[Elecraft] Re: KX1 mixer discussion

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Geoff, GM4ESD, wrote:

A bonus when using a flip-flop is that it can be inhibited by 
noise pulses coming from a "noise receiver" tuned outside of the band when 
you want noise blanking without having to put a noise gate in the main 
signal path which might compromise dynamic range, and the blanker will not 
be affected by in-band signals. Certainly it punches holes in the signal 
like any other blanker, but after almost 10 years of use I am still happy 
with the system.

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An interesting idea for noise blanking, Geoff: turning the L.O. on and off.
But keying an oscillator like that always produces sidebands around the
oscillator frequency. That has its own issues when that oscillator is used
as an L.O. 

I wasn't aware of any dynamic range issues when using a noise blanker. The
big issue I've noticed is the appearance of the inevitable mixing products.
They are not normally a bother, but I have noticed an odd signal from time
to time when using the noise blanker and, sure enough, it disappeared when I
turned the blanker off. 

Ron AC7AC