[Elecraft] K3 RX Antenna & QSK

[Vic Rosenthal 4X6GP/K2VCO]

I just stuck a piece of folded-up bubble wrap underneath the Pixel 
control box which made it much quieter!

On 1 Feb 2015 13:20, Mike K2MK wrote:
> Hi Jim,
>
> My Pixel loop is about 15 feet away from my BigIR vertical. I run 1500 watts
> QSK and have not had any problem at all. In fact since the recent
> improvements to the K3 QSK it's become a pretty pleasant way of operating.
> As Vic stated, there is a mechanical relay in the Pixel power box that
> resides inside the shack which could be distracting. However, the clicking
> from my amp's relay is much louder. So headphones are pretty much mandatory
> at my QTH. I should note that this amp is new and I've only been running QSK
> for about 5 months.
>
> If you are noise sensitive and if you are running a silent amp like the
> KPA500 you'll probably be dissapointed in the sudden appearance of noise
> from the Pixel power box. I don't know how the Wellbrook does its switching.
> Perhaps the bigger question is how many cycles does this little relay go
> through in a typical weekend DX contest and how long will it last. Is it
> 10,000 cycles? Is it a million cycles? I always switch the Pixel off on the
> higher frequency bands for the sole purpose of extending the life of the
> relay.
>
> 73,
> Mike K2MK
>
>
>
> James Bennett wrote
>> Hi all,
>>
>> Have a K3/P3/KPA500/KAT500 and have been working 160 meters more the past
>> year or so than in the previous 49 years. Only need three more states for
>> WAS. Got a lot of noise here at this QTH, and have limited antenna space.
>> Using an Inverted L up about 40 feet with a K2AV FCP under it.
>>
>> I'm looking at perhaps getting a magnetic loop receiving antenna, and have
>> looked at the Wellbrook ALA 1530 and the Pixel RF Pro 1B.
>>
>> But my question is on the T/R switching of the K3. As I operate 99% CW, I
>> depend on QSK operation. If I connect either of those receive only antenna
>> to the RX Ant, does the K3 switch between Ant1 and the RX Ant fast enough
>> to protect the K3?
>>
>> Thanks, Jim
>>
>> Jim Bennett / W6JHB
>> Folsom, CA

-- 
73,
Vic, 4X6GP/K2VCO
Rehovot, Israel
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/