[Elecraft] Panadapters for a MM station using 4 K3s

[K5WA]

Bill,
 
If you DON'T need the point and click feature (and many others) of the P3
and simply want to see band activity on the band you're on, I've had great
luck with the NooElec SDR "dongle" and Nooelec 125MHz Upconverter using SDR#
software being fed by your K3's IF OUTPUT.  I'm able to put a small SDR#
window just below each of my N1MM entry windows so I can see band activity
on both SO2R rigs.  You can set the bandwidth to anything you want but I
find +/- 40 KHZ of my operating frequency to be good for me.  A downside is
that it takes 10 seconds to adjust the screen each time you turn on your
computer but with a total investment of about $70 per rig, I'm happy to
setup the screen before a contest and live with the limitations.  If you run
assisted or MM, you can just use the bandmap up/down features of your
contest software to move around the band and don't need that feature of the
P3.  I don't have a P3 but I think that is a feature.  ;-)
 
Good luck with your decision.
 
Bob K5WA
 
 
> I sent this message this before the Dayton Hamfest and with all the
traffic
> on the New KX2 and the KPod I didn't receive but two replies, so I'm going
> to try again to see if I can't determine the best path forward.
> 
>   
> 
> I'm leaning away from the P3 and more towards a SDR or LP Pan approach.
> 
>   
> 
> Thanks for your ideas and help
> 
>   
> 
> 73 Bill  W4RM