[Elecraft] Real world use of 1.8 filter

[Keith Heimbold]

Hi Don,

I alternate between the 2.8 khz and 2.1 Khz filter during normal SSB operations.  I am extremely pleased with my new to me K3 and I really could not be happier with its current configuration.  I have the dual receivers and filters for CW and AM and FM, yet I still have a couple slots left for filters in the second receiver.  
 
Although I am very new to the hobby less than 13 months licensed, I have already purchased six different rigs (used FT920 (traded), FT950 (backup), FT857D (truck), FT920 (staged for vacation home), K3 SN 1391 (main rig), and soon to arrive in Feb 2012, the KX3 (biz travel rig)).  
 
As I become more acquainted with the hobby during this short timeframe, I have been searching for more distinct and superlative performance.  Compared to the other rigs listed above, the K3 blows them all away and by large margin.  I must admit I was truly surprised the first week of operating and now I am completely spoiled. All of you are probably thinking that this newbie is a bit crazy and it's true, I get obsessive about improvement whether at work or play.  Whether at work in my business or hitting the slopes on my snowboard or working DX, I am always trying to improve.
 
Summing up (and apologies for the tangential flow of this email), but I am not yet convinced that I yet need the 1.8 Khz filter.  Maybe when the next major contest comes around, I will determine if I am truly satisfied with the filters I have configured in this current K3 rig.  Glad I found Elecraft.  The K3 has allowed me to slowdown a bit in my relentless pursuit for improvement.
 
Keith
AG6AZ 
 

> Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:29:14 -0500
> From: w3fpr at embarqmail.com
> To: ag6az at hotmail.com
> CC: vr2xmc at yahoo.com.hk; w2blc at necoastal.net; elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Real world use of 1.8 filter
> 
> Keith,
> 
> Under what conditions do you use the 2.1 kHz filter and wish for the
> 1.8? I ask because the use of a narrow SSB filter makes tuning more
> critical (and more care is required to get an intelligible signal).
> 
> So if you are doing search and pounce in a contest, the extra time to
> tune with the 1.8 kHz filter may be enough to miss the contact entirely
> - you would br better off putting up with the QRM and letting the brain
> do the filtering.
> 
> But if you are carefully tuning a DX station during a pileup, then the
> 1.8 might be of some assistance if the pileup is not well behaved - in
> that case you would have more time to do careful tuning.
> 
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
> 
> On 1/13/2012 10:48 PM, Keith Heimbold wrote:
> > I am a new owner of a slightly used K3, SN #1391 and I have the 2.8 khz and the 2.1 khz and I think that between the two of them for SSB, I have an awesome setup. I am curious about the difference between the 2.1 khz and the 1.8 khz but not enough to make the purchase decision at this point. I think it is probably not an educated recommendation to make but I will do so anyway. I really like the 2.1 khz filter and end up using it all the time and it does make a difference to me in more crowded band conditions. I have not owned it long enough to comment on how it performs in contests. Maybe then I will be wishing I had the 1.8 khz filter instead of the 2.1 khz filter.
> >