Re: [Elecraft] P3: a modest proposal for QSY
You're wrong Brett... No matter what you say the P3 doesn't automatically sync with the K3 to a 1Hz accuracy. The Center line on the P3 CAN be and usually is off by as much as 99Hz. No matter how you look at it, if you can move a Center position on the P3 with the select knob in the CENTER adjustment mode, and it doesn't change from the reading of 10.000.0 until you get up to 10.000.1 or down to 9.999.9 than logic tells you that SOMETHING is changing between those two positions which just happen to be 100Hz apart from each other. Conversely, if you can change the K3 from 10.000.099 down to 9.999.999 before the display on the P3 center line changes, than obviously the K3 and the P3 are not in sync to the Hz. Look, try this.. it's a very simple test. Take your rig, put it on 10.000.000 Now look at your P3, does it say 10.000.0. Let's say that it does (according to you it should), now, turn your VFO knob up until the P3 reads 10.000.1. Where is your K3 displaying? I'm sure it's not going to be 10.000.100. I know mine sure isn't, and that's after I set that center as close as possible. My rig displays 10.000.042. That's 58Hz off. Take your VFO move it down until the P3 says 9.999.9. What does your K3 display? Mine says 9.999.940, 60Hz Off. it's NOT accurate. We need the extra 2 digits in order to set the true Center of the P3 BEFORE doing a Ref-Cal. You just can't set the Ref-cal until you know the center has been set correctly. If you do, than you're going to have EVERYTHING out of wack by that much difference. Moving that Ref cal just confuses things more. I'm not over thinking it, on the contrary you're putting your head in the sand and pretending that the P3's center is following the K3 with 000Hz accuracy. When you center that marker and hit the QSY button you are going to move the CENTER of that carrier on the display as far or as close to the center that you just calibrated it to. You're just wrong.. I'm sorry. I don't know why Alan hasn't just come on here and said so... I've already seen 3 posts from him since we've been discussing this. The only people that this isn't important to are SSB guys that don't mind coming within 100Hz of the QSY freq. I don't know if you do CW, but I do, and when I land 80 hz away from someone with my 100 Hz filter on it makes a difference. The P3 was designed with SSB guys in mind, NOT cw guys. The accuracy of the center display, and the tremendous warm up drift all indicate it. I love my P3, and I'm having fun with it, but if Alan wants to make this friendly to the CW guys that requires more accuracy than the SSB guys use. He's going to have to 1 - re-write the manual on how to set up the Center, then the Ref-cal alignments, and then 2 - add the extra 2 digits to the center display freq. This is NO different that putting your K3 on 10.000.000 and setting up the Zero beat on your Config: Ref Cal. You just wouldn't do it that way if you didn't know that your K3 wasn't parked at exactly 10.000.000. You can disagree all you like. I've made my point, shown my facts, and I'm not going to argue any further on the reflector. Feel free to contact me off the reflector if you need me to explain further. That goes for Alan as well, I would love to talk with you and explain what's going on here if my explanation doesn't make sense to you. From: br...@livecomputers.com Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:53:07 -0700 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] P3: a modest proposal for QSY To: notforc...@hotmail.com The P3 is centered on the K3 by default. Thus you can read the K3 to tell what frequency the P3 is on. It doesn't need the extra precision on the P3 display. I didn't read any more than your last post. I think you're over analyzing it and making it more complicated than it needs to be. Its not that hard to understand whats going on there I think most hams would get it. Those who don't get it its probably not important to. ~Brett (N7MG) __ 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] How to demo P3/K3?
David Gilbert wrote: make them unusable for recording simple RF. A DVR might not have that problem, although noise and signal levels could still be an issue. It might also be the case that any standard video recorder (or at least the software associated with it) might try to insert sync pulses on playback. The lossy compression strategies used in DVRs make them only suitable for moving picture for direct human consumption. They do things like only encoding the differences between frames, encoding the movement of blocks, transmitting a rough update to a frame and then refining it over successive frames if it doesn't change, and selective control of spacial frequency response. Because the compression is 3D (two in space and one in time), sync pulses are even more important to them. -- David Woolley we do not overly restrict the subject matter on the list, and we encourage postings on a wide range of amateur radio related topics List Guidelines http://www.elecraft.com/elecraft_list_guidelines.htm __ 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] P3: a modest proposal for QSY
My P3 shows a rounded version of what is on the K3 when they are synced. When my K3 says 7.100.000 the P3 shows 7.100.0 when I go to 7.100.050 it goes to 7.100.1 its a rounded version. So when my P3 and K3 are synced (by simply pressing center twice) I can read the frequency on the K3 and know that is the frequency that the P3 is on. I simply set the K3 to 10.000.000 and then do the ref cal on the P3. ~Brett (N7MG) On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 11:09 PM, The Smiths notforc...@hotmail.com wrote: You're wrong Brett... No matter what you say the P3 doesn't automatically sync with the K3 to a 1Hz accuracy. The Center line on the P3 CAN be and usually is off by as much as 99Hz. No matter how you look at it, if you can move a Center position on the P3 with the select knob in the CENTER adjustment mode, and it doesn't change from the reading of 10.000.0 until you get up to 10.000.1 or down to 9.999.9 than logic tells you that SOMETHING is changing between those two positions which just happen to be 100Hz apart from each other. Conversely, if you can change the K3 from 10.000.099 down to 9.999.999 before the display on the P3 center line changes, than obviously the K3 and the P3 are not in sync to the Hz. Look, try this.. it's a very simple test. Take your rig, put it on 10.000.000 Now look at your P3, does it say 10.000.0. Let's say that it does (according to you it should), now, turn your VFO knob up until the P3 reads 10.000.1. Where is your K3 displaying? I'm sure it's not going to be 10.000.100. I know mine sure isn't, and that's after I set that center as close as possible. My rig displays 10.000.042. That's 58Hz off. Take your VFO move it down until the P3 says 9.999.9. What does your K3 display? Mine says 9.999.940, 60Hz Off. it's NOT accurate. We need the extra 2 digits in order to set the true Center of the P3 BEFORE doing a Ref-Cal. You just can't set the Ref-cal until you know the center has been set correctly. If you do, than you're going to have EVERYTHING out of wack by that much difference. Moving that Ref cal just confuses things more. I'm not over thinking it, on the contrary you're putting your head in the sand and pretending that the P3's center is following the K3 with 000Hz accuracy. When you center that marker and hit the QSY button you are going to