ZLX8 - K3 firmware
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Hello Group,
K3 is the main radio in ZLX8. Do you know which version of Firmware they are using? Yesterday, I hear ZLX8 at 20 metre 59+. I returned to them with my QRP K3, also received 59 signal report. My KPA3 is under repair by Elecraft. cheers, Johnny VR2XMC ______________________________________________________________ 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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Hi Johnny,
I think you meant ZL8X. I'm sure glad that they are using a K3 on that Dxpedition to Kermadec. They must have been using it on 160 Meters this morning when I worked them. I was running 100 Watts to an Inverted-L from my VA QTH. They were Q5 here on my K3 with the APF turned ON. There is nothing wrong with the APF, but I did notice that when I reduced the RF gain control a bit the copy became better. Must have been hitting the DSP with a bit too much of my local noise. ZL8X on Kermadec Island is K1HTV country #221 with 100 Watts. I can thank having K3 on both ends of the path, as also occurred for my 160M QSO with Dave, KH2/N2NL a few weeks ago. Thank you Elecraft! 73, Rich - K1HTV = = = -----Original Message----- From: Johnny Siu [mailto:[hidden email]] Sent: Saturday, November 20, 2010 19:02 PM To: Elecraft Subject: [Elecraft] ZLX8 - K3 firmware Hello Group, K3 is the main radio in ZLX8. Do you know which version of Firmware they are using? Yesterday, I hear ZLX8 at 20 metre 59+. I returned to them with my QRP K3, also received 59 signal report. My KPA3 is under repair by Elecraft. cheers, Johnny VR2XMC ______________________________________________________________ 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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ZL8X is running seven (7) stations concurrently. See their website:
http://www.kermadec.de/organisation/equipment/index.php They may be running K3s, but they make no mention on their website of what brand of equipment they are using, and Elecraft is not one of their sponsors (nor are any of the other radio companies -- IKenSu etc.). Worked them on 40 CW this morning with 100W to a non-resonant SWL sloper 15 ft up at the top end. After two hours banging away at the pileup (which was nearly 3 kHz wide, BTW), I was about to give up when I was finally able to find a contact's transmit frequency and tail-end him -- switching back and forth using the RIT button with XIT turned on. This would have been MUCH easier with a P3 or with a KRX3, or both! When each QSO transmission is about 2-3 seconds long, this is really doing it the hard way. But I did it, and I'm in their online log this evening. To all veteran HF CW DXers -- If I were going to get EITHER a KRX3 or a P3 to make working split pileups more efficient and productive, WHICH should I invest in first? Bill W5WVO -----Original Message----- From: Rich - K1HTV Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 01:17 To: 'Johnny Siu' Cc: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] ZLX8 - K3 firmware Hi Johnny, I think you meant ZL8X. I'm sure glad that they are using a K3 on that Dxpedition to Kermadec. They must have been using it on 160 Meters this morning when I worked them. I was running 100 Watts to an Inverted-L from my VA QTH. They were Q5 here on my K3 with the APF turned ON. There is nothing wrong with the APF, but I did notice that when I reduced the RF gain control a bit the copy became better. Must have been hitting the DSP with a bit too much of my local noise. ZL8X on Kermadec Island is K1HTV country #221 with 100 Watts. I can thank having K3 on both ends of the path, as also occurred for my 160M QSO with Dave, KH2/N2NL a few weeks ago. Thank you Elecraft! 73, Rich - K1HTV = = = -----Original Message----- From: Johnny Siu [mailto:[hidden email]] Sent: Saturday, November 20, 2010 19:02 PM To: Elecraft Subject: [Elecraft] ZLX8 - K3 firmware Hello Group, K3 is the main radio in ZLX8. Do you know which version of Firmware they are using? Yesterday, I hear ZLX8 at 20 metre 59+. I returned to them with my QRP K3, also received 59 signal report. My KPA3 is under repair by Elecraft. cheers, Johnny VR2XMC ______________________________________________________________ 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 ______________________________________________________________ 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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I think the KRX3. The P3 is very helpful, but the most of the time it's the KRX3 that does
