[Elecraft] Transceiver Test Bed at W3LPL

[donovanf at starpower.net]

During the Coronavirus crisis many of us have much more time than 
usual for serious technical experimentation and testing. 

I'm building a transceiver test bed and I'll regularly report the progress 
of my test setup, procedures and results. The intent of my test bed 
is to document the transmitter and receiver performance of modern 
transceivers in the intense QRM environment encountered by contesters. 
My test bed will not be used to duplicate technical tests such as sensitivity 
and dynamic range that are well documented by other expert testers. 

I welcome constructive comments about my test bed, test procedures and 
results. 

Hopefully other technically inclined hams will develop similar test beds 
so we can compare our test procedures and results. I will share my initial 
test results prior to availability of the Elecraft K4. 

Test Description: 

Transceivers #1 and #2 will be QRM generators using two K3 transceivers 
with DVRs and stored Morse messages feeding Array Solutions Powermaster 
digital wattmeters and individual dummy loads. The QRM generator 
transceivers will use various frequencies very close to the frequency of 
transceiver #3. The DVRs and CW message memories in the QRM 
generator transceivers will store various voice and Morse messages 
which will change as the test procedures evolve. The power levels and 
frequencies of the QRM generator transceivers will be varied in accordance 
with written test procedures. 

Transceivers #3 and #4 will be the transceivers under test. 

Transceiver #3 will be the transmitter-under-test feeding an Array Solutions 
Powermaster digital wattmeter and dummy load. Initially they will be 
my K3 and FTdx5000 transceivers and my Heil and ModMic microphones. 
Transmitter #3 will generate call signs and contest exchanges to be transcribed 
by operators listening to transceiver #4. The frequencies, power level, 
callsigns, contest exchanges, microphones and operator controllable settings 
(e.g., compression and equalization) used by transceiver #3 will be varied in 
accordance with written test procedures. 

Transceiver #4 will be the receiver-under-test connected to a dummy load. 
Initially they will be my K3 and FTdx5000 transceivers. The callsigns 
and contest exchanges transmitted by transceiver #3 will not be known to 
the operator transcribing the audio heard from transceiver #4. A variety of 
operators will be invited to transcribe the callsigns and contest exchanges 
they hear on this transceiver. 

73 
Frank 
W3LPL