[Elecraft] KX3 Questions

[Lyle Johnson]

Hello Sid!

> ...As I understand it, there is some form of DSP installed.  When I invoke "NR" the screen reads "tbd"  I assume that more is to come, as there are no levels to adjust as in the K3.

The radio is entirely based on digital signal processing (DSP).  I 
understand that many people mean "automotaic filtering of some sort" 
when they use the term DSP.  Those features -- noise reduction and 
automatic notch -- are actively being worked on as I write this.

>   The AGC left at the default Threshold of 7, is not sufficient.  I will try lower levels to stop the overload from strong stations.

Or turn the AF Gain down.  What many people try to do is use the 
internal speaker and crank up the AF Gain.  With a high AGC threshold, 
this means a strong signal will overload the audio chain.  If the gain 
is set so that a very strong signal doe snot overload, then a high AGC 
setting may be appropriate.  It all depends on the ambient acoustic 
environment, the "band noise" at the moment, the efficiency of the audio 
transducer (internal speaker, headphones, external amplified speaker(s), 
etc) and your hearing comfort level.  In general, you want the AGC to 
cut in above the band noise -- how much above depends on a lot of things 
and is usually dominated by your personal preferences.  I usually have 
the AGC Threshold in my KX3 set to 5.

> I am trying to use the APF mode.  A little complex, but it tends to ring when peaked in mode II.
The APF will ring a bit by design.  It is mostly used for helping to 
copy weak (that is, near the noise level, might be S6!) CW signals at 
slow to moderate keying speeds.  It is not the appropriate filter for 
fast CW, or for signals with reasonable S/N.  The regular filtering 
(accessed by turning the PBT control) is appropriate for the latter cases.

I see you've had good comments on the KXPD3.

Enjoy your new radio, and thank you for your observations!

73,

Lyle KK7P