My advice is to try it with the K3 only and put the Amp aside for the moment. I reviewed the SGC web site to find out about the amp which I have never heard of. It sure looks like it may have been manufactured for the CB market, but of course, I am not sure by only looking at the SGC advertising. They make no mention of ham radio or CB, but the do talk a lot about the Base Station, a term that no experienced ham would use. After you get things working with the K3 you may want to continue with the SGC amp, but don't be surprised if it does not meet minimum ham radio standards and don't expect it to be an inexpensive substitute for a KPA-500. I am not either a full or part-time employee of Elecraft, just an old ham who likes to see new hams succeed and a satisfied K3 owner. Willis 'Cookie' Cooke K5EWJ & Trustee N5BPS, USS Cavalla, USS Stewart
________________________________ From: "gold...@charter.net" <gold...@charter.net> To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2012 6:49 AM Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Break in with an amp question I am attempting to slowly learn to work with CW but at first it is with a computer program but I am not sure if that is relevant. I understand the reason for break in as it allows for RX listening between your TX in case someone it trying to contact your. The issue is that when using VOX and with semi or full breakin when using my amp the relays in the amp are clicking and clacking like crazy which to me seems very abusive to the amp. My solution has been to go to semi break in and then set a long delay time so the amp and K3 stay keyed. The amp is an SGC powercube and I do have it wired to the K3 so it gets a PTT signal. Am I doing the right thing with the delay or are there other ways to stop the amp from going nuts or is this just the nature of the beast. ~73 Don KD8NNU ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html