move the CENTER of that carrier on the display as far or as close to the center that you just calibrated it to. You're just wrong.. I'm sorry. I don't know why Alan hasn't just come on here and said so... I've already seen 3 posts from him since we've been discussing this. The only people that this isn't important to are SSB guys that don't mind coming within 100Hz of the QSY freq. I don't know if you do CW, but I do, and when I land 80 hz away from someone with my 100 Hz filter on it makes a difference. The P3 was designed with SSB guys in mind, NOT cw guys. The accuracy of the center display, and the tremendous warm up drift all indicate it. I love my P3, and I'm having fun with it, but if Alan wants to make this friendly to the CW guys that requires more accuracy than the SSB guys use. He's going to have to 1 - re-write the manual on how to set up the Center, then the Ref-cal alignments, and then 2 - add the extra 2 digits to the center display freq. This is NO different that putting your K3 on 10.000.000 and setting up the Zero beat on your Config: Ref Cal. You just wouldn't do it that way if you didn't know that your K3 wasn't parked at exactly 10.000.000. You can disagree all you like. I've made my point, shown my facts, and I'm not going to argue any further on the reflector. Feel free to contact me off the reflector if you need me to explain further. That goes for Alan as well, I would love to talk with you and explain what's going on here if my explanation doesn't make sense to you. From: br...@livecomputers.com Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:53:07 -0700 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] P3: a modest proposal for QSY To: notforc...@hotmail.com The P3 is centered on the K3 by default. Thus you can read the K3 to tell what frequency the P3 is on. It doesn't need the extra precision on the P3 display. I didn't read any more than your last post. I think you're over analyzing it and making it more complicated than it needs to be. Its not that hard to understand whats going on there I think most hams would get it. Those who don't get it its probably not important to. ~Brett (N7MG) __ 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] P3: a modest proposal for QSY
You're wrong Brett... No matter what you say the P3 doesn't automatically sync with the K3 to a 1Hz accuracy. The Center line on the P3 CAN be and usually is off by as much as 99Hz. You're wrong. The P3 display will never be more than 50 Hz from the K3 if you calibrate it properly. Hold center until the Center Frequency adjust display comes on and then hold Center again. The P3 center frequency will be calibrated to the K3 frequency ... the display will change +/- 50 Hz (e.g. it will show 10.000.0 from 9.999.950 to 10.000.049). Look, try this.. it's a very simple test. Take your rig, put it on 10.000.000 Now look at your P3, does it say 10.000.0. Let's say that it does (according to you it should), now, turn your VFO knob up until the P3 reads 10.000.1. Where is your K3 displaying? I'm sure it's not going to be 10.000.100. No, the P3 display will change to 10.000.1 at 10.000.050 as I just explained above. The P3 shows the correctly rounded version (not truncated) of the K3 frequency. If you want the P3 center frequency to align with the K3 simply do the Center Center process as documented in the manual. You just can't set the Ref-cal until you know the center has been set correctly. If you do, than you're going to have EVERYTHING out of wack by that much difference. Moving that Ref cal just confuses things more. If you properly zero the Center as instructed in the manual and use WWV or an AM broadcast signal with SPAN set to 2 KHz, you will get REF-CAL set to well less than 0.1 Hz ... probably on the order of 0.01 Hz. It's not rocket science ... just follow the instructions from those who designed the product and stop trying to argue. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 8/12/2010 2:09 AM, The Smiths wrote: You're wrong Brett... No matter what you say the P3 doesn't automatically sync with the K3 to a 1Hz accuracy. The Center line on the P3 CAN be and usually is off by as much as 99Hz. No matter how you look at it, if you can move a Center position on the P3 with the select knob in the CENTER adjustment mode, and it doesn't change from the reading of 10.000.0 until you get up to 10.000.1 or down to 9.999.9 than logic tells you that SOMETHING is changing between those two positions which just happen to be 100Hz apart from each other. Conversely, if you can change the K3 from 10.000.099 down to 9.999.999 before the display on the P3 center line changes, than obviously the K3 and the P3 are not in sync to the Hz. Look, try this.. it's a very simple test. Take your rig, put it on 10.000.000 Now look at your P3, does it say 10.000.0. Let's say that it does (according to you it should), now, turn your VFO knob up until the P3 reads 10.000.1. Where is your K3 displaying? I'm sure it's not going to be 10.000.100. I know mine sure isn't, and that's after I set that center as close as possible. My rig displays 10.000.042. That's 58Hz off. Take your VFO move it down until the P3 says 9.999.9. What does your K3 display? Mine says 9.999.940, 60Hz Off. it's NOT accurate. We need the extra 2 digits in order to set the true Center of the P3 BEFORE doing a Ref-Cal. You just can't set the Ref-cal until you know the center has been set correctly. If you do, than you're going to have EVERYTHING out of wack by that much difference. Moving that Ref cal just confuses things more. I'm not over thinking it, on the contrary you're putting your head in the sand and pretending that the P3's center is following the K3 with 000Hz accuracy. When you center that marker and hit the QSY button you are going to move the CENTER of that carrier on the display as far or as close to the center that you just calibrated it to. You're just wrong.. I'm sorry. I don't know why Alan hasn't just come on here and said so... I've already seen 3 posts from him since we've been discussing this. The only people that this isn't important to are SSB guys that don't mind coming within 100Hz of the QSY freq. I don't know if you do CW, but I do, and when I land 80 hz away from someone with my 100 Hz filter on it makes a difference. The P3 was designed with SSB guys in mind, NOT cw guys. The accuracy of the center display, and the tremendous warm up drift all indicate it. I love my P3, and I'm having fun with it, but if Alan wants to make this friendly to the CW guys that requires more accuracy than the SSB guys use. He's going to have to 1 - re-write the manual on how to set up the Center, then the Ref-cal alignments, and then 2 - add the extra 2 digits to the center display freq. This is NO different that putting your K3 on 10.000.000 and setting up the Zero beat on your Config: Ref Cal. You just wouldn't do it that way if you didn't know that your K3 wasn't parked at exactly 10.000.000. You can disagree all you like. I've made my point, shown my facts, and I'm not going to argue any further on the reflector. Feel free to contact me off the reflector if you need me to
[Elecraft] P3: Connection to the K2
It would be fine if the P3 could provide a configurable K2 emulation mode to communicate with the K2 and to support an appropriate (sub-)set of the exciting P3 functions in conjunction with the K2. Any pros and cons? 73, Heinz HB9BCB __ 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] How to demo P3/K3?
