Roofing Filter question

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Roofing Filter question

Mike, W9QS
I have a K3/10 on order.  I have used my K2 for over a year and find the filters to be very good.  I operate 90% on the time on QRP CW.  I'm looking for opinions on which roofing filters I might include.



73,72

Mike, W9QS
EX: KN6TBP (1956), K1DGQ, DL4KM, K5LJN, W9FRR, W9KVF

K2, OHR500, Norcal 20, SP1

Fists #12327, FP #268, OOTC #4423, QRPARCI #9521


     
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Re: Roofing Filter question

Buck - k4ia
Maybe none.  You get great filtering out of  the DSP.  The roofing filters
are most helpful when very strong signals are  present nearby.  Operating mostly
QRP, you might never run into that  problem.  

k4ia
Buck
Fredericksburg, VA
K3# 101

In  a message dated 12/18/2008 9:04:42 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
[hidden email]  writes:
I have a K3/10 on order.  I have used my K2 for over a year and  find the
filters to be very good.  I operate 90% on the time on QRP  CW.  I'm looking for
opinions on which roofing filters I might  include.



73,72

Mike, W9QS
EX: KN6TBP (1956), K1DGQ,  DL4KM, K5LJN, W9FRR, W9KVF

K2, OHR500, Norcal 20, SP1

Fists  #12327, FP #268, OOTC #4423, QRPARCI  #9521



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Re: Roofing Filter question

cstoverva
In reply to this post by Mike, W9QS
Hi Mike,

Buck may be right, maybe none.  But, based on my first experience with the K3 in the fox hunt the other night, if you have to buy one, a 400hz filter might be a good choice.  I can see where it might make a difference when you find the fox nudged right next to a strong non QRP station.  Either way the K3 is a big step up from the K2.  I haven't found myself wanting a tighter filter yet.

Good luck in the 40M tonight.  Work got the way tonight and I'm 4,000 miles away from my rig in Switzerland. 

I hope I got to help you spend your money. HI!

Chuck  HB9/K4QS


-----Original Message-----
From: Mike, W9QS <[hidden email]>
To: elecraft <[hidden email]>
Sent: Thu, 18 Dec 2008 9:03 am
Subject: [Elecraft] Roofing Filter question

I have a K3/10 on order.  I have used my K2 for over a year and find the filters 
to be very good. I operate 90% on the time on QRP CW. I'm looking for opinions
on which roofing filters I might include.



73,72

Mike, W9QS
EX: KN6TBP (1956), K1DGQ, DL4KM, K5LJN, W9FRR, W9KVF

K2, OHR500, Norcal 20, SP1

Fists #12327, FP #268, OOTC #4423, QRPARCI #9521



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Re: Roofing Filter question

Joe Planisky
In reply to this post by Mike, W9QS
I would echo the other responses that you may well not need any  
narrower roofing filters.  You might try using just the stock 2.7 kHz  
filter for a while and see how it goes.  I recently added the 400 Hz  
filter and so far, it makes virtually no difference EXCEPT in the case  
where there's a strong signal within +/- 1 kHz or so of the station  
I'm trying to work.  Note that a "strong signal" might be another ham  
station, a broadcast station, RFI, etc.

If you're interested in listening to shortwave or AM broadcast  
stations on your K3, then you might consider the 6 kHz (AM) or 13 kHz  
(FM) filters.  Of course, you'll also need those filters if you intend  
to operate those modes.

There's a good article on the Elecraft web site about roofing  
filters.  Check out http://www.elecraft.com/K3/Roofing_Filters.htm

73
--
Joe KB8AP

On Dec 18, 2008, at 6:03 AM, Mike, W9QS wrote:

> I have a K3/10 on order.  I have used my K2 for over a year and find  
> the filters to be very good.  I operate 90% on the time on QRP CW.  
> I'm looking for opinions on which roofing filters I might include.

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Re: Roofing Filter question

drewko
In reply to this post by Mike, W9QS
I have a K3/10 which I use for CW. I got the 13 KHz (for AM bcst) and
500 Hz filters, which I'm happy with. I could get a narrower one but
just haven't felt the need for it yet.

