[Elecraft] Noise Blanker Option

[Tom Hammond]

Dave:

>Can anyone tell me how effective the NB option is?  Is it a vital option 
>for most people?

For an audio (.WAV file) demonstration of the noise blanker doing its job, 
download the sample file on my web site:

   http://home.earthlink.net/~n0ss

Once at the home page, click on the link to the DOWNLOAD page (at the 
bottom of the home page). At the download page, drop down to the FIRST 
offering below the heading "K2-Related Files". This is an 841kB WAV file of 
a recording I made a while back to demonstrate the effectiveness of the KNB2.

PLEASE NOTE that the KNB2 is effective only on short-duration noise spikes, 
such as that which might come from power lines, spark plugs, some kitchen 
appliances, electric fencers, etc. It is NOT effective on atmospheric 
static from lightning, etc. Additionally, the noise must be of a signal 
level sufficient to be able to trigger the NB to operate. The K2 is so darn 
quiet (with regard to background noise) that some noises (even though of 
the required type) cannot be blanked because they are still much too low to 
allow the NB to trigger on them.

The Elecraft KNB2 is probably one of the MOST effective NBs I've ever used, 
BUT it's not infallible.

Now, is the NB 'vital'?  Good question. Probably not for most of us. BUT 
there will be times when just about all of us will either use, or wish we 
had, the NB. There will be times when it can, and will, save a QSO. And, 
there will be times when NOTHING will save the QSO.

73,

Tom Hammond   N0SS