Makes sense. I guess someone wanting a cheap and dirty solution would have to use a down-converting mixer and record to a file via a sound card, and then mix back to a ham band (assuming, as I suspect would be the case, that for a demo they'd be willing to put up with the image and carrier). 73, Dave AB7E On 8/11/2010 11:10 PM, David Woolley (E.L) wrote: David Gilbert wrote: make them unusable for recording simple RF. A DVR might not have that problem, although noise and signal levels could still be an issue. It might also be the case that any standard video recorder (or at least the software associated with it) might try to insert sync pulses on playback. The lossy compression strategies used in DVRs make them only suitable for moving picture for direct human consumption. They do things like only encoding the differences between frames, encoding the movement of blocks, transmitting a rough update to a frame and then refining it over successive frames if it doesn't change, and selective control of spacial frequency response. Because the compression is 3D (two in space and one in time), sync pulses are even more important to them. __ 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] [P3] sn # 108 - arrived today
I just received my P3, serial number 108, in Berkshire, England via UPS. I don't think I'll have time to put this together until next week, but we'll see. It cam with the K3IOBUFFKT - K3 I.F I/O Output buffer mod kit - but I didn't realise this and ordered one too, unfortunately, sales didn't spot they were providing me with 2. Only $5 so not a big deal, but if anyone would like one, please get in touch privately. This probably applies to European member more than U.S. 73 de M0XDF, K3 #174, P3 #108 -- One glance at a book and you hear the voice of another person, perhaps someone dead for 1,000 years. To read is to voyage through time. -Carl Sagan, astronomer and writer (1934-1996) __ 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 #4407 - dead
4 grounding rods and two of those alpha delta gas discharge surge protectors couldn't stop mother nature. It appears my K3 has met a very early death by electrocution (from lightning.) It turns on, but even after an EE INIT, I'm still getting a KP3IO error. There's a god awful noise coming from the speaker when its turned on even with no antenna attached. Sounds like wind howling or something. The autotuner sounds like marbles rattling around instead of relays clicking. The KPA100 tests are all whacked out: PAIO TST turns on the fans. FN1 turns them both on at full speed. FN2 turns them both off. FN3 turns them back on again. FN4 drops the fans back off again. I opened the top, but there's no obvious damage inside... nothing is burned that I can see. I also lost the computer that was attached to the K3... as a matter of fact, the USB/serial adapter actually blew apart. The shell of the DB9 was scattered on the floor under my desk and the little circuit board inside is scorched. That computer won't turn on. No visible damage I can see inside. Another machine, a NAS, that wasn't connected to the radio or even on the same power circuit also died. I haven't seen any other obvious damage yet. I hope my insurance covers this... if so, Elecraft can be expecting to see another order from me soon. (Strange way to get a repeat customer, eh?) Gary / k3wow (formally k3 4407) __ 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 #4407 - dead
Ouch, and such a young one too! There's a message here - when Ma Nature visits with lightning, unless you're an electrical engineer with a perfect station configuration, the only relatively secure way to do things is to disconnect everything. Even a relatively short length of cable (RS-232, network, whatever) can pick up enough induced voltage from a nearby strike to do damage. 73, Pete N4ZR The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at www.conteststations.com The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net, blog at reversebeacon.blogspot.com, spots at telnet.reversebeacon.net, port 7000 On 8/12/2010 7:13 AM, Gary Dezern wrote: 4 grounding rods and two of those alpha delta gas discharge surge protectors couldn't stop mother nature. It appears my K3 has met a very early death by electrocution (from lightning.) It turns on, but even after an EE INIT, I'm still getting a KP3IO error. There's a god awful noise coming from the speaker when its turned on even with no antenna attached. Sounds like wind howling or something. The autotuner sounds like marbles rattling around instead of relays clicking. The KPA100 tests are all whacked out: PAIO TST turns on the fans. FN1 turns them both on at full speed. FN2 turns them both off. FN3 turns them back on again. FN4 drops the fans back off again. I opened the top, but there's no obvious damage inside... nothing is burned that I can see. I also lost the computer that was attached to the K3... as a matter of fact, the USB/serial adapter actually blew apart. The shell of the DB9 was scattered on the floor under my desk and the little circuit board inside is scorched. That computer won't turn on. No visible damage I can see inside. Another machine, a NAS, that wasn't connected to the radio or even on the same power circuit also died. I haven't seen any other obvious damage yet. I hope my insurance covers this... if so, Elecraft can be expecting to see another order from me soon. (Strange way to get a repeat customer, eh?) Gary / k3wow (formally k3 4407) __ 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 #4407 - dead
Hear, hear. Second the motion. I have 16 cables to disconnect and do it religiously - Florida is the lightning capital of the universe. (Of course, when my K3 s/n# 699 was brand new, I didn't bother. Thank you, Gary and Elecraft, for restoring it 2 years ago.) Monty K2DLJ Ouch, and such a young one too! There's a message here - when Ma Nature visits with lightning, unless you're an electrical engineer with a perfect station configuration, the only relatively secure way to do things is to disconnect everything. Even a relatively short length of cable (RS-232, network, whatever) can pick up enough induced voltage from a nearby strike to do damage. 73, Pete N4ZR __ 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] P3 Ideas and questions
I had previously tried it with FN 1 and FN 2 without success. I just now tried it with FN 7 and get the same result. Brett N7MG who is one of the field testers has indicated that this is, or has been, a known issue - so I am confident that it will be resolved in an upcoming firmware revision. In the meantime, it is no big deal. 73 Craig AC0DS Try moving that function to another button.. For example, use F7, and that's where I have mine now without issue. See if that works for you. __ 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] P3 ship notification
Received shipping notification last night (8/11). I ordered mine sometime around 1430CST on 4/16 so they are into day 2 now. Philip __ 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 #4407 - dead
