[Elecraft] P3 ideas

[Mike Scott]

I am enjoying my P3-K3 combination. I find that the second Rx seems more
useful to me now. I used to operate almost all the time in diversity mode.
Now I find that I can do that or what I explain below.

 

One of the ways I am using it is setting the center frequency of VFO A to
7.015 MHZ with a +/- 15 KHz span. Then I operate split.

I tune with VFO B or cursor B to look at signals. My second Rx is on my
vertical, the primary Rx is on an inverted V. So the waterfall is on the
inverted V but I am listening and transmitting on the vertical. I can
reverse the antennas if I wish depending on what works best.

 

Using this method I keep the waterfall/spectrum fixed, no jumping of the
center frequency when I QSY. I know some wished that the spectrum could be
fixed while the Rx tunes within the space. This approach does this with the
limitation that I am limited to operating with the second Rx.

 

It would be useful to be able to have a fixed spectrum center and span and
tune both Rx within the span. Also it would be useful to have one or two
demodulators in the P3 producing audio out for cursor A and B. Okay, now I
would need four speakers.

 

I like that the spectrum display is calibrated (or will be). I would like
the option to be able to switch to an S-meter scale vs. dBm, or maybe dBm
left and S-units on the right.

 

I find that I am adjusting REF LVL often. My background noise level must
move up and down perhaps with band conditions. I can set it just right and
then come back after a period and find the waterfall mostly dark because the
background noise has dropped. My thought is that I would like the P3 to have
a very-long time AGC that auto adjusts the REF LVL to maintain perhaps some
percent speckle rate on the waterfall. 

 

AE6WA

Mike Scott

Tarzana, CA