[Elecraft] ZLX8 - K3 firmware

Mon Nov 22 10:12:59 EST 2010

Rich,

I basically agree with you about adding the KRX3 first, but it would be 
interesting to see how the P3 works with only one RX and split VFOs.  That 
might still be a pretty potent combination.  I am sure others have that 
setup and it would be interesting to hear some of their comments.  I've had 
my KRX3 so long now, it's hard for me to remember how to use just one RX! 
Of course, the big plus for the KRX3 is if someone also wants to use 
diversity RX.

Congrats on your 160M DX!  I'm been on top band for only a year now and have 
73 countries worked.  My K3 and P3 sure help on that band as well.  APF too!

Dave, N4QS

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rich - K1HTV" <k1htv at comcast.net>
To: "'Dave Perry'" <n4qs at comcast.net>; <w5wvo at cybermesa.net>
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 8:55 AM
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] ZLX8 - K3 firmware

> FB Dave,
>   Having both the KRX3 and P3 sure sounds like the best way to go. I can 
> see
> the advantages of the P3 in catching those times when the DX station 
> decides to
> work the edges of the main pileup and when enough stations stop 
> transmitting so
> you can ID the station being worked. I still think that if I could only 
> afford
> only one of the hardware choices, I'd purchase the KRX3 first, then add 
> the P3
> later if/when the funds allow.
>
> Thanks for sharing your real world experiences with the P3. It gives more 
> food
> for thought for those having to make the purchasing decision on these 
> great
> communication tools.
>
> 73,
> Rich - K1HTV
>
> = = =
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dave Perry [mailto:n4qs at comcast.net]
> Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 9:44 AM
> To: Rich - K1HTV; 'Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO'
> Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] ZLX8 - K3 firmware
>
> Rich and Bill,
>
> Contrary to Rich's experience, I  have found that the P3 is an outstanding 
> tool
> for busting pileups.  The combination of the KRX3 and P3 is well worth the
> investment required to have both.  I use the P3 all the time to identify 
> which
> station is being worked in a pile up.  If a bunch of other stations are 
> calling
> out of turn, I don't always finds the station being worked with the P3. 
> But I
> would estimate that the P3 allows me to visually identify the right 
> station
> about 70% of the time.  I then use the subRX to confirm that the station 
> on the
> display is indeed working the DX in question.  The P3 has allowed me to 
> break
> many pileups much faster than when using the subRX by itself.
>
> Just this last weekend I worked ZL8X on 10 meters largely due to the P3. 
> He was
> working stations about 3 to 4 kHz up and then worked a station only 1 kHz 
> up
> from his transmit frequency.  I found this station with the P3.  The
> P3 showed a signal pop up well below the main pileup.  I quickly turned 
> VFO B to
> that frequency and heard that station send "tu" in the right ear.  ZL8X
> immediately sent tu in the left ear and I knew that he was now listening 
> below
> the pileup.  I made one call and he immediately came back to me.  I would 
> have
> never heard this station calling so far down from the main pileup if I was 
> using
> only the subRX.  Since getting the P3 this scenario has repeated itself 
> over and
> over.  The combination of visual and audio monitoring of a pileup is a 
> powerful
> new tool that is only offered by the
> KRX3 and P3 in combination.
>
> I might add that the P3 also allows me to find small openings within a 
> large
> pileup.  I will often reduce the span to +/- 10 kHz in order to have the 
> signals
> of the pileup sufficiently separated to find an opening for transmitting 
> my
> call.  The P3 also performed unbelievably well during the SS CW test.  I 
> used it
> all the time to move up and down the band -- often finding weaker stations 
> next
> to louder ones that I could work and also helping me to find openings to 
> call
> CQ.
>
> I use the P3 much more often for busting pileups than I do for just 
> listening to
> a quite band.
>
> Dave, N4QS
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Rich - K1HTV" <k1htv at comcast.net>
> To: "'Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO'" <w5wvo at cybermesa.net>
> Cc: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 6:20 AM
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] ZLX8 - K3 firmware
>
>
>> 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
>>
>> = = =
>>
>> -----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
>>
>> = = =
>>
>> -----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
>>
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