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

Fri Aug 30 16:52:15 EDT 2013

Robin,

If you do decide to go the SoftRock/Clifton Labs route, be advised that
both are kits containing SMD parts.  Not a major obstacle, but you'll
definitely need a good soldering iron with small tip  and probably
magnifying lenses to help locate and solder the little buggars!  In
addition, the 4.915 crystal for the SoftRock is also an SMD and you'll need
to fabricate a mounting platform for it.  Again, not a major problem - I
used a small piece of circuit board and made 4 small pads with a Dremel.

For software you might want to try Rocky first and then PowerSDR-IF.  I
currently am having the best luck with Rocky since it's pretty straight
forward to get operational.  PowerSDR might be better, but I've not quite
mastered its setup as yet.

73,
Mike - W0AG

On Thu, Aug 29, 2013 at 5:02 PM, Robin Bayer <rmbayer62 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello Sir
>
> I am looking for a description of what is required and what I can expect
> Fromm the Clifton labs IF buffer/amp/filter installation, assembly, and
> operations. I have little experience with sdr so am looking for pioneers
> and their experiences.
>
> I really only  looking to be able to find cw signals more efficiently.
>
> Thank you for your consideration and insight.
>
> Robin
> KA5QQA
>  On Aug 29, 2013 2:55 PM, "Mike" <w0agmike at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I just  completed adding the Softrock and Clifton Labs buffer to my K2
>> and it works nicely!  Tony does have a crystal available for the SoftRock
>> Lite II kit so that it works at 4.9152.  For about $75 you can have a
>> decent, but not great, panadapter for a K2.
>>
>> Mike - W0AG
>>
>> wb4jfi at knology.net wrote:
>>
>> >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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