[Elecraft] K3 Firmware 2.19

[K2ZLS]

Hi Roy:

   The latest revision of FW seems to have contributed greatly to the 
versatility of the K3.  Lyle doesn't say much, but when he does you 
better listen good.  The latest offering, IMHO, gives the K3 owner more 
choices than any other transceiver.  Yes, some things seem to have 
changed with this release, but I'm not one to sit back and complain.  I 
have learned so much more about the capabilities of this radio by going 
in and experimenting with all the parameters. 

    I have found that I like  AGC THR= 2-8 (7)  and AGC SLP = 0-15 
(8).   The THR setting seems to have lower amplification at 2 and 
progressively increases as you go up to 8.  With SLP the amplification 
seems greater at 0 and gets less at 15 but, the relative difference 
between weak and strong stations becomes flatter. This is where all the 
controversy seems to occur because various band conditions throughout 
the world will dictate different settings.  Everyone has different 
preferences and this is what makes the K3 such a powerful radio.  One 
cannot sit back on the defaults and then complain because one station is 
so much louder than another.  The band condx lately have been up and 
down constantly.  I have varied the settings going from 20 to 75, but 
not all the time.  I think everyone seems to agree that experimentation 
is the best teacher.

   A note on the NR parameter.  I found that the NR setting of 1-4 works 
for me.  The AF volume control has big effect on NR.   Try setting the 
CONFIG: AF GAIN   LO.   What this does is allows you to increase the 
rotation of the AF GAIN control to a higher setting which seems to 
control the NR audio much better.  It also seems to make the audio much 
clearer and easier to listen to (less distortion).  My control is 
usually at 10 o'clock to 12 o'clock for best listening.

   73's   Tony  K2ZLS
            K3 #703  FW=2.19