[Elecraft] First-timer's K3 experiences in WW CW

[drewko]

You can set the SLOPE to minimum value and THR to maximum value for a
more "non-AGC" AGC. 

Also, set AF LIM to a setting that will protect your ears when the AGC
is turned off; this will clip excessive volume (and therefore it will
sound distorted) but does save your ear drums

VFOB can be made to permanently display with the DISP control.

I also would like to have the receive antenna but have no use for KXV3
otherwise.

-- 
73,
Drew
AF2Z


On Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:47:14 -0800 (PST), you wrote:

>Hello, 
>
>I just received my K3 2 weeks before the WW CW so it was a rough transition taking this rig in use. Steve K6AW helped me a lot, spending lots of time with me on Skype explaining and giving tips about how to use the K3 in contesting optimally. (TNX!!) I took the K3 to Portugal where I had a mini M/S with Con DF4SA and Marq CT1BWW. 
>
>I was impressed by the RX, it worked ufb, I only had a few issues, which are either config
>issues (most likely my pilot errors) and some are supposedly design issues, like: 
>
>- I
>failed to find a way to get VFO-B freq permanently on display. My K3
>keeps showing PA temp, time, PS current and voltage etc and it toggles
>between these when I toss the dial of the sub-VFO. Having to push that
>SUBVFO-SET button sucks. I would like to have the VFO-B dial to be used
>only for VFO-B whenever the SUB-VFO is activated. I checked the manual back
>and forth on the plane back and could not find such an option. What I
>found is that I either tune VFO-A or press BSET (have to hold and not
>even tap only!) and then and only then can change VFO-B freq. I badly missed the
>capability of the MP to tune A and B independently and engage and
>disengage dual-rx quickly.
>
>-
>I also failed to find a way to put the CLAR offset permanently on
>display. It keeps switching back to that PA temp etc. Sometimes I
>wandered too much off my run freq  without noticing it. Having the CLAR offset permanently displayed whenever activated would be a useful reminder. It seems
>CLAR offset is only displayed when I change it.
>
>- The hint to turn AGC off whenever possible and control with RF-gain was
>really a good one. it really helped me to pick up the weaker USA calls
>among the pile of EUs. It was a very enjoyable challange. However I
>missed a sort of AGC in the audio stage, because when I got called by
>some really strong stations my eardrums were in pain... 
>
>- I purchased
>250/500 Hz CW filters. There is a dramatic change between those. In addition it seemed AGC was pumped badly when I went for a narrower DSP BW than the roofing filter. I
>think for contesting I should put 250/400 and for casual DXing the
>loose 500Hz filters are perfect. 250/400/500 would give me a very
>gradual change. Lowbands in WW are the ultimate test for IF design I guess. 
>
>- Having optical encoders for speed and power is
>not optimal in my opinion. First I don't need the capability to set 56
>instead of 57 Watts, second, those buttons are very close and roll very
>easily so I happened to change accidentally the power when I only
>wanted to change keying speed even though I do not have a big hand.
>Plus they lack the visual indication (possible with a simple potmeter)
>which would come handy for a simple visual sanity check for the sleep deprived mind. 
>
>-
>If I understand correctly I need to buy the KXV3A module just to
>have an RX antenna capability. Maybe there is a workaround to connect RX
>ant to the AUX ANT connector and use the SUB RX for RX and the main RX
>to TX or vica versa, but I need to figure out exactly how. Or I need to
>build in a relay and add an extra connector to the place of ANT2 or 3.
>Something I need to put in later.
>
>Any feedback would be gratefully appreciated, 73!
>
>zoli HA1AG (CR5X in WWCW)
>
>
>
>      
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