Re: [Elecraft] K2 - Strange Problem ?
On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 15:45:37 EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 30/11/04 16:46:51 GMT Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: That's what I was doing, however, because anything capacitive slows the rise of the 5A rail, and hence the correct MCU initialisation, I was chasing my tail. This is a problem I have come across before about 5 years back where we had a newly developed repeater logic controlled by a PIC chip. I had the prototype running the local 2m repeater and the problem was that there were what appeared to be clock pulses appearing on the through audio of the logic. Attempts to decouple the 5V supply rail were disastrous in that it locked up the PIC chip. Eventually traced to the gremlin of delayed voltage rise on the chip due to charging of the decoupling capacitors. This is poison to the PIC chips as they require apparently a very fast rise time on the supply voltage. In our case the problem was self inflicted and was due to trying to be clever and using two regulators in tandem. Was cured by reverting to only one regulator fed direct from the incoming DC supply and only just enough decoupling to clean up the supply line. There is an additional support you can give the PIC chip in start up I discovered when trying to fault find on a partially defective chip. If instead of connecting the PIC chip MCLR pin direct to 5V (see U6 pin 1, the MCU on the K2 control board), connect it via a 10K ohm resistor and place a 4.7 to 10uF capacitor on the MCLR pin. This resultant delay allows all the voltages to stabilise before the chip is enabled. At least it is my belief of how the modification works. Additionally I added a diode with the anode to the MCLR pin across the 10K resistor to discharge the capacitor quickly in the event of a power interruption or the chip would again lock up. This was a change made to get over a particular problem with a PIC chip, but could be the answer to some odd glitches experienced recently. We now have this incorporated into our repeater logic as a standard. An entirely different usage, though one that could have parallels. Perhaps Eric or Wayne at Elecraft could comment. Bob, G3VVT Hi Bob, Thank you for the detailed explanation of your experiences with PIC resets. Microchip data sheets/books show a number of ways that a reset can be achieved on their PIC's. Tying MCLR and VDD together is unsatisfactory. The way you describe with the R,C and diode gives a very reliable reset everytime and is independent of the supply rise time. The diode makes sure that the MCLR line always starts from a known state by discharging the C. As you mention glitches on the supply also need to be addressed. Although not directly involved with the strange problem I consider the MCU reset a point of weakness in the K2 design, and am contemplating modifying the Control board to add a proper reset. I too would be interested in comment from Eric or Wayne. 73 Stewart G3RXQ ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] KPA-100 spur on 160M?
No Tom..only when running the KPA/100 did we hear the spur. I fixed it with the help of Ron ZL1TW but it may be considered an untested/experimental mod and as such did not get posted to the Elecraft reflector. I've e-mailed Gary and told him of my successful experience with it. There are 5 of us who have done the mod and it has worked for all. Hopefully it will get posted here for others to see. It did not show up when I searched the old archives. Thanks to everyone for all the e-mails on this. 73 de Tom K2TA K2/100 #1117 - Original Message - From: Tom Arntzen [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net; Tom Althoff [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 2004 2:03 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA-100 spur on 160M? Is this spur present when running full power QRP? Try 15watt to see if the spur is made by the K2 itself . Turn PA off in menu or power K2 from it's DC barrel jack. If it's gone you know it's made by or with interaction of the KPA100. Tom LA1PHA - Original Message - From: Tom Althoff [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Elecraft elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 2004 9:07 AM Subject: [Elecraft] KPA-100 spur on 160M? Has anyone who experienced oscillation with their KPA-100 (internally or externally mounted) seen a spur about 1Khz up from the main signal? If I crank up my power to 100W a very brippy spur pops up just above my signal only on 160M. If I keep the power at 95W or less it is not there. I do not hear it in my external rx when the amp is bypassed. I keep it at the 90W level if I am operating barefoot on 160M of course but if this is not normal or never before seen then I'd be tempted to look into a wiring error in the PA. I eventually want to wire the PA externally. Elecraft recommends troubleshooting the KPA-100 while it is mounted in the K2 so I'd like to clean this up before extending the PA away from the K2 and a new can of worms gets opened. 73 de Tom K2TA ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K2/100 amp keying?
