Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Disgruntled Europeans
Yes - we are lucky in speaking a similar language to the US. I have imported directly from Japan, but it is more difficult to pay. Currently the exchange rate is very poor, back in 2008 when I ordered my K3 there were over $2 to the pound. At Dayton that year there were a lot of Brits buying stuff. The Dayton Specials and the exchange rate combined made equipment approximately half as expensive compared to the UK. I bought loads, even with VAT it was a bargain. The exchange rate went down to $1.35 last Spring and consequently, US prices were only 10-20 percent lower than UK ones, so I bought nothing at Dayton last year. Now we are back up to $1.60 and prices are again favorable. But - this has little to do with Elecraft - who refreshingly have fixed prices for us, excellent support and can understand English. They even allowed me to pay 100% up front for my K3 6 months before it was ready to ship. I just wish we could set up some form of monthly bulk shipping arrangement to the UK because all the little items are uneconomically expensive due to shipping charges and the parcelforce extortion money. Julian, G4ILO wrote: Doug Turnbull wrote: Many EU hams look at prices in QST and CQ and just dream. It seems that one can purchase Japanese made radios in the States for the same price in dollars as one pays in Euros or Sterling. It's really a dream. There are so many hidden costs that much of the saving gets eaten up by the time the product gets here. I just did a quick example of a Yaesu VX-8R, listed by Universal Radio at $379. Add on say $50 for international shipping. That comes to GBP 268 (£1 = $1.60) You'll be charged 17.5% VAT on arrival here plus a GBP 13 tax collection fee bringing the total to GBP 328. Nevada Radio is selling the EU version (VX-8E) for GBP 338. So ten quid gets you the EU version plus a locally supported warranty. I believe that being able to purchase the kit K3 directly is a great plus to Elecrafter sales in the EU. True one is a bit exposed as to service but if one has built the kit then individual boards can be returned for service. The K3 is small and not that heavy to ship back if needs be for that matter. I wonder if those who have actually had to ship a K3 back to the US from Europe would agree? I know for a fact that whenever I write on my website or blog about something I bought in the US I get emails from hams asking where in the UK they can order. Many in our hobby are a pretty conservative bunch and will not buy from outside the UK. I think Elecraft could actually be losing sales by not selling through local dealers, not least because there are some people with money burning a hole in their pocket who go to Martin Lynch or WS on a Saturday morning looking for a new toy to take home and play with, and if there isn't a K3 there to try out they'll buy something else instead. However I suspect if Elecraft did sell through UK dealers the extra cost to us would be a lot more than in my Yaesu example because there is no dealer mark-up in the price we pay from Elecraft, whereas the Japanese manufacturers have local offices and dealers taking their cut on both sides of the Atlantic. So carry on selling direct, please. :) -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/Disgrunteled-Japanese-tp4250692p4259763.html Sent from the [K3] mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Disgruntled Europeans
Yes, quite agree Their have been a lot of guys in the uk who would like a uk agent to take on a bulk delivery / order monthy, this would lessen the hassle with rip off parcelforce, etc. The problems I've had with these guys beggers belief. I have sent a lengthy email to Elecraft about this, and they are fully aware of our problems. Someone ( I have no connection with the company, just excellent service) like Ron, at VINE Antenna's, would handle that with no problem. Ken..G0ORH K2, sn 5877, k3 sn 3759 Sent from my iPhone On 6 Jan 2010, at 09:02, AD6XY m.j.wil...@rl.ac.uk wrote: Yes - we are lucky in speaking a similar language to the US. I have imported directly from Japan, but it is more difficult to pay. Currently the exchange rate is very poor, back in 2008 when I ordered my K3 there were over $2 to the pound. At Dayton that year there were a lot of Brits buying stuff. The Dayton Specials and the exchange rate combined made equipment approximately half as expensive compared to the UK. I bought loads, even with VAT it was a bargain. The exchange rate went down to $1.35 last Spring and consequently, US prices were only 10-20 percent lower than UK ones, so I bought nothing at Dayton last year. Now we are back up to $1.60 and prices are again favorable. But - this has little to do with Elecraft - who refreshingly have fixed prices for us, excellent support and can understand English. They even allowed me to pay 100% up front for my K3 6 months before it was ready to ship. I just wish we could set up some form of monthly bulk shipping arrangement to the UK because all the little items are uneconomically expensive due to shipping charges and the parcelforce extortion money. Julian, G4ILO wrote: Doug Turnbull wrote: Many EU hams look at prices in QST and CQ and just dream. It seems that one can purchase Japanese made radios in the States for the same price in dollars as one pays in Euros or Sterling. It's really a dream. There are so many hidden costs that much of the saving gets eaten up by the time the product gets here. I just did a quick example of a Yaesu VX-8R, listed by Universal Radio at $379. Add on say $50 for international shipping. That comes to GBP 268 (£1 = $1.60) You'll be charged 17.5% VAT on arrival here plus a GBP 13 tax collection fee bringing the total to GBP 328. Nevada Radio is selling the EU version (VX-8E) for GBP 338. So ten quid gets you the EU version plus a locally supported warranty. I believe that being able to purchase the kit K3 directly is a great plus to Elecrafter sales in the EU. True one is a bit exposed as to service but if one has built the kit then individual boards can be returned for service. The K3 is small and not that heavy to ship back if needs be for that matter. I wonder if those who have actually had to ship a K3 back to the US from Europe would agree? I know for a fact that whenever I write on my website or blog about something I bought in the US I get emails from hams asking where in the UK they can order. Many in our hobby are a pretty conservative bunch and will not buy from outside the UK. I think Elecraft could actually be losing sales by not selling through local dealers, not least because there are some people with money burning a hole in their pocket who go to Martin Lynch or WS on a Saturday morning looking for a new toy to take home and play with, and if there isn't a K3 there to try out they'll buy something else instead. However I suspect if Elecraft did sell through UK dealers the extra cost to us would be a lot more than in my Yaesu example because there is no dealer mark-up in the price we pay from Elecraft, whereas the Japanese manufacturers have local offices and dealers taking their cut on both sides of the Atlantic. So carry on selling direct, please. :) -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/Disgrunteled-Japanese-tp4250692p4259763.html Sent from the [K3] mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Disgruntled Europeans
Delighted if a way of reducing shipping costs to the UK could be found but I for one would not want an exclusive agent arrangement in the UK that would prevent us dealing direct with Elecraft. I have been very happy being able to order direct and access the support services there and would like to continue to do so. If Elecraft set up an agent arrangement in the UK we might well have reduced shipping costs and less hassle with Parcelforce (although my experience with them has not been too bad) but other costs would easily arise to take their place because of the agent's premises, stock, employees, overheads, currency risk, warranty and service costs etc etc - see Eric's recent posting about the arrangement with the Japanese agent. And with a manufacturer who is so responsive and open it would be a backward step to have to communicate with them at second hand. 73 to all Geoff G3UCK - Original Message - From: Ken Chandler g0...@sky.com Yes, quite agree Their have been a lot of guys in the uk who would like a uk agent to take on a bulk delivery / order monthy, this would lessen the hassle with rip off parcelforce, etc. The problems I've had with these guys beggers belief. I have sent a lengthy email to Elecraft about this, and they are fully aware of our problems. Someone ( I have no connection with the company, just excellent service) like Ron, at VINE Antenna's, would handle that with no problem. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] KAT3 L10 burned
Yesterday I paid a visit to a firnd, Giancarlo I3GKK, who was very worried about an accident happened 3 days ago. Suddenly, during a brief tx period (10 seconds) at 100 W into a Windom antenna, he saw smoke coming out from the top panel of his K3. Since then no power out on all bands (measured with an external wattmeter). The internal wattmeter of the K3 reads correctly and the supply current is regular, on both high and low power, so it seems that the TX stages are ok. Looking into the area for smoky parts I found that L10 (96 nH), at the output of the KAT3 unit is badly burned. The enamel on the wire is gone and with the ohmmeter the inductance measures more than 7 ohms :-/ My guess is that SWR was a little too high, but within the tuning range of the KAT3. It was raining heavily when the fault has occoured. Measured the antenna with the MFJ-259B and it seems almost ok on all bands (less than 2 in the worst band, all the others less than 1.4). Anyone have had similar experiences? 73 de Giulio IW3HVB __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] KAT3 L10 burned
Good Morning Guilio: This is not an uncommon failure. About six(6) months ago the fix was to remove L10 and jumper the holes where L10 was installed with a suitable piece of wire. I did that on mine and have had no problems with it since. Be sure to email k3supp...@elecraft.com. There may be another fix now that I don't know about. 73, Ken K3IU ~~ On 1/6/2010 6:55 AM, Giulio Pico - IW3HVB wrote: Yesterday I paid a visit to a firnd, Giancarlo I3GKK, who was very worried about an accident happened 3 days ago. Suddenly, during a brief tx period (10 seconds) at 100 W into a Windom antenna, he saw smoke coming out from the top panel of his K3. Since then no power out on all bands (measured with an external wattmeter). The internal wattmeter of the K3 reads correctly and the supply current is regular, on both high and low power, so it seems that the TX stages are ok. Looking into the area for smoky parts I found that L10 (96 nH), at the output of the KAT3 unit is badly burned. The enamel on the wire is gone and with the ohmmeter the inductance measures more than 7 ohms :-/ My guess is that SWR was a little too high, but within the tuning range of the KAT3. It was raining heavily when the fault has occoured. Measured the antenna with the MFJ-259B and it seems almost ok on all bands (less than 2 in the worst band, all the others less than 1.4). Anyone have had similar experiences? 73 de Giulio IW3HVB __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3: Thinking return to K3.
Just playing Devil's Advocate here, but don't forget about Yaesu's new FT-5000 as well. That's something in my opinion worth investigating once it hits dealer shelves. Vy 73 de James K2QI __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Disgrunteled Japanese
Somebody is double counting (or triple counting) what is shown on the PDF. Probably confusing since the description is in japanese. They are showing, I presume, a model as a kit, and then as a pre-built unit, etc. It looks like the basic 10 watt kit is around 300,000 yen, which is something like $3,000, but that's before other add-ons. Anyway, a K3, fully loaded, is nowhere near $21,000 for a japanese buyer! Nonetheless, it does add up to a significantly higher cost than we pay here in the U.S. Dave W7AQK - Original Message - From: Tom Hammond n...@embarqmail.com To: Hector Padron ad4c2...@yahoo.com; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, January 05, 2010 7:48 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Disgrunteled Japanese Hector: According to several currency calculators: 2,014,200 JPY = $21,983.0832 USD Whew. 73, Tom N0SS At 09:38 01/05/2010, you wrote: WOW ! according that pdf document(http://www.edcjp.jp/shop/order-K3.pdf) If we add all the modules and filters price for a fully loaded K3,it will cost in japan 2,014,200 (two million fourteen thousand two hundred)yens,can anyone say how many USD is that amount,sounds like a lot AD4C For a refined ham it is compulsory to own a k3 --- On Mon, 1/4/10, Fumiaki Okushi fumi...@okushi.com wrote: From: Fumiaki Okushi fumi...@okushi.com Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Disgrunteled Japanese To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Monday, January 4, 2010, 9:25 PM From: Hector Padron ad4c2...@yahoo.com Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Disgrunteled Japanese Date: Mon, 4 Jan 2010 12:51:18 -0800 (PST) WOW ! Hard to believe,then I imagine a fully loaded K3 will be then over 5 grands in japan with that dealer EDC? You can find the price list for K3 (and accessories) at http://www.edcjp.jp/shop/order-K3.pdf Note that the pdf includes Japanese so parts of the page may not render properly depending on the pdf reader you may have.. Regards, Fumi Okushi/KB2KVV __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3: Thinking return to K3.
