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[K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive

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mikerodgerske5gbc

[K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive

I've been putting up with this hiss on receive for two years. Others have complained as well. It sounds like a rushing wind. Kinda like old cassette tape hiss. It's the dirty little secret no one wants to talk about and the first thing that comes up on other forums when you mention k3. The most common being "tiring to listen to.

I think I've got it the best it can be but I'm looking for tips to make it better.
It keeps me from listening wide. Any hi cut above 2400 starts to irritate me so that limits me to a width of 2.1!

Others complain on LSB but to me it seems more noticeable on USB where I hang out.

It's a two year old k3 #5047 running latest firmware (not the beta).
It's not Agc related as its the same with agc off.

I feel I have a very aggressive negative eq as follows.

0. 0. 0. -3. -3. -12. -12/16. -16

I love the rig except for this. I'm not planning to sell it but I would like to make it better if possible.
Right now I'm stuck at a width of 2.1 because of this. Am I doomed to just get used to it? I can filter it out with a kenwood speaker with filters but that's really just doing the same as reducing hi cut or bandwidth.

Any ideas welcomed.

Thanks and 73
Mike R

Play me some fiddle, but no stinkin' violin!

Amateur/Ham Radio KE5GBC
HF & Echolink mobile
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Scott Manthe-2

Re: [K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive

I've heard of this problem, but have never actually heard the problem on
my K3, which has a serial number in the 3000 range. I'm sure you'll get
numerous replies offering suggestions.

I'm curious, when you say you "hang out" on USB, does this mean you
never operate below 10 mHz? Or do you operate on USB even on 40, 80 and
160 meters? Personally, I don't notice much difference in the frequency
response on USB and LSB, but that might be because I only operate USB on
the bands above 10 mHz.

73,
Scott, N9AA

On 11/23/12 11:00 PM, Mike Rodgers wrote:

> I've been putting up with this hiss on receive for two years. Others have complained as well. It sounds like a rushing wind. Kinda like old cassette tape hiss. It's the dirty little secret no one wants to talk about and the first thing that comes up on other forums when you mention k3. The most common being "tiring to listen to.
>
> I think I've got it the best it can be but I'm looking for tips to make it better.
> It keeps me from listening wide. Any hi cut above 2400 starts to irritate me so that limits me to a width of 2.1!
>
> Others complain on LSB but to me it seems more noticeable on USB where I hang out.
>
> It's a two year old k3 #5047 running latest firmware (not the beta).
> It's not Agc related as its the same with agc off.
>
> I feel I have a very aggressive negative eq as follows.
>
> 0. 0. 0. -3. -3. -12. -12/16. -16
>
> I love the rig except for this. I'm not planning to sell it but I would like to make it better if possible.
> Right now I'm stuck at a width of 2.1 because of this. Am I doomed to just get used to it? I can filter it out with a kenwood speaker with filters but that's really just doing the same as reducing hi cut or bandwidth.
>
> Any ideas welcomed.
>
> Thanks and 73
> Mike R
>
>
>
> Play me some fiddle, but no stinkin' violin!
>
> Amateur/Ham Radio KE5GBC
> HF & Echolink mobile

Don Putnick-3

Re: [K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive

In reply to this post by mikerodgerske5gbc

Mike,

I guess you still have your hearing. I wish I could still hear hiss. But
back to the issue at hand.

The answers to some questions might help us out. How are you listening when
you hear the hiss? By that I mean K3 speaker, headphones (brand and model),
or the Kenwood speaker? Also, have you looked at the audio on a spec an,
either a real one or a software one?

Don NA6Z
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Barry Simpson-2

Re: [K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive

In reply to this post by Scott Manthe-2

I have never heard any hiss whatsoever with my K3 (s/n 1397) either on speaker or headphones, CW or SSB and I am particularly sensitive to such things. My TS590 does have some very low level hiss which I can live with Ok and I had a TS480 which had quite pronounced hiss. The worst I have heard in recent years is the FT2000 which is one of the reasons I have never owned one.

