considering K3 purchase; choosing filters

[Richard Lee]

Hello all,

I'd appreciate some advice as to several matters of interest as I seriously
consider purchase of a K3. I have posted on and looked at the K3 Yahoo site
in
this regard as well as gotten some suggestions from other K3 owners. I am
presently using an Omni 6+, a US Interface Navigator, and an old AL-80A amp.
I operate almost exclusively cw, and enjoy some contesting. I very
occasionally like to dabble in SSB contests. I also occasionally work some
PSK31. I like N1MM, HRD, and the DX Lab suite. I am about to switch to Win7
64 bit OS.

First, I cannot afford the second RX. (I am not a 'big gun' contester
anyhow,
and am not presently interested in contesting with two receivers.) I was
contemplating the following EIGHT-pole filters: 2.8, 1.8 (or 1.5), 1.0 (or
maybe not if I got the 1.5), .5 (or .4), and .25. I have heard from some
that the 1.8 or 1.5 does just fine for SSB contesting (particularly in
conjunction with the high cut or SHIFT). Unless I'm mistaken, both these
filters are spec'd at 1.6 : 1 shape factor. I must say I am a bit worried
about the 1.5, especially, as being too narrow for good intelligibility.
However, if I opted for the 1.5, I might forego the 1.0 (which I
contemplated using for casual cw operation) and save some money. I've been
persuaded by comments on the Yahoo K3 group site that the EIGHT-pole 400 and
250 Hz filters are so close in bandwidth that it makes little sense to get
both. I have thus been considering the Inrad EIGHT-pole 500 Hz filter and
the EIGHT-pole 250 Hz filter. I like to run in cw contests when I can (40 is
my favorite band), and I find I am bothered sometimes by strong stations
starting up several hundred Hz from my established run frequency. As to the
.5 Inrad filter, does anyone know whether that comes with the exact same
board as Elecraft uses for, say, the 400 Hz filter? I appreciate your
advice.

On another topic, my computer has a com port, but no sound card (rather a
VIA
VT2010 chip on the motherboard); I was under the impression that I could
dispense with the Navigator for interfacing the K3 with the computer and the
software I like to use (as detailed above). Am I right about this? or will I
need (or benefit from continuing) to use my Navigator?

Thanks for any input/ comments.

73,
-Rich, W2EG


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[KK7P]

  To use the K3 with a computer for digital modes, the computer must
either have sound provisions (line in and line out) or you must add  
sound card.  Your Navigator is a sound card.  It also provides FSK for
RTTY operation, and a Winkey keyer for CW.

Depending on the capability of the associated software programs and how
you use them, you may or may not require, prefer or use these Navigator
features.  If not, then you don't need to use the Navigator with the K3.

73,

Lyle KK7P

> On another topic, my computer has a com port, but no sound card (rather a
> VIA
> VT2010 chip on the motherboard); I was under the impression that I could
> dispense with the Navigator for interfacing the K3 with the computer and the
> software I like to use (as detailed above). Am I right about this? or will I
> need (or benefit from continuing) to use my Navigator?

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[Jack Brabham KZ5A]

  Rich,

I have similar use profile on my K3,   except I contest mostly on SSB
and am trying to learn the ropes on RTTY in the interest getting into
digital contesting.

On mine, K3 #4165, I have the 6kc mostly because I like to do a little
SWLing, the 2.7 because so far I haven't justified the expense of
upgrading it to the 2.8, and the 1.8.   For me, with poor hearing at
high frequencies, the 1.8 seems to be a perfectly good day to day SSB
filter.  My TS-850 had intelligibility issues with 1.8's in both IFs but
on the K3 this filter  works just fine for general purpose SSB.   For my
purposes I would like to trade it for a 1.5 since I find the
intelligibility still good with the DSP cranked down to 1.5.

I haven't bought digital filters yet but am pretty much settled on the 8
pole 500 and 8 pole 250 from INRAD.   Some of the digital modes I dabble
in are 500hz wide so that pretty much rules out the 400 ( besides being
too close to the 250).

The 1.0 seems like an orphan, it's too wide for any digital contesting
and to narrow for SSB.   For casual digital usage the stock 2.7 with the
DSP narrowed to suit is more than adequate.  I sometimes use the 6kc
filter and get 4kc on the waterfall for PSK browsing.

73 Jack KZ5A


On 9/7/2010 2:33 PM, Richard Lee wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> I'd appreciate some advice as to several matters of interest as I seriously
> consider purchase of a K3. I have posted on and looked at the K3 Yahoo site
> in
> this regard as well as gotten some suggestions from other K3 owners. I am
> presently using an Omni 6+, a US Interface Navigator, and an old AL-80A amp.
> I operate almost exclusively cw, and enjoy some contesting. I very
> occasionally like to dabble in SSB contests. I also occasionally work some
> PSK31. I like N1MM, HRD, and the DX Lab suite. I am about to switch to Win7
> 64 bit OS.
>
> First, I cannot afford the second RX. (I am not a 'big gun' contester
> anyhow,
> and am not presently interested in contesting with two receivers.) I was
> contemplating the following EIGHT-pole filters: 2.8, 1.8 (or 1.5), 1.0 (or
> maybe not if I got the 1.5), .5 (or .4), and .25. I have heard from some
> that the 1.8 or 1.5 does just fine for SSB contesting (particularly in
> conjunction with the high cut or SHIFT). Unless I'm mistaken, both these
> filters are spec'd at 1.6 : 1 shape factor. I must say I am a bit worried
> about the 1.5, especially, as being too narrow for good intelligibility.
> However, if I opted for the 1.5, I might forego the 1.0 (which I
> contemplated using for casual cw operation) and save some money. I've been
> persuaded by comments on the Yahoo K3 group site that the EIGHT-pole 400 and
> 250 Hz filters are so close in bandwidth that it makes little sense to get
> both. I have thus been considering the Inrad EIGHT-pole 500 Hz filter and
> the EIGHT-pole 250 Hz filter. I like to run in cw contests when I can (40 is
> my favorite band), and I find I am bothered sometimes by strong stations
> starting up several hundred Hz from my established run frequency. As to the
> .5 Inrad filter, does anyone know whether that comes with the exact same
> board as Elecraft uses for, say, the 400 Hz filter? I appreciate your
> advice.
>
> On another topic, my computer has a com port, but no sound card (rather a
> VIA
> VT2010 chip on the motherboard); I was under the impression that I could
> dispense with the Navigator for interfacing the K3 with the computer and the
> software I like to use (as detailed above). Am I right about this? or will I
> need (or benefit from continuing) to use my Navigator?
>
> Thanks for any input/ comments.
>
> 73,
> -Rich, W2EG
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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