Rec

eive

r P

erfo

rman

ce

Tra

nsm

itte

d B

W

Tra

nsm

itte

d B

W

Con

test

Fat

igueg

Rob

She

rwoo

dN

CØB

NCØB

Lim

itatio

ns to

a b

ette

r con

test

sco

re m

ay

nota

lway

sbe

obvi

ous

not a

lway

s be

obv

ious

.

Sher

woo

d En

gine

erin

g1

•Wha

t is

impo

rtan

t in

a co

ntes

t env

ironm

ent?

•Goo

dD

ynam

icR

ange

tohe

arw

eak

sign

als

inth

eG

ood

Dyn

amic

Ran

ge to

hea

rwea

k si

gnal

sin

the

pres

ence

ofn

ear-

by s

trong

sign

als.

•Be

ago

odne

ighb

or:i

eH

ave

acl

ean

sign

al•B

e a

good

nei

ghbo

r: i.e

. Hav

e a

clea

n si

gnal

.

•Sub

tle fa

ctor

s af

fect

rece

iver

per

form

ance

, but

t

td

did

bA

RR

Lar

e ne

ver t

este

d or

eve

n di

scus

sed

by A

RR

L.

•You

nee

d a

bette

r rec

eive

r for

CW

than

for S

SB

.

•New

tech

nolo

gy is

not

aut

omat

ical

ly b

ette

r.

•Min

imiz

e fa

tigue

fact

ors

to m

axim

ize

you

scor

e.2

Wha

t P

aram

eter

is M

ost

Impo

rtan

t W

hat

Par

amet

er is

Mos

t Im

port

ant

for

a C

W C

onte

ster

?

•C

lose

-in D

ynam

ic R

ange

(DR

3)

yg

()

•(W

eha

veto

know

the

nois

eflo

orto

•(W

e ha

ve to

kno

w th

e no

ise

floor

to

calc

ulat

e D

ynam

ic R

ange

)

3

Wha

t is

Noi

se F

loor

?W

hat

is N

oise

Flo

or?

Sen

sitiv

ity is

a fa

milia

r num

ber,

norm

ally

app

lies

to S

SB

.Se

nsiti

vity

= 10

dB

Sig

nal +

Noi

se /

Noi

se (1

0 dB

S+N

/N)

Noi

se F

loor

= 3

dB S

igna

l + N

oise

/ N

oise

(3

dB S

+N/N

)

Noi

se fl

oor c

an b

e m

easu

red

at a

ny fi

lter b

andw

idth

, CW

or

SS

B, f

or e

xam

ple,

and

is b

andw

idth

dep

ende

nt.

Leag

ue n

orm

ally

onl

y pu

blis

hes

nois

e flo

or fo

r a C

W

bd

idth

ti

ll50

0H

CW

filt

band

wid

th, t

ypic

ally

500

Hz

CW

filte

r.

4

Thi

rd O

rder

IM

DT

hird

Ord

er I

MD

Sig

nal

Sig

nal

2 kH

z sp

acin

g

IMD

IMD

2 kH

z sp

acin

g2

kHz

spac

ing

5

Wha

t is

Dyn

amic

Ran

ge?

Wha

t is

Dyn

amic

Ran

ge?

Thi

dBf

ti

lt

ki

lTh

e ra

nge

in d

Bof

ver

y st

rong

sig

nals

to v

ery

wea

k si

gnal

s th

at t

he re

ceiv

er c

an h

andl

e A

t The

Sam

e Ti

me

Wha

t is

Clo

se-in

Dyn

amic

Ran

ge v

s

Wid

e-S

pace

dD

ynam

icR

ange

?W

ide-

Spa

ced

Dyn

amic

Ran

ge?

Why

is C

lose

-in D

ynam

icso

impo

rtant

for C

W o

ps?

Why

is it

less

impo

rtant

for S

SB

ope

rato

rs?

6

Wid

e &

Clo

se D

ynam

ic R

ange

Wid

e &

Clo

se D

ynam

ic R

ange

20 k

Hz

Spa

cing

2 kH

z S

paci

ng

IMD

20

kHz

Away

IMD

2 k

Hz

Away

15 k

Hz

Wid

e15

kH

z W

ide

Firs

tIF

Filte

rat7

045

5M

Hz

Firs

tIF

Filte

rat7

045

5M

HFi

rst I

F Fi

lter a

t 70.

