Digital BW, The Print

I cannot get satisfactory scans (sharp) without applying 3x3
> pixel unsharp mask in the scanning application (Silverfast Ai 6).

Me too on a 1680. I need a 3x3 in the scanner software plus the usual
unsharp mask tricks in PS. Just as an example - I had some scans done on a
minolta of 6x6 cm negs. On the 1680 I have to use the same amount of unsharp
mask on a 600x600 pixel 75ppi jpeg as i did on the 4800ppi minolta tiff
file. Colour is harder as the 3x3 gives me a halo effect. I've started
shooting a BW landscape project (ok Nij stop laughing) and the lackof
sharpness is pissing me off big time

Julian