[Elecraft] K3 SSB is it really better

[David Wilburn]

Thanks for the very clear explanation Andrew.  I had not been as 
impressed with my K3 in SSB with the 1.8 filter, as I had in CW.  But 
your points are well made and explain the issue well.  This has been 
my experience in SSB also.

David Wilburn
NM4M
http://www.nm4m.com
http://www.k4rc.net




Andrew Faber wrote:
> 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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