[Elecraft] K3 : SSB modulation

[Stephen Prior]

I use the Heil MD2 microphone which has an electret element.  I have both
compression and mic gain set to 25, and mic set to front panel low with
bias.

I have far more 'talk power' than I have enjoyed with any previous radio.

73 Stephen G4SJP


On 20/08/2010 04:24, "Joseph Trombino, Jr" <w2kj at bellsouth.net> wrote:


>> Hi
>> 
>> We are the proud owners of 6 K3/100 used at the FY5KE contest station.
>> These radios has been delivered around mid-2008 and their serial numbers
>> are in the 012xx range.
>> 
>> After using mostly these rigs for SSB contesting in FY5KE or in other
>> places, we are still facing a lack of "dynamics", "punch",
>> "penetration", "power", whatever you call it. In other words, when
>> comparing this rig to our radios we previously used (TS-850), with the
>> same microphone (Heil HC-4 element) and the same output RF power, the K3
>> is clearly way behind in term of "average power" we can read on the Bird
>> wattmeter wired on its RF output. Even if observing the wattmeter needle
>> is not a very scientific measurement (we admit it), various comparative
>> reports on the air do confirm our feeling.
>> 
>> We spent time on various available settings (mic gain, compressor level,
>> etc), with no luck, excepted a very distorted and awful audio to roughly
>> reach the same level, which is not acceptable.
>> 
>> After a little Googling, it appears that other contesters suffers the
>> same issue (e.g. www.bavarian-contest-club.de/projects/K3_english.pdf
>> pages 6 and 10).
>> 
>> Some questions :
>> 
>> - Do other contesters (or not) here have noted the same problem ?
>> - What settings did you modified (or not) to achieve a good result ?
>> - Is there any possible HW or SW upgrade we aren't aware of, that could
>> help us ?
>> 
>> We must confess we are currently preparing our next contest season, and
>> we are seriously considering reselling these radios and bring others
>> Japanese models if we can't solve this problem, despite we really
>> appreciate them in many other aspects (size, weight, etc.).
>> 
>> 73
>> 
>> For the FY5KE/Win-Test team,
>> 
>> Larry - F6FVY
> 
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> 
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>