on a
system designed for a maximum of 5 kHz deviation if it is recognizable at
all. I could be mistaken about that, but you may want to check with
others. I also wonder if you could save a bit of money by having only one
13 kHz filter installed on the main receiver. Assuming it will work for
FM broadcast reception, unless you plan to listen to FM broadcasts for long
periods of time, I would think using the main receiver for that purpose would
probably be sufficient. It also could be used for FM transmission on the
ham bands. As I am sure you know, you cannot transmit using the sub
receiver. I have 2 K3s. The older unit has an FM filter installed
in the main receiver. The newest unit has no FM receiver filter since my
use of FM is likely to be very limited and certainly not at all until 10 meters
begins to work again. But your plans may be different and you may have
different needs. Bruce-W8FU ______________________________________________________________ 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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