it. The P3 shows the pileup, but it's much easier to identify the one that's working the DX when you can hear and copy calls, etc. I operated with the equivalent of the REV button for years and always thought, "who needs the second rx?" But you can't push that button as fast as the split QSK does. Now BOTH of them is really the killer setup. But I would get the KRX3 first. For CW contesting the P3 would win. On 11/21/2010 5:39 PM, Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO wrote: > To all veteran HF CW DXers -- If I were going to get EITHER a KRX3 or a P3 > to make working split pileups more efficient and productive, WHICH should I > invest in first? > > Bill W5WVO > -- Vic, K2VCO Fresno CA http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/ ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO
Of those two choices, the KRX3. You ears will help you find the station he's working...the P3 will not. The ultimate solution is to add CW Skimmer using LP-PAN in SPLIT with VFO A TX the pileup and VFO B RX the DX station. Watch for the most recent red decoder dot that shows "599" and click it. VFO A is then zero beat on the last station worked. With the large PJ2/4/6/7 pileups in October, this was almost like cheating. See the bottom screen below and note the red dot and 599 by W6XA on 7010.4: http://dxatlas.com/CwSkimmer/ 73, Bill |
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On Nov 21, 2010, at 9:11 PM, Bill W4ZV wrote: > > See the bottom screen below and note the red dot and 599 by W6XA on 7010.4: Wow! Where did you find a pileup where only one station thought the DX had come back to him and was sending a signal report? Bud, W2RU ______________________________________________________________ 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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Fortunately not all of them were signing W6XA. But that presumes you can copy the call the DX station is sending. ;-) 73, Bill |
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In reply to this post by Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO
I'll confess to not being much of a CW op (only 277 worked) but my recent experience with entering the realm of either 2nd RX or panadapter usage, I've gone to the panadapter, and only recently at that.
In my case it's an SDR-IQ running SpectraVue, which interfaces to the K3 flawlessly. I've never much been one to use spots, second receivers, panadapters, etc. But this has been somewhat of a revelation. The ability to see the pileup allows one to find a hole, or if the pile is disciplined enough to actually stop transmitting when the called station is transmitting, if propagation is right, you can see him much easier than you would find him by tuning for him. So, at least for now, I prefer the panadapter and XIT for splitting and RIT for finding the hole or zero beating the QSL station. MHO. Wes Stewart N7WS --- On Sun, 11/21/10, Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO <[hidden email]> wrote: > ZL8X is running seven (7) stations > concurrently. See their website: > http://www.kermadec.de/organisation/equipment/index.php > > They may be running K3s, but they make no mention on their > website of what > brand of equipment they are using, and Elecraft is not one > of their sponsors > (nor are any of the other radio companies -- IKenSu etc.). > > Worked them on 40 CW this morning with 100W to a > non-resonant SWL sloper 15 > ft up at the top end. After two hours banging away at the > pileup (which was > nearly 3 kHz wide, BTW), I was about to give up when I was > finally able to > find a contact's transmit frequency and tail-end him -- > switching back and > forth using the RIT button with XIT turned on. This would > have been MUCH > easier with a P3 or with a KRX3, or both! When each QSO > transmission is > about 2-3 seconds long, this is really doing it the hard > way. But I did it, > and I'm in their online log this evening. > > To all veteran HF CW DXers -- If I were going to get EITHER > a KRX3 or a P3 > to make working split pileups more efficient and > productive, WHICH should I > invest in first? > > Bill W5WVO ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO
I have the KRX3 and now a habit of chasing CW DX pileups running split
with the MAIN RX in my left ear and the SUB RX in my right ear. I transmit on the SUB frequency while zero beating the guys he is working along the way. This technique works quite well, I highly recommend the SUB RX. My SUB has the same filter set as the MAIN. 73 de na6m On 11/21/2010 7:39 PM, Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO wrote: > To all veteran HF CW DXers -- If I were going to get EITHER a KRX3 or a P3 > to make working split pileups more efficient and productive, WHICH should I > invest in first? ______________________________________________________________ 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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You giving up all the secrets, man!:) Now I will not have advantage in the
pile-ups! Well, I may have couple more secrets up my sleve... Igor, N1YX -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Mark Stennett Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2010 10:38 PM To: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] ZLX8 - K3 firmware I have the KRX3 and now a habit of chasing CW DX pileups running split with the MAIN RX in my left ear and the SUB RX in my right ear. I transmit on the SUB frequency while zero beating the guys he is working along the way. This technique works quite well, I highly recommend the SUB RX. My SUB has the same filter set as the MAIN. 73 de na6m On 11/21/2010 7:39 PM, Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO wrote: > To all veteran HF CW DXers -- If I were going to get EITHER a KRX3 or a P3 > to make working split pileups more efficient and productive, WHICH should I > invest in first? ______________________________________________________________ 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 ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO
Bill,
By far, I believe that in the long run, if you are interested in working more DX stations running split pileups, the KRX3 will serve you much better than the P3. With the audio of the sub-receiver in your right ear, you will find it easy to identify stations working the DX. You will also be able to determine the tuning pattern they are using. Some DXpedition ops work many callers on the same frequency. Others tune up or down in small frequency increments. Other DX stations randomly tune around after each QSO in a Russian Roulette style. A P3 will help finding activity on a quiet band. On a busy band, it can show you where pileups have developed, but NOT where the station presently being worked is operating. That could happen only if all stations calling the DX would immediately stop transmitting while only the one station being worked transmits solo. If that miracle would happen, a single pip would show up on the P3 screen and you could click on it to move you K3 to that frequency. If you have listened to pileups calling DX stations you know that the chance of that happening is near nil. Once you have determined the working pattern, you can adjust where you place your signal with VFO-B to improve your chances of working that DX station. Much of my success over the years in working DX using split operating can be attributed to placing my 100 Watt signal on the proper frequency, improving my chances of making the QSO. In addition to being able to use the KRX3 for listening to two frequencies at once, there is the ability to listen to weak stations in the diversity mode with separate antennas on each receiver. This can produce amazing results on some signals as their signals fade down and out on the left ear while fading up in into the right ear. The brain can integrate what the left and right ears hear to produce Q5 copy where using either separately would produce fractured copy. Hope that these observations from my frequently using the K3 sub receiver are of some help in making you KRX3 vs. P3 decision. 73, Rich - K1HTV www.qrz.com/db/k1htv = = = -----Original Message----- From: Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO [mailto:[hidden email]] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] ZLX8 - K3 firmware ZL8X is running seven (7) stations concurrently. See their website: http://www.kermadec.de/organisation/equipment/index.php They may be running K3s, but they make no mention on their website of what brand of equipment they are using, and Elecraft is not one of their sponsors (nor are any of the other radio companies -- IKenSu etc.). Worked them on 40 CW this morning with 100W to a non-resonant SWL sloper 15 ft up at the top end. After two hours banging away at the pileup (which was nearly 3 kHz wide, BTW), I was about to give up when I was finally able to find a contact's transmit frequency and tail-end him -- switching back and forth using the RIT button with XIT turned on. This would have been MUCH easier with a P3 or with a KRX3, or both! When each QSO transmission is about 2-3 seconds long, this is really doing it the hard way. But I did it, and I'm in their online log this evening. To all veteran HF CW DXers -- If I were going to get EITHER a KRX3 or a P3 to make working split pileups more efficient and productive, WHICH should I invest in first? Bill W5WVO = = = -----Original Message----- From: Rich - K1HTV Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 01:17 To: 'Johnny Siu' Cc: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] ZLX8 - K3 firmware Hi Johnny, I think you meant ZL8X. I'm sure glad that they are using a K3 on that Dxpedition to Kermadec. They must have been using it on 160 Meters this morning when I worked them. I was running 100 Watts to an Inverted-L from my VA QTH. They were Q5 here on my K3 with the APF turned ON. There is nothing wrong with the APF, but I did notice that when I reduced the RF gain control a bit the copy became better. Must have been hitting the DSP with a bit too much of my local noise. ZL8X on Kermadec Island is K1HTV country #221 with 100 Watts. I can thank having K3 on both ends of the path, as also occurred for my 160M QSO with Dave, KH2/N2NL a few weeks ago. Thank you Elecraft! 73, Rich - K1HTV ______________________________________________________________ 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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If you want to be even more effective for CW pileups, add and
SDR/SKIMMER to the subrx IF output. You can see the calls of the stations in the pileup on a "band map/waterfall" display. IDing the frequency last worked is considerably easier with both KRX-3 audio and the SKIMMER display. Putting VFO B on the frequency last worked is as easy as clicking on the call. 73 de Brian/K3KO On 11/22/2010 12:20, Rich - K1HTV wrote: > Bill, > By far, I believe that in the long run, if you are interested in working > more DX stations running split pileups, the KRX3 will serve you much better than > the P3. With the audio of the sub-receiver in your right ear, you will find it > easy to identify stations working the DX. You will also be able to determine the > tuning pattern they are using. Some DXpedition ops work many callers on the same > frequency. Others tune up or down in small frequency increments. Other DX > stations randomly tune around after each QSO in a Russian Roulette style. > > A P3 will help finding activity on a quiet band. On a busy band, it can show you > where pileups have developed, but NOT where the station presently being worked > is operating. That could happen only if all stations calling the DX would > immediately stop transmitting while only the one station being worked transmits > solo. If that miracle would happen, a single pip would show up on the P3 screen > and you could click on it to move you K3 to that frequency. If you have listened > to pileups calling DX stations you know that the chance of that happening is > near nil. Once you have determined the working pattern, you can adjust where you > place your signal with VFO-B to improve your chances of working that DX station. > Much of my success over the years in working DX using split operating can be > attributed to placing my 100 Watt signal on the proper frequency, improving my > chances of making the QSO. > > In addition to being able to use the KRX3 for listening to two frequencies at > once, there is the ability to listen to weak stations in the diversity mode with > separate antennas on each receiver. This can produce amazing results on some > signals as their signals fade down and out on the left ear while fading up in > into the right ear. The brain can integrate what the left and right ears hear to > produce Q5 copy where using either separately would produce fractured copy. > > Hope that these observations from my frequently using the K3 sub receiver are of > some help in making you KRX3 vs. P3 decision. > > 73, > Rich - K1HTV > www.qrz.com/db/k1htv > > = = = > > -----Original Message----- > From: Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO [mailto:[hidden email]] > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] ZLX8 - K3 firmware > > ZL8X is running seven (7) stations concurrently. See their website: > http://www.kermadec.de/organisation/equipment/index.php > > They may be running K3s, but they make no mention on their website of what brand > of equipment they are using, and Elecraft is not one of their sponsors (nor are > any of the other radio companies -- IKenSu etc.). > > Worked them on 40 CW this morning with 100W to a non-resonant SWL sloper 15 ft > up at the top end. After two hours banging away at the pileup (which was nearly > 3 kHz wide, BTW), I was about to give up when I was finally able to find a > contact's transmit frequency and tail-end him -- switching back and forth using > the RIT button with XIT turned on. This would have been MUCH easier with a P3 or > with a KRX3, or both! When each QSO transmission is about 2-3 seconds long, this > is really doing it the hard way. But I did it, and I'm in their online log this > evening. > > To all veteran HF CW DXers -- If I were going to get EITHER a KRX3 or a P3 to > make working split pileups more efficient and productive, WHICH should I invest > in first? > > Bill W5WVO > > = = = > > -----Original Message----- > From: Rich - K1HTV > Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 01:17 > To: 'Johnny Siu' > Cc: [hidden email] > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] ZLX8 - K3 firmware > > Hi Johnny, > I think you meant ZL8X. I'm sure glad that they are using a K3 on that > Dxpedition to Kermadec. They must have been using it on 160 Meters this morning > when I worked them. I was running 100 Watts to an Inverted-L from my VA QTH. > They were Q5 here on my K3 with the APF turned ON. There is nothing wrong with > the APF, but I did notice that when I reduced the RF gain control a bit the copy > became better. Must have been hitting the DSP with a bit too much of my local > noise. > > ZL8X on Kermadec Island is K1HTV country #221 with 100 Watts. I can thank having > K3 on both ends of the path, as also occurred for my 160M QSO with Dave, > KH2/N2NL a few weeks ago. Thank you Elecraft! > > 73, > Rich - K1HTV > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 10.0.1153 / Virus Database: 424/3270 - Release Date: 11/21/10 > > ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1153 / Virus Database: 424/3271 - Release Date: 11/21/10 ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by k1htv
Rich and Bill,
Contrary to Rich's experience, I have found that the P3 is an outstanding tool for busting pileups. The combination of the KRX3 and P3 is well worth the investment required to have both. I use the P3 all the time to identify which station is being worked in a pile up. If a bunch of other stations are calling out of turn, I don't always finds the station being worked with the P3. But I would estimate that the P3 allows me to visually identify the right station about 70% of the time. I then use the subRX to confirm that the station on the display is indeed working the DX in question. The P3 has allowed me to break many pileups much faster than when using the subRX by itself. Just this last weekend I worked ZL8X on 10 meters largely due to the P3. He was working stations about 3 to 4 kHz up and then worked a station only 1 kHz up from his transmit frequency. I found this station with the P3. The P3 showed a signal pop up well below the main pileup. I quickly turned VFO B to that frequency and heard that station send "tu" in the right ear. ZL8X immediately sent tu in the left ear and I knew that he was now listening below the pileup. I made one call and he immediately came back to me. I would have never heard this station calling so far down from the main pileup if I was using only the subRX. Since getting the P3 this scenario has repeated itself over and over. The combination of visual and audio monitoring of a pileup is a powerful new tool that is only offered by the KRX3 and P3 in combination. I might add that the P3 also allows me to find small openings within a large pileup. I will often reduce the span to +/- 10 kHz in order to have the signals of the pileup sufficiently separated to find an opening for transmitting my call. The P3 also performed unbelievably well during the SS CW test. I used it all the time to move up and down the band -- often finding weaker stations next to louder ones that I could work and also helping me to find openings to call CQ. I use the P3 much more often for busting pileups than I do for just listening to a quite band. Dave, N4QS ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rich - K1HTV" <[hidden email]> To: "'Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO'" <[hidden email]> Cc: <[hidden email]> Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 6:20 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] ZLX8 - K3 firmware > Bill, > By far, I believe that in the long run, if you are interested in > working > more DX stations running split pileups, the KRX3 will serve you much > better than > the P3. With the audio of the sub-receiver in your right ear, you will > find it > easy to identify stations working the DX. You will also be able to > determine the > tuning pattern they are using. Some DXpedition ops work many callers on > the same > frequency. Others tune up or down in small frequency increments. Other DX > stations randomly tune around after each QSO in a Russian Roulette style. > > A P3 will help finding activity on a quiet band. On a busy band, it can > show you > where pileups have developed, but NOT where the station presently being > worked > is operating. That could happen only if all stations calling the DX would > immediately stop transmitting while only the one station being worked > transmits > solo. If that miracle would happen, a single pip would show up on the P3 > screen > and you could click on it to move you K3 to that frequency. If you have > listened > to pileups calling DX stations you know that the chance of that happening > is > near nil. Once you have determined the working pattern, you can adjust > where you > place your