[Elecraft] SDR IQ/IF Questions

[Geoffrey Wolf]

Hello fellow SDR enthusiasts,

 

I have looked around a little bit and haven't found a very definitive answer
for the questions that I'm having about the way the K3 and external SDR
equipment works. 

 

I've been looking into the LP-Pan which converts the IF output from the K3
into (im guessing) audio signals which then are converted into digital data
by a soundcard. The trouble I'm having is understanding what exactly I/Q is.
>From what I understand, I/Q is digital data that software like CW Skimmer
understands.

 

Now, I've also been looking at the SDR-IQ which does all of this internally
by taking the IF output from the K3 and converts it directly into digital
data which is then ferried to the computer over USB, forgoing the need for
an extra soundcard. 

 

Now, I've seen two versions of PowerSDR. I've seen PowerSDR/IF (looks more
developed/supported), and PowerSDR-IQ. What is the difference? 

 

I suppose the summary question of this email is. can you use PowerSDR/IF
with an SDR-IQ rather than an LP-Pan? I personally would rather buy an
SDR-IQ and take that extra hardware stage (possible audio loss) out of the
picture.

 

Thanks!

 

Geoffrey Wolf

AB3LS - Amateur Radio Callsign

University of Pittsburgh '14

grw20 at pitt.edu

liltechdude at me.com

(412) 450-1310