Hi Tom. If you already have the KPA100, look on the rear panel and you will see an RCA jack marked PA KEY OUT between the ground connection and the power connector - this will allow you to key your external amplifier directly - but only if your amplifier has a positive voltage for its keying line. If your amplifier uses a negative voltage keying circuit (like the Collins 30L-1 and some others) you will need to construct an external circuit to key the amp. 73 --don n4hh K2/100 #2028 - Original Message - From: TMorton [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Elecraft elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2004 8:11 AM Subject: [Elecraft] K2/100 amp keying? I would like to be able to key an external amp with my K2/100. I see on the web site a circuit and a reference to the AMPMODKIT to purchase the parts. There I see a note that the parts are included in the KPA100 kit. However, I don't remember building this and don't see a connection point on the back of the /100 cabinet. Did I miss something? 73 Tom K6CT ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.289 / Virus Database: 265.4.3 - Release Date: 11/26/04 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.289 / Virus Database: 265.4.4 - Release Date: 11/30/04 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Elecraft DX Contest Group
Thanks Tom, Tom Ray. I also had several off list posts. I wasn't aware of the rules for CQ WW. So for this year it would be out of play. So anyone who is interested should let me know and I will compile a list. I'm open to name suggestions. Maybe just a general contest group, I've only been operating in DX related contests (time limits me to only a couple of real efforts). Field Day and SS are popular. I'm not sure if the QRP contests have club (I would guess they do). Feel free to contact me off list and we'll put something together for 2005. 73/72, cheers, et al, Julius n2wn K2 #3311 (and some day #4455) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K2/100 amp keying?
Chas, The KPA100 specs state that the PA Keying Output will sink up to 1 Amp and handle up to 200 volts. This is only for positive voltage sources (it will not function with negative voltages), and it behaves similar to a contact closure to ground. 73, Don W3FPR - Original Message - What is the limit on voltage and current of the PA Key Out? I am getting ready to hook up a linear to my K2/100. I do have an external relay if needed. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K2 - Power up reset
I've had trouble with PIC chips that don't have the brownout reset function. The RC circuit on the reset line (mentioned by G3VVT below) is a good idea. The CPU can also go into never-never land if the Vcc droops a little due to a brief line voltage drop-out. Now a days, I use an external brownout reset chip for micros that don't have it built in. These are very small three terminal devices. They are good insurance against getting into an invalid state due to power glitches. The watchdog timer can also be helpful to reset from a lock-up condition without extra hardware. This assumes the micro does power up correctly so it can initiallize the watchdog timer. Later if something goes wrong, it can issue a software reset. This is also good for recovering from very rare and almost-impossible to catch software issues. 73/ Bob - W5BIG - Original Message - From: Stewart Baker [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2004 1:00 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 - Strange Problem ? On Tue, 30 Nov 2004 15:45:37 EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 30/11/04 16:46:51 GMT Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: That's what I was doing, however, because anything capacitive slows the rise of the 5A rail, and hence the correct MCU initialisation, I was chasing my tail. This is a problem I have come across before about 5 years back where we had a newly developed repeater logic controlled by a PIC chip. I had the prototype running the local 2m repeater and the problem was that there were what appeared to be clock pulses appearing on the through audio of the logic. Attempts to decouple the 5V supply rail were disastrous in that it locked up the PIC chip. Eventually traced to the gremlin of delayed voltage rise on the chip due to charging of the decoupling capacitors. This is poison to the PIC chips as they require apparently a very fast rise time on the supply voltage. In our case the problem was self inflicted and was due to trying to be clever and using two regulators in tandem. Was cured by reverting to only one regulator fed direct from the incoming DC supply and only just enough decoupling to clean up the supply line. There is an additional support you can give the PIC chip in start up I discovered when trying to fault find on a partially defective chip. If instead of connecting the PIC chip MCLR pin direct to 5V (see U6 pin 1, the MCU on the K2 control board), connect it via a 10K ohm resistor and place a 4.7 to 10uF capacitor on the MCLR pin. This resultant delay allows all the voltages to stabilise before the chip is enabled. At least it is my belief of how the modification works. Additionally I added a diode with the anode to the MCLR pin across the 10K resistor to discharge the capacitor quickly in the event of a power interruption or the chip would again lock up. This was a change made to get over a particular problem with a PIC chip, but could be the answer to some odd glitches experienced recently. We now have this incorporated