[Elecraft] FW: [Moon-net] Elecraft K2 IF for EME

[Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy]

Hi Tony,

Although I have not worked EME but only listened to signals reflected by the 
moon, since the late 1950s I have been involved in weak signal work on 6m - 
including a project (from Canada) in the late '60s to work crossband 6m / 4m 
across the Atlantic. From this, if I was going to use the K2 as an IF two 
considerations come to mind. (1) The internal spurii of the K2's receiver. 
It is possible that adequate gain in the converter would put many of these 
below the system's noise floor, but certainly not the birdie around 14.360 
MHz. Too much converter gain breeds other problems as you appreciate. (2) 
The ripple exhibited by the K2's IF filter which IMHO is a bit too large in 
my K2 #3255 for weak signal work.

The converter's IF block should also exhibit good selectivity to avoid the 
possible introduction of noise at the K2's image frequency. I have not 
checked this on 20m.  On 40m a higher order response of the K2 sometimes 
gives me trouble with BC stations below the band.

73,
Geoff
GM4ESD


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lanier, Robert" <rlanier at harris.com>
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2006 9:42 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] FW: [Moon-net] Elecraft K2 IF for EME



Hi everyone,

I am forwarding this partial email thread from the Moon-net list to
everyone here on the Elecraft list in hopes to generate a good
discussion (not a flame war!) on the use of the K2 for weak signal use.
I would appreciate hearing all responses to this subject because I was
considering using the K2 (or maybe the K3?) for weak signal work
someday. What are the major strengths/weaknesses of the K2 in this area,
and what can be done to improve this.

There are some very knowledgable people on this list and your experience
in this area would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Tony   K4YYZ