[Elecraft] Wide Bandwidth CW Signals

[jim]

As some have pointed out, getting an email from someone you don't know,
stating your signal is wide and not clean, would draw a reaction of "who is
this guy"?  

 

Terms such as Cop, Dudley do Right, where is his badge, President of HOA do
come up.  These types of comments are not surprising, but none the less,
disappointing. 

 

It took decades for busy bodies to get it across to mfg.'s that the ham
community wanted better receive performance on "close in" signals, but they
finally got it.

 

The weak link in the "system" is now the transmitter.  Some may " go outside
and find something actually productive to do".  Others may bring it to the
attention of the ham community in an effort to get the mfg's to fix the poor
design of synthesizers and amplifiers

 

If you have ever tried to work Sweepstakes CW, or the 160 meter CW contest,
one would change their tune about "imaginary authority".  It is even worse
in Europe due to the density of operators, and then when you add in contest
conditions, it is VERY difficult to find some elbow room (that should be
there) be it for poor designs.  It may not be intentional, but I have seen
cases where it was CLEARLY intentional

 

Screenshots, data and math does not lie.  The facts are as presented.  I see
NO reason that a mfg'er shud allow the end user to adjust the CW wave
shaping, as Icom, and Yaesu have.  People have mentioned that a controlled
test, using lab type setups would be more effective than an email.  I agree.
The ARRL has been publishing information on the performance of signal
purity.  If you do not subscribe to QST (a majority of hams are not
members), you would have to do a significant amount of research and/or
testing that is beyond the scope or capabilities of most ham operators.  I
challenge people to listen to the CWops Mini-CWT Test on May 14, 2015 at
03:00z to 04:00z (note the date and time is in UTC) and listen on 40m to a
relatively packed band.  Use a receiver that is better than an SX-28 and you
will quickly be able to pick up signals that are full of key clicks, and
those that are wide.  Having a P3 makes it all the easier to also see these
poor xmitters.

 

Elecraft was asked to have the ability to have access to the code that
performs wave shaping function in their rigs.  Elecraft declined to offer
this, and for a reason.

 

Can you guess what that reason was?

 

Jim

W6AIM