Price range of Yaesu 5000 is very high for me. It will be around the same as Icom 7700. Rubén Navarro Huedo Enviado móvil / portable. El 06/01/2010, a las 13:30, James Sarte k2qi@gmail.com escribió: Just playing Devil's Advocate here, but don't forget about Yaesu's new FT-5000 as well. That's something in my opinion worth investigating once it hits dealer shelves. Vy 73 de James K2QI __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Disgrunteled Japanese
know this topic is closed but I would like to point out, I buy stuff from japan all the time for martial arts (kendo) It is cheaper for me in the USA to buy stuff from japan than it is for a Japanese person in japan (significantly so, sometimes as much as 50% cheaper) because I dont have to pay their equivalent of VAT. It is all relative. Matt W8ESE On Wed, Jan 6, 2010 at 7:57 AM, David Yarnes w7...@cox.net wrote: Somebody is double counting (or triple counting) what is shown on the PDF. Probably confusing since the description is in japanese. They are showing, I presume, a model as a kit, and then as a pre-built unit, etc. It looks like the basic 10 watt kit is around 300,000 yen, which is something like $3,000, but that's before other add-ons. Anyway, a K3, fully loaded, is nowhere near $21,000 for a japanese buyer! Nonetheless, it does add up to a significantly higher cost than we pay here in the U.S. Dave W7AQK - Original Message - From: Tom Hammond n...@embarqmail.com To: Hector Padron ad4c2...@yahoo.com; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, January 05, 2010 7:48 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Disgrunteled Japanese Hector: According to several currency calculators: 2,014,200 JPY = $21,983.0832 USD Whew. 73, Tom N0SS At 09:38 01/05/2010, you wrote: WOW ! according that pdf document(http://www.edcjp.jp/shop/order-K3.pdf) If we add all the modules and filters price for a fully loaded K3,it will cost in japan 2,014,200 (two million fourteen thousand two hundred)yens,can anyone say how many USD is that amount,sounds like a lot AD4C For a refined ham it is compulsory to own a k3 --- On Mon, 1/4/10, Fumiaki Okushi fumi...@okushi.com wrote: From: Fumiaki Okushi fumi...@okushi.com Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Disgrunteled Japanese To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Monday, January 4, 2010, 9:25 PM From: Hector Padron ad4c2...@yahoo.com Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Disgrunteled Japanese Date: Mon, 4 Jan 2010 12:51:18 -0800 (PST) WOW ! Hard to believe,then I imagine a fully loaded K3 will be then over 5 grands in japan with that dealer EDC? You can find the price list for K3 (and accessories) at http://www.edcjp.jp/shop/order-K3.pdf Note that the pdf includes Japanese so parts of the page may not render properly depending on the pdf reader you may have.. Regards, Fumi Okushi/KB2KVV __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] [K3] Another KY command bug?
When sending CW using the KY command, there are sometimes problems to interrupt the transmission correct. Sending KY @; will cancel the transmission, but sometimes the sidetone will not stop. The sidetone remains steady on, but the trcvr does switch to RX. This is better reproducible at lower speeds (20wpm) I'm using FW 3.68 and confirmed the behavior with the K3 Utility. Just try KY 000; followed by KY @ 73 de Tom, DL2RUM -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/Another-KY-command-bug-tp4260594p4260594.html Sent from the [K3] mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] KAT3 L10 burned
I've not seen such an issue with two different KAT3s and significantly worse mismatches. What is the cause of the problem? 73, Julius This is not an uncommon failure. - Julius Fazekas N2WN Tennessee Contest Group http://www.k4ro.net/tcg/index.html Tennessee QSO Party http://www.tnqp.org/ Elecraft K2/100 #4455 Elecraft K3/100 #366 Elecraft K3#1875 -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/KAT3-L10-burned-tp4260310p4260644.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] KAT3 L10 burned
I'm not sure. When I spoke to Gary, he said there had been quite a few instances of failure of this and/or the capacitor in this IF frequency trap. 73, Ken K3IU ~~~ On 1/6/2010 8:37 AM, Julius Fazekas n2wn wrote: I've not seen such an issue with two different KAT3s and significantly worse mismatches. What is the cause of the problem? 73, Julius This is not an uncommon failure. - Julius Fazekas N2WN Tennessee Contest Group http://www.k4ro.net/tcg/index.html Tennessee QSO Party http://www.tnqp.org/ Elecraft K2/100 #4455 Elecraft K3/100 #366 Elecraft K3#1875 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3: Thinking return to K3.
While the 7600 has some nice features and will appeal to a lot of people if I were on the fence I wouldn't be after reading the QST review. Just comparing the CW waveform, Transmitted hash and especially the graphs for IMD, BDR, etc. would put me solidly in the K3 camp. The second receiver would be another deal breaker for me. I have it and love it! Also, you may want to consider how people who bought the Pro III in the last year or so feel right now. While the 7600 is not a huge improvement they don't have the newest model and are behind on some specs and features. While at the same time, someone that bought a K3 two years ago can have an equivalent radio to a new one without having to replace the old one and take the resale hit. Buy the K3 kit and enjoy the satisfaction of putting it together yourself. I sure do. Rick K6LE -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Ruben Navarro Huedo Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 12:16 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K3: Thinking return to K3. Hello friends: I am Ruben from Spain. Around 10 months ago i owned a K3/100 with ATU and original 2.7 filter. I tested it around 2 months and after that i sold it. At that moment i didn't like its audio (very crispy for me) and selectivity with 2.7 filter wasn't better than my old 756pro2. Now i am thinking buy again one K3, but this time with better filters and voice keyer. I my options is also an IC-7600. I think this question has been done lots of times in this list, but excuse me, i have to ask... What do you think? Is audio better in last units? With better filters... A lot better selectivity? Your coments are very helper for my choice. Has anybody tested a k3 and 7600 at same time? Thank's a lot friends and happy 2010. -- Rubén Navarro Huedo - EA5BZ http://www.palotes.com ___ Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3: Thinking return to K3.
Wayne wrote: The K3 also has: - a 2nd receiver option with identical performance to the main, which allows you to listen to two bands at once, or do diversity receive (the 7600 has dual-watch, but this cannot provide diversity receive because both receivers always share one antenna) dual watch while better than one receiver is never to be confused with two receivers. You cannot split the audio outputs of the dual watch since there ARE NOT two FULL receivers. So if you want to split the audio , as in DX in one ear , the Dx's listening frequency in the other ear you will need two receivers... in ICOM that is the ICOM 7800. And I understand that the 7800 is not as good for diversity reception... as the K3. bill __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] W2 Interface Software Version 1.1.1.1
An updated version of the W2 Interface software is available for download. Version 1.1.1.1 Windows: http://sight.net/W2/W2_WIN.zip Mac: http://sight.net/W2/W2_OSX.zip - Added Always on top option. When selected in SETUP, this option allows the W2 Interface to run as a global floating window. It will stay on top of all other application's windows regardless of which window has focus. Requires closing and restarting the program before taking effect. - Added support for multiple instances. You can now control multiple W2's by using multiple copies of the program running simultaneously, each with it's own preferences (serial port, window positions, etc). You need to make a copy of the executable file and rename it to whatever name you want to use to identify the W2 it will connect to. For example, you could name one of the executables W2 K3-HF.exe and another W2 Yaesu-VHF.exe. The filename is used to create a unique preferences file and is also displayed in the title bar of the Interface window. There are more elegant ways to do this, and I may further refine it in a future release, but this was relatively easy to implement and works FB. It should be able to handle any number of W2's - IF you have the W2's, a fast PC with lots of RAM, lots of disk space to hold all the .exe's, and lots of serial ports. :-) - Numerous internal changes and tweaks. Enjoy.. David, W4SMT __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K2 for sale
Gilbert Cross wrote: Gilbert Cross wrote: K2 s/n 3346 Has the following options: KIO2 KAT2 KSB2 K160RX KNB2 KAF2 MH2 CW tuning indicator T/R relay driver switching is with the same mosfet used in the K3 Frequency calibration is excellent Filters are set up using Spectrogram and with the wife monitoring through headphones she says I sound natural Very nice radio. Of course comes with all manuals and cables Ready to operate Asking$900.00 If interested please contact me off list. Thank youGilK8EAG __ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Smart Charger
Cookie, Is this a switcher or serious iron type PS? Looks like all the Jetstreams may be switchers, but could be wrong. I like my PS heavy, not me radio ;o) 73, Julius WILLIS COOKE-2 wrote: You might take a look at the Jetstream JTPS35BCMA. It includes volt and ammeters, connections for the rig plus low amp connections for accessories and a connection point for the battery. The switch to battery is automatic when AC power is lost. The artifacts are reasonable and liveable. On the down side, the fan comes on with a 1 amp load and is noiser that I would like, but liveable. Willis 'Cookie' Cooke K5EWJ From: Wes Stewart n...@yahoo.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net; Julius Fazekas n2wn phriend...@yahoo.com Sent: Tue, January 5, 2010 1:22:47 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Smart Charger Julius, et. al, My charger is actually a marriage of some commercial gear with a few tweaks. The motivation for this was the absolutely horrible RFI from the switch-mode charger in my 5th wheel trailer. It was so bad that when I had the trailer stored here at home the RFI would actually interfere with OTA TV, so you can imagine what it did to the ham bands. Rather than reinventing the wheel, I used an Astron RS-35M for its case, metering, raw DC, heat sink and pass transistors. Rather than building my own board, I married this to an AA Engineering smart charger board, (http://www.a-aengineering.com/150PCAAppNotes.pdf) doing a little trickery to allow the use of a fixed current sense resistor while still having some adjustment of the max charge current. The heart of this circuit is the UC3906 integrated circuit that is designed for just this purpose. (http://focus.ti.com/docs/prod/folders/print/uc3906.html) I shopped the idea of an article about this to ARRL but they weren't interested, so I never completed any further documentation. Wes N7WS --- On Tue, 1/5/10, Julius Fazekas n2wn phriend...@yahoo.com wrote: From: Julius Fazekas n2wn phriend...@yahoo.com Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] New K3 User and New Ham To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Tuesday, January 5, 2010, 10:17 AM Wes, Do share your 30A smart charger. It's easy enough to find information for lower current chargers, but less so for something in this range. cheers, Julius __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html - Julius Fazekas N2WN Tennessee Contest Group http://www.k4ro.net/tcg/index.html Tennessee QSO Party http://www.tnqp.org/ Elecraft K2/100 #4455 Elecraft K3/100 #366 Elecraft K3#1875 -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/New-K3-User-and-New-Ham-tp4253024p4261489.html Sent from the [K3] mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] W2 Interface Software Version 1.1.1.1
David, Thank you!!! I like the way it is working. 73, Bill K9YEQ -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of David Fleming Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 8:58 AM To: Elecraft reflector Subject: [Elecraft] W2 Interface Software Version 1.1.1.1 An updated version of the W2 Interface software is available for download. Version 1.1.1.1 Windows: http://sight.net/W2/W2_WIN.zip Mac: http://sight.net/W2/W2_OSX.zip - Added Always on top option. When selected in SETUP, this option allows the W2 Interface to run as a global floating window. It will stay on top of all other application's windows regardless of which window has focus. Requires closing and restarting the program before taking effect. - Added support for multiple instances. You can now control multiple W2's by using multiple copies of the program running simultaneously, each with it's own preferences (serial port, window positions, etc). You need to make a copy of the executable file and rename it to whatever name you want to use to identify the W2 it will connect to. For example, you could name one of the executables W2 K3-HF.exe and another W2 Yaesu-VHF.exe. The filename is used to create a unique preferences file and is also displayed in the title bar of the Interface window. There are more elegant ways to do this, and I may further refine it in a future release, but this was relatively easy to implement and works FB. It should be able to handle any number of W2's - IF you have the W2's, a fast PC with lots of RAM, lots of disk space to hold all the .exe's, and lots of serial ports. :-) - Numerous internal changes and tweaks. Enjoy.. David, W4SMT __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K3 No transmit on 60 meters
Hi Got a new K3 factory assembled. The radio do receive on 60 meter - but it does not Transmit How do i fix this ? vy 73 de OZ1AXG Flam __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] Wanted Hand Mike
I would like to trade a new in box Custom Project Enclosure (EC-2) for a hand mike for a K3. Please tell me what you havethanks and 73, Ci Ci Jones, WU7R SKCC #22T __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] KAT3 L10 burned [likely cause, and what to do]
Giulio, The load impedance was probably extremely low, and at full power on this particular band, the power-handling capacity of the 8.2-MHz IF trap was exceeded. It's possible that the trap was mistuned (too close to 40 or 30 m). Note that L10's winding is adjusted at the factory and should not be moved. If you contact support, replacement components (L10 and the associated capacitor) will be sent out immediately. Support can also explain how to adjust the trap to 8.2 MHz (or the parts may be pre-calibrated as a pair -- they'll let you know). As a precaution, I will also be modifying the ATU matching algorithm so that it catches this case, preventing excessive reflected power that could damage the trap. I'm guessing that the load SWR was in excess of 10:1 or 15:1 at the time -- the KAT3 has a *very* wide matching range, and probably presented something close to 1:1 to the transmitter. 73, Wayne N6KR __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Beginning The Build of K3 Serial Number #3799
Where's your antistatic mat and wristband? Don't start without it... I hope you find the build as much fun as I did! 73, Mike NF4L Phil Hystad wrote: Well, I have spread out the basic components of the K3 kit, serial #3799 on my card table in my den/shack/office/man-cave. I am posting a photo on my Mac web site of the layout. The link is: http://homepage.mac.com/phystad/K3_3799.jpg. The photo does not include the options boxes or the 100 watt PA which are still in the boxes on my desk. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] [K1] Mods...
