The Big Three...

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Re: The Big Three...

Clay Autery-2
What is this "better" SSB performance of which you speak.

I am primarily a voice guy....  And I am constantly complimented on the
quality of my transmissions.

How are defining "better" SSB performance?

73,

______________________
Clay Autery, KY5G
(318) 518-1389

On 03/29/20 11:32, [hidden email] wrote:

> This is by far not an unbiased survey. Teams that travel on airplanes to
> get to WRTC will be strongly biased toward light weight radios such as
> the K3. Operators who do not travel by a irplane will be biased towards
> radios with much better SSB performance.
>
>
> 73
> Frank
> W3LPL
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: "K9FD" <[hidden email]>
> To: "Paul Gacek" <[hidden email]>
> Cc: [hidden email]
> Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2020 4:26:55 PM
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] The Big Three...
>
> I agree Paul, and my comment was to play the stats in jest.
>
> when the glass is half full you can see it from both sides,
>
> I did that to stir the Elecraft kool aide crew.
>
> Having contested many many years in my past life, I dont own
> 3 - K3 radios because they are losers, and nope I am not in the
> class of any one who qualifies for WRTC. not even close,
> and at 75 I am not progressing any longer, I am on the slipping
> side of downhill.
>
> 73 Merv K9FD
>
______________________________________________________________
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Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Re: The Big Three...

Clay Autery-2
In reply to this post by donovanf
Again, out of curiosity.  How do you define "better"?

______________________
Clay Autery, KY5G
(318) 518-1389

On 03/29/20 11:56, [hidden email] wrote:

> Hi Tony
>
>
> Any of the top-of-the-line radios from Flex, Icom, Yaesu and Kenwood
> have significantly better SSB performance than the K3.
>
>
> Each of my six stations has two radios, usually a K3 and a "not K3,"
> usually a Yaesu FTdx5000. During CW contests our "run" operators
> usually favor the K3, during SSB contests our "run" operators NEVER
> favor the K3.
>
>
> 73
> Frank
> W3LPL
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]>
> Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2020 12:40 PM
> To: '[hidden email]' <[hidden email]>; '[hidden email]' <[hidden email]>
> Subject: RE: [Elecraft] The Big Three...
>
> Hi Frank,
> I agree with what you said about CW rigs and lightweight rigs for traveling. The K3 on SSB sure has its faults. What say you on the top SSB rigs?
>
> Also, since no Dayton and the idea of a contest that weekend is a good idea. But maybe we should consider some kind of virtual hospitality suite so we can have a beer or two plus chat.
> N2TK, Tony
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On Behalf Of [hidden email]
> Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2020 12:33 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] The Big Three...
>
> This is by far not an unbiased survey. Teams that travel on airplanes to get to WRTC will be strongly biased toward light weight radios such as the K3. Operators who do not travel by a irplane will be biased towards radios with much better SSB performance.
>
>
> 73
> Frank
> W3LPL
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: "K9FD" <[hidden email]>
> To: "Paul Gacek" <[hidden email]>
> Cc: [hidden email]
> Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2020 4:26:55 PM
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] The Big Three...
>
> I agree Paul, and my comment was to play the stats in jest.
>
> when the glass is half full you can see it from both sides,
>
> I did that to stir the Elecraft kool aide crew.
>
> Having contested many many years in my past life, I dont own
> 3 - K3 radios because they are losers, and nope I am not in the class of any one who qualifies for WRTC. not even close, and at 75 I am not progressing any longer, I am on the slipping side of downhill.
>
> 73 Merv K9FD
>> Merv
>>
>> Now we entering the arena of stats can tell you whatever you want them to tell you!
>>
>> In fairness only one of the top teams was a US team (I think) and 3 of the top 15 were US. Maybe radio choice for the Europeans is more to do with ICOM et al possibly having a more direct sales and support presence in EU versus Elecraft which is via local distributors and possibly requiring the gear to return to Cal for repair. Just a guess ....
>>
>> I think the WRTC leader role for the Boston/NE one had more US teams placing. I’m sure a story exists around home team advantage.
>>
>> I can only reiterate that anyone who participates in WRTC has to be pretty awesome and I wish I had 1% of their skills!!
>>
>> Stats are fun.
>>
>> Paul Gacek
>>
>>> On Mar 29, 2020, at 8:50 AM, K9FD <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>
>>> SO lets see, we are saying that 50 percent used Elecraft, and out of
>>> the top 3 no one did, and most who used Elecraft were in the bottom.
>>> So was it the radio or the operator?
>>> If you look at it from one point of view, loosers used Elecraft..
>>>
>>> Merv K9FD, and I own 3 - k3 radios so not biased.
>>>
>>>
>>>> Wasn't my subject line. But I'll see your four and raise it to five: Elecraft, Flex, Icom, Kenwood and Yaesu.
>>>>
>>>> Wes N7WS
>>>>
>>>>> On 3/29/2020 6:55 AM, Michael Walker wrote:
>>>>> I find you mention the big 3, but it is really the big 4.
>>>>>
>>>>> Mike va3mw
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> On Sun, Mar 29, 2020 at 9:28 AM Wes <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote:
>>>>> FWIW. I took a cursory look at the top 10 to see what they were using.
>>>>>
>>>>> You have to get to 5th place to find a pair of K3s. Sixth and 7th
>>>>> places use one K3 and something else for the second radio.
>>>>>
>>>>> So four out of 20 radios were K3s.
>>>>>
>>>>> Also of interest 6 out of 10 used WinTest with 4 using N1MM+.
>>>>>
>>>>> Wes N7WS
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> On 3/29/2020 2:50 AM, Paul Gacek via Elecraft wrote:
>>>>>> If you follow the link you can see what radios the 50+ WRTC 2018
>>>>> participant teams used.
>>>>>> Lots of K3.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://wrtc2018.de/competition/finalscores.php
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Paul
>>>>>> W6PNG/M0SNA
>>>>>> www.nomadic.blog
>>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>>>> <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] <mailto:[hidden email]>
>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>> 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]
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> 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]
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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] ______________________________________________________________
> 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]
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]
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Re: The Big Three...

