This is right for most ham transmitters, but wrong for Elecraft. Elecraft transmitters have a closed-loop power control that will try to keep the power at the set level (50 W) regardless of the audio input.
1. Set output power to 0 W and/or use a dummy load. 2. Set WSJT-X to “Tune”, where it will put out a constant tone. 3. Adjust all audio levels, starting at a middle position, until you have 4 bars solid and the 5th flickering. It might not flicker for this solid tone. wunder K6WRU Walter Underwood CM87wj http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog) > On Aug 4, 2017, at 9:18 AM, Glenn Anderson <wb5...@comcast.net> wrote: > > OK...so here's how I do it... > > 1. Press the "tune" button on the K3. > 2. Set output power for a convenient reading on your wattmeter (50 watts). > Exit "tune" mode. > 3. Activate the "tune" function on WSJL or send a test tone from your > favorite digital program. > 4. Adjust whatever the series of audio controls that you have to make the > output power match the value in step 2. > 5. Exit test mode. > 6. Operate > > I don't pay any attention to the ALC meter after this point. For the record, > mine seems to flash between one and four bars. > > YMMV > > Glenn WB5TUF > > -----Original Message----- > From: Dave Cole [mailto:d...@nk7z.net] > Sent: Friday, August 04, 2017 7:54 AM > To: Glenn Anderson <wb5...@comcast.net>; elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3: Odd ALC behavior > > Hi Glenn, > > Respectfully, the issue, as already stated a few times, in several messages, > is not that no one knows what to adjust, and we are all over thinking how to > fix this, but that it is not possible to get the desired results, no matter > what one adjusts. > > I have adjusted all possible combinations of level controls-- LINE IN on the > K3, the sound card out on the computer, and the Power Out on WSJT-X, to get > to the desired results, and have failed. > > Given that I am a pretty creative fellow, and spend decades in the > Electronics industry, I suspect I am doing this correctly, so no, I am pretty > sure this is not a case of over thinking, but of something not visible > happening. > > I just read Ken's post of July 16th, and yes Ken's problem sounds like the > same issue I have-- as one approaches the correct settings, the K3 jumps to > instantly to 5 bars, skipping 4 bars, or as you lower any input to the K3, > the ALC actions simply stops at 5 bars... Then te ALC levels start to pump, > while power out stays the same... > > I have heard this described as Power Hunting before, but in my case, it seems > totally disconnected from any power settings I run. I have tried everything > from 1 watt to 100 watts, and the behavior never changes. > > Alas, I fear I will just continue running with a bit of ALC, which I don't > want to do... I would like to set it up as per Elecraft recommendations, but > that seems impossible. > > > 73s and thanks, > Dave > NK7Z > http://www.nk7z.net > > On 08/04/2017 05:11 AM, Glenn Anderson wrote: >> You guys are over-thinking this "issue". Just set whatever combination >> of level controls it takes to get four solid bars and a flashing fifth >> on the ALC and get on with it.....that works for me. >> >> See Y'all on FT8! >> >> Glenn WB5TUF >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net >> [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Dave Cole >> Sent: Thursday, August 03, 2017 11:52 PM >> To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3: Odd ALC behavior >> >> Thanks to all for the sheer number and breadth of answers... Rather >> than answer each one, and create a huge number of posts, I will try >> and answer all here... >> >> I have done all the steps outlined i the posts here before, and have >> tried them again today. >> >> Output from the computer is sitting dead center, line in was sitting >> at 27, and the power slider on WSJT-X is sitting at 4/5th full. >> >> I took a different sound card program, (MixW in RTTY), and I got the >> same behavior at 5 bars, the meter shows 5 bars, or no bars going >> between those conditions about once or twice a second randomly. >> >> If I increase ANY of the audio controls it drops out of that mode, and >> acts just as Elecraft say to set things, just one bar higher, i.e. >> sits at 5 bars, and the 6th flashes... >> >> No combination I can create of the input, or output controls will stop this. >> >> I also tried adjusting the power controls set a 1 watt, and at 50 watts. >> The power control makes zero difference in how it behaves. In fact >> if I am in TEST TRANSMIT mode the problem shows... >> >> Listening to the computer output via MON-- sounds perfect... >> >> I may next get the scope out again, and start looking at things again... >> I doubt it is the sound card changing levels because the issue goes >> away if I turn up LINE IN on the K3... >> >> I am still at a loss as to what is causing this issue. I am pretty >> sure it is an artifact of something happening in the K3, but for the >> life of me I can't figure it out. >> >> 73s and thanks, >> Dave >> NK7Z >> http://www.nk7z.net >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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 Message delivered to >> wb5...@comcast.net >> > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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 > Message delivered to wun...@wunderwood.org ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