455

MH

zFi

rst I

F Fi

lter a

t 70.

455

MH

z

7

Hi

ht

fith

bd

idth

it

filt

Hig

hest

per

form

ance

with

a b

andw

idth

app

ropr

iate

filte

r rig

ht u

p fro

nt a

fter t

he fi

rst m

ixer

, suc

h as

Orio

n &

K3.

DS

PFi

lterin

gS

SB

BW

Filte

rA

mpl

ifier

Mix

erM

ixer

CW

BW

CW

BW

Filte

r

This

kee

ps th

e un

desi

red

stro

ng s

igna

ls fr

om p

rogr

essi

ng

dow

n st

ream

to th

e ne

xt s

tage

s.8

Whe

n ar

e 2

Out

of

Pas

s B

and

Whe

n ar

e 2

Out

of

Pas

s B

and

Sig

nals

a P

robl

em?

Ifk

thl

id

if

dit

ht

•If

you

know

the

clos

e-in

dyn

amic

rang

e of

a ra

dio,

at w

hat

sign

al le

vel w

ill IM

D s

tart

to b

e a

prob

lem

?•

SM

eter

stan

dard

isS

9=

50V

,w

hich

is–7

3dB

mS

Met

er s

tand

ard

is S

9 5

0 V

,w

hich

is

73 d

Bm

•A

ssum

e a

typi

cal r

adio

:50

0 H

z C

W fi

lter

N

oise

Flo

or o

f -12

8 dB

mP

ream

p O

FFDy

nam

ic Ra

nge

Sign

al Le

vel C

ausin

g IM

D = N

oise

Flo

orDy

nam

ic Ra

nge

Sign

al Le

vel C

ausin

g IM

D = N

oise

Flo

or55

dB

S9

FT-

757

(56

dB)

60 d

BS

9 +

5 dB

FT

-200

0 (6

1 dB

)65

dB

S9

+ 10

dB

IC-7

000

(63

dB)

()

70 d

B T

ypic

al U

p-co

nver

sion

S9

+ 15

dB

100

0 M

P /M

k V

Fie

ld (6

8 / 6

9 dB

)75

dB

S9

+ 20

dB

756

Pro

II /

III (7

5 dB

)80

dB

S9

+ 25

dB

Om

ni-V

II / I

C-7

800

(80

dB)

85dB

S9

+30

dBR

9500

(85

dB)

85 d

BS

9 +

30 d

B R

9500

(85

dB)

90 d

BS

9 +

35 d

B F

lex

3000

(90

dB

)95

dB

S9

+ 40

dB

Orio

n II

& F

lex

5000

A (9

5 / 9

6 dB

)10

0 dB

S9

+ 45

dB

K3

(95

to 1

01 d

B, r

oofin

g fil

ter)

9

List

of70

*dB

Dyn

amic

Ran

geR

adio

sLi

st o

f 70

dB D

ynam

ic R

ange

Rad

ios

* R

adio

s lis

ted

betw

een

72 d

B a

nd 6

8 dB

, des

cend

ing

orde

r

Col

lins

75S-

3C

IC

-756

Pro

D

rake

R8

IC

R90

00

IC-7

61

TS-8

30S

TS

-870

S

FT-1

000

Mk

V Fi

eld

TS

-430

S

FT-1

000

MP

C

X-11

A

TS-1

80S

TR

-4C

IC

-735

10

The

DR

3“w

indo

w”

isno

tfix

edTh

e D

R3

win

dow

is n

ot fi

xed

The

dyna

mic

rang

e of

a ra

dio

is th

e sa

me

with

an

atte

nuat

or O

N o

r OFF

.

If on

a n

oisy

ban

d, a

ttenu

ate

the

nois

e an

d al

l sig

nals

to

mak

e be

tter u

se o

f the

dyn

amic

rang

e, a

nd re

duce

the

chan

ceof

over

load

chan

ce o

f ove

rload

.

If ba

nd n

oise

goe

s fro

m S

6 to

S2

by tu

rnin

g on

the

atte

nuat

oryo

uha

velo

stno

thin

gye

tyou

rrad

iois

bein

gat

tenu

ator

, you

hav

e lo

st n

othi

ng, y

et y

our r

adio

is b

eing

st

ress

ed m

uch

less

.

