[Elecraft] K3 Bandswitching-My experiences to Date

[W6NEK]

Hi Steve,
With LP-PAN, Ham Radio Deluxe and PowerSDR, K3 rig control is indeed "point 
and click"  You can change bands on the K3 buy clicking on the associated 
band buttons in PowerSDR.  In addition, PowerSDR provides 3 band registers 
per band (aka Icom).  You can change modes and frequency by pointing and 
clicking in the panadapter display or you can "click and drag" and watch the 
K3 change frequency.  Any displayed signal in the panadapter that enters the 
"green" vertical column represents the selected passband of the K3 and can 
be heard on the K3 speaker.  To "switch" tuning from PowerSDR to the K3 
requires NO action because rig control is full duplex.  Turn the freq dial 
on the K3 and the PowerSDR panadapter display is updated in real time.  You 
can change bands, modes, etc on the K3 and PowerSDR is updated.  On top of 
all that, PowerSDR is a full featured SDR dual channel receiver.  Connect a 
set of speakers to your computer sound card and you can listen to 3 in-band 
frequencies at once (one on the K3 and two via PowerSDR).  PowerSDR also 
provides variable bandwidth, Noise Reduction, Noise Blanking and popular 
modes on it's built in SDR receiver.  If you already own a shack computer 
for logging, then the addition of LP-PAN and PowerSDR is very worthwhile. 
As you say, it's like having a Flex5000 with a K3 control panel, truly the 
best of both worlds!

LP-PAN: http://www.telepostinc.com/LP-PAN.html
PowerSDR/IF Stage: http://www.wu2x.com/sdr.html#powersdr
Ham Radio Deluxe: http://www.ham-radio-deluxe.com/

We owe a lot to the people who have created the outstanding software 
programs linked above.  Thank you Messer's Scott McClements and Simon Brown! 
And of course Larry Phipps (N8LP) for his LP-PAN hardware.  Let's see, did I 
miss somebody?  Of course, the entire team at Elecraft for designing the K3 
which has brought back the fun in my HAM radio operating!

Best 73,
Frank - W6NEK

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "n4lq" <n4lq at insightbb.com>
To: "David and Dianne on Comcast" <dhhdeh at comcast.net>; 
<elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 6:32 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Bandswitching-My experiences to Date


> Dave: (Another fine LQ)
> I'd still prefer the ICOM/TenTec method of bandswitch but maybe once we 
> get the LP-Pan and PowerSDR running full time, band changing will be 
> 'point and click'. I plan to use a dedicated PC for the K3 and a separate 
> PC for internet and other forms of entertainment. I know many people who 
> have Flex rigs do the same. If this system works as it should, the K3 
> would like using a Flex5000 but with a cw transmitter that works as it 
> should. The LP-PAN should provide even more entertainment as a separate 
> receiver although I'm not sure how one will switch the tuning between the 
> K3 and the PAN. Perhaps this will all come clear once we get these gadgets 
> hooked up.
> Steve Ellington