73

Barry. VK2BJ

Sent from my iPad

On 24/11/2012, at 11:15, Scott Manthe <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I've heard of this problem, but have never actually heard the problem on my K3, which has a serial number in the 3000 range. I'm sure you'll get numerous replies offering suggestions.
>
> I'm curious, when you say you "hang out" on USB, does this mean you never operate below 10 mHz? Or do you operate on USB even on 40, 80 and 160 meters? Personally, I don't notice much difference in the frequency response on USB and LSB, but that might be because I only operate USB on the bands above 10 mHz.
>
> 73,
> Scott, N9AA
>
> On 11/23/12 11:00 PM, Mike Rodgers wrote:
>> I've been putting up with this hiss on receive for two years. Others have complained as well. It sounds like a rushing wind. Kinda like old cassette tape hiss. It's the dirty little secret no one wants to talk about and the first thing that comes up on other forums when you mention k3. The most common being "tiring to listen to.
>>
>> I think I've got it the best it can be but I'm looking for tips to make it better.
>> It keeps me from listening wide. Any hi cut above 2400 starts to irritate me so that limits me to a width of 2.1!
>>
>> Others complain on LSB but to me it seems more noticeable on USB where I hang out.
>>
>> It's a two year old k3 #5047 running latest firmware (not the beta).
>> It's not Agc related as its the same with agc off.
>>
>> I feel I have a very aggressive negative eq as follows.
>>
>> 0. 0. 0. -3. -3. -12. -12/16. -16
>>
>> I love the rig except for this. I'm not planning to sell it but I would like to make it better if possible.
>> Right now I'm stuck at a width of 2.1 because of this. Am I doomed to just get used to it? I can filter it out with a kenwood speaker with filters but that's really just doing the same as reducing hi cut or bandwidth.
>>
>> Any ideas welcomed.
>>
>> Thanks and 73
>> Mike R
>>
>>
>>
>> Play me some fiddle, but no stinkin' violin!
>>
>> Amateur/Ham Radio KE5GBC
>> HF & Echolink mobile
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

N0AZZ

Re: [K3] need help with hiss on sib receive

Yes it is quite noticeable when you move from a FTDX-5000MP to a K3 I first
noticed when I was doing side by side comparisons for 3 months it becomes
very noticeable then. All I had to do to change radios was push a button on
my amp (VL-1000) to go from radio 1 to radio 2 instant change same antenna 4
to choose from. So far I have not been able to remove it but still trying
there must be a way to take it out, I think...

73,
Fred/N0AZZ

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Barry Simpson
Sent: Saturday, November 24, 2012 3:02 AM
To: Scott Manthe
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive

I have never heard any hiss whatsoever with my K3 (s/n 1397) either on
speaker or headphones, CW or SSB and I am particularly sensitive to such
things. My TS590 does have some very low level hiss which I can live with Ok
and I had a TS480 which had quite pronounced hiss. The worst I have heard in
recent years is the FT2000 which is one of the reasons I have never owned
one.

