All,
Thank you for your helpful responses. Indeed it appears that it is my
unfamiliarity with a DSP-based radio that resulted in the CW-note noise and
raspiness that I described yesterday. The DSP-based radio is a different bird
than the mostly analog radios I've used the past 42 years.
Here is what I learned about setting the Eagle audio:
1) Keep the RF gain, in the Eagle's case the IF gain, at a minimum. As the
person responding said that prevents the ADC before the DSP from being
overloaded. I should have know that, I work for a company that designs and
manufactures ADCs. However, we in the trade always take it for granted that we
usually won't be over driving the ADC input. Use the AF gain instead to control
the volume. That is different than what I tended to do with my analog radios.
Also, something very different about the Eagle's RF gain control is that
setting it to minimum doesn't completely cut off the RF traveling through he
signal chain. It has a very usable, sensible range. That had the greatest
affect on the noise I described.
2) Use the attenuator. I found using the attenuator nicely reduces the level
at the front-end which of course further strengthens an already strong front
end. That was key in the listening to the pile-ups. The Eagle has plenty of
gain and I have always been a big fan of using an attenuator instead of the RF
gain control. I usually ran my Omni VI+ with the attenuator on during the
entire 160m CW contests. I found it had little affect on the super weak DX
stations and further helped attenuate the fellow a few miles away running
serious power.
3) Keep the noise blanker turned off. I don't have the noise blanker option, so
that may not be applicable in this case. When I used my Omni VI+ I recall a a
broad-band noise being generated over tens-of-kilohertz when a strong CW
station was operating near by. As a rule I always kept it turned off. The Eagle
has the DSP noise reduction which should be adequate for home use.
There were other good tips as well and I will relate them as I learn the radio
better. All I can really say for now is the Eagle is really cool! The
ergonomics, size, and utility of the radio are perfectly suited for my uses.
Wow.
'73, Thomas - AC7A
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