Inside the K3 Inside the K3 High Performance Rig DesignHigh Performance Rig Design

Dynamic Range is your friend!Dynamic Range is your friend!

Hands on Hands on Ham RadioHam Radio..

© 2009 Elecraft, Inc.© 2009 Elecraft, Inc.

The K3 HF Transceiver

K3 – What’s New?K3 – What’s New? High performance 1High performance 1stst IF Filters down to 200 Hz @8.215 MHz IF Filters down to 200 Hz @8.215 MHz IF Shift / Pass Band TuningIF Shift / Pass Band Tuning High Performance Noise Blankers: H/W High Performance Noise Blankers: H/W and and DSP– Both DSP– Both

AdjustableAdjustable 8 Band Parametric TX & RX Equalizers8 Band Parametric TX & RX Equalizers PSK, RTTY, CW Decode. (PSK, RTTY, CW Decode. (Send data modes from CW paddle!)Send data modes from CW paddle!) General Coverage RX BPF OptionGeneral Coverage RX BPF Option High Performance ATU w/2 ANTs - Matches 10:1 SWRHigh Performance ATU w/2 ANTs - Matches 10:1 SWR 100% Remote Controllable; Built-in isolated sound card interface100% Remote Controllable; Built-in isolated sound card interface K3 MCU & DSP Software Upgrades via the Internet K3 MCU & DSP Software Upgrades via the Internet (or local files)(or local files) Up to 9 Transverter Bands with correct frequency display.Up to 9 Transverter Bands with correct frequency display.

K3 – RX performanceK3 – RX performance Hybrid SDR / Analog DesignHybrid SDR / Analog Design High Q front end band-pass filtersHigh Q front end band-pass filters Switching Mixer = Better Dynamic Switching Mixer = Better Dynamic

RangeRange Low Noise Synthesizer (L.O.)Low Noise Synthesizer (L.O.) Dual Diversity RX = Dual Diversity RX = More signals heardMore signals heard..

Fully independent High-Performance RXFully independent High-Performance RX Independent Synthesizer, NB, filters etcIndependent Synthesizer, NB, filters etc Split off of main RX path or from a 2Split off of main RX path or from a 2ndnd Antenna Antenna 3 modes of operation:3 modes of operation:

Sub RX = VFO BSub RX = VFO B (VFO B = TX if running split) (VFO B = TX if running split) Linked:Linked: Sub, VFO B, Tracks VFO A (with or without offset) Sub, VFO B, Tracks VFO A (with or without offset) Dual Diversity:Dual Diversity: True phase locked RX from two antennas at True phase locked RX from two antennas at

once.once.

K3 High Performance Sub-ReceiverK3 High Performance Sub-Receiver

Dual Diversity RXDual Diversity RX Two identical, phase locked Receivers.Two identical, phase locked Receivers. Use different antennas (TX ant, beverage etc.)Use different antennas (TX ant, beverage etc.) Tune both together with main VFO knobTune both together with main VFO knob RX1 in left ear, RX2 in right ear.RX1 in left ear, RX2 in right ear. Different signal arrival angles and directions.Different signal arrival angles and directions. Fades at different times in each RX = less fills.Fades at different times in each RX = less fills. Pile-ups / QRM spread out spatially. Use your Pile-ups / QRM spread out spatially. Use your

brain to pick out signals by their L-R location. brain to pick out signals by their L-R location. (+3 to 6 dB)(+3 to 6 dB)

High Resolution Color Real-Time Spectrum DisplayHigh Resolution Color Real-Time Spectrum Display Fast Spectrum and Waterfall Displays (+ Split Fast Spectrum and Waterfall Displays (+ Split

Screen)Screen) Plug and PlayPlug and Play with the K3 – No PC S/W Problems! with the K3 – No PC S/W Problems! Full Integration with K3 – Panadapter Tracks Full Integration with K3 – Panadapter Tracks

Main/Sub VFOs, Point and Click Tuning etc.Main/Sub VFOs, Point and Click Tuning etc. Software Downloadable for future options.Software Downloadable for future options. Ships by end of this year (2009)Ships by end of this year (2009)

P3 DSP Panadapter for the K3P3 DSP Panadapter for the K3

P3 - DSP Panadapter for the K3P3 - DSP Panadapter for the K3

P3 in Full Spectrum Display Mode

P3 - DSP Panadapter for the K3P3 - DSP Panadapter for the K3

P3 in Split Waterfall / Spectrum Display Mode

IMD Dynamic Range and Blocking Dynamic Range

5 kHz Signal Spacing

Rig BDR IMDDR3

Elecraft K3 140 104

Ten-Tec Orion II ($5K) 136 96

ICOM IC-7800 ($10K+) 127 96

ICOM IC-7600 (Sherwood LabTest) 126 78 (2 kHz)

