[Elecraft] K3 SSB is it really better

[Andrew Faber]

Rich,
  I've used the K3 in both SSB and CW contests from P49Y.  SSB works great, 
in part because it retains very good intelligibility when cranked down 
pretty narrow (i.e., below 2.0 kHz).  It seems to work better to use the Hi 
and Lo mode instead of Shift and Width.
  OTOH, for CW, the rx is really great because of the ability to disregard 
strong adjacent signals.  While that performance capability exists in SSB 
also, in a contest it isn't as dramatic an improvement over other receivers 
for the simple reason that in SSB, much of the interference you are trying 
to eliminate is really in the passband.  It's splatter and distortion 
products from adjacent signals, many of which may have their processors 
turned way up.  The K3 doesn't generate the digital byproducts as my Pro2 
does, and that is helpful, but there remains the "real" interference caused 
by the other signals.  So the net improvement from the great rx qualities 
doesn't turn out to be as useful in SSB as in CW.  In other words, the bands 
are still a mess in a major SSB contest, and the best rx in the world can't 
eliminate all the mess.
  73, andy, ae6y
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <rmthorne at suddenlink.net>
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 7:42 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 SSB is it really better


> I'm curious what others are finding with the K3 on SSB in contest 
> conditions.  I've had mine for a few months and the difference between my 
> mkv and the K3 is like night and day on cw.
>
> I havn't had a chance to really test it out on SSB.  I'm getting ready to 
> travel to K5NA's for CQWW and I wonder if its worth taking to replace a 
> ProIII or MKV on 20 meters which will be the money band (unless 15m opens 
> up).
>
> 20m will be a mess and I'd like to think the K3 will help with crowded 
> band conditions.
>
> Thanks
>
> Rich - N5ZC
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