[Elecraft] K3: listening to both rcvrs

Sun Nov 16 13:44:31 EST 2008

Mixing BOTH receivers into BOTH ears is not the same and is simply 
summing the noise, effectively erasing the advantage of the DX operating 
a split frequency!

I can't speak for SO2R contest operation but I've been using a dual 
receiver setup for DXing for many years. I initially used separate 
receivers and an external audio mixer, replaced by a TS-950SDX, followed 
by an Orion and now the K3. The 950 and Orion both allow a mix of the 
main receiver in BOTH ears while maintaining the sub ONLY in the right 
ear. I USED THEM THIS WAY!

My mental image of this setup is of having the DX station in the "middle 
of my head" while the pileup remains "outside of my head" (only on the 
right side). Having the bedlam of the pileup "outside of my head" makes 
it easier to ignore this "noise" at the times when I am concentrating on 
the DX station's transmissions. There is much less need to actually 
decipher signals in the pileup but only to recognize that you are 
listening to the station that the DX is currently working as you are 
hunting for his current QSX frequency. I found this feature to greatly 
improve my ability to decipher a weak DX station while simultaneously 
following the bedlam of the (split frequency) pileup. As I recall, the 
950 also allowed the main to mix at a reduced level into the other ear 
which didn't "center" the primary receiver in my head but still enhanced 
the ease of copy.

Using the K3 is great since the second Rx is the same quality as the 
primary Rx, unlike my previous two radios. Their secondary receivers 
were inferior to their main and prone to numerous distortion products 
which made the pileup bedlam even worse. Since getting the K3 second Rx, 
I've been trying to retrain my brain to copy the DX station by using 
just my left ear (signal outside of my head) but it's obviously not as 
easy as when the copy signal is in the "middle of my head". If code 
space permits, it would be really great if the K3 did this function 
internally as a user option. Obviously, Kenwood and TenTec also found 
this feature desirable. Otherwise, I will probably just build an 
external mixer box with headphone amp so I can get the primary signal 
centered in my head again.

Thanks to Elecraft for an already superb radio!

...Mike

Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:
> If you must pollute the audio from one receiver with audio 
> from the other receiver, add a 5 to 10K pot between the tip 
> and the ring of your headphones and adjust it for the level 
> of pollution you need.  
>
> There is no need for Wayne (or probably Lyle) to design 
> crosstalk into the DSP process. 
>
> 73, 
>
>    ... Joe, W4TV 
>  
>
>
>
>   
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
>> [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of cloud runner
>> Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2008 11:03 AM
>> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>> Subject: [Elecraft] K3: listening to both rcvrs
>>
>>
>> for what it may be worth...
>>
>> For my pair-of-K2's in SO2R, I have routed the audio in such 
>> a way that I have a balance control with the audio from the 
>> two radios.  I call it a mixing control.  I find that 
>> "optimum" is achieved when the full strength audio is in one 
>> ear, and that same audio is present, but weak in the other 
>> ear.  I reason that when the audio goes to one ear only, the 
>> content must get to the other hemisphere of the brain within 
>> brain circuitry.  When it is routed to both ears, now both 
>> hemispheres get the information for interpretation at the 
>> same time.  Making it strong in one ear and weak in the 
>> other, reversed for the other channel, lets me know which 
>> rcvr I am hearing, while brain interpretation is at full speed.
>>
>> and so, Wayne...
>>
>> I think that there must be a firmware way either by routing 
>> to a panel pot, or probably more simply in a menu, by which 
>> the operator can select either complete channel isolation, or 
>> both channels to both ears, but with one ear X DB down from 
>> the other.  (I can't say how much down is best,but I find 
>> that it is enough when I can barely notice it.  All of a 
>> sudden copy is MUCH easier).  Give it a thought because of 
>> the above, I, at least, am quite convinced after a lot of 
>> usage with a pair of K2's in SO2R, that is a much better 
>> arrangement for copying CW from the two channels.
>>
>> with much appreciation for this fine radio,
>>
>> 73,  Fd - KT5X
>>
>> K2 # 0700
>> K3 # 0144
>>
>>     
>
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