[Elecraft] Noise Blanker settings for Newbies

[Mike Smith VE9AA]

So it seems no matter which IF NB setting I have the rig on, the NB will
invariably start to flash once I start transmitting.  Maybe I don't
understand what I am doing (quite possible), so this is what I am doing.
See if this sounds correct.

 

 

 

 

I hear my neighbours electric fence driving me crazy, so I hold in the NB
button.

 

As I understand it, I can adjust either DSP NB and/or IF NB.  OK, if I leave
IF alone and only choose DSP NB, I can run it through a range of DSP T-1, 2
& 3, up to a max of T3-7 (which makes the audio sound all crunchy) using the
VFO(a) knob.   I can get 'some' satisfaction from the DSP NB, but would like
the option of using either/or.

 

 

 

 

I can transmit as much as I want and the NB light never flashes (using the
DSP NB).  No problem.

 

 

 

 

Scenario 2.....hold the NB button in, now using the VFO (b) button (for the
IF NB), I can choose NAR(7 choices),MED(1-7) & WIDE (also 1-7) .

 

 

 

 

None of the IF choices really seem to do much against the electric fence
noise except maybe WID3 one minute, then NAR4 the next. (yet the pulsing is
exactly the same every pulse and other rigs (Icoms, Yaesu's deal with it
easily)-the e-fence is a pop pop opo, never changing.

 

 

 

 

What's even odder, is that once I transmit once or twice, the NB will then
flash, and it seems to me the NB is no longer engaged - is that
correct?....is the flashing a warning that you do not have the best
selection or a warning that it's now disengaged?

 

 

 

 

Is there a separate board for the NB, because it sure seems to me like it's
not working as intended.

 

 

 

 

To add insult to injury, my ol' IC-7410 right next to it pretty much
eliminates the E-fence noise altogether w/o breaking a sweat. (I know I
shouldn't use the word ICOM here (hi)

 

and I just can't believe this Icom box would be better than a K3.everything
I have ever read says the K3 should be superior in every way.

 

 

 

 

I did all my testing on an extremely quiet 17m band, CW mode, 500Hz filter.
No amount of varying the bandwidths, hi cut, locut, or an array of filter
choices, modes or bands seems to have any affect on the NB flashing. (or
it's poor effectiveness)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ideas?

 

 

Sub 100 serial number K3

 

 

CW mode, 20m, low SWR.

 

 

Mostly using the 500Hz filter.

 

 

I don't know the radio at all. . . .but

 

 

I press NB, twizzle with VFO A and VFO B and get things set to where I think

they should

 

 

be to dampen my neighbours electric fence noise, but after a couple of short

transmissions I hear the rig

 

 

clicking away (relays) and then I see the NB flashing (it's evidently

unhappy with my DSP choices), so another round of twizzling.  Maybe I have

it set too wide.....too narrow......not close enough matching.....scratch my

head.

 

 

After a half hour of various settings and looking in the manual (and then in

the mirror to see if I have stupid written on my forehead) I come here for

sage words of wisdom.

 

 

 

 

 

Is there something obvious that I am doing wrong?

 

 

 

 

 

I have no idea what S/W revision I am using and barely know most of the

options the rig has and cannot ask the PO .

 

 

 

 

 

Help>?!

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the nice welcome guys and I can certainly get a S/W version (if

that's important to this discussion)

 

 

 

 

 

Mike VE9AA

 

Mike VE9AA

 

 

Mike, Coreen & Corey

Keswick Ridge, NB