[Elecraft] K3 SSB average power output

[Toby Deinhardt]

Hallo Mark,

Are you sure that something else might not be wrong or configured 
incorrectly? Are you sure that your measurement of the power levels is 
correct?

There may be some interaction between the WMTR xxx and the TXG VCE 
configurations, leading to low SSB output, but I really, really am not 
sure about this. This evening, while experimenting with TXG VCE gain 
values, the K3 appeared to loose its WMTR HP and/or TX Gain calibrations 
in SSB a couple of times. I ended up with a TXG VCE of +1.0dB.

While Ben, DL6RAI, and I do feel that the speech processing is not quite 
as effective as we would like, and that the average power level is a bit 
on the low side, we have not seen anything like what you are reporting. 
My K3 can and does produce a good quality SSB signal, which could be 
improved (made more effective) for use in some special situations.

A clean "rag chew" modulation, will always show a lowish average power 
because a moderate level of AF gain combined with low levels of 
processing, will cause fairly little change to the natural dynamics of 
speech. The K3, imho, is very good at this, i.e. clean, low distortion 
modulation with an almost natural sounding dynamic range.

Natural sounding modulation is not always what you are looking for in a 
contest situation. If I think in terms of an analog system, I'd really 
like to really overdrive the K3 (gain and processing) and then carefully 
back off to the point where the level of distortion becomes acceptable, 
while maintaining a fairly high average power. The K3 (almost) does not 
allow itself be overdriven, which most of time is a good thing.

This does not, of course, have anything to do with the peak power level, 
which would be the same in the above scenarios.

I would like to point out two final things: We in Bavaria are still 
learning about this radio, so we may be doing the K3 an injustice, and 
because things like speech processing are done with software in the K3, 
the firmware can improve these kinds of aspects.

vy 73 de toby

PS: We are the Bavarian Contest Club and not the Bavarian DX Club...


mark roz wrote:
> With SSB mic level adjusted  to the max level (ALC to
> the max)the average power measured on external meter
> is only 4 Watts with distorted audio (power output set
> at 110W). If I use external compressor the average
> power is still only 4 Watts. This is done with CMP
> gain at zero. This is not normal. Contest or ESSB guys
> will not like that.
> With K3 compression to the max average power is about
> 8 Watts.
> 
> K3 is a great radio but not in the transmit SSB mode.
> If Mic gain is adjusted properly so there is no
> distortion than the average power is even lower.
> 
> I'm sure that this could be improved in firmware.
> If not than K3 would not be that good in the contest
> and Dx -ing on SSB
> Anybody has the same experience?
> I remember that Toby from Bavarian DX Club and some 
> other guy was talking about SSB audio.
> 
> I'm not complaining but I would like to have SSB
> signal comparable to radios like TS850, Ft1000D and so
> on.
> I hope that Elecraft will put this on their agenda.
> 
> Beside that, K3 is superb TRX-the best.
> 
> Mark