Elecraft K3 Operating Tip: Using TX TEST to Adjust Speech Controls and ALC Level

By David, on July 13th, 2010%

(Courtesy Wayne Burdick of Elecraft, Inc.)

The K3 provides a way to adjust speech controls and ALC level off-air.

 

(Technical note: The reason this is possible is that the K3's fast ALC 

is established in the DSP. This means the K3's first-I.F. crystal 

filters can be used in TX mode to ensure that dynamic ALC responses 

are band-limited. This prevents the kind of splatter often heard from 

rigs that apply fast ALC in hardware, after the crystal filter. This 

technique also allows the DSP to provide very effective, very clean 

speech . . .

To read the rest of this article, please click here: → Elecraft K3 Operating Tip: Using TX TEST to Adjust Speech Controls and ALC Level

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Adjust PSK31 Audio Levels Without ALC

By David, on March 20th, 2009%

A properly adjusted PSK31 signal is only 31Hz wide. Yes, you read that right…31Hz. (As a comparison, the typical SSB voice transmission is 3000 Hz or 3KHz wide). However, PSK31 is prone to splatter when the rig is overdriven with audio. It’s important to adjust the audio levels such that the rig isn’t over driven so that no splatter is created and you stay within the 31 Hz. width you’re supposed to.

It seems that everywhere you go, people provide procedures for adjusting your transmit audio levels as a function of the ALC meter on your rig. There is, of course, nothing wrong with this…it’s a perfectly acceptable and . . .

To read the rest of this article, please click here: → Adjust PSK31 Audio Levels Without ALC

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On The Rig: Use the Squelch to eliminate atmospheric noise.

By David, on February 22nd, 2009%

The squelch control on your rig is used to eliminate atmospheric noise, static noise, and background noise during periods of time where there are no signals being received.

Hams using radios on frequencies where FM is typically used, such as “2 meters” and when accessing UHF and VHF repeaters typically make extensive use of their squelch control.  They adjust it so that the radio is completely quiet when nothing is being received, but that when a transmission is being received, the signal comes through cleanly.

Another use of the squelch on FM modes is to block out the weaker of two (or more) signals on the same frequency.  On . . .

To read the rest of this article, please click here: → On The Rig: Use the Squelch to eliminate atmospheric noise.

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