Flex-5000C ($4.8K) 123 96

Yaesu FT-9000 ($10K+) 119 98

Ten-Tec Omni 6+ 119 86

Flex-3000 112 96

Yaesu FT-2000 108 85

ICOM IC-756 Pro III 101 77

Kenwood TS-570D 87 72

RED numbers indicate >10 dB worse than K3

De-sensing of RX by off freq. signalsDe-sensing of RX by off freq. signals Impacted by RX front end design.Impacted by RX front end design. Impacted by PLL Phase NoiseImpacted by PLL Phase Noise Test Methods: 20, 5, 2 kHz spacingTest Methods: 20, 5, 2 kHz spacing K3 BDR = 140 dB+K3 BDR = 140 dB+

Blocking Dynamic RangeBlocking Dynamic Range“De-sense”“De-sense”

Inter-modulation between strong multiple off Inter-modulation between strong multiple off frequency signals produces distortion frequency signals produces distortion products inside the receive IF bandwidth.products inside the receive IF bandwidth.

Dynamic Range = IMD Signal Level - MDSDynamic Range = IMD Signal Level - MDS

K3 IMDDR3 = 104 dBK3 IMDDR3 = 104 dB

IMD Dynamic RangeIMD Dynamic Range“Intermod”“Intermod”

Dynamic RangeDynamic Range

Subject: K3 testingDate: Sat, 09 Feb 2008From: Rob Sherwood <Rob@nc0b.com>

Dear Eric and Wayne,

The high side and low side IMD is very well behaved, and virtually identical. Good job.

3rd order intermod dynamic range @ spacings:

100 kHz 500/500 filtering: 104 dB20 kHz 500/500 filtering: 104 dB5 kHz, 500/500 filtering: 102 dB2 kHz 200/200 filtering: 101 dB

It looks like you are top dog now!

Better than the Orion II, the Flex 5000A and certainly better than the IC-7800.

DSP AGC impulse rejection = DSP AGC impulse rejection = Smooth RXSmooth RX

Subject: Subject: K3K3Date: Date: Sat, 09 Feb 2008 Sat, 09 Feb 2008 From: From: Rob Sherwood Rob Sherwood Rob@nc0b.comRob@nc0b.com

..the K3 passes the ‘Sherwood AGC test’ with flying ..the K3 passes the ‘Sherwood AGC test’ with flying colors.colors.

1 V. P-P very fast rise time pulse, 1 PPS, is basically 1 V. P-P very fast rise time pulse, 1 PPS, is basically ignored by the AGCignored by the AGC

I think it is better than all the other rigs that have I think it is better than all the other rigs that have come out in the last few years which fail miserably: come out in the last few years which fail miserably: FTDX-9000, FT-2000, Orion II, Omni-VII, IC-7000, IC7800.FTDX-9000, FT-2000, Orion II, Omni-VII, IC-7000, IC7800.

AGC PerformanceAGC Performance

Phase noise = the off frequency sideband energy Phase noise = the off frequency sideband energy of your local oscillator (VFO) in RX and TX.of your local oscillator (VFO) in RX and TX.

High Phase Noise:High Phase Noise: Limits Sensitivity and Dynamic Range by mixing off Limits Sensitivity and Dynamic Range by mixing off

frequency signals on to your IF frequency. Limits frequency signals on to your IF frequency. Limits Blocking DR.Blocking DR.

Transmits broadband noise across all of the band.Transmits broadband noise across all of the band. The K3’s Receive and TX Phase noise is -140 dBc The K3’s Receive and TX Phase noise is -140 dBc

at 10 kHz, -150+ dBc at wider spacings. 15-25 dB at 10 kHz, -150+ dBc at wider spacings. 15-25 dB lower than ‘pure’ SDR transceiver TX and RX lower than ‘pure’ SDR transceiver TX and RX phase noise. phase noise.

Phase NoisePhase Noise

Strong Front End DesignStrong Front End Design Hi-Performance Switching Mixer, Post Mixer Amp.Hi-Performance Switching Mixer, Post Mixer Amp.

Narrow Band-pass Front End FiltersNarrow Band-pass Front End Filters Low Phase Noise (Low noise LO)Low Phase Noise (Low noise LO) Optimal Gain Distribution; AGC DesignOptimal Gain Distribution; AGC Design High Performance Crystal FiltersHigh Performance Crystal Filters True Dual Diversity RX opens up a new True Dual Diversity RX opens up a new

dimension.dimension.

K3: The Basics = Great RX PerformanceK3: The Basics = Great RX Performance

VP6DVP6DXX

All K3 DXpedition to Ducie Island (Pitcairn)All K3 DXpedition to Ducie Island (Pitcairn) New records for number of stations worked.New records for number of stations worked. 2 K3s on all bands simultaneously (CW/SSB)2 K3s on all bands simultaneously (CW/SSB)