P3SVGA or LP-PAN / NaP3 (K3)

[w2eck]

First, I looked in the archives and didn't really find an answer. I have a K3 and P3 and love the combination, but seeing a P3 with a P3SVGA card in action at Orlando Hamcation, I have been considering adding the P3SVGA card to my P3. But have read some articles about the LP-Pan and I am interested in opinions on overall capabilities of P3/P3SVGA combo vs. LP-Pan/NaP3 combo. The individual items are roughly the same price. (I understand that an external sound card will be needed with LP-Pan) So can anyone who has experience with each, give some opinions on  the pluses and minus of each terms of capabilities, and recommendations on which way to go?

73 Paul
kc2nyu
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[N0AZZ]

I have owned both and if you have a K3 and want the best use the P3/SVGA
better integration and do not have to use your computer. There can be
software glitches and I had problems with mine keeping it running all the
time due to them.

I personally would never downgrade to LP-Pan from my P3-SVGA again to much
of a step back.  


Fred/N0AZZ

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of paul ecker
Sent: Thursday, February 21, 2013 4:51 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] P3SVGA or LP-PAN / NaP3 (K3)

First, I looked in the archives and didn't really find an answer. I have a
K3 and P3 and love the combination, but seeing a P3 with a P3SVGA card in
action at Orlando Hamcation, I have been considering adding the P3SVGA card
to my P3. But have read some articles about the LP-Pan and I am interested
in opinions on overall capabilities of P3/P3SVGA combo vs. LP-Pan/NaP3
combo. The individual items are roughly the same price. (I understand that
an external sound card will be needed with LP-Pan) So can anyone who
has experience with each, give some opinions on  the pluses and minus of
each terms of capabilities, and recommendations on which way to go?

73 Paul
kc2nyu
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Paul,

I started with the LP-Pan and NaP3, and it worked very well. I now have
the P3SVGA and like it a *lot*.

For some context, I only used 'Fixed Tune' mode with both scenarios, and
generally limit the displayed bandwidth to somewhere between 30-50KHz.

The P3 screen, though it is small, is very sharp and (IMHO) easy on the
eyes when other supporting factors (nature or your glasses) can provide
the proper focus for the required viewing distance. The external monitor
provides an outstanding large-screen enhancement that makes everything
easier to see, but the really big 'plus' to the external monitor for me
is the much longer 'history' capture of the slower and taller waterfall
display - over the smaller P3 screen. Additionally, the external monitor
can be configured to show multiple rows of decoded RTTY (and I think CW)
text beneath the waterfall. Very cool!

The P3SVGA also has a USB connection that enables you to plug in a
keyboard or a wireless keyboard receiver for RTTY and PSK. It may work
for sending CW from the keyboard as well, but I'm not sure about that
one. (Although I operate about 90% CW, I only use paddles, and don't use
the CW decoder, so am not up to speed on those options)

The one downside to the P3SVGA  is that a Noise Blanker is not a current
option for the built-in SDR receivers in the P3/P3SVGA. I frequently
have to battle power line noise around here until the local power
company gets around to resolving them, and when the poles are roaring,
all I see on the P3 display(s) is a noise floor that is elevated to
around -90 dBm or so, with only the strongest of signals making their
presence known. The NB on the K3 is so effective that with it engaged
and properly adjusted, I'd never even know that the powerline noise was
still there -- however I may as well turn off the P3 because it shows me
very few of the signals that I can otherwise hear on the K3. Perhaps a
noise blanker can eventually be implemented into the P3SVGA firmware at
some point. That would be a huge help.

  I see two primary advantages offered by the LP-PAN/NaP3 combo:
1.  The effective NB functionality built into PowerSDR quiets the bands
very nicely for most powerline and other impulse noise conditions.

2.  The ability to click-tune the K3 via a mouse, is very nice -- though
I have gotten pretty good at twisting the K3 knob to get me where I want
to go in a hurry. One can also use the P3's marker/click-select to do
the same thing, but it's not as fast as mouse-clicking on a signal on
the panadapter display.

That said, the LP-PAN remains on the shelf, and my overall preference by
far is the P3SVGA, though I have been thinking about adding the
LP-PAN/NaP3 combo back into the mix for those occasions (like now) where
I'm waiting for the power company to resolve an issue.

