[Elecraft] [Elecraft_K3] New K3 Beta Release: APF for CW, "Fast Monitor" & improved TX gate for voice modes

Sat Nov 6 08:03:25 EDT 2010

I just downloaded the newest K3 beta release, and don't seem to have 
anything like the issue you describe.  It seems to work very well!  Not sure 
what to tell you, but unless others indicate a similar problem it may be rig 
specific.

I do notice something else that is odd, and wonder if anyone else has seen 
this happen.  Several times now, since adding the APF feature, when I first 
power up the P3 I get a screen full of nice big spikes, most of which are 
false!  I center on some nice spikes on the spectrum display, but there's 
nothing there.  However, if I just recycle the power to the P3, the issue 
seems to go away, and only valid signals are displayed.

By the way, I had previously posted that I was having problems with my 
reference level setting.  Initially I was getting a noise floor at -130 dbm 
or even lower.  Turns out I had a bad choke in the K3 (RFC22).  Mine is an 
older K3, and I did have to make the mod to replace R8 with the supplied 13K 
SMT resistor.  Anyway, that RFC appeared to be open, as I was getting no 
voltage on the low end.  I have a replacement SMT part coming, but in the 
meantime I scrounged up one from my junkbox that is nearly the correct 
value, and voila!  Everything seems to be as it should now.  I'm just 
curious if I somehow "torched" the original RFC, when I replaced R8, or 
whether it has been bad all along, and it was only the addition of the P3 
that made it obvious.  Guess I'll never know!

Dave W7AQK

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "dalej" <dalej2 at mac.com>
To: <Elecraft_K3 at yahoogroups.com>
Cc: "Elecraft Reflector" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>; "Lyle Johnson" 
<kk7p at wavecable.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 06, 2010 4:13 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft_K3] New K3 Beta Release: APF for CW, "Fast Monitor" & 
improved TX gate for voice modes

I just loaded this beta version 4.18 and now I get loud crackling from the 
speaker when tuning though the APF filter, also, the audio goes away.  I 
uploaded the firmware though the P3 twice, once power on P3 and the second 
time power off with the same results.  I will next try loading the firmware 
directly into the K3.  If I have the same result, I will then revert back to 
the previous version, beta 4.17, which worked fine including the power out.

73
Dale, K9VUJ
S/N 2268

On 05, Nov 2010, at 18:33, Lyle Johnson wrote:

> K3 beta-test firmware revision 4.18 (with DSP rev. 2.67) is now
> available. This release includes our new APF (audio peaking filter)
> for CW mode, which has been helping K3 field testers work "extreme"
> weak DX for the past several days.
>
> For voice modes, there's a "Fast Monitor" option (TX voice monitor
> without the processing delay). Also included is a much-improved TX
> Noise Gate.
>
> This release fixes a problem with low initial output in SSB Tx.
>
> See detailed release notes below.
>
> Please send any questions tok3support at elecraft.com. For instructions
> on how to load beta firmware, see:
>
>       http://www.elecraft.com/K3/k3_software.htm
>
> 73,
> Lyle
> KK7P
>
> * * *
>
> MCU 4.18 / DSP 2.67 / FPF 1.14, 11-5-2010
>
> NOTE: Be sure to install all firmware files for this release,
> including FPF 1.14. Otherwise your menu text will be incorrect.
>
> * APF (AUDIO PEAKING FILTER) ADDED: APF provides enhanced
> copy of weak signals in CW mode, and is especially useful when
> signals are at the noise level. The K3’s APF is patterned after
> the most successful analog APF implementations, and is equally
> effective in user tests. To use APF, make sure CONFIG:DUAL PB
> is set to APF. (This is the default. “NOR” restores the original DUAL PB
> function.) Then hold DUAL PB to turn APF on/off. A special DSP
> graphic display is used to show that APF is in effect. At the time
> APF is activated, the regular I.F. SHIFT setting, if any, is “frozen,”
> and SHIFT then controls the center pitch of the APF filter in 10-Hz
> steps. APF is independent for the main and sub receivers, as well
> as for presets I and II. Switching between these two presets is a
> convenient way of turning APF on/off quickly.
>
> * ADDED VOICE TX “FAST MONITOR”: Normally the voice
> monitor includes a ~20-ms delay, which is necessary to hear how your
> on-air signal will sound (with compression, etc.). If you prefer to not
> hear any delay in the voice monitor, set CONFIG:TX MON to FAST.
> Note: You’ll still hear the delayed and processed monitor if you
> adjust the MIC, CMP, TX EQ or TX GATE settings while transmitting.
>
> * TX NOISE GATE IMPROVEMENT: The Noise Gate/Downward
> Expander for voice modes has smoother response and much
> improved performance near the threshold.
>
> * NARROW AF FILTER IMPROVEMENT: Adjusting SHIFT when using very
> narrow DSP filters no longer causes ‘pop’ artifacts.
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

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