[Elecraft] Data mode and filters

[Don Wilhelm]

If you are to be effective with communications involving a less than 
pristine signal, be upfront about the equipment you are using to monitor 
that signal, and yes be prepared to justify the calibration and proper 
operating condition of the receiver.  Do not take it for granted that 
just because you have a K3 and a P3 you should be believed, you have to 
substantiate that the receiving station is clean and pristine and is not 
overloading.  Specs are OK, but not definitive, be prepared to measure 
your receiver with good test equipment.  For instance, a broadband noise 
generator and an audio spectrum analyzer running on your computer will 
validate the selectivity of your receiver.  That is only one example.

My professional work in the last 10 years of my career was evaluating 
products that were to be announced or sent for First Customer Ship.  I 
worked in contention with the development team and always needed to 
validate my observations and conclusions - lesson learned, always be 
prepared to defend your measurements and conclusions, they *will* be 
challenged.
As an old college professor once advised - technician (or engineer), 
know your tools, and more importantly, know their limitations.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 5/9/2015 6:37 PM, GRANT YOUNGMAN wrote:
> Look .. some guy you’ve never heard of sends you an email telling you 
> your signal is wide. And sends a screenshot from somewhere. I think it 
> would be the reaction of most people to ask “who is this guy, where is 
> his badge, why is he trolling me, and who the <deleted> does he think 
> he is .. the president of my HOA”? For those of you sending “friendly” 
> emails, to presume that your "fabulous highly educated, 
> K3-whatever-based signal measurement expertise” or the fact that 
> you’re “famous” (real or imagined) as a signal quality control genius 
> in your close-knit group is going to push a concrete block out of the 
> way is assuming too much. After all, the guy receiving the email has a 
> Wizeroo 1000 transceiver and Gozmodics 1500 amp, and .. well … they’re 
> the BEST, and they’re connected together just like they’re supposed to 
> be … and the score is everything anyway, which is why all the knobs 
> are turned all the way up, and if there’s a problem it’s YOUR receiver.