[Elecraft] Will the K2 and KX3 work with the P3?

[wb4jfi at knology.net]

Wouldn't a Softrock Ensemble II receiver for less than $80, feeding a 
soundcard, and some free SDR software, be a much cheaper but effective 
answer?

The K2 appears to have a 4.9152MHz IF, so using an Ensemble II, with it's 
Si570 tuned to 4.9152MHz, should work fine.  Then, you feed the Ensemble II 
I/Q outputs to either an internal sound card if stereo, or inexpensive USB 
sound card (like an iMic?) if not.  Rocky, PowerSDR-IF, SDR#, or other SDR 
software will provide the spectrum display.  If an iPad or iPhone, use iSDR.

I'm not sure if Tony Parks has a rock-bound Softrock that is close enough to 
the 4.9MHz IF of the K2.  If so, that's an even cheaper answer.

I would definitely put a buffer stage like the Clifton Labs mentioned 
earlier, in the rig.  Not only does it buffer the IF output of the K2, it 
also prevents interference getting back into the K2 from the Ensemble or 
Flex 1500 LO.  QSD-based receivers are known for generating RF signals on 
the carrier frequency BACK OUT the antenna port.

Seems like using a Flex 1500 just to provide a QSD-based demod/display is a 
little like towing a Hummer behind your Suburban in case the Suburban breaks 
down.  And if you ever accidentally transmit on the Flex 1500 back into the 
K2 - uh-oh.  Having a "spare" rig could be handy though.
73, Terry, WB4JFI

-----Original Message----- 
From: Michael Babineau
Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2013 10:22 AM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Will the K2 and KX3 work with the P3?

Bruce et al :

Using N4PYs RCP  (or maybe even DDUTIL) it is possible to slave a Flex-1500 
off
of a K2, or other radio, to use it as a Pan Adaptor. So for about the price 
of just a
Pan Adaptor (P3 or LP-Pan) you can actually get a Pan Adaptor (Flex-1500) 
that can also
be used as a transceiver. I guess that it depends on what you are looking 
for, but if you can live without the
K2s full break-in on CW, the Flex-1500 just by itself makes a pretty 
formidable little radio.

The point I was trying to make is that given the base price of the K2, how 
many people
are going to want to almost double the price by adding a P3 as Pan-Adaptor? 
I guess that it depends
on how "tricked-out" your K2 is. If you already have DSP, KPA100 then maybe 
it makes some sense.
I am not saying it is wrong to do so, it is just that there a lots of other 
Pan Adaptor options, some lower
cost and others similar cost but offering more flexibility.  It really comes 
down to wants, needs and the users budget.

Personally I looked at this option myself (I love my K2) and decided that 
the P3 or LP-Pan options
didn't compute "dollar-wise" for me  and if I really wanted SDR, buying a 
Flex-1500 to go along with my
K2 works out better for me.  (Selling my K2 isn't an option).

So my comment regarding the original post is, before adding support for the 
K2/P3 to an existing
control program, the author (Tom VA2FSQ) might want to assess whether this 
is something that users are
really going to want to do frequently enough to justify the time and effort 
for the new software development.
Given that the WIN4K3 software is targeted specifically at Elecraft 
products, then maybe the answer
is that the K2/P3 combination should be supported anyway, just for WIN4K3 
product completeness.
It is possible to make a P3 work with a K2.

Cheers

Michael VE3WMB

>From: "Bruce Beford" <bruce.beford at myfairpoint.net>
>Date: August 28, 2013 7:50:38 PM EDT
>To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
>Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Will the K2 and KX3 work with the P3?


>Yes, but it would -still- be a Flex-1500, not a K2 with panadapter...
>Bruce, N1RX

> To get back to the original question, I am not sure how many people would
> want to add a P3 to a K2 ? For the price of the P3 (or even an LP-Pan) you
> could pick up a new Flex-1500.
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