73,
Drew
AF2Z




On Thu, 18 Dec 2008 06:03:43 -0800 (PST), Mike, W9QS wrote:

>I have a K3/10 on order.  I have used my K2 for over a year and find the filters to be very good.  I operate 90% on the time on QRP CW.  I'm looking for opinions on which roofing filters I might include.
>
>
>
>73,72
>
>Mike, W9QS
>EX: KN6TBP (1956), K1DGQ, DL4KM, K5LJN, W9FRR, W9KVF
>

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Re: Roofing Filter question

Jim Brown-10
In reply to this post by Joe Planisky
On Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:14:51 -0800, Joe Planisky wrote:

>I recently added the 400 Hz  
>filter and so far, it makes virtually no difference EXCEPT in the case  
>where there's a strong signal within +/- 1 kHz or so of the station  
>I'm trying to work.  Note that a "strong signal" might be another ham  
>station, a broadcast station, RFI, etc.

Yes. Remember that the IF in the K3 has EXTENSIVE IF filtering that
perform the function of crystal filters in older radios. Those filters
can be adjusted (front panel knob) to virtually any bandwidth between 50
Hz and 6 kHz, and are the equivalent of a selectable filter bank of 20
or more expensive filters!  The roofing filter simply sits IN FRONT OF
these IF filters. It protects them from overload, AND provides
additional skirt selectivity.

The radio works fine for routine use with nothing more than the stock
2.7 kHz roofing filter. The roofing filters simply improve performance
under difficult conditions. I own two K3s, one with 400 Hz and 1.8 kHz
filters, the other with only a 400 Hz filter. I operated from two QTHs
during the SSB weekend of Sweepstakes. At one QTH I had the 1.8 kHz
filter, at the other I did not. The 1.8 kHz filter helped, but I was
still quite happy with the radio that didn't have the 1.8 kHz filter.  

73,

Jim K9YC


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Re: Roofing Filter question (+ some K3 receiver philosophy)

wayne burdick
Administrator
In reply to this post by Joe Planisky
Mike, W9QS wrote:

> I have a K3/10 on order.  I have used my K2 for over a year and find
> the filters to be very good.  I operate 90% on the time on QRP CW.  
> I'm looking for opinions on which roofing filters I might include.

Mike,

If you operate CW at all, you'll almost surely want at least one narrow
filter. Either our 400 Hz or 500 Hz filter would be a great all-around
choice.

I'm *not* just trying to sell filters  :)  The reason you need a narrow
filter is that the K3's entire receiver architecture is based on the
premise that the 1st I.F. filter should be close to the communications
bandwidth in use. This is what sets the K3 apart from other
transceivers that use an up-conversion architecture, and thus very wide
front-end filtering (at least in relation to CW or data modes -- 3 to
15 kHz).

The K2 has a similar architecture to the K3. In that case, a single
crystal filter covers bandwidths from about 200 to 2000 Hz. The K3
builds on this concept, using multiple fixed-bandwidth filters with
much lower ripple, stronger signal handling in all stages, and a
synthesizer with extremely low phase noise. But both receivers use
low-noise 2nd IFs that really should be protected from out-of-band
signals. (In this case, out of band means "outside the crystal
filter.")

If you're a K2 owner, you're already use to the protection you get from
narrow filtering. You'll probably want that same kind of signal
handling performance in your K3 if you use it on Field Day, or during a
contest, or just when the band is open and signals are strong.

If you look at Sherwood's receiver performance chart
(http://www.sherweng.com/table.html), you'll see that the K2 has
respectable  IMD dynamic range at 2 kHz: close to that of the Icom
IC-7800 (at 1/10th the price :)  But the K3 is at the top of the chart
-- 15 to 20 dB better, depending on the filter bandwidth. To obtain
this benefit from having a K3, IMHO you really need narrow filtering.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