11

AC

omm

ento

nIP

3(3

rdO

rder

Inte

rcep

t)A

Com

men

t on

IP3

(3rd

Ord

er In

terc

ept)

I don

’t pu

blis

h IP

3. I

t is

a th

eore

tical

num

ber.

It ha

s m

ore

mea

ning

for a

blo

ck a

mpl

ifier

or m

ixer

.

Alm

ostm

eani

ngle

ssif

the

AG

Cof

are

ceiv

eris

invo

lved

Alm

ost m

eani

ngle

ss if

the

AG

C o

f a re

ceiv

er is

invo

lved

Oct

ober

200

7 Q

ST

Pro

duct

Rev

iew

FT-

2000

D

DR

3S

paci

ngLe

vel

IP3

DR

3

Spa

cing

L

evel

IP

3

98 d

B

20 k

Hz

N

oise

Flo

or+2

5 dB

m

69 d

B

2 k

Hz

Noi

se F

loor

-19

dBm

29 d

B

2 k

Hz

0 dB

m =

S9+

73 d

B+1

5 dB

m

12

Atte

nuat

ors

Prea

mps

&IP

3A

ttenu

ator

s, P

ream

ps &

IP3

Dyn

amic

rang

eis

cons

tant

ifyo

uen

able

anat

tenu

ator

Dyn

amic

rang

e is

con

stan

t if y

ou e

nabl

e an

atte

nuat

or

and

near

ly c

onst

ant w

ith a

pre

amp

enab

led.

IP

3 va

ries

all o

ver t

he m

ap.

Dat

a fro

m M

arch

QS

T 20

08 F

T-95

0

Gai

nD

ynam

ic R

ange

IP3

dBm

Pre

295

+4

(p

ublis

hed)

Pre

195

+13

(pub

lishe

d)

No

Pre

amp

94+2

2(p

ublis

hed)

No

Pre

amp

94+2

2(p

ublis

hed)

Att

6 dB

94+2

8(c

alcu

late

d)

Att

12dB

94+3

4(

ll

td)

Att

12 d

B94

+34

(cal

cula

ted)

Att

18 d

B94

+40

(cal

cula

ted)

13

Bog

usA

RR

LD

ynam

icR

ange

Num

bers

Bog

us A

RR

L D

ynam

ic R

ange

Num

bers

M

any

mod

ern

trans

ceiv

ers

are

phas

e no

ise

limite

dpa

rticu

larly

clos

ein

at2

kHz

The

limite

d, p

artic

ular

ly c

lose

-in a

t 2 k

Hz.

The

Le

ague

wan

ted

be a

ble

to m

easu

re th

e IM

D

burie

din

the

phas

eno

ise

and

cam

eup

with

burie

d in

the

phas

e no

ise,

and

cam

e up

with

a

new

met

hod

a fe

w y

ears

ago

usi

ng a

sp

ectru

m a

naly

zer w

ith a

3-H

z fil

ter.

14

IC76

00w

ith3

Hz

Spec

trum

Ana

lyze

rIC

-760

0 w

ith 3

-Hz

Spec

trum

Ana

lyze

r

Phas

e no

ise

limite

d dy

nam

ic

rang

eis

78IM

D @

-130

dB

mR

efer

ence

tone

-1

30 d

Bm

rang

e is

78

dBat

2 k

Hz.

Mea

sure

d w

ith a

3-H

z fil

ter o

n th

e an

alyz

erth

e50

0 H

z D

SP

Filte

rPas

sban

dan

alyz

er, t

he

dyna

mic

ra

nge

is 8

7dB

t2kH

!

Filte

r Pas

sban

d

dB a

t 2 k

Hz!

15

Wha

tthe

New

AR

RL

DR

3M

etho

dM

eans

Wha

t the

New

AR

RL

DR

3 M

etho

d M

eans

O

ldm

etho

d,IM

Dor

nois

ein

crea

sed

3dB

.

Old

met

hod,

IMD

or n

oise

incr

ease

d 3

dB.

Th

is w

as D

R3,

eith

er IM

D o

r noi

se li

mite

d.

With

the

new

met

hod

nois

ein

crea

sed

10dB

W

ith th

e ne

w m

etho

d, n

oise

incr

ease

d 10

dB

, an

d by

ear

you

hea

r not

hing

but

noi

se.

