Elecraft

KX1 Filter Explanation for Dummies

Classic

List

Threaded

4 messages Options

Burke Jones

KX1 Filter Explanation for Dummies

Okay, so now that I am actually using my KX-1, I need some help. I am
really a newbie when it comes to this stuff.

Can someone please give me an explanation (at a basic level) of how you are
actually supposed to use the filter on the KX-1?

If I am listening to a signal, and then turn the filter, I seem to lose the
signal. Is this because I am not tuned exactly to that signal?

Thanks for being patient, someday it will all make sense.

Burke Jones
N0HYD
http://N0HYD.com <http://n0hyd.com/>
Olathe, KS
______________________________________________________________
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

Leigh L. Klotz Jr WA5ZNU

Re: KX1 Filter Explanation for Dummies

Administrator

Burke,
There are two issues:

1. When you set the sidetone frequency in the KX1 menus, you are also
choosing the offset at which you hear received signals.
So if you set it to 600 Hz, you'll be right on frequency with the other
station when the signal you hear is a 600 Hz tone.
You can match this tone by ear by goign back to the menu to StP or StL
(better since it doesn't accidently change StP) and listening for the
same pitch, within about 10 Hz.
Once you get on the same frequency, turning the filter down to about 1
Khz will cut out most of the QRM and QRN and will give you a pleasant
listening experience. If you're off frequency, the received signal will
fall outside the filter passband and you'll be treating it as you would
a QRM or off-frequency station, and it will be attentuated.

2. If you turn the filter below 1 Khz, and more prominently, below 500
Hz, the center frequency of the filter itself shifts down a bit, so you
may need to re-tune slightly to get the signal back to full strength.
Unfortunately, if you do this, you'll also be shifting your transmit
frequency, so you can use the RIT feature of the KX1 just to shift the
received frequency and leave your transmit frequency alone. You
probably won't need to do this unless you need to crank the filter way
down, as in a contest, or with a very noisy band. So you can safely
ignore this for now and use the filter at about 1 Khz until you feel the
need to learn more.

Does this answer your question, or do you have a different issue that
I've misunderstood?

Leigh/WA5ZNU
KX1 #712

> Okay, so now that I am actually using my KX-1, I need some help. I am
> really a newbie when it comes to this stuff.
>
> Can someone please give me an explanation (at a basic level) of how you are
> actually supposed to use the filter on the KX-1?
>
> If I am listening to a signal, and then turn the filter, I seem to lose the
> signal. Is this because I am not tuned exactly to that signal?
>
> Thanks for being patient, someday it will all make sense.
>
> Burke Jones
> N0HYD
> http://N0HYD.com <http://n0hyd.com/>
> Olathe, KS
> _

______________________________________________________________
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

Burke Jones

Re: KX1 Filter Explanation for Dummies

Okay, that is exactly what I was looking for. I might need to revist the
manual and the part about setting the sidetone frequency. I can't remember
what I did.....

Thanks!

Burke
http://N0HYD.com <http://n0hyd.com/>

On Sat, Jul 11, 2009 at 11:08 PM, Leigh L. Klotz, Jr WA5ZNU <
[hidden email]> wrote:

> Burke,
> There are two issues:
>
> 1. When you set the sidetone frequency in the KX1 menus, you are also
> choosing the offset at which you hear received signals.
> So if you set it to 600 Hz, you'll be right on frequency with the other
> station when the signal you hear is a 600 Hz tone.
> You can match this tone by ear by goign back to the menu to StP or StL
> (better since it doesn't accidently change StP) and listening for the same
> pitch, within about 10 Hz. Once you get on the same frequency, turning the
> filter down to about 1 Khz will cut out most of the QRM and QRN and will
> give you a pleasant listening experience. If you're off frequency, the
> received signal will fall outside the filter passband and you'll be treating
> it as you would a QRM or off-frequency station, and it will be attentuated.
>
> 2. If you turn the filter below 1 Khz, and more prominently, below 500 Hz,
> the center frequency of the filter itself shifts down a bit, so you may need
> to re-tune slightly to get the signal back to full strength. Unfortunately,
> if you do this, you'll also be shifting your transmit frequency, so you can
> use the RIT feature of the KX1 just to shift the received frequency and
> leave your transmit frequency alone. You probably won't need to do this
> unless you need to crank the filter way down, as in a contest, or with a
> very noisy band. So you can safely ignore this for now and use the filter
> at about 1 Khz until you feel the need to learn more.
>
> Does this answer your question, or do you have a different issue that I've
> misunderstood?
>
> Leigh/WA5ZNU
> KX1 #712
>
>> Okay, so now that I am actually using my KX-1, I need some help. I am
>> really a newbie when it comes to this stuff.
>>
>> Can someone please give me an explanation (at a basic level) of how you
>> are
>> actually supposed to use the filter on the KX-1?
>>
>> If I am listening to a signal, and then turn the filter, I seem to lose
>> the
>> signal. Is this because I am not tuned exactly to that signal?
>>
>> Thanks for being patient, someday it will all make sense.
>>
>> Burke Jones
>> N0HYD
>> http://N0HYD.com <http://n0hyd.com/> <http://n0hyd.com/>
>> Olathe, KS
>> _
>>
>
>

