Elecraft P3 High-Performance Panadapter Manual - Manual (Page 22)

22
Advanced Operating Features
Basic P3
Use with Other Radios
The P3 can be used with any receiver or transceiver
that has means to output an intermediate-frequency
(I.F.) signal between approximately 455 kHz and
21.7 MHz. Frequencies a little beyond that range
can be used at reduced sensitivity.
The I.F. may be selected via
MENU: Xcvr Sel
. If
you are not sure what frequency is used by your
receiver, apply a test signal to the receiver antenna
and scroll through the menu list until you see the
signal on the display. Many receivers use an
inverted I.F., meaning that signals tune in the
opposite direction, so many of the selections
include that feature. As you tune the receiver
upwards in frequency the signal should move to the
left on the display.
If the correct I.F. is not in the list, the frequency of
the USER selection may be set manually via
MENU:
Xcvr Def .
Xcvr Def Display.
Xcvr Def
also allows you to select between inverted
and non-inverted I.F., change the name "USER" to
something else, and select the programming
language (currently either None or K3).
The
Xcvr Def
function temporarily re-defines the
function (FN) keys with legends across the bottom
of the display as shown above. There are three keys
to set the frequency in 100 kHz, 1 kHz or 1 Hz
steps.
The FN2 and FN3 keys are used for changing the
transceiver name. The one with the horizontal
arrows selects the character position as you rotate
the
SELECT
knob and the one with the vertical
arrows selects a character from a list by rotating the
knob.
Tap
F N 4
(EXIT) to return the P3 to normal
operation.
Use with Transverters
The I.F. output of many transceivers tunes
backwards. For example, the K3’s I.F. output is
inverted on all bands except 50 MHz. The P3 takes
this into account automatically. However, if you are
using an external transverter, the tuning direction
depends upon whether the band it converts down to
is the 50 MHz band (not inverted) or some other
band (inverted).
To configure the P3 so the displays moves as
expected regardless of the tuning direction, select
MENU:XV Invert
, tap the
SELECT
knob, and
adjust the knob to select the desired transverter
band: 1-9. Tape the knob again to select either
“Inverted” or “Not Inverted.
See also Amplitude Calibration for Transverters on
page 33. If you are using your P3 with an Elecraft
K3, the K3 Owner’s manual contains more
information about working with transverters.
Remote-Control Commands
Many P3 functions may be accessed by remote-
control commands sent via RS232. These
commands use ordinary ASCII text, so they can be
tested using a terminal emulator or the Command
Tester tab in P3 Utility. When the P3's XCVR
RS232 port is connected to a K3, then both P3 and
K3 commands may be sent and received via the PC
RS232 port.
To distinguish them from K3 commands, P3
commands begin with the "#" symbol. For example,
"#RVM;" returns the P3 firmware revision and
"RVM;" returns the K3 main firmware revision. P3
remote-control commands are fully described in the
P3 Programmer's Reference
.