[Elecraft] ZLX8 - K3 firmware

[Rich - K1HTV]

 Bill,
    By far, I believe that in the long run, if you are interested in working
more DX stations running split pileups, the KRX3 will serve you much better than
the P3. With the audio of the sub-receiver in your right ear, you will find it
easy to identify stations working the DX. You will also be able to determine the
tuning pattern they are using. Some DXpedition ops work many callers on the same
frequency. Others tune up or down in small frequency increments. Other DX
stations randomly tune around after each QSO in a Russian Roulette style.  

A P3 will help finding activity on a quiet band. On a busy band, it can show you
where pileups have developed, but NOT where the station presently being worked
is operating. That could happen only if all stations calling the DX would
immediately stop transmitting while only the one station being worked transmits
solo. If that miracle would happen, a single pip would show up on the P3 screen
and you could click on it to move you K3 to that frequency. If you have listened
to pileups calling DX stations you know that the chance of that happening is
near nil. Once you have determined the working pattern, you can adjust where you
place your signal with VFO-B to improve your chances of working that DX station.
Much of my success over the years in working DX using split operating can be
attributed to placing my 100 Watt signal on the proper frequency, improving my
chances of making the QSO.

In addition to being able to use the KRX3 for listening to two frequencies at
once, there is the ability to listen to weak stations in the diversity mode with
separate antennas on each receiver. This can produce amazing results on some
signals as their signals fade down and out on the left ear while fading up in
into the right ear. The brain can integrate what the left and right ears hear to
produce Q5 copy where using either separately would produce fractured copy.

Hope that these observations from my frequently using the K3 sub receiver are of
some help in making you KRX3 vs. P3 decision.

73,
Rich - K1HTV
www.qrz.com/db/k1htv

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-----Original Message-----
From: Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO [mailto:w5wvo at cybermesa.net] 
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] ZLX8 - K3 firmware

ZL8X is running seven (7) stations concurrently. See their website: 
http://www.kermadec.de/organisation/equipment/index.php

They may be running K3s, but they make no mention on their website of what brand
of equipment they are using, and Elecraft is not one of their sponsors (nor are
any of the other radio companies -- IKenSu etc.).

Worked them on 40 CW this morning with 100W to a non-resonant SWL sloper 15 ft
up at the top end. After two hours banging away at the pileup (which was nearly
3 kHz wide, BTW), I was about to give up when I was finally able to find a
contact's transmit frequency and tail-end him -- switching back and forth using
the RIT button with XIT turned on. This would have been MUCH easier with a P3 or
with a KRX3, or both! When each QSO transmission is about 2-3 seconds long, this
is really doing it the hard way. But I did it, and I'm in their online log this
evening.

To all veteran HF CW DXers -- If I were going to get EITHER a KRX3 or a P3 to
make working split pileups more efficient and productive, WHICH should I invest
in first?

Bill W5WVO

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-----Original Message-----
From: Rich - K1HTV
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 01:17
To: 'Johnny Siu'
Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] ZLX8 - K3 firmware

Hi Johnny,
   I think you meant ZL8X. I'm sure glad that they are using a K3 on that
Dxpedition to Kermadec. They must have been using it on 160 Meters this morning
when I worked them. I was running 100 Watts to an Inverted-L from my VA QTH.
They were Q5 here on my K3 with the APF turned ON. There is nothing wrong with
the APF, but I did notice that when I reduced the RF gain control a bit the copy
became better. Must have been hitting the DSP with a bit too much of my local
noise.

ZL8X on Kermadec Island is K1HTV country #221 with 100 Watts. I can thank having
K3 on both ends of the path, as also occurred for my 160M QSO with Dave,
KH2/N2NL a few weeks ago.  Thank you Elecraft!

73,
Rich - K1HTV