Dont assume that you have to replace the radio. Several boards had to be replaced (over $1600) in mine after an April strike, but the modularity of the radio made it possible to repair it. I wanted to keep the insurance claim as low as I could as I had other damage, but I would have replaced the radio if it were necessary. René at Elecraft did a great job. I had what I thought was a very good ground system, but it was a huge strike and I hadn't disconnected. (That was an expensive lesson!) My K3 damage came from the RS232 as well, I think. I have wireless internet, a Motorola Canopy unit mounted then on my tower. One of the lightning paths was down the Ethernet line from the tower, through a Motorola lightning arrestor on my grounding panel at the house entrance, and to the computer router, which was damaged. It zapped (technical term) my computer's NIC and the 4-port ByteRunner serial card and continued on to the radio, I think. No damage came through the coax (two ICE arrestors). I moved the internet unit off my tower and made other improvements, including adding a Tripp-Lite DB9 surge protector (MOVs, I assume) at the K3. My new computer is connected to the router via RF instead of Ethernet even though it's only a few feet away. Jim N7US -Original Message- 4 grounding rods and two of those alpha delta gas discharge surge protectors couldn't stop mother nature. It appears my K3 has met a very early death by electrocution (from lightning.) It turns on, but even after an EE INIT, I'm still getting a KP3IO error. There's a god awful noise coming from the speaker when its turned on even with no antenna attached. Sounds like wind howling or something. The autotuner sounds like marbles rattling around instead of relays clicking. The KPA100 tests are all whacked out: PAIO TST turns on the fans. FN1 turns them both on at full speed. FN2 turns them both off. FN3 turns them back on again. FN4 drops the fans back off again. I opened the top, but there's no obvious damage inside... nothing is burned that I can see. I also lost the computer that was attached to the K3... as a matter of fact, the USB/serial adapter actually blew apart. The shell of the DB9 was scattered on the floor under my desk and the little circuit board inside is scorched. That computer won't turn on. No visible damage I can see inside. Another machine, a NAS, that wasn't connected to the radio or even on the same power circuit also died. I haven't seen any other obvious damage yet. I hope my insurance covers this... if so, Elecraft can be expecting to see another order from me soon. (Strange way to get a repeat customer, eh?) Gary / k3wow (formally k3 4407) __ 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] P3 Notification
Yesterday I received notification from Olivia of shipment within 7 to 10 days of the P3 ordered approx noon EST on the 16th of April. Looks like they have completed the initial group from the 15th. 73 Doug VE3MV __ 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] Outstanding Service Again
Even though this is a very busy time with the early shipping of the P3s and one of the Elecraft service techs on vacation, I still had a major problem diagnosed and a new board sent to me overnight. my K3 was back in operation in less than 24 hours. Great job guys. 73 de W6BK __ 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] P3 Reference Calibraton Error
Brett Howard wrote: The center follows the K3 you can tell where it is based on the fact that there is a K3 next to you. So long as you've got the two synced and don't have a center offset in you know where the center is. Correct. I believe his confusion is thinking the P3 display is controlling the K3, but it's actually the other way around. 1. First calibrate the K3 to WWV using the K3 Manual procedure. With a good ear (or other methods) you can do this to 1 Hz. The K3 should be reading 15.000.000 with FINE resolution and you should hear no beating or change in pitch when switching between UCW and LCW. 2. The P3's Center line tracks the K3 so P3 CF is exactly indicating the K3's frequency (15.000.000) even though the display is rounded (i.e. 15.000.0). So far we have not touched our P3 at all. 3. Next calibrate the P3's spectrum display per the manual procedure by using Ref Cal to shift the spectrum display so that it centers on the center line. Use the minimum SPAN (2.0 kHz) and adjust Ref Cal in 10 Hz steps until the spectrum display is best aligned on the center line. I find this easiest to do if you set SCALE = 10 and adjust REF LVL so the signal peak is mid-scale in the P3 display. Adjust Ref Cal so the signal shoulders are symmetrical about the center, or as close to symmetrical as possible, given the 10 Hz adjustment resolution. Potential sources of error are: 1. Drift in K3 reference oscillator (49.38 MHz). 2. Drift in P3 reference oscillator (60 MHz). 3. Adjustment resolution of the P3's Ref Cal steps. Adjustment steps are 10 Hz (at the P3's 60 MHz clock). At WWV's 15 MHz (1/4 of 60 MHz), each adjustment step is 1/4 of 10 Hz = 2.5 Hz, which results in a maximum 1/2 step uncertainty (1.25 Hz) in adjustment resolution when centering the P3 display. The P3's adjustment error (e.g. 1.25 Hz at 15 MHz) is accurate enough to easily hit 50 Hz bandwidth filters when using the minimum SPAN (even assuming some reference oscillator drift). There may be other minor rounding errors in the DSP but I'll let the nit-pickers argue over that. 73, Bill -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/P3-a-modest-proposal-for-QSY-tp5410950p5416204.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] For those of us who have not yet bought a P3
Fred is right on! I would add that besides putting something in the subject. Like K2 it should be in brackets, [K2]. Reason, if it's K2, the email filter will catch K2GN, and put it in the targeted folder too. And, please, like Elecraft requested, your text at the top with pertinent information from the original post below. Sure makes it a lot easier to read. Thanks, de K2GN - Larry - http://k2gn.com K3 S/N - 3278P3 S/N - 51 ==previous post== Would it be fair to ask that, if you're posting about QSY or markers, you put P3 in the subject? How about KPA500 if that's what your post is about? P3 is the big topic now, KPA500 will likely overtake it once it is delivered. Occasionally someone posts something about my K3 I'd like to read, less often about my K2, and hardly ever these days about my KX1, which I've begun to use more and more since I got active in SOTA. A simple request to make a big difference for your comrades, and I'm one of them. 73, Fred K6DGW __ 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] For those of us who have not yet bought a P3
This is also stated in the list guidelines posted earlier this week. 73, Eric Elecraft List Modulator, Moderator, etc. www.elecraft.com _..._ On Aug 12, 2010, at 7:10 AM, Larry - K2GN k...@comcast.net wrote: Fred is right on! I would add that besides putting something in the subject. Like K2 it should be in brackets, [K2]. Reason, if it's K2, the email filter will catch K2GN, and put it in the targeted folder too. And, please, like Elecraft requested, your text at the top with pertinent information from the original post below. Sure makes it a lot easier to read. __ 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] P3 Reference Calibraton Error