U

nles

syo

uw

ork

aco

ntes

tusi

nga

3-H

zC

W

Unl

ess

you

wor

k a

cont

est u

sing

a 3

Hz

CW

fil

ter,

the

Leag

ue d

ynam

ic ra

nge

mea

sure

men

t is

mea

ning

less

.

IC-7

600,

as

an e

xam

ple,

the

new

met

hod

incr

ease

s th

e D

R3

from

78

dB to

87

dB!

16

IC78

00A

RR

LO

ldvs

New

Met

hod

IC-7

800

AR

RL

Old

vs.

New

Met

hod

4/

18/2

006

IC-7

800

test

dat

a, o

ld m

etho

d,

2

kHz,

Pha

se N

oise

Lim

ited

@ 8

0 dB

1

kHz,

Pha

se N

oise

Lim

ited

@ 6

7 dB

,@

2/

6/20

07 IC

-780

0 te

st d

ata,

new

met

hod

2

kHz,

dyn

amic

rang

e =

86 d

B

No

mea

sure

men

t at 1

kH

z.

N

umbe

r inf

latio

n to

kee

p th

e ad

verti

sers

h

?Y

did

?ha

ppy?

Y

ou d

ecid

e?17

Flex

3000

Old

Met

hod

vs3

Hz

Filte

rFl

ex 3

000

Old

Met

hod

vs. 3

Hz

Filte

r

Fl

ex30

00w

ithO

ldM

etho

d:D

R3

=90

and

is

Flex

300

0 w

ith O

ld M

etho

d: D

R3

= 90

and

is

com

plet

ely

phas

e no

ise

limite

d.

Fl

ex 3

000

with

3 H

zS

pect

rum

Ana

lyze

r m

etho

dm

easu

res

ady

nam

icra

nge

betw

een

met

hod

mea

sure

s a

dyna

mic

rang

e be

twee

n 95

and

99

dB, d

epen

ding

on

the

spac

ing.

Th

e O

rion

II an

d th

e K

3 pe

rform

bet

ter,

but

now

you

can

not t

ell t

hat b

y th

e nu

mbe

rs.

yy

18

Lets

now

mov

efr

omC

Wto

SSB

Lets

now

mov

e fr

om C

W to

SSB

Why

are

the

dyna

mic

rang

e re

quire

men

ts le

ss

strin

gent

on

SS

B th

an o

n C

W?

Let’s

look

at 2

-Ton

e IM

D T

ests

.

Nor

mal

tim

e do

mai

n sc

ope

pict

ure.

19

-36

dB 3

rdO

rder

, -60

dB

7th

Ord

erM

y cl

eane

st tr

ansm

itter

Col

lins

32S

-3 o

n 20

met

ers

@ 1

00 W

20

Icom

781

on20

met

ers

@15

0W

atts

-34

dB 3

rdor

der,

-43

dB 7

thor

der

Icom

781

on

20 m

eter

s @

150

Wat

ts

21

Flex

5000

Aon

20m

eter

s@

70W

atts

-29

dB 3

rdor

der,

-41

dB 7

thor

der

Flex

500

0A o

n 20

met

ers

@ 7

0 W

atts

22

Icom

756

Pro

IIIon

20m

eter

s@

70W

-27

dB 3

rdor

der,

40 d

B 7

thor

der

Icom

756

Pro

III o

n 20

met

ers

@ 7

0 W

23

-27

dB 3

rdor

der,

-42

dB 7

thor

der

K3

Tran

scei

vero

n20

met

ers

@10

0W

K3

Tran

scei

ver o

n 20

met

ers

@ 1

00 W

24

K3

Tran

scei

vero

n20

met

ers

@50

W-2

7 dB

3rd

orde

r, 46

dB

7th

orde

r

K3

Tran

scei

ver o

n 20

met

ers

@ 5

0 W

25

Yae

suFT

1000

Mk

V20

MC

lass

A@

75W

-42

dB 3

rdO

rder

, -70

dB

5th

Ord

er

Yae

su F

T-10

00 M

k V

, 20

M, C

lass

A @

75

W

Pro

vide

d by

Pet

e, W

6XX

26

Mk

VC

lass

A+

8877

20m

eter

s@

15

kW-4

0 dB

3rd

Ord

er, -

52 d

B 5

thO

rder

Mk

V C

lass

A +

887

7, 2

0 m

eter

s @

1.5

kW

27

Not

e: M

ust a

dd 6

dB

to s

pect

rum

ana

lyze

r IM

D

mea

sure

men

ts to

com

pare

to L

eagu

e &

OE

Ms.

