[Elecraft] Ab-Ba audio - was Second Antenna Port -

[Igor Sokolov]

Arie,
my comments below:
> Antenna switching is also very easy to implement outside the K3 or any 
> other trx. Still transceivers and also the KAT3 tuner are delivered with 2 
> antenna ports.

It does not mean this feature is used often. I sometimes (very seldom) need 
antenna tuner but almost never use the second antenna port. So there were no 
point for me to pay for this feature.
Having said that, I often use SubRx connector for the sub RX.
>
> Just let me explain and share with everybody how I switch the K3 audio and 
> why I donot want to do this 'outboard'.
> During the last CQ 160 CW at PI4D I had the main transmitting antenna 
> connected to the K3 Ant1 and a receive antenna to the RX ant connector.
> I linked A and B VFO together with same mode, freq and fixed BW (400Hz) 
> and listened A-B, like diversity.

Same here. Nothern and Western antennas combined and connected to the main 
RX. Southern and Eastern antennas combined and connected to Sub RX.

> With the F-keys of N1MM you can send CAT commands to the K3 to change A-B 
> to A-A or B-B or any other implemented combo and back with a single 
> keystroke. Thank you Elecraft and N1MM programmers for making this 
> possible.
> When working in split I sure would like my Ab-Ba setup, also with a single 
> keystroke and not by a external switch. For this is has to be implemented 
> in the Config.

I use external 3 position switch for the same purpose. Most of the time 
(95%) main radio in the left ear and sub radio in the right. When there is 
need to pull out weak signal from one of the directions I can put one radio 
into both ears. The switch is near the keyboard so no problems to do 
switching. But external switching allows also the use of the 3rd radio ( 
mult hunting on a different band) where one can mix the third radio into one 
of the 2 channels. This mix can be regulated (balanced) with the resistor 
pot installed in the same external box. Should I need more options it can 
all be easily implemented externally.

73, Igor UA9CDC

>
> By the way: The Ab-Ba setup is implemented in a FT1000MP as a standard 
> listening method when you listen to main and sub RXs.  I often wonder why 
> my repeated request for the Ab-Ba was ignored. Maybe because I am just 
> some PA3A. Oh yes, I got one answer once about 2 years ago: It did not fit 
> the display: the B could be read as a 8. Oh boy......  But times are new. 
> It might happen.
>
> Coming back on the F-key trick from N1MM to switch audio, if anybody is 
> interested, just let me know. I'll be happy to share this.
>
> 73 to all
> Arie PA3A
>
>
> Op 8-2-2012 14:43, Igor Sokolov schreef:
>> Arie,
>> What you are requesting is easier to implement externally. I for one 
>> think there are too many options. I need to cut internal AF switching to 
>> A-b, A-A, b-b.  It takes too long to cycle through all the switchig AF 
>> options when in the contest. So I will implement what I need externally 
>> myself.
>>
>> 73, Igor UA9CDC
>>