[Elecraft] Upgrading to the new Syn Card -- is there a noticable change?

[Peter Chamalian W1RM]

Thanks for the comment.  I am a CW contester and DXer.  I use QSK but with
CW QRQ off.  Of particular interest is the performance when you are the
subject of a pileup as is often the case in a contest when you are running.


Pete, W1RM

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Jim's
Desktop
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2015 10:15 AM
To: 'Elecraft Reflector'
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Upgrading to the new Syn Card -- is there a
noticable change?

Pete and other interested parties,
IMO, yes, it was worth it, but as previously stated by others, it 
depends on what your operating style/habits are.  If you are a casual CW 
operator and don't really use QSK, you may never notice the changes as 
they are really subtle to most ears.  Most noticeable to me, the 
switching transitions from RX to TX and back are much cleaner and enough 
faster that normal QSK without turning QSK mode on will allow you to 
hear smoothly between dots at 45-50 wpm.  Also it's fast enough that the 
internal keyer's CW weighting sounds like it should rather than having 
to weight it heavier.  I mainly use a bug these days, but the 
transitions are smooth enough that the harsh switching has been toned 
down to the point the sidetone sounds very nice and It is so smooth and 
fast that while I'm sending (at least up to 30 wpm - haven't tried it 
faster yet) it sounds like the RX never shuts off.  With the old 
synthesizer(s) (I have both receivers) there was a very small hesitation 
between key down and key up before the RX came back to life.  I do not 
notice that anymore though physically it has to still be there.  The 
much faster switching time makes it more pleasant to someone like me who 
has used mostly CW and QSK for my whole 50+ years in ham radio.  It's 
almost like having separate transmitters and receivers linked to the 
same VFO, using separate antennas and no receiver muting, only RF 
overload protection.  (Only way I know to explain it).  Your mileage 
will certainly vary.

Jim - W0EB

------ Original Message ------
From: "Peter Chamalian W1RM" <w1rm at comcast.net>
To: "'Elecraft Reflector'" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: 2/24/2015 8:00:24 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] Upgrading to the new Syn Card -- is there a 
noticable change?

>I'd like to hear from CW operators who have upgraded to the new 
>synthesizer
>boards. Is there a material/noticeable change in the K3 performance? Do 
>you
>think the upgrade was worth it?
>
>
>
>
>
>Pete, W1RM
>
>
>
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