[Elecraft] LP-PAN 2 and P3

Thu Oct 15 02:33:05 EDT 2015

 From my point of view there is another consideration at hand here. A 
hardware interface like LP-Pan that provides I-Q signals to a PC sound 
card allows the use of other SDR-type software like CW Skimmer, and 
while CW Skimmer may not be of interest to everyone I believe other 
third party software will eventually show up that would be desirable to me.

One that is dear to my heart would be an application that quantifies 
splatter and key clicks from crummy signals.  I suspect that would be 
difficult for SSB signals, but I can't think of any reason why it 
wouldn't be practical for CW.

Another possibility might be an app that profiles propagation over time 
based upon received callsigns with the rig otherwise unattended.

The P3 is a panadapter, and by all accounts a very good one ... but an 
LP-Pan with the right software could be much more.

73,
Dave   AB7E

p.s.  As far as I know, the P3 has to generate its own I-Q signals 
internally.  I've never understood why Elecraft didn't provide them as 
buffered outputs from the P3 to make it more versatile.  Somebody please 
correct me if I'm wrong here.

On 10/14/2015 9:07 PM, Matthew Cook wrote:
> Jorge,
>
> Don has given you a good summary of the two devices.
>
> When considering the PC path you should be aware that there is more
> opportunity to receive and display a much wider bandwidth than either the
> P3 or LP-Pan can provide.  At the moment both the P3 and LP-Pan are limited
> to 200kHz and 192kHz of bandwidth respectively.  So they can see +/-100kHz
> or so either side of the  current VCO frequency at full span.  This is
> great for giving you situational awareness of who and what is happening
> either side of your VCO frequency.
>
> However if you own a Software Defined Radio and have a transverter
> interface in your Elecraft rig, you can take full advantage of the RX Loop
> terminals and insert a RF splitter like this (
> http://www.minicircuits.com/pdfs/ZSC-2-1.pdf).   With this setup it means
> that signals come in off your antenna are routed out the RX Loop out
> terminal and in to the splitter; one path then turns back into the radio
> through the RF Loop In terminals (albeit with a 3.6dB loss) and the other
> path can be taken off to the SDR.     You need to purchase the RX Splitter
> separately ~US$20-40 off ebay.
>
> This splitter effectively puts both your SDR and K3/K3s receivers in
> parallel fed off the same antenna, just keep in mind that signal levels
> into both the Rx and SDR will be half an S-point lower due to the spliter
> insertion loss.   If signals fade or are weak, you can switch the RX loop
> out of circuit and bypass the splitter, handy trick on a K3 since there's a
> button for it. My favourite button actually.
>
> So the hidden benefits of an external SDR in liu of the P3 and LP-Pan are;
>
>     - ability to monitor another band and wait for it to open
>        - watch for 10m activity while 15m is running
>        - keep an eye on 6m while playing on HF
>     - Youi can achieve pan-adaptor bandwidths greater than 200kHz
>     - Watch an entire band for activity at once BW > 400kHz
>
> The downside however is that the SDR's that can survive strong signals
> without turning up their toes will cost you hundreds of dollars, theres
> more software work and jigging and poking of software to get them to go.
>
> It is also possible with a tiny bit more software work to have the SDR and
> K3 frequencies and mode track, which means you get mouse control over the
> K3 where you can click on the SDR waterfall on the PC and have the K3 track
> the SDR, you can also have the SDR change bands when you press the Band
> Keys on the K3.
>
> I personally find that with a good SDR I've not felt the need for the
> second RX option in my K3 yet.   I do however use a RFSpace Cloud-IQ that
> can monitor 1.8MHz with a reasonable dynamic range.  Previously I've used
> the RFSpace SDR-IQ and Funcube Dongle Pro plus, results with both were
> excellent.   I prefer SDR Radio for my pan-adaptor.  We've used this setup
> in our multi-multi contest QRO contest station for a number of years, 24"
> portrait pan-adaptor displays are now common in our club.
>
> However as Don has already mentioned, you need to decide on a PC (LP-Pan or
> SDR) or no PC path (P3).
>
> There is alot of fun to be had with an external SDR too if you want to push
> the boundary.  All of the devices discussed work as described, I don't
> think you'll be disappointed which ever way you go.  I will however be
> selling my LP-Pan2 adaptor in the not too distant future.
>
> I hope that the above helps.  YMMV.
>
> 73
>
> Matthew
> VK5ZM
>
> On 15 October 2015 at 13:24, Don Wilhelm <w3fpr at embarqmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Jorge,
>>
>> The goal of both the P3 and LP-Pan (with PC software) is the same -- to
>> give you a panadapter display of the IF output of the K3 (K3S) or any other
>> radio.
>>
>> The P3 does it by direct digital means and displays the resulting spectrum
>> and waterfall on the native screen.  With the SVGA option, it can display
>> the same information on a larger SVGA monitor - no computer is involved.
>>
>> LP-Pan is a hardware box that takes the IF output and produces I/Q
>> quadrature audio outputs.  Those I/Q outputs must be sent to a soundcard
>> and processed by a computer running SDR software (HDSDR, Win4K3suite, NaP3,
>> etc.) to produce a spectrum display and waterfall.
>>
>> If you are trying to decide between the two solutions, consider the
>> "computer or no computer" considerations.  LP-Pan requires a computer to
>> process the I/Q signals, but the P3 (with or without the SVGA option) is
>> independent of an external computer.  The P3 with SVGA option simply
>> provides a larger display on an SVGA monitor (no computer involved).
>>
>> If you are willing to deal with 'computer things' like soundcard setup
>> problems and software application setup problems running on the computer,
>> then LP-Pan may be an OK solution for you.  However, if you want something
>> that can provide a panadapter display without dependency on a computer,
>> then the P3 would be the best choice (with or without the SVGA option).
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>>
>> On 10/14/2015 9:01 PM, Jorge Diez - CX6VM wrote:
>>
>>> Hello
>>>
>>> I am looking for information about LP-PAN 2 and the P3 SVGA
>>>
>>> Not understand at all about them, are the same?
>>>
>>> May I use LP-PAN 2 without P3 or there´s any benefit using both LP-PAN 2
>>> and
>>> P3
>>>
>>> Or is better to use just the P3 SVGA
>>>
>>>
>>>
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