73

Barry. VK2BJ

Sent from my iPad

On 24/11/2012, at 11:15, Scott Manthe <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I've heard of this problem, but have never actually heard the problem on
my K3, which has a serial number in the 3000 range. I'm sure you'll get
numerous replies offering suggestions.
>
> I'm curious, when you say you "hang out" on USB, does this mean you never
operate below 10 mHz? Or do you operate on USB even on 40, 80 and 160
meters? Personally, I don't notice much difference in the frequency response
on USB and LSB, but that might be because I only operate USB on the bands
above 10 mHz.
>
> 73,
> Scott, N9AA
>
> On 11/23/12 11:00 PM, Mike Rodgers wrote:
>> I've been putting up with this hiss on receive for two years. Others have
complained as well. It sounds like a rushing wind. Kinda like old cassette
tape hiss. It's the dirty little secret no one wants to talk about and the
first thing that comes up on other forums when you mention k3. The most
common being "tiring to listen to.
>>
>> I think I've got it the best it can be but I'm looking for tips to make
it better.
>> It keeps me from listening wide. Any hi cut above 2400 starts to irritate
me so that limits me to a width of 2.1!
>>
>> Others complain on LSB but to me it seems more noticeable on USB where I
hang out.
>>
>> It's a two year old k3 #5047 running latest firmware (not the beta).
>> It's not Agc related as its the same with agc off.
>>
>> I feel I have a very aggressive negative eq as follows.
>>
>> 0. 0. 0. -3. -3. -12. -12/16. -16
>>
>> I love the rig except for this. I'm not planning to sell it but I would
like to make it better if possible.
>> Right now I'm stuck at a width of 2.1 because of this. Am I doomed to
just get used to it? I can filter it out with a kenwood speaker with filters
but that's really just doing the same as reducing hi cut or bandwidth.

>>
>> Any ideas welcomed.
>>
>> Thanks and 73
>> Mike R
>>
>>
>>
>> Play me some fiddle, but no stinkin' violin!
>>
>> Amateur/Ham Radio KE5GBC
>> HF & Echolink mobile
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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Mike Harris

Re: [K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive

In reply to this post by Barry Simpson-2

Hi,

This was a common complaint in the past. Elecraft engineered a retrofit
low pass filter for the RX DSP board which cuts off above 4kHz. Or you
can swap out for a replacement DSP board to revision D status where the
LPF is fully integrated. You might like to investigate what the status
of you K3 is.

Details can be accessed via the Elecraft ordering page.

Regards,

Mike VP8NO

On 24/11/2012 06:02, Barry Simpson wrote:

> I have never heard any hiss whatsoever with my K3 (s/n 1397) either on speaker or headphones, CW or SSB and I am particularly sensitive to such things. My TS590 does have some very low level hiss which I can live with Ok and I had a TS480 which had quite pronounced hiss. The worst I have heard in recent years is the FT2000 which is one of the reasons I have never owned one.
>
> 73
>
> Barry. VK2BJ
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On 24/11/2012, at 11:15, Scott Manthe <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> I've heard of this problem, but have never actually heard the problem on my K3, which has a serial number in the 3000 range. I'm sure you'll get numerous replies offering suggestions.
>>
>> I'm curious, when you say you "hang out" on USB, does this mean you never operate below 10 mHz? Or do you operate on USB even on 40, 80 and 160 meters? Personally, I don't notice much difference in the frequency response on USB and LSB, but that might be because I only operate USB on the bands above 10 mHz.
>>
>> 73,
>> Scott, N9AA
>>
>> On 11/23/12 11:00 PM, Mike Rodgers wrote:
>>> I've been putting up with this hiss on receive for two years. Others have complained as well. It sounds like a rushing wind. Kinda like old cassette tape hiss. It's the dirty little secret no one wants to talk about and the first thing that comes up on other forums when you mention k3. The most common being "tiring to listen to.
>>>
>>> I think I've got it the best it can be but I'm looking for tips to make it better.
>>> It keeps me from listening wide. Any hi cut above 2400 starts to irritate me so that limits me to a width of 2.1!
>>>
>>> Others complain on LSB but to me it seems more noticeable on USB where I hang out.
>>>
>>> It's a two year old k3 #5047 running latest firmware (not the beta).
>>> It's not Agc related as its the same with agc off.
>>>
>>> I feel I have a very aggressive negative eq as follows.
>>>
>>> 0. 0. 0. -3. -3. -12. -12/16. -16
>>>
>>> I love the rig except for this. I'm not planning to sell it but I would like to make it better if possible.
>>> Right now I'm stuck at a width of 2.1 because of this. Am I doomed to just get used to it? I can filter it out with a kenwood speaker with filters but that's really just doing the same as reducing hi cut or bandwidth.
>>>
>>> Any ideas welcomed.
>>>
>>> Thanks and 73
>>> Mike R
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Play me some fiddle, but no stinkin' violin!
>>>
>>> Amateur/Ham Radio KE5GBC
>>> HF & Echolink mobile
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>