Com

pare

the

Old

vs.

New

Ord

er

Col

lins

Yae

su

Diff

eren

ceIM

D32

S-3

FT

-450

in d

BQ

ST

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dB-3

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12dB

342

dB

3

0 dB

12dB

5th

-53

dB

-37

dB

16

dB7t

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6dB

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dB24

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66 d

B

42

dB

24

dB

9th

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dB

-48

dB

29

dB28

Clo

se-in

Sig

nal a

nd S

plat

ter

gp

Typ

ical

rad

io =

70

dB, T

ypic

al s

patt

er =

60

dB d

own

Sig

nal 5

kH

z Aw

ay

IFFi

ltA

djtS

il

dIM

DS

ltt

-60

dB, 7

thO

rder

IF F

ilter

vs.

Adj

acen

t Sig

nal a

nd IM

D S

plat

ter

29

Whi

teN

oise

Mk

VC

lass

Avs

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ssB

@75

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tsW

hite

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se M

k V

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ss A

vs.

K3

Cla

ss B

@ 7

5 W

atts

-60

dB-6

0 dB

6 kH

z1.

5 kH

z

Cou

rtesy

W6X

Xy

30

Bac

kto

CW

sign

als

Bac

k to

CW

sig

nals

We

have

see

n ho

w w

idth

of a

n S

SB

sig

nal &

its

IMD

pro

duct

s af

fect

s ho

w c

lose

you

can

ope

rate

to

anot

hers

tatio

nto

ano

ther

sta

tion.

How

doe

s C

W c

ompa

re?

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clos

eca

ne

ork

toa

stro

ngad

jace

ntC

WH

ow c

lose

can

we

wor

k to

a s

trong

adj

acen

t CW

si

gnal

?

31

Wha

tis

the

Ban

dwid

thof

CW

Sign

al?

Wha

t is

the

Ban

dwid

th o

f CW

Sig

nal?

On

chan

nel s

igna

l = S

9 +

40 d

B (-

33 d

Bm

)R

iK

340

0H

8l

fi40

0H

DSP

Fil

Rec

eive

r = K

3, 4

00 H

z 8-

pole

roof

ing

+ 40

0 H

z D

SP F

ilter

Tran

smitt

er =

Om

ni-V

II w

ith a

djus

tabl

e ris

e tim

eU

ndes

ired

sign

al 7

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z aw

ay, c

ontin

uous

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ts”

at 3

0 w

pm

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e tim

e of

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sid

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gnal

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sec

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6 m

sec

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sec

S3-1

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32

Spec

trum

ofC

WSi

gnal

onH

P35

85A

Ana

lyze

rSp

ectr

um o

f CW

Sig

nal o

n H

P 35

85A

Ana

lyze

r

Ris

e Ti

me

10 m

sec,

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” at 3

0 W

PM

, ,

,B

andw

idth

-70

dB =

+/-

450

Hz

= 90

0 H

z

33

Spec

trum

ofC

WSi

gnal

onH

P35

85A

Ana

lyze

rSp

ectr

um o

f CW

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nal o

n H

P 35

85A

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lyze

r

Ris

e Ti

me

3 m

sec,

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0 W

PM

, ,

,B

andw

idth

-70

dB =

+/-

750

Hz

= 15

00 H

z

34

Spec

trum

ofC

WSi

gnal

onH

P35

85A

Ana

lyze

rSp

ectr

um o

f CW

Sig

nal o

n H

P 35

85A

Ana

lyze

r

Com

paris

onof

3m

sec

vs10

mse

cris

etim

eC

ompa

rison

of 3

mse

c vs

10

mse

c ris

e tim

e

20 d

B

diffe

renc

e

35

Lead

ing

edge

of“d

it”3

&10

mse

cLe

adin

g ed

ge o

f di

t 3

& 1

0 m

sec

36

Just

the

Fact

sJu

st th

e Fa

cts

On

SS

B y

ou w

ant D

R3

= 70

dB

, or m

ore.

On

CW

you

wan

tDR

3=

80dB

orm

ore

On

CW

you

wan

t DR

3 =

80 d

B, o

r mor

e.

This

is m

ost e

cono

mic

ally

acc

ompl

ishe

d w

ith lo

w IF

(5

to9

MH

z)se

lect

able

crys

talr

oofin

gfil

ters

(5 to

9 M

Hz)

sel

ecta

ble

crys

tal r

oofin

gfil

ters

.

