[Elecraft] K2DSP

[Phil Wheeler]

Mike McCoy wrote:

>My question is this: Since the K2DSP is (by necessity) menu driven I've wondered how quickly one can adjust the settings having to access various menus.
>

Mike,

I built mine yesterday and found myself to be "menu challenged" (e.g., 
could not get the clock to work, so I though I had done something wrong 
-- a reasonable assumption, since I had initially installed the battery 
holder on the wrong side of the PCB and had to "Hakko it").

This morning I went out to the shack, got the clock working and played 
in the menu system .. changing the noise reduction params, etc.  Spent 
maybe 40 minutes at this.

I have a ways to go on this, but I am finding that I am learning to 
navigate the menu system well -- good learning curve.  OTOH, I suspect 
that, once I get all set to my liking (e.g., the default SSB filters 
seem pretty much what I would choose), I can do most of what I want by a 
couple of button pushes or taps.

I owned the Timewave 599ZX a couple of years ago and sold it, since I 
liked my JPS NIR-12 a bit better for my uses.  The Timewave (and NIR-12) 
are easy to adjust, but I far prefer the performance of the KDSP2 in 
terms of filtering and noise reduction.  And I know I will like it 
better as time goes on.  I have used the NIR-12 with my K2, and there is 
no comparison: The KDSP2 wins hands down; the NIR-12 did do a better job 
of heating my shack, though :-)  And the KAF2 will not be missed, 
either; the KDSP2 blows it away.

I've been entranced by DSP for a long time, due to some work in my 
ancient academic past (when it would have taken a computer the size of a 
house to do what a P4 will do today).  So I have tested every ham 
(audio) DSP unit I have been able to get my hands on.  The KDSP2 is the 
best I've come across.  I suspect that it, in combination with the K2's 
excellent xtal filter system, will outdo most so-called IF DSPs on the 
market today.

73, Phil