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Reviews For: Elecraft P3 Panadapter

Category: Specialized Amateur Communication Products

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Review Summary For : Elecraft P3 Panadapter
Reviews: 50MSRP: 699.95 kit, 749.95 assembled
Description:
The new Elecraft P3 Panadapter display adds a visual dimension to signal hunting with fast real time spectrum and waterfall displays of band activity. The P3 offers superior sensitivity and DSP processing, giving you the ability to see signals down to the K3's noise floor. The P3 can also be used with any other radio that provides an IF output of 455 kHz to 21.7 MHz.
P3 features:
  • High-resolution, full-color LCD
  • Fast, real-time spectrum and waterfall displays
  • Excellent sensitivity and advanced 32-bit signal processing
  • Simple, 5-minute plug-in integration with the K3; no PC needed
  • 200 kHz max. span; 2 kHz min. span (wider spans with future f/w update)
  • Point and click by tapping "select" knob to move K3 to desired signals
  • Cursors show K3's VFO A and VFO B locations and main/sub RX bandwidth
  • Multi-pass signal averaging mode shows weaker signals, averaging out noise
  • Peak detection mode to show total activity on the band
  • User calibration of display to show absolute signal level in dBm
  • Programmable function keys for both P3 and K3 commands
  • Programmable IF input (455 kHz to 21.7 MHz) for use with other transceivers
  • Supplied software utility can send screen captures to a PC
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.elecraft.com/P3/p3.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00504.8
W1ZI Rating: 2011-05-18
Elecraft P3 REDUX! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Please see my previous review. The concatenation PC/P3/K3 still does not work properly with FLDIGI alone, but the developer of FLDIGI has written a small "helper program" currently under development, FLRIG Ver. 1.1.3CO, that completely solves the communications problem when using FLDIGI 3.21.9. I have tested the combination fairly extensively, and totally withdraw my previous assessment rating of 2. The P3 is a delightful device, and I rate it as "5" or even 6 out of 5.
K9RJ Rating: 2011-04-09
Fantastic! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I love this thing! It provides a clear picture of received signals especially the audio balance of SSB signals. It also shows various noise items. I can turn on a switching power supply and immediately see if there are spurious signals being generated. Fantastic for also showing general band activity. In a contest you can see all the signals and by use of the Average feature not miss a station. Integrates perfectly with my K3 and it is very easy to update the software.
I must also say I the customer service is second to none.

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by K9RJ on 2011-01-16

Not having had a receiver with a panadapter before, this is a real treat. It is very useful to be able to see the band, where the signals are, and where the interference is. It is easy to operate and the FN buttons are easy to program. I use four different Span options (8, 40, 100 & 200) plus Peak, Freeze VFO B and Rate. The ability to see digital signals that are barely audible is amazing. The capability to see where signals were is a great tool for S&P in contests or general DXing.
WB4OOA Rating: 2011-04-08
A Professional Panadapter Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
A Professional Performance Panadapter

The P3 is Sensitive; Fast; Accurate; and has fantastic Resolution.

The S-Meter amplitude levels track perfectly with my commercial (IFR 1200S) attenuator, from in the noise floor to over S-9 + 60dbm.

The Dynamic Range is nearly as good as the K3.

Real time displays and events are captured, especially in the Peak Hold Mode.

No PC needed. I like that. Of course one can be used if desired.

The signal averaging mode works on Noise but still displays weak signals down into the noise. Amazing!

The display resolution is really Excellent. Taking the SPAN down to + - 1Khz, with excellent resolution, is so nice.

You can assign K3 and P3 commands to the PF keys. Really helpful.

There is a macro function built into the P3 Utility. The P3 Utility has a Display Capture function that Automatically puts the scan onto the Microsoft Clipboard. I love that feature.
I can drop the picture into a blank email and send it to my friends. It can also be saved as a bitmapped file.

This has to be the best Panadapter I have used or seen. It is a serious piece of Equipment that is FUN to use.

