Re: [Elecraft] MY SECOND K2
Bill Coleman wrote: Antennas where disconnected and the house next door took the direct hit and blew a big chunk out of the back of the house. Don't just disconnect your antennas - GROUND them. Possibly would have saved your rig. Serious? What's more likely to be hit by lightning? A big, high-up, earthed conductor, or a big, high-up conductor who's potential is allowed to drift around a bit? In fact, when scientists want to study lightning, don't they do it by attaching earthed wires to fireworks and shooting them into thunderclouds? You might be right, but I'd like to understand why - it sounds like you'd be making an almost ideal lightning target :-) -- "Nosey" Nick Waterman, Senior Sysadmin. #include [EMAIL PROTECTED] Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself. ___ 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] rig control
I have been able to connect my IC-756PROII to the Ham Radio Deluxe rig control software but when I hook up the K2 cable it will not connect. I use the N3FJP logging and contest programs and none of them are able to poll the rig either. Nor could I connect with N1MM. Ideas? Randy W6SJ K24878 ___ 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) MY SECOND K2
Hi David, Watch out before you repair the damaged K2, your insurer will possibly request that you give them the "salvage" after they settle your "claim". Advise from an ex adjuster, Bob, VE3XM K2 S/N 02676 K2/100 S/N 04031 ___ 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] MY SECOND K2
On Aug 30, 2005, at 4:18 AM, Nick Waterman wrote: Bill Coleman wrote: Antennas where disconnected and the house next door took the direct hit and blew a big chunk out of the back of the house. Don't just disconnect your antennas - GROUND them. Possibly would have saved your rig. Serious? What's more likely to be hit by lightning? A big, high-up, earthed conductor, or a big, high-up conductor who's potential is allowed to drift around a bit? In fact, when scientists want to study lightning, don't they do it by attaching earthed wires to fireworks and shooting them into thunderclouds? You might be right, but I'd like to understand why - it sounds like you'd be making an almost ideal lightning target :-) I think it's already a target, being a conductor in the sky and all, and nothing short of taking it down will change that (the lightning would much rather go through metal for some distance rather than air). The question is, is it a target that is open at the bottom, very near your rig, with lightning shooting out of it across your desk, looking for a place to go? Or is it a target that is grounded at the bottom, giving the lightning someplace to go that isn't your rig? That's how I think of it, but having said all that, I'm in a nice low area that never ever gets struck, so I don't worry about it. ___ 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] rig control
Hi Randy - no solution here but just a couple of thoughts of things to check/try - I'm using both HRD and N1MM quite nicely with my K2. Did the KIO2 ever work? Is the "special" KIO2 cable properly constructed? Check that the port is actually on in the K2 menu Check that the KIO2 is actually working by using the terminal program as described in the manual - possible that the little bitty choke in the KIO2 is blown?? Check the settings of your COM port using the windows (I'm assuming you are using windows here) device manager to see that you actually are using an active and available COM port (for instance, on one computer I use a USB to serial converter and windows places that resulting port at COM4) I've found that setting N1MM to 1 stop bit works as well or better than the 2 stop bits that seem to be the default. Unless there is something very exotic about your setup, there is a solution to this vexing problem! 73 es gud dxing -- Don N4HH, K2/100 #2028, KAT100, K1 # 1456, etc, etc! - Original Message - From: "Randy Johnson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2005 4:28 AM Subject: [Elecraft] rig control I have been able to connect my IC-756PROII to the Ham Radio Deluxe rig control software but when I hook up the K2 cable it will not connect. I use the N3FJP logging and contest programs and none of them are able to poll the rig either. Nor could I connect with N1MM. Ideas? Randy W6SJ K24878 ___ 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: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.10.16/83 - Release Date: 8/26/05 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.10.16/83 - Release Date: 8/26/05 ___ 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
RE: [Elecraft] OT: Effect of Compression and ExpansionontheInductanceof Toroids?