Jack Berry

Re: [K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive

I remember thinking the hiss was annoying when I got my radio. I used the eq to knock it down.
I upgraded the DSP board within a few months of getting the K3 and now I listen wide open on the AM filter.
I had forgotten all about the hiss till you posted this thread.

On Nov 24, 2012, at 6:47 AM, Mike Harris <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> This was a common complaint in the past. Elecraft engineered a retrofit low pass filter for the RX DSP board which cuts off above 4kHz. Or you can swap out for a replacement DSP board to revision D status where the LPF is fully integrated. You might like to investigate what the status of you K3 is.
>
> Details can be accessed via the Elecraft ordering page.
>
> Regards,
>
> Mike VP8NO
>
>
>
> On 24/11/2012 06:02, Barry Simpson wrote:
>> I have never heard any hiss whatsoever with my K3 (s/n 1397) either on speaker or headphones, CW or SSB and I am particularly sensitive to such things. My TS590 does have some very low level hiss which I can live with Ok and I had a TS480 which had quite pronounced hiss. The worst I have heard in recent years is the FT2000 which is one of the reasons I have never owned one.
>>
>> 73
>>
>>

vk4tux

Re: [K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive

In reply to this post by Mike Harris

´We started shipping DSP Assembly Rev D DSPs on new K3s about November
4th, 2009. That corresponds to K3-F Serial number 3626

It's a two year old k3 #5047´

Snippets of information above exclude this possibility.

Just dropping the highs down isn't enough. The pink noise rolloff effect
is very good using the whole range spaced properly.

thankyou N1EU

Adrian ... vk4tux

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Harris <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive
Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2012 09:47:27 -0300

Hi,

This was a common complaint in the past. Elecraft engineered a retrofit
low pass filter for the RX DSP board which cuts off above 4kHz. Or you
can swap out for a replacement DSP board to revision D status where the
LPF is fully integrated. You might like to investigate what the status
of you K3 is.

Details can be accessed via the Elecraft ordering page.

Regards,

Mike VP8NO

______________________________________________________________
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vk4tux

Re: [K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive

The original post;

¨[Elecraft] K3 RX audio on voice modes <oh no here we go again>
paul bijpost p.s.bijpost at gmail.com
Fri Apr 24 16:48:19 EDT 2009

* Previous message: [Elecraft] Loose Powerpole
* Next message: [Elecraft] K3 RX audio on voice modes <oh no here
we go again
* Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]

________________________________________________________________________

Hi fellow Elecrafters,

The K3 is the best & pleasant radio I ever had, but it also is one of the
most ear fatiguing I've ever listened to on voice.

I'm very surprised about this because Wayne's brilliant design should be
able to sound like the very finest sound equipment. The DACs and audio
stages are all top-notch.

I did a couple of tests in my audio studio and came up with the following
(ridiculous?) idea:

-The white atmospheric bandnoise (we all love her) should somewhere down the
line be converted to (near) pink audio noise before it hits our ears. In the
K3 and maybe many other receivers this doesn't happen, white RF noise is
linearly translated to white audio noise, sounding "high emphasized" to the
human ear.

I have a feeling in older receivers this was "mildened" by the electronics
that somehow gave a natural roll-off up the spectrum.

Too simple,right? I thought so too.

So I built an accurate 3db/octave downsloping filter (in software) and fed
it with the K3's RX audio.

A -3dB/octave downslope converts white noise (equal energy per Hz) to pink
noise (equal energy per octaveband)

For our ears pink noise sounds "flat" since we listen to frequencies in a
logarithmic manner.

