[Elecraft] Noise Blanker

[ZD]

The results  when using the Noise blanker has been mixed for me. I dont 
have any luck with nearby electric  fences. I always need to use the Low 
Threshold  since the pulse levels are low. Sometimes it works sometimes 
it does not. I have the same mixed results on power line noise when the 
noise is aggressive and strong it works well. However  it requires a 
specific level and type of noise to achieve the spectacular results 
some  have demonstrated and reported.  I am also disappointed that  
noise blanker does not work very well on rain static. Equally surprising 
is that the noise blanker works on some types of ignition noise and wont 
work on others. I would have thought that 2 stroke noise from motorbikes 
and  farm machinery would have been a easy task for this noise blanker, 
not so. Again there is nothing wrong with my noise blanker. Every time i 
think its broke and i turn it off i am shocked  at what i am hearing! So 
when it works it does work.

I have compared it to several other radios. One radio in particular the 
TS830S has  one of the most amazing all round  noise blankers. All the 
noise the Elecraft noise blanker struggles on the TS830S noise blanker 
will handle on the low threshold setting. The same results can be had on 
my FT1000D, my mobile TS480 also handles the noise in a more able 
manner. The TS830S's noise blanker is a killer on rain static on a yagi, 
the K2's struggles to cope in comparison.

My view is that the noise blanker needs a continuously variable 
threshold  control, likewise a  variable pulse width. Changing component 
values is just not a reality with noise appearing and disappearing. But 
i think we will have to wait for the K3, for fixes!

Craig
VK3HE