[Elecraft] K3 Tuning encoder pulses and birdie problem

[Erik N Basilier]

Hearing absolutely nothing from the receiver with the 1-4 NR setting on the 
dummy load felt a bit unsettling. I then connected a real antenna and tuned 
up the band until I heard a very weak real signal. Not only does the band 
noise completely cover up the "encoder ticks" in my location, but also the 
band noise as well as the very weak signal do get past the noise reduction, 
so that I hear band noise all the time at any frequency with the 1-4 NR 
setting active (more noise with the preamp on, as expected), making the rig 
sound normal to this non-squelch guy. When I switch to the dummy load, the 
radio goes completely quiet even with the preamp on and both gain controls 
at maximum. That is OK with me since I don't really want to hear anything on 
the dummy antenna anyway.
Next I tried leaving the 1-4 NR active on 20 CW. With the 1 kHz bandwidth 
and CW, the this mild NR setting removes so much noise that it is comparable 
to reducing the bandwidth to 200 Hz. On 20 SSB this NR setting had little 
effect on the voice audio, but it did reduce noise a lot. I used to turn on 
NR only when needed, but will try to try leaving it on routinely. I don't 
have time for firmware download today but plan to do it fairly soon.

73,
Erik K7TV


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Erik N Basilier" <ebasilier at cox.net>
To: "Elecraft Reflector" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 12:35 PM
Subject: Fw: K3 Tuning encoder pulses and birdie problem


>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Erik N Basilier" <ebasilier at cox.net>
> To: "wayne burdick" <n6kr at elecraft.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 12:34 PM
> Subject: Re: K3 Tuning encoder pulses and birdie problem
>
>
>> With the DSP NR at F1-4, the encoder tics as well as the normal noise 
>> totally disappear, with preamp on or off.
>> F1-3 or lower still has both the tics and normal noise. F2-3 vs F2-4 
>> works the same way.
>> I am running 2.76; guess I should update and try again.
>>