It is

muc

h m

ore

diffi

cult

to d

eliv

er 8

0 dB

or h

ighe

r D

R3

with

the

mor

eco

mm

onU

pC

onve

rsio

nde

sign

DR

3 w

ith th

e m

ore

com

mon

Up-

Con

vers

ion

desi

gn.

Tran

smitt

ed b

andw

idth

of t

he in

terfe

ring

sign

al is

of

ten

the

limit

nott

here

ceiv

erpa

rticu

larly

onS

SB

ofte

n th

e lim

it, n

ot th

e re

ceiv

er, p

artic

ular

ly o

n S

SB

.

37

Wha

tdyn

amic

rang

eis

poss

ible

and

need

edfo

rCW

?

80 d

B o

r bet

ter @

2 k

Hz.

Wha

t dyn

amic

rang

e is

pos

sibl

e an

d ne

eded

for C

W?

1976

She

rwoo

d / D

rake

R-4

C: 8

4 dB

2001

Ten

-Tec

Om

ni-V

I+: 8

0 dB

2003

Icom

IC-7

800:

80

dB

2003

Ten-

Tec

Orio

nI:

93dB

2003

Ten

-Tec

Orio

n I:

93 d

B

2005

Ten

-Tec

Orio

n II:

95

dB

2007

Fl50

00A

96dB

2007

Fle

x 50

00A

: 96

dB

2007

Ten

-Tec

Om

ni-V

II: 8

0 dB

2008

Per

seus

(rec

eive

r): 9

9 dB

2008

Ele

craf

t K3:

95

to10

1 dB

(roo

fing

filte

r dep

ende

nt)

38

Oth

erra

dios

forc

ompa

rison

2kH

zdy

nam

icra

nge

data

Elec

raft

K2:

80 d

B

Oth

er ra

dios

for c

ompa

rison

, 2 k

Hz

dyna

mic

rang

e da

ta

Col

lins

R-3

90A

:79

dB

Ken

woo

d TS

-850

S:77

dB

Icom

Pro

II/P

roIII

75dB

Icom

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II /

Pro

III75

dB

Col

lins

75S-

3B/C

:72

dB

Ken

woo

d TS

-870

S:69

dB

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u FT

-200

0:63

dB

Icom

IC-7

000:

63 d

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ke R

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ck:

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u FT

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39

Con

test

Fatig

ue&

Aud

ioQ

ualit

yTh

eFo

rgot

ten

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cC

onte

st F

atig

ue &

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io Q

ualit

y -T

he F

orgo

tten

Spe

c

Ifin

dm

any

radi

ostir

ing

ina

long

cont

est

I fin

d m

any

radi

os ti

ring

in a

long

con

test

.

The

audi

o is

har

sh o

n S

SB

and

CW

.

All

mee

t OE

M S

pecs

.

OE

M s

pec

= 2

wat

ts @

10%

dis

torti

on =

clip

ping

Wha

t mak

es a

udio

har

sh a

nd fa

tigui

ng?

Hig

h O

dd-O

rder

Har

mon

ics

and

/ or I

M D

isto

rtion

g

Any

radi

o w

ill m

eet a

10%

spe

c

Thus

the

spec

ism

eani

ngle

ssTh

us th

e sp

ecis

mea

ning

less

.

40

The

Am

azin

gEa

r/B

rain

“Det

ecto

r”Th

e A

maz

ing

Ear /

Bra

in

Det

ecto

r

W

e ca

n ea

sily

det

ect d

isto

rtion

60

dBdo

wn.

10

% d

isto

rtion

is o

nly

20 d

Bdo

wn

!

1%

dist

ortio

nis

40dB

dow

n

1% d

isto

rtion

is 4

0 dB

dow

n.

W

hy in

the

wor

ld d

oes

anyo

ne u

se a

10%

spe

c?

It

may

take

gui

danc

e to

lear

n to

inte

rpre

t wha

t you

ar

e he

arin

g, a

nd w

hy a

radi

o is

cau

sing

fatig

ue.

41

10%

Dis

tort

ion

onSp

ectr

umA

naly

zer

10%

Dis

tort

ion

on S

pect

rum

Ana

lyze

r

Pro

III

driv

en

it

into

cl

ippi

ng

to m

eet

the

2 W

. in

to 8

oh

moh

m

spec

.