John/VK7JB wrote: About the ACG response time mod : changing C31 to a lower value cap (from 2.2uF to 1uF or lower) is mentioned most often... I've used my K1 (SN 175) for going on ten years, starting with the stock C31 value of 2.2 uF. Later, I changed to 1 uF. That caused a tremendous improvement in AGC (and S-meter) action. The last thing that you want on a CW rig is slow AGC, and 2.2 uF causes an incredibly slow AGC. I have absolutely no reservations about recommending use of a lower value. If anything, something lower than 1 uF might be better, but de-soldering C31 is not without some risk of damage to the RF PCB if done too often... I've left the 1 uF cap in place. I have never read a convincing reason for Elecraft using 2.2 uF for C31. If you are bound and determined to start out using the 2.2 uF value, then tack it in place below the PCB so that it'll be easy to remove later for a more appropriate value. there is a variation of opinion whether C67 should be lowered also. I wouldn't bother. The stock value works fine. There's also been suggestions of changing the KNB1 noise blanker AGC cap C10 from 2.2 uF to a lower value. I haven't tried that...I don't find the KNB1 to be all that effective on power line noise, which is what I most often encounter, so I seldom use the KNB1. I've read on JL3AHK's site, about a mod to increase OP power of the K1 to a consistent 7W across all bands. He suggests adding a 0.001uF cap in parallel with R30 on the RF board. I've never had problems getting 7 watts out from my old K1/KFL1-4/KAT1/KNB1 system. I haven't tried this mod. It's a very logical suggestion, though. I tried the KBT1 internal battery for 18 months before removing it permanently. The stock K1 speaker is far better than the micro speaker that is necessary on the KBT1. The K1 looks a lot better with the stock top cover and speaker. The eight AA-cells must be removed from the K1 for charging. Most importantly, I don't like having no compartmentalization between the battery cells and the RF circuit board below them. These cells do sometimes leak. Instead, I use an external AA-cell holder (ten cell) that provides significantly higher operating voltage, is NOT inside the K1, and is easier to connect to a charger. The best K1 battery system I've ever found, though, is a 4 to 5 AH SLA battery, when weight is not at a premium. 73, Mike / KK5F __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] WMR COMspkr @ HRO
HRO now indicates out of stock for the COMspkr. Jim/N1NK __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3: Thinking return to K3.
Another Elecraft feature to add to Wayne's list: - a reply to your question from the rig's designer. On Tue, Jan 5, 2010 at 8:36 PM, Wayne Burdick n...@elecraft.com wrote: (Disclaimer: I'm biased, by definition :) __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K3: SUB button used as a Macro switch?
Dear Wayne, A while back, you asked for ideas people might have for firmware. Here is one. I have no sub-receiver, and am not likely to install one. I see that SUB button sitting at the bottom of the front panel unused. Maybe there could be an option CONFIG: SubButton with two choices, NOR and MACRO. Then the SUB button could be used for a nice user-defined macro. 73, Oliver Johns W6ODJ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K3 output buffer modification
Hello group, Just finished installing the K3 output buffer modification this afternoon. I used the SMD resistor, and not the leaded part. Anyway, the most difficult aspect was soldering the replacement back on and ensuring it didn't move. I think I was successful. I may have chipped a tiny piece of the black surface of the resistor off with the tip of the screwdriver used to hold it in place during soldering. I believe its fine as I still get a 13k ohm reading from my multimeter. I know I shouldn't test with the resistor already soldered, but its the best I can do for now. Anyway, question here is how do I test to make sure that the mod was successful? Unfortunately I do not have a spectrum analyzer. Better yet, how to ensure that my modification didn't screw anything up? Anything I should test for right away? Mni tnx es vy 73, James K2QI __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] W2 Interface Software Version 1.1.1.1
Thanks David! Nice to have the Always on top. 73 Bill nz0t David Fleming-2 wrote: An updated version of the W2 Interface software is available for download. Version 1.1.1.1 Windows: http://sight.net/W2/W2_WIN.zip Mac: http://sight.net/W2/W2_OSX.zip - Added Always on top option. When selected in SETUP, this option allows the W2 Interface to run as a global floating window. It will stay on top of all other application's windows regardless of which window has focus. Requires closing and restarting the program before taking effect. - Added support for multiple instances. You can now control multiple W2's by using multiple copies of the program running simultaneously, each with it's own preferences (serial port, window positions, etc). You need to make a copy of the executable file and rename it to whatever name you want to use to identify the W2 it will connect to. For example, you could name one of the executables W2 K3-HF.exe and another W2 Yaesu-VHF.exe. The filename is used to create a unique preferences file and is also displayed in the title bar of the Interface window. There are more elegant ways to do this, and I may further refine it in a future release, but this was relatively easy to implement and works FB. It should be able to handle any number of W2's - IF you have the W2's, a fast PC with lots of RAM, lots of disk space to hold all the .exe's, and lots of serial ports. :-) - Numerous internal changes and tweaks. Enjoy.. David, W4SMT __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/W2-Interface-Software-Version-1-1-1-1-tp4261099p4262718.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K3 filter gain
A filter question for the group if I may. I have the following filters in my K3: 2.8/8 pole - 1.8/8 pole - .400/8 pole. My question is how much gain did you add in the K3 utility for your filters and how did you determine the necessary gain? __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3: Strange SWR reading
Gents, Problem solved, or at least worked around. I had the TUNE PWR set to 4 Watts. But my K3 SWR reading is inaccurate below 5 Watts. I set TUNE PWR to 7 Watts and now the problem is solved. With the DL1 connected to Ant 1, and KAT3 on BYPASS, pressing TUNE now gives 1.0 on all bands. Here are the readings at various powers with my K3 in the 40 meter band: 1 Watt --- no reading 2 Watt --- 1.2 3 Watt --- 1.1 4 Watt --- 1.1 5 Watt --- 1.0 6 Watt and above --- 1.0 73, Oliver Johns W6ODJ P.S. The reason the Elecraft K3 Utility seemed to be adjusting the SWR reading was that it was ramping up the power to 5 Watts. As it passed 3 and 4 Watts, it showed 1.1; when it reached 5 Watts it showed 1.0. On 5 Jan 2010, at 5:23 PM, O. Johns wrote: Dear Dick, I posted this problem on the reflector some time back, but noone picked up on it, so I'll try again. This is a before and after story and has me puzzled. BEFORE: I connected DL1 dummy load to Ant 1 using only a BNC-MtoM and a PL259-FtoF (no coax at all, just small straight-through adapters). I set the KAT3 to BYPASS. I pressed TUNE and saw 1.0, on all bands. Fine, this is what I expect. Also, using my link-coupled external tuner with the antenna connected (I seldom use the KAT3), I was able to adjust to 1.0 on all bands (except 6 meters). AFTER: After the first time I ran the Calibrate Transmitter Gain routine from the Elecraft K3 Utility, I pressed TUNE with the DL1 still connected and saw a SWR reading of 1.1 on all bands, not 1.0 as before. Also, when I use my external tuner, the lowest SWR I can obtain now is 1.1, not 1.0 as before. WHY? I just upgraded the K3 (#1741) with all current mods and the new DSP board. So, I re-calibrated everything. Same result re the 1.1 SWR reading. Here is what happens: I attach the DL1 and set KAT3 to BYPASS as per the instructions. I run through the steps and click on Calibrate in the 5 Watt page. The calibration routine runs to completion successfully. At every frequency I see on the K3 front panel readout the following two-step sequence: - The frequency to be used - The numbers 1.1 which quickly change to 1.0 It seems as if the software is adjusting something to get to 1.0 for the SWR. What? I don't hear any clicks so doubt it is adjusting any toroids or capacitors the ATU. Maybe it is adjusting the final transistor bias? After this calibration, pressing TUNE with the DL1 still connected and the KAT3 still in BYPASS, I see 1.1 SWR. I then did the routine again, but this time doing the 5 watt and then the 50 Watt Calibration (the DL1 doesn't get very hot due to the short duty cycle). At 5 Watts, the result is the same as above. At 50 Watts, I see the following for each frequency step: - The frequency to be used - The number 1.0 This time it doesn't seem to be adjusting anything. Maybe that was already done at 5 Watts? It just starts out at 1.0 and stays there. After this calibration, pressing TUNE with the DL1 still connected and the KAT3 still in BYPASS, I see 1.1 SWR. So, what is going on? It seems to me that if I adjust the transmitter using DL1 as the reference for 1.0 SWR, then pressing TUNE with the DL1 attached and KAT3 still in BYPASS should also give 1.0. So, two question: (1) What is the software adjusting that affects the SWR shown on the K3 front panel display? (2) Why is the end result a lowest SWR of 1.1 instead of 1.0? Thanks for any information. Oliver Johns W6ODJ PS: Configuration information: K3 #1741, KPA3, KAT3, KBPF3, KTCXO3-1, KXV3, K3DSPUPGD upgrade, REMIOUPGD upgrade, all Elecraft-recommended user mods up to 1 Jan 2010 done, and no other mods done. No KRX3. No KXV3A upgrade. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] Contesting with logging software on a PC (not MAC)
I'm a return veteran contester with lots of wins using the old pencil log with a dupe sheet. I've tried various new programs attempting to gain a level of comfort so I might consider a serious entry into some contesting again. You should appreciate that I'd hate to feel the pain of getting part way into the contest and be delayed or loose my logs due to a computer freeze, lock out or reboot. For the past year I've been soliciting contest guru opinions and come away with conclusions based on inputs of the long term contersters from my past more active years. My conclusion has nothing to do with the suitability of the wonderful K3 as a radio for CW or SSB contesting. I'd use a basic mission critical PC with a 386/486 processor, DOS and CT to run the logging process without connection to the Internet during the contest. CT runs with the K3. The more recent contesting software might be ok but Windows is buggy and may crash during the event. Lets hope System 7 can be configured to offer mission critical reliability in the new PC platforms. Lastly, I find this to be mostly an off Elecraft topic. Happy New Year 73, John, W1QS K3 s/n 2274, K2 s/n 4204 mission critical = power supply with extra wattage, two hard drives with less than 10,000 hrs, shadow write utility and clean fan/filter __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 output buffer modification
If you have a second receiver, you could connect it to the K3 IF output. Tune the second receiver to 8.215 MHz and you should hear whatever the K3 is hearing at a similar signal level. (About an S-unit lower with the K3 preamp off, one S-unit higher with preamp on.) Alan N1AL On Wed, 2010-01-06 at 14:20 -0500, James Sarte wrote: Hello group, Just finished installing the K3 output buffer modification this afternoon. I used the SMD resistor, and not the leaded part. Anyway, the most difficult aspect was soldering the replacement back on and ensuring it didn't move. I think I was successful. I may have chipped a tiny piece of the black surface of the resistor off with the tip of the screwdriver used to hold it in place during soldering. I believe its fine as I still get a 13k ohm reading from my multimeter. I know I shouldn't test with the resistor already soldered, but its the best I can do for now. Anyway, question here is how do I test to make sure that the mod was successful? Unfortunately I do not have a spectrum analyzer. Better yet, how to ensure that my modification didn't screw anything up? Anything I should test for right away? Mni tnx es vy 73, James K2QI __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 output buffer modification
Hi Alan, Unfortunately, I do not have a second receiver. Is there a way I can test output voltages with my meter - anything at all to just confirm that the resistor is indeed working? Anyway, the rig passed the smoke test upon turning on so that's a good start right there. James K2QI On Wed, Jan 6, 2010 at 3:26 PM, Alan Bloom a...@elecraft.com wrote: If you have a second receiver, you could connect it to the K3 IF output. Tune the second receiver to 8.215 MHz and you should hear whatever the K3 is hearing at a similar signal level. (About an S-unit lower with the K3 preamp off, one S-unit higher with preamp on.) Alan N1AL -- 73 de James K2QI __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 filter gain
Thanks for all who responded! I got my answer from an older post by N6KR. 73 - Original Message - From: Keith tu...@zoominternet.net To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 2:52 PM Subject: [Elecraft] K3 filter gain A filter question for the group if I may. I have the following filters in my K3: 2.8/8 pole - 1.8/8 pole - .400/8 pole. My question is how much gain did you add in the K3 utility for your filters and how did you determine the necessary gain? __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 output buffer modification
Unfortunately you won't be able to measure an RF signal at the IF output connector with a meter or oscilloscope unless you have a REALLY strong signal at the K3 antenna input. As a general sanity check, you could do a DC voltage measurement on the JFET just to make sure it is still drawing current. I don't know the exact voltage, but I imagine you should get a volt or two on the JFET source (R9 source resistor). That does require taking the bottom panel off the K3 again. Alan N1AL On Wed, 2010-01-06 at 15:33 -0500, James Sarte wrote: Hi Alan, Unfortunately, I do not have a second receiver. Is there a way I can test output voltages with my meter - anything at all to just confirm that the resistor is indeed working? Anyway, the rig passed the smoke test upon turning on so that's a good start right there. James K2QI On Wed, Jan 6, 2010 at 3:26 PM, Alan Bloom a...@elecraft.com wrote: If you have a second receiver, you could connect it to the K3 IF output. Tune the second receiver to 8.215 MHz and you should hear whatever the K3 is hearing at a similar signal level. (About an S-unit lower with the K3 preamp off, one S-unit higher with preamp on.) Alan N1AL -- 73 de James K2QI __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Contesting with logging software on a PC (not MAC)
I beg to differ with whatever input you've received John. A modern, powerful windows pc is a great investment for ~$1K. It's not going to crash during a contest, running any of the top Windows contest loggers and will give you loads of enjoyment the other 95% of the time. 73, Barry N1EU JOHN LAWRENCE wrote: I'm a return veteran contester with lots of wins using the old pencil log with a dupe sheet. I've tried various new programs attempting to gain a level of comfort so I might consider a serious entry into some contesting again. You should appreciate that I'd hate to feel the pain of getting part way into the contest and be delayed or loose my logs due to a computer freeze, lock out or reboot. For the past year I've been soliciting contest guru opinions and come away with conclusions based on inputs of the long term contersters from my past more active years. My conclusion has nothing to do with the suitability of the wonderful K3 as a radio for CW or SSB contesting. I'd use a basic mission critical PC with a 386/486 processor, DOS and CT to run the logging process without connection to the Internet during the contest. CT runs with the K3. The more recent contesting software might be ok but Windows is buggy and may crash during the event. Lets hope System 7 can be configured to offer mission critical reliability in the new PC platforms. Lastly, I find this to be mostly an off Elecraft topic. Happy New Year 73, John, W1QS -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/Contesting-with-logging-software-on-a-PC-not-MAC-tp4262951p4263502.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 output buffer modification
Hmm... just out of curiosity, couldn't I measure the IF output using the XG2 signal generator set to 50uV? How strong does the signal have to be? I'll go ahead and check the junction voltage at R9 as you suggested. Mni tnx! James K2QI -Original Message- From: Alan Bloom [mailto:a...@elecraft.com] Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 4:44 PM To: James Sarte Cc: Elecraft Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 output buffer modification Unfortunately you won't be able to measure an RF signal at the IF output connector with a meter or oscilloscope unless you have a REALLY strong signal at the K3 antenna input. As a general sanity check, you could do a DC voltage measurement on the JFET just to make sure it is still drawing current. I don't know the exact voltage, but I imagine you should get a volt or two on the JFET source (R9 source resistor). That does require taking the bottom panel off the K3 again. Alan N1AL __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 filter gain
My K3 S/N 00018 filter settings are those shown in the K3 Utility Help screen shots for the Crystal Filter configuration. There's a table in the K3 Utility page help text that describes the recommended ranges of gain settings. This table is derived from the owner's manual recommendation. At one time I had higher settings in an attempt to keep a centered signal at the same volume as the bandwidth decreased, but Wayne helped me to understand that this wasn't a good idea. The owners' manual recommends 1-2 dB for 400-500 Hz filters, 3-4 dB for 200-250 Hz filters, and 0 dB for filters wider than 500 Hz. Dick, K6KR -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Keith Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 11:53 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K3 filter gain A filter question for the group if I may. I have the following filters in my K3: 2.8/8 pole - 1.8/8 pole - .400/8 pole. My question is how much gain did you add in the K3 utility for your filters and how did you determine the necessary gain? __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3: Thinking return to K3.
