Eric Schwartz WA6HHQ of Elecraft -- FDIM Interview #4 by Bob Crane W8SX (audio)

 

It was really cool that our correspondent at FDIM caught up with Eric Schwartz WA6HHQ of Elecraft.  Some highlights from the interview: 

-- Eric met Wayne Burdick through the NORCAL 40 (Wayne had designed it, and Eric was writing articles about it).  That was a very influential rig -- it was the basis for a book and a CALTECH course by David Rutledge. 

-- Elecraft has a strong QRP element in its DNA. 

-- The K2 is "Heathkit style" and offers the builder the opportunity to understand the rig at the component level. 

-- Eric says that using something you built yourself is worth at least 10db. 

Here is Bob's interview with Eric:  

http://soldersmoke.com/WA6HHQ23.mp3

Thanks Eric and thanks Bob.  

Thomas K4SWL -- SOTA Activation on Bearwallow Mountain, North Carolina (video)

Thomas put out a very nice video of his recent activation of Bearwallow Mountain in western North Carolina.  Really nice.   It was fun to see the QSOs and the logging as he did it.  Very cool that he worked Christian F4WDN --- Jack NG2E also worked F4WDN on a recent activation in the Shenandoah area of Virginia. 

More details on the activation here:  

https://qrper.com/2022/02/summits-on-the-air-pairing-the-elecraft-kx2-and-chameleon-cha-mpas-lite-on-bearwallow-mountain/

Thanks Thomas! 

From Mountaineer to the KX1 -- N6KR on Trail-Friendly Rigs

This is from 2014, but I stumbled upon Wayne Burdick's article just this morning.  Great stuff.  That picture of Wes had a big impact on many of us. 

Wayne's article:

http://www.elecraft.com/KX1/N6KR_KX1_History.html

Bob Crane Interviews Eric Schwartz of Elecraft About the New KX2 (with Si5351!)

Our ace correspondent Bob Crane W8SX caught up with Eric Schwartz WA6HHQ of Elecraft at the FDIM event n Dayton last month.    Here is Bob's interview with Eric:  

http://soldersmoke.com/WA6HHQFDIM.mp3

Pete and I were very pleased to see that Elecraft made use of our beloved Si5351 chip in their amazing new KX2 rig.   Check it out:

You can click on the diagram or see it directly on page 62 of the manual at this site:

http://www.elecraft.com/manual/KX2%20owner's%20man%20A4.pdf

Here's the KX2:

Three cheers for Elecraft!  Three cheers for Bob Crane! 

QST Error on Elecraft K3 Phase Noise Measurement CORRECTED

Wayne Burdick, N6KR, of Elecraft let us know that there was an error in the QST article about the KSYN3A Synthesizer Upgrade.  The original graph in the QST article showed an improvement in phase noise at close-in frequencies, but it also showed a significant worsening of the phase noise beyond 10 kHz.  THIS CHART WAS INCORRECT.    The Upgrade does, in fact, improve the phase noise performance as shown in the corrected graph above.  A corrected version of the article appears here:

    http://www.elecraft.com/K3/QST%20KSYN3A%20revised.pdf

 

Thanks for letting us know about this Wayne.  We have long been big fans of Elecraft and are proud that a picture of your KX3 appears on all of our blog pages under the headline "One of the Best Receivers in the World."

Pete and I will continue our study and discussion of phase noise;  as synthesizers make their way into more and more of our hombrew rigs it is important for us to understand the significance of this parameter.   

 

A Really Interesing Interview with Elecraft's Wayne Burdick, N6KR

http://www.qsotoday.com/podcasts/n6kr
 
Eric 4Z1UG does a podcast called QSO Today.   He interviews interesting hams.   A few days ago I listened to his talk with Wayne Burdick, N6KR, as I worked on my Tuna Tin 2/Herring Aid 5 rig.   It was the  perfect accompaniment, but the interview was so good that I intend to listen to it again, this time with no distractions from melting solder.  Thanks Eric.  Thanks Wayne.   Here it is.  Just click on the "Listen to podcast"" button:

http://www.qsotoday.com/podcasts/n6kr
  
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SolderSmoke Podcast 173: Pete's LBS Triumph and Bill's Tale of QRO Woe

SolderSmoke Podcast #173 is available:

http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke173.mp3

7 March 2015

Bench Report:   Pete's Progress on the Let's Build Something Rig:
http://www.jessystems.com/LBS_Detail.html
Ben's cool case for his LBS rig
Bill's Tale of Woe:  QRO troubles with the BITX 40
    -- QRO amplifier taking off on 40 (but not 17)
    -- Criticism and public humiliation on 40
    -- Troubleshooting
    -- Suggestions from Allison
    -- A sad realization about my VFO frequency selection
    -- Exorcism needed
    -- Pete suggests a digital solution
    -- Wow, my 'scope has an FFT!  Almost a spectrum analyzer!
    -- Some thoughts on trouble shooting
    -- On the meaning of "BASTA!"
The Spring 2015 Issue of Hot Iron http://www.walfords.net
More on Pete's KX3
Encouraging other hams to build

 

Our book: "SolderSmoke -- Global Adventures in Wireless Electronics" http://soldersmoke.com/book.htm Our coffee mugs, T-Shirts, bumper stickers: http://www.cafepress.com/SolderSmoke Our Book Store: http://astore.amazon.com/contracross-20