73, Dale
WA8SRA



On 2/21/2013 5:51 PM, paul ecker wrote:
> First, I looked in the archives and didn't really find an answer. I have a K3 and P3 and love the combination, but seeing a P3 with a P3SVGA card in action at Orlando Hamcation, I have been considering adding the P3SVGA card to my P3. But have read some articles about the LP-Pan and I am interested in opinions on overall capabilities of P3/P3SVGA combo vs. LP-Pan/NaP3 combo. The individual items are roughly the same price. (I understand that an external sound card will be needed with LP-Pan) So can anyone who has experience with each, give some opinions on  the pluses and minus of each terms of capabilities, and recommendations on which way to go?
>
> 73 Paul
> kc2nyu
> ______________________________________________________________
>

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[Mike K2MK]

Dale,

I'm glad you mentioned the taller waterfall display on the external monitor. This fact is important for anybody considering the P3SVGA option. When used in the fixed tune mode I have found it extremely beneficial operating search and pounce in contests. In some contests with long exchanges (like some RTTY contests or the Sweepstakes contest) I can tune in on a waterfall a half inch or more below the the break line and just wait for the station to return. A real point bonanza.

73,
Mike K2MK

Dale Boresz wrote

Partial quote from Dale:

but the really big 'plus' to the external monitor for me
is the much longer 'history' capture of the slower and taller waterfall
display - over the smaller P3 screen.

[n7ws]

Option three is an SDR-IQ and Spectravue software.  I use LP-Bridge to "connect" the K3, SDR-IQ, N1MM, DXBase (logging) and AXETTY (an MMTTY variant that works with DXBase) together.

I use a laptop and a second larger monitor and arrange stuff as needed for different operating modes (i.e RTTY DXing, contesting, etc.)

Wes  N7WS

--- On Thu, 2/21/13, paul ecker <[hidden email]> wrote:
First, I looked in the archives and didn't really find an answer. I have a K3 and P3 and love the combination, but seeing a P3 with a P3SVGA card in action at Orlando Hamcation, I have been considering adding the P3SVGA card to my P3. But have read some articles about the LP-Pan and I am interested in opinions on overall capabilities of P3/P3SVGA combo vs. LP-Pan/NaP3 combo. The individual items are roughly the same price. (I understand that an external sound card will be needed with LP-Pan) So can anyone who has experience with each, give some opinions on  the pluses and minus of each terms of capabilities, and recommendations on which way to go?

73 Paul
kc2nyu
________
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[N0AZZ]

Paul

I bought and used an SDR-IQ after I dumped LP-Pan with my 5000 it did work
better for sure your right. But still the P3/SVGA comes out on top for all
the added features like CW/PSK/RTTY decoding and using the K3 macros to send
no computer needed. The SVGA gives you the extra of seeing the larger
decoded CW and digital signals a big plus.

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Wes Stewart
Sent: Friday, February 22, 2013 7:05 AM
To: [hidden email]; paul ecker
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] P3SVGA or LP-PAN / NaP3 (K3)

Option three is an SDR-IQ and Spectravue software.  I use LP-Bridge to
"connect" the K3, SDR-IQ, N1MM, DXBase (logging) and AXETTY (an MMTTY
variant that works with DXBase) together.

I use a laptop and a second larger monitor and arrange stuff as needed for
different operating modes (i.e RTTY DXing, contesting, etc.)

Wes  N7WS

--- On Thu, 2/21/13, paul ecker <[hidden email]> wrote:
First, I looked in the archives and didn't really find an answer. I have a
K3 and P3 and love the combination, but seeing a P3 with a P3SVGA card in
action at Orlando Hamcation, I have been considering adding the P3SVGA card
to my P3. But have read some articles about the LP-Pan and I am interested
in opinions on overall capabilities of P3/P3SVGA combo vs. LP-Pan/NaP3
combo. The individual items are roughly the same price. (I understand that
an external sound card will be needed with LP-Pan) So can anyone who
has experience with each, give some opinions on  the pluses and minus of
each terms of capabilities, and recommendations on which way to go?

73 Paul
kc2nyu
________
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[Joe Subich, W4TV-4]

I've owned and used all three solutions ... P3, SDR-IQ and LP-Pan.  I
sold LP-Pan and SDR-IQ sets on the shelf.  The P3 is used every day.

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV


On 2/22/2013 8:04 AM, Wes Stewart wrote:

> Option three is an SDR-IQ and Spectravue software.  I use LP-Bridge to "connect" the K3, SDR-IQ, N1MM, DXBase (logging) and AXETTY (an MMTTY variant that works with DXBase) together.
>
> I use a laptop and a second larger monitor and arrange stuff as needed for different operating modes (i.e RTTY DXing, contesting, etc.)
>
> Wes  N7WS
>
> --- On Thu, 2/21/13, paul ecker <[hidden email]> wrote:
> First, I looked in the archives and didn't really find an answer. I have a K3 and P3 and love the combination, but seeing a P3 with a P3SVGA card in action at Orlando Hamcation, I have been considering adding the P3SVGA card to my P3. But have read some articles about the LP-Pan and I am interested in opinions on overall capabilities of P3/P3SVGA combo vs. LP-Pan/NaP3 combo. The individual items are roughly the same price. (I understand that an external sound card will be needed with LP-Pan) So can anyone who has experience with each, give some opinions on  the pluses and minus of each terms of capabilities, and recommendations on which way to go?
>
> 73 Paul
> kc2nyu
> ________
> ______________________________________________________________
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[Matt Zilmer]

I own both.  The P3 is by far the better integrated solution.  Adding
the SVGA to it is a good idea and very useful for a number of
functions (decode display mainly), but primarily for the higher
resolution and ease of use in a shack setting.

