[Elecraft] P3, what lies ahead?

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

> They obviously didn't include it, though, and in spite of several
> public and private queries from me regarding the reason for that
> omission I never got a single answer.

Examination of the P3 data would suggest that I/Q do not exist
except in the digital domain.  I highly doubt that the hardware
has sufficient I/O to support the add-in DAC necessary to provide
analog I/Q for an external sound card.

> (the other reason is that there is no capability to display the 2nd
> receiver even if I hardware hack the K3 to bring out the 2nd IF)

That's incorrect.  All you need to do is provide an IF signal from
the KRX3 instead of the main receiver.  Th P3 will happily display
that signal although the VFO A/VFO B controls will be reversed.  I
don't think it would take a whole lot for Al to add an "A/B" function
although I'm certain it is *way* down the priority list.

> Anyone who wants to run CW Skimmer or any other third party SDR
> software will have to buy another piece of hardware to do it, when
> the P3 could have easily provided that capability.

It is far from "easy" or cheap to provide that capability.  Given
the structure of the P3 the necessary independent I/Q signals are
not preset ... the only accessible I/Q are based on the selected
display width and are locked to the display's center frequency.
To provide the support you seek would take a second AD6620, a
second control interface from the dsPIC, DAC and audio drivers
- none of which are available in the P3.  The cost of the "add on"
to drive a separate sound card for CW Skimmer would be substantially
more than the LP-Pan hardware and provide no additional benefit.

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV


On 2/24/2011 12:06 PM, David Gilbert wrote:
>
> Don't hold your breath waiting for that.  I lobbied long and hard for
> that capability (buffered IQ outputs) from the very beginning ...
> starting back when Elecraft first announced they would be introducing
> the P3.   They obviously didn't include it, though, and in spite of
> several  public and private queries from me regarding the reason for
> that omission I never got a single answer.  The lack of IQ outputs is
> the single biggest reason why I will not buy a P3 (the other reason is
> that there is no capability to display the 2nd receiver even if I
> hardware hack the K3 to bring out the 2nd IF).   Anyone who wants to run
> CW Skimmer or any other third party SDR software will have to buy
> another piece of hardware to do it, when the P3 could have easily
> provided that capability.
>
> 73,
> Dave   AB7E
>
>
>
> On 2/23/2011 6:03 PM, Igor Kosvin wrote:
>> I just assembled P3 two days ago. One of the things I would like to see is
>> the IQ output of the P3. The signals are definitely generated in P3 and I
>> would guess it is just the matter of buffer and connector. With these
>> signals and decent sound card one can play with PSDR software (open source
>> BTW) or number of other similar programs and even run skimmer for the RBN.
>> How cool is that?
>> 73,
>> Igor, N1YX
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
>> [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Bill
>> Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 5:13 PM
>> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>> Subject: [Elecraft] P3, what lies ahead?
>>
>>
>> Has anyone figured out the possible purpose of those unused holes in the P3
>> backpanel?
>>
>> One of them labeled "sensor"  ???
>>
>> 73, K3UJ
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