Elecraft 'K Line" and P3 Panadaptor Build

[W1UJR]

Elecraft P3 Panadaptor Build #1254
A fun build taking just over 1 hour, the P3 is a stand-alone DSP spectral/waterfall display unit that's a perfect match for the K3. It has a built-in, high-contrast color display (LCD), point and click QSY tuning and better plug and play integration with the K3 than is possible with PC-based panadapters. P3 features include 2 to 200 kHz of span, signal averaging, peak hold, adjustable gain and adjustable reference level. It also includes a buffered IF pass-through for support of additional IF processing

Best of all, with the variable IF, one can actually use it with boat anchors!
I'm looking forward to firing it up connected to the 390A or 75A-4.
More at http://www.w1ujr.net/elecraft_builds.htm

The P3 is part of what Elecraft is calling the "K Line", a sort of modern day answer to the Collins S Line.


http://www.elecraft.com/KPA500/KPA500.htm

W1UJR P3 Build Photos







Screen Close Up Shots - Other Folk's Photos

[n2bc]

Hey Bruce, pretty nifty, huh?   That blip on the left just could be me! 

I'm in the queue for a 'first day order' KPA500 kit.  If all goes well should have it mid-May.  At 27 pounds it will be a welcome change from my collection of hernia-style amps.  :-)

73, Bill   N2BC

[W1UJR]

You said it brother, also on the list here for the kit version. May 15, the ship date, also happens to be my 47th birthday. I'd say that's a FB present! We'll have to make a sled once your up and going as well.

Nice thing about the K Line, sure easier to carry up the stairs to the home hamshack than say a R390A...in fact, I'd wager that the entire K Line station! I'll find out, I've got a 390A upstairs right now.

Need I remind you that it was you that started me on this Elecraft K3 "madness" after my visit to your shack over the holidays! :-)

- Bruce

[AJ1G]

I like the link on the Elecraft page to guys, yourself included Bruce, who volunteer to build Elecraft kits for elderly and disabled hams.  Pay it forward....

[W1UJR]

Thanks Chris, it is very rewarding knowing that you're helping someone else enjoy radio, and the builds are good fun too boot!

I'm building a KX-1 for a fellow now, already noted that I need to use a magnifying glass on some of the smaller cap and resistor labels/colors. Was up to 4AM last night finishing up fired up this morning to the melodious sounds of 40 meter CW.

I'll tell you something, Elecraft is a darn good company to work with, on this build I had a problem with what turned out to be a xtal. I called spoke with Gary at Elecraft, they were very good about sending me out parts, even a new PC board just in case, all on the honor system. Refreshing!

-Bruce

[Opcom]

That unit is a long awaited item. Still a bit pricey at $700 but at least it can relieve one of using a full analyzer for band-scope duty and the several display features look really useful.

Please show us pics of how it works with the older receivers so we can judge what to expect. That is, it has a 200KHz wide span, but who does one get that wide spectrum out of an R390 or SX-28?

Does the panadapter have any kind of settable amplitude compensation across the 200KHz span to correct a random receiver's own passband amplitude curve after the mixer? That is not quite clear but it may be important.

[n2bc]

To my knowledge there is no gain compensation across the P3 input passband.

There are signs of things yet to come on the P3... A number of labelled, but currently empty, holes on the back panel:

1) Display [external display, size = VGA socket ]
2) Keyboard [USB sized cutout, chatter indicates the P3 could be used as an extension of the K3's limited display for CW and digital mode decoding, KYBD for the TX side]  By the way, a stock K3 can be 'keyed' in the data modes via a paddle /w the user sending morse the K3 outputs RTTY or PSK.
3) Sensor [Chatter on the Elecraft forum indicates future RF pickup for TX waveform monitoring]
4) AUX DATA [So far few guesses]

The inside of the P3 box is mostly air... tons of room to 'grow' function.

[AJ1G]

My long time ham buddy Steve, KL7JT just lent me a K1 CW QRP transceiver to play with.  Its set up for 40 and 20 meters.  Put it in the Volvo and am having a blast with it on 40 CW QRP mobile...beautiful sounding CW on receive and very smooth QSK.  Only nit is that the AGC is very slow attack and the initial few dits of a strong signal can really blast the audio..will have to see if I can adjust the attack time.  Amazing what a few watts of CW will do even mobile on 40!

[WBear2GCR]

Mobile? CW? Say, wait a minute!

Isn't that "texting"?
Isn't that "illegal" now??

 

                 _-_-bear

[AJ1G]

Don't have to take my eyes off the road, only need one hand to send, copy in my head....not anything like looking down at a tiny screen and using both hands to type on a tiny keyboard while trying to drive at the same time...

AFAIK there are no prohibitions on sending CW by an amateur radio operator mobile on he books anywhere.

Don't do it in heavy traffic, on long late night drives helps keep me awake and alert. 

Currently use iambic paddles strapped onto the center armrest, thinking of putting a small set touch sensitive paddle right on the steering wheel.

Worked over to HA tonight with the little K1 from the mobile on 40 ..was parked while Diane got her weekly TJ Maxx fix...