[Elecraft] [K3] Want to buy a K3

Tue Jan 12 11:03:30 EST 2010

You bring up the interesting question of configuration for the narrow 
filter -- i.e., where do you set it to "kick in"? I opted for 1.9 kHz, you 
opted for 2.1 kHz. I'm curious as to where others have configured the 1.8 
kHz SSB filter to kick in -- and why.

Bill W5WVO

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Philippe Trottet" <TROTTET at unhcr.org>
Sent: Monday, January 11, 2010 10:05 PM
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3]  Want to buy a K3

> Fully confirm this assessment !
> The 1.8Khz 8 pole in a congested environment is a must. I have it in 
> addition of the 2.8Khz.
> Considering the H polar of my 40m antenna receiving signals from the close 
> East, most are regular Ham's from ex-USSR area and also very active 
> pirates on that side, up to 59 +30 is common.
> Sometime ago two of those big guns were respectively on 7.085 and 7.090 
> with certainly old amplifiers spreading their signal several KHz away from 
> the normal spectrum with saturated audio, I've just clicked on the 1.8Khz 
> filter and as Bill says, FC to 1.05~1.10 and was able to listen clearly 
> and do the contact with JA8BOF on 7.088.
> Just a trick, to program with the Elecraft utility the1.8Khz filter, 
> starting from 2.1Khz.
> When listening with the 2.8 moving the width down will activate 
> automatically at 2.1Khz the 1.8 filter, it is helpful.
> 73's
> Philippe A65BI
> http://www.qrz.com/callsign/A65BI
> K3#3616
> " By Ham's, For Ham's...What else ! "
>
> ( http://www.qrz.com/callsign/A65BI )
>
>>>> "Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO" <w5wvo at cybermesa.net> 12-01-2010 6:53 >>>
> One thing the other posters have not mentioned (probably not being SSB
> types) is a narrow filter for SSB. I have the 1.8 kHz 8-pole filter, and 
> it
> is amazing. You do have to reduce the hi-cut a bit to center the voice in
> the narrower passband (an FC of 1.05 is about ideal for most male voices).
> What you get is remarkable immunity from overload by extremely strong,
> close-in signals (providing of course that they aren't actually 
> splattering,
> which you really can't do anything about). For SSB contest work, this 
> filter
> is a must. If you don't work SSB much and/or aren't at all interested in 
> SSB
> contesting/DXing, then you can probably skip it. But for me it's been a
> terrific addition.
>
> Bill W5WVO
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "John W2XS" <jm416 at optonline.net>
> Sent: Monday, January 11, 2010 2:28 PM
> To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3]  Want to buy a K3
>
>>
>> You will get many opinions on this.  Here's mine.  I am primarily a CW
>> operator but I like to listen to AM BCB and Shortwave stations.  My
>> antenna
>> is a multi-band Cobra Ultralite fed with ladder line and a Balun Designs
>> 4:1
>> Tuner Balun.
>>
>> 1. KAT3 Tuner.  If you have matched, coax-fed antennas, then you may not
>> need this.  But it is a great addition to those of us with multi-band
>> antennas.  It remembers the settings on small segments of each band which
>> is
>> incredibly convenient for QSYing, especially on 160m.
>>
>> 2. KBPF3 General Coverage Filter.  If you stick only to the ham bands,
>> then
>> you may not need this.  But it was on my "must-have" list (as was the
>> KAT3).
>> I have all 100 memories filled with short-wave and AM BCB stations all
>> over
>> the frequency spectrum. I've been listening to Radio China and Radio 
>> Cairo
>> a
>> lot lately.
>>
>> 3. KPA3 100W Amplifier.  Many people start out with the 10W option.  I
>> have
>> had a lot of success with the K2 at 10W.  But I wanted the K3 to be my
>> "QRO"
>> rig as it replaced a Kenwood TS-930S (which is a fine but aging rig).
>>
>> 4. KRX3 Sub receiver.  I added this after a year and find it is 
>> incredible
>> for working split-frequency DX stations.  I cannot see ever going back to
>> the "push the TF Set" button days to try and figure out where the heck 
>> the
>> DX station is listening. If you are not a DXer, or don't care about
>> diversity reception, etc, then you may not need this.
>>
>> 5. Filters. This was (and is) a hot topic.  But I stand by my initial
>> decision, which was:
>>
>> A. 200 and 500 Hz 5-pole filters.  There was an early posting that said
>> that
>> only the first 30 dB of slope is critical, and that a 5-pole filter would
>> be
>> more than enough. I went with that, and am happy.  There probably is some
>> (small and subtle?) difference between the 5-pole and 8-pole performance,
>> but the main purpose of a roofing filter is to prevent the DSP (the main
>> selectivity in the rig) from overloading. Signals are generally weak 
>> right
>> now, but will start to get stronger as conditions improve.  It is 
>> amazing,
>> though, to crank that knob down to 500 and then to 200 and know that 
>> there
>> is no chance for any out-of-bandpass signal to get through.
>>
>> B. 2.7 kHz SSB filter.  This comes standard.  This is the only filter 
>> that
>> I
>> have in the sub receiver right now. I based that decision on wanting to
>> hear
>> a wide bandpass most of the time to hear the station that the DX is
>> working.
>>
>> C. AM filter.  This is a little bit disappointing to me as I thought that
>> I
>> would use this a lot.  But I almost never use it. Unless you are
>> interested
>> in AM transmission or ESSB transmission, you might skip this one.
>>
>> D. FM filter. This is the one that I use for all my AM listening. I wish
>> they offered a less-expensive filter for receiving only.
>>
>> You can always buy the minimum configuration now and add later. A real 
>> big
>> advantage of the K3 over most other rigs today is the roofing filter
>> concept, and signals will be getting stronger as conditions improve, so
>> think about getting at least one or two optional roofing filters to start
>> with.
>>
>> Good luck and 73,
>>
>> John W2XS
>>
>>
>> What elective boards should I consider purchasing to enhance the
>> functionality of the K3.
>> -- 
>> View this message in context:
>> http://n2.nabble.com/Want-to-buy-a-K3-tp4287275p4288261.html
>> Sent from the [K3] mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
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>
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