[Elecraft] Procedure: Setting the DSP filters for SSB

[Don Wilhelm]

Don,

Actually the answer to #1 is not difficult at all - use Hi Cut and Lo 
Cut when operating SSB.  The Width and Shift are best left for CW and 
digital modes.  Hi Cut and Lo Cut automatically change the center 
frequency.  Attempting to use Shift and Width in SSB can be a matter of 
frustration because when the width is changed, you must adjust shift to 
maintain intelligibility.

If the station interfering is on the high frequency side, you are in 
luck, you can use an extreme amount of Hi Cut to kill the interference 
and continue with your QSO.  The desired signal may lose a lot of its 
natural sound, but will still be intelligible.

If the offending signal is on the low frequency side, your luck may be 
more limited.  You cannot cut a lot of the low frequency side of the 
human voice and still maintain intelligibility.  If you get the Lo Cut 
much above 500Hz intelligibility will have a severe impact.

That is just the "way it is", the human voice needs frequencies in the 
500 to 1500Hz range for intelligibility, and there is not much that can 
be done about that fact.

For #2, if the strong station is taking over the AGC in your K3, the 
only cure is to add more narrow roofing filters.

I don't have any video references (and I don't find them to be of 
value), but try the techniques I have outlined above on your own station 
- you will hear the difference.
Even when there is no interference, see how much Hi Cut you can use 
while still maintaining intelligibility, then see how far you can cut 
the low side and still maintain intelligibility.  That will give you an 
understanding of how much you can cut.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 4/27/2016 5:38 PM, ac2ev at frontier.com wrote:
> One thing on my K3 that's made me wonder if I'm doing it right is how to adjust the various filters and settings to accomplish two things.
>
> 1. During contests, how to best adjust to hear the station and not the guy 2.5KHz away
>
> 2. When trying to hear the weak DX, not be blasted by that guy from Florida or Texas running a kilowatt.
>
>