signal with VFO-B to improve your chances of working that DX > station. > Much of my success over the years in working DX using split operating can > be > attributed to placing my 100 Watt signal on the proper frequency, > improving my > chances of making the QSO. > > In addition to being able to use the KRX3 for listening to two frequencies > at > once, there is the ability to listen to weak stations in the diversity > mode with > separate antennas on each receiver. This can produce amazing results on > some > signals as their signals fade down and out on the left ear while fading up > in > into the right ear. The brain can integrate what the left and right ears > hear to > produce Q5 copy where using either separately would produce fractured > copy. > > Hope that these observations from my frequently using the K3 sub receiver > are of > some help in making you KRX3 vs. P3 decision. > > 73, > Rich - K1HTV > www.qrz.com/db/k1htv > > = = = > > -----Original Message----- > From: Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO [mailto:[hidden email]] > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] ZLX8 - K3 firmware > > ZL8X is running seven (7) stations concurrently. See their website: > http://www.kermadec.de/organisation/equipment/index.php > > They may be running K3s, but they make no mention on their website of what > brand > of equipment they are using, and Elecraft is not one of their sponsors > (nor are > any of the other radio companies -- IKenSu etc.). > > Worked them on 40 CW this morning with 100W to a non-resonant SWL sloper > 15 ft > up at the top end. After two hours banging away at the pileup (which was > nearly > 3 kHz wide, BTW), I was about to give up when I was finally able to find a > contact's transmit frequency and tail-end him -- switching back and forth > using > the RIT button with XIT turned on. This would have been MUCH easier with a > P3 or > with a KRX3, or both! When each QSO transmission is about 2-3 seconds > long, this > is really doing it the hard way. But I did it, and I'm in their online log > this > evening. > > To all veteran HF CW DXers -- If I were going to get EITHER a KRX3 or a P3 > to > make working split pileups more efficient and productive, WHICH should I > invest > in first? > > Bill W5WVO > > = = = > > -----Original Message----- > From: Rich - K1HTV > Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 01:17 > To: 'Johnny Siu' > Cc: [hidden email] > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] ZLX8 - K3 firmware > > Hi Johnny, > I think you meant ZL8X. I'm sure glad that they are using a K3 on that > Dxpedition to Kermadec. They must have been using it on 160 Meters this > morning > when I worked them. I was running 100 Watts to an Inverted-L from my VA > QTH. > They were Q5 here on my K3 with the APF turned ON. There is nothing wrong > with > the APF, but I did notice that when I reduced the RF gain control a bit > the copy > became better. Must have been hitting the DSP with a bit too much of my > local > noise. > > ZL8X on Kermadec Island is K1HTV country #221 with 100 Watts. I can thank > having > K3 on both ends of the path, as also occurred for my 160M QSO with Dave, > KH2/N2NL a few weeks ago. Thank you Elecraft! > > 73, > Rich - K1HTV > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by Johnny Siu
Rich,
I basically agree with you about adding the KRX3 first, but it would be interesting to see how the P3 works with only one RX and split VFOs. That might still be a pretty potent combination. I am sure others have that setup and it would be interesting to hear some of their comments. I've had my KRX3 so long now, it's hard for me to remember how to use just one RX! Of course, the big plus for the KRX3 is if someone also wants to use diversity RX. Congrats on your 160M DX! I'm been on top band for only a year now and have 73 countries worked. My K3 and P3 sure help on that band as well. APF too! Dave, N4QS ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rich - K1HTV" <[hidden email]> To: "'Dave Perry'" <[hidden email]>; <[hidden email]> Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 8:55 AM Subject: RE: [Elecraft] ZLX8 - K3 firmware > FB Dave, > Having both the KRX3 and P3 sure sounds like the best way to go. I can > see > the advantages of the P3 in catching those times when the DX station > decides to > work the edges of the main pileup and when enough stations stop > transmitting so > you can ID the station being worked. I still think that if I could only > afford > only one of the hardware choices, I'd purchase the KRX3 first, then add > the P3 > later if/when the funds allow. > > Thanks for sharing your real world experiences with the P3. It gives more > food > for thought for those having to make the purchasing