[Elecraft] K3 Buffer Mod

[Richard Ferch]

I am scratching my head wondering whether any of this applies to the LP-PAN,
or whether it is only relevant to other panadaptors such as the Softrock and
the Z90.

K8ZOA's web page (the same one everyone is quoting) says:

"I looked at two potential panadapters; a Softrock and my Z90.
(Telepostinc's LP-PAN has a built-in amplifier to overcome the transfer gain
problem.)"

and in the recommendations near the bottom of the page, refering to the mod,


"These steps are not necessary with an LP-PAN panadapter as it has a
built-in isolation amplifier."

That same web page also suggests that an alternative to the mod would be to
use an external buffer amplifier.

So, I have two questions:

1. Is the mod necessary with the LP-PAN, or is it only needed with other
panadapters? That is, is the noise figure of the LP-PAN's internal amplifier
sufficient, or is the mod to the K3 required to lift weak signals above the
noise floor of the LP-PAN?

2. Would the external buffer amplifier solution be a viable alternative to
the mod?

73,
Rich VE3KI