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K3 other CQWW contest issues

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Dave, G4AON

K3 other CQWW contest issues

It came as a surprise when a 40m pile up in the recent contest resulted
in distorted audio on my K3, this only occurred when I was in the thick
of it, multiple S9+ signals in the passband, with a 250 Hz filter and
DSP bandwidth around 100 Hz. This happened on 3 or 4 occasions, no NR,
no NB. A query to Wayne and Lyle resulted in a reminder to use SOFT AGC
which isn't the default setting. It wasn't a big issue and another K3
owner noted the same with his K3, so perhaps the default needs changing
to SOFT?

Not only is the K3 quite good with regard to key clicks, the synthesizer
noise level is much less than most of the competition, look at the ARRL
reviews for the "Spectral display of the K3/100
transmitter during keying sideband testing" or the equivalent for the
other transceivers. When you are 2 miles from a non K3 using running 1.5
KW on 80m CW, the resultant bandwidth of that transmitter can reach +/-
50 KHz, if it was 10 or more dB lower life would be much more pleasant.
Many stations here in the UK, and perhaps elsewhere, ignore the power
limits (400 Watts in the case of the UK)...

73 Dave, G4AON
K3/100 #80
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ON4WIX

Re: K3 other CQWW contest issues -> SOFT AGC

While looking up more information on this issue in the latest online version
of the K3 User Manual (version D5 dated 20 Sep 2009) I read something that
puzzled me a bit: on page 54 the description of CONFIG:AGC HOLD reads "SLOW
AGC "hold" time. Specifies the number of *seconds* that the SLOW AGC level
is held after the signal drops. This can be used to reduce IMD caused by
traditional AGC".
Having some background in pro audio I guessed that the word "seconds" must
be in error. Sure enough older versions of the User Manual mention
*milliseconds* which sounds more logical to me. Something to put in the
errata sheet?

73
Glenn ON4WIX / OR4W

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave G4AON" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 02, 2009 6:42 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 other CQWW contest issues

> It came as a surprise when a 40m pile up in the recent contest resulted
> in distorted audio on my K3, this only occurred when I was in the thick
> of it, multiple S9+ signals in the passband, with a 250 Hz filter and
> DSP bandwidth around 100 Hz. This happened on 3 or 4 occasions, no NR,
> no NB. A query to Wayne and Lyle resulted in a reminder to use SOFT AGC
> which isn't the default setting. It wasn't a big issue and another K3
> owner noted the same with his K3, so perhaps the default needs changing
> to SOFT?
>
> Not only is the K3 quite good with regard to key clicks, the synthesizer
> noise level is much less than most of the competition, look at the ARRL
> reviews for the "Spectral display of the K3/100
> transmitter during keying sideband testing" or the equivalent for the
> other transceivers. When you are 2 miles from a non K3 using running 1.5
> KW on 80m CW, the resultant bandwidth of that transmitter can reach +/-
> 50 KHz, if it was 10 or more dB lower life would be much more pleasant.
> Many stations here in the UK, and perhaps elsewhere, ignore the power
> limits (400 Watts in the case of the UK)...
>
> 73 Dave, G4AON
> K3/100 #80
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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KK7P

Re: K3 other CQWW contest issues -> SOFT AGC

ON4WIX wrote:
> While looking up more information on this issue in the latest online version
> of the K3 User Manual (version D5 dated 20 Sep 2009) I read something that
> puzzled me a bit: on page 54 the description of CONFIG:AGC HOLD reads "SLOW
> AGC "hold" time. Specifies the number of *seconds* that the SLOW AGC level
> is held after the signal drops. This can be used to reduce IMD caused by
> traditional AGC".
The K3 display shows seconds, such as 0.30.

73,

Lyle KK7P
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ON4WIX

Re: K3 other CQWW contest issues -> SOFT AGC

Hi Lyle,

you're absolutely right. Sorry, my mistake. Comment withdrawn.

73
Glenn ON4WIX / OR4W
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lyle Johnson" <[hidden email]>
To: "ON4WIX" <[hidden email]>
Cc: "Dave G4AON" <[hidden email]>; <[hidden email]>;
<[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 02, 2009 7:28 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 other CQWW contest issues -> SOFT AGC

> ON4WIX wrote:
>> While looking up more information on this issue in the latest online
>> version of the K3 User Manual (version D5 dated 20 Sep 2009) I read
>> something that puzzled me a bit: on page 54 the description of CONFIG:AGC
>> HOLD reads "SLOW AGC "hold" time. Specifies the number of *seconds* that
>> the SLOW AGC level is held after the signal drops. This can be used to
>> reduce IMD caused by traditional AGC".
> The K3 display shows seconds, such as 0.30.
>
> 73,
>
> Lyle KK7P