[Elecraft] Re: Speech Processors

[VR2BrettGraham]

W5YR contributed:

>Brett, not that I am in any position to defend or justify the K2
>compressor design, but  let me say that what they have done is simple,
>inexpensive and remarkably effective for what it is intended: make the
>SSB signal from the K2 have a "punchy" sound. From what I can see, the
>design intent was NOT to provide much if any increase in average r-f
>power output, which as you observe is the case.

Nor was I defending or otherwise the K2's compressor design.  It is what it
is & as processors go, it is a tad pedestrian in how much improvement in
average power it provides.  Bringing the average power level up is what
speech processing is all about.  This is where the "punchy" sound comes
from.

<snip other stuff, including experience with the Comdel>

Again, what is in the K2 is understandable.  More involved RF-based
processing certainly is understandable by its absence.

RF-based processing externally is what the processor I have does.  It is more
for the benefit of others that I describe how it takes AF to RF, clips & 
filters
it, then takes it back to AF, which is then fed into the rig.  Filtering 
the resultant
mess from the clipping is easier at RF.  The result is far more aggressive
improvement in average power than doing it at all at AF.  And has been our 
common
experience, this helps!  ;^)

Decent speech processing is probably worthwhile for the QRP SSB op, as
anything to improve the peak-to-average ratio will greatly help copy on the
other end.  But at the end of the day, is it really worth the effort, cost &
power consumption as you pointed out?

Especially when we have the best way of improving peak-to-average ratio - 
CW?  ;^)

73, VR2BrettGraham