The 7800 is terrible for diversity, there are two issues that make it nearly unusable for diversity 1/ the Main and Sub RX cannot track (tune together ) 2/ there is constant but small frequency offset between the main and sub RX, this is present all the time, even with an external 10MHz reference oscillator. The main and sub Receivers have slightly different IF frequencies (100KHz apart if I recall correctly ) as a result the 2DDS Local oscillators have differing decimation errors and this results in a small frequency offset at all times between main and sub, this makes Diversity reception very difficult and unpleasant to use. been there, done that ;-0 73 Brendan EI6IZ ny9h wrote: And I understand that the 7800 is not as good for diversity reception... as the K3. bill __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] K3: Thinking return to K3.
K2QI wrote: Just playing Devil's Advocate here, but don't forget about Yaesu's new FT-5000 as well. That's something in my opinion worth investigating once it hits dealer shelves. I believe those who buy the FT-5000 because of its Sub RX will be disappointed...as I was with Orion's. The FT-5000 design is basically an Orion clone and will suffer the same Sub RX problems: 1. True diversity will not be possible due to slightly different frequencies between Main and Sub. 2. Strong-signal handling of the Sub will be very poor. Time will tell but that's my prediction as an ex-Orion owner for 4 years. 73, Bill -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-Thinking-return-to-K3-tp4258113p4263693.html Sent from the [K3] mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3: Strange SWR reading
Tnx Dick, Then I guess it is the K3 MCU firmware code that is ramping up the power because I see it doing it on the K3 front panel display as the Calibrate routine is running. It approaches 5 Watts from below, takes a fraction of a second to get there. Until it gets there, the SWR reading on the K3 screen is 1.1. When it does get there (e.g., to 5 Watts), the SWR reading changes to 1.0. Then the K3 stays in transmit for about a second or two before moving on to the next frequency. At 50 Watts, the ramp-up time (if any) is so quick that it doesn't have time to show up on the K3 front panel display. I guess I was thinking that the K3 Utility was doing more than it was doing. Thanks for the description. It must be a gas to write this stuff and have it work so well. Wish the code were public so we could admire it. 73, Oliver Johns W6ODJ On 6 Jan 2010, at 1:16 PM, Dick Dievendorff wrote: The K3 Utility doesn't ramp up the power during the Tx Gain calibration. It sets the power to exactly 5 watts, and the K3 MCU firmware code performs calibration at that power level (and also at exactly 50 watts). Tx Calibration also sets TUN PWR to Normal and restores your setting afterward. Glad it's working for you now! 73 d Dick, K6KR -Original Message- From: O. Johns [mailto:ojo...@metacosmos.org] Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 12:04 PM To: Dick Dievendorff Cc: Elecraft; Gary Surrency Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3: Strange SWR reading Gents, Problem solved, or at least worked around. I had the TUNE PWR set to 4 Watts. But my K3 SWR reading is inaccurate below 5 Watts. I set TUNE PWR to 7 Watts and now the problem is solved. With the DL1 connected to Ant 1, and KAT3 on BYPASS, pressing TUNE now gives 1.0 on all bands. Here are the readings at various powers with my K3 in the 40 meter band: 1 Watt --- no reading 2 Watt --- 1.2 3 Watt --- 1.1 4 Watt --- 1.1 5 Watt --- 1.0 6 Watt and above --- 1.0 73, Oliver Johns W6ODJ P.S. The reason the Elecraft K3 Utility seemed to be adjusting the SWR reading was that it was ramping up the power to 5 Watts. As it passed 3 and 4 Watts, it showed 1.1; when it reached 5 Watts it showed 1.0. On 5 Jan 2010, at 5:23 PM, O. Johns wrote: Dear Dick, I posted this problem on the reflector some time back, but noone picked up on it, so I'll try again. This is a before and after story and has me puzzled. BEFORE: I connected DL1 dummy load to Ant 1 using only a BNC-MtoM and a PL259-FtoF (no coax at all, just small straight-through adapters). I set the KAT3 to BYPASS. I pressed TUNE and saw 1.0, on all bands. Fine, this is what I expect. Also, using my link-coupled external tuner with the antenna connected (I seldom use the KAT3), I was able to adjust to 1.0 on all bands (except 6 meters). AFTER: After the first time I ran the Calibrate Transmitter Gain routine from the Elecraft K3 Utility, I pressed TUNE with the DL1 still connected and saw a SWR reading of 1.1 on all bands, not 1.0 as before. Also, when I use my external tuner, the lowest SWR I can obtain now is 1.1, not 1.0 as before. WHY? I just upgraded the K3 (#1741) with all current mods and the new DSP board. So, I re-calibrated everything. Same result re the 1.1 SWR reading. Here is what happens: I attach the DL1 and set KAT3 to BYPASS as per the instructions. I run through the steps and click on Calibrate in the 5 Watt page. The calibration routine runs to completion successfully. At every frequency I see on the K3 front panel readout the following two-step sequence: - The frequency to be used - The numbers 1.1 which quickly change to 1.0 It seems as if the software is adjusting something to get to 1.0 for the SWR. What? I don't hear any clicks so doubt it is adjusting any toroids or capacitors the ATU. Maybe it is adjusting the final transistor bias? After this calibration, pressing TUNE with the DL1 still connected and the KAT3 still in BYPASS, I see 1.1 SWR. I then did the routine again, but this time doing the 5 watt and then the 50 Watt Calibration (the DL1 doesn't get very hot due to the short duty cycle). At 5 Watts, the result is the same as above. At 50 Watts, I see the following for each frequency step: - The frequency to be used - The number 1.0 This time it doesn't seem to be adjusting anything. Maybe that was already done at 5 Watts? It just starts out at 1.0 and stays there. After this calibration, pressing TUNE with the DL1 still connected and the KAT3 still in BYPASS, I see 1.1 SWR. So, what is going on? It seems to me that if I adjust the transmitter using DL1 as the reference for 1.0 SWR, then pressing TUNE with the DL1 attached and KAT3 still in BYPASS should also give 1.0. So, two question: (1) What is the software adjusting that affects the SWR shown on the K3 front panel display? (2) Why is the end result a lowest SWR of
[Elecraft] (K3) Noise on PSK31 TX
Setting up my K3 for PSK 31 I noticed that there is a 12 Hz amplitude modulation with no connections made to the radio's audio inputs. Having never used PSK-31 I don't know enough to even be dangerous butIs this normal? Any advice is appreciated Thanks John __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] K3: Thinking return to K3.
Speaking of the new FT-5000; one will have to admit that when technology improves, the FT-5000 will make a much better boat anchor than the K3. But today, one really great feature of the K3 is that I don't need a block and tackle to move it into position in the shack. Dick K8ZTT -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Bill W4ZV Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 3:21 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] K3: Thinking return to K3. K2QI wrote: Just playing Devil's Advocate here, but don't forget about Yaesu's new FT-5000 as well. That's something in my opinion worth investigating once it hits dealer shelves. I believe those who buy the FT-5000 because of its Sub RX will be disappointed...as I was with Orion's. The FT-5000 design is basically an Orion clone and will suffer the same Sub RX problems: 1. True diversity will not be possible due to slightly different frequencies between Main and Sub. 2. Strong-signal handling of the Sub will be very poor. Time will tell but that's my prediction as an ex-Orion owner for 4 years. 73, Bill -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-Thinking-return-to-K3-tp4258113p4263693.html Sent from the [K3] mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4749 (20100106) __ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com __ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4749 (20100106) __ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] (K3) Noise on PSK31 TX
Nevermind JK n...@speakeasy.net wrote: Setting up my K3 for PSK 31 I noticed that there is a 12 Hz amplitude modulation with no connections made to the radio's audio inputs. Having never used PSK-31 I don't know enough to even be dangerous butIs this normal? Any advice is appreciated Thanks John __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 output buffer modification
James, What do you propose to measure a 50 uV signal with? If you have equipment that will measure levels that low, then well and good, but if you are expecting to see it on an oscilloscope or RF Probe, you may as well forget it. Recall that 50 uV is an S-9 level, and is -73 dBm which is a very low level to measure. There are power measurement devices that will detect levels that low, but most of the commercial ones are priced out of the range of amateurs. One that can be homebrewed and will measure levels down to -80 dBm is the W7ZOI design using the AD8307 Logarithmic Amplifier as the front end (see Experimental Methods in RF Design, Measurements chapter or the QST article from June 2001 p38ff). To calibrate it, one must have a known level source of RF at two different levels. Those with a calibrated HP8640 signal generator (or similar) will be able to calibrate that meter with no problem. For anyone considering building such an instrument, understand that it must be well shielded. Stray coupling into the meter will produce erroneous results. Mine is in a shielded enclosure with an internal battery, and even that is not enough, the front end circuits are shielded from the rest of the assembly. Yes, it can even measure the total signal level coming in from an antenna, so it is a good performer if properly calibrated and is a very sensitive detector. With the 40 dB Power Tap, it can accurately measure power levels up to +50 dBm (100 watts), and will work up to 500 MHz with careful construction. If you want accurate power measurements, consider building one, but you need access to a calibrated power source to calibrate it - calibrate at 10 MHz, 50 MHz, 144 MHz and 450 MHz so you have a good idea of the variation with frequency - there will be some variation. 73, Don W3FPR James Sarte wrote: Hmm... just out of curiosity, couldn't I measure the IF output using the XG2 signal generator set to 50uV? How strong does the signal have to be? I'll go ahead and check the junction voltage at R9 as you suggested. Mni tnx! James K2QI __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Contesting with logging software on a PC (not MAC)
At 01:08 PM 06/01/10, John, W1QS wrote: I'd use a basic mission critical PC with a 386/486 processor, DOS and CT to run the logging process without connection to the Internet during the contest. CT runs with the K3. The more recent contesting software might be ok but Windows is buggy and may crash during the event. Hi John, I've been using NA with an old celeron (sp). I've used it single radio and SO2R, rigs being K2/K2 and K3/K2. I built the switch box for SO2R, featured in the NA manual (all Radio Shack parts) Never a problem. No reboots or crashes. the beauty of the old machines is adding ports, serial and LPT with expansion cards. The SO2R box is a hands off operation, controlled by a few key strokes, Any questions, email me. Computers radio, older is better (for me anyway). John, k7up K3, K2's, K1 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 output buffer modification
Hi Don, I don't have anything that sensitive, so that's out. Perhaps I can borrow a spectrum analyzer from someone near me... or just wait for the P3 to come out. That's the only reason I performed the mod in the first place. BTW, thanks for the QST article info... will give that a read tonight. Cheers! James K2QI -Original Message- From: Don Wilhelm [mailto:w3...@embarqmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 6:37 PM To: James Sarte Cc: 'Elecraft' Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 output buffer modification James, What do you propose to measure a 50 uV signal with? If you have equipment that will measure levels that low, then well and good, but if you are expecting to see it on an oscilloscope or RF Probe, you may as well forget it. Recall that 50 uV is an S-9 level, and is -73 dBm which is a very low level to measure. There are power measurement devices that will detect levels that low, but most of the commercial ones are priced out of the range of amateurs. One that can be homebrewed and will measure levels down to -80 dBm is the W7ZOI design using the AD8307 Logarithmic Amplifier as the front end (see Experimental Methods in RF Design, Measurements chapter or the QST article from June 2001 p38ff). To calibrate it, one must have a known level source of RF at two different levels. Those with a calibrated HP8640 signal generator (or similar) will be able to calibrate that meter with no problem. For anyone considering building such an instrument, understand that it must be well shielded. Stray coupling into the meter will produce erroneous results. Mine is in a shielded enclosure with an internal battery, and even that is not enough, the front end circuits are shielded from the rest of the assembly. Yes, it can even measure the total signal level coming in from an antenna, so it is a good performer if properly calibrated and is a very sensitive detector. With the 40 dB Power Tap, it can accurately measure power levels up to +50 dBm (100 watts), and will work up to 500 MHz with careful construction. If you want accurate power measurements, consider building one, but you need access to a calibrated power source to calibrate it - calibrate at 10 MHz, 50 MHz, 144 MHz and 450 MHz so you have a good idea of the variation with frequency - there will be some variation. 73, Don W3FPR James Sarte wrote: Hmm... just out of curiosity, couldn't I measure the IF output using the XG2 signal generator set to 50uV? How strong does the signal have to be? I'll go ahead and check the junction voltage at R9 as you suggested. Mni tnx! James K2QI __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3: Thinking return to K3.
Unfortunately the price of the new FTDX-5000 in any of his versions will be far to reach by many of us but its a very promising radio,finally by first time Yaesu started using real roofing filters with 6 poles instead of the non efficient MCF,that surely will be a good radio to consider when thinking to buy a new one if you can afford it. AD4C For a refined ham it is compulsory to own a k3 --- On Wed, 1/6/10, Rubén Navarro Huedo runa...@gmail.com wrote: From: Rubén Navarro Huedo runa...@gmail.com Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3: Thinking return to K3. To: James Sarte k2qi@gmail.com Cc: Elecraft elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Wednesday, January 6, 2010, 1:10 PM Price range of Yaesu 5000 is very high for me. It will be around the same as Icom 7700. Rubén Navarro Huedo Enviado móvil / portable. El 06/01/2010, a las 13:30, James Sarte k2qi@gmail.com escribió: Just playing Devil's Advocate here, but don't forget about Yaesu's new FT-5000 as well. That's something in my opinion worth investigating once it hits dealer shelves. Vy 73 de James K2QI __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Contesting with logging software on a PC (not MAC)
John, I have to agree with Barry, but I will lower that $1k price by a lot. I have found that Windows 2000 and Windows XP are quite stable. No glitches and certainly no Blue Screen of Death on any computer worth it salt. Yes, Win95, Win 98, and Windows ME did have unstable quirks. Right now, one can obtain a very good computer in the 2.6 to 3.2 GB CPU speed range as an off-lease machine for $100 to $250 from TigerDirect (and possibly other dealers). I have bought several of the IBM off-lease computers from them in the last 2 years and have been very satisfied - most are loaded with Windows XP Pro, although some have XP Home and others come with no OS loaded (a real bargain for those interested in Linux Mint or Ubuntu). So I have to say to those hams who are clinging to their old 266 MHz computers running DOS or Windows 95 (98), that there is a limit to the misery that those old computers will create - for myself, I prefer to move up to at least Windows 2000. On my home network, I have 2 machines running Win2K, 3 running Win XP pro and 2 running Win XP Home, and have not had problems with any of them except for occasional hardware failures (power supplies, hard drives, and memory failures do happen on occasion), but the OS has been quite stable since Win 2K (OK, skip Vista which has its own problems with compatibility). I also provide support for our church network running 13 machines on a Peer to Peer network and the experience there has been similar - Win XP is stable (as is Win2k). Windows 7 may prove to be good, time will tell. Do go to Windows Update and keep the OS updated to the latest level (turn on Automatic Updates if you are on a broadband connection).. If you are slaved to some DOS applications, I highly recommend you stick with Windows 2000, it runs most DOS applications just fine - or do a dual boot with DOS 6.22 loaded. 73, Don W3FPR Barry N1EU wrote: I beg to differ with whatever input you've received John. A modern, powerful windows pc is a great investment for ~$1K. It's not going to crash during a contest, running any of the top Windows contest loggers and will give you loads of enjoyment the other 95% of the time. 73, Barry N1EU JOHN LAWRENCE wrote: I'm a return veteran contester with lots of wins using the old pencil log with a dupe sheet. I've tried various new programs attempting to gain a level of comfort so I might consider a serious entry into some contesting again. You should appreciate that I'd hate to feel the pain of getting part way into the contest and be delayed or loose my logs due to a computer freeze, lock out or reboot. For the past year I've been soliciting contest guru opinions and come away with conclusions based on inputs of the long term contersters from my past more active years. My conclusion has nothing to do with the suitability of the wonderful K3 as a radio for CW or SSB contesting. I'd use a basic mission critical PC with a 386/486 processor, DOS and CT to run the logging process without connection to the Internet during the contest. CT runs with the K3. The more recent contesting software might be ok but Windows is buggy and may crash during the event. Lets hope System 7 can be configured to offer mission critical reliability in the new PC platforms. Lastly, I find this to be mostly an off Elecraft topic. Happy New Year 73, John, W1QS __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K2 80m Scratch RX audio
Hey guys, I'm having a problem with my K2 and scratchy RX on receive audio. The problem exists with or without headphones and at any volume. I tried turning off AGC and it still was there and its on all strengths of signals (I have limited access to anything stronger than S3 or so due to antenna situation) I am using a 66' doublet in the attic fed with 300 ohm twinlead through the Elecraft 4:1 balun into the KAT2. I haven't noticed the noise on other bands, just 80m. Any ideas as to what may be causing this noise? I'll try to get a recording of it soon. Stay posted. TJ W0EA __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K2 RX Soundbite
Here's the recording of received audio on my K2, note the tone of the signal. Happens only on 80m. TJ W0EA __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K2 Soundbite
might want to include the link: http://www.imagecabin.com/?view=26282404903dba394a8304548 TJ W0EA __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K2 80m Scratch RX audio
TJ, Since it is only present on 80 meters, I suspect it is not really coming from the K2 (But I could be proven wrong). Try listening when the K2 is connected to a dummy load. If the scratchiness is still present, blame it on the K2 (and we can help track it down). But if it is only present when the antenna is connected, you will have to figure out which of your neighbors (or your own household) is creating the RF interference. 73, Don W3FPR Tom Campie wrote: Hey guys, I'm having a problem with my K2 and scratchy RX on receive audio. The problem exists with or without headphones and at any volume. I tried turning off AGC and it still was there and its on all strengths of signals (I have limited access to anything stronger than S3 or so due to antenna situation) I am using a 66' doublet in the attic fed with 300 ohm twinlead through the Elecraft 4:1 balun into the KAT2. I haven't noticed the noise on other bands, just 80m. Any ideas as to what may be causing this noise? I'll try to get a recording of it soon. Stay posted. TJ W0EA __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] Roofing filter for sale
I just replaced my one year old INRAD roofing filter of 8 poles for 2.1 Khz bandwith for another from same company,same poles but for 1.8Khz,so now the 2.1 filter is available for sale,original cost is $129 at Elecraft,I will ship this one to anywhere CONUS for $70 AD4C For a refined ham it is compulsory to own a k3 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K2 Soundbite
Tom Campie wrote: might want to include the link: http://www.imagecabin.com/?view=26282404903dba394a8304548 I hear two things: a roughness in the signal and a buzzing when it exceeds a certain loudness. The roughness might be caused by the NB, if it's on and if there's a pulse noise that it's blanking. The buzzing is something else...is this being recorded from the speaker? If so, I'd suspect that the frame is warped and the voice coil is rubbing the magnet. Of course, neither of these might fit... -- 73, Vic, K2VCO Fresno CA http://www.qsl.net/k2vco __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] K3: Thinking return to K3.
...the FT-5000 will make a much better boat anchor than the K3... Dick K8ZTT That's a really good point, Dick. I heard once-- don't know how true this is-- that while steel is plentiful in Japan aluminum is not and is too expensive to use in a radio chassis. Hence, most Japanese radios are made out of steel. This makes them way heavier but a nice side effect is that the magnetic shielding of steel is much better than aluminum, so Japanese radios aren't so susceptible to low frequency magnetic fields like from a power supply transformer. Most hams misinterpret the weight advantage of the typical Japanese radio to mean that there's more stuff inside. :^) Give me a light radio any day over one that, like you say, needs a blocktackle to carry from floor to table. Al W6LX __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] New K3 owner - and why
I built a K1 several years ago and like you would expect me to say I was impressed with everything about the rig, building it, the documentation, support, etc. For the past 13 years the 1000MP has been my main home station rig. Last year in Dayton I stopped by the Elecraft booth just to turn some knobs since I didn't have the cash to get a K3 at the time. Eric was there and gave me a great demo of the receiver. He had a little keyed interferer and showed me how close he could get it to a desired signal - impressive. How great it was to get to spend a few minutes not with some marketing guy, or a hired girl handing out caps (although I always get one, figured I deserve it because after all I DO own some of their rigs), but with the designer of the rig who not only designs it but stands 100% behind it. I told Eric then that it was not a question of whether I would get a K3 but when. So, that time is now, and mine is on its way, somewhere out in the midwest on a UPS truck heading for NJ. So Eric, I just want you to know that not only did I just order mine but my friend who was with me at the time already got his. A lot of us believe in what you are doing. Service DOES matter. I'm looking forward to getting my new 10 watter on the air, and getting my feet wet, and hopefully being able to contribute something positive to the reflector from time to time Rick K2XT _ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390706/direct/01/ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] KAT3 L10 burned [likely cause, and what to do]
I certainly hope that this modified algorithm will not prevent me from using my inverted vee (fed with ladder line) on some bands. My trap hasn't fried (a year and a half), and I'd rather replace it repeatedly--or bypass it--than be forced off some bands. I'm surprised that it's at the output rather than at the input of the KAT3. 73, Paul W8TM K3 #1322 Wayne N6KR sed: As a precaution, I will also be modifying the ATU matching algorithm so that it catches this case, preventing excessive reflected power that could damage the trap. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] New K3 owner - and why
Rick, You have already contributed something positive to the reflector. Enjoy you new K3 and let us know your experience with it. 73, Don W3FPR Rick Stealey wrote: I built a K1 several years ago and like you would expect me to say I was impressed with everything about the rig, building it, the documentation, support, etc. For the past 13 years the 1000MP has been my main home station rig. Last year in Dayton I stopped by the Elecraft booth just to turn some knobs since I didn't have the cash to get a K3 at the time. Eric was there and gave me a great demo of the receiver. He had a little keyed interferer and showed me how close he could get it to a desired signal - impressive. How great it was to get to spend a few minutes not with some marketing guy, or a hired girl handing out caps (although I always get one, figured I deserve it because after all I DO own some of their rigs), but with the designer of the rig who not only designs it but stands 100% behind it. I told Eric then that it was not a question of whether I would get a K3 but when. So, that time is now, and mine is on its way, somewhere out in the midwest on a UPS truck heading for NJ. So Eric, I just want you to know that not only did I just order mine but my friend who was with me at the time already got his. A lot of us believe in what you are doing. Service DOES matter. I'm looking forward to getting my new 10 watter on the air, and getting my feet wet, and hopefully being able to contribute something positive to the reflector from time to time Rick K2XT __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] Noise Blankers
I'm overdue for a new radio (at least, that's what I am telling my XYL). In considering the purchase, unfortunately one of the major considerations I must take into account is the noise blanker function. I have recently moved to an area with A LOT of power line noise. I have high voltage lines around my immediate QTH. It is a constant S3 to S5 on all bands above 7 MHz and, sometimes on really cold mornings, a seperate, additional noise kicks in that takes it to S9 or more. I am trying to locate these noise sources but have been unable to so far. I must run the noise blanker on my old TS-850s at all times to help me manage this problem. With the NB engaged (which is 'always') I have audio distortion created from nearby signals, especially stronger signals within 30 kc's of my receive frequency, no matter at what level I run either of the noise blankers. I would like to hear from K3 owners who might have 'line noise problems' and know how the noise blanker in your K3 handles the problem. Mni Tnx / 73 K4NA _ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390710/direct/01/ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Noise Blankers
Hi Tom, You'll get a lot of opinions on noise blankers, I suspect :) Here's my 2 cents: The K3's combination of two noise blankers -- one at the 1st IF and one at the DSP -- can work wonders on all sorts of noise. But it's especially good with power-line noise (loads of that at my QTH). The K3 doesn't pre-filter down to 15 kHz, which means the sharp pulse rise-times are preseved. This means you can typically keep the IF blanker's threshold very high, minimizing the type of IMD that all IF blankers cause. The DSP blanker is icing on the cake, especially if you also have complex noise like that from switching supplies, etc. (stuff that drifts a lot). That said, I suggest you borrow a K3 and try it at your QTH. We can find a nearby K3 owner for you, or you can ask on the reflector. Good luck with whatever rig you choose, and don't hesitate to post further questions. 73, Wayne N6KR On Jan 6, 2010, at 5:38 PM, Tom Bickley wrote: I'm overdue for a new radio (at least, that's what I am telling my XYL). In considering the purchase, unfortunately one of the major considerations I must take into account is the noise blanker function. I have recently moved to an area with A LOT of power line noise. I have high voltage lines around my immediate QTH. It is a constant S3 to S5 on all bands above 7 MHz and, sometimes on really cold mornings, a seperate, additional noise kicks in that takes it to S9 or more. I am trying to locate these noise sources but have been unable to so far. I must run the noise blanker on my old TS-850s at all times to help me manage this problem. With the NB engaged (which is 'always') I have audio distortion created from nearby signals, especially stronger signals within 30 kc's of my receive frequency, no matter at what level I run either of the noise blankers. I would like to hear from K3 owners who might have 'line noise problems' and know how the noise blanker in your K3 handles the problem. Mni Tnx / 73 K4NA _ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390710/direct/01/ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Noise Blankers
The K3 blankers have a considerable range of adjustability of both the blanking threshold with seven steps, and the blanking pulse width with three steps, with independent settings for hardware blanking and dsp blanking. Hopefully, you can find a setting that will work without excess distortion but that may not always be the case if the noise is relatively low and the inband signals are not. There is a learning curve. Blanker effectiveness was one of my criteria for selecting the K3. 73, Dunc, W5DC Tom Bickley wrote: I'm overdue for a new radio (at least, that's what I am telling my XYL). In considering the purchase, unfortunately one of the major considerations I must take into account is the noise blanker function. I have recently moved to an area with A LOT of power line noise. I have high voltage lines around my immediate QTH. It is a constant S3 to S5 on all bands above 7 MHz and, sometimes on really cold mornings, a seperate, additional noise kicks in that takes it to S9 or more. I am trying to locate these noise sources but have been unable to so far. I must run the noise blanker on my old TS-850s at all times to help me manage this problem. With the NB engaged (which is 'always') I have audio distortion created from nearby signals, especially stronger signals within 30 kc's of my receive frequency, no matter at what level I run either of the noise blankers. I would like to hear from K3 owners who might have 'line noise problems' and know how the noise blanker in your K3 handles the problem. Mni Tnx / 73 K4NA _ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390710/direct/01/ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 IF output
Hi Dave, I'll see what I can do to borrow another receiver. Otherwise, your Softrock suggestion seems perfect. As for the chipped resistor; I seem to have taken a very small bit off the surface at one corner. It's the black material with the value etched on top of it. I guess the edge of my screwdriver chipped it off when I was attempting to hold it down. I'm surprised it chipped so easily as I did my best not to apply too much pressure. After soldering, I did test resistance however, and got a reading of 13.4 k ohms. That seems to be within a 5% amount of variance. I don't know what the tolerance range is for this part though. Should I replace this resistor with another, or use the leaded one included with the kit? Mni tnx es 73 James K2QI _ From: G3TJP [mailto:g3...@lanks.plus.com] Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 8:33 PM To: k2qi@gmail.com Subject: K3 IF output I've been following your adventures re the mod to the IF output of the K3. First of all, the signal present at the IF output is at the microvolt level - pretty much a signal level that you'd expect to come from an antenna. Rather than borrow a spectrum analyser, which may be quite difficult to organise, why not borrow a receiver? A spare rx. is of immense value. If you can borrow a rx., connect its antenna input to the IF output, tune the rx to 8.215MHz and then apply your 50uV signal to the K3 and tune it in, first on the K3 and then on the borrowed Rx. You should hear it tune in on both receivers - the K3 and the loan radio, although the IF on the K3 isn't necessarily spot on 8.215MHz. You can tune the borrowed Rx across the K3's IF bandwidth, so there you have it, the borrowed receiver is an aural spectrum analyser. If you can't borrow a Rx., you could build one of the softrock software defined radio modules that's designed for the K3 IF and use that with a computer and free SDR software to listen to the K3's IF. If you were troubled by the Softrock's oscillator feedthrough, one of Jack Smith's Clifton Laboratories Z1 buffer amps would help. Hey, if you build them both, you have the structure for a panadapter using Rocky software and a high quality soundcard in your computer. I've built one and it works just fine, but I haven't yet figured out how to do point and click on the frequency display to control the K3's tuning HI! The two kits I've mentioned are cheap! One's around $15 and the other's around $25, IIRC. They will be a good intro into the world of SDR. It's generally not a good thing to chip a bit off an SMT component. Resistors are normally tiny bricks of ceramic that have a resistive coating applied on one side (usually the top). This is then whittled to the required resistance by laser action. The conductive ends are then sputtered onto the chip. The surface of the laser-cut resistive element is then epoxy coated for protection. The secret of SMT wrangling is to pin the little down using vertical pressure. My SMT pinning rig consists of a bent wire coathanger to form a base with an arch (with kinks in it) until the last bit, which points downwards. To that end, I fix a cocktail stick (they're nice because the tip doesn't usually skid on the SMT's surface, but you do get through quite a few cocktail sticks HI! The kinks are there to hold a couple of fishing weights in place to provide downward pressure. To join the stick to the mutilated coathanger, I use the insert from a choc-block connector. One screw holds onto the coathanger and the other holds onto the cocktail stick. It all boils down to having a means of applying pure vertical pressure on the component you intend attaching. For simple SMT rework involving removal of a component, Google Chipquik. Brilliant stuff if you follow the instructions. They do free samples, so if you're frugal with it, a free sample will last a long time! There you go, I hope there's something in the above that is of help to you. 73 DaveL G3TJP __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Noise Blankers
Hi Tom, Well, I have a K3 noise blanker story for you. About two months ago, I suddenly had an S9+20 line noise problem around here. I knew it was some type of failed Edison equipment, or maybe something at a residence. It was loud enough to hear with a stubby for ANT1, and on 80m through 30m under any conditions. I had to diddle the K3's noise blanker a bit to get it dialed in right, but I finally killed the crud on the Main and Sub receivers. There was a residual amount of distortion; I had never run the NB this aggressively before - never had to. However, effectively the noise was blanked down to S7 or so on 40m where it was the worst. And it made 80m usable again on CW... In a few days, an Edison power quality tech came out and located the noise source. Some customer-owned (but unused) transformers on a citrus farm a few blocks from us had open primaries. He had the feed to them disconnected and notified the owner that they needed to be replaced (they weren't working anyway). These transformers were used to power irrigation pumps, so the owner got the problem cleared up right away. I was completely amazed how well the NB works under very difficult conditions. May no one else have to find out how well this feature works in the same way or for a similar reason. 73, matt W6NIA K3 #24 K2 #2810 Except for being a paying customer, I have no formal affiliation with Elecraft. On Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:38:35 +, you wrote: I'm overdue for a new radio (at least, that's what I am telling my XYL). In considering the purchase, unfortunately one of the major considerations I must take into account is the noise blanker function. I have recently moved to an area with A LOT of power line noise. I have high voltage lines around my immediate QTH. It is a constant S3 to S5 on all bands above 7 MHz and, sometimes on really cold mornings, a seperate, additional noise kicks in that takes it to S9 or more. I am trying to locate these noise sources but have been unable to so far. I must run the noise blanker on my old TS-850s at all times to help me manage this problem. With the NB engaged (which is 'always') I have audio distortion created from nearby signals, especially stronger signals within 30 kc's of my receive frequency, no matter at what level I run either of the noise blankers. I would like to hear from K3 owners who might have 'line noise problems' and know how the noise blanker in your K3 handles the problem. Mni Tnx / 73 K4NA _ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390710/direct/01/ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K3 Firmware update question - k3fw3r68
Hi, I started the K3 utility and port 3 is connected at 38400 bps. I just downloaded the most recent beta firmware, unzipped k3fw3r68.rar, deleted the current filed from the beta folder, copied the new files to the beta folder and assured it was the same folder the utility was pointing at. When I tell the utility to send all files to the K3 I get the following contents in a pop up window. --- MCU firmware file hmcu0368.hex verified Sending firmware file hmcu0368.hex to MCU Send MCU firmware failed at load address x0800 MCU firmware load failed --- When I first looked at the utility it said I had version MCU 3.67 when I look at the utility now I see nothing Installed in the Installed in K3 column. Turning the radio off on I checked the version showing in the K3 it shows uC 03.67. Trying again to update I get the same message as above. Any suggestions of what need to do differently? Thanks 73, Gary KA1J __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K3 Calibration and Configuration: Reference Oscillator
Gang, I am in that part of the K3 calibration and configuration steps called Reference Oscillator in the Owner's Manual (page 50). And, I am confused. There is an errata sheet that says that the K3 Utility has an added TXCO calibration data entry screen but I do not find it on my running version of the K3 Utility. I just downloaded this version of the K3 utility tonight. Also, the errata sheet goes on to say that the calibration information entered using the K3 utility is not yet used by the K3 firmware. Now, give this fact, does this mean, that the calibration procedure described as Method 3 on page 50 of the owner's manual is not available to me. If I can't use method 3 then I presume that I must rely on method 1 or 2 and since I do not have a frequency counter with the +1/-1 Hz accuracy then I would have to use method 2. Is this true? Thanks for the help. 73, phil, K7PEH Brand new K3 serial number 3799. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Contesting with logging software on a PC (not MAC)
Hi John, Welcome back to contesting :) I have run a fair amount of 24-44 hour tests in the past few years running a 5 year old XP box, N1MM and a pair of K3's in SO2R without incident. The XP box that I use is not used very much and my daily workstation is a Mac. Actually the PC is tiny Dell dual core that I picked up from ebay for $200. One thing I would recommend is to run your log/db on a USB flash based device, this way if your PC decides to act up or even worse the drive dies then your log will be safe. This also allows you to quickly move the file to a backup machine. Remember the box only needs to handle a few tasks during a short 48 hour period, yes murphy can strike and sometimes its PC's and not Radio's :) There are also a few other technologies other then the flash drive approach, you can get a free 2GB account from http://www.dropbox.com and point your log to your dropbox folder and it will backup into the ether in real-time and you can even have the same dropbox folder on a backup PC ready to go. All kinds of options today for a relatively trouble free windoze contesting experience ;) Hope this helps and good luck! Lee WW2DX.com On Jan 6, 2010, at 3:08 PM, John Lawrence wrote: I'm a return veteran contester with lots of wins using the old pencil log with a dupe sheet. I've tried various new programs attempting to gain a level of comfort so I might consider a serious entry into some contesting again. You should appreciate that I'd hate to feel the pain of getting part way into the contest and be delayed or loose my logs due to a computer freeze, lock out or reboot. For the past year I've been soliciting contest guru opinions and come away with conclusions based on inputs of the long term contersters from my past more active years. My conclusion has nothing to do with the suitability of the wonderful K3 as a radio for CW or SSB contesting. I'd use a basic mission critical PC with a 386/486 processor, DOS and CT to run the logging process without connection to the Internet during the contest. CT runs with the K3. The more recent contesting software might be ok but Windows is buggy and may crash during the event. Lets hope System 7 can be configured to offer mission critical reliability in the new PC platforms. Lastly, I find this to be mostly an off Elecraft topic. Happy New Year 73, John, W1QS K3 s/n 2274, K2 s/n 4204 mission critical = power supply with extra wattage, two hard drives with less than 10,000 hrs, shadow write utility and clean fan/filter __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Calibration and Configuration: Reference Oscillator
The Mac version of the K3 Utility doesn't yet have the means to enter the TCXO data. The Windows version of the K3 Utility does. The K3 MCU doesn't yet USE this data for anything, so it's not urgent that you enter it. W4SMT, the author of the Mac version of the K3 Utility, plans to add this capability in the near future. Method 3 is not yet available. 73 de Dick, K6KR -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Phil Hystad Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 6:37 PM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Calibration and Configuration: Reference Oscillator Gang, I am in that part of the K3 calibration and configuration steps called Reference Oscillator in the Owner's Manual (page 50). And, I am confused. There is an errata sheet that says that the K3 Utility has an added TXCO calibration data entry screen but I do not find it on my running version of the K3 Utility. I just downloaded this version of the K3 utility tonight. Also, the errata sheet goes on to say that the calibration information entered using the K3 utility is not yet used by the K3 firmware. Now, give this fact, does this mean, that the calibration procedure described as Method 3 on page 50 of the owner's manual is not available to me. If I can't use method 3 then I presume that I must rely on method 1 or 2 and since I do not have a frequency counter with the +1/-1 Hz accuracy then I would have to use method 2. Is this true? Thanks for the help. 73, phil, K7PEH Brand new K3 serial number 3799. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Calibration and Configuration: Reference Oscillator
Thanks. I actually would be using my Mac but since I was not sure if the Mac was as up to date with the K3 utility I decided to use my Windows laptop after I dusted it off and booted it up. I am going to use WWV tomorrow when I can get a good 15 MHz WWV signal. No luck on trying that tonight. I do copy the 5 MHz WWV signal pretty well but the owner's manual says to use the highest frequency for best accuracy. However, I must not have the latest version of the K3 utility even though I downloaded it tonight. Did I download the wrong version. Here let me check. I have version 1.2.12.28. 73, phil, K7PEH On Jan 6, 2010, at 6:53 PM, Dick Dievendorff wrote: The Mac version of the K3 Utility doesn't yet have the means to enter the TCXO data. The Windows version of the K3 Utility does. The K3 MCU doesn't yet USE this data for anything, so it's not urgent that you enter it. W4SMT, the author of the Mac version of the K3 Utility, plans to add this capability in the near future. Method 3 is not yet available. 73 de Dick, K6KR -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Phil Hystad Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 6:37 PM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Calibration and Configuration: Reference Oscillator Gang, I am in that part of the K3 calibration and configuration steps called Reference Oscillator in the Owner's Manual (page 50). And, I am confused. There is an errata sheet that says that the K3 Utility has an added TXCO calibration data entry screen but I do not find it on my running version of the K3 Utility. I just downloaded this version of the K3 utility tonight. Also, the errata sheet goes on to say that the calibration information entered using the K3 utility is not yet used by the K3 firmware. Now, give this fact, does this mean, that the calibration procedure described as Method 3 on page 50 of the owner's manual is not available to me. If I can't use method 3 then I presume that I must rely on method 1 or 2 and since I do not have a frequency counter with the +1/-1 Hz accuracy then I would have to use method 2. Is this true? Thanks for the help. 73, phil, K7PEH Brand new K3 serial number 3799. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Calibration and Configuration: Reference Oscillator
Phil, Your assumptions are correct - all of that is true. Use Method 2. The typical 1ppm TCXO provides the speced temperature stability of .5ppm, so the specification is met even though the temperature compensation is not available. Wayne is working on an algorithm that will provide .25 ppm stability with the temperature compensation, so if you wait a while, you will have better than speced stability. In the meantime. K3 Utility has provided a way to enter the 1ppm TCXO into the K3 data tables. Nothing is done with that data presently - it must wait for Method 3 to be available in the firmware. 73, Don W3FPR Phil Hystad wrote: Gang, I am in that part of the K3 calibration and configuration steps called Reference Oscillator in the Owner's Manual (page 50). And, I am confused. There is an errata sheet that says that the K3 Utility has an added TXCO calibration data entry screen but I do not find it on my running version of the K3 Utility. I just downloaded this version of the K3 utility tonight. Also, the errata sheet goes on to say that the calibration information entered using the K3 utility is not yet used by the K3 firmware. Now, give this fact, does this mean, that the calibration procedure described as Method 3 on page 50 of the owner's manual is not available to me. If I can't use method 3 then I presume that I must rely on method 1 or 2 and since I do not have a frequency counter with the +1/-1 Hz accuracy then I would have to use method 2. Is this true? Thanks for the help. 73, phil, K7PEH Brand new K3 serial number 3799. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K3 2.1 Roofing Filter
I'm interested in the 2.1 Inrad roofing filter. Please let me know if it's still available and how I may pay for it. 73, Ron, KØTC Please reply to: roncarlo...@msn.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] Macro Question
I am probably missing something somewhere, but how does somebody with a bad memory know where the various macros he developed were assigned? I understand that under the CONFIG/MACRO setting is where you can assign the macro, but the key number or name is not displayed there - only FUNCTION and the macro number you are working with at the particular time of assignment. And in the K3 utility, there is no assignment of the macros, so the K3 Utility seems to have no clue as to where you put the macro either. What am I missing here? MNI TNX and VY 73, Lance -- Lance Collister, W7GJ (ex: WN3GPL, WA3GPL, WA1JXN, WA1JXN/C6A, ZF2OC/ZF8, E51SIX) P.O. Box 73 Frenchtown, MT 59834 USA QTH: DN27UB TEL: (406) 626-5728 URL: http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj 2m DXCC #11/6m DXCC #815 Interested in 6m EME? Ask me about subscribing to the MAGIC BAND EME email reflector! __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Contesting with logging software on a PC (not MAC)
One thing I would recommend is to run your log/db on a USB flash based device, this way if your PC decides to act up or even worse the drive dies then your log will be safe. Errr, not if the flash drive dies, unless you meant to use the flash as a backup. With no moving parts, flash drives are probably more reliable than conventional hard drives but they are not immortal and are only rated for so many read/write operations. Also *all* your local drives of whatever type may go up in flames if the PC or shack catches fire, or someone may steal the lot There are also a few other technologies other then the flash drive approach, you can get a free 2GB account from http://www.dropbox.com and point your log to your dropbox folder and it will backup into the ether in real-time and you can even have the same dropbox folder on a backup PC ready to go. That's the better option - an offsite backup - if used as a backup, in other words again not the only copy. The online file systems are fine if you have a sufficiently fast and reliable Internet connection, but again I would advise sending backups off-site and retaining one or more local copies of your log as well, just in case the organization running the offsite system has a technical fault, or deletes the files, or whatever (trust me: it happens). You can also take occasional offline log backups onto CD-ROM, or yet another flash drive, that you physically remove from the machine and place elsewhere in safe storage, far enough away from the shack not to be caught in the same fire/burglary/whatever. If that's all too much effort, at least consider uploading your log regularly to Logbook of the World. LoTW is a 'last resort' backup since it only stores the minimal amount of info on each QSO, but at least it is possible to retrieve the basic QSO data if you have no other choice. This has a useful side effect of increasing usage of LoTW! 73 Gary ZL2iFB PS This applies equally to Macs and PCs. And PDAs. Even paper logbooks are both valuable and flammable! __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Calibration and Configuration: Reference Oscillator
On the Calibration page of the version you have, there should be a button labeled Enter TCXO Data... That's the one... Dick, K6KR -Original Message- From: Phil Hystad [mailto:k7...@comcast.net] Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 7:02 PM To: Dick Dievendorff Cc: 'Elecraft Reflector' Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Calibration and Configuration: Reference Oscillator Thanks. I actually would be using my Mac but since I was not sure if the Mac was as up to date with the K3 utility I decided to use my Windows laptop after I dusted it off and booted it up. I am going to use WWV tomorrow when I can get a good 15 MHz WWV signal. No luck on trying that tonight. I do copy the 5 MHz WWV signal pretty well but the owner's manual says to use the highest frequency for best accuracy. However, I must not have the latest version of the K3 utility even though I downloaded it tonight. Did I download the wrong version. Here let me check. I have version 1.2.12.28. 73, phil, K7PEH On Jan 6, 2010, at 6:53 PM, Dick Dievendorff wrote: The Mac version of the K3 Utility doesn't yet have the means to enter the TCXO data. The Windows version of the K3 Utility does. The K3 MCU doesn't yet USE this data for anything, so it's not urgent that you enter it. W4SMT, the author of the Mac version of the K3 Utility, plans to add this capability in the near future. Method 3 is not yet available. 73 de Dick, K6KR -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Phil Hystad Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 6:37 PM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Calibration and Configuration: Reference Oscillator Gang, I am in that part of the K3 calibration and configuration steps called Reference Oscillator in the Owner's Manual (page 50). And, I am confused. There is an errata sheet that says that the K3 Utility has an added TXCO calibration data entry screen but I do not find it on my running version of the K3 Utility. I just downloaded this version of the K3 utility tonight. Also, the errata sheet goes on to say that the calibration information entered using the K3 utility is not yet used by the K3 firmware. Now, give this fact, does this mean, that the calibration procedure described as Method 3 on page 50 of the owner's manual is not available to me. If I can't use method 3 then I presume that I must rely on method 1 or 2 and since I do not have a frequency counter with the +1/-1 Hz accuracy then I would have to use method 2. Is this true? Thanks for the help. 73, phil, K7PEH Brand new K3 serial number 3799. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Calibration and Configuration: Reference Oscillator
Dick, Thanks. I see why I went astray. The owner's manual lead me astray. Method 3 is documented as Run K3 Utility and click on the Configuration tab. Follow the on-screen instructions to enter your calibration data. And, that is what I did. But, the owner's manual should have said to click on the Calibration tab and then select the Enter TCXO Data 73,phil,K7PEH On Jan 6, 2010, at 7:09 PM, Dick Dievendorff wrote: On the Calibration page of the version you have, there should be a button labeled Enter TCXO Data... That's the one... Dick, K6KR -Original Message- From: Phil Hystad [mailto:k7...@comcast.net] Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 7:02 PM To: Dick Dievendorff Cc: 'Elecraft Reflector' Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Calibration and Configuration: Reference Oscillator Thanks. I actually would be using my Mac but since I was not sure if the Mac was as up to date with the K3 utility I decided to use my Windows laptop after I dusted it off and booted it up. I am going to use WWV tomorrow when I can get a good 15 MHz WWV signal. No luck on trying that tonight. I do copy the 5 MHz WWV signal pretty well but the owner's manual says to use the highest frequency for best accuracy. However, I must not have the latest version of the K3 utility even though I downloaded it tonight. Did I download the wrong version. Here let me check. I have version 1.2.12.28. 73, phil, K7PEH On Jan 6, 2010, at 6:53 PM, Dick Dievendorff wrote: The Mac version of the K3 Utility doesn't yet have the means to enter the TCXO data. The Windows version of the K3 Utility does. The K3 MCU doesn't yet USE this data for anything, so it's not urgent that you enter it. W4SMT, the author of the Mac version of the K3 Utility, plans to add this capability in the near future. Method 3 is not yet available. 73 de Dick, K6KR -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Phil Hystad Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 6:37 PM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Calibration and Configuration: Reference Oscillator Gang, I am in that part of the K3 calibration and configuration steps called Reference Oscillator in the Owner's Manual (page 50). And, I am confused. There is an errata sheet that says that the K3 Utility has an added TXCO calibration data entry screen but I do not find it on my running version of the K3 Utility. I just downloaded this version of the K3 utility tonight. Also, the errata sheet goes on to say that the calibration information entered using the K3 utility is not yet used by the K3 firmware. Now, give this fact, does this mean, that the calibration procedure described as Method 3 on page 50 of the owner's manual is not available to me. If I can't use method 3 then I presume that I must rely on method 1 or 2 and since I do not have a frequency counter with the +1/-1 Hz accuracy then I would have to use method 2. Is this true? Thanks for the help. 73, phil, K7PEH Brand new K3 serial number 3799. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Calibration and Configuration: Reference Oscillator
I split the K3 Utility Configuration tab into two tabs after the owner's manual was written. There were too many concepts on one tab page. The K3 Utility does have a Help file and it's indexed. The main Help page has an overview of what's available, and it mentions Enter temperature calibration data for your KTCXO-3... The K3 firmware and K3 Utility are frequently updated. The owner's manual sometimes lags... 73 de Dick, K6KR -Original Message- From: Phil Hystad [mailto:k7...@comcast.net] Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 7:13 PM To: Dick Dievendorff Cc: 'Elecraft Reflector' Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Calibration and Configuration: Reference Oscillator Dick, Thanks. I see why I went astray. The owner's manual lead me astray. Method 3 is documented as Run K3 Utility and click on the Configuration tab. Follow the on-screen instructions to enter your calibration data. And, that is what I did. But, the owner's manual should have said to click on the Calibration tab and then select the Enter TCXO Data 73,phil,K7PEH On Jan 6, 2010, at 7:09 PM, Dick Dievendorff wrote: On the Calibration page of the version you have, there should be a button labeled Enter TCXO Data... That's the one... Dick, K6KR -Original Message- From: Phil Hystad [mailto:k7...@comcast.net] Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 7:02 PM To: Dick Dievendorff Cc: 'Elecraft Reflector' Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Calibration and Configuration: Reference Oscillator Thanks. I actually would be using my Mac but since I was not sure if the Mac was as up to date with the K3 utility I decided to use my Windows laptop after I dusted it off and booted it up. I am going to use WWV tomorrow when I can get a good 15 MHz WWV signal. No luck on trying that tonight. I do copy the 5 MHz WWV signal pretty well but the owner's manual says to use the highest frequency for best accuracy. However, I must not have the latest version of the K3 utility even though I downloaded it tonight. Did I download the wrong version. Here let me check. I have version 1.2.12.28. 73, phil, K7PEH On Jan 6, 2010, at 6:53 PM, Dick Dievendorff wrote: The Mac version of the K3 Utility doesn't yet have the means to enter the TCXO data. The Windows version of the K3 Utility does. The K3 MCU doesn't yet USE this data for anything, so it's not urgent that you enter it. W4SMT, the author of the Mac version of the K3 Utility, plans to add this capability in the near future. Method 3 is not yet available. 73 de Dick, K6KR -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Phil Hystad Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 6:37 PM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Calibration and Configuration: Reference Oscillator Gang, I am in that part of the K3 calibration and configuration steps called Reference Oscillator in the Owner's Manual (page 50). And, I am confused. There is an errata sheet that says that the K3 Utility has an added TXCO calibration data entry screen but I do not find it on my running version of the K3 Utility. I just downloaded this version of the K3 utility tonight. Also, the errata sheet goes on to say that the calibration information entered using the K3 utility is not yet used by the K3 firmware. Now, give this fact, does this mean, that the calibration procedure described as Method 3 on page 50 of the owner's manual is not available to me. If I can't use method 3 then I presume that I must rely on method 1 or 2 and since I do not have a frequency counter with the +1/-1 Hz accuracy then I would have to use method 2. Is this true? Thanks for the help. 73, phil, K7PEH Brand new K3 serial number 3799. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Contesting with logging software on a PC (not MAC)
On Jan 6, 2010, at 10:08 PM, Gary Hinson wrote: One thing I would recommend is to run your log/db on a USB flash based device, this way if your PC decides to act up or even worse the drive dies then your log will be safe. Errr, not if the flash drive dies, unless you meant to use the flash as a backup. With no moving parts, flash drives are probably more reliable than conventional hard drives but they are not immortal and are only rated for so many read/write operations. Also *all* your local drives of whatever type may go up in flames if the PC or shack catches fire, or someone may steal the lot Hi Gary, No actually I meant use the flash for the actual live log. Flash based drives are far more reliable then traditional platters. Flash has a life expectancy for ~10K read/writes far less then what would be used in a 24hr contest :) I have had many platter drives fail in my career and as of to date never had a flash device fail (knocking on wood). There are also a few other technologies other then the flash drive approach, you can get a free 2GB account from http://www.dropbox.com and point your log to your dropbox folder and it will backup into the ether in real-time and you can even have the same dropbox folder on a backup PC ready to go. That's the better option - an offsite backup - if used as a backup, in other words again not the only copy. The online file systems are fine if you have a sufficiently fast and reliable Internet connection, but again I would advise sending backups off-site and retaining one or more local copies of your log as well, just in case the organization running the offsite system has a technical fault, or deletes the files, or whatever (trust me: it happens). I am also a huge believer in off-site backups as well, we are seeing newer technologies like dropbox where it acts more like a local drive then a backup device. I use that service to create corporate wide shared folders across large geographical locations and its been very reliable. You can also take occasional offline log backups onto CD-ROM, or yet another flash drive, that you physically remove from the machine and place elsewhere in safe storage, far enough away from the shack not to be caught in the same fire/burglary/whatever. If that's all too much effort, at least consider uploading your log regularly to Logbook of the World. LoTW is a 'last resort' backup since it only stores the minimal amount of info on each QSO, but at least it is possible to retrieve the basic QSO data if you have no other choice. This has a useful side effect of increasing usage of LoTW! I don't want to wander off topic here, but John was specific about contesting scenarios and I think we have him covered :) Also, does LOTW allow for restoring your log? I thought they once frowned upon that at one time. 73 Lee WW2DX 73 Gary ZL2iFB PS This applies equally to Macs and PCs. And PDAs. Even paper logbooks are both valuable and flammable! __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Firmware update question - k3fw3r68
On 6 Jan 2010 at 21:24, Gary Smith wrote: Out of curiosity I looked at some of the other tabs on the K3 utility like configuration calibration. All the buttons there were greyed out. I went back to the Ports tab deselected port 3 as mentioned below told it to select port 6 and then it recognized the existing version said 4800 bps instead of 38400 bps I again tried to have the utility update the new firmware and it did so as expected. Interesting but it's worth remembering if someone encounters this issue themselves. Cheers, Gary KA1J Hi, I started the K3 utility and port 3 is connected at 38400 bps. I just downloaded the most recent beta firmware, unzipped k3fw3r68.rar, deleted the current filed from the beta folder, copied the new files to the beta folder and assured it was the same folder the utility was pointing at. When I tell the utility to send all files to the K3 I get the following contents in a pop up window. --- MCU firmware file hmcu0368.hex verified Sending firmware file hmcu0368.hex to MCU Send MCU firmware failed at load address x0800 MCU firmware load failed --- When I first looked at the utility it said I had version MCU 3.67 when I look at the utility now I see nothing Installed in the Installed in K3 column. Turning the radio off on I checked the version showing in the K3 it shows uC 03.67. Trying again to update I get the same message as above. Any suggestions of what need to do differently? Thanks 73, Gary KA1J __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] Three Recordings
Delete this message now if you are sick and tired of hearing about noisy receivers. I have made three recordings of three different receivers tuned to 40 meter band noise, all with CW bandwidth of (nominally) 500 Hz centered near 550 Hz sidetone, all with the RF gain full up. One of the three is a K3. If you care to listen to them and then report back with which one you think is the K3, I would be most interested in hearing from you. The files are available at Hector's web site at the following link: http://www.ad4c.us/Elecraft%20K3/shared%20files%20from%20K3%20users/W6LX%20recordings_/ and are called, #1.wav, #2.wav and #3.wav. (Thanks very much, Hector, for giving up some temporary space to make these available to everybody.) I have asked Hector to delete them after several days. This is not a 'trick' test... I firmly believe all of you that have reported listener's fatigue from the K3... I am trying to determine qualitatively how much noisier a K3 is perceived compared to some other common ham receivers. I wish I had more receivers to sample, but these were all I could immediately get my hands on. In light of the recent announcement that a new DSP board for the K3 with low pass filter is now available, and the fact that many folks were wondering publicly if they really needed the upgrade, perhaps this test will also help you decide. If it is not obvious from these recordings which of the three is the (offensive) K3, then perhaps you are immune to the artifacts and don't need the upgrade. Since these recordings were made, two additional theories have been put forth on this reflector. The first is that even if you can't hear the high frequency artifacts, they may still cause listener's fatigue-- which is quite a provocative idea; the second is that the artifacts are really only a problem under modulated conditions -- I took this to mean when a signal present within the receiver bandwidth. I may make new recordings in the future to test these hypotheses. Because it was important to preserve the full 20 kHz audio bandwidth-- not just the CW bandwidth-- these are 44.1 kHz .wav files that I deliberately did not convert to MP3-- and so to keep the file sizes reasonable they are only 15 seconds each... not a whole lot to go by, but I hope enough to make a decent assessment. (Certainly long enough for someone who hears the artifacts to identify them.) They were all recorded straight from the headphone output of each of the three receivers. All recorded within a few minutes of each other on 7057.0 kHz in the evening. (Incidentally, the K3's DSP board is a Rev. B board.) To save reflector bandwidth, why don't you reply to me privately and I will compile and report the group's results. Thanks for your consideration, and I'm looking forward to receiving your reports! Regards, Al W6LX __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Noise Blankers
Tom, I'm a new K3 owner, coming from an ICOM PRO II, and still learning how to use the K3. I live with a pretty constant S9 or better noise level. I think most of it is power line. Whatever it is, the NB on the K3 knocks the cover off the ICOM. 73, Mike NF4L Tom Bickley wrote: I'm overdue for a new radio (at least, that's what I am telling my XYL). In considering the purchase, unfortunately one of the major considerations I must take into account is the noise blanker function. I have recently moved to an area with A LOT of power line noise. I have high voltage lines around my immediate QTH. It is a constant S3 to S5 on all bands above 7 MHz and, sometimes on really cold mornings, a seperate, additional noise kicks in that takes it to S9 or more. I am trying to locate these noise sources but have been unable to so far. I must run the noise blanker on my old TS-850s at all times to help me manage this problem. With the NB engaged (which is 'always') I have audio distortion created from nearby signals, especially stronger signals within 30 kc's of my receive frequency, no matter at what level I run either of the noise blankers. I would like to hear from K3 owners who might have 'line noise problems' and know how the noise blanker in your K3 handles the problem. Mni Tnx / 73 K4NA _ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390710/direct/01/ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] Noise Blankers
To be honest I have not found any noise the NB would not get rid of. Having said that, I have a 6 cylinder diesel that does give my TS-480SAT some measure of grief. Just for my own knowledge I hooked the K3 to the same power lead fitted with Anderson plugs as with all my power leads, and, the result was impressive. Where the 480 was struggling the K3 shone and I was happy with the result. From this you can surmise that the K3 NB is very effective on ignition noise. Hope you are getting good information to help you decide. 73's and good luck whichever way you jump. Gary VK4FD Sent via BlackBerry® from Telstra __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Contesting with logging software on a PC (not MAC)
No actually I meant use the flash for the actual live log. Flash based drives are far more reliable then traditional platters. True, probably. Flash has a life expectancy for ~10K read/writes far less then what would be used in a 24hr contest :) Is that so? I have had many platter drives fail in my career and as of to date never had a flash device fail (knocking on wood). Me too, Lee, but the key point remains: if you only have a single copy of your log on one device, you're putting a lot of faith in that one device. Mechanical reliability of the device is not the only concern. I am also a huge believer in off-site backups as well, we are seeing newer technologies like dropbox where it acts more like a local drive then a backup device. I use that service to create corporate wide shared folders across large geographical locations and its been very reliable. Agreed! I don't want to wander off topic here, but John was specific about contesting scenarios and I think we have him covered :) Yes but other forumites might have interepreted it in a more general sense. If between us we help someone avoid losing their entire log, I think we've done a good deed! Also, does LOTW allow for restoring your log? I thought they once frowned upon that at one time. I don't know about them but yes you can retrieve your whole log, or rather the data they have retained from the log you submitted to LoTW. There are hints on how to do this in at least 5 different ways on my website, if anyone needs it: http://www.g4ifb.com/html/lotw.html#UsingLoTW 73 Gary ZL2iFB __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Three Recordings
The spectra can be seen at http://homepage.mac.com/chen/temp/audio1.png http://homepage.mac.com/chen/temp/audio2.png http://homepage.mac.com/chen/temp/audio2.png (Estimated using cocoaModem's spectrum display with 1.5 second exponential averaging of each FFT bin. Please ignore the red markers, those are the default RTTY tone pairs :-)) Each horizontal dotted green line is a 20 dB step. Labels in the horizontal axes are in Hz. #1 is a typical flat passband and brick wall transition band, with very low noise floor in the stop band. Probably from DSP filtering of some kind. But since sharp skirts like this does not occur in nature, it might actually be more fatiguing to the human ear/brain in the long term. #2 has a couple of spurs and minor bumps, but not as weird as #3. #3 is the weirdest looking one. Even though the passband is narrower than #1 and #2, the noise immediately outside the passband is quite high and slowly tapers off to about 2500 Hz, where it takes another step lower. Definitely not something a human is accustomed to hearing. 73 Chen, W7AY __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Three Recordings
On Jan 6, 2010, at 9:08 PM, Kok Chen wrote: The spectra can be seen at http://homepage.mac.com/chen/temp/audio1.png http://homepage.mac.com/chen/temp/audio2.png http://homepage.mac.com/chen/temp/audio2.png Oops, the last one should be http://homepage.mac.com/chen/temp/audio3.png This is what cut-and-paste does to you :-) :-) 73 Chen, W7AY __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] Oh, well.
Well, the test was going swimmingly until we had a spoiler. The whole point of this *listening* exercise was to see if you could identify the K3 using *only* your ears. So I declare the test invalid effective immediately. I will see if I can upload a new set of recordings later on. Hector, you can pitch the files now. Al W6LX __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K3 1.8 KHz Roofing Filter available
I have a KFL3A-1.8K filter that I would like to sell. Asking $100 plus shipping. If interested, please get in touch (k8...@yahoo.com); I am good in QRZ.com and would believe every other possible source of call lookup (I was shocked when I typed my call in Yahoo search!). Dick K8ZTT Franktown, CO __ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4749 (20100106) __ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Oh, well.
I apologize if the experiment was actually to discover if the people who had complained about listening fatigue could actually identify the K3. I had hoped that being able to compare the profile of the filters could lead Elecraft to create a bandpass design that sounds the least fatiguing. Sorry again, Al. I have removed the spectrum captures from my server. 73 Chen, W7AY __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
