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Re: K3 Enhancement

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Guy Olinger K2AV

Re: K3 Enhancement

In the Flex series, a second RX is a matter of more software and the memory
and processor capacity to service it.

Note that it's the high end Flex only that is in the neighborhood of K3
performance, and there is a reason for that which decidedly costs money. No
cheap advantage just because it is software based.

In my case I don't want the dependence on an operating system that sees
transceiver internal operations as a micro micro micro niche in its target
user population. The K3 functioning can't be undercut by a Microsoft OS or
driver upgrade. At very least any Elecraft changes to their K3 proprietary
code are aimed at improving things for K3 owners.

If you want the Flex side of this discussion you need to be on the Flex
reflector.

73 and good luck on your choices,
Guy K2AV

On Friday, April 3, 2015, Bruce Chadbourne <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Greetings to the group. I have been reading this month's QST article on the
> Flex-Radio series. It referred to a "pan" function in the audio output. The
> short story is this allows putting a DX station operating split in your
> left ear, and listening to the calling stations in your right ear.
> So just wondering out loud, short of having a second subreceiver in the K3
> (which I do not have) - When operating Split, I know you can quickly switch
> between DX and calling stations by holding the "REV" button. The problem of
> course is you can only hear one or the other. Is it within reach of a
> simple software enhancement from our heroes at Elecraft to route these two
> audio signals to the left and right headphone channels from VFO A and B?
> (With a study of the schematic I suppose I could answer my own question,
> but figure a little brainstorming here in the group wouldn't hurt and might
> lead to something interesting...)
> Yours -
> Bruce / KE1CY
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Jim Brown-10

Re: K3 Enhancement

On Fri,4/3/2015 10:59 AM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote:
> In the Flex series, a second RX is a matter of more software and the memory
> and processor capacity to service it.

But not a second antenna for diversity reception.

Bruce also asked, "short of having a second subreceiver in the K3 (which
I do not have) - When operating Split, I know you can quickly switch
between DX and calling stations by holding the "REV" button. The problem
of course is you can only hear one or the other. Is it within reach of a
simple software enhancement from our heroes at Elecraft to route these
two audio signals to the left and right headphone channels from VFO A
and B?"

Answer:

This is possible using SDR software with an I/Q feed from the K3 IF.
Check out the LP Pan unit and NaP3 SDR software. You will also need a
suitable sound card with stereo inputs and outputs. This software
creates two SDR receivers within the computer, which can then be fed to
the computer's sound card for playback. You plug your headphones into
the computer's sound card output.

The better the sound card, the better this will work. The wider the
bandwidth of the sound card, the greater the width of the spectrum you
can display. The software is free. LP-PAN costs $250. The recommended
ASUS USB sound card costs $65.

http://www.telepostinc.com/P3_comp.html

73, Jim K9YC

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Joe Subich, W4TV-4

Re: K3 Enhancement

> This is possible using SDR software with an I/Q feed from the K3 IF.
> Check out the LP Pan unit and NaP3 SDR software.

This is also possible with many stand alone SDR receivers like SDR-IQ,
Elad, etc. Software like SpectraVue (SDR-IQ) or HDSDR (generic) can
link the SDR receiver to the K3 IF frequency. Many of the stand alone
SDR receivers will provide better performance, greater image rejection
and wider bandwidth than possible with LP-Pan/NaP3.

73,

... Joe, W4TV

On 2015-04-03 3:00 PM, Jim Brown wrote:

> On Fri,4/3/2015 10:59 AM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote:
>> In the Flex series, a second RX is a matter of more software and the
>> memory
>> and processor capacity to service it.
>
> But not a second antenna for diversity reception.
>
> Bruce also asked, "short of having a second subreceiver in the K3 (which
> I do not have) - When operating Split, I know you can quickly switch
> between DX and calling stations by holding the "REV" button. The problem
> of course is you can only hear one or the other. Is it within reach of a
> simple software enhancement from our heroes at Elecraft to route these
> two audio signals to the left and right headphone channels from VFO A
> and B?"
>
> Answer:
>
> This is possible using SDR software with an I/Q feed from the K3 IF.
> Check out the LP Pan unit and NaP3 SDR software. You will also need a
> suitable sound card with stereo inputs and outputs. This software
> creates two SDR receivers within the computer, which can then be fed to
> the computer's sound card for playback. You plug your headphones into
> the computer's sound card output.
>
> The better the sound card, the better this will work. The wider the
> bandwidth of the sound card, the greater the width of the spectrum you
> can display. The software is free. LP-PAN costs $250. The recommended
> ASUS USB sound card costs $65.
>
> http://www.telepostinc.com/P3_comp.html
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

joemoffatt

Re: K3 Enhancement

I am.doing that exactly with a $250 afrdri SDR and an audio mixer panel.

I don't miss my flex at all!

And let me just tell you, you will not get K3 performance unless you buy a 6700 flex at almost double the cost of a k3 with sub Rx.

I have been an avid flex user for 3 years but the K3 is far superior in a lot of ways. Listening fatigue, afx, filtering that is a brick wall, and quick tunability make the K3 a much better option for me.

Don't get me started on operating system lockups. I am an IT consultant by profession with thousands and thousands of support hours under by belt, and even I have occasional problems.

When my PC dies, or gets a reboot, my K3 is still going strong. That has tremendous value to me.

One misfire in a major contest and you'll wish for the standalone K3. I know from experience!

Joe
PS. I think the Flex radios are awesome. I have nothing against them or their company and they have provided a tremendous resource for ham radio. I just think the K3 is a better value for the money.

Joe
AB5OR

-------- Original message --------
From: "Joe Subich, W4TV" <[hidden email]>
Date: 04/03/2015 2:29 PM (GMT-06:00)
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Enhancement

> This is possible using SDR software with an I/Q feed from the K3 IF.
> Check out the LP Pan unit and NaP3 SDR software.

This is also possible with many stand alone SDR receivers like SDR-IQ,
Elad, etc. Software like SpectraVue (SDR-IQ) or HDSDR (generic) can
link the SDR receiver to the K3 IF frequency. Many of the stand alone
SDR receivers will provide better performance, greater image rejection
and wider bandwidth than possible with LP-Pan/NaP3.

73,

... Joe, W4TV

On 2015-04-03 3:00 PM, Jim Brown wrote:

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