[Elecraft] P3 Feature Request - Transmit sampling

[Charlie Delta]

If this feature is offered in the  near future, it would be nice if  the following features were incorporated
into the making  the P3  a very useful station tool.

1. Since the Dynamic range is rather limited on the P3, the ability or feature to allow
1 or 2 crystal notch filters to be inserted inline  would be a nice feature. This would allow the dynamic
range of the P3 to be increased to something well over 100db with the main TX signal notched. We would only a need 
a low frequency, mid and high frequency notches for dummy load testing.

2. The ability to define a  IMD mask would be a nice feature. Rather than trying to squint at  peak
makers it would be much easier to set a fail alarm mask that  alerts the operator to the fact that his or her's  knobs to
the right  habit is causing problems  up the band.

3. Multiple peak markers and a rifle scope type cross hair makers for making accurate and fast
level measurements. Pre-set bounce peak  level markers every 5 khz would be a nice feature.

4. Have multiple traces such as peak hold, quasi peak, average power, average power in a 2.4khz bandwidth,
and peak power in a 2.4khz bandwidth These kinds of measurements would reflect  the level of interference as seen 
on the typical S_meter rather than being a narrow resolution bandwidth measurement.

5. If you are doing transmitter sampling you might as well go all the way and offer the ability to use any directional
coupler with the P3 with appropriate  calibration routines. Similar to the http://www.meterbuilder.com/ meter.

6. Support software for the G4HFQ polar plotting software.
http://www.g4hfq.co.uk/plphelp/plphelp.htm

7. While they at it a white noise generator plus a 2 tone or multitone generator can also be a option for TX testing.

8. Define a set bandwidth such as 20khz for TX monitoring that can be stored to  one of the P3's function keys
    ALT would switch the waterfall display to the 20khz bandwidth and the averaging on the waterfall should indicate 
    IMD level peaks averaged in a 2.4khz bandwidth.

Its a complicated matter turning the P3 into a spectrum analyzer/station monitor once you start thinking about
it   from the perspective of a test engineer. It might be easier to do  this on a DDC/DUC platform!

That should round the P3 off very nicely if all these features are achievable. Only the firmware guru's will know
if these features are possible. Keep on dreaming.

73
Craig