[Elecraft] QST Review of KSYN3A synth has erroneous TX phase noise plot

[Ken Chandler]

Hello Wayne
Would like to view both ARRL (old v new) synth plots side by side if possible! 
Don't subscribe to ARRL, so not privy to that info!!

Ken.. G0ORH - M3i

Sent from my iPad


> On 20 Oct 2015, at 01:03, Wayne Burdick <n6kr at elecraft.com> wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> You may have noticed that QST recently reviewed the K3's performance before/after swapping in a new KSYN3A synthesizer. While the review text was accurate (and complimentary), there was a significant error in the KSYN3A TX phase noise plot (Figure 10). This error made it appear as if the original synthesizer had lower (better) wide-spaced phase noise than the KSYN3A (starting where the plot lines cross), which is not the case. 
> 
> We should have caught this ourselves before the article went to print. We greatly appreciated the League's efforts to determine the source of error -- equipment setup -- and re-test. The digital-print version of QST will be corrected, and a correction will also appear in the December QST.
> 
> The ARRL sent us the revised TX phase noise plot for the K3+KSYN3A that they tested. You can see it here:
> 
>   http://www.elecraft.com/specs/Joel's%20K3%2010-19-15%2020%20meter%20phase%20noise.BMP
> 
> In addition they're testing a K3S. Its TX phase noise plot looks as good or slightly better:
> 
>   http://www.elecraft.com/specs/K3S%2010-19-15%20%2020%20meter%20phase%20noise.BMP
> 
> These plots (used with permission) were for 20 meters, and are also representative of the other bands, including 6 meters. The bottom line is that the K3S, or a K3 with a KSYN3A, has extremely low phase noise at both close and narrow spacings. In the case of narrow spacings, the new synth also significantly improves the RMDR (reciprocal mixing dynamic range) over the original, as described in the article.
> 
> Note that the above plots show *transmit* phase noise. In receive mode, phase noise with the new synth is even lower, especially at close spacings (under 3 kHz from the carrier). 
> 
> There's one other measurement in the QST review that needs a disclaimer. As you may know, the KSYN3A allows the K3 (or K3S) to be tuned down to as low as 100 kHz, thus including the 137 kHz band. The review showed an MDS of -44 dBm at this frequency, while in fact it is more like -115 dBm. It appears that the K3 under test didn't have the RF board modification required, or the modified KBPF3A filter module. 
> 
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
> 
> 
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