How did it sound with or without ?To me, like night and day.

-K3 in "pink mode" sounds round,smooth and balanced out. RX EQ now works
correctly and is able to really shape the sound to many different
"flavours".

-K3 in "white mode" to me sounds mean,agressive and sharp.RX EQ can hardly
correct this.

Could anyone else give this a try? There are quite a lot of software EQ's
able to make a -3dB/octave slope. Or milder slopes if you wish as long as
it's quite precise in dB/oct.

I wouldn't like a new discussion about different tastes of
audio/speakers/headphones/etc but I would be very interested in other people
able to copy this experiment and comment on it.

I have a feeling the K3 can do way(ne) better then it does in the audio
department.

Please excuse my english

73'

Paul

PD0PSB¨

-----Original Message-----
From: Adrian <[hidden email]>
Reply-to: [hidden email]
To: elecraft <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive
Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2012 23:41:11 +1000

´We started shipping DSP Assembly Rev D DSPs on new K3s about November
4th, 2009. That corresponds to K3-F Serial number 3626

It's a two year old k3 #5047´

Snippets of information above exclude this possibility.

Just dropping the highs down isn't enough. The pink noise rolloff effect
is very good using the whole range spaced properly.

thankyou N1EU

Adrian ... vk4tux

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Harris <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive
Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2012 09:47:27 -0300

Hi,

This was a common complaint in the past. Elecraft engineered a retrofit
low pass filter for the RX DSP board which cuts off above 4kHz. Or you
can swap out for a replacement DSP board to revision D status where the
LPF is fully integrated. You might like to investigate what the status
of you K3 is.

Details can be accessed via the Elecraft ordering page.

Regards,

Mike VP8NO

______________________________________________________________
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ke9uw

Re: [K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive

In reply to this post by Barry Simpson-2

I don't have any on the K3 ser#4580 either. Worst for me was an FT990

Chuck, KE9UW
Lionel Trains, TCA, LCCA, LRRC
aka Jack, BMW Motorcycles BMWMOA #224

________________________________________
From: [hidden email] [[hidden email]] on behalf of Barry Simpson [[hidden email]]
Sent: Saturday, November 24, 2012 3:02 AM
To: Scott Manthe
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive

I have never heard any hiss whatsoever with my K3 (s/n 1397) either on speaker or headphones, CW or SSB and I am particularly sensitive to such things. My TS590 does have some very low level hiss which I can live with Ok and I had a TS480 which had quite pronounced hiss. The worst I have heard in recent years is the FT2000 which is one of the reasons I have never owned one.

73

Barry. VK2BJ

Sent from my iPad

On 24/11/2012, at 11:15, Scott Manthe <[hidden email]> wrote:

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______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Chuck, KE9UW

Mike Reublin

Re: [K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive

In reply to this post by vk4tux

My # 3935 did NOT have the mod. I installed it. I still would describe my audio as harsh and hissy with either the internal speaker, external speakers, or cans.

I certainly wouldn't get rid of the rig because of it.

73, Mike NF4L

On Nov 24, 2012, at 5:41 AM, Adrian <[hidden email]> wrote:

> ´We started shipping DSP Assembly Rev D DSPs on new K3s about November
> 4th, 2009. That corresponds to K3-F Serial number 3626
>
> It's a two year old k3 #5047´
>
> Snippets of information above exclude this possibility.
>
> Just dropping the highs down isn't enough. The pink noise rolloff effect
> is very good using the whole range spaced properly.
>
> thankyou N1EU
>
> Adrian ... vk4tux
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike Harris <[hidden email]>
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive
> Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2012 09:47:27 -0300
>
>
> Hi,
>
> This was a common complaint in the past. Elecraft engineered a retrofit
> low pass filter for the RX DSP board which cuts off above 4kHz. Or you
> can swap out for a replacement DSP board to revision D status where the
> LPF is fully integrated. You might like to investigate what the status
> of you K3 is.
>
> Details can be accessed via the Elecraft ordering page.
>
> Regards,
>
> Mike VP8NO
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

KD8NNU

Re: [K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive

In reply to this post by mikerodgerske5gbc

I have hiss problems with all my radios. In the mobile operations I use
DSP amplified speakers to kill hiss.