decision on these > great > communication tools. > > 73, > Rich - K1HTV > > = = = > > -----Original Message----- > From: Dave Perry [mailto:[hidden email]] > Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 9:44 AM > To: Rich - K1HTV; 'Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO' > Cc: [hidden email] > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] ZLX8 - K3 firmware > > Rich and Bill, > > Contrary to Rich's experience, I have found that the P3 is an outstanding > tool > for busting pileups. The combination of the KRX3 and P3 is well worth the > investment required to have both. I use the P3 all the time to identify > which > station is being worked in a pile up. If a bunch of other stations are > calling > out of turn, I don't always finds the station being worked with the P3. > But I > would estimate that the P3 allows me to visually identify the right > station > about 70% of the time. I then use the subRX to confirm that the station > on the > display is indeed working the DX in question. The P3 has allowed me to > break > many pileups much faster than when using the subRX by itself. > > Just this last weekend I worked ZL8X on 10 meters largely due to the P3. > He was > working stations about 3 to 4 kHz up and then worked a station only 1 kHz > up > from his transmit frequency. I found this station with the P3. The > P3 showed a signal pop up well below the main pileup. I quickly turned > VFO B to > that frequency and heard that station send "tu" in the right ear. ZL8X > immediately sent tu in the left ear and I knew that he was now listening > below > the pileup. I made one call and he immediately came back to me. I would > have > never heard this station calling so far down from the main pileup if I was > using > only the subRX. Since getting the P3 this scenario has repeated itself > over and > over. The combination of visual and audio monitoring of a pileup is a > powerful > new tool that is only offered by the > KRX3 and P3 in combination. > > I might add that the P3 also allows me to find small openings within a > large > pileup. I will often reduce the span to +/- 10 kHz in order to have the > signals > of the pileup sufficiently separated to find an opening for transmitting > my > call. The P3 also performed unbelievably well during the SS CW test. I > used it > all the time to move up and down the band -- often finding weaker stations > next > to louder ones that I could work and also helping me to find openings to > call > CQ. > > I use the P3 much more often for busting pileups than I do for just > listening to > a quite band. > > Dave, N4QS > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Rich - K1HTV" <[hidden email]> > To: "'Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO'" <[hidden email]> > Cc: <[hidden email]> > Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 6:20 AM > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] ZLX8 - K3 firmware > > >> Bill, >> By far, I believe that in the long run, if you are interested in >> working >> more DX stations running split pileups, the KRX3 will serve you much >> better than >> the P3. With the audio of the sub-receiver in your right ear, you will >> find it >> easy to identify stations working the DX. You will also be able to >> determine the >> tuning pattern they are using. Some DXpedition ops work many callers on >> the same >> frequency. Others tune up or down in small frequency increments. Other DX >> stations randomly tune around after each QSO in a Russian Roulette style. >> >> A P3 will help finding activity on a quiet band. On a busy band, it can >> show you >> where pileups have developed, but NOT where the station presently being >> worked >> is operating. That could happen only if all stations calling the DX would >> immediately stop transmitting while only the one station being worked >> transmits >> solo. If that miracle would happen, a single pip would show up on the P3 >> screen >> and you could click on it to move you K3 to that frequency. If you have >> listened >> to pileups calling DX stations you know that the chance of that happening >> is >> near nil. Once you have determined the working pattern, you can adjust >> where you >> place your signal with VFO-B to improve your chances of working that DX >> station. >> Much of my success over the years in working DX using split operating can >> be >> attributed to placing my 100 Watt signal on the proper frequency, >> improving my >> chances of making the QSO. >> >> In addition to being able to use the KRX3 for listening to two >> frequencies >> at >> once, there is the ability to listen to weak stations in the diversity >> mode with >> separate antennas on each receiver. This can produce amazing results on >> some >> signals as their signals fade