The LP Pan works as advertised, and I bought it before the P3 was
available.  I don't use the LP Pan any more.  Never got into using
Skimmer or any other visual aids like it, so there is no specific
advantage for the operations I do at home or in the field.

For Field Day and field operations in general, the P3 is a lot handier
(imho) than the LP Pan.  It is just one more box and a cable set, but
the LP Pan requires a separate computer for display.  I like having a
computer alongside the other equipment for logging and for operating
digital modes, but don't want to use it for a panadapter function at
the same time.

Just one more opinion to add to the pile.  If you would like to buy a
working but used LP-Pan that's set up for the K3 IF, let me know and
maybe we could make a deal.

73,
matt W6NIA

On Thu, 21 Feb 2013 14:51:19 -0800 (PST), you wrote:

>First, I looked in the archives and didn't really find an answer. I have a K3 and P3 and love the combination, but seeing a P3 with a P3SVGA card in action at Orlando Hamcation, I have been considering adding the P3SVGA card to my P3. But have read some articles about the LP-Pan and I am interested in opinions on overall capabilities of P3/P3SVGA combo vs. LP-Pan/NaP3 combo. The individual items are roughly the same price. (I understand that an external sound card will be needed with LP-Pan) So can anyone who has experience with each, give some opinions on  the pluses and minus of each terms of capabilities, and recommendations on which way to go?
>
>73 Paul
>kc2nyu
>______________________________________________________________
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[ab2tc]

Hi all,

You do not need an extra computer or display for use with LP-Pan. This is my usual operating screen on a 21" LCD monitor:

http://ab2tc.getmyip.com/MyOperatingScreen.png

That is from operating in the French contest this morning.

Knut - AB2TC

Matt Zilmer wrote

I own both.  The P3 is by far the better integrated solution.  Adding
the SVGA to it is a good idea and very useful for a number of
functions (decode display mainly), but primarily for the higher
resolution and ease of use in a shack setting.

<snip>

Hi Knut,

Just a little clarification for those who may not be familiar with the
details of the P3/SVGA:

The P3/SVGA combo is used independent of a computer. The monitor
connected to the P3/SVGA *may* be the same monitor that you have
connected to a computer -- but it cannot be used simultaneously WITH the
computer. A switch (either built-in or external to the monitor) would
select the source of either computer or P3/SVGA.

On the other hand, using LP-PAN/NaP3 *requires* A computer (with a
decent sound card) and monitor -- though it does not have to be an EXTRA
computer and monitor, as you demonstrated with your screenshot showing a
variety of ham radio applications running alongside NaP3.

73, Dale
WA8SRA

On 2/23/2013 11:52 AM, ab2tc wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> You do not need an extra computer or display for use with LP-Pan. This is my
> usual operating screen on a 21" LCD monitor:
>
> http://ab2tc.getmyip.com/MyOperatingScreen.png
>
> That is from operating in the French contest this morning.
>
> Knut - AB2TC
>
>
> Matt Zilmer wrote
>> I own both.  The P3 is by far the better integrated solution.  Adding
>> the SVGA to it is a good idea and very useful for a number of
>> functions (decode display mainly), but primarily for the higher
>> resolution and ease of use in a shack setting.
>> <snip>
>

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[Joe Subich, W4TV-4]

You also do not need an extra computer *or* display for the base P3
and it does not take display space away from the logging software.

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV


On 2/23/2013 11:52 AM, ab2tc wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> You do not need an extra computer or display for use with LP-Pan. This is my
> usual operating screen on a 21" LCD monitor:
>
> http://ab2tc.getmyip.com/MyOperatingScreen.png
>
> That is from operating in the French contest this morning.
>
> Knut - AB2TC
>
>
> Matt Zilmer wrote
>> I own both.  The P3 is by far the better integrated solution.  Adding
>> the SVGA to it is a good idea and very useful for a number of
>> functions (decode display mainly), but primarily for the higher
>> resolution and ease of use in a shack setting.
>> <snip>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/P3SVGA-or-LP-PAN-NaP3-K3-tp7570210p7570251.html
> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> ______________________________________________________________
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[w2eck]

Thanks for all the inputs on my question concerning the P3/P3SVGA combo vs other alternatives. I learned a lot. After reading them all, I have decided to go with P3SVGA  option vs. the LP-Pan option. Appreciate the help.

73 Paul 
kc2nyu
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