[Elecraft] K3: Noise reduction tutorial/primer available?

[Jeff Hall (W6UX)]

Hi, I've been searching for some operating tips on how to strategically
employ the following K3 controls:

 - NOTCH
 - NR
 - NB
 - WIDTH
 - SHIFT

As good as the manual is, I still feel like I don't understand how these
really work and when I should use them to get the best possible results.  To
date, I've been randomly turning them on and off, adjusting their various
settings to see what they do.  But I'm hoping some of the experts here can
explain how and when they like to use each of these controls.

I have been using my K3 for about 4 months.  Lately, 40m has been a little
more noisy for me (about 4 bars of noise).  I suspect its QRN, but there may
be some QRM as well.  Activating the noise blanker (NB) will usually drop
the noise by 1 S unit.  Recently, I've been fiddling with the NR settings to
improve the signal quality (this was very helpful on last night's 3905 40m
SSB net - the noise without NR on was just horrible).

I don't understand what the different NR settings are doing, as you move
from 1-1 thru 3-7.  Going from 1-1 to 1-4, it sounds like the person on the
other end is moving farther down a long hallway - the signal gets more
faint, disappearing into a surrounding quietness.  2-1 and 3-1 sound very
similar to 1-1.  And, I don't understand what NAR1,NAR2,NAR3 through WIDE1,
WIDE2, WIDE3 settings on the NR feature are doing for me.  I don't notice
much difference no matter what I select with those.

What about NOTCH? I don't seem to notice any difference whether it is
engaged or not.

Finally, I can sometimes use the WIDTH control to reduce interference from
nearby signals, but if someone is booming in 2 kHz away, I can't seem to
shut them out.  Anything else I can do here? I am not sure what SHIFT is
used for, perhaps this can be utilized?  I have the 2.7kHz, 1.8 kHz and 400
Hz filters installed.

Thanks for helping a newbie!

73 de Jeff, W6UX