Bill W4ZV wrote: 3. Adjustment resolution of the P3's Ref Cal steps. Adjustment steps are 10 Hz (at the P3's 60 MHz clock). At WWV's 15 MHz (1/4 of 60 MHz), each adjustment step is 1/4 of 10 Hz = 2.5 Hz, which results in a maximum 1/2 step uncertainty (1.25 Hz) in adjustment resolution when centering the P3 display. Both Al's previous post which I missed and a PM from Lyle correct the above: The P3 is dealing with the 8.215 kHz IF frequency regardless of the signal frequency that is displayed on the center of the screen, so the steps are more like ((8.215/60)*10=) 1.4 Hz. 73, Bill -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/P3-a-modest-proposal-for-QSY-tp5410950p5416262.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 #4407 - dead
I'm going to disagree with the popular but misplaced notion that when lightning hits nothing can be done to prevent damage other than a complete disconnect. The real problem is almost always that people pepper the station with protection devices but use poor wiring layouts or poor entrance schemes. 99% of the protection is in the layout and bonding, not in the protection devices we throw into the system. I'm not saying you should not use protection devices, just that they are not anywhere near the solution. We have got to start thinking in terms of ground loops or common mode paths through the gear, and not depending on devices that let 700 volts in or out to protect solid state devices. It's the poor lead routing and ground bonding that really kills our gear. Especially when the power mains ground and the shack ground have any significant impedance between them. 73 Tom __ 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] [P3] Firmware Reload
I forgot, in the heat of playing with a new toy, to pass something along that may help others. My P3 came loaded with the latest firmware, so I was happily using it, and having some strange issues, like excessive display flickering, signals not centered, readout on P3 not matching K3's dial, etc. I was in the midst of reading the calibration section of the manual, loading P3 utility and several other things at once and I just happened to reload the P3 firmware really just to see if all was okay in my cabling. Presto, all those issues suddenly went away!!! We too often take firmware for granted, I think, and I suspect I may have had some corruption in the download from the factory. If the reload didn't fix mine, I guess I just had a miraculous healing of my P3, hi. 73 all, Don, WB5HAK __ 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} PSK31 tuning
How does one tune PSK31 on the K3 such that the built in decoder can read it. Tuning seems to be very selective and without a waterfall nearly impossible to tune. The capture range of the AFC doesn't seem to be very wide. The CWT spotting function sometimes helps but only on stronger signals. Sensitivity to weak signals doesn't seem to be very good either. With digipan on the PC I can decode stuff that I can hardly hear. Any ideas?. Ron, K1PDY __ 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} PSK31 tuning
1) Use CWT. 2) Use a narrow filter. Once you find the station you want to copy, tighten the filter and retune as necessary. 50 Hz is not too tight. 300 Hz is too wide. If you are hearing two stations, then the selectivity is not tight enough. 3) Use auto-spot. You may have to hit it two or three times. Tuning is critical and an error of more than 5 Hz changes from solid copy to no copy. 73, Lyle KK7P How does one tune PSK31 on the K3 such that the built in decoder can read it... __ 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] [P3] Firmware Reload
Don Cunningham wrote: I forgot, in the heat of playing with a new toy, to pass something along that may help others. My P3 came loaded with the latest firmware, so I was happily using it, and having some strange issues, like excessive display flickering, signals not centered, readout on P3 not matching K3's dial, etc. Some MAJOR firmware fixes were implemented. The first thing anyone should do after turning on their new K3 or P3 is to load the latest firmware. Don't be afraid of this...it's very important for best performance and especially so for a newly introduced product. -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/P3-Firmware-Reload-tp5416645p5416797.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] P3: a modest proposal for QSY
Fair enough, so lets say that you're within 50Hz accuracy then... That still wouldn't QSY you to the Zero Beat on CW would it. From: br...@livecomputers.com Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 23:15:02 -0700 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] P3: a modest proposal for QSY To: notforc...@hotmail.com CC: elecraft@mailman.qth.net My P3 shows a rounded version of what is on the K3 when they are synced. When my K3 says 7.100.000 the P3 shows 7.100.0 when I go to 7.100.050 it goes to 7.100.1 its a rounded version. So when my P3 and K3 are synced (by simply pressing center twice) I can read the frequency on the K3 and know that is the frequency that the P3 is on. I simply set the K3 to 10.000.000 and then do the ref cal on the P3. ~Brett (N7MG) On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 11:09 PM, The Smiths notforc...@hotmail.com wrote: You're wrong Brett... No matter what you say the P3 doesn't automatically sync with the K3 to a 1Hz accuracy. The Center line on the P3 CAN be and usually is off by as much as 99Hz. No matter how you look at it, if you can move a Center position on the P3 with the select knob in the CENTER adjustment mode, and it doesn't change from the reading of 10.000.0 until you get up to 10.000.1 or down to 9.999.9 than logic tells you that SOMETHING is changing between those two positions which just happen to be 100Hz apart from each other. Conversely, if you can change the K3 from 10.000.099 down to 9.999.999 before the display on the P3 center line changes, than obviously the K3 and the P3 are not in sync to the Hz. Look, try this.. it's a very simple test. Take your rig, put it on 10.000.000 Now look at your P3, does it say 10.000.0. Let's say that it does (according to you it should), now, turn your VFO knob up until the P3 reads 10.000.1. Where is your K3 displaying? I'm sure it's not going to be 10.000.100. I know mine sure isn't, and that's after I set that center as close as possible. My rig displays 10.000.042. That's 58Hz off. Take your VFO move it down until the P3 says 9.999.9. What does your K3 display? Mine says 9.999.940, 60Hz Off. it's NOT accurate. We need the extra 2 digits in order to set the true Center of the P3 BEFORE doing a Ref-Cal. You just can't set the Ref-cal until you know the center has been set correctly. If you do, than you're going to have EVERYTHING out of wack by that much difference. Moving that Ref cal just confuses things more. I'm not over thinking it, on the contrary you're putting your head in the sand and pretending that the P3's center is following the K3 with 000Hz accuracy. When you center that marker and hit the QSY button you are going to move the CENTER of that carrier on the display as far or as close to the center that you just calibrated it to. You're just wrong.. I'm sorry. I don't know why Alan hasn't just come on here and said so... I've already seen 3 posts from him since we've been discussing this. The only people that this isn't important to are SSB guys that don't mind coming within 100Hz of the QSY freq. I don't know if you do CW, but I do, and when I land 80 hz away from someone with my 100 Hz filter on it makes a difference. The P3 was designed with SSB guys in mind, NOT cw guys. The accuracy of the center display, and the tremendous warm up drift all indicate it. I love my P3, and I'm having fun with it, but if Alan wants to make this friendly to the CW guys that requires more accuracy than the SSB guys use. He's going to have to 1 - re-write the manual on how to set up the Center, then the Ref-cal alignments, and then 2 - add the extra 2 digits to the center display freq. This is NO different that putting your K3 on 10.000.000 and setting up the Zero beat on your Config: Ref Cal. You just wouldn't do it that way if you didn't know that your K3 wasn't parked at exactly 10.000.000. You can disagree all you like. I've made my point, shown my facts, and I'm not going to argue any further on the reflector. Feel free to contact me off the reflector if you need me to explain further. That goes for Alan as well, I would love to talk with you and explain what's going on here if my explanation doesn't make sense to you. From: br...