[Elecraft] K-3 Noise Reduction

[Edward R. Cole]

So far, I have not used the K3+2m  transverter on weak-eme CW, but 
when I did quite a bit of eme-CW several years before the advent of 
digital-eme I found the use of NR and DSP narrow BW filters (100-200 
Hz) necessary to copy CW.  This was using my FT-847 which has a more 
limited DSP menu than the K3.

Running the NR also helped weak 2m SSB somewhat, but there 
occasionally was a "muddying effect" to the audio characteristics 
that sometimes was counter-productive to good hearing.  I have used 
the K3 NR on hard to copy SSB on HF and a little bit on 2m-SSB and 
did some A/B comparisons with my FT-847 NR and can say that even the 
default settings on the K3 were decidedly clearer to listen to.  In 
my opinion this helps my ability to copy and consider that to be an 
apparent improvement in SNR (though may be more the psychoacoustical 
effect?).  Whatever, it helps my reception.  NR on HF has a nice 
general quieting effect on HF even with strong signals.

When I get my 2m-eme system back in the air after some maintenance 
and upgrades, it will be quite interesting to play with the NR and 
AGC settings to find best settings for weak eme-CW and weak 
VHF-SSB.  I have already used the APF on some uncopyable CW and it 
brings it nicely up to a point of being able to copy (I expect this 
to be super for eme-CW).

On SSB, NR does seem to be more effective with some voices than 
others, so it is not always helpful.  Same as using narrow BW often 
does not help voice comprehension.

The customizing ability for the features of the K3 make it much more 
effective, once one determines those settings.


73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45
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