Login  Register

K2, Audio Hiss

Posted by Howard W. Ashcraft on Mar 17, 2006; 6:02pm
URL: http://elecraft.85.s1.nabble.com/K2-Audio-Hiss-tp387704.html

I was listening to 40 meters late last night (virtually no one there so
I had some time to fool around with the rig) and noticed the level of
audio hiss in the K2.  With RF gain off completely and AF gain fully
advanced, there is a fair amount of hiss.  This is also noticeable at
operating levels and is a distraction from listening to weak signals.
(obviously the operating af gain is set much lower and the hiss is also
less obvious.  Since I usually use a very good set of in ear buds, I
normally have the AF gain way down)

All audio amps will create hiss at some gain level because you are
amplifying noise that is inherent in the components.  But I'm wondering
if anyone has tried to mod the K2 to create a quieter audio amp?  This
appears to be an areas where some improvement is possible and it would
make the K2 more pleasurable to use and weak signals more easily heard.
I seem to recall from way back that we used to mod Dynaco stereo preamps
by replacing carbon resistors with low noise equivalents (usually wire
wound at the time) replacing potentiometers with gang switched low noise
resistors, etc.  Some semiconductors and ICs also have low noise
equivalents.

73
Howard Ashcraft
W1WF




*****************************
This communication, including any attachments, is confidential and may be protected by privilege.  If you are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited.  If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify the sender by telephone or email, and permanently delete all copies, electronic or other, you may have.

To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, we inform you that any tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

The foregoing applies even if this notice is imbedded in a message that is forwarded or attached.
*****************************

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
 http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft   

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com