For the K3 me I went to external amplified stereo speakers and cut the
treble down.

I almost never use my head phones due to the hiss. However, since the
shack is in the basement I don’t need earphones very often.

I did use an external equalizer when I first got the K3 but I had RF issues
with it so I had to take it out of line. I might have to give it a try
again as I fixed my RF problems so maybe it would work and I could use the
earphones again. However I am not sure it would be worth the effort.

Don

~73
Don
KD8NNU
-.- -.. ---.. -. -. ..-
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Rodgers
Sent: Friday, November 23, 2012 11:00 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] [K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive

I've been putting up with this hiss on receive for two years. Others have
complained as well. It sounds like a rushing wind. Kinda like old cassette
tape hiss. It's the dirty little secret no one wants to talk about and the
first thing that comes up on other forums when you mention k3. The most
common being "tiring to listen to.

I think I've got it the best it can be but I'm looking for tips to make it
better.
It keeps me from listening wide. Any hi cut above 2400 starts to irritate me
so that limits me to a width of 2.1!

Others complain on LSB but to me it seems more noticeable on USB where I
hang out.

It's a two year old k3 #5047 running latest firmware (not the beta).
It's not Agc related as its the same with agc off.

I feel I have a very aggressive negative eq as follows.

0. 0. 0. -3. -3. -12. -12/16. -16

I love the rig except for this. I'm not planning to sell it but I would like
to make it better if possible.
Right now I'm stuck at a width of 2.1 because of this. Am I doomed to just
get used to it? I can filter it out with a kenwood speaker with filters but
that's really just doing the same as reducing hi cut or bandwidth.

Any ideas welcomed.

Thanks and 73
Mike R

Play me some fiddle, but no stinkin' violin!

Amateur/Ham Radio KE5GBC
HF & Echolink mobile
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Phil Hystad-3

Re: [K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive

So, I assume you guys are talking about "hiss" that is even apparent on a quiet band (such as 10-meters when it is dead).

If the hiss only occurs on a band with regular atmospheric noise how do you know to distinguish between the two or maybe even what components of one over the other.

73, phil, K7PEH

On Nov 24, 2012, at 9:49 AM, KD8NNU <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I have hiss problems with all my radios. In the mobile operations I use DSP amplified speakers to kill hiss.
>
> For the K3 me I went to external amplified stereo speakers and cut the treble down.
>
> I almost never use my head phones due to the hiss. However, since the shack is in the basement I don’t need earphones very often.
>
> I did use an external equalizer when I first got the K3 but I had RF issues with it so I had to take it out of line. I might have to give it a try again as I fixed my RF problems so maybe it would work and I could use the earphones again. However I am not sure it would be worth the effort.
>
> Don
>
> ~73
> Don
> KD8NNU
> -.- -.. ---.. -. -. ..-
> -----Original Message----- From: Mike Rodgers
> Sent: Friday, November 23, 2012 11:00 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] [K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive
>
> I've been putting up with this hiss on receive for two years. Others have complained as well. It sounds like a rushing wind. Kinda like old cassette tape hiss. It's the dirty little secret no one wants to talk about and the first thing that comes up on other forums when you mention k3. The most common being "tiring to listen to.
>
> I think I've got it the best it can be but I'm looking for tips to make it better.
> It keeps me from listening wide. Any hi cut above 2400 starts to irritate me so that limits me to a width of 2.1!
>
> Others complain on LSB but to me it seems more noticeable on USB where I hang out.
>
> It's a two year old k3 #5047 running latest firmware (not the beta).
> It's not Agc related as its the same with agc off.
>
> I feel I have a very aggressive negative eq as follows.
>
> 0. 0. 0. -3. -3. -12. -12/16. -16
>
> I love the rig except for this. I'm not planning to sell it but I would like to make it better if possible.
> Right now I'm stuck at a width of 2.1 because of this. Am I doomed to just get used to it? I can filter it out with a kenwood speaker with filters but that's really just doing the same as reducing hi cut or bandwidth.
>
> Any ideas welcomed.
>
> Thanks and 73
> Mike R
>
>
>
> Play me some fiddle, but no stinkin' violin!
>
> Amateur/Ham Radio KE5GBC
> HF & Echolink mobile
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Bill Clarke

