[Elecraft] K3 SSB

[Bill Coleman]

On Jun 22, 2007, at 11:47 AM, Kenneth E. Harker wrote:

> Most desktop size HF radios allow at least 10 Hz tuning resolution at
> 10 kHz per knob revolution (that's what the Yaesu FT-1000MP does, for
> example).  With the K2, you can get a 10 kHz per knob revolution at  
> 100 Hz
> tuning, or 10 Hz tuning at just 1 kHz per knob revolution.

Nope. It's 5 kHz per knob revolution. While you can only see 100 Hz  
on the display, the radio is actually tuning in 50 Hz steps. There's  
no way to select 100 Hz steps.

My ancient TS-430S does 9.6 kHz per revolution (960 10 Hz steps). An  
old FT-101 does about 15 kHz per revolution.

So, if 10-15 kHz per revolution is OK for these rigs with 2" diameter  
knobs, what's wrong with 5 kHz / revolution on the K2, with it's much  
smaller knob? It seems like about the same rate.

> ... and having to turn the tuning dial
> three or four complete revolutions to get to the next station up or  
> down
> the band is also not going to work.

With the 50 Hz tuning rate, you have to turn the knob about 1/2 a  
turn to go to the next slot. On other radios, you'd turn it about 1/4  
a turn, of a much larger knob.

> I've tried replacing the optical encoder in the K2 with one that is  
> higher
> resolution.  If you go with one that has four times as many steps per
> revolution as the stock encoder, you can have 10 Hz tuning  
> resolution and
> get 4 KHz per knob revolution.

Why not go with one that has twice as many steps and use 50 Hz steps  
-- that would be 10 kHz / revolution.

> I think an audio monitor is invaluable to a phone contester.  You can
> always tell when your signal sounds OK and when it might be getting
> rough due to unforeseen RF getting in the mic lines, some  
> unexpected ground
> loop problem, etc.  When doing SO2R with a voice keyer, it's extremely
> helpful to know what you're transmitting so you can judge the  
> timing of
> your second radio activity.

When I first did SO2R, it was at W4AN's (SK) mountaintop  
superstation. Bill's advice to me was to turn the monitor all the way  
down on the IC-761 main radio. I indicated that I preferred to hear  
the monitor. During the course of the contest, I kept turning the  
monitor down and down. By about the sixth hour of the contest, I had  
it all the way off. He was right.

Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr at arrl.net
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
             -- Wilbur Wright, 1901