[Elecraft] K2 - QSK

Thu Nov 27 12:55:00 2003

That's an excellent point Tony.=20

I think the issue is that we need specifications for what "QSK" is to
different ops. Way back "when", few hams knew what the sensitivity or =
band
pass of their receivers were either. We sort of "compared" by ear.=20

So, perhaps QSK has "grown up" and now needs to be defined as the number =
of
mS from tx to rx at full sensitivity in order for the term to have any
useful meaning to various ops.=20

Like most things, QSK involves trade-offs that cost performance in other
areas or that cost more money. Ops looking for gear to meet their =
personal
requirements want to know what they are getting that is important to =
them
and what isn't.=20

And builders/tinkerers who want to improve on the state of the art need =
to
know when they've succeeded.=20

Both of those needs are met with objective, qualitative analysis rather =
than
subjective reports.

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] =
[mailto:[email protected]]
On Behalf Of N2TK
Sent: Thursday, November 27, 2003 4:06 AM
To: 'Elecraft (E-mail)'
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] K2 - QSK

Well Ron, I would not consider the K2 to have great QSK. Even my =
TS950SDX
doesn't have great QSK. It has very good QSK. I can tell when someone is
transmitting between CW elements at the speeds I operate at (25-30WPM). =
Good
QSK is very nice when you are trying to work DX, especially when they =
are
operating split. If you can hear between elements, you can tell when the =
DX
station is coming back to someone. Then you can stop transmitting to =
hear
whom the DX is coming back to.

I would consider exceptional or great QSK to be able to clearly hear =
between
elements with no thumping and zero recovery time at speeds somewhat =
higher
than 30WPM. I haven't played with any ham radio that does that, yet.

Maybe this comes up a lot because of statements by some that the K2 does
have great QSK, then those used to great QSK find out that it doesn't =
have
great QSK. I am trying to find out if anyone has had experience with =
making
any changes to the K2 to improve the QSK. And one thing that has been =
real
obvious on this reflector is the ideas and mods made to continually =
improve
the K2.

73,
N2TK, Tony
#3481