Re: [K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive

In reply to this post by mikerodgerske5gbc

Hiss is my biggest complaint regarding my K3. To cut down the irritation
I send the audio to a pair of Behringer amplified studio speakers and
cut back on the highs on the internal speaker equalizer. I also have
played considerably with the K3's RX Eq and with the AGC. Further, I
have set the AGC back so that it does not immediately rise the
background noise when a loud signal stops. Don't forget to add the ATT
into the mix - it can really help when the noise is bad.

The "noise" is, to me, the background band noise - with QRM and QRN. I
live in a rural area where the typical daytime noise level is less than
S1. At that level, I don't think there should be anything coming from
the speakers. When the bands are noisy - well, simply put, the K3 is
hard to continue listening to.

I have listened to a TS590 and it IS a quieter receiver and more
pleasant to listen to for hours at a time. I own a couple of TS480s and
they are both more pleasant to listen to in the long run. All that said,
my settings have brought the K3 to _nearly_ as good as the Kenwoods -
which is _nearly_ acceptable. To be fair, both the Kenwoods and the K3
need operator made menu settings to attain the desired RX audio.

I have the P3 and some extra SSB and AM filters and boards - so I am
deep into life with the K3. Everything is extra on the K3 (filters, SWL
listening, AM, tuner, etc.) - but - - -after about $3600 I have a rig
that is about equal to the TS590. Ya Ya! I know that is a harsh
statement, but for my purposes it is quite accurate.

I operate only on 160, 75, and 40 meters. Nets and rag chew. Hence, I
enjoy serious armchair copy.

Someone asked the other day if I would rather have a 590 and I replied
in the affirmative. However, I am not about to take a thousand dollar
licking as punishment for having wanted a USA made product.
So................ I'll be keeping my K3.

Bill W2BLC

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David Gilbert

Re: [K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive

I think it would be far more informative and far less subjective if
people who feel there is a harsher hiss from the K3 would simply run the
audio from their rig(s) to the sound card of their computer and use any
one of several free audio spectrum analyzer applications to display the
difference. There are several free web sites where the resulting screen
shots could be posted for all to see ... and then we might actually have
something useful to discuss.

73,
Dave AB7E

On 11/24/2012 12:59 PM, Bill Clarke wrote:

> Hiss is my biggest complaint regarding my K3. To cut down the
> irritation I send the audio to a pair of Behringer amplified studio
> speakers and cut back on the highs on the internal speaker equalizer.
> I also have played considerably with the K3's RX Eq and with the AGC.
> Further, I have set the AGC back so that it does not immediately rise
> the background noise when a loud signal stops. Don't forget to add the
> ATT into the mix - it can really help when the noise is bad.
>
> The "noise" is, to me, the background band noise - with QRM and QRN. I
> live in a rural area where the typical daytime noise level is less
> than S1. At that level, I don't think there should be anything coming
> from the speakers. When the bands are noisy - well, simply put, the K3
> is hard to continue listening to.
>
> I have listened to a TS590 and it IS a quieter receiver and more
> pleasant to listen to for hours at a time. I own a couple of TS480s
> and they are both more pleasant to listen to in the long run. All that
> said, my settings have brought the K3 to _nearly_ as good as the
> Kenwoods - which is _nearly_ acceptable. To be fair, both the Kenwoods
> and the K3 need operator made menu settings to attain the desired RX
> audio.
>
> I have the P3 and some extra SSB and AM filters and boards - so I am
> deep into life with the K3. Everything is extra on the K3 (filters,
> SWL listening, AM, tuner, etc.) - but - - -after about $3600 I have a
> rig that is about equal to the TS590. Ya Ya! I know that is a harsh
> statement, but for my purposes it is quite accurate.
>
> I operate only on 160, 75, and 40 meters. Nets and rag chew. Hence, I
> enjoy serious armchair copy.
>
> Someone asked the other day if I would rather have a 590 and I replied
> in the affirmative. However, I am not about to take a thousand dollar
> licking as punishment for having wanted a USA made product.
> So................ I'll be keeping my K3.
>
> Bill W2BLC
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
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>