down and out on the left ear while fading >> up >> in >> into the right ear. The brain can integrate what the left and right ears >> hear to >> produce Q5 copy where using either separately would produce fractured >> copy. >> >> Hope that these observations from my frequently using the K3 sub receiver >> are of >> some help in making you KRX3 vs. P3 decision. >> >> 73, >> Rich - K1HTV >> www.qrz.com/db/k1htv >> >> = = = >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO [mailto:[hidden email]] >> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] ZLX8 - K3 firmware >> >> ZL8X is running seven (7) stations concurrently. See their website: >> http://www.kermadec.de/organisation/equipment/index.php >> >> They may be running K3s, but they make no mention on their website of >> what >> brand >> of equipment they are using, and Elecraft is not one of their sponsors >> (nor are >> any of the other radio companies -- IKenSu etc.). >> >> Worked them on 40 CW this morning with 100W to a non-resonant SWL sloper >> 15 ft >> up at the top end. After two hours banging away at the pileup (which was >> nearly >> 3 kHz wide, BTW), I was about to give up when I was finally able to find >> a >> contact's transmit frequency and tail-end him -- switching back and forth >> using >> the RIT button with XIT turned on. This would have been MUCH easier with >> a >> P3 or >> with a KRX3, or both! When each QSO transmission is about 2-3 seconds >> long, this >> is really doing it the hard way. But I did it, and I'm in their online >> log >> this >> evening. >> >> To all veteran HF CW DXers -- If I were going to get EITHER a KRX3 or a >> P3 >> to >> make working split pileups more efficient and productive, WHICH should I >> invest >> in first? >> >> Bill W5WVO >> >> = = = >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Rich - K1HTV >> Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 01:17 >> To: 'Johnny Siu' >> Cc: [hidden email] >> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] ZLX8 - K3 firmware >> >> Hi Johnny, >> I think you meant ZL8X. I'm sure glad that they are using a K3 on that >> Dxpedition to Kermadec. They must have been using it on 160 Meters this >> morning >> when I worked them. I was running 100 Watts to an Inverted-L from my VA >> QTH. >> They were Q5 here on my K3 with the APF turned ON. There is nothing wrong >> with >> the APF, but I did notice that when I reduced the RF gain control a bit >> the copy >> became better. Must have been hitting the DSP with a bit too much of my >> local >> noise. >> >> ZL8X on Kermadec Island is K1HTV country #221 with 100 Watts. I can thank >> having >> K3 on both ends of the path, as also occurred for my 160M QSO with Dave, >> KH2/N2NL a few weeks ago. Thank you Elecraft! >> >> 73, >> Rich - K1HTV >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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 >> > > > ______________________________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by alsopb
...except there's no such thing as a Sub RX IF output...only a Main RX IF output. The way you do this is to put Sub (VFO B) on the DX station and Main (VFO A) on the pileup. Since the K3 always transmits on VFO A, when you click on Skimmer decoder dots it sends the TX to the station being worked (i.e. "599" and a red dot in the Skimmer waterfall). 73, Bill |
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In reply to this post by Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO
That's a good question!
I believe that the sub RX is the first priority. You have to be able to hear his QSX frequency to know you're transmitting in the right place. The P3 does help to see the signal of the guy who he answered last transmitting. I was able to work ZL8X on two bands today by using the P3's marker functionality to quickly pounce on a position a little up or down from the last signal he worked. Most DX ops that listen off frequency from their TX don't listen in one spot. They move back and forth to avoid the middle of the pile up. When you discover which way he's going to move next, that's when you can nail him ;o) But, alas, a lot of other ops are doing that too... 73, Tom Childers Radio Amateur N5GE Licensed since 1976 QCWA Member 35102 ARRL Life Member On Mon, 22 Nov 2010 01:39:55 -0000, "Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO" <[hidden email]> wrote: [snip] >To all veteran HF CW DXers -- If I were going to get EITHER a KRX3 or a P3 >to make working split pileups more efficient and productive, WHICH should I >invest in first? > >Bill W5WVO > > [snip] ______________________________________________________________ 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
Amateur Radio Operator N5GE
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