They are no longer available from Elecraft based on an email I received several weeks ago when calling to ask for a replacement. I sent my K3s in for an upgrade and to be generally looked over last year. I had already installed the KTCXO-3 crystal new from Elecraft earlier but was still having frequency drift issues. The factory replaced that one with a new one and upon return it began to drift. Without an external reference connected - I have to change the ref frequency almost every time I use the radio.
2 meters is so bad on SSB that it is unusable. I have switched back to the original crystal that came with the rig new in 2018. It is much better and I can use my rig for outings like field day or training exercises without a reference signal. For the money spent on a new rig in 2018 (which was the single most expensive ham radio purchase I have ever made and the first and only new Desktop HF transceiver I have ever owned) I am not happy that I can’t even get simple parts for repair less than 3 years later. If I knew a new model was approaching I would have waited. The factory has given me 2 options: use the original crystal which I am doing and the performance is ok, or take my KTCXO-3 and tweak it with a screwdriver to get it back closer to the reference frequency. I have done the first because I can’t do the later. 2 meter SSB is still a little off with the old crystal. I feet certain that my KTCXO-3 is bad and no amount of tweaking will allow it to be stable so sending back to the factory again probably will do no good. Some days I wish I had still had my IC-7610/7700 combo :-( Hank K4HYJ. > On May 10, 2021, at 10:12 PM, Mark Goldberg <marklgoldb...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > Most Hams do not have the test equipment to measure phase noise. The big > issue is 49.380 MHz is an unusual frequency and probably a custom order > frequency standard. The knockoff makers generally don't spend for a custom > part. They take a standard TCXO and generate that frequency using a crappy > PLL based synthesizer with high phase noise and lots of spurs. I have not > tested this particular type (Elecraft replacement) though. Others I tested > were awful. The result would be more interference between radios that are > physically close to each other and on the same band. such as contest and > Dxpedition stations. The low phase noise is a big reason that Elecrafts are > prized for such applications. Both RX and TX are affected. > > I make replacement TCXOs for Kenwood TS-590s. They also use an unusual > frequency but I was able to get a TCXO chip supplier to provide me a custom > frequency chip that I had to buy in some quantity. That allowed me to produce > a quality product, although things are upside down now with the component > shortages in the industry. If huge companies like auto makers and a company > with a decent volume like Elecraft have part procurement problems, you can > imagine how bad it is for a really small fry like myself. > > Has Elecraft stated why they are no longer available? I have not checked with > my supplier recently, but I expect there would be no interest in low volume > runs when demand can't be met for their high volume parts. > > 73, > > Mark > W7MLG > > > > > >> On Mon, May 10, 2021 at 5:58 PM Hank via Elecraft <elecraft@mailman.qth.net> >> wrote: >> I was thinking the same thing. Several posters here said that the phase >> noise created was worse than the Elecraft part. I do not understand enough >> about the process to understand how that works. I keep hoping someone will >> buy one and try it out - and test the phase noise! >> >> Hank >> K4HYJ >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: RVZ via Elecraft (elecraft@mailman.qth.net) >> Date: 05/10/21 19:27 >> To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> Subject: [Elecraft] K3: KTCXO-3 Compatible Elecraft K3 TCXO 1 PPM High >> Stability Ref. Osc. Compatible >> >> I'm interested in adding a KTCXO-3 to my K3S. Since Elecraft no longer >> sells them I'm wondering if anyone has purchased one of the Chinese versions >> being sold on eBay and if so how it worked? >> https://www.ebay.com/itm/182814802678 >> >> Tnx & 73, Dick- K9OM >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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 h...@optilink.us >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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 marklgoldb...@gmail.com ______________________________________________________________ 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