ab2tc

Re: [K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive

Hi all,

Better yet, find a place to post the actual audio clips. Then we have a chance to offer some help. The complaints about "noisy and hissy" receive audio goes back to first few days after shipping the first K3. In many (most?) cases the problem has been that the complainant is unused to a very lively receiver (low AGC threshold) like the K3. If you wish, you can E-mail clips to me (I'm good on QRZ.com) and I can host the clips.

AB2TC - Knut

David Gilbert wrote

I think it would be far more informative and far less subjective if
people who feel there is a harsher hiss from the K3 would simply run the
audio from their rig(s) to the sound card of their computer and use any
one of several free audio spectrum analyzer applications to display the
difference. There are several free web sites where the resulting screen
shots could be posted for all to see ... and then we might actually have
something useful to discuss.

73,
Dave AB7E

<snip>

dmb@lightstream.net

Re: [K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive

In reply to this post by Bill Clarke

Bill,

What is your setting for AGC - THR? It sounds like you may have it set
to a low value. I have mine set to 20 (you'll need recent firmware to
enable this), and find that setting the AF gain to a comfortable
listening level positions the background band noise way down for all but
the very weakest of signals. Yes, you'll end up riding the AF gain a
bit, but the audio sure sounds great.

73, Dale
WA8SRA

On 11/24/2012 2:59 PM, Bill Clarke wrote:

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: [K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive

In reply to this post by mikerodgerske5gbc

Mike,

You say it is not AGC, but I would not be certain of that statement
until you have done some trials.
I suggest you read the "noisy K3" article on my website www.w3fpr.com.
There have been changes to the AGC menu parameters since I wrote that
article, but the same principles apply.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/23/2012 11:00 PM, Mike Rodgers wrote:

Nick Kennedy

Re: [K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive

In reply to this post by vk4tux

Could Audacity do this? It sounds interesting. I haven't tried
searching for software equalizers on the web yet. How abot Cool Edit?

73-

Nick, WA5BDU

So I built an accurate 3db/octave downsloping filter (in software) and fed
it with the K3's RX audio.

Could anyone else give this a try? There are quite a lot of software EQ's
able to make a -3dB/octave slope. Or milder slopes if you wish as long as
it's quite precise in dB/oct.

I have a feeling the K3 can do way(ne) better then it does in the audio
department.

Please excuse my english

73'

Paul

PD0PSB¨

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Buck - k4ia

Re: [K3] need help with hiss on ssb receive

In reply to this post by mikerodgerske5gbc

Reduce your RF gain, Use the attenuator on the lower bands.

The reason it is the same with the AGC on or off is because with AGC off
the receiver is running full bore amplifying all the background noise.
You must reduce your RF gain until the background noise (hiss) goes away
so the signal you want to hear will be just above the silence. Then,
set the AGC controls to the defaults or follow some of the other
suggestions on this list.

Buck
k4ia
K3 # 101 KX3 #715

On 11/23/2012 11:00 PM, Mike Rodgers wrote: