[Elecraft] K3 - Observations during NAQP CW

[Fred Jensen]

My K3 is pretty "vanilla," ATU, DVK, stock default roofers.  I normally 
run CW with 200 Hz DSP BW, and for the first time since I got the K3 
#642], I set up the Presets for:  "I"=200 Hz, "II"=500 Hz but still on 
the 500 Hz roofer, and tried CQ'ing using II and running S&P on I.  I 
was somewhat stunned:

1.  The difference between 200 and 500 Hz was amazing.  Off frequency 
signals I simply did NOT hear at 200 Hz were very present at 500 Hz.

2.  Quite a few people called me far enough off frequency that using the 
narrow preset, I simply couldn't hear them.

The DSP BW must be pretty much "brick wall" because the off frequency 
signals just literally disappear.  I've never had a radio that did that 
... I could always tell there was something out there, just weak. 
Possibly this will improve my RUN rate?  Maybe people have been 
answering off frequency and I just don't hear them.

I've also figured out, while Running, set the VFO tune rate to 10 Hz, 
you don't touch the knob anyway, and it makes the RIT knob more 
responsive ... by pretty much the exact right amount.  Maybe I can get 
N1MM to send the right K3 commands to make this happen automatically 
when I change contest modes.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2011 Cal QSO Party 1-2 Oct 2011
- www.cqp.org