KSB2 OP1 Filter BFO adjustment for xmit

[Cathy James]

Greetings,

I have just finished building and installing the KSB2 in K2 #5191.  The
rig works fine on CW and SSB receive, but I am struggling to get the BFO
tuned right for SSB xmit.

My crystals were marked "3.7".  I've set LSB to 4913.6 and USB to
4916.4.  When I set the rig to xmit on 20 meters USB and speak into the
Alinco EMS-42 mike, the received voice sounds correct if I tune the
receive rig to 200 Hz higher than the indicated K2 frequency display.  
I've tried adjusting the BFO up and down without success.  The job is
made harder because I can't seem to figure out how to adjust the BFO
while xmitting.  I have been having to drop out of CAL FIL, xmit & test
receive freq, go back into CAL FIL, adjust BFO, drop out of CAL FILL,
etc.  Surely there is a simple way to do this?

Comments?

--Cathy, N5WVR

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[Don Wilhelm-3]

Cathy,

Yes there is a simpler way to do that!  That way is called Spectrogram - an
audio spectrum analyzer that runs on a Windows computer (there are others
that will work on other OS's, but doesn't everyone run Windows <G>).

You can download version 5 of Spectrogram from Tom Hammond's website
www.n0ss.net - while it is not the latest version, it is free and will do
much more than the task required to get your K2 filters correct.  Tom also
has some instructions for using Spectrogram to set the filters on his
website and also at the Elecraft site in the Builder's resource page.  You
may still want to record your transmissions and then make small alterations
to achieve the voice response you desire, but if you rely on another
receiver, make certain both the other receiver and the K2 are showing the
correct frequency - you can check that by tuning to WWV at 10 MHz.

You may also need to do a good job of setting the dial calibration.  You can
find instructions dealing with accurately setting the reference oscillator
and completing the dial calibration and filter alignment in the K2 Dial
Calibration article on my website http://w3fpr.qrprqdio.com .

73,
Don W3FPR

> -----Original Message-----
>
> I have just finished building and installing the KSB2 in K2 #5191.  The
> rig works fine on CW and SSB receive, but I am struggling to get the BFO
> tuned right for SSB xmit.
>
> My crystals were marked "3.7".  I've set LSB to 4913.6 and USB to
> 4916.4.  When I set the rig to xmit on 20 meters USB and speak into the
> Alinco EMS-42 mike, the received voice sounds correct if I tune the
> receive rig to 200 Hz higher than the indicated K2 frequency display.
> I've tried adjusting the BFO up and down without success.  The job is
> made harder because I can't seem to figure out how to adjust the BFO
> while xmitting.  I have been having to drop out of CAL FIL, xmit & test
> receive freq, go back into CAL FIL, adjust BFO, drop out of CAL FILL,
> etc.  Surely there is a simple way to do this?
>
> Comments?
>
> --Cathy, N5WVR
>
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[Cathy James]

Don Wilhelm wrote:
> Cathy,
>
> Yes there is a simpler way to do that!  That way is called Spectrogram - an
> audio spectrum analyzer that runs on a Windows computer (there are others
> that will work on other OS's, but doesn't everyone run Windows <G>).
>  
Actually I am reading this on Linux.  But the machine is dual-boot with
a Windows partition, so in a way the answer is still "yes". :-)

Thanks to Don and everyone who replied.  I have whipped up the connector
cable and calibrated everything with Spectrogram.  I don't know how well
the result will sound, but the passband sure looks like it's in the
right place now. :-)

--Cathy (N5WVR)

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[Bob Nielsen]

On Feb 12, 2006, at 6:06 PM, Cathy James wrote:

> Don Wilhelm wrote:
>> Cathy,
>>
>> Yes there is a simpler way to do that!  That way is called  
>> Spectrogram - an
>> audio spectrum analyzer that runs on a Windows computer (there are  
>> others
>> that will work on other OS's, but doesn't everyone run Windows <G>).
>>
> Actually I am reading this on Linux.  But the machine is dual-boot  
> with a Windows partition, so in a way the answer is still "yes". :-)
>
> Thanks to Don and everyone who replied.  I have whipped up the  
> connector cable and calibrated everything with Spectrogram.  I  
> don't know how well the result will sound, but the passband sure  
> looks like it's in the right place now. :-)
>

I did my alignment on a Linux machine using one of the digital mode  
programs which had a spectrum display (possibly it was GMFSK, but if  
was a few years ago so I don't remember for sure.)   There are many  
ways to skin that cat :^)

73,
Bob Nielsen, N7XY


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[Leigh L. Klotz Jr WA5ZNU]

Spectrogram ran under wine for me.
It is better tham gmfsk for this task because it has a settable
integration period.
Leigh/WA5ZNU
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[Ron D'Eau Claire-2]

Cathy, N5WVR wrote:

Thanks to Don and everyone who replied.  I have whipped up the connector
cable and calibrated everything with Spectrogram.  I don't know how well
the result will sound, but the passband sure looks like it's in the
right place now. :-)

----------------------

I found that after I had it set up with Spectrogram I wanted to 'tweak' the
BFO frequencies slightly for best SSB audio quality, just as the SSB manual
suggested. In my case, it helped a lot to move the bandpass slightly farther
from the carrier - up to nearly 400 Hz at the -3 dB points. It'll  vary with
your voice and  the mic you use, but that's easily done by monitoring your
signal on another receiver. If possible, record it and listen to the
playback. Of course you can do that in the air too. Temporarily install the
FCTR probe in the test point, then during the QSO bump the BFO setting in
small increments while someone you trust reports on the change.

Ron AC7AC

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[Nick Waterman]

Bob Nielsen wrote:
>>> Spectrogram - an audio spectrum analyzer that runs on a Windows
>>> computer (there are others that will work on other OS's, but
>>> doesn't everyone run Windows <G>).
>>
>> Actually I am reading this on Linux.
>
> I did my alignment on a Linux machine using one of the digital mode
> programs

See http://www.baudline.com/ - free as in beer, not free as in speech,
but works a treat. Looks nicer than spectrogram too, though I'll admit
I've never run spectrogram, just seen n0ss's screenshots.


--
"Nosey" Nick Waterman, G7RZQ, K2 #5209.
use Std::Disclaimer;    [hidden email]
The only thing worse than raining cats and dogs is hailing taxis.
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