[TenTec] Eagle's audio is clean!

[Thomas]

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