donovanf
In reply to this post by Clay Autery-2
Hi Clay,


This thread is a discussion about the relative performance of top-of-the-line
modern transceivers in the most demanding situations faced by serious SSB
contest competitors. The vast majority of transceiver users have no concerns
about the performance of their transceiver under these conditions.




We're discussing the most demanding situations affecting transceiver
performance: weak -- often distorted -- SSB signals surrounded by
much stronger adjacent channel QRM. For much of the time on
20 and especially 40 meters the adjacent much stronger signals overlap
well into the receiver bandwidth. Typical spacing between SSB signals
is only 1.5 kHz, if you're lucky its 2.0 kHz and only rarely 2.5 kHz or more.
This situation is rather unimportant for the casual contester, but its a
game changer at the upper levels of serious SSB contest competition.


For transmitted SSB signals we're concerned about situations where our
transmitted signal is relatively weak and surrounded by much stronger
adjacent channel QRM. The adjacent signals usually overlap well into the
transmitted signal bandwidth and the other operator's receiver has
much lower performance that our top-of-the-line radio.


73
Frank
W3LPL



----- Original Message -----

From: "Clay Autery" <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2020 5:20:31 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] The Big Three...

What is this "better" SSB performance of which you speak.

I am primarily a voice guy.... And I am constantly complimented on the
quality of my transmissions.

How are defining "better" SSB performance?

73,

______________________
Clay Autery, KY5G
(318) 518-1389

On 03/29/20 11:32, [hidden email] wrote:

> This is by far not an unbiased survey. Teams that travel on airplanes to
> get to WRTC will be strongly biased toward light weight radios such as
> the K3. Operators who do not travel by a irplane will be biased towards
> radios with much better SSB performance.
>
>
> 73
> Frank
> W3LPL
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: "K9FD" <[hidden email]>
> To: "Paul Gacek" <[hidden email]>
> Cc: [hidden email]
> Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2020 4:26:55 PM
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] The Big Three...
>
> I agree Paul, and my comment was to play the stats in jest.
>
> when the glass is half full you can see it from both sides,
>
> I did that to stir the Elecraft kool aide crew.
>
> Having contested many many years in my past life, I dont own
> 3 - K3 radios because they are losers, and nope I am not in the
> class of any one who qualifies for WRTC. not even close,
> and at 75 I am not progressing any longer, I am on the slipping
> side of downhill.
>
> 73 Merv K9FD
>
______________________________________________________________
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]
______________________________________________________________
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Re: The Big Three...