@livecomputers.com Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:53:07 -0700 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] P3: a modest proposal for QSY To: notforc...@hotmail.com The P3 is centered on the K3 by default. Thus you can read the K3 to tell what frequency the P3 is on. It doesn't need the extra precision on the P3 display. I didn't read any more than your last post. I think you're over analyzing it and making it more complicated than it needs to be. Its not that hard to understand whats going on there I think most hams would get it. Those who don't get it its probably not important to. ~Brett (N7MG)
Re: [Elecraft] P3: Connection to the K2
Right now I'm up to my ears with P3 bug fixes and implementing promised features. But when things quiet down a little I definitely want to modify my K2 to add IF output and work on implementing the K2 command set in the P3. It won't be as closely integrated as the K3 but it should at least provide basic functionality. Alan On Thu, 2010-08-12 at 09:18 +0200, Heinz Bärtschi wrote: It would be fine if the P3 could provide a configurable K2 emulation mode to communicate with the K2 and to support an appropriate (sub-)set of the exciting P3 functions in conjunction with the K2. Any pros and cons? 73, Heinz HB9BCB __ 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] P3: a modest proposal for QSY
I agree with you for once Joe... 50Hz sounds right. If you Ref cal from that point than you'll most likely be 4 to 5Hz off. I've not once been able to get it to 1Hz resolution. Yes, this is enough to hit the spot button, but having the extra two digits would be very helpful. Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 02:58:27 -0400 From: li...@subich.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] P3: a modest proposal for QSY You're wrong Brett... No matter what you say the P3 doesn't automatically sync with the K3 to a 1Hz accuracy. The Center line on the P3 CAN be and usually is off by as much as 99Hz. You're wrong. The P3 display will never be more than 50 Hz from the K3 if you calibrate it properly. Hold center until the Center Frequency adjust display comes on and then hold Center again. The P3 center frequency will be calibrated to the K3 frequency ... the display will change +/- 50 Hz (e.g. it will show 10.000.0 from 9.999.950 to 10.000.049). Look, try this.. it's a very simple test. Take your rig, put it on 10.000.000 Now look at your P3, does it say 10.000.0. Let's say that it does (according to you it should), now, turn your VFO knob up until the P3 reads 10.000.1. Where is your K3 displaying? I'm sure it's not going to be 10.000.100. No, the P3 display will change to 10.000.1 at 10.000.050 as I just explained above. The P3 shows the correctly rounded version (not truncated) of the K3 frequency. If you want the P3 center frequency to align with the K3 simply do the Center Center process as documented in the manual. You just can't set the Ref-cal until you know the center has been set correctly. If you do, than you're going to have EVERYTHING out of wack by that much difference. Moving that Ref cal just confuses things more. If you properly zero the Center as instructed in the manual and use WWV or an AM broadcast signal with SPAN set to 2 KHz, you will get REF-CAL set to well less than 0.1 Hz ... probably on the order of 0.01 Hz. It's not rocket science ... just follow the instructions from those who designed the product and stop trying to argue. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 8/12/2010 2:09 AM, The Smiths wrote: You're wrong Brett... No matter what you say the P3 doesn't automatically sync with the K3 to a 1Hz accuracy. The Center line on the P3 CAN be and usually is off by as much as 99Hz. No matter how you look at it, if you can move a Center position on the P3 with the select knob in the CENTER adjustment mode, and it doesn't change from the reading of 10.000.0 until you get up to 10.000.1 or down to 9.999.9 than logic tells you that SOMETHING is changing between those two positions which just happen to be 100Hz apart from each other. Conversely, if you can change the K3 from 10.000.099 down to 9.999.999 before the display on the P3 center line changes, than obviously the K3 and the P3 are not in sync to the Hz. Look, try this.. it's a very simple test. Take your rig, put it on 10.000.000 Now look at your P3, does it say 10.000.0. Let's say that it does (according to you it should), now, turn your VFO knob up until the P3 reads 10.000.1. Where is your K3 displaying? I'm sure it's not going to be 10.000.100. I know mine sure isn't, and that's after I set that center as close as possible. My rig displays 10.000.042. That's 58Hz off. Take your VFO move it down until the P3 says 9.999.9. What does your K3 display? Mine says 9.999.940, 60Hz Off. it's NOT accurate. We need the extra 2 digits in order to set the true Center of the P3 BEFORE doing a Ref-Cal. You just can't set the Ref-cal until you know the center has been set correctly. If you do, than you're going to have EVERYTHING out of wack by that much difference. Moving that Ref cal just confuses things more. I'm not over thinking it, on the contrary you're putting your head in the sand and pretending that the P3's center is following the K3 with 000Hz accuracy. When you center that marker and hit the QSY button you are going to move the CENTER of that carrier on the display as far or as close to the center that you just calibrated it to. You're just wrong.. I'm sorry. I don't know why Alan hasn't just come on here and said so... I've already seen 3 posts from him since we've been discussing this. The only people that this isn't important to are SSB guys that don't mind coming within 100Hz of the QSY freq. I don't know if you do CW, but I do, and when I land 80 hz away from someone with my 100 Hz filter on it makes a difference. The P3 was designed with SSB guys in mind, NOT cw guys. The accuracy of the center display, and the tremendous warm up drift all indicate it. I love my P3, and I'm having fun with it, but if Alan wants to make this friendly to the CW guys that requires more accuracy than the SSB guys use. He's going to have to 1 - re-write the manual on how to set up the Center,
[Elecraft] PSK tuning [k3]...alternatives for the immediate future
Please don't take this comment to be frivolous or intentionally snippy...but my take on the decoding functions built into the K3 firmware is that at this stage they are gimmicks or toys. As Ron observes, even an old warhorse like Digipan works much better (...more easily, less fussily...) than the K3 routines (and I love my K3!). When one considers the range of other digital methods available in, e.g. fldigi, it is apparent that Elecraft is thinking in the right direction but is not all the way there, YET. I use Digipan or fldigi (3.12.5) routinely with my K3 without problems. For digital mode operation, SpectraVue is also a very nice adjunct program. I have every faith that Elecraft will eventually enhance the digital decoding functions in the K3. One will still want something like SpectraVue to provide a window into the digital ops part of the spectrum (or an LP-PAN or a P3, if funds permit). Eventually it will be nice to be computer-free if one desires it...portability would be enhanced somewhat, though a small laptop (e.g. a netbook) is not much different in volume from an LP-PAN or a P3. My small ASUS Eee901 runs software like Digipan and SpectraVue without flinching. I am not at all a Luddite WRT new solutions...just very oriented toward functionality. This is also the reason that I rid myself of my Flex 3000. John Ragle -- W1ZI = On 8/12/2010 11:46 AM, Ron Herman wrote: How does one tune PSK31 on the K3 such that the built in decoder can read it. Tuning seems to be very selective and without a waterfall nearly impossible to tune. The capture range of the AFC doesn't seem to be very wide. The CWT spotting function sometimes helps but only on stronger signals. Sensitivity to weak signals doesn't seem to be very good either. With digipan on the PC I can decode stuff that I can hardly hear. __ 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 #4407 - dead
Totally agree in the majority, but with years in the fire department Lightning strikes tree next to house. Single point ground is 80 feet away on far side of house. Lightning does not go to ground, and jumps from trunk of tree to side of house leaving extensive burn mark on trunk and side of house. Sets house on fire where it goes through wall, follows wiring to bathroom where it jumps to copper water piping and finally goes out the front. Destroyed power meter, toasted most appliances, obviously water damage in bedroom end where hot sheet rock had to be pulled down to get at fire in walls. Of the conductors that were followed, only the copper pipe survived. Mostly charred holes where the romex was pulled through the walls. OR, Lightning strikes power pole in area of very thin soil cover over what is basically a miles wide rock ledge underneath. Lightning follows a phone line into the house, ignores grounds. Jumps from a telephone jack across an open room, frying radio and computer equipment setting on a table in the middle of the room with no cords of any sort connected anywhere. Jumped from there to an inside power outlet, emerged from a power outlet in the hallway, dissipating in a ball of fire that chased owner down the hall and out the front door. There's more...all conductors from top of pole to house, including power company ground conductor to bottom of pole simply gone...etc...but entertainment value aside... So yes there ARE throw up your hands cases. In the above seriously doubt anything could have been done. These are the folklore strikes. BUT, BUT... These kinds of things are way, way the tiny minority of events by comparison, and seem to be more common because the grapevine propagates and amplifies the gorilla and T Rex strikes for their entertainment value. The great majority of events in the gray area can be seriously reduced by attention as specified below, and allow one to dodge altogether, or mostly or partly dodge, lesser events. One does oneself a great service by careful planning for the lessor events. At my house the lightning events that damaged something, mostly the electronics in my HVA outside units, were strikes out in the woods somewhere and all was an induced strike. HVA guys insist that my units were 100% code-wired and I was lucky to have damage confined to a single circuit board. My misfortune is to have them nearly 100' from the SPG with long copper coolant pipes to the air handlers. And no, wife will not hear of relocating them to front side of house near SPG. Strategically, the error was not routing power to the west end of the house. This happened because the original owner who was also the builder, built the house in stages, middle first, east end, then west end. The most recent lightning event on my property involved a gorgeous 120' poplar tree where lightning literally turned the top half of the tree into toothpicks in an explosion that scattered leftover poplar all over a hundred foot radius. The base of the tree was near where my driveway goes over the creek, and so also where where phone lines cross the creek (54 inch drainage pipe under driveway). The lightning fused conductors in the 4 and 6 pair cables enough that they had to pick single conductors at the end of the cables to find two undamaged. The lightning did NOT make it past the single point ground and the telco gas tube protectors and did NOT damage the PILE of stuff connected inside the house. MAYBE, just MAYBE a DSL modem that failed a year later was related. But probably not. The little Motorola beastie was one of a model which were failing of heat related problems by the thousands, with which the repair guy was well acquainted. Learn how to do grounds and protection right and just do it. In the end, FAR less trouble to do it right. Only a hand's count or so of the readers on this reflector will ever in their lifetimes have to deal with the gorilla or T Rex strike that swamps protections blowing up everything in its path. 73, Guy. On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 10:32 AM, Tom W8JI w...@w8ji.com wrote: I'm going to disagree with the popular but misplaced notion that when lightning hits nothing can be done to prevent damage other than a complete disconnect. The real problem is almost always that people pepper the station with protection devices but use poor wiring layouts or poor entrance schemes. 99% of the protection is in the layout and bonding, not in the protection devices we throw into the system. I'm not saying you should not use protection devices, just that they are not anywhere near the solution. We have got to start thinking in terms of ground loops or common mode paths through the gear, and not depending on devices that let 700 volts in or out to protect solid state devices. It's the poor lead routing and ground bonding that really kills our gear. Especially when the power mains ground and the shack ground have any significant impedance between
Re: [Elecraft] P3 Ideas and questions
The required ref level varies a lot depending on time of day, etc. It would still need to be adjusted often. I would prefer to see some kind of settable AGC. On 8/11/2010 9:36 PM, Craig D. Smith wrote: After two days with the P3, here are some observations and questions. Could the following be considered as part of future firmware upgrades? Save the REF LVL, SCALE, and SPAN on a per band basis? This would reduce the need to adjust these when changing bands. -- 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
[Elecraft] OT: Coax Switch After the Tuner?
