[Elecraft] K3 for Broadcast Band DX

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

> Therefore, at this juncture, the K3 is totally not up to the job when
> it comes to broadcast band DX hunting. What's up here?

As documented here literally dozens of times, the TR switch contains a
high-pass filter with a 1600 KHz cutoff to protect the PIN diodes and
keep them from generating interference due to strong broadcast band
signals.  If you want to receive the broadcast (and MW bands) with full
sensitivity, 1) install the BPF3 receive filter *and* 2) use a separate
receive antenna connected to either the RX ANT IN jack or the XVTR IN
jack.

73,

   ... Joe, W4TV


On 2015-06-08 3:04 PM, Carl Jón Denbow wrote:
> I sometimes like to do a little Broadcast Band DX, takes me back to my
> high schools days with my GE transistor radio under the pillow.  I think
> some of you know the story. ;-)  At any rate, I have the general
> coverage module installed in the main receiver, but I have found the
> sensitivity of it in the broadcast band to be horrible.  I can hook up
> my Palstar R40 and get a 40 over signal from a station, but with the K3
> hooked up to the same antenna that station is an S4  --  just barely
> over the noise level.  This is a station 100 miles way that I could
> receive on that old GE transistor radio at what would have at least been
> an S9 signal.  Therefore, at this juncture, the K3 is totally not up to
> the job when it comes to broadcast band DX hunting.  What's up here?