[Elecraft] Tweak for phone?

[Dave Hachadorian]

There's a sweet spot for ssb contesting with DSP width = 1.8 
and shift FC = 1.1  You can even go down to width = 1.5 if 
the going gets really rough. I have the 1.8 filter, but I 
can't hear any major difference when it switches in. The DSP 
filter has narrower skirts than the crystal filter. The 1.8 
crystal filter is good for peace of mind in a contest, but I 
really don't think it's necessary with judicious reduction 
of RF gain, and turning off preamp and attenuator when 
conditions allow.

QRM WAS rough this weekend with everyone being on 20 meters. 
I thought the K3 did very well with it. I was able to read 
weak ssb signals with much louder signals 1.5 KHz away, 
which is pretty darn good.

Dave Hachadorian, K6LL
Yuma, AZ


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dave LaBat" <dlabat at ca.rr.com>
To: "K3_Discussion_Group" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 5:11 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] Tweak for phone?


> Interesting weekend. First time I've had strong enough 
> signals at the K3 that I felt like I was pushing it at 
> all.
>
> I have my K3 configured with only a 250 Hz for extra 
> filters, ridiculously narrow for everyday CW, great in a 
> contest! I have no other SSB filters.
>
> With CW I have noticed that seemingly no matter how strong 
> the nearby signals I can dig out the weak one in between. 
> Didn't seem that way, as much. on phone. I struggled to 
> pull the weak one with nearby strong stations. Used the 
> Attenuator a lot this weekend.
>
> I noticed when I tried to narrow the passband from the 2.7 
> nominal that the signals often decreased in 
> intelligibility. I used 1.8 K filters on my Yaesu FT 1K. I 
> also notice I was not tuning dead on to SSB signals, I 
> seemed to be off to the side emphasizing hi end response. 
> I could hear as I swung past the station where the more 
> dead on was. I haven't noticed that with other rigs.
>
> So I am asking:  Would the 1.8 help, and still maintain 
> good intelligibility? What other tweaks or changes have 
> the list members used for top phone performance.
>
> As an aside, I flipped a FT-990 in at the end of the 
> contest.... wow, I guess part of it is I am spoiled!
>
> 73, Dave NT6AA
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