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K3/KX3 Operating Tip: APF (audio peaking filter) for weak-signal CW work

Posted by wayne burdick on Jun 26, 2012; 6:19pm
URL: http://elecraft.85.s1.nabble.com/K3-KX3-Operating-Tip-APF-audio-peaking-filter-for-weak-signal-CW-work-tp7558208.html

Both the K3 and KX3 have an APF control (audio peaking filter). APF  
can be extremely effective when you're trying to copy weak CW signals  
buried in noise.

Most DSP filters have very steep skirts; they're often referred to as  
"brick-wall" filters for this reason. This is the type of filtering  
associated with the WIDTH control (K3) or PBT control (KX3).

In contrast, the APF is a filter with a very narrow peak (about 30 Hz  
at the -3 dB points) and very broad skirts. The narrow peak brings up  
the signal amplitude slightly, while the broad skirts prevent noise  
from being amplified and delayed in such a way as to dominate the  
signal. The APF function used in the K3 and KX3 is a modern DSP  
reinterpretation of the hardware APF circuit found on some legacy  
transceivers, which was very effective.

On the KX3, the APF switch is labeled "APF" (tap), while on the K3,  
it's labeled "DUAL PB" (hold). The K3 actually provides two different  
special filter functions; use the DUAL PB menu entry to set up the  
switch for APF.

When you turn on APF, the DSP graphic changes to remind you of the  
nature of APF, with its narrow peak and broad skirts.

I suggest setting the passband width to about 250-300 Hz when using  
APF. The DSP graphic still shows an approximate representation of the  
width even with APF turned on.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

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