[Elecraft] KX3 - easiest way to panadapt?

[Barry LaZar]

Ed,
     If you are really sure that is all you really want to see is just a 
few KHz, let me suggest a free program called FLDIGI. It shows the 
spectrum present in your receiver's filter passband by using a waterfall 
display. You will see all of the signals there. You click on the one you 
want and work it. As you have a SignaLink USB, you do not require 
anything else. Run the audio out of the radio, speaker/headphone output 
to the SignaLink. The sound card in the SignaLink will do all of the 
heavy lifting for you. This is easy and straight forward.

     Using this approach allows you to use the DSP filtering present in 
the software while still showing you the 3 KHz channel full of signals. 
You will need to set your mode to data-a, frequency to where the PSK31 
signals are, and crank the power back IAW the instructions that came 
with the radio. And, you'll be ready to go. If you download right now, 
you should be on the air ~30 minutes later with nothing else to buy. I 
am assuming you have the interface cable to the radio.


     Let me pass on a few more words. You do not need a stereo sound card 
when do sound card digital modes which is what PSK31 is. However, you 
are correct in that you must have stereo for spectrum displays. You need 
the in phase and quadrature phase signals from the radio, those coming 
out of the I&Q port on the KX3. But, there is another issue that doesn't 
get much play, dynamic range. Typically, the sound cards in laptops and 
most desktops are not of the really low noise variety, therefore they 
and you are limited in what you can display. A low noise sound card that 
is meant for studio recording, or nearly so, is better in that it allows 
you to see more on the spectrum display. There are a host of other 
issues like cost, but I'm only gisting the requirement set. And BTW, 
from my read most of us are using cards in the ~$60 to $150 range.

     One serious suggestion. If you are new to all of this, take the easy 
road with the least complications. Download FLDIGI, use its spectrum 
display, and go play. After about 5-10 hours of playing, you should have 
a feel for where to go and what you need. The KISS principle ain't all 
bad.


73,
Barry
K3NDM

------ Original Message ------
From: "Ed via Elecraft" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Sent: 10/17/2015 12:20:40 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 - easiest way to panadapt?

>Thank you, Barry.  Your information is about what I was looking for.  I 
>understand the need for a better soundcard if I use NaP3 .... because 
>of the stereo microphone input issue, I believe??  I do not currently 
>use logging software.... just a PSK31 program called AirLink  Express.  
>I also just want to be able to look at the frequencies a few dozen KHz 
>above and below where my KX3 is tuned ... so am hoping to do this with 
>minimal hardware.
>
>I like your suggestion about Win4K3.  I will strongly consider that.
>
>Ed   K7AAT
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Barry LaZar [mailto:k3ndm at comcast.net]
>
>Ed,
>      You will need to buy one additional bit, a good sound card. NaP3 
>is a good product, It's really an earlier version of PowerSDR than is 
>out today. It is free, but you will want to download LP-Bridge, not 
>Bridge2.
>This will allow you to integrate your logging and digital software with 
>what you have your KX3 doing.
>
>      I used this initially and was quite happy. I later switched to the
>Win4K3 suite which costs $50, but it does offer some real advantages.
>First you can use com0com , which is free, for your port replication.
>This setup has been less problem prone on my system over NaP3 and 
>LP-Bridge. Second, you have more control of your KX3.
>
>73,
>Barry
>K3NDM
>
>------ Original Message ------
>From: "Ed via Elecraft" <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
>To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>Sent: 10/16/2015 6:24:37 PM
>Subject: [Elecraft] KX3 - easiest way to panadapt?
>
>>
>>I have a KX3.  I would like to use my computer and laptop ( Windows 7
>>and Windows 8 ) to display a spectrum from my KX3, using the RX I/Q
>>output.
>>What is the simplest and recommended easiest way to do this?  NaP3 ?
>>
>>I use my KX3 mostly on digital modes .... with SignaLink USB interface
>>and sometimes with just the laptop soundcard interface.
>>
>>Ed   K7AAT
>>
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