donovanf
In reply to this post by Clay Autery-2
Clay,


If you're not a serious SSB contest competitor this thread has no
relevance to your experience or needs. Try SSB contesting at the
highest levels of competitiveness and you'll soon become aware of
the important performance differences among modern transceivers.


73
Frank
W3LPL


----- Original Message -----

From: "Clay Autery" <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2020 5:21:54 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] The Big Three...

Again, out of curiosity. How do you define "better"?

______________________
Clay Autery, KY5G
(318) 518-1389

On 03/29/20 11:56, [hidden email] wrote:

> Hi Tony
>
>
> Any of the top-of-the-line radios from Flex, Icom, Yaesu and Kenwood
> have significantly better SSB performance than the K3.
>
>
> Each of my six stations has two radios, usually a K3 and a "not K3,"
> usually a Yaesu FTdx5000. During CW contests our "run" operators
> usually favor the K3, during SSB contests our "run" operators NEVER
> favor the K3.
>
>
> 73
> Frank
> W3LPL
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]>
> Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2020 12:40 PM
> To: '[hidden email]' <[hidden email]>; '[hidden email]' <[hidden email]>
> Subject: RE: [Elecraft] The Big Three...
>
> Hi Frank,
> I agree with what you said about CW rigs and lightweight rigs for traveling. The K3 on SSB sure has its faults. What say you on the top SSB rigs?
>
> Also, since no Dayton and the idea of a contest that weekend is a good idea. But maybe we should consider some kind of virtual hospitality suite so we can have a beer or two plus chat.
> N2TK, Tony
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On Behalf Of [hidden email]
> Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2020 12:33 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] The Big Three...
>
> This is by far not an unbiased survey. Teams that travel on airplanes to get to WRTC will be strongly biased toward light weight radios such as the K3. Operators who do not travel by a irplane will be biased towards radios with much better SSB performance.
>
>
> 73
> Frank
> W3LPL
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: "K9FD" <[hidden email]>
> To: "Paul Gacek" <[hidden email]>
> Cc: [hidden email]
> Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2020 4:26:55 PM
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] The Big Three...
>
> I agree Paul, and my comment was to play the stats in jest.
>
> when the glass is half full you can see it from both sides,
>
> I did that to stir the Elecraft kool aide crew.
>
> Having contested many many years in my past life, I dont own
> 3 - K3 radios because they are losers, and nope I am not in the class of any one who qualifies for WRTC. not even close, and at 75 I am not progressing any longer, I am on the slipping side of downhill.
>
> 73 Merv K9FD
>> Merv
>>
>> Now we entering the arena of stats can tell you whatever you want them to tell you!
>>
>> In fairness only one of the top teams was a US team (I think) and 3 of the top 15 were US. Maybe radio choice for the Europeans is more to do with ICOM et al possibly having a more direct sales and support presence in EU versus Elecraft which is via local distributors and possibly requiring the gear to return to Cal for repair. Just a guess ....
>>
>> I think the WRTC leader role for the Boston/NE one had more US teams placing. I’m sure a story exists around home team advantage.
>>
>> I can only reiterate that anyone who participates in WRTC has to be pretty awesome and I wish I had 1% of their skills!!
>>
>> Stats are fun.
>>
>> Paul Gacek
>>
>>> On Mar 29, 2020, at 8:50 AM, K9FD <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>
>>> SO lets see, we are saying that 50 percent used Elecraft, and out of
>>> the top 3 no one did, and most who used Elecraft were in the bottom.
>>> So was it the radio or the operator?
>>> If you look at it from one point of view, loosers used Elecraft..
>>>
>>> Merv K9FD, and I own 3 - k3 radios so not biased.
>>>
>>>
>>>> Wasn't my subject line. But I'll see your four and raise it to five: Elecraft, Flex, Icom, Kenwood and Yaesu.
>>>>
>>>> Wes N7WS
>>>>
>>>>> On 3/29/2020 6:55 AM, Michael Walker wrote:
>>>>> I find you mention the big 3, but it is really the big 4.
>>>>>
>>>>> Mike va3mw
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> On Sun, Mar 29, 2020 at 9:28 AM Wes <[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>> wrote:
>>>>> FWIW. I took a cursory look at the top 10 to see what they were using.
>>>>>
>>>>> You have to get to 5th place to find a pair of K3s. Sixth and 7th
>>>>> places use one K3 and something else for the second radio.
>>>>>
>>>>> So four out of 20 radios were K3s.
>>>>>
>>>>> Also of interest 6 out of 10 used WinTest with 4 using N1MM+.
>>>>>
>>>>> Wes N7WS
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> On 3/29/2020 2:50 AM, Paul Gacek via Elecraft wrote:
>>>>>> If you follow the link you can see what radios the 50+ WRTC 2018
>>>>> participant teams used.
>>>>>> Lots of K3.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://wrtc2018.de/competition/finalscores.php 
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Paul
>>>>>> W6PNG/M0SNA
>>>>>> www.nomadic.blog
>>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft 
>>>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm 
>>>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>>>> <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] <mailto:[hidden email]>
>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>> 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]
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> 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]
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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] ______________________________________________________________
> 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]
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]
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Re: The Big Three...

