Re: K3 output buffer modification

Posted by Bill W4ZV on
URL: http://elecraft.85.s1.nabble.com/K3-output-buffer-modification-tp4262685p4269138.html

Jack Smith-6 wrote

The main reason one might wish to apply the buffer modification to the
K3 instead of cranking up the LP-Pan gain or purchasing one of my Z10000
buffer amplifiers is that a somewhat improved noise figure will result
if the K3's IF output follower loss is reduced. In practice, the
improvement in noise figure is not huge as the overall NF is set mostly
by the early gain stages in the K3.

Another reason to reduce transfer loss inside the K3 is that you're not forced to use the internal PREamplifier to compensate for the loss at IF OUT.  If you enable PRE to get more output to LP-PAN, you potentially risk degrading the dynamic range of the K3 itself by applying more gain than needed to its internal IF chain.

73,  Bill