42

Con

test

Fatig

ue&

New

Tech

nolo

gies

Con

test

Fat

igue

& N

ew T

echn

olog

ies

Labo

rato

ryte

sts

are

impo

rtant

butr

adio

sal

sone

edto

Labo

rato

ry te

sts

are

impo

rtant

, but

radi

os a

lso

need

to

be e

valu

ated

in a

con

test

env

ironm

ent.

Iuse

two

oper

atin

gpo

sitio

nsto

com

pare

a“re

fere

nce

I use

two

oper

atin

g po

sitio

ns to

com

pare

a r

efer

ence

ra

dio”

to a

“tes

t” or

“eva

luat

ion”

radi

o, g

oing

bac

k an

d fo

rth b

etw

een

stat

ion

A an

d B

dur

ing

a co

ntes

t.

Inte

rest

ing

prob

lem

s ha

ve c

ome

to li

ght i

n on

-air

A / B

co

mpa

rison

s.

43

Har

mon

icD

isto

rtio

nG

ood

Rec

eive

rD

isto

rtion

< 0

.3 %

& s

ound

s fin

eH

arm

onic

Dis

tort

ion

–G

ood

Rec

eive

r

-55

dB 2

ndor

der

-68

dB3r

dor

der

68 d

B 3

orde

r

44

IMdi

stor

tion

Goo

dR

ecei

ver

Dis

torti

on=

0.3

% &

sou

nds

fine

IM d

isto

rtio

n -G

ood

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eive

r

-53

dB 3

rdor

der

45

K3

Aud

ioSp

ectr

umof

700

Hz

beat

note

Dis

torti

on =

0.2

% b

ut s

ound

s ba

dK

3 A

udio

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ctru

m o

f 700

Hz

beat

not

e

h-6

5 dB

11t

hor

der

46

Way

too

muc

hIM

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tort

ion

inK

3A

udio

2% d

isto

rtion

but

sou

nds

tirin

g !

Way

too

muc

h IM

Dis

tort

ion

in K

3 A

udio

-40

dB 9

thor

der I

MD

47

Scre

ensh

otfr

omEl

ecra

ftLa

bFa

ctor

y C

onfir

ms

K3

Aud

io P

robl

em

Scre

en s

hot f

rom

Ele

craf

t Lab

48

K3

Afte

rNew

Cho

keIn

stal

led

Fact

ory

Add

ress

es K

3 A

udio

Pro

blem

K3

Afte

r New

Cho

ke In

stal

led

49

Icom

756

Pro

IIIH

arm

onic

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tort

ion

0.1

% d

isto

rtion

Icom

756

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III H

arm

onic

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tort

ion

50

Icom

756

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IIIin

band

IMD

Dis

tort

ion

< 0.

3 %

dis

torti

on

Icom

756

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III i

n-ba

nd IM

D D

isto

rtio

n

-54

dB 3

rdO

rder

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51

Dat

afr

omU

R5L

AM

on4

Tran

scei

vers

Dat

a fr

om U

R5L

AM

on

4 Tr

ansc

eive

rs

52

How

toPr

ove

wha

tyou

can

Hea

r?H

ow to

Pro

vew

hat y

ou c

an H

ear?

S

ome

prob

lem

s ar

e “d

ynam

ic”,

and

not e

asy

tom

easu

rew

itha

stea

dyst

ate

sign

alto

mea

sure

with

a s

tead

y-st

ate

sign

al

gene

rato

r or t

wo.

O

ne s

olut

ion:

A F

ast F

ourie

r Tra

nsfo

rm o

r “ F

FT”s

pect

rum

anal

yzer

forn

earr

ealt

ime

FFT

spe

ctru

m a

naly

zer f

or n

ear r

eal t

ime

anal

ysis

.

53

HP

3561

AFF

TA

naly

zer

HP

3561

A F

FT A

naly

zer

54

QR

NSn

eaks

Thro

ugh

QR

N S

neak

s Th

roug

h

A

t lea

st th

ree

mod

ern

DS

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ansc

eive

rs d

o no

t cop

e w

ellw

ithQ

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(sta

tic)c

rash

esw

ell w

ith Q

RN

(sta

tic) c

rash

es.

FT

-200

0 / 2

000D

& IC

-700

0

If

you

do a

ny lo

w-b

and

cont

estin

g, y

ou k

now

how

f

Qfa

tigui

ng Q

RN

can

be.

