- 317 Posts
- 88 Reply Likes
- unsure but hopeful.
Posted 5 years ago
- 1787 Posts
- 622 Reply Likes
George Molnar, KF2T, Elmer
- 1612 Posts
- 570 Reply Likes
I agree with your assessment. I think they lost a little on the filters in this beta. They did seem sharper in the original release version, although I have not done any precision measuring. 1.1 should hit in the next couple of weeks; it will be interesting to see how it works out.
- 317 Posts
- 88 Reply Likes
As I mentioned earlier, I'm not hearing "brick wall" performance of the CW filters, especially at the 50 and 100 hz widths. A crowded CW band in a contest can have signals often less than 50 hz separation, so filter shape factors of 1.05 to 1, or 1.1 to 1, would be close enough to "brick wall" to make a tremendous difference in competitive CW work. If there is a penalty to making really good shape factors at these narrow bandwidths, and trade-offs are necessary,just let us know so we can accept the best compromise and we can move on. I've seen great posts by Steve that are concise about engineering decisions that had to made in such areas, so maybe he can nail this down for us.
- 305 Posts
- 76 Reply Likes
Did you reach any conclusions about the shape factors? Did I miss
some info from Flex? The vs. 1.1 filters seem fine, but are there some numbers
we can quote on the air?
Ned, K1NJ
- 317 Posts
- 88 Reply Likes
Paul Christensen, W9AC, Elmer
- 322 Posts
- 138 Reply Likes
f1 = 14,175.340 (-60 dB)
f2 = 14,175.370 (- 6 dB)
f3 = 14,175.630 (-6 dB)
f4 = 14,175.660 (-60 dB)
For the shape factor, use the formula [f4 - f1] / [f3 - f2]
[14,175.660 - 14,175.340] / [14,175.630 - 14,175.370]
The resulting shape factor is about 1.2 for the 250 Hz filter. A few important points that affect computed shape factor accuracy: First, I am unsure of Flex's S-meter accuracy over a 60 dB level span; and secondly, small changes of a few Hz make a huge difference with digital filters. Better accuracy will be observed when moving in 1 Hz increments, rather than 10 Hz (e.g., using DDUtil).
Paul, W9AC
Steve - N5AC, VP Engineering / CTO
- 1045 Posts
- 1023 Reply Likes
Also for CW the filter shape factor changes at 400, 1000 and 1500Hz to lower latency with a wider filter.
- 317 Posts
- 88 Reply Likes
1.2 to 1 is excellent, considerably better than the best of the amateur crystal filters (1.4 to 1) that I have used in the past. Just for grins, would it be possible for you to run the test on the 100 hz filter?
Steve commented above that the shape factor changes at 400 again to lower latency, although I must admit that I'm not sure if he is impling that the shape factor for the 400 and wider filters will have wider skirts to achieve less latency. Steve, if you see this post, could you amplify your comment about the wider filters? Are you saying that the 400 and wider filters will have shape factors higher (filter skirts are less steep) than the 250 filter tested by Paul?
Steve - N5AC, VP Engineering / CTO
- 1045 Posts
- 1023 Reply Likes
1) shape factor is independent of filter bandwidth chosen (I know how this sounds, but I believe it is a possibility since all that we are analyzing is one side of a skirt) in which case you will also see a 1.2 for the 100Hz filter. If this is the case than all filters in each range will have the same shape factor (0-400, 401-1000, 1001-1500, etc).
2) The other possibility is that the shape factor is bandwidth dependent in which case there will be a progression from 0-400 and then a jump to 401, a progression from 401-1000 and a jump at 1000, etc.
Let me know which it is because I'm curious too!
- 1783 Posts
- 621 Reply Likes
Good idea......we frequently slow down a bit for the weak ones anyway. Either an option as you suggested or just automatically sharpen up when the speed is below a certain value (e.g. 25 WPM?)
Regards, Al / NN4ZZ
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com
- 1783 Posts
- 621 Reply Likes
I just realized why the automatic option won't always work. The speed is only known when using the internal keyer. So your idea of the "sharp" option is better but I guess it also has a risk (increased latency) if engaged when QSK at high speeds.
Does that make sense?
Regards, Al / NN4ZZ
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com
Paul Christensen, W9AC, Elmer
- 322 Posts
- 138 Reply Likes
- 425 Posts
- 97 Reply Likes
Don't get hung up on the ratios. Both 100 and 250 wide have about 30hz from -6 to -60 on each side, only the initial width changes. The math makes the ratio worse.
Do this on a 10hz bandwidth and the ratio would look horrible.
Besides, without a slight slope I couldn't demodulate a 2M FM signal on an AM filter slope.
- 317 Posts
- 88 Reply Likes
If I can summarize, from 50 hz to 399 hz the filter shape factor gets better and better as it approaches 1.1 to 1 at the 400 hz boundry, then goes back to something like 1.6 to 1 at 401 hz and gets better and better until it approaches the next boundry at 1000 where it will be around 1.1 to 1 again.
The 1.6 to 1 shape factor at 100 hz is pretty impressive. And what can I say about 1.02 to 1 for SSB filters. That is truly "brick wall".
As Al and Paul said above, a non-QSK operator would not mind a little more latency through a 50 or 100 hz filter, if doing so could produce a 1.1 shape factor. As you have probably witnessed on the recent DXpeditions, QRMers often get very close to the DX station's frequency. It may be possible to attenuate the QRMers enough to copy the DX station with a 50 or 75 hz filter that has a 1.1 to 1 shape factor. As for latency......"Latency is in the eyes of the beholder."
Good job with the Ver 1.1 filters Steve.
- 317 Posts
- 88 Reply Likes
Well, they did! Paul's measurements show the same 33 hz distance between the -6 and -60 db points on the 100 hz filter. Only this time, the formula for shape factor gives a value of 1.6. So we hang our heads in sorrow that the 100 hz filter does not have as steep a skirt as the 2700 hz filter. BUT IT DOES!!! If you were a downhill skier looking over the edge of a 100 hz filter or a 2700 hz filter, you would see the same "steepness" of the slope...... a fall of 54 db in 33 hz, or 1.6 db per hz. When the edge of that 100 hz filter is applied against an unwanted signal, it is going to attenuate that unwanted signal just as effectively as that 2700 hz filter. From these three measurements by Paul, I am inclined to believe that all these digital filters are going to have the same slope factor of 1.6 db per hz. When drawn out to scale, it makes a 2700 hz filter appear to have virtually vertical sides. When drawn to scale, it makes a 50 hz filter look fair, and a 25 hz filter downright pathetic. But we must remember, it is the wall of the filter that is applied to the undesired signal, and a 54 db attenuation over a span of 33 hz is remarkable. For me, Stan's post is an epiphany because I finally understand that shape factor is a mathematical enigma. As filter width decreases, shape factor gets worse even though the slope of the skirts remain constant. The following list of filter width versus shape factor assumes a constant filter slope of 1.6 db per hz.
25 hz filter ----- 3.64 shape factor
50 hz filter ----- 2.30 shape factor
100 hz filter ----- 1.66 shape factor
250 hz filter ----- 1.26 shape factor
400 hz filter ----- 1.16 shape factor
600 hz filter ----- 1.11 shape factor
800 hz filter ----- 1.08 shape factor
1600 hz filter ----- 1.04 shape factor
3200 hz filter ----- 1.02 shape factor
Take comfort in the fact that all these filters have the same "brick wall" slope of 54db per 33 hz (1.6 db per hz).
Thanks Stan, you nailed it.
Paul Christensen, W9AC, Elmer
- 322 Posts
- 138 Reply Likes
Good analysis, Charles. What you've shown also applies to crystal filters, but unlike the mathematical perfection attained in DSP, as the crystal filter's bandwidth decreases, even slight slope imperfections have an impact on shape factor and symmetry from center.
Putting this into perspective, look at the shape factor of the best INRAD crystal filters. Due to manufacturing cost and inability to attain repeatable tolerance, I don't believe they offer one under 250 Hz. Their typical 250 Hz filter (at 8 MHz) has a shape factor of 2.2.
https://www.inrad.net/product.php?productid=203&cat=90&page=1
In addition to nearly perfect control of the slope, the DSP filters are providing much better ultimate filtering well beyond the -60dB point where crystal filters are subject to degradation due to I/O isolation and other blow-by effects that limit ultimate filtering performance. Thru-loss also escalates as a crystal filter becomes narrow. Look at the schemes developed by competing manufacturers to compensate for that loss.
It would be interesting to plot an overlay of the Flex's filters on top of a comparable INRAD crystal filter.
Ken - NM9P, Elmer
- 4067 Posts
- 1266 Reply Likes
- 1787 Posts
- 622 Reply Likes
Here you go! Below is a graphic for the inrad 250 HZ filter in BLACK and the FLEX 250 Hz filter overlaid on it in RED using Paul's data.
6 Db = 260 HZ
60 Db = 320 Hz
The 1.2 shape looks very good to me!
Regards, Al / NN4ZZ
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com

Paul Christensen, W9AC, Elmer
- 322 Posts
- 138 Reply Likes
Nice work, Al. Probably the top portion on the Flex plot is flatter than shown. It would just require me to capture more data points on Hz-by-Hz basis between filter center and the -6 dB points.
Paul, W9AC
- 1787 Posts
- 622 Reply Likes
This is probably more like it then....also moved the 60DB points slightly.
Regards, Al / NN4ZZ
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com

Ken - NM9P, Elmer
- 4070 Posts
- 1267 Reply Likes
I figured you would do it even without my challenge... ha.
Impressive performance.....
Now, can you superimpose a 50 or 24 Hz filter on top of the INRAD so we can REALLY brag?
- 495 Posts
- 121 Reply Likes
- 1787 Posts
- 622 Reply Likes
If there is a close by interfering signal, then the brick wall filter will be better. Assume the BLUE signal is the offending one in the snapshot below. The Yellow is the the overlap for the Inrad filter. Much less for the Flex filter. It probably makes a lot more difference when the signal you want to hear is a weak DX signal.
Regards, Al / NN4ZZ
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com

Ken - NM9P, Elmer
- 4070 Posts
- 1267 Reply Likes
I demonstrated my 6500 to the local ham club last night. I had it connected to my 20 Meter Hustler mobile antenna with a long jumper fed through a window into the meeting room.
I started with the big pileup on 20 CW from one of the big DXpeditions.
I used the 3K wide filter and it was mayhem! and said "This is what most of our rigs would hear without a good CW filter.
Then I switched in the 250 Hz filter and said "This is what it sounds like with a good CW filter." There were still 3 or 4 signals in the passband, but several people said "Wow, pretty nice."
Then I said, "You haven't seen anything, yet."
I set the 50 Hz filter and the Audio Peak Filter and there was only ONE signal, weak, right beside a very strong signal. And it stood out from a practically noiseless background.
That turned some heads! And then I went A/B between the 3 Khz wide and 50 Hz filter several times. Going split with the 50 Hz filter on one frequency and a 400 Hz on another freq about 20 Khz away with one in the left ear and the other in the right polished off that part of the demo. "And that is how I worked the big DXpedition barefoot with a dipole! I can't wait for my T-11 up 55 ft.!)
I had to brag a little bit..... But as they say in Texas..."It ain't braggin' if ya can do it!"
And this FLEX can do it!
Ken - NM9P
Paul Christensen, W9AC, Elmer
- 322 Posts
- 138 Reply Likes
Al,
Here's what I have between the filter center and the -6dB points of the 250 Hz filter. I only plotted the upper frequencies from center. The lower frequencies will be a mirror image with DSP. I couldn't say that if this was a crystal filter.
14,175.000 = 0 dB
14,175.110 = -1 dB
14,175.116 = -2 dB
14,175.118 = - 3dB
14,175.120 = - 4dB
14,175.123 = -5dB
14, 175.125 = -6 dB
How does that look? The measurement is super touchy. As expected, just a few Hz means a couple dB change when we get close to the knee of curve.
Paul, W9AC
.
- 495 Posts
- 121 Reply Likes
- 317 Posts
- 88 Reply Likes
So, could someone out there get a screen capture of a panadapter zoomed in on a CW carrier to determine its width and slope so it can be reproduced on a graph for evaluating how DSP filters and crystal filters differ? With this last bit of information, we will be very close to really understanding and documenting the value of steep filter slopes for congested CW operation. Once this is graphed out, I think it will vindicate the programming effort and the processor clock cycles dedicated to achieving these steep filter slopes. Thanks to all who participated in this discussion.
- 495 Posts
- 121 Reply Likes
- 1787 Posts
- 622 Reply Likes
I think your previous comment is still there.....when there are a lot of comments, the community software collapses them. You have to click on the "view more comments." It's easy to miss.

I agree that representing real world conditions are much more complex. (wide CW, multiple signals close by, clicks, hash, etc). The blue one I added was just to show how the narrower filter could help compared to the inrad. Real world could be a lot different.
Regards, Al / NN4ZZ
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com
Steve - N5AC, VP Engineering / CTO
- 1045 Posts
- 1023 Reply Likes
In the FLEX-6000, we use a single keying waveform function and we have only two rise-times that we adjust between (as of v1.1). These two things set the bandwidth of the CW signal. If you want to look at this with a spectrum analyzer, you have to be very aware of the window filter used in the analyzer because it will color the results -- what you see is NOT what you get. Your brain does its own FFT on the CW signal in order for you to copy it. If I was going to do the analysis with a spectrum analyzer, I would capture a CW signal, isolate the keying or unkeying waveform and do an FFT on it with very narrow bins (1Hz or less). This will give you a less colored view of the actual spectrum occupancy of the signal. Then your accuracy would be to 5Hz or so after bin leakage. If you are using 5Hz bins, your accuracy is going to be in the 10-15Hz range which is probably more than you want for this kind of analysis.
- 1787 Posts
- 622 Reply Likes
Thanks, Al.
I figured you would do it even without my challenge... ha.
Impressive performance.....
Now, can you superimpose a 50 or 24 Hz filter on top of the INRAD so we can REALLY brag?
Ken,
Paul provided data for the 100 HZ Flex filter so I superimposed it on the INRAD 250 HZ filter. It should be a fair approximation and even at the 1.6 shape it looks brick wall in comparison. At this scale the FLEX 50 HZ filter would look similar just half as wide. It's easy to see why using a good 50 or 100 HZ filter (that doesn't ring) makes such a difference compared to the 250 HZ crystal filters.
Regards, Al / NN4ZZ
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com

Paul Christensen, W9AC, Elmer
- 322 Posts
- 138 Reply Likes
Not sure if you missed it but I provided the detail of the 250 Hz filter in 1.0 dB steps between the center frequency and the -6 dB point. This will give you better detail of for the top graphical passband response. The message may be collapsed in between others.
Paul
- 1787 Posts
- 622 Reply Likes
Yes overlooked it, but got it now. I'll redo the 250 HZ plot...
Regards, Al / NN4ZZ
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com
- 1787 Posts
- 622 Reply Likes
Here is the updated 250 HZ filter with your additional close in data points. At the scale used for the Inrad filter graphic, it is hard to plot that level of detail very accurately. But as you suspected the top is much flatter than my first picture. .
Regards, Al / NN4ZZ
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com

- 317 Posts
- 88 Reply Likes
1. Use a signal generator to insert a continuous carrier and use the 6500's 250 hz filter to determine the carrier's maximim S-meter reading. Then tune either above or below the carrier frequency until the 6500's S-meter is down 60 db. Write down that frequency.
2. Use a receiver with a good INRAD 250 hz filter, use the same signal generator set to the same frequency and signal level as above, and determine the maximum signal strength of the carrier on the S-meter. Now tune to the same frequency that the 6500 showed the carrier to be 60 db down from its maximum. Write down this S-meter reading and determine the difference in db from its maximum.
3. The difference between the INRAD filter differential S-meter reading, and the 6500's 60 db differential S-meter reading will illustrate how much more attenuation the DSP filter will provide in a real-world environment.
Yes, the S-meter in the INRAD receiver will not be as linear as the one in the 6500, yes it will be harder to read, yes the steady state carrier is not as real-world as a keyed CW signal.........but this protocol eill give a fair assessment of how these two filter types will perform in a real RX environment. We'll need Rob Sherwood to do the definitive tests, but this will give us a good idea of what to expect.
Thanks again to all that have made this such an interesting discussion.
This conversation is no longer open for comments or replies.
This conversation is no longer open for comments or replies.
Related Categories
-
SmartSDR for Windows
- 4855 Conversations
- 1447 Followers
Charles - K5UA
So why am I interested in this? Well, "brick wall filters" imply a filter shape factor of 1:1. I'm just not sure that the 6500 CW filters are ,at their current state, close to that very high standard. Tuning around CW signals with the 50 hz and 100 filters has given me reason to question the shape factors of these digital filters. That's why I would like someone with a signal generator to determine the actual shape factors of the 6500's CW filters. I'm not saying that they are not good or better than the competition, I just would like to know what the shape factors actually are since I am not hearing a "brick wall" response as I tune across a CW signal. I am not trying to be overly critical, I just would like to know what kind of filter performance we have in our arsenal.