[Elecraft] P3 ?

[Dave - AB7E]

Nice post, Oliver.

All of what you say is exactly why I've been anxiously waiting for the P3, and why I won't even consider buying one if it doesn't have buffered I/Q outputs.  Aside from existing software like PowerSDR and CW Skimmer, think of all the other future possibilities for third party SDR-type applications ... automated band monitoring, intelligent band scanning, contest activity statistics, propagation studies (for example, transmit two signals 5 KHz apart, one with vertical polarization and one with horizontal polarization, and let the SDR software on the other end track both simultaneously), etc.  There is simply too much potential from having access to quadrature data to go without.

I find it almost unimaginable that Elecraft would introduce the P3 without that capability since (at least from my perspective) it would be easy and inexpensive to do it, but sadly that appears to be the situation thus far.

73,
Dave   AB7E


------Original Mail------
From: "O. Johns" <ojohns at metacosmos.org>
To: <telegrapher at att.net>,
    <Elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:26:53 -0700
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] P3 ?

Dear Larry,

Big question:  QUADRATURE OUTPUTS??

It seems to me that if Elecraft does provide quadrature outputs from  
the P3, then, besides being a stand alone panadapter, the P3 might   
also effectively replace the LP_PAN unit .  You could just plug those  
quadrature outputs into your sound card and then use PowerSDR-IF stage  
and LP_Bridge on your computer just as if you had an LP_PAN.

Why do that?  If you just want a panadapter, then there is no reason  
to.  But if you want to use other features of PowerSDR like an  
alternate set of DSP implementations, maybe better audio, maybe more  
resolution on the screen, etc., then you can use those quadrature  
outputs with your computer and Power SDR to get that.  You'll  
effectively have a FlexRadio receiver on your desktop (K3 front end,  
PowerSDR back end) along with your K3 and its panadapter.

One benefit of the P3 is likely to be important only to people who  
have problems with RF in the shack.  The LP_PAN setup can be a rat's  
nest of cables and adapters.  It is very vulnerable to RF, and hard to  
get clean.  The P3, however, is all in one metal box, and is  
presumably tested by Elecraft to play well with the K3 when  
connected.  This could be an important benefit.  Of course, you might  
lose that benefit if you then connect things to the quadrature  
outputs.  :-)

Hope this is some food for thought.

73,
Oliver Johns
W6ODJ

On 11 Aug 2009, at 5:20 PM, telegrapher at att.net wrote:

> Now i guess what i have to ask is how will this affect up with the  
> LP Pan program and adapter?  I've got a brand new unit here not yet  
> implemented so not sure if i should go ahead and get it installed or  
> not.
>
> Larry
> W0OGH
>
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