[Elecraft] KX3 and Rocky 3.7

[Mark Petiford]

Re:  "...KX3 I/Q bandwidth is limited to something like 48kHz..."


It is actually 192 kHz wide per the Owner's Manual, Page 26:
"Set the correct sampling rate...192kHz sampling will yield a display of about +/- 96 kHz."

My Sony VAIO VPCF121GX laptop has a very quiet 192 kHz internal soundcard, and it displays +/- 96 kHz hooked directly to the KX3.  That is not to say that all that bandwidth is required, or even really needed.  Most of the time I have it scaled down considerably.  A 192 kHz soundcard will certainly cost more, so you may want to consider a 48 kHz card.  They are the easiest to find, and won't break the bank.

I have a Griffin iMic (48 kHz), but I usually use it for fldigi's display, and keep Rocky running using the internal soundcard at the bottom of the screen as the bandscope.  I just tried using the iMic with Rocky, and it works hooked directly to the KX3.  Looks great on 2.5, 5, and 20 mhz WWV, but not as good on 10 and 15mhz. I just tried turning the preamp on, and it really helped on 10 and 15 mHz.  I think I paid about $35 for this and it looks great!  I really need to work with it at a time other than the middle of the night.  It is after 1am right now and I am not thinking to well. 


It is unfortunate that Rocky cannot read the KX3's frequency.  It has one of the most useful frequency domain displays that I have seen.  I said useful, not pretty.  You can really see the signal, its bandwidth, and sidebands (key clicks on CW) on Rocky better than any other program I have tried.  NaP3 is my second choice since its frequency domain display is almost as good, it is pretty, and reads the KX3 frequency, but I cannot get it to display properly on this wide screen laptop.  It overwrites itself.


Way past my bedtime.

Mark
KE6BB



________________________________
 From: Don Wilhelm <w3fpr at embarqmail.com>
To: Kenneth A Christiansen <w0cz at i29.net> 
Cc: "Elecraft at mailman.qth.net" <Elecraft at mailman.qth.net> 
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 7:24 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 and Rocky 3.7
 

Ken,

Since the KX3 I/Q bandwidth is limited to something like 48kHz, you do 
not need an exotic soundcard which will give you a 192 kHz span, most 
external soundcards will do the job just fine.