[Elecraft] softrock with K3

[Lyle Johnson]

> Any recommendations for a "high-reverse isolation buffer" circuit?

No.

I just want people to be aware that the I.F OUT jack is exactly that: 
and I.F. *OUT* jack.  All bets are off if you inject a signal into this 
connector.

Keep in mind that the Softrock is a $12-class receiver, not a $500 class 
one, so you cannot assume that it has much L.O. suppression at its 
antenna jack.  People get so excited by the concept of a cheap receiver 
for their PC, and by the "software defined" mantra, that they overlook 
the fact that $12 hardware is, after all, $12 hardware.  It *admirably* 
serves its purpose of introducing people to what can be done with DSP, 
and Tony and associates have done a wonderful thing to make this 
available to the Amateur radio community.

But adding a spectrum monitor to the K3 is a systems design exercise, 
and you need to be aware of the limitations of the system components, 
including the I.F. OUT jack of the K3 :-)

I suggest a careful, thoughtful reading of Larry's notes < 
URL:http://www.telepostinc.com/K3pan.html > as he approaches the 
addition of a panadapter to his K3.  There are a number of issues which 
he addresses.

73,

Lyle kK7P