[Elecraft] K3 Audio routing question

[Richard Ferch]

Craig,

What you suggest is perfectly possible, but it has nothing whatsoever to
do with diversity reception. It is simply dual receive. You can use dual
receive either on two separate frequencies, as you suggest (listening to
the DX on one receiver and the pileup on the other), or on the same
frequency (e.g. listening to two antennas non-coherently and summing or
mixing the audio signals as desired).

In addition to the mode you have suggested (SPLIT on, main RX listening to
the DX, subRX listening to the pileup where you will be transmitting), you
can also turn SPLIT off and listen to the DX on the subRX and the pileup
on the main RX. With SPLIT off, the main tuning knob controls your
transmitter's frequency. I find this method easier to use than the other
method, but that's a personal preference. Either way, you can use the
balance control and mixing options to control how much of each receiver
you hear in each ear.

In dual receive mode, the two VFOs run independently. If you choose, the
K3 allows you to link the two VFO frequencies together by holding the SUB
button to enter LINK mode. What this actually does is allow the main
tuning encoder to change the two VFO frequencies in parallel. It does not
phase-lock the two VFOs, which still run independently (non-coherently).
If they started out on the same frequency at the time you linked them,
they will continue to stay together in frequency as you turn the main
tuning knob, but the VFO B knob can also be used to control VFO B
separately from VFO A. To "detach" the main tuning knob encoder from VFO
B, hold SUB again to UNLINK the two VFOs.

Diversity mode is different; in effect, what it means is that both
receivers are using a single VFO. The VFO B knob can control the
transmitter in SPLIT when you are in diversity mode, but whether you are
in SPLIT or not, the VFO B knob has no effect on either receiver. You
cannot listen on two different frequencies at once in diversity mode.

73,
Rich VE3KI


AC0DS wrote:

When running, I like to use Split with the xmit freq on VFO B.  I then tune
the calling stations, if required, using VFO A.  I normally use a fairly
wide BW (300-500 Hz) to avoid much tuning on strong signals.  I was hoping
to use the "diversity" mode for this so that I could monitor two antennas at
once, one in each ear.  If copy became difficult or if the other antenna was
creating more interference than help, it would be useful to use the
"balance" control to focus my attention on the signal I was trying to copy.
I understand this is not true diversity, at least in the extreme.  But it
does seem useful, at least to my simple-minded way of looking at things.