You are quite correct Ron, the variability will be small. Flux is dependent only on Ampere-Turns, so the total flux will not change unless the number of turns is changed. There will be some flux leakage, and I figure that is the parameter that changes more than anything else because that would modify the effective perneability of the core. The inductance of an ideal toroidal core depends only on the radius of the toroidal core, the number of turns and the radius of each turn - there are no other terms in the equations (other than constants - core permeability is one of those 'constants'), so any variability must depend on just how far from the ideal a particular toroidal coil is - and the only thing that can change once the toroid is wound (with tight turns) is the effective permeability (due to flux leakage). One very nice thing about toroids is that they do have very little flux leakage (that is why toroids are 'self-shielding'), but we do know that some flux leakage does exist since one can de-tune a resonant circuit by placing a finger next to the toroid - if it were an ideal toroid with no flux leakage, adjacent objects would have no effect. Even an air-wound toroid will display this self-shielding effect if it is wound with perfectly even spacing between the turns, but if the spacing is altered, more flux leakage will exist and the inductance will change because the effective permeability will be modified. 73, Don W3FPR > -Original Message- > > Yes, I think you may be absolutely right, Don. I measured a maximum effect > of 9% in the one example I tested - a random core lying on my > bench that had > about a dozen turns on it. That agrees with your experience of > finding up to > a 10% change available. > > I saw your suggestion before, and it certainly sounds plausible. > I wonder if > something else might be at work here too. Or perhaps I'm looking the same > effect you are in a different way. Here's my thought. The increased > inductance/turn of the toroid compared to ordinary air-wound > coils is caused > by the very high permeability of the core compared to air. That makes the > inductance fairly independent of the spacing between turns since > spacing the > turns hardly reduces the magnetic flux in the core that is > available to each > turn. But I wonder if crowding the turns together doesn't > slightly increase > the inductance by providing a lower permeability path for the > magnetic flux, > since the distance the flux must travel along the toroid before it passes > through all the turns of the coil is shorter. In other words, the same > effect one sees by using closer spacing in an air wound coil, only much, > much less due to the efficient magnetic path provided by the core. > > Does the formula you are using account for a reduction of flux density > around the distance of the torus due to the losses in the core, or does it > assume a constant flux at all points? > > It's always interesting when experiment fails to support > predictions. True, > it most often turns out to be an invalid experiment that causes > that result, > but I can't see the problem here, especially considering that the > effect of > added distributed capacitance has an inverse effect on the reading on this > type of 'meter'. > > Ron AC7AC > > > -Original Message- > From: W3FPR - Don Wilhelm [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Monday, August 29, 2005 9:22 PM > To: Ron D'Eau Claire; elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Subject: RE: [Elecraft] OT: Effect of Compression and > ExpansionontheInductanceof Toroids? > > > Ron, > > I have the same inductance meter, and it does a good job because it does > measure using the LR time constant rather than frequency, but 'physics is > physics', and with a true toroidal inductor, there is still no > dependency on > the turns spacing (the math says so). > > Now, for the practical side of things, I do believe that your results (and > others with similar findings) deviate from the 'classic physics' treatment > of the ideal (ignoring practical behavior) - and when the toroid turns are > irregular (not evenly spaced around the circumference of the > core), there is > some part of that coil behaving as a solenoidal inductor where > turns spacing > IS a factor. > > Remember that a toroid is simply a solenoidal coil formed into a > circle with > the ends of the coil meeting. This ideal toroid has equal turns > spacing all > the way around. > > So my current conclusion is -- IF the toroid is equally spaced around the > core, the inductance is not dependent on the spacing of the turns, BUT, if > the turns are compressed anywhere around the core, additional factors rear > their ugly heads because the inductor is a combination of a > solenoidal coil > and a toroid coil, and the math becomes quite complex - just how much of > each effect depends on just how much deviation from an ideal toroid shape > exists in the configuration at hand. > > In a frequency dependent tuned circuit, how muc
Re: [Elecraft] rig control
Are you using the K2 cable that you built with your rig, if not you are not connecting properly. You can't use any old RS232 cable as they are different. I've been using my K2 with HRD for a long time with no problems. Gregg R. Lengling, W9DHI, Un-Retired K2/100 SN 3075 http://www.milwaukeehdtv.org - Original Message - From: "Randy Johnson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2005 3:28 AM Subject: [Elecraft] rig control I have been able to connect my IC-756PROII to the Ham Radio Deluxe rig control software but when I hook up the K2 cable it will not connect. I use the N3FJP logging and contest programs and none of them are able to poll the rig either. Nor could I connect with N1MM. Ideas? Randy W6SJ K24878 ___ 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 Optimizations?
Darrell Bellerive wrote "Yes, I know that I am bordering on insanity, but hey I want to really take my time and stretch out the building. Besides the more I learn about my K2 in the process the better." My suggestion would be to install one component a day. That would sure take a lot of time. Seriously, good engineering practice must take into account the tolerances of all components. Matching components that are within tolerance is almost always a useless activity. For example matching the current limiting resistors for an LED display. How much brightness variation can be seen between resistors at the limits of their tolerance? How much variation is there between individual LED's with matched resistors. I never notice any difference with the brightness chiefly because I am interested in WHAT the display is measuring not in the individual brightness of any LED. Circuits that require a lot of individual component selection are poorly designed. However if it lights your wick Darrell, go head on. Allen KA5N ___ 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] MY SECOND K2
A couple of weeks ago I was walking across the parking lot to our apt. and one clap of lightening hit right over my head... I was using an umbrella. Then a few seconds later there was a clap of lightening right over the top of my Gap Challenger antenna but nothing seemed to be harmed... Me or the antenna. Paul Gates K1 #0231 KX1 #1186 XG1 [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Original Message - From: "Paul Bruneau" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Elecraft Reflector" Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2005 6:48 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] MY SECOND K2 > On Aug 30, 2005, at 4:18 AM, Nick Waterman wrote: > > > Bill Coleman wrote: > >>> Antennas where disconnected and the house next door took the direct > >>> hit > >>> and blew a big chunk out of the back of the house. > >> Don't just disconnect your antennas - GROUND them. > >> Possibly would have saved your rig. > > > > Serious? > > > > What's more likely to be hit by lightning? A big, high-up, earthed > > conductor, or a big, high-up conductor who's potential is allowed to > > drift around a bit? > > > > In fact, when scientists want to study lightning, don't they do it by > > attaching earthed wires to fireworks and shooting them into > > thunderclouds? > > > > You might be right, but I'd like to understand why - it sounds like > > you'd be making an almost ideal lightning target :-) > > I think it's already a target, being a conductor in the sky and all, > and nothing short of taking it down will change that (the lightning > would much rather go through metal for some distance rather than air). > > The question is, is it a target that is open at the bottom, very near > your rig, with lightning shooting out of it across your desk, looking > for a place to go? > > Or is it a target that is grounded at the bottom, giving the lightning > someplace to go that isn't your rig? > > That's how I think of it, but having said all that, I'm in a nice low > area that never ever gets struck, so I don't worry about it. > > ___ > 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] RE: OT: Effect of Compression and Expansionon the Inductance of Toroids?
Ron AC7AC wrote: > ... I'm confident that the added capacitance by squeezing the turns together > is not what is causing my L-meter to show increased inductance. If anything, > the capacitance would tend to cause the L-meter to show lower inductance. Inductance is a result of the magnetic field intercepted by each turn. An ideal inductor has each turn intercepting the same (entire) field. In a solenoid much longer than it is wide, however, this does not happen, and the inductance realized is lower than the ideal case, sometimes much lower. While a ferrite core concentrates the field, and a toroid insures almost all of it remains within the core, the winding is after all halfway surrounded by air and some of the field is still not shared by all turns. Compressing it reduces this effect. A Bug Catcher coil comes closer to L changing as the square of turns than a Hamstick(r)! That's my take, anyway. One way to test this would be to cover the winding with ferrite. A babushkoroid! Or try a pot core. If my surmise from High School physics is correct, the more the field is in ferrite, rather than air, the less effect compressing the turns will have. Indirectly, we might also try surrounding a toroid with a solenoid to see if coupling to that winding decreases as toroid turns are compressed, but leakage coupling will depend on the angle each part of the toroid winding has to the solenoid -- and the sum of all the fields on a completely occupied cores at a surrounding solenoid should be zero regardless of leakage, I think. Perhaps instead of a solenoid, an external toroid wider than the inductor under test might be used. But I like the babushkaroid. Remember, you saw it here first! Cortland KA5S ___ 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: OT: Effect of Compression and Expansionon the Inductance of Toroids?
Ron said: >>I'm confident that the added capacitance by squeezing the turns >>together is not what is causing my L-meter to show increased >>inductance. If anything, the capacitance would tend to cause >>the L-meter to show lower inductance. On Tue, 30 Aug 2005 07:00:35 -0700, Cortland Richmond wrote: >Inductance is a result of the magnetic field intercepted by each >turn. Having recently completed a LOT of research on how coils wound on ferrites behave, I think I have a handle on what is going on. Several basic principles are at play. 1. When the mu of a ferrite toroid is much much larger than air, it contains virtually all of the flux. This is the case at frequencies where LOSSES in the ferrite are low. 2. Ferrites chosen as cores for resonant coils and transformers are usually chosen to have low losses (high Q) in the frequency range where they are used (for example, in the K2). 3. Conversely, ferrite cores used for RFI suppression should be chosen to have HIGH losses (low Q) in the spectrum where suppression is needed. 4. Many ferrites are semiconductors (that is, between conductors and insulators), so they also have permittivity, and they will act as a dielectric. So even if all we do is pass a wire through a long ferrite core (like a bead or a clamp-on), there will be capacitance through the core between the opposite ends of the wire. This capacitance will be in addition to the capacitance between turns. 5. Ferrite parts also can exhibit a DIMENSIONAL resonance, whereby standing waves are set up in their cross sectional dimension at the half-wave frequency. This mostly happens with LOW frequency ferrite materials (MnZn). 6. The equivalent circuit of a ferrite choke or coil is two parallel resonant circuits in series. One resonance is the DIMENSIONAL resonance, the other is the CIRCUIT resonance between the coil and the stray capacitances (of #4). Both of these resonances have significant R components as well. So the apparent change in L as the turns are expanded or compressed is simply the CIRCUIT resonance moving as the stray capacitance changes. For all practical purposes, L does NOT change. C changes. There's a lot more about this in an applications note on my website, that also includes some references to the literature. http://audiosystemsgroup.com/SAC0305Ferrites.pdf Jim Brown K9YC ___ 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] OT: Effect of Compression and Expansion on the Inductance of Toroids?
Well now, that certainly clears that subject up, no? Fred K6DGW Auburn CA CM98lw Leigh L Klotz, Jr. wrote: The toroid formulas are approximations, but good ones. Here is a physics-based explanation that gives some of the complexities, but there are literally books on inductors. http://tinyurl.com/9brxb 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] RE: OT: Effect of Compression and Expansiononthe Inductance of Toroids?
Jim wrote: So the apparent change in L as the turns are expanded or compressed is simply the CIRCUIT resonance moving as the stray capacitance changes. For all practical purposes, L does NOT change. C changes. The inductance measurement method I used does not rely upon a resonant frequency of any sort. It measures the inductance by differentiating a square wave. The frequencies involved do span the RF spectrum, of course, since the waveform used to test the inductance is a square wave. A square wave is made up of the fundamental and a very large number of harmonics, all added together. The validity of the inductance measurement using this method is borne out by noting that the inductance value reported is that at which the inductor can be used to form a resonant circuit at the desired operating frequency within the normal range for the core material. That is, for a core designed for HF, a measured 3.1 uH resonates properly at HF (e.g. 3.1 uh in parallel with 47 pf resonates at about 13 MHz). 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
RE: [Elecraft] RE: OT: Effect of Compression and Expansiononthe Inductance of Toroids?
On Tue, 30 Aug 2005 09:18:57 -0700, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: >The validity of the inductance measurement using this method is borne >out by noting that the inductance value reported Yes, if the measurement is made at a sufficiently low frequency, Xc is insignificantly low. Jim ___ 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: OT: Effect of Compression andExpansiononthe Inductance of Toroids?
Jim wrote: Yes, if the measurement is made at a sufficiently low frequency, Xc is insignificantly low. --- The measurement is made at H.F. I'm sorry, I apparently confused the issue by saying the applied square wave was at 60 kHz. That's NOT the measurement frequency. The edges of the square wave include components extending through the H.F. range, at least. The inductance is measured directly by noting the effect it has on the edges of the square wave. The advantage of that system is that it measures the inductance directly. And a shift in the inductance of about 9% was observed by scrunching the turns together. 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
RE: [Elecraft] RE: OT: Effect of Compression andExpansiononthe Inductance of Toroids?
I disagree. I think you are probably observing the change in capacitance. I agree that the higher frequency components associated with the square wave rise time is the measurement excitation. Jim On Tue, 30 Aug 2005 10:00:23 -0700, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: >Jim wrote: >Yes, if the measurement is made at a sufficiently low frequency, Xc is >insignificantly low. >--- >The measurement is made at H.F. I'm sorry, I apparently confused the issue >by saying the applied square wave was at 60 kHz. That's NOT the measurement >frequency. The edges of the square wave include components extending through >the H.F. range, at least. The inductance is measured directly by noting the >effect it has on the edges of the square wave. >The advantage of that system is that it measures the inductance directly. >And a shift in the inductance of about 9% was observed by scrunching the >turns together. >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
Re: [Elecraft] MY SECOND K2
Paul Bruneau wrote: You might be right, but I'd like to understand why - it sounds like you'd be making an almost ideal lightning target :-) I think it's already a target, being a conductor in the sky and all, and [...] That's how I think of it, but having said all that, I'm in a nice low area that never ever gets struck, so I don't worry about it. I remember operating VHF, hearing a thunderstorm in the distance and thinking it was time I shut down, and just before ending my QSO, realising I was chatting to a chap who's QTH was in Guildford - the direction of the oncoming thunderstorm. "Aren't you shutting down? That thunderstorm must be almost on top of you?", "Oh it's all around me, but I've got Guildford Cathedral almost outside my window and a few hundred feet above me, so I figure it's gonna get hit and I'm not!". Nutter! :-) -- "Nosey" Nick Waterman, Senior Sysadmin. #include [EMAIL PROTECTED] If you wait, it will go away. (Hellrung's Rule) ___ 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] MY SECOND K2
There is a "cone of protection", they say, around a high point with an angle of 45 degrees. I wouldn't tempt it myself. However, I'm near the base of a 1900' peak and I've watched lightning hit the peak, but have never seen lightning anywhere near the area surrounding the peak. I believe in the theory, but still... Eric KE6US www.ke6us.com From: Nick Waterman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Paul Bruneau <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> CC: Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] MY SECOND K2 Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2005 21:41:15 +0100 Paul Bruneau wrote: You might be right, but I'd like to understand why - it sounds like you'd be making an almost ideal lightning target :-) I think it's already a target, being a conductor in the sky and all, and [...] That's how I think of it, but having said all that, I'm in a nice low area that never ever gets struck, so I don't worry about it. I remember operating VHF, hearing a thunderstorm in the distance and thinking it was time I shut down, and just before ending my QSO, realising I was chatting to a chap who's QTH was in Guildford - the direction of the oncoming thunderstorm. "Aren't you shutting down? That thunderstorm must be almost on top of you?", "Oh it's all around me, but I've got Guildford Cathedral almost outside my window and a few hundred feet above me, so I figure it's gonna get hit and I'm not!". Nutter! :-) -- "Nosey" Nick Waterman, Senior Sysadmin. #include [EMAIL PROTECTED] If you wait, it will go away. (Hellrung's Rule) ___ 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] rig control
me too... works great... Got to spend some good time visiting with Simon at the FDIM / QRP thing at Dayton. bill At 07:56 AM 8/30/2005, Gregg R. Lengling wrote: Are you using the K2 cable that you built with your rig, if not you are not connecting properly. You can't use any old RS232 cable as they are different. I've been using my K2 with HRD for a long time with no problems. Gregg R. Lengling, W9DHI, Un-Retired K2/100 SN 3075 h ___ 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] Question-RCS-8
Does anyone have any experience using an Ameritron RCS-8 remote antenna switch? Reliability, etc. Thanks, Doug W6JD K2/100 #1626 ___ 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] MY SECOND K2
On Aug 30, 2005, at 4:18 AM, Nick Waterman wrote: Serious? What's more likely to be hit by lightning? A big, high-up, earthed conductor, or a big, high-up conductor who's potential is allowed to drift around a bit? The only time I've suffered any lightning damage is when my antennas were disconnected for Field Day. It wasn't a direct hit, but an induced strike that took out about 45 feet of open wire line by vaporizing both conductors. In fact, when scientists want to study lightning, don't they do it by attaching earthed wires to fireworks and shooting them into thunderclouds? Yes, they do. You might be right, but I'd like to understand why - it sounds like you'd be making an almost ideal lightning target :-) I don't pretend to understand everything about lightning, since it is an odd subject. However, grounding lowers the effective height of the antennas by making it have the same potential as the ground. A disconnected antenna can float and build up considerable charge, which will make it a target. Some contesters in the mid-west have told tales of big storms approaching, only to have the lightning stop as it passes over their multiple, grounded tower installations and then resume after it drifts past. The grounding tends to bleed off any charge that would preceed a strike. Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASELMail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!" -- Wilbur Wright, 1901 ___ 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] rig control
On Aug 30, 2005, at 4:28 AM, Randy Johnson wrote: I use the N3FJP logging and contest programs and none of them are able to poll the rig either. Nor could I connect with N1MM. I had some trouble with N1MM at Field Day. I had tested with the K2/100 before then, but when I got to the site the night before FD, it didn't work. It took a considerable amount of troubleshooting to figure out the problem. Turned out, there were two issues. First, condensation had built up in the K2/100 overnight, and this caused several high-impedance circuits, like the display and the AGC to malfunction. Second, the K2/100 wasn't receiving the signals from the laptop. The lack of receive was due to two factors - a bit of burnt flux between a couple of the DB-9 pins, and an unsoldered pin on the MAX232 chip. (!) I'd been using the K2/100 for a year and a half before I noticed that. Make sure the K2 is transmitting and receiving, and the computer as well. You can verify that the K2 is transmitting by hitting the Display button while the PORT menu is being edited. Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASELMail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!" -- Wilbur Wright, 1901 ___ 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 Power dither and R98
In setting up to use the K2/100 with my newly acquired AL-80A, I found that the K2/100 power output 'dithers' about 5-9 watts a few seconds after being keyed, depending on the band a power level. This makes it difficult to tune the amplifier, as the shifts in power output cause changes in Ip, Ig and power out that are unrelated to the tuning adjustments. I found the technical article on adjusting for this by changing the value of R98. Rather than go through the complicated procedure, I just changed the value of R98 to 1k, then re-checked the power output. Interestingly, before the change, the output on 10m was about 90 watts, max. After the change to 1k, it is still about 90 watts. The amount of dither has decreased quite a bit, but it is still evident enough when tuning the amplifier. I wonder if it would be OK to try larger values, such as 1.5 or 2 k. What's the limiting factor in choosing this resistor? Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASELMail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!" -- Wilbur Wright, 1901 ___ 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 esthetics mod
Hi, For people who care about 'extreme' ethetics about their K2, I did a "mod" on the the S-Meter display not really a mod, but a simple improvment... I replace the green plastic on the four last led on the s-meter with red plastic. So when signal are over S9, the display is in red, and S9 and less, in green. Wow !!! ;-) See it at: http://homepage.mac.com/jfmenard/PhotoAlbum29.html Best 73 !!! = /¯\/¯\/¯\/¯\/¯\/¯\ JEAN-FRANCOIS MENARD V A 2 V Y Z \_/\_/\_/\_/\_/\_/ Elecraft K2 #4130 Elecraft KX1 #999 http://homepage.mac.com/jfmenard = ___ 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] For Sale: K2/100 plus accessories
I have the following items for sale: K2 - Xcvr(ser # 35xx) w/latest firmware KPA100 - 100w amp KAT100 - ATU KSB2 - SSB adapter KDSP2 - DSP module All manuals, errata sheets etc included Everything is nicely built and works to specs w/full power out on all bands, no dings or scratches. Asking $1525.00 for everything which is the actual cost of the kits, or will consider reasonable offer. Shipping included w/insurance to CONUS only. Postal money order only please. Any questions or pictures please e-mail Thanks, Lou - W6UR -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.10.17/84 - Release Date: 8/29/2005 ___ 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 Power dither and R98
Bill, As stated in the change documentation, the limiting factor is the power output on 10 meters. Change it to a higher value and see what happens. 73, Don W3FPR > -Original Message- > > In setting up to use the K2/100 with my newly acquired AL-80A, I > found that the K2/100 power output 'dithers' about 5-9 watts a few > seconds after being keyed, depending on the band a power level. This > makes it difficult to tune the amplifier, as the shifts in power > output cause changes in Ip, Ig and power out that are unrelated to > the tuning adjustments. > > I found the technical article on adjusting for this by changing the > value of R98. Rather than go through the complicated procedure, I > just changed the value of R98 to 1k, then re-checked the power output. > > Interestingly, before the change, the output on 10m was about 90 > watts, max. After the change to 1k, it is still about 90 watts. > > The amount of dither has decreased quite a bit, but it is still > evident enough when tuning the amplifier. I wonder if it would be OK > to try larger values, such as 1.5 or 2 k. What's the limiting factor > in choosing this resistor? > > Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASELMail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!" > -- Wilbur Wright, 1901 > -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.10.17/84 - Release Date: 8/29/2005 ___ 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 Introduces the XG2 -Three- Band Receiver Test Oscillator/S-Meter Calibrator
You asked for it. :-) Hams often wonder how well an HF receiver is really working--or how one receiver compares to another. One of the most important performance measurements is sensitivity. But measuring sensitivity usually requires an expensive, lab-grade signal generator. Elecraft's new XG2 -Three- Band Receiver Test Oscillator (a companion to Elecraft’s XG1 single frequency Test Oscillator) is an inexpensive alternative. The XG2 is a fixed-frequency signal source with switch selectable oscillator frequencies on 80, 40 and 20M. Its highly-accurate precision low-level crystal oscillator generates 1 microvolt and 50 microvolt output levels with an absolute output accuracy of better than +/- 2 dB, and an extremely small unit-to-unit variation of typically +/- 1 dB. This ensures that measurements made with different XG2s are consistent, which can be helpful when evaluating used equipment found at flea markets or on the web. The 1-microvolt level can be used to determine a receiver's MDS (minimum discernible signal), as well as its overall receive gain. 50 microvolts is widely used as the standard "S9" reference, so this level can be used for S-meter calibration. Step-by-step procedures are included for receiver performance measurement and S-meter alignment. In addition to receiver testing, the XG2 can be used as a reference to calibrate other lab instruments. The XG2 also includes an on-board 3-Volt battery (standard coin cell) and a low current power-on LED. The XG2 typically draws 250 uA, resulting in an estimated battery life of 850 hours. The unit is protected against brief accidental transmit, and has been tested at up to 10 watts for 2 seconds. The XG2 can be set to operate on 3.579.5, 7.040 and 14.060 MHz. It also provides reduced output levels at harmonics of these operating frequencies, so it can be used for receiver alignment and qualitative tests on or near most HF ham bands. Like Elecraft's other low cost mini-modules, the XG2 is quite small: the PC board is just 1.5"W by 3.5"L. You can use a BNC male-to-male adapter such as Elecraft model BNC-MM to eliminate the coax cable and directly connect the XG2 to the back of a receiver or transceiver. Rubber feet are also included so the unit can be used on the workbench. The XG2 is available now, and is priced at $59. The BNC-MM adapter is $5. For further details (including downloadable manuals) on the XG2 and other Elecraft products, visit www.elecraft.com 73, Eric WA6HHQ -- _..._ ___ 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 Introduces the 2T-gen Two-Tone Test Generator
But wait, there's more.. ;-) Elecraft Introduces the 2T-gen Two-Tone Test Generator How do you know how clean your HF SSB transmitter or amplifier is? One of the most important performance measurements is Transmit Intermodulation Distortion (IMD). Elecraft’s new 2T-gen is a 2-tone test oscillator that has been designed to provide a standard 2-tone (700 and 1900 Hz) audio source for testing of SSB transceivers and linear amplifiers. This type of testing is almost universally used as a measure of transmitter linearity for amateur radio equipment. (Linearity impacts both SSB fidelity and the amount of SSB splatter that causes adjacent channel interference.) Results of 2-tone IMD tests can be found in every ARRL review of new transceivers and power amplifiers. The 2T-gen is battery operated and provides sufficient output level (0-200 mV) to be connected directly to the microphone connector of almost any transceiver. Transmitter linearity can then be observed either by observing the transmit signal 2-tone envelope on an oscilloscope or station monitor. For more exacting IMD measurements the output can be measured using a spectrum analyzer. For the 2T-gen, F1 is 700 Hz and F2 is 1900 Hz, which results in a 3rd order product of 3100 Hz and a 5th order product of 4300 Hz. The amplitude of these undesired outputs is usually increased as the transmitter output is increased, and is caused by various transmitter amplifier stages beginning to operate in compression. Like our other low cost mini-modules, the 2T-gen is quite small: the PC board is just 2.5"W by 3.5"L. Rubber feet are also included so the unit can be used on the workbench. The 2T-gen is available now, and is priced at $59. For further details (including downloadable manuals) on the 2T-gen, visit our web site, http://www.elecraft.com 73, Eric WA6HHQ -- _..._ ___ 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 esthetics mod
Hi Paul, My KX1 case is a Pelican micro-case model 1060... heavy duty, water proof. Look at http://www.pelican.com/ Made in USA and lifetime unconditional warranty !!! Best 73 VA2VYZ Le 05-08-30 à 20:37, Paul Gates a écrit : I just told a guy on the reflector today that I did not need a K2 because I have a 100watt rig. Now you are whetting my appetite for a K2. You do very nice work and it looks very professional. Where did you find the case for the KX1... I need one!! Paul Paul Gates K1 #0231 KX1 #1186 XG1 [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Original Message - From: "JEAN-FRANCOIS MENARD" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Elecraft - Maling List Elecraft - Mailing List" Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2005 7:38 PM Subject: [Elecraft] K2 esthetics mod Hi, For people who care about 'extreme' ethetics about their K2, I did a "mod" on the the S-Meter display not really a mod, but a simple improvment... I replace the green plastic on the four last led on the s-meter with red plastic. So when signal are over S9, the display is in red, and S9 and less, in green. Wow !!! ;-) See it at: http://homepage.mac.com/jfmenard/PhotoAlbum29.html Best 73 !!! = /¯\/¯\/¯\/¯\/¯\/¯\ JEAN-FRANCOIS MENARD V A 2 V Y Z \_/\_/\_/\_/\_/\_/ Elecraft K2 #4130 Elecraft KX1 #999 http://homepage.mac.com/jfmenard = ___ 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] MY SECOND K2
On Tuesday 30 August 2005 23:13, Bill Coleman wrote: > The only time I've suffered any lightning damage is when my antennas > were disconnected for Field Day. It wasn't a direct hit, but an > induced strike that took out about 45 feet of open wire line by > vaporizing both conductors. Bill, In August 2003 I had a near lightning strike: about 120 feet from the house. The doorbell rang, the garage door opener was fried, a relay in my grounded manual ASTU was blackened, all the CRT displays in the house needed degaussing, the cable modem and the router were fried. It's the EMP that puts whole multiple of amps through any moderately long wire nearby by magnetic induction if there is a conductive path. Ian, G4ICV, AB2GR, PP-ASEL -- ___ 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 esthetics mod
I also use a Pelican case to house my KX1 when travelling. However I use a larger 1060 model. In order to prevent my KX1 from bouncing around in the case, I bought a black kneeling pad at the dollar store and cut it with a utility knife so that it would fit in the case. I then cut out a a hole so my KX1 fits into. This prevents it from moving around. I have room for a key, extra batteries and a wire antenna. Here is the link to a pic of my set-up. http://images.andale.com/f2/115/123/10264406/1126012988066_KX1.jpg Robert VE3RPF ___ 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] FOX: Summer Hunt Final Results!
The Summer 2005 Hunt is now over, except for the shouting! The competition among the top hounds and the top foxes was intense and nip-and-tuck from one week to the next. W5HNS held his #1 position among the pack of dawgs from early on to the end, taking an incredible 18 of 20 possible pelts during this season of difficult propagation. Congratulations, Henry! His closest competitors with 16 pelts each were Thomas, AC7A and Marshall, N1FN. The 'Top Fox' was not decided until the last few minutes of the last hunt. Marshall, N1FN, just squeezed past N0UR with a total of 128 hounds worked to Jim's 124. Well done fellows! The entire list of Fox and Hound results, as well as the Fox logs from all ten weeks are online at the official QRP Fox Hunt website http://www.qrpfoxhunt.org. Thank you all for your participation! Best regards, Todd N9NE Scorekeeper ___ 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] Elecraft Introduces the 2T-gen Two-Tone Test Generator
On August 30, 2005 05:32 pm, Eric Swartz WA6HHQ - Elecraft wrote: > Elecraft Introduces the 2T-gen Two-Tone Test Generator Okay, I've seen two-tone tests of SSB transmitters published by ARRL for 30 years and they do show how clean a transmitter is, but how would one use the two-tone test generator to adjust or align the K2? Would this generator allow for better alignment as spectrogram does for IF filter alignment? -- Darrell Bellerive Amateur Radio Stations VA7TO and VE7CLA Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada ___ 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