[Elecraft] [Elecraft_K3] K3 Beta FirmwareRev. 3.57: Synchronous AM Detection (AM-S); misc. improvements

[Lyle Johnson]

> Can you explain the blinking S? I assume it blinks until the PLL locks with 
> the carrier. I see it go off/on at times. Maybe the station is drifting or 
> there's QRN? What should we be looking for?

While the signal may sound fine, and the carrier is "60 over S9", the -S 
may still flash from time to time, or even mostly flash.

The -S is not a PLL lock indicator, but a quality indicator that is a 
combination of near-zero-beat tuning and steady signal quality for a 
significant fraction of a second.  When it is flashing, the synchronous 
AM detector is *probably* in a hold-and-wait mode, and when it is steady 
the detector is *probably* locked or locking.

This will be improved over time.

Meanwhile, think of synchronous AM as a tool in your receiver's toolbox 
for AM listening. Sometimes the envelope detector is best.  Sometimes 
synchronous AM is better.  Sometimes, just carefully tuning with regular 
SSB is better.  One size doesn't fit all :-)

7,

Lyle KK7P