[Elecraft] K3 RX Antenna & QSK

[Chester Alderman]

In my opinion, you do not gain anything by running full QSK with your K3
below about 40 wpm. But if you do run full QSK, you do lose the use of
RIT/XIT and SPLIT. For me using RIT during contest is quite important,
therefore I do not use full QSK in any contest. But during the now seldom
times I have QRQ (above 60 wpm) QSO's, I always use full QSK. Relay noise
from amplifiers T/R relays can not be avoided so therefore you either have
to train yourself to ignore the relay noise or wear good headphones, or
both. I am presently trying to learn to use VFO A for receiving and VFO B
for transmitting as I normally operate in the RUN mode during contest, but
of course with the K3 you lose full QSK when running SPLIT. However this
also makes using spotting cluster almost impossible.

YMMV!!
73,
Tom - W4BQF


-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Vic
Rosenthal 4X6GP/K2VCO
Sent: Sunday, February 1, 2015 9:41 AM
To: dmb at lightstream.net
Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 RX Antenna & QSK

I just tried it at speeds from about 24 to 35 wpm. As you say, not much
difference in what you hear and a big reduction in relay operations. 
0.005 extends the useful speed range downward without changing what you hear
much.

I'll try it in the next pileup and see if I think it matters. I have two
relays in my amp and the one in the loop, and the less work they do the
better.

On 1 Feb 2015 15:58, dmb at lightstream.net wrote:
> Is there a significant benefit to running full QSK at speeds >= 30 WPM 
> as opposed to just running break-in w/ a delay of 0.04? I use the 
> Pixel loop here on 40 and 30 meters w/ my K3, and doing the latter 
> saves a lot of relay operations. Although you won't hear the band 
> between keying elements, you will definitely hear it between letters.
>
> No sarcasm intended w/ my question; just trying to understand when and 
> how full QSK provides a benefit over break-in w/ minimal delay.
>
> 73, Dale
> WA8SRA
>
>
>
>> The Pixel can be connected to your amp key circuit. It turns off the 
>> power and grounds the antenna on transmit. It works fine with the K3 
>> QSK at 30 wpm (haven't really tried it faster). The relay is a little 
>> noisy, but I wear phones and it doesn't bother me. I am using it 
>> about 6m from my vertical transmitting antenna with up to 1200 watts, 
>> so it is a good idea to use this feature.
>>
>> On 1 Feb 2015 06:52, 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/
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