[Elecraft] [K3] KRX3 or P3 for CW DXing? [was: ZL8X - K3 firmware]

[Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO]

Looks like about 85% of the advice I've received is in favor of adding the 
KRX3 first, and I agree with that. But I'm surprised nobody has mentioned 
this benefit as well:

The other good reason (IMO) for adding the KRX3 first -- and setting it up 
as VFO B to listen to the DX station, while listening to the pileup with the 
main receiver on VFO A -- is because if you do it that way, you can use the 
new super-fast QSK option, which is AWESOME, except that you can't work a 
split pileup with it on a single receiver. This makes it kinda useless for 
DXing. And if you want to send at the same reasonable speed that the DX 
station is sending (usually 25-35 WPM), the existing QSK modes that do work 
with split VFOs on a single receiver don't really let you hear the DX 
station between code elements at those speeds, only between characters or 
sometimes just between words, depending on a number of variables.

So, I really do want to be able to use the new super-fast QSK mode, and that 
requires the KRX3. That pretty much tips the scales for me. It also means I 
can easily hook up CW SKIMMER on the main receiver's IF output port and 
monitor the pileup, with the K3 transmitter following automatically. Sounds 
like the way to go.

Thanks to all, but feel free to continue the thread. I've changed the 
subject line as somebody else suggested.

Bill W5WVO


-----Original Message----- 
From: Bill W4ZV
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 17:53
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] ZL8X - K3 firmware



alsopb wrote:
>
>
> There is K3 subrx IF output - if you do the N2QT et al mod.  It is just
> adding a Clifton Labs U-10000 preamp under the subrx enclosure and
> running a pigtail coax to the currently unsued REF IN hole in the back
> of the K3.
>
> In using SKIMMER on the subrx results in the following nice options when
> in the normal split mode:
>
> 1) Clicking on the last station worked in SKIMMER sends VFO B (xmit VFO)
> to that frequency.
> 2) Clicking on the spot sent by SKIMMER to the logging program sends VFO
> A there.  Great for S&P.
>
> The mod isn't hard to do and is well worth the effort.
>
> 73 de Brian/K3KO
>

Brian that mod isn't necessary to work split pileups using Skimmer.  Using
VFO B on the DX frequency and A on the pileup frequency (and TX) is very
simple.  The mod is nice if you want to use Sub while running on the Main in
contests but that's not the question that was asked.

73,  Bill

-- 
View this message in context: 
http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/ZL8X-K3-firmware-tp5763553p5763605.html
Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html