[Elecraft] Question about KNB2 Noise Blanker

[Marinos Markomanolakis, M.D.]

I do have to agree with the comments for the NB in the K2. I do have power 
line noise in my QTH which seems to be unaffected by the K2NB, especially 
when it falls below an S9 level, which sometimes can be the limiting factor 
in completing a QSO.
The majority of the time I have to engage the Preamp in order for the K2NB 
to start detecting the pulses, and at that level of Rx gain, the receiver 
may become overloaded by nearby strong signals if present.

>From all other rigs that have come here at different times, only the NB in a 
TT Corsair 560 used to behave in a similar way.
In order of NB function, the best rigs I have tried so far are TS830, 930 
and Drake TR7.

For a receiver of the K2 caliber, I believe, it is worth every penny and 
construction effort, even if it means incorporating a "pre-made" surface 
mount module for the NB in order to improve on the NB area which seems to be 
suboptimal.
For example an "expensive and/or difficult to build" but optimized NB module 
will be FAR more desirable and effective feature in a real world Rx 
performance improvement rather than a similar DSP module that is already 
available from Elecraft.

These are my $.02 opinion about the NB, which may be the only area that 
needs some improvement in a radio that has no equal in the market today. And 
can definitely make a difference for people wanting to have a K2 as their 
only/main rig in a urban QTH....as most of us live.

73,
Marinos, ki4gin