---

http://www.elecraft.com

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Re: Roofing Filter question

Andy Faber
In reply to this post by Jim Brown-10
Joe,
  I agree with Jim's advice here.  I have used my K3 several times in CW
contests from Aruba as P49Y, most recently on a 40m single band operation in
CQWW, on  a very crowded band.  For that kind of usage, I think the narrow
CW filter is advisable.  With it, I was never bothered by signals even a few
hundred Hertz away (unless they had clicks extending into my passband, of
course), and I think the DSP along with the 2.7 kHz filter wouldn't have
stopped the loudest signals.
  BTW, one think that makes the K3 such a great run radio is that in those
circumstances you also have a very clean passband, devoid of the kind of
digital artifacts that I hear, for example, on my 756 Pro2 on a crowded
band.
  73, andy, ae6y
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Brown" <[hidden email]>
To: "Elecraft List" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 8:52 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Roofing Filter question


> On Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:14:51 -0800, Joe Planisky wrote:
>
>>I recently added the 400 Hz
>>filter and so far, it makes virtually no difference EXCEPT in the case
>>where there's a strong signal within +/- 1 kHz or so of the station
>>I'm trying to work.  Note that a "strong signal" might be another ham
>>station, a broadcast station, RFI, etc.
>
> Yes. Remember that the IF in the K3 has EXTENSIVE IF filtering that
> perform the function of crystal filters in older radios. Those filters
> can be adjusted (front panel knob) to virtually any bandwidth between 50
> Hz and 6 kHz, and are the equivalent of a selectable filter bank of 20
> or more expensive filters!  The roofing filter simply sits IN FRONT OF
> these IF filters. It protects them from overload, AND provides
> additional skirt selectivity.
>
> The radio works fine for routine use with nothing more than the stock
> 2.7 kHz roofing filter. The roofing filters simply improve performance
> under difficult conditions. I own two K3s, one with 400 Hz and 1.8 kHz
> filters, the other with only a 400 Hz filter. I operated from two QTHs
> during the SSB weekend of Sweepstakes. At one QTH I had the 1.8 kHz
> filter, at the other I did not. The 1.8 kHz filter helped, but I was
> still quite happy with the radio that didn't have the 1.8 kHz filter.
>
> 73,
>
> Jim K9YC
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
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>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com 

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Re: Re: Roofing Filter question (+ some K3 receiver philosophy)

W7GJ, Lance
In reply to this post by wayne burdick
wayne burdick wrote:

> Mike, W9QS wrote:
>
>> I have a K3/10 on order.  I have used my K2 for over a year and find
>> the filters to be very good.  I operate 90% on the time on QRP CW.  
>> I'm looking for opinions on which roofing filters I might include.
>
> Mike,
>
> If you operate CW at all, you'll almost surely want at least one
> narrow filter. Either our 400 Hz or 500 Hz filter would be a great
> all-around choice.
>
> I'm *not* just trying to sell filters  :)  The reason you need a
> narrow filter is that the K3's entire receiver architecture is based
> on the premise that the 1st I.F. filter should be close to the
> communications bandwidth in use. This is what sets the K3 apart from
> other transceivers that use an up-conversion architecture, and thus
> very wide front-end filtering (at least in relation to CW or data
> modes -- 3 to 15 kHz).
>
> The K2 has a similar architecture to the K3. In that case, a single
> crystal filter covers bandwidths from about 200 to 2000 Hz. The K3
> builds on this concept, using multiple fixed-bandwidth filters with
> much lower ripple, stronger signal handling in all stages, and a
> synthesizer with extremely low phase noise. But both receivers use
> low-noise 2nd IFs that really should be protected from out-of-band
> signals. (In this case, out of band means "outside the crystal filter.")
>
> If you're a K2 owner, you're already use to the protection you get
> from narrow filtering. You'll probably want that same kind of signal
> handling performance in your K3 if you use it on Field Day, or during
> a contest, or just when the band is open and signals are strong.
>
> If you look at Sherwood's receiver performance chart
> (http://www.sherweng.com/table.html), you'll see that the K2 has
> respectable  IMD dynamic range at 2 kHz: close to that of the Icom
> IC-7800 (at 1/10th the price :)  But the K3 is at the top of the chart
> -- 15 to 20 dB better, depending on the filter bandwidth. To obtain
> this benefit from having a K3, IMHO you really need narrow filtering.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
> ---
>
> http://www.elecraft.com
>
> _______________________________________________
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> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>
>
I got the 6, 2.7 (standard), and 1.8 KHz filters in my K3.  I realize
that a narrower filter will be good for crowded CW with strong stations,
but was waiting for the release of the "variable" filter mentioned on
the website.  Is there any more recent information on the status of that
option?