Clay Autery-2
In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list
Bottom Line:  As in many things....  "It's the Indian, not the arrow." 
Though, I still prefer to have the best bow and arrow that I can
possibly afford.

And as for me, "mission accomplished". <smile>  (100% self-funded) <wink>

73,

______________________
Clay Autery, KY5G
(318) 518-1389

On 03/29/20 15:35, Jack Brindle via Elecraft wrote:

> There is a catch in this, of course. Several of the top contesters are sponsored by some of the radio companies. The winner in the 2014 WRTC was sponsored by Icom as were many others.
> The same was true in 2018. Of course, they get the best radios, delivered at the competition. Thus the radio choice tends to be biased by the fact that the contesters may not be paying for their radios, or having to hand-carry them to the competition.
>
> As for the winners, we have seen many times that the contesters who are most familiar with propagation in the area where the competition is held will win. This was true in Massachusetts, Germany, and will undoubtedly be true in Italy. The top guys travel to the areas to get a feel for propagation, but having experience there for a long time makes a huge difference.
> In WRTC, it isn’t so much the radio, but rather the experience in the zone that matter the most. Radios, logging software, antennas, etc are pretty much even. The ops themselves make the big difference.
>
>
> 73!
> Jack, W6FB
>
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Re: The Big Three...

Jim Brown-10
In reply to this post by donovanf
On 3/29/2020 10:02 PM, [hidden email] wrote:
> You would have to seriously compete in an SSB contest with some of the
> more modern radios in very crowded bands to fully appreciate how much
> better the more modern technologies are for both transmit and receive signal
> quality. The latest Flex radios are almost shockingly good, but all of the
> top-shelf modern radios are significantly better performers than the
> 12 year old K3 or even the K3S.

Thanks Frank. Soon after he got his Flex 6700, his two key impressions
were 1) it was the best radio he'd ever owned; and 2) the designers of
the radio and it's software/firmware didn't have a clue about USING
radios on the air. #2 was so bad that they didn't even understand the
problems. Thankfully, guys like N6WM, K9CT, and I'm sure others, stepped
in to educate them. :)

I'm not a digital guy, but having worked in pro audio most of my
professional life, some concepts have rubbed off. If I were to speculate
on the shortcomings of the K3/K3S you've noted, it would be that the
system wasn't designed with enough bits and bandwidth. But that all
depends on the parts you can buy for a product that must sell for a
price that customers can pay, and, as you've noted, those design
decisions were likely made in 2006. And from where I sit, I've always
viewed Wayne and Eric as marketing geniuses (in the best sense of that).