W0MU Rating: 2011-04-05
Must have! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just purchased and built my P3. It is a very simple build that nearly anyone should be able to complete easily. Most of the assembly is the case and a couple of board. No soldering necessary.

The P3 has been a great addition to the shack. It looks great next to the K3 and has provided immediate feedback on band openings and pileup management.

The P3 will allow you to see in most cases who the DX just worked and their tendency working up or down the band or working all over their split window as was the case early with the S2 and VU4. I was able to find "clear" spots in the split and managed to work them both fairly quickly. In a few cases the DX was actually working stations well outside their announced splits and the P3 made it easy to find where they were working.

I had been using the LP-Pan which require a separate sound card and another program running on the computer and another monitor. LP-PAN works great and probably can do more. LP-Pan is a bit more complicated.

I like the P3 as it is smaller with a sharp screen and it matches the K3. It turns on and off with my K3 and doesn't require a computer.

KJ1D Rating: 2011-03-21
P3 Panadapter is a must Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently purchased a K3 as well as a P3 Panadapter to go with it. I will be reviewing the K3 a little later. I would like to say that the P3 has been a joy to operate. Being able to look down the band and see all of the activity really makes tuning a snap. This is a wonderful piece of equipment that I will be using for many years to come.
K5ND Rating: 2011-02-22
Great Tool Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I added the P3 to my K3/10 station for use in QRP CW contesting and DXing, my primary activities. In the last couple of contests I've found the P3 to be great in speeding up my search and pounce mode --- jumping from one signal to the next as I view them on the screen. In DXing, I can clearly see the pile up and many times see the station that is in contact with the DX. As a result, I can move my transmit signal to that point and be next in line with the DX. As you can tell, I'm impressed with the unit and the capabilities it provides. The Elecraft support has been superb and both the K3 and P3 work very well in my Apple Mac based ham shack. You can see my review of the unit with kit building photos at http://www.k5nd.net
W4OP Rating: 2011-01-20
Extremely Useful Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Having had the IC-7700, 7600 and the PRO series with their toy like panadapters, the P3 was a welcome change. The scopes on the Icom gear have very limited resolution bandwidth and even poorer MDS. In fact the 7600 scope is less sensitive than the PRO series.
New firmware for the P3 makes it an inreasingly useful tool. The latest release (fixed tune) is fantastic and once again demonstrates the gang at Elecraft listening to their customers. In the 4 years I owned my 7700 I never saw a useful firmware upgrade, let alone any enhancement of the scope.I use the P3 for measuring patterns of my rotatable Flag and shielded loops. The waterfall has proven extremely useful for my weak signal 1296MHz EME and 500KHz SWLing.
All told, a fantastic tool that is user friendly (much easier to use the an my SDR-IQ) and will keep getting better in the future.
I occasionally use my K3 portable and certainly would not want the P3 built into the K3.This way I can also use the P3 on my other rigs.
One of the best dollar investments I have made in amateur radio.
ZENKI Rating: 2011-01-20
Great limited features Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Useful accessory where the novelty soon wears off quickly. The main advantage is that you dont have to turn on a computer to view the band.

I was really excited about getting the P3, once getting it it was a huge anticlimax!

What I soon realized is that the P3 should be really integrated into the K3 or that the K3s VFO knob should be on the P3. The P3 really requires the screen to be directly in front of you where your hands adjust the knobs.

Because your modus operandi changes from spinning the VFO knob to that of studying whats on the band visually, and then tuning wherever there is activity, you need good ergonomics. The tiny knobs on the P3 is not up to the task of tuning the band like the K3's big useful VFO knob.

The push and click tuning is a great idea but not on such a tiny knob, you need a decent spinner knob like AOR panadapters used.

The P3 is also needs some weight in it to pull this off with success. Unfortunately the K3's poor ergonomics combined with the added distraction makes the combination a pain to use.

Radios like IC 7700 and IC7800 have the right idea with good ergonomics that integrates the bandscope/panadapter very well. Even the Flexradio concept is superior one that makes using
pan adapter radios a success. After using the P3/K3 combination I can now clearly understand why Flex users liker their PC interface so much. The K3/P3 combination is awkward at best.

