Scanning and channel hopping question...

Posted by WD4SDC on Dec 05, 2014; 11:32pm
URL: http://elecraft.85.s1.nabble.com/Scanning-and-channel-hopping-question-tp7595522.html

Hi All,

I've been gathering information on the scanning feature of the KX3 (not an owner......yet - VERY tempting).
I have the basics - VFO scan, channel hopping, live scan, muted scan, the rules for channel hopping.
I found this:

"Scanning while muted (normal scanning mode)
allows the K3 to ignore stable carriers, unmuting
only when "interesting" signals are found."

...from the K3 manual - which appears to be a close DSP cousin to the KX3, and I've also found some scattered bits about the KX3 that refers to stopping when a "modulated signal" is found.  So, what exactly triggers a stop scan?  It seems to be a bit more sophisticated then just an S meter threshold - maybe using the AFV measurement?.  Is the scan signal detection done after signal processing like noise blanking, noise reduction, notch, etc?  That would make it REALLY good at scanning HF !

After scan stops on a signal, does it pause until the signal stops, or does it continue after some fixed time?

What is the scan (hopping) rate.  I see that in VFO scan you can make it effectively slow or fast by changing the increment step - , but in channel hop, the "increment" is one hop - just not clear on the hops per second.

And finally....how does the scanning stop/resume sequence work?
When a signal is detected, the scanning pauses for some interval, then resumes when the signal stops? Or after a time interval if the signal is still there it continues scanning until it hits the active channel again?

I know these are very narrow questions about a radio that has a LOT of capabilities, and maybe I'm the only guy that wants to know this....but at least if I ask it here, then the one other person that may be looking will find it here;)  I've used (channel) scanning on HF quite a bit.  Very useful now that VFOs are rock solid and tune in milliseconds.

Thanks to all on the site for LOTS of other very useful questions/answers/ideas.

Steve
WD4SDC