[Elecraft] K3 on SSB

Tue Mar 31 12:30:46 EDT 2020

I believe what Frank is referring to is not Tx audio, but receive audio during times of very heavy band loading, which pretty much occurs only in busy contests such as CQ WPX SSB last weekend. During these times stations are basically on top of each other or very closely spaced. We tend to hear stations from many different areas simultaneously. Here in CA I was hearing JA, US, EU and South American stations at the same time on 20 meters. After working the strong stations it is the weaker ones that become very important. With the default settings things can get quite jumbled and the audio is not clean and crisp. I tend to ride the HI and LO cut bandpass knobs along with RF Gain during this time to get an advantage with blocking out stations as best I can. K3/K3S AGC also plays into this situation. N6TV has done quite a bit of work with AGC and has some interesting suggestions that improve the receive characteristics with many stations in the passband. The problem Bob found was that close-in stations would cause AGC action that would make the stations blend together. The best description is that you simply heard “mush”. With the work that was done and improvements in firmware much of this has been improved, although I’m not sure that it can ever be completely eliminated. This is a trait common to most modern radios, although they tend to differ in the amount of mush and distortion that occur. The key is to know your radio and apply settings that improve its characteristics. Note that all radios have compromises that tend to only be heard in extreme conditions such as we see in contesting.

All of this has been discussed on the reflector some time ago. In the Nabble archives look up “K3 Receiver Mush”.

As a contester, it is very important that we know and understand all aspects of our stations, including the radios to get peak performance. The best contesters get the most from their radios; they can only do that by knowing them. Contesters that are new to a big station may not know the details of the radio in front of them, which says more about the contester than the radio. 

I chose the K3 and K3S for my station because they were the best available. I still believe that, and use them in every contest I enter. Now my antennas could definitely use some improvement…

73!
Jack, W6FB

> On Mar 31, 2020, at 8:12 AM, Bob McGraw K4TAX <rmcgraw at blomand.net> wrote:
> 
> Having used a K3 for a few weeks sometime back, and now having a K3S on my desk for about 3 years, I can attest that there is a noted improvement and difference in the SSB receive audio with my K3S.   I did wait on buying a K3S but I did so, only after learning of the improved SSB receive audio.
> 
> As to transmit audio, I find there are several critical areas under the users control that do affect the SSB transmitted audio. I am not a fan of external EQ and Processing.  Lousy audio going in which is EQ'd and Processed sounds like lousy audio that is EQ'd and processed.  Otherwise stated, one can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear.
> 
> Factors which affect audio are namely mike technique and room acoustics.  And to some noted extent the adjustment or setting of the K3S internal EQ.   In order to determine mike technique one needs to be able to record and playback their transmitted audio. You can't do it with headphones and the monitor system.  Carefully listen to the recording.   Adjust and repeat as needed.   In this process one needs to move the mike, thus changing mike-to-mouth distance along with talking direct into the face of the mike.  The frequency response of most mikes will change as one moves off to the side of the mike.  Likewise, lip smacks, nasal noise, denture buzz, and others is affected by mike-to-mouth distance.  If it is a dynamic mike, closer to the mike will enhance the lower end. Back away and the low end goes down.   You can use this to your advantage, understanding the artifacts of mike-to-mouth distance.
> 
> If one has any fan noise, room reverberation or HVAC noise,  I suggest working closer to the mike and adjusting the MIC level and/or Speech Processor levels down.  Excessive processing brings up unwanted noises.    Of course changing or improving room acoustics is another advantage, if this can be done. {Topic for another discussion.}
> 
> As recommended by Bob Heil, Jim Brown and others including me. FYI -  I'm using a dynamic professional grade Shure SM58 mike direct to the radio.   The TX EQ is as follows: 50 Hz -16dB, 100 Hz -16dB, 200 Hz -16dB, 400 Hz, -12dB, 800 Hz -0dB, 1.6kHz -0dB, 2.4 kHz +3dB, 3.2 kHz +6dB.   ESSB is OFF.  As others have indicated, and as I have determined, using the record and play back method described above, this sounds really good.   And my voice is no Don Pardeau either!  I work directly on axis and about 1" from the face of the mike.   With another mike brand/model,  I find that I must work 4" or about one fist distance from the face of the mike.
> 
> There is no short coming of the K3S receive or transmit audio. It is excellent communications audio.
> 
> 73
> 
> Bob, K4TAX
> 
> 
> On 3/30/2020 8:44 PM, Scott Manthe wrote:
>> When I was active, I often got unsolicited positive comments on my audio quality. Partly due to my great voice, I'm sure, but the radio didn't wreck the raw material.
>> 
>> 73,
>> Scott N9AA
>> 
>> On 3/30/20 9:17 PM, Ignacy wrote:
>>> Many contesters with large budgets use K3 to win or obtain top scores in SSB
>>> contests. This means that K3 is competitive on SSB with other radios, and
>>> its flaws in SSB if any are balanced by its advantages.
>>> Early K3 had large AF distortions, fixed by a simple modification.
>>> Ignacy, NO9E
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>> 
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>> 
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to rmcgraw at blomand.net
> 
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> 
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to jackbrindle at me.com