[Elecraft] K3 sidetone level

[Al Lorona]

Tuning around on 40 meters today, I saw a signal on the P3 where the energy from 0 - 400 Hz was 15 dB higher than the energy above 400 Hz. I see a lot of signals like this. You probably do, too. 

I did the math... (taking into account power spectral density) if his output power was 100W, then 80 W were in the frequencies below 400 Hz, and 20 W were in the frequencies above. That poor guy was operating QRP without even knowing it, in the frequencies that really matter for speech. He could be quite a bit stronger without spending a single dollar, merely by equalizing his audio.

I notice that SSB signals that appear more or less flat across their bandwidth, as seen on the P3, are extremely articulate and seem to pop out of the speakers. To get a signal like this, you have to follow Jim's (K9YC) EQ'ing guidelines or make some kind of measurements to tell you what your transmitted passband looks like.

Al  W6LX/4