Specifications

15
Voice Modes (SSB, AM, FM)
Basic Voice-Mode Setup
To avoid transmitting a signal during voice-
mode setup, you can set PWR to 0.0 watts.
! Choose a mode: Tap MODE to select
LSB/USB, AM, or FM mode. In SSB modes,
ALT alternates between LSB and USB.
! Hold MON to set the voice monitor level.
High MON settings may result in audio
clipping or distortion. Start with 3 to 5.
! Tap CMP and set it to 0 using the knob above.
Tap it again to exit the CMP display.
! Enable transmit: Tap XMIT or hold in the
mic’s PTT switch. Note: Hand mics like the
Elecraft MH3 should nearly touch your mouth
when you are speaking (about 1/8” [3 mm]).
! Adjust mic gain level: While speaking into the
mic, adjust KEYER/MIC (mic gain). This
will turn on the transmit CMP and ALC bar
graphs. While speaking, adjust mic gain for
about 5 ALC bars (see below). Mic gain for
the Elecraft MH3 is typically 15-25.
! Speech compression (optional): To use speech
compression, tap CMP and adjust the level
using the knob above the switch. While you’re
speaking, the CMP scale (see above), shows
compression level. High CMP settings may
result in distortion. Start with 1 to 10.
! Set the power level: Exit transmit mode and
adjust PWR to the desired output level.
Do not use MIC gain to set power level. Set
mic gain to a fixed level as described above.
Voice Mode VOX Setup
VOX selects push-to-talk (PTT) or voice-operated
(VOX) transmit (VOX icon on). VOX hold time is
set with DLY (pg. 14).
MENU:VOX GN (VOX gain) should be set to
trigger at normal speech level, but not in response
to incidental noise. Start with low settings (10-20).
MENU:VOX INH (VOX inhibit, or anti-vox) can
prevent speaker audio from triggering VOX.
Transmit Metering in Voice Modes
In voice modes, you can switch the transmit bar
graph from SWR / RF to CMP / ALC by tapping
KEYER/MIC. This also occurs automatically if
you adjust mic gain or speech compression level.
FM Operation
To disable FM mode, use MENU:FM MODE.
To setup for repeater use:
! Hold ALT to select simplex, TX up (+ ), or TX
down (-). If an offset is in effect, REV swaps
RX/TX frequencies and offset direction.
! Set up the repeater offset (MENU:RPT OFS).
! Select FM VFO step size (MENU:VFO CRS).
! If PL tone encode is required, hold PITCH to
turn it on (T icon), and rotate the knob above
this switch to select the tone frequency. Hold
PITCH again to turn PL tone encode off.
! To change the FM deviation level for voice and
PL tones, see MENU:FM DEV.
! Squelch: Tap AF / RF- SQL, then rotate the
knob to select the desired squelch threshold. (In
other modes, the alternate knob function is RF
gain.) Tap the knob again to return to AF gain.
DTMF (dual-tone, multi-frequency): To send
DTMF tones to activate repeater functions: (1) hold
PTT; (2) tap FREQ ENT to enable/disable DTMF
entry; (3) tap 0-9 (use numeric keypad) or special
characters (use MSG = #, ATU TUNE = *, MODE
= A, A/B = B, DATA = C, A>B = D); (4) release
PTT. Note: If transmit is started via the XMIT
switch rather than PTT, and FREQ ENT is then
tapped to enter DTMF tones, tap FREQ ENT again
before exiting transmit via the XMIT switch.
Otherwise XMIT will still be assigned to keypad
digit ‘0’, so it can’t be used to end transmit.
AM Operation
To disable AM mode, use MENU:AM MODE.
AM receive on the KX3 uses traditional envelope
detection. You can also listen to AM signals using
LSB or USB, which may provide better copy.
During AM transmit, the RF bar graph will indicate
about 1/3 to 1/2 the power level set by the power
control. Transmit efficiency is much lower in AM
mode than SSB as discussed on pg. 10.