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Video: A test of M0JKS's aftermarket mic for KX2/KX3 radios

By: John AE5X
28 September 2024 at 21:33
Tom M7MCQ recently posted some interesting info on an aftermarket mic for Elecraft KX-series radios.The mic was initially offered by Dave M0JKS as a kit but they now are sold completely built.I ordered one the next day.Dave's mic is about 1/3rd the price of the Elecraft MH3 and is much smaller. Cost of the mic and shipping to my US address from the UK was $35. The mic comes with a TRRS cable,

QRP rigs, pricing, and what's missing from most of them

By: John AE5X
27 September 2024 at 18:52
A search of the mythical Ideal QRP Travel Rig For Vibration-Rich Environments has me, once again, pondering what's out there and coming to the same old conclusion:That the Elecraft KX2 - manyyears (yes, one word) after its introduction - still has no peer. Eight years old now - a virtual eternity.Like others, I watch the YouTube infomercials of the latest offerings, hoping to find my unicorn. But

I've got to put some more effort into the AX1

After reading Craig WB3GCK's blog post, and reading comments from Brian KB9BVN on Facebook and his blog, I've decided I've got to spend more time getting used to (I was going to say "playing around with") my Elecraft AX1 antenna.

My results with it so far, the few times I've used it, have been 50/50. Sometimes it seems to work great, and other times I just end up with a whole bag of frustration.

Tom K4SWL had a great blog post and video of using the AX1 with the Emtech ZM-2 tuner. I'll have to give that a shot. I don't know .......I mentioned to Craig that I seem to have an innate "wire ... the higher, the better" antenna bias. I think the times the AX1 has disappointed me has caused me to consider it more of a last resort kind of thing.Β 

I think this calls for a few evenings of operating from the patio table in the backyard. Actual QSOs and perhaps a few sessions of calling CQ and seeing where the Reverse Beacon Network picks me up. I can kill two birds with one stone and use the time to also get even more familiar with the QMX. I have not even attempted programming the keyer messages yet. It took me long enough how to figure out changing bands and setting up the display and the VFO! I guess I just need to take baby steps.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

Setting Up RUMLogNG with The Elecraft K3S: Tips and Tricks for Smooth Operation

Ham Radio With K0PIR

Setting up RumLogNG with Elecraft K3S is a breeze with these helpful tips and tricks. From configuring the software to optimizing the radio settings, this guide ensures a smooth operation. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced operator, get ready to enhance your logging experience and make the most out of your Elecraft K3S.

The post Setting Up RUMLogNG with The Elecraft K3S: Tips and Tricks for Smooth Operation appeared first on Ham Radio with K0PIR - Icom 7300 and 7610 SDR Transceivers and now Elecraft!.

Optimizing Power Settings for Elecraft K3S and WSJT-X: A Comprehensive Guide

Ham Radio With K0PIR

In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the intricacies of optimizing power settings for the Elecraft K3S and WSJT-X. From understanding the impact of power levels on signal quality to fine-tuning your setup for maximum efficiency, this guide provides invaluable insights and step-by-step instructions to enhance your digital communication experience.

The post Optimizing Power Settings for Elecraft K3S and WSJT-X: A Comprehensive Guide appeared first on Ham Radio with K0PIR - Icom 7300 and 7610 SDR Transceivers and now Elecraft!.

Today's park activation from Iceland

By: John AE5X
13 June 2024 at 21:03
I've activated two parks in Iceland since arriving 4 days ago - both times were first activations for those parks. It's been tough to put the camera down. Iceland is an amazing country and I'll have more to say about it later.Today's activation of IS-0092 BlΓ‘bjΓΆrg Natural Monument was a lesson in Exceeded Expectations 101. Just when you think you can predict certain aspects of this radio stuff,

Replacement Power Supplies

(This a rewrite as WordPress.com ate without leaving the least sign the first draft. Actually self-deleted several drafts and scheduled posts. Not helpful.) Β  EDIT 9:30 AM June 4th – Seems Powerwerx takes speedy delivery to heart, as my order was just dropped off at my office!Β  Alas I won’t be able to break into […]

Fading Friends and Family

A quiet reminder to keep in touch with your friends and family. When people get old and/or take ill, it seems to come in waves. This week a cousin told family that cancer has spread into two areas and types of cancer, which puts things into uncharted territory for them. A friend’s wife who also […]

The KX2 rides to Goethe State Park

By: John AE5X
25 April 2024 at 21:31
A new set of paddles and an inductive helper for my 17-ft whip both rode shotgun with me for about an hour on a beautiful Florida morning.Everything about the kit made for a quick and easy set-up...and that is my goal: 2 minutes till "On The Air" and 2 minutes to "Back on the road".The KX2 is probably the 2nd fastest rig to put on the air, second only to the KH1. But its effectiveness (due to

Most "smuggle-able" radio?

