[Elecraft] K3: SSB - WPX - Filters - Controls

[mark roz]

I have made 700 QSO's in WPX SSB contest(part time). I have also tried different adjustment on the K3 including RX EQ.

I have to say the same thing "It seemed I was always fighting some sort of side band splatter or stations close in on the frequency".

Splatter is always in the contest but not as pronounced as with K3.
I don't know if it is the freq. response or something else with DSP.
I was so tired after few hundred QSO's. I have switched to TS930S.
With TS930s it was much better. Signals were much cleaner more dynamic
and the splatter not as offending as with K3.
I have 2.7kHz filter in my K3.

I like K3 very much in CW CONTEST but don't like in SSB contest at all.

Also, for some reason the output power from the K3 was fluctuating in time.
I had to keep adjusting PWR. My alpha 87A was showing 1500W PEP and than about 900W and so on. Than after 10 second or so again 1500W.
Looked to me like ALC action in the K3 was not always the same. I don't connect ALC to the amp. Same thing when I switched to IC-4KL amp.

Mark






 
  



  


--- On Mon, 3/31/08, Lee Buller <k0wa at swbell.net> wrote:

> From: Lee Buller <k0wa at swbell.net>
> Subject: [Elecraft] K3:  SSB - WPX - Filters - Controls
> To: "Elecraft Reflector" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
> Date: Monday, March 31, 2008, 6:31 AM
> I would like to make a few comments and ask some questions. 
> This is by no means a put-down of the the K3, because I am
> not sure I am operating the rig correctly.  After all it is
> a SDR and it is new.
> 
> During my first foray into SSB Contesting with the K3
> during WPX, I found that I need either:
> 
> 1.  Understand more about the DSP and the controls for BW,
> Hcut and Lcut
> 
> 2.  Obtain a narrower roofing filter for SSB - like a 1.8
> Khz filter
> 
> 3.  Or both.
> 
> I spent some time trying to find the sweet spot in the
> radio for SSB using the 2.8 Khz filter.  I don't think
> I found it.  At least, I am not satisfied.
> 
> I tried narrowing up the filter bandwidth to 2.4 or
> 2.2....some times 1.8.  
> I tried shifting it up and down the bandpass.
> I tried to use High Cut and Low Cut depending on where the
> offending signal was coming from.  
> AGC was on Slow with the standard settings.
> Used the RIT a lot
> 
> It seemed I was always fighting some sort of side band
> splatter or stations close in on the frequency.  Maybe it
> was just a crowded 20 meter band, but the same things
> happened on 40 meters.
> 
> Do I need to go to a 1.8 Khz filter to give the DSP a
> break?  
> Do I need to understand and play with the RX more to make
> sure I am doing it right.
> 
> I would like to some feedback and comments on how other
> people set up their K3s for SSB contesting.
> 
> I want to learn more about this radio.
> 
> Lee - K0WA
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short
> supply.  If you don't have any Common Sense - get some
> Common Sense and use it.  If you can't find any Common
> Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some Common
> Sense.  Is Common Sense divine?
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