Use FM filter for AM listening??

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Use FM filter for AM listening??

Dan in Florida
I have K3 s/n 3020 with firmware 3.11.
I'm planning to upgrade firmware at the next release--I didn't see 3.14 as important for me.

I've been using the K3 on 80 through 20 mostly, with great success and satisfaction--I love this radio.

I have in filter locations 1-4
1 - 13 khz, 0 gain, 0 offset
2 - 2.7 khz 5-pole, 0 gain, -.85 offset
3 - 1.8 khz 8-pole, 0 gain, 0 offset
4 - .4 khz 8-pole, 2 gain, 0 offset

I did NOT get the AM filter because I did not plan on transmitting AM.

I DID get the FM filter because I want to listen to AM (broadcast band and SW), and possibly operate on 10 meter FM.

When I try to use the FM filter for AM listening, the results are very poor.  Specifically, poor bass and significant ringing, even when adjusted for max bandwidth, which shows as 5 khz on the display.

If I turn the FM filter off, and use the 2.7 khz 5-pole filter for AM listening, the results are much better--no ringing and a more open sound with better bass.

The FM filter bandwidth is set for 13 khz in the config menu.

Did I make an error in judgment when I purchased the FM filter for AM listening, or am I experiencing a technical problem?

I have not tried to use the FM filter for 10 meter FM because I haven't heard any detectable signals at my location.

Thanks,
Dan - W4TQ
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Re: Use FM filter for AM listening??

Joe Subich, W4TV-4


> When I try to use the FM filter for AM listening, the results
> are very poor.  Specifically, poor bass and significant
> ringing, even when adjusted for max bandwidth, which shows as
> 5 khz on the display.
>
> If I turn the FM filter off, and use the 2.7 khz 5-pole
> filter for AM listening, the results are much better--no
> ringing and a more open sound with better bass.
>
> The FM filter bandwidth is set for 13 khz in the config menu.
>
> Did I make an error in judgment when I purchased the FM
> filter for AM listening, or am I experiencing a technical problem?

Your results are contrary to what I experience.  Results on AM
(standard and international broadcast) are very good with the
FM filter with audio response running from 100 - 4200 Hz (the
current DSP limits of the receiver).  

Results with the 2.8 KHz filter are disappointing, with audio
limited to about 1500 Hz unless the K3 is tuned to "one side."
For the offset tuned case, audio is limited to 3 KHz or less
due to the need to keep the carrier sufficiently high on the
filter skirt to maintain enough carrier for demodulation.  Due
to its broader skirts, the 2.7 KHz filter may give somewhat
better AM performance than the 2.8 KHz filter but the difference
should not be dramatic.

Sounds to me like a configuration issue but that's only a guess.

73,

   ... Joe, W4TV
 





> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Dan
> Sent: Sunday, September 20, 2009 9:55 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] Use FM filter for AM listening??
>
>
> I have K3 s/n 3020 with firmware 3.11.
> I'm planning to upgrade firmware at the next release--I
> didn't see 3.14 as important for me.
>
> I've been using the K3 on 80 through 20 mostly, with great
> success and satisfaction--I love this radio.
>
> I have in filter locations 1-4
> 1 - 13 khz, 0 gain, 0 offset
> 2 - 2.7 khz 5-pole, 0 gain, -.85 offset
> 3 - 1.8 khz 8-pole, 0 gain, 0 offset
> 4 - .4 khz 8-pole, 2 gain, 0 offset
>
> I did NOT get the AM filter because I did not plan on transmitting AM.
>
> I DID get the FM filter because I want to listen to AM
> (broadcast band and SW), and possibly operate on 10 meter FM.
>
> When I try to use the FM filter for AM listening, the results
> are very poor.  Specifically, poor bass and significant
> ringing, even when adjusted for max bandwidth, which shows as
> 5 khz on the display.
>
> If I turn the FM filter off, and use the 2.7 khz 5-pole
> filter for AM listening, the results are much better--no
> ringing and a more open sound with better bass.
>
> The FM filter bandwidth is set for 13 khz in the config menu.
>
> Did I make an error in judgment when I purchased the FM
> filter for AM listening, or am I experiencing a technical problem?
>
> I have not tried to use the FM filter for 10 meter FM because
> I haven't heard any detectable signals at my location.
>
> Thanks,
> Dan - W4TQ
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Re: Use FM filter for AM listening??

4Z5TO
In reply to this post by Dan in Florida
I use the FM filter also for AM among other things. For easier configuration use, use the the "K3 Utility" application to set your filters. Works great and you will see exactly what your set-up is. Also, you can backup your K3 configuration here too.

73


Dan-17 wrote
I have K3 s/n 3020 with firmware 3.11.
I'm planning to upgrade firmware at the next release--I didn't see 3.14 as important for me.

I've been using the K3 on 80 through 20 mostly, with great success and satisfaction--I love this radio.

I have in filter locations 1-4
1 - 13 khz, 0 gain, 0 offset
2 - 2.7 khz 5-pole, 0 gain, -.85 offset
3 - 1.8 khz 8-pole, 0 gain, 0 offset
4 - .4 khz 8-pole, 2 gain, 0 offset

I did NOT get the AM filter because I did not plan on transmitting AM.

I DID get the FM filter because I want to listen to AM (broadcast band and SW), and possibly operate on 10 meter FM.

When I try to use the FM filter for AM listening, the results are very poor.  Specifically, poor bass and significant ringing, even when adjusted for max bandwidth, which shows as 5 khz on the display.

If I turn the FM filter off, and use the 2.7 khz 5-pole filter for AM listening, the results are much better--no ringing and a more open sound with better bass.

The FM filter bandwidth is set for 13 khz in the config menu.

Did I make an error in judgment when I purchased the FM filter for AM listening, or am I experiencing a technical problem?

I have not tried to use the FM filter for 10 meter FM because I haven't heard any detectable signals at my location.

Thanks,
Dan - W4TQ
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html