LP-PAN and LP-Bridge, CW Skimmer and PowerSDR
From Zerobeat
The IF output from the optional KXV3 transverter component makes the K3 panadapter possible. The IF output has been documented by Jack Smith of Clifton Laboratories.
LP-PAN is the piece of hardware that opens up LP-Bridge, CW Skimmer, and PowerSDF to the K3. You must have the KXV3 installed to use it. Larry Phipps N8LP manufactures this unit, and wrote the LP-Bridge program.
HRD can function with LP-PAN, or without it using a simple RS232 to PC connection.
Alternatively, if you are into hardware projects you may be able to make Softrock perform this function.
Once the IF is taken from the K3 by LP-PAN, the vast majority of Elecraft's design and engineering are left behind in the radio. That is to say that the IF output is taken from a very early stage in the K3 before roofing filtering, AGC processing, noise reduction, even mode selection are performed. As a result, if you listen to the audio coming from the K3 speaker you are hearing the K3, if you listen instead to the audio that's provided by PowerSDR, everything you hear is derived from the PC program instead.
Both audio sources can be available at the same time, however there are some delay issues on the SDR side that do not affect the K3 when used alone. One of these issues occurs when you are speaking into the microphone, the IF will contain your voice and the PC will present it back to you as audio through PowerSDR, however it will be about 50ms late coming through the PC. For this reason, a MUTE connection is available at LP-PAN that (if enabled) will turn off the unit when you are transmitting.
The panadapter part of LP-PAN can display just under 185 khz at it's widest point with a top end sound card for your PC, just under half that if you have a lesser sound card for your PC.
There is a zoom slider control in PowerSDF, just under the pan display which can zoom down to about 3 kHz or so.
The LP-PAN panadapter with K3 really performs nicely in real time, a leap ahead of any rig mounted "sweep" type panadapter, and as fast and more customizable than any other rig mounted real time panadapter that I've used. The PowerSDR IF software is still in ALPHA test, which means it is the initial offering, or "rough draft" from the contributer (Scott WU2X) who has donated his free time to provide the interface to you and me.
It's a new world being able to click on the large real time panadapter and have the K3 jump to the signal you have selected. And if you have a scroll wheel on your mouse, you can fine tune your selection without ever moving your hand. This is truly the best of both worlds, having the computer interface of SDR1000 controlling arguably the most capable transceiver in amateur radio, the Elecraft K3.
