[Elecraft] Optimized mic ?

[Vic K2VCO]

Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy wrote:

> There is no doubt in my mind that the availability of "plug and play" 
> rigs and the growth of the ham population has increased interference 
> levels from what they were in 1946.

Hello Geoff!

I don't remember the bands in 1946, but I do remember 1956. The 40 meter 
CW band was pretty well-populated in evenings. There were jammers from 
Eastern Europe, etc. And the 'phone bands had hetrodynes from the AM 
carriers.

Today there is much less activity on the CW bands (except during 
contests, when they are packed), but the 'phone bands are usually 
well-populated with SSB.

However, the main thing that has changed is that there are so many more 
sources of man-made noise. In addition to power poles, motors and 
thermostats, etc. -- which we still suffer from -- there are now 
countless digital devices that emit RF. Add to this the ubiquitous cheap 
switching power supplies on things like desk lamps, and you have a big 
increase in noise level.

That's why -- and here I'm getting on topic -- a radio like the K3, 
which has (or will have) a hardware blanker for some kinds of impulse 
noise, an IF DSP blanker for others, a AGC function to reduce the effect 
of pulse-type noises, a DSP noise reduction function, the ability to use 
very narrow bandwidths with minimal ringing, etc. is appropriate for 
today's conditions.

Really a far cry from the "ANL" switch on the AM/CW receivers of 1957!

-- 
73,
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco