Setting up the KX3 Pre-Amp for FT8/JS8Call when receiving ?

[g7ltq]

Setting up the KX3 Pre-Amp for FT8/JS8Call when receiving ?
I use my KX3 mainly for JS8Call and FT8 on 20 and 40m.    Because I live in London, I have a poor antenna and quite a lot of QRM around me.

I had thought that my KX3 might be a bit deaf on receive as my 10W signal can be heard by many stations which I can’t hear.  Before making and erecting a new antenna, I thought I would re-check all the settings I use  … Attenuator OFF, RF Gain set to 0 etc.

I then started to think about the receive pre-amp which is normally OFF.  Setting ti to 10 db Gain and turning it on, did seem to improve things.

I was wondering how with Digimodes to work out the best level for Pre-Amp gain.   The traditional "listening for signals in noise" doesn’t really work as the detection levels are below hearing.  Any good suggestions for setting this optimally when you have a short and poor antenna ?

John G7LTQ
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[Tox]

$.02:
I am fighting my own urban QRM issues. For me, 20dB was Too Much, 10dB
seems to work. Haven't recently tried less.

I do have to make sure to turn RF Gain down enough that I can use the
AF Vol to keep the input in the expected range of my laptop/wsjtx

Good luck!

Scott
AD6YT

On Thu, Feb 20, 2020 at 9:24 AM John Newgas <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
> Setting up the KX3 Pre-Amp for FT8/JS8Call when receiving ?
> I use my KX3 mainly for JS8Call and FT8 on 20 and 40m.    Because I live in London, I have a poor antenna and quite a lot of QRM around me.
>
> I had thought that my KX3 might be a bit deaf on receive as my 10W signal can be heard by many stations which I can’t hear.  Before making and erecting a new antenna, I thought I would re-check all the settings I use  … Attenuator OFF, RF Gain set to 0 etc.
>
> I then started to think about the receive pre-amp which is normally OFF.  Setting ti to 10 db Gain and turning it on, did seem to improve things.
>
> I was wondering how with Digimodes to work out the best level for Pre-Amp gain.   The traditional "listening for signals in noise" doesn’t really work as the detection levels are below hearing.  Any good suggestions for setting this optimally when you have a short and poor antenna ?
>
> John G7LTQ
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

--
Scott Small
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