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

[Don Wilhelm]

Gary,

Have you read column 2 of page 25 in the manual?
What it says is very close to what you have requested - except for 
explicitly stating that 'some experimentation is required'.
It does say which noise sources the IF Noise Blanker is better suited 
for, and which the DSP Noise Blanker attacks more readily.
Further down, it states that the more aggressive NR settings will make 
the signal sound "hollow".

I don't know just how much more information would be meaningful.  There 
is no one setting that works best for any one type of noise all the time 
- how far the noise source is from your antenna and how it propagates 
are additional variables.  A "recipe" for any particular situation could 
become quite complex.  To be a valid chart the noise characteristics 
would have to be expressed in terms of the rise time, duration, and fall 
times of the noise present *at* the K3 input (not at the source of 
noise).  It makes no sense to me to attach the antenna feedline to a 
spectrum analyzer to determine the characteristics of the noise before 
selecting which one to use on the K3.  I think it much easier just to 
try the various settings (given the guidelines already in the manual) 
and find which one sounds best to your ears at that particular time - 
most likely the "best" will be different tomorrow because the signal 
affects the best choice as well as the noise type, and the signal will 
change with propagation changes too.

73,
Don W3FPR

Gary Dezern wrote:
> At least for myself, it would be useful to have a paragraph or two that could be titled "K3 NB and NR for Dummies" and might look something like this:
>
> Each operator and location will experience unique noise sources and conditions.  In order to best use the NB and NR tools, a certain amount of experimenting is required.  That being said, here are some general guidelines for using NB and NR tools under very "generic" situations.  Each operator will have to play around with these settings for their own situation!
>
> NB:
>
> Lightning noise:   (?????)
> Power line noise:  ????
> XYL is vacuuming the house:  ?????
> Plasma TV noise:
>
> NR:
>
> Unlike the NB system, the NR tools are for combating random noise of an unknown (or random) source.  In this case, a starting place for using the tool might be easier based on mode rather than source:
>
> SSB:  ????  (my favorite is 5-1)
> CW:  ???
> DATA:  OFF
>
>   
>