[Elecraft] DSP value?

[Andrew Catanzaro]

All those people who write about the limited utility of an audio
DSP unit compared to the KAF2 have a point.  I've had Timewave's
best DSP filter hung on the output of my K2 and the only DSP
function I've used is the autonotch about five times since October.
The analog filter in the K2 is more than adequate for huge CW pileups where
I have
been the DX (PJ4/W9NJY), and I haven't found digital noise reduction to
improve intelligibility on
SSB.  I have my K2 SSB filters set with different IF bandpass frequencies
so it operates like passband tuning, and that arrangement works
well.  The word "digital" in ham radio is like the word "laser" in
medicine.  It's a marketing tool that sells products and services.
The best thing about the Timewave is that it accepts inputs from
two rigs and outputs tons of audio to one speaker and the headphone jack all
at the same time.  I never have to worry about wearing out the headphone
jack on the K2.  Headphones are absolutely necessary for good
CW copy because putting the source of the CW at the ear eliminates
multipart distortion that causes the brain to work overtime in
copying even in-the-clear signals.  So when I hear something on the
speaker I want to hear better, I just put the cans on my head.  I leave
the filtering wide-open on the TimeWave and use the KAF2 when needed.
It's a great filter that doesn't ring, and there's no digital bandwidth
that's
narrower that's more useful!

Andy W9NJY
Milwaukee WI