Iw

ashe

arin

gQ

RN

cras

hes

15X

the

band

wid

thof

I w

as h

earin

g Q

RN

cra

shes

15X

the

band

wid

th o

f th

e C

W fi

lter i

n m

y he

adph

ones

. 55

R-4

CR

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781

QR

N

7000

706

56

How

toA

ppro

xim

ate

QR

Nin

the

Lab?

How

to A

ppro

xim

ate

QR

N in

the

Lab?

U

sed

mul

tiple

tone

s to

app

roxi

mat

e br

oadb

and

QR

N s

tatic

cra

sh.

Q

RN

= h

undr

eds

of to

nes.

57

3 To

nes

781

7000

3 To

nes

781

7000

QR

Ni

lik10

0ft

tL

kt

tf

QR

N is

like

100

s of

tone

s at

onc

e. L

ook

at o

ut-o

f-pa

ssba

nd p

rodu

cts

with

just

thre

e to

nes!

The

QR

Ncr

ashe

sw

ayou

tsid

eth

efil

terp

assb

and

The

QR

N c

rash

es w

ay o

utsi

de th

e fil

ter p

assb

and

appe

ar to

be

inte

rmod

ulat

ion

dist

ortio

n, ra

ther

than

le

akag

e ar

ound

the

filte

r.58

Ano

ther

Dyn

amic

Fatig

uePr

oble

mA

noth

er D

ynam

ic F

atig

ue P

robl

em

In

Jan

uary

200

9 C

Q 1

60 m

eter

CW

con

test

, I

wen

tbac

kan

dfo

rthbe

twee

na

20ye

ars

old

wen

t bac

k an

d fo

rth b

etw

een

a 20

yea

rs o

ld

anal

og IC

-781

and

a 1

yea

r old

IC-7

56 P

ro II

I D

SP

radi

oD

SP

radi

o.

Ic

ould

notl

iste

nto

the

Pro

IIIfo

rmor

eth

an

I cou

ld n

ot li

sten

to th

e P

ro II

I for

mor

e th

an

an h

our a

t a ti

me

befo

re m

y ea

rs w

ere

com

plai

ning

due

to C

W A

GC

atta

ck

pg

dist

ortio

n.

59

FFT

ofth

eIC

781

FFT

of th

e IC

-781

A si

ngle

500

Hz

“dit”

Sec

ond

harm

onic

only

Ste

ady

tone

Sec

ond

harm

onic

onl

yS

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d ha

rmon

ic o

nly

y

The

two

are

virtu

ally

iden

tical

.60

FFT

ofIC

756

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IIIFF

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IC-7

56 P

ro II

I

A si

ngle

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w

ith 3

rd, 5

th, 7

th&

9th

Ste

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Ver y

cle

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rmon

ics

to 4

.5 k

Hz.

y

61

AG

CIm

puls

eN

oise

Ano

mal

yA

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Impu

lse

Noi

se A

nom

aly

Mos

t new

radi

os s

ince

200

3 ex

agge

rate

impu

lse

nois

e.

The

exce

ptio

ns:

Ele

craf

t K3,

Fle

x 50

00 &

Per

seus

Pro

gram

med

DS

P to

igno

re a

tick

, clic

k or

pop

.

Ele

craf

t cal

ls it

the

She

rwoo

d Te

st.

62

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ni7

onTo

pPr

oIII

onB

otto

mO

mni

-7 o

n To

p -

Pro

III o

n B

otto

m

CW

sign

alab

out1

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sig

nal a

bout

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WP

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Ele

ctric

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ce fi

ring

off e

very

2 s

econ

ds, 1

60 m

eter

s

2 se

c

63

List

ento

30se

cond

audi

ocl

ipLi

sten

to 3

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cond

aud

io c

lip

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udio

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ers,

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lect

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nce

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iocl

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prob

lem

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io c

lip w

ith D

SP A

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ctric

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puls

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Oth

er ri

gs w

ith th

e sa

me

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robl

em:

IC78

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7700

IC70

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IC-7

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IC-7

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FT-

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n I &

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lleng

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e C

halle

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et O

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to L

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n

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ht

td

dIn

a 2

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ur o

r 48

hour

con

test

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nee

d ev

ery

edge

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Hig

h D

ynam

ic R

ange

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68