into our repeater logic as a standard. An entirely different usage, though one that could have parallels. Perhaps Eric or Wayne at Elecraft could comment. Bob, G3VVT Hi Bob, Thank you for the detailed explanation of your experiences with PIC resets. Microchip data sheets/books show a number of ways that a reset can be achieved on their PIC's. Tying MCLR and VDD together is unsatisfactory. The way you describe with the R,C and diode gives a very reliable reset everytime and is independent of the supply rise time. The diode makes sure that the MCLR line always starts from a known state by discharging the C. As you mention glitches on the supply also need to be addressed. Although not directly involved with the strange problem I consider the MCU reset a point of weakness in the K2 design, and am contemplating modifying the Control board to add a proper reset. I too would be interested in comment from Eric or Wayne. 73 Stewart G3RXQ ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] QST Review of KAT100 and KDSP2 in Jan 2005 Issue
In this review, the captions to the response curves say that they are for the DSP. Inspection shows that they actually reflect the combined response of the crystal filters and the DSP. So the uninitiated would conclude that the pass band response of the DSP is really that bad whereas the crystal filters are the cause. We see here the best example yet of why one should use one of the spectrum indication programs to set the crystal filters. In my K2 #4017, modest changes to the widest crystal filter bandwidths alter the height of some of the rogue response peaks and valleys. Such adjustments can be used to correct much of the imperfection. I was able to get crystal filter responses that were considerably flatter than that in the QST review. The SSB option board has its own crystal filter network and it provides a significant additional improvement in flatness at my widest filter setting. So I use the SSB option filter for my widest CW filter. In the case of these widest crystal filter settings, the entire response curve can be shoved up or down in frequency to put one of the filter response peaks at the desired center frequency. That would be the operator-selected spot oscillator frequency and the center frequency for the DSP. The narrower crystal filter settings tend to coalesce their peaks and don't present the same problem. I let the K2 warm up completely with the cover on before doing these adjustments. Usually the filter pass band responses of my DSP are exactly that expected. I can't corroborate the complaints of harsh audio. The skirts of the DSP are much sharper than those of the crystal filters, and the ultimate rejection is indicated by Spectrogram to be much better. I was using the soft curve settings. Where this really helps me is during thunderstorms. These are high-power generators of overwhelming wide-band noise. Of course, in typical operation both the crystal and DSP filters are used simultaneously. During normal operation, selecting the DSP pass band filters is no more difficult than selecting the XTAL filters. For me, the infrequent changes to the DSP filter pass band widths and center frequencies is a puzzlement and involves referring to the worthwhile The Nifty Mini-Manual - Elecraft K2 Plus Options found at www.niftyaccessories.com, though the Elecraft manual does OK too. Really, I should just write down the procedure that I need in my own words. I'll do that next time. I recommend that Elecraft upgrade the filter setting discussion in the manual over what's shown for #4017's manual to discuss crystal filter optimization. The use of a spectrum analysis program should be made mandatory. These changes would benefit the average K2 user and would provide a more appropriate performance basis for magazine reviews. 73s, Henry AC5LA ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Re: zero beat detector with KX1?
Eric Ward wrote: I have been interested in building some version of a visual zero beat detector that uses a PLL tone-decoder IC for use with the KX1. I have read about the K2 guys using N0SS's PC board version of the circuit designed by KR5L. Has anyone tried it (or the Jackson Harbor Press kit, or any such similar) with the KX1? Is the side tone too fuzzy/harmonically rich to make it work? Hi Eric, Tom Hammond has put the tone detector in a KX1, I believe. But I think he's off-line for a few days, since he's visiting here in California. On another topic, you wrote: I was interested in WA5ZNU's recent post about tri-state and side tone levels on the KX1. Can't claim to understand it completely-I am a lowly biologist. It must be frustrating to be a biologist these days, watching species disappear, oceans warm, ice caps melt, habitat destroyed, and very little being done about it by the world's largest polluters. At least it's frustrating for me! Of course any discussion of this topic should be OFF the reflector :) 73, Wayne N6KR --- http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] (no subject)
01 DEC 04 Dear K2 Owners, I have just completed the control board on the K2, only problem is that I didn't wear a wrist strap when I installed the chips on the board. I work in a fairly high humidity environment but my floor is carpeted, does anyone think I will have problems when I do my test? I will now being using a static guard mat and a wrist strap from here on out! Thanks, Phil KG0NL ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] K2/100 burn-in
Well I just gave my KPA-100 a workout on 10M. I set the rig at 27WPM 100W with a 20 second CQ (3 CQ's + 2 callsigns sent twice) with a 4 second pause in auto repeat message mode. I did not get an answer in the 30 minutes that I called but I also did not get any Hi Temp warning. The heatsink does get quite warm and with the 5:1 ratio on TX heat vs RX cool off time I might have been exceeding Elecraft's concept of intermittant amateur service.If I used the K2 as the CQ machine on 10M while looking for QSO's on another band I think I'd put a fan on the K2 for peace of mind if not necessity. Has anyone really hammered their K2/100 with high CQ or QSO rates for a 24 hour period without a secondary fan? I'd be curious how it held up and were you successful in cooking eggs on it? It might make a good George Forman portable contest grill. It reminds me of the old QST ad (Alpha?) showing their amp putting out a KW with a brick on the key and each month they'd update the numbers to show it was still going strong after X hours. My K2 is now going to take the seat of honor below my Orion as my primary rig. The Orion I prefer for SSB (mainly because the VOX works so much better) but there is NOTHING that I've pulled out of the noise and QRM with the Orion set for 100Hz bandwidth that I couldn't copy as well (and at times more comfortably) on the K2. 73 de Tom K2TA ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] K2 RTTY setup
Hello all happy holidays (be it Xmas, Hanukah etc') Please advise for best procedure to do RTTY with the K2. I need info about the filters setup best way for audio interfacing inside the rig. Is direct audio-feed (Isolated from computer) to P1 pin 5 ok? any impedance matching\ decoupling required? Also, since I am used to FSK MMTTY, but Have considered MixW (The demo Looks quite impressive) for PSK AFSK, Can anyone suggest the proper routine to show the right carrier frequency while in MixW ? P.S: first operated CW seriously in CQWW - what a ball - I knew it would be like that, but it was better! Tks Elecraft. 73 Thanks in advance, Isaac, 4Z4TL, K2 # 1574. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] K2/100 burn-in
Hi Tom, I had my K2/100 driving an Alpha 87A at WP2Z for ARRL SSB test. The K2 got quite hot and the fan ran a lot. But no ill effects other than keep your hands off the cooling fins. N2TK, Tony -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Tom Althoff Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2004 1:15 PM To: Elecraft Subject: [Elecraft] K2/100 burn-in Well I just gave my KPA-100 a workout on 10M. I set the rig at 27WPM 100W with a 20 second CQ (3 CQ's + 2 callsigns sent twice) with a 4 second pause in auto repeat message mode. I did not get an answer in the 30 minutes that I called but I also did not get any Hi Temp warning. The heatsink does get quite warm and with the 5:1 ratio on TX heat vs RX cool off time I might have been exceeding Elecraft's concept of intermittant amateur service.If I used the K2 as the CQ machine on 10M while looking for QSO's on another band I think I'd put a fan on the K2 for peace of mind if not necessity. Has anyone really hammered their K2/100 with high CQ or QSO rates for a 24 hour period without a secondary fan? I'd be curious how it held up and were you successful in cooking eggs on it? It might make a good George Forman portable contest grill. It reminds me of the old QST ad (Alpha?) showing their amp putting out a KW with a brick on the key and each month they'd update the numbers to show it was still going strong after X hours. My K2 is now going to take the seat of honor below my Orion as my primary rig. The Orion I prefer for SSB (mainly because the VOX works so much better) but there is NOTHING that I've pulled out of the noise and QRM with the Orion set for 100Hz bandwidth that I couldn't copy as well (and at times more comfortably) on the K2. 73 de Tom K2TA ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K2/100 burn-in
I never had a problem, but remember to double-check the finals mounting hardware. NRE/COLE Test Center OH-3 pcarteratgcfn.org or wd8qwratarrl.net Philip L. Carter, WD8QWR [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Re: zero beat detector with KX1?
Greetings, Wayne and Eric - I consider myself privileged to be one of first, if not the first, Ham to build Tom Hammond's SMD PC Board CW Tuning Indicator kit for my KX1, using the KX1 Lamp to perform double duty as both a light and a tuning lock indicator as well (no holes to drill in the KX1 enclosure!!). Tom's SMD PC board design for the K6XX CW Tuning Indicator is truly a clever and tremendously useful modification for the K2, and most recently for the KX1 as well. The SMD board can be installed easily without having to remove the ATU or the KX1 PC boards. Tom provided timely guidance to me for my KX1 project most recently with fast response to my questions and perfect suggestions for solutions to problems, some of which I didn't even know I had. Tom's SMD board *floats* very nicely beneath U1 on the bottom of the ATU board, in its protective electrical tape wrapping. Alignment is a very simple procedure because the CW Tuning Indicator *hears* your KX1 sidetone when in the STP menu mode; one simply adjust the trimpot to a position in the center of travel of the pot for the steady light state. When the Light is in the CW Tuning Indicator mode, one may use the steady light by turning on the Lamp which overrides the Tuning Indicator. BTW, one does NOT have to look directly into the Lamp during the alignment or signal lock procedures to observe when the light is flickering and when it is steady (see *LED Tests,* Item 1., on Page 28 of the KX1 Owner's Manual, that advises one not ). Wayne, thanks again for the KX1! Regards es 73, Pete NU6Q [Original Message] From: wayne burdick [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Eric Ward [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: Elecraft Reflector elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: 12/1/2004 11:49:51 AM Subject: [Elecraft] Re: zero beat detector with KX1? Eric Ward wrote: I have been interested in building some version of a visual zero beat detector that uses a PLL tone-decoder IC for use with the KX1. I have read about the K2 guys using N0SS's PC board version of the circuit designed by KR5L. Has anyone tried it (or the Jackson Harbor Press kit, or any such similar) with the KX1? Is the side tone too fuzzy/harmonically rich to make it work? Hi Eric, Tom Hammond has put the tone detector in a KX1, I believe. But I think he's off-line for a few days, since he's visiting here in California. On another topic, you wrote: I was interested in WA5ZNU's recent post about tri-state and side tone levels on the KX1. Can't claim to understand it completely-I am a lowly biologist. It must be frustrating to be a biologist these days, watching species disappear, oceans warm, ice caps melt, habitat destroyed, and very little being done about it by the world's largest polluters. At least it's frustrating for me! Of course any discussion of this topic should be OFF the reflector :) 73, Wayne N6KR --- http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] (no subject)
I build my K1 and K2 with accessories using a wooden table as workbench. I take into account not to use clothes that are known to produce static. I also has a grounded point that I touch now and then to be sure. All projects went together without any builderrors or static zapps. A wristwrap and antistatic mat would be nice , but knowing about the problem and use some common sence , you can do without it unless you live in very dry enviroment. Tom LA1PHA - Original Message - From: Philip Myles [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2004 6:09 PM Subject: [Elecraft] (no subject) 01 DEC 04 Dear K2 Owners, I have just completed the control board on the K2, only problem is that I didn't wear a wrist strap when I installed the chips on the board. I work in a fairly high humidity environment but my floor is carpeted, does anyone think I will have problems when I do my test? I will now being using a static guard mat and a wrist strap from here on out! Thanks, Phil KG0NL ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Anyone tried receiving DRM signals
Hi Several broadcaststations are testing Digital Radio Mondial a.o. Deutsche Welle on 3995 kHz (yep allowed broadcastband in Region 1). DRM uses 12 kHz wide audio to be decoded by software into digital audio. A friend got it working op a TS-680? where he used a modified (wider) IF filter op a spare CW-N location in combination with the standard SSB detector/audio chain. The IF-filter of a K2 is adjustable, but perhaps not wide enough for DRM. So my questions: -has someone tried recieving DRM signals (and succeeded)? -what is the maximum IF width fot the K2 IF? 73 Tom PC5D K2-100 s/n 2709 PS more info on DRM on www.drmrx.org or wwdxc.de/drm.pdf and for the hamversion HB9TLK on qsl.net or www.qslnet.de/member/hb9tlk/ ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Anti-static measures (WAS (no subject))
On Dec 1, 2004, at 20:26, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: Another US $15 or wo will get you a static dissipative mat that provides further protection. For those who would like to save the last penny, may I recommend the largish plastic bags used for wrapping computer mainboards as antistatic mats? They are surprisingly conductive, though they will not last very long compared to a genuine antistatic mat. The bags in question can often be had for the asking at those 'beige box' computer stores down at the corner. They are transparent and have a black criss-crossing, which is the antistatic conductors. The largest ones I've got are 30x40 cm (12x16 inches). Also remember that air humidity indoors is often very low when it is freezing outside. Like in the winter when we like to work in the shack. -- 73 de Frank, OZ1IOC. K2 #4538, passed building phase II testing. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Anyone tried receiving DRM signals
I am building an Elektor-Electronics DDS receiver with a 12KHz bandwidth. It is RS232 controlled and covers 1-25MHz. The boards are available mail order, and I have found all the components except thr 12 kHz Murata filter CFW455F and the Murata 470KHz ceramic resonator CSN470, which is pulled a bit to mix with 455KHz to get 12KHz. I plan to use it for spectrum scanning and BPL monitoring. Leigh. On Wed, 1 Dec 2004 11:11 am, Tom Koeken wrote: Hi Several broadcaststations are testing Digital Radio Mondial a.o. Deutsche Welle on 3995 kHz (yep allowed broadcastband in Region 1). DRM uses 12 kHz wide audio to be decoded by software into digital audio. A friend got it working op a TS-680? where he used a modified (wider) IF filter op a spare CW-N location in combination with the standard SSB detector/audio chain. The IF-filter of a K2 is adjustable, but perhaps not wide enough for DRM. So my questions: -has someone tried recieving DRM signals (and succeeded)? -what is the maximum IF width fot the K2 IF? 73 Tom PC5D K2-100 s/n 2709 PS more info on DRM on www.drmrx.org or wwdxc.de/drm.pdf and for the hamversion HB9TLK on qsl.net or www.qslnet.de/member/hb9tlk/ ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Control board voltages