MNI TNX and VY 73, Lance

--
Lance Collister, W7GJ (ex: WN3GPL, WA3GPL, WA1JXN, WA1JXN/C6A, ZF2OC/ZF8)
P.O. Box 73
Frenchtown, MT  59834  USA
QTH: DN27UB
TEL: (406) 626-5728
URL: http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj
2m DXCC #11/6m DXCC #815



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Re: Variable-BW crystal filters

wayne burdick
Administrator
In reply to this post by wayne burdick
Lance Collister, W7GJ wrote:

> I got the 6, 2.7 (standard), and 1.8 KHz filters in my K3.  I realize
> that a narrower filter will be good for crowded CW with strong
> stations, but was waiting for the release of the "variable" filter
> mentioned on the website.  Is there any more recent information on the
> status of that option?

Hi Lance,

Variable-passband CW filters are still under development. (We raised
the bar pretty high with our fixed filters, and we're trying to make
sure it stays high.)

We're looking at various bandwidth possibilities for these. One likely
candidate is 300-800 Hz or so, in 8 discrete steps. We'll post details
when we get there.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

---

http://www.elecraft.com

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Re: Variable-BW crystal filters

W7GJ, Lance
wayne burdick wrote:

> Lance Collister, W7GJ wrote:
>
>> I got the 6, 2.7 (standard), and 1.8 KHz filters in my K3.  I realize
>> that a narrower filter will be good for crowded CW with strong
>> stations, but was waiting for the release of the "variable" filter
>> mentioned on the website.  Is there any more recent information on
>> the status of that option?
>
> Hi Lance,
>
> Variable-passband CW filters are still under development. (We raised
> the bar pretty high with our fixed filters, and we're trying to make
> sure it stays high.)
>
> We're looking at various bandwidth possibilities for these. One likely
> candidate is 300-800 Hz or so, in 8 discrete steps. We'll post details
> when we get there.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
> ---
>
> http://www.elecraft.com
>
>
>
MNI TNX Wayne!  That sounds like it would be just the ticket for CW!  I
look forward to hearing more as it progresses ;-)  GL and VY 73, Lance

--
Lance Collister, W7GJ (ex: WN3GPL, WA3GPL, WA1JXN, WA1JXN/C6A, ZF2OC/ZF8)
P.O. Box 73
Frenchtown, MT  59834  USA
QTH: DN27UB
TEL: (406) 626-5728
URL: http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj
2m DXCC #11/6m DXCC #815



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Re: Roofing Filter question

Paul-285
In reply to this post by Mike, W9QS

>I have a K3/10 on order.  I have used my K2 for over a year and find
>the filters to be very good.  I operate 90% on the time on QRP
>CW.  I'm looking for opinions on which roofing filters I might include.

Unless you're contesting or dealing with DX pileups, probably
none.  The default 2.7 kc filter works fine.

Paul N4LCD

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re: Roofing Filter question

ni0c
In reply to this post by Mike, W9QS
>I have a K3/10 on order.  I have used my K2 for over a year and find
>the filters to be very good.  I operate 90% on the time on QRP
>CW.  I'm looking for opinions on which roofing filters I might include.

Unless you're contesting or dealing with DX pileups, probably
none.  The default 2.7 kc filter works fine.
 
One of the reasons I purchased a K3 was that it had 5 roofing filter slots and
a whole slew of filters available to fill them up. When my K3 kit arrived in June,
it came with only the 2.7 KHz filter-- my CW filters were on back order. 
I notice a huge difference when I installed the 400 Hz filter.
   
Right now, I own two SSB filters and four CW filters, and am evaluating which 
three of the four CW filters I want to keep.
 
My application is mainly DX pileups, sometimes along with some close
neighbors.
 
 
73,
Chuck NI0C
 
K2/10 s/n 5853
K3/100 s/n 1061
 
 
 
 

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