The K3 and P3 really needs to be placed in one box. It would be a simple task for Elecraft to offer a K3 and P3 integration kit.

My opinion might change once the external VGA option is realized. You may then not get a stiff neck from alternately looking at either the K3 or P3 as you do your hamming around. In my opinion the right size for the P3 screen is roughly double of what it is now. The external monitor option would offer relief from its tiny screen. I would be glad to buy the P3 black box version without internal screen and with the external VGA option if it became available.

I like point and click tuning and using the new generation of SDR receivers. Frankly speaking if I need bandscope versatility with a decent receiver I turn on my SDR-IQ or Perseus receiver its far easier to use than the P3 K3 combo for tuning around. It would have been great if you could have plugged in a PC wireless mouse into
the P3, it would have made using the P3 much easier. It would also would have been great if the tuning knob on the P3 tuned the K3's receiver.

Once the novelty of the pan adapter wears off there is not much more you can do with the P3. The inability to monitor your TX signal and general lack of other functionality makes me use my SDR-IQ Perseus more than the P3.

If you like new toys the P3 is just for you.

If you are scratching around at the bottom of the barrel for every ham dollar spent, I would not recommend that you buy it right now. A SDR-IQ represents better functionality at a better price even though you have to use a computer. The P3's small screen is not all that great and in features it is way behind when compared to products like the similar Yaesu DMU/Panadapter.

Certainly in terms of responsiveness I find SDR receivers like the SDR-IQ and Perseus more responsive and easier to use.

I am also disappointed that the firmware and features have been so slow in coming. It might be years before the P3 reaches its full potential.

While Elecraft has a great support record , its record is poor when delivering specialized features for its product line. The long wait for the external reference standard for the K3 is an example. Who knows how long it will be before the P3 is a killer product?

I am sure products like Telepost LP500 will deliver more bang for the buck in quicker time than further future P3 functionality.

I ordered my P3 factory assembled since there is almost nothing inside the box that you could learn from assembling the unit.

Overall you wont be disappointed with the P3.

G4AON Rating: 2011-01-16
Easy to assemble Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have owned a K3 since 2007 and previously used a Perseus SDR as a panadapter. While the Perseus is a brilliant receiver it required the shack computer to be running in order to use it. The P3 isn't a full receiver in the same way the Perseus is, but it's there at switch on of the K3 and has an equally accurate display for "click and go" frequency control of the K3 -from either of the VFO markers on the display.

Assembly is very straightforward and takes around 2 hours if you include the optional level calibration (not strictly necessary with a K3) and the resistor swap in my old model K3 to boost the IF output level. The BNC-BNC signal input cable, K3 to P3 power lead and the RS232 cable are supplied ready made, which makes this a "no solder" kit.

Configuring the programmable function keys is very straightforward and make the P3 easy to use for changing the frequency span, freezing the display, peak hold, etc.

The only minor criticism with the current firmware version (v0.5) is that average signal levels displayed are quite a few dB below peak levels, the firmware team are aware of my thoughts on the matter and no doubt will be looking into it soon. On a steady carrier the display level is very accurate when fed from a K3.

73 Dave
AB3EN Rating: 2010-10-21
Another great addition to the K3 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had P3 #40 unpacked, assembled, and working with the K3 after about an hour. Fit and finish are, as usual outstanding. The display is really "sharp and clear" and is easier to see and use than most of the other panadapters I have had a chance to use.

The one thing I am waiting for is a software update that will give me the option to have the waterfall scroll with the rest of the display.

The P3 really makes S&P a lot easier and with the sharp filters of the K3 the P3 lets me see the band conditions or other stations on either side of my frequency when I can't hear them.

The open space in the P3 is, I am sure, going to be filled with options over the next few years based upon suggestions of the user community. The input of the user community and the responsiveness of Elecraft is what makes the K3 and P3 a great deal.

73
AB3EN