73, Jim K9YC
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Re: The Big Three...

Jim Brown-10
On 3/29/2020 10:45 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
> Thanks Frank. Soon after he got his Flex 6700, his two key impressions were

I failed to identify the speaker -- it was K6TD, a fine engineer,
serious contester, and veteran of multiple DX trips.

73, Jim K9YC
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Re: The Big Three...

donovanf
In reply to this post by Jim Brown-10
Hi Jim,


You're probably correct about design compromises made with technologies
available and affordable 14 years ago. Its probably not a coincidence
that all of the top-shelf modern radios have a leg up on the K3 in
the most severe competitive contest environments


Think about what less than 14 years of improvement brought to the market
in the post-World War II environment and the vast performance differential
between the offerings from Collins and every one of their competitors:
- 75A-1 1947
- 75A-4 1956
- KWM-1 1957
- S-Line 1958


Its amazing that the amateur radio HF transceiver market continues to drive
significant performance improvements after all these years, just as it did
from the earliest days of HF radio.


73
Frank
W3LPL

----- Original Message -----

From: "Jim Brown" <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2020 5:45:21 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] The Big Three...

On 3/29/2020 10:02 PM, [hidden email] wrote:
> You would have to seriously compete in an SSB contest with some of the
> more modern radios in very crowded bands to fully appreciate how much
> better the more modern technologies are for both transmit and receive signal
> quality. The latest Flex radios are almost shockingly good, but all of the
> top-shelf modern radios are significantly better performers than the
> 12 year old K3 or even the K3S.

Thanks Frank. Soon after he got his Flex 6700, his two key impressions
were 1) it was the best radio he'd ever owned; and 2) the designers of
the radio and it's software/firmware didn't have a clue about USING
radios on the air. #2 was so bad that they didn't even understand the
problems. Thankfully, guys like N6WM, K9CT, and I'm sure others, stepped
in to educate them. :)

I'm not a digital guy, but having worked in pro audio most of my
professional life, some concepts have rubbed off. If I were to speculate
on the shortcomings of the K3/K3S you've noted, it would be that the
system wasn't designed with enough bits and bandwidth. But that all
depends on the parts you can buy for a product that must sell for a
price that customers can pay, and, as you've noted, those design
decisions were likely made in 2006. And from where I sit, I've always
viewed Wayne and Eric as marketing geniuses (in the best sense of that).

73, Jim K9YC
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Re: The Big Three...

Clay Autery-2
In reply to this post by donovanf
Thanks for the response...  As I am not a "contesting expert", I have no
opinion on the topic that I wish to put forward publicly.
I am actually "afraid" to get too enamored with contesting as my DNA has
a tendency to drive me to extremes in anything I develop a passion for....

.... which is pretty much everything I put my hand to.  And I'm pretty
fond of talking to and sleeping with my XYL...  <big grin>


73,

______________________
Clay Autery, KY5G
(318) 518-1389

On 03/30/20 00:34, [hidden email] wrote:

