[Elecraft] RSP-1A as panadapter

[Bill Weaver]

I'll be looking forward to your review. Due to the type of business that it seemed to be, there probably is some merit to it.73,Bill WE5PSent using rock and chisel 
-------- Original message --------From: Clay Autery <KY5G at montac.com> Date: 1/6/20  04:11  (GMT-05:00) To: Bill Weaver <weaverwf at usermail.com>, elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] RSP-1A as panadapter 
    I am aware of that....  the owners of SDR-Kits
        has taken on the task of maintaining the site and continuing
        sales of certain products.  They hinted at a "short kit" for
        this part...
        IF I can get my hands on enough of a kit and docs to align the
        board properly, I am going to build one for myself and test it
        on/off my K3s IF Out, and the P3 IF out with and without the
        buffer to see what the instruments say AND IF it makes any
        difference in display.
      
    MOST importantly to me is that I NOT overload
        my SDRPlay while banging out electrons on Top Band. 
        <smile>
      
    Again...  I don't know if this is a "real
        issue" or a marketing deal...   Seems legit.
        
        PS - Apologize to ALL for the crappy formatting of my previous
        post....  I forget that the mailman.qth.net has incredibly
        limited styling options to improve readability.
    73,
    
    ______________________
Clay Autery, KY5G
(318) 518-1389
    On 01/06/20 02:56, Bill Weaver wrote:
    
    
      
      Note that the product line sales have been
        suspended due to the owners death. The note on the site says
        that SDRplay will be taking over the product line in the near
        future.
      
      
      http://huprf.com/huprf/orders-prices/
      
      
      73,
      Bill WE5P
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
        
        Sent using
          rock and chisel 
      
      
      
      
      
      
        -------- Original message --------
        From: Clay Autery <KY5G at montac.com> 
        Date: 1/6/20 03:43 (GMT-05:00) 
        To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net 
        Subject: Re: [Elecraft] RSP-1A as panadapter 
        
        
      
      On a related but tangent issue...
      
      I just found the following link today:
      *http://huprf.com/huprf/k3-if-buffer-pa-k3/*
      
      /_*K3 IF Buffer – PA K3*_//_*
      *_/
      
      /The K3 and successors are recognized as the rig of choice by the
      vast 
      majority of serious contest operators and DX’ers worldwide. When 
      combined with the P3 Panoramic Adapter, SDR capabilities can be
      realized 
      on the small P3 screen or on a larger display using the SVGA
      option.  
      However, if you want to use the IF output to drive any other SDR 
      equipment, there are some issues that need addressing –//
      /
      
        * /    the output level of the IF port is about 15 to 20dB lower
      than
          it should be, and/
        * /    there are strong Local Oscillator signals from the K3
      presented
          at the IF Out port – this is still the case if you run from
      the P3
          IF Out port.//
          /
      
      /The PA K3 is a small external buffer unit that can be attached to
      the 
      IF out port of any of the series (K3, K3S and P3).   It provides a
      
      filter centred on 8.215MHz and an amplifier with approx 20dB of
      gain, 
      bringing signal back up to the correct levels. The filter uses
      wound 
      toroidal inductors, rather than lower Q SMD inductors./
      
      +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
      From the Technical manual for this buffer assembly:
      
      /In normal operation of the K3/K3S, the nearest LO signals to the
      IF are 
      when operating on Top Band (160m) -see Fig 2 below which was taken
      from 
      a recent K3S.
/*http://huprf.com/huprf/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/PA-K3-Manual-V1_1-1.pdf*/
      
      /I am not smart enough in this part of things to know if this is a
      
      "real" concern, or "marketing" to sell a buffer/amp kit. YMMV./
      /
      
      73,
      
      ______________________
      Clay Autery, KY5G
      (318) 518-1389
      
      On 01/05/20 21:59, Bob McGraw K4TAX wrote:
      > If either the IF Output or the split approach with RX ANT IN
      and OUT 
      > is used, the ports are protected during transmit.   However,
      some of 
      > the SDR receivers are in plastic / unshielded boxes and
      themselves may 
      > not be adequately immune to RF.    If one is concerned, it
      might be 
      > wise to attempt to line the inside of the case with foil tape
      or 
      > enclose the receiver in a suitable metal box {the way it
      should have 
      > been in the first place}.
      >
      > 73
      >
      > Bob, K4TAX
      >
      >
      > On 1/5/2020 8:40 PM, AL7CR wrote:
      >
      >> I used an SDR-IQ connected directly to the IF out for
      many years with 
      >> no problems whatever.
      >>
      >> On Sun, Jan 5, 2020, at 2:29 PM, weaverwf wrote: