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The Lowly Appliance Operator Ponders Filters

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Thom LaCosta

The Lowly Appliance Operator Ponders Filters

When technical smarts were issued, I had to be hiding behind the door. All of
this filter stuff is way over my head(as are most things more complicated than
light switches(on-off are OK, three-ways are a challenge)).

Based on what's available for the K3, what would be an optimal choice for
someone who mostly operates CW, some SSB, would like to try data, and avoids
contests?

It's not very often that I use the narrowest filter in the K2 for cw....and I
use an Autek audio filter(complete with ringing and ac hum).

Perhaps what I'm asking is like going into an auto dealer, looking at a
Lamborghetta and asking if I can install a Muntz TV in the back seat.

It's not that I wouldn't buy filters...it's more like when I go to a museum of
modern art....I am too ignorant to know if the painting of the sun, which
appears to be a big orange circle, is hung upside down.

Thom

www.baltimorehon.com/ Home of the Baltimore Lexicon
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Greg - AB7R

RE: The Lowly Appliance Operator Ponders Filters

Hi Thom.

Please see the "Elecraft and Roofing Filters" topic under Options and
Accessories in the FAQ. In the article by Eric he gives his "personal" take
on filter choices. Hope this helps.

73 and thanks,
Greg
AB7R

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]]On Behalf Of Thom LaCosta
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2007 7:46 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] The Lowly Appliance Operator Ponders Filters

When technical smarts were issued, I had to be hiding behind the door. All
of
this filter stuff is way over my head(as are most things more complicated
than
light switches(on-off are OK, three-ways are a challenge)).

Based on what's available for the K3, what would be an optimal choice for
someone who mostly operates CW, some SSB, would like to try data, and avoids
contests?

It's not very often that I use the narrowest filter in the K2 for cw....and
I
use an Autek audio filter(complete with ringing and ac hum).

Perhaps what I'm asking is like going into an auto dealer, looking at a
Lamborghetta and asking if I can install a Muntz TV in the back seat.
and
It's not that I wouldn't buy filters...it's more like when I go to a museum
of
modern art....I am too ignorant to know if the painting of the sun, which
appears to be a big orange circle, is hung upside down.

Thom

www.baltimorehon.com/ Home of the Baltimore Lexicon
www.tlchost.net/hosting/ Web Hosting as low as 3.49/month
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Don Wilhelm-3

Re: The Lowly Appliance Operator Ponders Filters

In reply to this post by Thom LaCosta

Thom,

Let me try *my* recommendations for what I believe is your situation.
First, you live in or near an urban environment, so I expect you have
several hams near you with strong signals which might interfere - so if
you want to operate easily on CW in the presence of S-9++ signal on the
band, I would recommend a 400 or 500 Hz filter. You may even want an
alternate selection of a 200 Hz width if the strong signal situation is
really bad.

If you want to operate digital modes (now made much easier with the K3
and possible even without a computer), I would want to have the 200 Hz
filter for that operating mode (it will also serve as a narrow filter on
CW) - there are just too many folks running higher powers on those modes
who seem to pop up right next to the signal that you are trying to copy.

Of course, with a narrow filter working digital modes, you will not be
able to 'click and work' within the full 3 kHz waterfall width - you
will need to tune the desired signal with the VFO into the more narrow
filter width. I do that already with the K2 using narrow filters for
PSK31, so for me it is no change from my normal operation.

For the sub-receiver, ask yourself similar questions. 1) What modes
will I be using the sub-receiver for? 2) How much de-sensing of the
receiver from strong nearby am I willing to tolerate? When you have the
answers to those two questions, you will be able to decide what filter
widths are needed there.

Notice that the reasons for choosing the filters are different than
simply how narrow a filter do you want to use - the DSP certainly can
reduce the bandwidth to a very narrow slice, but what the hardware
filters do is to keep strong undesired signals out of the DSP. You may
never notice the lack of a narrow filter if you never try to work a weak
signal or if you never encounter a strong interfering signal near your
operating frequency (static noise is an 'interfering signal' too, but is
broadbanded) - but for operation on a crowded band or in the midst of
static, the narrow filters will clean it up easier than any other method
and allow you to work those weak ones.

73,
Don W3FPR

Thom LaCosta wrote:

> When technical smarts were issued, I had to be hiding behind the door.
> All of this filter stuff is way over my head(as are most things more
> complicated than light switches(on-off are OK, three-ways are a
> challenge)).
>
> Based on what's available for the K3, what would be an optimal choice
> for someone who mostly operates CW, some SSB, would like to try data,
> and avoids contests?
>
> It's not very often that I use the narrowest filter in the K2 for
> cw....and I use an Autek audio filter(complete with ringing and ac hum).
>
> Perhaps what I'm asking is like going into an auto dealer, looking at a
> Lamborghetta and asking if I can install a Muntz TV in the back seat.
>
> It's not that I wouldn't buy filters...it's more like when I go to a
> museum of modern art....I am too ignorant to know if the painting of the
> sun, which appears to be a big orange circle, is hung upside down.
>
>
> Thom

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Brett gazdzinski-2

RE: The Lowly Appliance Operator Ponders Filters

Why not just order the basic ssb filter (2.7 KHz) and
see how it does.
If you want to use FM or AM, get those filters as you
need them to TX using those modes.

I expect the 2.7 filter will do fine for everyone other
than the DX and contest guys.

I suspect the K3 with the 2.7 filter will work as good or better
then most other $2000 to $3000.00 radios out there.

When I do my casual CW listening on (mostly) 80 and 40 meters,
I have the K2 in 1.4 KHz and don't often have any problems with copy.

The K3 2.7 KHz filter is just the first filter, unless
you have real strong local signals close, you likely wont have
any problems.

Now if you often find yourself working a signal and having
a real strong signal very close, you might think about
something narrower...

I live in a very suburban setting, and rarely have anything
strong close to what I am listening to.

Last night I was surprised to copy a slow signal
on 40 meters that was about 40 over, I wrote the call
down, but its at home...I must look it up.
I don't think the bar graph ever went up so high before!

I did NOT notice any problems from it on other signals.

Last night was a great slow code night for some reason,
slow for me is 10 to 15 wpm....I STILL have to count some
of the numbers!

Filters seem like they would make great birthday or fathers day
gifts!

Brett
N2DTS

> When technical smarts were issued, I had to be hiding

> behind the door.
> > All of this filter stuff is way over my head(as are most
> things more
> > complicated than light switches(on-off are OK, three-ways are a
> > challenge)).
> >
> > Based on what's available for the K3, what would be an
> optimal choice
> > for someone who mostly operates CW, some SSB, would like to
> try data,
> > and avoids contests?
> >
> > It's not very often that I use the narrowest filter in the K2 for
> > cw....and I use an Autek audio filter(complete with ringing
> and ac hum).
> >
> > Perhaps what I'm asking is like going into an auto dealer,
> looking at a
> > Lamborghetta and asking if I can install a Muntz TV in the
> back seat.
> >
> > It's not that I wouldn't buy filters...it's more like when
> I go to a
> > museum of modern art....I am too ignorant to know if the
> painting of the
> > sun, which appears to be a big orange circle, is hung upside down.
> >
> >
> > Thom
> _______________________________________________
>