I have made up the control board for my K2 and all looks good. The resistance checks were all within specs except the U5 OUT to gnd which was about 3600 ohms. Checking further I find the 8R and 8T voltages seem OK but some 5 volt areas are not. For instance the 0 volts and 5 volts on U7 pins 56 are reversed as well as U6 pins 2425, U8 pins 10 11. Someone probably has the answer right at their finger tips but I cant see what the problem is. Earl, VE3FBK ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K2/100 burn-in
At 10:14 AM 12/1/2004, Tom Althoff wrote: I did not get an answer in the 30 minutes that I called but I also did not get any Hi Temp warning. The heatsink does get quite warm and with the 5:1 ratio on TX heat vs RX cool off time I might have been exceeding Elecraft's concept of intermittant amateur service.If I used the K2 as the CQ machine on 10M while looking for QSO's on another band I think I'd put a fan on the K2 for peace of mind if not necessity. Has anyone really hammered their K2/100 with high CQ or QSO rates for a 24 hour period without a secondary fan? I'd be curious how it held up and were you successful in cooking eggs on it? It might make a good George Forman portable contest grill. I run RTTY on my K2/100 on occasion - this gets it quite warm, even at the 40W spec - I use a 12V fan right on the heat sink and it stays nice and cool even during a contest - if you want to be sure, use a fan. why risk it? hope this helps - jeff wk6i -- Jeff Stai [EMAIL PROTECTED] Twisted Oak Winery http://www.twistedoak.com/ Rocketry Org. of CA http://www.rocstock.org/ Amateur Radio WK6I ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] KPA-100ModKt
Tom, I've never installed any of the upgrades for my KPA100. I just haven't seen the need for them here. I use a Mosley Pro 67B which tends to have a somewhat higher SWR at the lower end of 40 (I set the antenna for a compromise between CW and phone on 40) so I run the output of the KPA100 through a little BW 300 watt matchbox. That presents a 1:1 match to the output of the KPA100 and it seems quite happy. Without the matchbox there definitely is significant fold back observable. The higher bands do not seem to need that. If I am chasing after the more elusive DX and wish to make a bit more noise I run the KPA100 output through my Command Technologies HF 2500 and the input SWR appears to be very close to 1:1 on all bands. Since I need only about 30 watts from the KPA100 to drive the amp to levels approaching the obnoxious, everything works quite well. In no way do I suggest the mods aren't useful or desirable - - it's just that I seem to have another way of operating which does the trick. At least if the bands are open to any extent, the K2/100 snags DX with good signal reports. Bruce - W8FU Is there anyone on this list still running the old value resistors/xtal in their KPA-100? Any problems with it? I am definitely going to install the clips and the new shield plus the speaker shield but am tempted to just slap in the old electronic parts and upgrade at some point in the future. Comments? Tom K2TA ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] KSB2 set up filter question
Jerry, If you have previously set up your CW filters and BFOs- do not change them (unless you find you want to later on). Do initially set up the SSB filters and BFOs as indicated - that will get you up and running, Then refine the BFOs (and filter widths) to your tastes, remembering that the FL1 BFO is the one used for transmitting and that should be set to best match your voice during transmit by listening on a separate receiver. You can find some information on how to set up the filters on my website www.qsl.net/w3fpr - look at the article on K2 Dial Calibration and you will find the CAL FIL information in Step 3 of that article. 73, Don W3FPR - Original Message - Just finished installing the SSB adapter into my K2 (#4472) and on page 20 step 3 it says to set up my filter exactly as shown in Table 3. My question is . Why do I have to change the ones for CW and CW reverse? I guess I just don't understand how these filters work. I plan to run mostly Digital modes, but will use Voice occasionally. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Control board voltages
Earl, I just scanned the manual and do not see any voltage checks to be done after the Control Board is completed. Assuming you obtained the voltage readings from the rear of the manual, those only correctly pertain to a fully assembled K2. Some of the digital levels may be reversed until the other parts of the K2 are complete. All the points you mentioned are digital signals - it is sufficient at your stage in building that they are either close to 0 volts or close to 5 volts (somewhere in the middle would be an indicator of a potential problem for these digital signals). 73, Don W3FPR - Original Message - I have made up the control board for my K2 and all looks good. The resistance checks were all within specs except the U5 OUT to gnd which was about 3600 ohms. Checking further I find the 8R and 8T voltages seem OK but some 5 volt areas are not. For instance the 0 volts and 5 volts on U7 pins 56 are reversed as well as U6 pins 2425, U8 pins 10 11. Someone probably has the answer right at their finger tips but I cant see what the problem is. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] zero beat detector with KX1?
On Wed, 1 Dec 2004 9:11 am, Eric Ward wrote: I was interested in WA5ZNU's recent post about tri-state and side tone levels on the KX1. Eric, My proposal requires hardware and firmware changes to the KX1 and was somewhat telegraphic as it was aimed at Elecraft. N6KR has I am sure already figured out a better way to accomplish my ask...I think all of the interest in CW zero beat on the list may help raise the priority, though. (One problem is that my proposal has some current draw as it requires biasing...maybe there is a way around it, or maybe there is another way to achieve the desired result of easier CW tuning on the KX1.) Here is my long description of the issue, with background in response to your question. When you have a QSO, you generally you want to be on the same frequency as the OM. (Ok, ignore split and repeaters.) With SSB you tune about until the OM or YL sounds good. Our brains do this fairly easily. With CW though, you need to do a little work. With separate transmitters and receivers, hams used to spot the signal with a low-power TX and listen at the same time, and match the pitch. Even so, after calling CQ you often had to tune up and down a few KC to find an answer. A transceiver, though, shares enough parts internally that there are shortcuts. Usually transceivers use the same pitch for the CW sidetone as the transmit offset, mimicing the sound that the OM will hear if both of you are both transmitting on the eame frequency. (You effecively listen at an offset, and this offset is the CW tone you hear, plus or minus the carrier frequency. That is what CW and CWR are about. If you were receiving and transmitting on the exact same frequency then you would hear a 0Hz tone, i.e. nothing, so the BFO offset takes care of that.) Since the RX and TX are coupled by a fixed offset in a transceiver, the question devolves to how to set the RX frequency quickly and accurately. Assuming a fixed offset (say, 600Hz default on the Elecraft KX1 and K2 rigs) then your task when tuning is to set your RX frequency such that the OM's CW tone sounds like 600Hz. Then you will be assured of transmitting on the same frequency as the OM. The trick is for you how to do this. Here are three ways: 1. Tune for loudest signal This, coupled with a bit of pitch recognition, is what most hams do. It is pretty easy and works unless your KX1 variable crystal filter is set too tightly, say below 500 Hz, in which case the maximum volume point shifts a bit and you need to use RIT to get it back to the filter center. So it is slightly less convenient to do this on the KX1 than on the K2, which lets you preset the BFO setting for each filter width to accomodate for this shift. 2 Tune until you hear 600Hz audio. 2a This is easy if you have perfect pitch. 2b If not, you can use a music tuner (see my previous message). 2c Use one of the PLL-based devices that N0SS has been providing and various folks have designed, to light up an LED. 3. Turn on the sidetone and tune until they are both the same pitch. This works FB on the K2 and many other rigs, and you just tune until you hear the OM disappear behind the sidetone or until you hear the minimum wah-wah-wah beating sound. Most folks use #1 or #3, but you can't use #3 on the KX1 because the KX1 mutes the sidetone during operation, and I believe it is because there weren't enough volume levels available on the KX1 sidetone to allow it to be adjusted to a comfortable level for TX sidetone and a louder level for matching that 599+ OM. So, you cannot press the sidetone test menu and tune the RX and listen for the two tones (sidetone and the OM you are listening to) to match. This is the issue that my previous message about the PIC chip was designed to address. Also, the sidetone is lightly-filtered square wave, thus having strong 3rd and 5th harmonics. Some hams are tone-deaf enough to try to beat the OM's signal at 6*3=1800Hz, or to accidently beat QRM nearby against it. The extra levels could be used to generate more of a sine wave, by stepping the output voltage during the sidetone generation, but the amount of code space and effort this would take is probably not worth it, and I suspect analog filtering with an additional capacitor would do the same job more cheaply. If you got this far, you have a lot of patience! 73, Leigh WA5ZNU ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] zero beat detector with KX1?
Alas! I suppose the KX1 does not have a separate audio oscillator that you can trigger in receive. I did this on my old OHR Spirit with a pushbutton and one or two diodes. Works like a charm. But many other QRP rigs I guess sample the transmitted signal. Wait! You said that it has a sidetone square wave. I guess with the microprocessor you can't trigger it without a software change. Too bad. OK, now I understand. Yes, having a spot tone in receive to zero beat your prey is a killer way to get someone to reply to you. Makes establishing a CW contact very efficeint. Hope you get your way with the KX1, although it is a bare bones adventure type of rig. However, I would certainly except this feature on the K1. Sorry for the rambling. Steve, W2MY Leigh said: 3. Turn on the sidetone and tune until they are both the same pitch. This works FB on the K2 and many other rigs, and you just tune until you hear the OM disappear behind the sidetone or until you hear the minimum wah-wah-wah beating sound. --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.802 / Virus Database: 545 - Release Date: 11/26/2004 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Soldering station
(this is a resend to the list, the first was bounced by QTH.net because their postmaster has some brain-dead SMTP spam checking misconfiguration which produces false positives (for the subject line Circuit Specialists 701 rework station:. Gr.) About a week ago, Tom Hammond pointed out that Circuit Specialists had some soldering stations which looked like Hakko 936's ( http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7307 ) for a good price. I noticed that they had a through hole rework station ( http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7789 ) which also looked very similar to a Hakko offering. There has been some conjecture that these are the same as the Hakko units, but are being sold by an OEM to Hakko for considerably less. Since my 20 year old Pace desoldering station recently died, I thought I'd try out one of these, especially since the $200 price was by far better than anything else available. This is about 20% of what a similar Hakko unit runs. I receive my station today, and can report that these are very obviously NOT the same as real Hakko products. They're Chinese clones. As mentioned earlier, these are made by Aoyue ( http://www.aoyue.com/english/index.htm ). From the looks of this unit, I doubt Aoyue OEMs anything to Hakko - some things are close, others are functional, but none are of the same quality. The desoldering handpiece is of decent quality. It appears that it will take Hakko spares, including heaters and tips. It could definitely use a better tip - this one is chrome (?) plated and won't tin. The soldering pencil has a rubber grip instead of the heat insulating foam a real Hakko has, but is overall of decent quality. Both use multipin microphone style circular connectors, which is different than what Hakko uses. The station itself is workable, the electronics seem to do what they're supposed to (they regulate tip temperature and have an LED which lights when power is applied to the tip, so it blinks when the tip is at the set temp). The controls (switches and pots) are pretty cheap, I'll probably upgrade these. They silk screened Circuit Specialists on the front, but didn't bother with a Fahrenheit temperature scale. The manufacturer took time to grind the markings off the ICs on the circuit board (they copied Hakko, but don't want to be copied themselves, I guess), and no schematic is provided in the manual. The biggest obvious difference is that it uses a completely different vacuum pump than a real Hakko - meaning no ready source of spare parts. The pump actually works better than that on my old Pace. One strange thing though, is that the instruction manual (in pretty good Engrish [ http://www.engrish.com/ ]) clearly shows how to disassemble and clean a Hakko pump. The actual pump is completely different than that illustrated in the manual. All things considered, it works well. Time will tell how this unit holds up, but it seems to be a good deal. A couple of better quality switches and pots, some real Hakko desoldering tips, and a bit of time should take care of the minor issues. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Walgreen's sale on Lithium AA's
Walgreen's has a $1 offin-store coupon on 8 pack of AA's for the KX1 making them 18.99 until 1/1/05. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Optivisors!
Hey, gang! A K2'er who isn't currently subscribed asked me to tell you about Optivisor binocular magnifying visors available at an excellent price. He wrote: Mountain Heritage Crafters is having a sale on Optivisors. $35.95 with your choice of lenses. Web site is www.mhc-online.com. ...thought I would pass this on to you to post on the reflector... I have no interest in MHC other than being a satisfied customer. 73, George, NC5G K2-2217 Optivisor is the Cadillac of the magnifiers with excellent lenses, comfortable headband and full binocular magnification. The design lets you wear ordinary prescription eyeglasses under them. I've used them for the past 20 years for all sorts of tiny work. Mine have the #4 lenses which I use in conjunction with my reading glasses to give me a focal distance of about 2.5 inches with the reading glasses or 5 inches without the reading glasses. I have no connection with Optivisor, other than being a happy user, or with this supplier either. Ron AC7AC ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
zero beat detector with KX1?
I was interested in WA5ZNU's recent post about tri-state and side tone levels on the KX1. Can't claim to understand it completely-I am a lowly biologist. Anyway, I have been interested in building some version of a visual zero beat detector that uses a PLL tone-decoder IC for use with the KX1. I have read about the K2 guys using N0SS's PC board version of the circuit designed by KR5L. Has anyone tried it (or the Jackson Harbor Press kit, or any such similar) with the KX1? Is the side tone too fuzzy/harmonically rich to make it work? TU es 73, Eric N0HHS KX1 #670