> Hi Clay,
>
> This thread is a discussion about the relative performance of
> top-of-the-line
> modern transceivers in the most demanding situations faced by serious SSB
> contest competitors.  The vast majority of transceiver users have no
> concerns
> about the performance of their transceiver under these conditions.
>
> We're discussing the most demanding situations affecting transceiver
> performance: weak -- often distorted -- SSB signals surrounded by
> much stronger adjacent channel QRM.  For much of the time on
> 20 and especially 40 meters the adjacent much stronger signals overlap
> well into the receiver bandwidth.   Typical spacing between SSB signals
> is only 1.5 kHz, if you're lucky its 2.0 kHz and only rarely 2.5 kHz
> or more.
> This situation is rather unimportant for the casual contester, but its a
> game changer at the upper levels of serious SSB contest competition.
>
> For transmitted SSB signals we're concerned about situations where our
> transmitted signal is relatively weak and surrounded by much stronger
> adjacent channel QRM. The adjacent signals usually overlap well into the
> transmitted signal bandwidth and the other operator's receiver has
> much lower performance that our top-of-the-line radio.
>
> 73
> Frank
> W3LPL
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From: *"Clay Autery" <[hidden email]>
> *To: *[hidden email]
> *Sent: *Monday, March 30, 2020 5:20:31 AM
> *Subject: *Re: [Elecraft] The Big Three...
>
> What is this "better" SSB performance of which you speak.
>
> I am primarily a voice guy....  And I am constantly complimented on the
> quality of my transmissions.
>
> How are defining "better" SSB performance?
>
> 73,
>
> ______________________
> Clay Autery, KY5G
> (318) 518-1389
>
> On 03/29/20 11:32, [hidden email] wrote:
> > This is by far not an unbiased survey. Teams that travel on airplanes to
> > get to WRTC will be strongly biased toward light weight radios such as
> > the K3. Operators who do not travel by a irplane will be biased towards
> > radios with much better SSB performance.
> >
> >
> > 73
> > Frank
> > W3LPL
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> >
> > From: "K9FD" <[hidden email]>
> > To: "Paul Gacek" <[hidden email]>
> > Cc: [hidden email]
> > Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2020 4:26:55 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] The Big Three...
> >
> > I agree Paul, and my comment was to play the stats in jest.
> >
> > when the glass is half full you can see it from both sides,
> >
> > I did that to stir the Elecraft kool aide crew.
> >
> > Having contested many many years in my past life, I dont own
> > 3 - K3 radios because they are losers, and nope I am not in the
> > class of any one who qualifies for WRTC. not even close,
> > and at 75 I am not progressing any longer, I am on the slipping
> > side of downhill.
> >
> > 73 Merv K9FD
> >
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]
>
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Re: The Big Three...

Edward R Cole
In reply to this post by Dick Dickinson
Probably not add much of value to this discussion.

When I first got my K3 in 2010 using the internal speaker the SSB
audio seemed harsh.  So didn't take me long to hook up my old 10-inch
1950's era National speaker (made a lot of difference).  For
demanding operation (usually meaning working very weak signals) I use
a stereo headset.

73, Ed - KL7UW
   http://www.kl7uw.com
Dubus-NA Business mail:
   [hidden email]

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Re: The Big Three...

k6dgw
In reply to this post by Jim Brown-10
Engineering is the Science and Art of managing theoretical, mechanical,
logistic, economic, ergonomic, and aesthetic tradeoffs.

73,
Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

On 3/29/2020 10:45 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
> But that all depends on the parts you can buy for a product that must
> sell for a price that customers can pay, and, as you've noted, those
> design decisions were likely made in 2006. And from where I sit, I've
> always viewed Wayne and Eric as marketing geniuses (in the best sense
> of that).
>
> 73, Jim K9YC

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Re: The Big Three...

john@kk9a.com
In reply to this post by Dick Dickinson

Interesting post Frank and perfect timing after trying to work  
stations with my K3S loaded with SSB roofing filters through the heavy  
QRM during last weekend's WPX Phone contest. My head still hurts:) I  
was not aware that you use "other" radios on SSB.

John KK9A


Frank W3LPL wrote:


You would have to seriously compete in an SSB contest with some of the
more modern radios in very crowded bands to fully appreciate how much
better the more modern technologies are for both transmit and receive signal
quality. The latest Flex radios are almost shockingly good, but all of the
top-shelf modern radios are significantly better performers than the
12 year old K3 or even the K3S.



We're discussing the most demanding situations affecting SSB transceiver
performance: weak -- often distorted -- SSB signals surrounded by
much stronger adjacent channel QRM. For much of the time on
20 and especially 40 meters the adjacent much stronger signals overlap
well into the receiver bandwidth. Typical spacing between SSB signals
is only 1.5 kHz, if you're lucky its 2.0 kHz and only rarely 2.5 kHz or more.
This situation is rather unimportant for the casual contester, but its a
game changer at the upper levels of serious SSB contest competition.


I have not made technical measurements of K3 SSB transmitter and
receiver performance nor do I have the capability to do so. I suspect the
more modern designs have improved the dynamic response of their entire
receiver and transmitter chain in ways that can't be captured by simple
static performance measurements such as frequency response, dynamic range
and IMD.


73
Frank
W3LPL

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