[Elecraft] Elecraft] KX3 - easiest way to panadapt?

[Chris Rutkowski]

Hi Ed. 

When the other fellow (sorry, just went blank on his name) said u need a good sound card, he was right, mostly. The better the soundcard the better nap3 will work. However, when I first started - say, the first 3 months or so, I used the soundcard built into my Old Dell D620 laptop (W7), and it worked plenty well enough to get me hooked on panadapters. Biggest limitation is that the maximum bandwidth with the old dell (based on the bandwidth of the soundcard) was 48khz - where's my pricy external soundcard allows 192Khz. .  That may sound like a big deal, but truth be known since im a cw and rtty guy, I don't find much more than 50khz to be all that useful. Point is, as long as whatever MIC input u use is STEREO, you can  use it and gain experience with it. 

Should mention that according to the author of NaP3, comocon works  with NaP3. In fact he stated he prefers it because it loads faster. 

Detail: if u use lp-bridge, be sure to put NaP3 on the "set port."

As for what's easiest and best... It depends on you. I own Win4k3. It is an interesting program, that brings lots to the table. However, for me, the only piece that was (is) of real interest is the panadaptor.  You can download a trial and test for yourself.  Personally, so far, I strongly prefer NaP3 as a panadapter.. But of course, there is no right or wrong regarding taste.

 what do I like? I LOVE that NaP3 can put spots right on the spectrum. Worth its weight in gold. I also love working Rtty and CW: positioning yourself in a pileup is incredibly easy. I just got a feature working called the data/text window, which displays decoded data or CW in one window and allows u to type in the other. 

For now, I count nap3 as second to my rig and antenna in importance to my enjoyment of the hobby. 

 After all, I can still use a paper log if I have to...

73, Chris NW6V




: "Ed" <K7AAT at Yahoo.com>
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [Elecraft] KX3 - easiest way to panadapt?
Message-ID: <0ed701d10861$7230b660$56922320$@com>
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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.