[Elecraft] SDR-IF and I/Q questions

[Richard Fjeld]

Dave, 
I can see your point.  One of my earlier posts referred to the problem of 
finding an acceptable arrangement to have a pan-adapter for a KX3 using 
the I/Q leads, as the IF isn't brought out.  I apologize for not making that 
distinction in the subject line. That may have thrown others off as well.

However, I am using a SoftRock receiver with a K3, so I have many of the 
same problems as we would have with the KX3, only it would not need the
SoftRock.

I don't like to express my likes and dis-likes, but since you asked, I will give 
you my personal opinion about the following programs. Others may dis-agree. 
Please don't sent me hate mail.
 
You asked about NaP3. Yes, I tried it, and yes I like it, however I have the
same mirrored image problem as I do with PSDR-IF as they are similar. YMMV.

I think I have tried everything I could find that would be an acceptable matchup,
thinking of it for a KX3.  I was trying to find something similar to having a P3 in quality.

You mentioned TRX-Pan. Yes, I tried it. I should maybe give it another try, but 
I was not impressed with how it looked.  Perhaps I could get used to it. As I remember,
it had a big spike in the center which seemed larger than that of WinRad.

WinRad and HDSDR, are very sensitive on receive, and have no images. If WinRad provides 
control, I did not have info on how to use it. HDSDR does, using OmniRig, but control quit 
working after awhile. Perhaps I did not have time to learn how to set it up properly. 
One thing I did not like is that it seems to only look upward in spectrum from where the 
radio is tuned to. But it has other pluses. Both programs show the phase angle, and 
they record as well. The ZAP feature is nice for cw. 

Rocky works, but I find it to be more of a tool.  It displays the signal strength of the L and R
signals (I/Q).  That is useful.  Rocky can be used, but still not like a P3.

I tried SDR-Radio also.  I think it may be new in the offering, and more developments may 
coming.  Like HRD, it has many add-ons.  It wasn't what I was looking for, but a consideration.

All during this time, I have been preparing to give a presentation on SDR to our local club,
so could not devote a lot of time to each one, and it would be nice if that was not necessary. 
Unlike plug and play.

I agree with your intended use. I know that SDR offers advantages, but if you have a K3, 
you will be satisfied with it's performance.

Some of the comments I received seemed to be polarized with my appreciation of the P3.
The main beef seems to be the screen size. It sure has been adequate for these old eyes.
It is plug and play, and fast to use. I have it programmed up for quick button selections for 
the way I operate, and I like it.  If the screen was larger, it would not match the radio.  Yes,
the addition of a monitor will be nice. I hope we don't lose the ability of looking at the P3 screen
when a monitor is used, but we can't expect to have everything. Time will tell.

SDR is fun to play around with as a learning tool, and will be rewarding to achieve a beautiful 
pan-adapter.  When I said I was giving up on SDR, I should have said 'for now', as I spoke of 
the need to correct the problem of mirrored images.It is not just me, as many are having that 
problem.  I was trying to find a pattern among those users who were either successful, or unsuccessful. I didn't get the info I requested. 
 
73,
Dick, n0ce
____________________________________________________
The thread title didn't say anything about being restricted to the KX3, 
and your comment simply stated that you were giving up on SDR in general 
... hence my comment.  Whatever rig you've been having your problems 
with (I assume a K3), it certainly wasn't a KX3.

I'm curious which programs you have tried that didn't have good rig 
control.  Do you include TRX-Pan and NaP3 in that group?  I'm interested 
because those are the programs I intend to try with my K3.   By the way, 
my intended use would be for spectrum display and point/click QSY.  I'm 
perfectly happy to rely on the rig for actual reception, filtering, 
demodulation, gain control, etc.  Your needs may be different than mine.

Dave   AB7E

______________________________________________

Richard Fjeld
rpfjeld at embarqmail.com
I'd rather be learning.