Filter options for K3

[AD9DX]

Ok so I purchased a K3 and got it with the standard 2.7hz 5 pole and the 400hz 8 pole.  While the 400hz is good enough 95% of the time, I want to get either the 250hx 8 pole or the 200hz 5 pole. I have read that the 200hz is substantially narrower and its shape factor is far better than the 8 pole, with the trade off of offset matching for diversity RX.

Can someone with one or the other filter please enlighten me as to how they like it. As compared to the 400hz filter.

[NI0C]

See my comments on this at: http://www.eham.net/ehamforum/smf/index.php/topic,88818.0.html

Scroll to bottom of the first page.

73,
Chuck  NI0C

[NI0C]

I should have added to my previous posting that an 8-pole filter will always have a better shape factor than a 5-pole filter.

[AD9DX]

So I guess since the 400 is comfortable for me to listen to and I want more narrow... The 200 would be best. Is there much ringing in the 200?

[NI0C]

I haven't noticed any ringing with any of the crystal CW filters I have in my K3: (700, 400, 250, and 200 Hz bandwidths).  I'm finding I use the 400 Hz the most often, and if I really want to improve copy on a weak CW signal, the APF function helps a lot.  There is some noticeable ringing associated with the APF; however it is usually not a problem.

73,
Chuck  NI0C

[AD9DX]

I haven't noticed any ringing with any of the crystal CW filters I have in my K3: (700, 400, 250, and 200 Hz bandwidths).  I'm finding I use the 400 Hz the most often, and if I really want to improve copy on a weak CW signal, the APF function helps a lot.  There is some noticeable ringing associated with the APF; however it is usually not a problem.

73,
Chuck  NI0C

I really like the APF too!

[K5TR]

See my comments on this at: http://www.eham.net/ehamforum/smf/index.php/topic,88818.0.html

Scroll to bottom of the first page.

You can give more direct links to a post - just click on the title of any post.  In your case it is this URL:

http://www.eham.net/ehamforum/smf/index.php/topic,88818.msg670658.html#msg670658

[AA9G]

Rather than start a new post I hope its ok to ask here since I'm also piecing together a K3 design. When talking about filter poles exactly what does that mean? What are they?

[ZENKI]

Your choices are perfect. The 400hz is really a true 500hz filter the next best choice down is the 200hz, not the 250 hz.
400 and 200 are matched perfect fair for CW operators.

If you a casual CW OP you dont need the narrow filters. You can use the DSP filters. The K3's performance is so good it would  be just about impossible to pump the AGC with  even the 500hz filter.
Maybe in a contest  the steeper skirts will help.  My 3rd K3 at my holiday location has the stock 500hz filter and I am happy with than. I also have a 800hz after market CW filter which is good just for tuning around the bands.

On SSB forget about optional filters unless you a 100% contester. The audio sounds like crap with them and  you can achieve the same with the DSP filter.
You cant filter out splatter, and on SSB the  other stations IMD is going to be more of a problem and there is nothing you can do about because all the crud is INBAND.

Diversity adds more complexity into the  equation and the filters should be matched

Ok so I purchased a K3 and got it with the standard 2.7hz 5 pole and the 400hz 8 pole.  While the 400hz is good enough 95% of the time, I want to get either the 250hx 8 pole or the 200hz 5 pole. I have read that the 200hz is substantially narrower and its shape factor is far better than the 8 pole, with the trade off of offset matching for diversity RX.

Can someone with one or the other filter please enlighten me as to how they like it. As compared to the 400hz filter.

[AD9DX]

Your choices are perfect. The 400hz is really a true 500hz filter the next best choice down is the 200hz, not the 250 hz.
400 and 200 are matched perfect fair for CW operators.

If you a casual CW OP you dont need the narrow filters. You can use the DSP filters. The K3's performance is so good it would  be just about impossible to pump the AGC with  even the 500hz filter.
Maybe in a contest  the steeper skirts will help.  My 3rd K3 at my holiday location has the stock 500hz filter and I am happy with than. I also have a 800hz after market CW filter which is good just for tuning around the bands.

On SSB forget about optional filters unless you a 100% contester. The audio sounds like crap with them and  you can achieve the same with the DSP filter.
You cant filter out splatter, and on SSB the  other stations IMD is going to be more of a problem and there is nothing you can do about because all the crud is INBAND.

Diversity adds more complexity into the  equation and the filters should be matched

Ok so I purchased a K3 and got it with the standard 2.7hz 5 pole and the 400hz 8 pole.  While the 400hz is good enough 95% of the time, I want to get either the 250hx 8 pole or the 200hz 5 pole. I have read that the 200hz is substantially narrower and its shape factor is far better than the 8 pole, with the trade off of offset matching for diversity RX.

Can someone with one or the other filter please enlighten me as to how they like it. As compared to the 400hz filter.

I like to do CW contesting. I have always tuned my K3 with the 400hz filter. I agree that the audio quality of the narrower SSB filters stink. I rarely do SSB contests because they are exhausting. But the 160m CW contests are what I live for 

In fact, I bought the K3 because every other rig I tried during 160m contests performed so badly.