[Elecraft] K3 other CQWW contest issues -> SOFT AGC

[ON4WIX]

While looking up more information on this issue in the latest online version 
of the K3 User Manual (version D5 dated 20 Sep 2009) I read something that 
puzzled me a bit: on page 54 the description of CONFIG:AGC HOLD reads "SLOW 
AGC "hold" time. Specifies the number of *seconds* that the SLOW AGC level 
is held after the signal drops. This can be used to reduce IMD caused by 
traditional AGC".
Having some background in pro audio I guessed that the word "seconds" must 
be in error. Sure enough older versions of the User Manual mention 
*milliseconds* which sounds more logical to me. Something to put in the 
errata sheet?

73
Glenn ON4WIX / OR4W


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dave G4AON" <elecraft at astromag.co.uk>
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, December 02, 2009 6:42 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 other CQWW contest issues


> It came as a surprise when a 40m pile up in the recent contest resulted
> in distorted audio on my K3, this only occurred when I was in the thick
> of it, multiple S9+ signals in the passband, with a 250 Hz filter and
> DSP bandwidth around 100 Hz. This happened on 3 or 4 occasions, no NR,
> no NB. A query to Wayne and Lyle resulted in a reminder to use SOFT AGC
> which isn't the default setting. It wasn't a big issue and another K3
> owner noted the same with his K3, so perhaps the default needs changing
> to SOFT?
>
> Not only is the K3 quite good with regard to key clicks, the synthesizer
> noise level is much less than most of the competition, look at the ARRL
> reviews for the "Spectral display of the K3/100
> transmitter during keying sideband testing" or the equivalent for the
> other transceivers. When you are 2 miles from a non K3 using running 1.5
> KW on 80m CW, the resultant bandwidth of that transmitter can reach +/-
> 50 KHz, if it was 10 or more dB lower life would be much more pleasant.
> Many stations here in the UK, and perhaps elsewhere, ignore the power
> limits (400 Watts in the case of the UK)...
>
> 73 Dave, G4AON
> K3/100 #80
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