By: John AE5X
13 April 2024 at 17:29
There's a KX2 in that camera bag.I know you can see it...but the only thing airport agents see is camera gear.Nikon, Canon, Olympus...they all make camera gear - nothing to see here.After my trip to Ecuador last year, several people emailed to ask me about getting my gear through customs. Any problems?Ditto with a recent Caribbean cruise and a trip to Nova Scotia.My radio at the time was either

Icom 7610 And Elecraft K3S SSB Receiver Settings

Ham Radio With K0PIR

Among amateur radio operators, the Icom 7610 and Elecraft K3S radios stand out as popular choices, renowned for their superior performance and advanced features. Despite their impressive attributes, these radios can be further optimized by adjusting their SSB listening receiver...

The post Icom 7610 And Elecraft K3S SSB Receiver Settings appeared first on Ham Radio with K0PIR - Icom 7300 and 7610 SDR Transceivers and now Elecraft!.

Order for KH1 cancelled

By: John AE5X
13 December 2023 at 00:03
I placed an order for a KH1 on October 20, when the shipping date was "4-6 weeks". Today is the 8th week with a new projected shipping date of mid-January.A big justification for placing the order was the anticipated ease of taking the tiny rig on a late December cruise and operating from one or two ports, or from the ship itself (we have a balcony cabin).Subsequent activity with the rig would be

DXing: KX2 masquerading as a KH1

By: John AE5X
22 November 2023 at 02:18
A cheap 51" (130cm) telescoping CB walkie-talkie antenna and conditions on 10-15 meters gave me the idea to treat my KX2 like a KH1.Tuesday mornings can offer slow POTA activity but I was pleased with the results anyway from a peaceful little park about half an hour from home.The weather was perfect and this project served as the perfect excuse to be outside.In the following video, I made 10

A spectral look at the KH1's sidetone

By: John AE5X
16 November 2023 at 21:08
I don't particularly care for the KH1's sidetone for two reasons:First of all, it sounds terrible and I find it to be reminiscent of a code practice oscillator I built as a kid.Second, there is no way to zero-beat a station based on how their pitch relates to your own sidetone.Neither of these reasons matter too much - the KH1 is a utilitarian radio designed for a specific purpose - quick

Elecraft K3S Big Surprise!

Ham Radio With K0PIR

Big surprise after opening the Elecraft K3S! I bought this rig used off of Schulman Auctions. I love this radio, but I find it is not as easy to use or configure as the Icom 7300. Let me tell you...

The post Elecraft K3S Big Surprise! appeared first on Ham Radio with K0PIR - Icom 7300 and 7610 SDR Transceivers and now Elecraft!.

The Ultimate Companion for Amateur Radio Enthusiasts: The New KH1 Hand-Held 5-Band Transceiver

Ham Radio With K0PIR

Hey there, Ham friends! If you're passionate about amateur radio, you'll be thrilled to learn about the latest addition to the world of ham radio gear: the KH1 Hand-Held 5-Band Transceiver. This pocket-sized wonder is taking the amateur radio community...

The post The Ultimate Companion for Amateur Radio Enthusiasts: The New KH1 Hand-Held 5-Band Transceiver appeared first on Ham Radio with K0PIR - Icom 7300 and 7610 SDR Transceivers and now Elecraft!.

Audio delay - the unspecified parameter for ham radio transceivers

10 January 2023 at 02:43

Elecraft K3: Upper trace is start of sidetone and
lower trace is start of RF ~15 ms later.
An amateur radio transceiver is not a precision measurement device. This is apparent when it comes to measuring time for your own round-the-world signal or when characterizing Long-Delayed Echos (LDE).Β One cannot just substitute onset of sidetone for the actual start of transmission of RF. Similarly there may be an unspecified delay between received RF and start of audio output on the receiver side.Β Β 

The main specification for ham radio transceivers is that the sidetone is synchronized with the keying. The delay to start of RF is only of secondary importance. All numbers should therefore be judged against the length of a dot which for instance at a morse code speed of 30 WPM is 40 ms.Β 

Here are some measurements for the Elecraft K3 and K2 that I did in 2021 for a presentation on LDEs at the HamSci 2021 conference. A video of the presentation is also available:Β Long delayed radio echoes – the illusive secret of the ionosphere

The first image shows that start of the sidetone is about 15 ms before RF is transmitted in the Elecraft K3.

Elecraft K3: Upper trace shows RF and
lower trace start of AF output some 35 ms later.
The second image shows that there is a delay of about 35 ms between RF is received and audio appears on the receiver side. This means that measurement of audio delay overestimates the value for RF delay by about 50 ms. It should be noted that in a transceiver with digital signal processing, especially the receiver delay will vary with settings. In the case measured here, the DSP was set for 50 Hz bandwidth.


Elecraft K2: Upper trace is start of sidetone and
lower trace is start of RF ~4 ms later.
The Elecraft K2 without the DSP audio processor is a 100% analog transceiver and has much less delay. The delay from sidetone to RF is about 4 ms.

Second, the delay from RF to audio appears is about 8 ms giving a total of 12 ms additional delay to take into account.


Elecraft K2: Lower trace shows RF and
upper trace start of AF output some 8 ms later.















I would expect other transceivers to have similar delays, that the delay will vary from one type of transceiver to the other, and even with settings of e.g. filter parameters for a single transceiver.Β 

The post "Audio delay - the unspecified parameter for ham radio transceivers" first appeared on the LA3ZA Radio & Electronics Blog.

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