Leigh L. Klotz Jr WA5ZNU

Re: KX1 Filter Explanation for Dummies

Administrator

Burke,
You probably don't need to change the sidetone pitch. If you like the
way it sounds when you're sending CW, then it's probably fine.
Just remember to tune the received signal so it sounds like the sidetone
pitch and you'll be OK when you crank the filter down to 1KHz or lower.
Below about 500Hz you'll notice some issues and will probably want to
use RIT, but you can leave that for a later day once you get the current
issue under control.
If you don't like the sidetone, tap the KX1 menu button and rotate the
VFO knob until it says StP. Press and hold the menu button and it will
show the current sidetone pitch. Rotate the VFO knob and listen to the
pitch you like; 600 Hz is a good starting point. Then tap the Menu
button to exit.

You might like the one-page KX1 quick reference at
http://www.elecraft.com/manual/KX1%20quick%20ref.pdf
Leigh/WA5ZNU

> Okay, that is exactly what I was looking for. I might need to revist
> the manual and the part about setting the sidetone frequency. I can't
> remember what I did.....
>
> Thanks!
>
> Burke
> http://N0HYD.com <http://n0hyd.com/>
>
> On Sat, Jul 11, 2009 at 11:08 PM, Leigh L. Klotz, Jr WA5ZNU
> <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote:
>
> Burke,
> There are two issues:
>
> 1. When you set the sidetone frequency in the KX1 menus, you are
> also choosing the offset at which you hear received signals.
> So if you set it to 600 Hz, you'll be right on frequency with the
> other station when the signal you hear is a 600 Hz tone.
> You can match this tone by ear by goign back to the menu to StP or
> StL (better since it doesn't accidently change StP) and listening
> for the same pitch, within about 10 Hz. Once you get on the same
> frequency, turning the filter down to about 1 Khz will cut out
> most of the QRM and QRN and will give you a pleasant listening
> experience. If you're off frequency, the received signal will
> fall outside the filter passband and you'll be treating it as you
> would a QRM or off-frequency station, and it will be attentuated.
>
> 2. If you turn the filter below 1 Khz, and more prominently, below
> 500 Hz, the center frequency of the filter itself shifts down a
> bit, so you may need to re-tune slightly to get the signal back to
> full strength. Unfortunately, if you do this, you'll also be
> shifting your transmit frequency, so you can use the RIT feature
> of the KX1 just to shift the received frequency and leave your
> transmit frequency alone. You probably won't need to do this
> unless you need to crank the filter way down, as in a contest, or
> with a very noisy band. So you can safely ignore this for now and
> use the filter at about 1 Khz until you feel the need to learn more.
>
> Does this answer your question, or do you have a different issue
> that I've misunderstood?
>
> Leigh/WA5ZNU
> KX1 #712
>
> Okay, so now that I am actually using my KX-1, I need some
> help. I am
> really a newbie when it comes to this stuff.
>
> Can someone please give me an explanation (at a basic level)
> of how you are
> actually supposed to use the filter on the KX-1?
>
> If I am listening to a signal, and then turn the filter, I
> seem to lose the
> signal. Is this because I am not tuned exactly to that signal?
>
> Thanks for being patient, someday it will all make sense.
>
> Burke Jones
> N0HYD
> http://N0HYD.com <http://n0hyd.com/> <http://n0hyd.com/>
> Olathe, KS
> _
>
>
>