Hello Wise and Powerful Reflector; I have a couple of doublets I feed with balanced line. The balanced line goes to a current balun and then a short coax run (5') to my tuner. After the tuner I have another short coax run (3') to a coax switch that places either my antenna analyzer or the rig in the system so I can tune the antenna. I've had it suggested to me that the coax switch places my precious K3 in danger. The fact that this arrangement has worked up until this point isn't reassuring. What say you all? TIA, 73 de Eric, KG6MZS __ 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 Band Decoders
I have TWO TopTen Devices Yaesu/K3 band decoders WITH the decoder to K3 interconnect cables in excellent condition for sale. Presently in use and they will be available after NEXT weekend. They both have the ability to do 12V source and sinc. I would like $100 for each combo (decoder and cable). New this would cost $180. Please contact by email or phone at (360)320-3436. Thanks. - 73, Greg - AB7R Whidbey Island WA NA-065 __ 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] OT: Coax Switch After the Tuner?
Eric, The only danger to the K3 that I can think of is if you fail to turn the switch to the K3 position and subsequently transmit. If you listen before transmitting, you should be able to determine that the switch is incorrect - no signals equal switch in the wrong position. 73, Don W3FPR Eric Fitzgerald wrote: Hello Wise and Powerful Reflector; I have a couple of doublets I feed with balanced line. The balanced line goes to a current balun and then a short coax run (5') to my tuner. After the tuner I have another short coax run (3') to a coax switch that places either my antenna analyzer or the rig in the system so I can tune the antenna. I've had it suggested to me that the coax switch places my precious K3 in danger. The fact that this arrangement has worked up until this point isn't reassuring. What say you all? TIA, 73 de Eric, KG6MZS __ 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] PSK tuning [k3]...alternatives for the immediate future
They are intended for casual operation and within the confines of the LCD panel of the K3. I've found both the RTTY and the PSK decoder to work well when checked against DM780, Digipan, and MMTTY. But certainly not as quick as clicking on a waterfall :-) 73, Lyle KK7P Please don't take this comment to be frivolous or intentionally snippy...but my take on the decoding functions built into the K3 firmware is that at this stage they are gimmicks or toys. __ 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] P3: a modest proposal for QSY
This is an excellent point. Thank you for illustrating it. With a narrow filter, 100Hz resolution does not cut it in CW, although W4TV's proposed CWT macro magic will work around it, that is, if we could learn what the macro definitions would be with a programming manual. :) I would like to know if this frequency resolution issue, along with the line cursor thickness and placement, the memory permanence issues and the Programming Manual Release are on the product roadmap schedule and will be addressed in future releases of firmware before I place a P3 on my family's Christmas Present list. I also agree with a previous poster that it would be helpful if the markers tallied the VFO selections and some of the params from the rig were displayed on the P3 screen. My station layout is identical to his, with the planned deployment of the P3 in the center, the computer monitor above it, the K3 to the right and the computer keyboard directly below it. Although I could rationalize the lack of a screen repeater of the K3 parameters because I can see those same parameters (filter settings, frequency, VFO selections) on the computer logger screen... The biggie for me is the resolution and line thickness/orientation issues. Im glad you guys are finding them ad are clearly defining them here. Thank you, brave pioneers, for geting there before me! You seem to wear the arrows in your back rather well. -lu-w4lt- Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 06:09:23 + From: The Smiths notforc...@hotmail.com Subject: Re: [Elecraft] P3: a modest proposal for QSY To: br...@livecomputers.com, Elecraft Reflector elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID: snt144-w427a43f42e33f3cc62bd7ddf...@phx.gbl Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 You're wrong Brett... No matter what you say the P3 doesn't automatically sync with the K3 to a 1Hz accuracy. The Center line on the P3 CAN be and usually is off by as much as 99Hz. No matter how you look at it, if you can move a Center position on the P3 with the select knob in the CENTER adjustment mode, and it doesn't change from the reading of 10.000.0 until you get up to 10.000.1 or down to 9.999.9 than logic tells you that SOMETHING is changing between those two positions which just happen to be 100Hz apart from each other. Conversely, if you can change the K3 from 10.000.099 down to 9.999.999 before the display on the P3 center line changes, than obviously the K3 and the P3 are not in sync to the Hz. Look, try this.. it's a very simple test. Take your rig, put it on 10.000.000 Now look at your P3, does it say 10.000.0. Let's say that it does (according to you it should), now, turn your VFO knob up until the P3 reads 10.000.1. Where is your K3 displaying? I'm sure it's not going to be 10.000.100. I know mine sure isn't, and that's after I set that center as close as possible. My rig displays 10.000.042. That's 58Hz off. Take your VFO move it down until the P3 says 9.999.9. What does your K3 display? Mine says 9.999.940, 60Hz Off. it's NOT accurate. We need the extra 2 digits in order to set the true Center of the P3 BEFORE doing a Ref-Cal. You just can't set the Ref-cal until you know the center has been set correctly. If you do, than you're going to have EVERYTHING out of wack by that much difference. Moving that Ref cal just confuses things more. I'm not over thinking it, on the contrary you're putting your head in the sand and pretending that the P3's center is following the K3 with 000Hz accuracy. When you center that marker and hit the QSY button you are going to move the CENTER of that carrier on the display as far or as close to the center that you just calibrated it to. You're just wrong.. I'm sorry. I don't know why Alan hasn't just come on here and said so... I've already seen 3 posts from him since we've been discussing this. The only people that this isn't important to are SSB guys that don't mind coming within 100Hz of the QSY freq. I don't know if you do CW, but I do, and when I land 80 hz away from someone with my 100 Hz filter on it makes a difference. The P3 was designed with SSB guys in mind, NOT cw guys. The accuracy of the center display, and the tremendous warm up drift all indicate it. I love my P3, and I'm having fun with it, but if Alan wants to make this friendly to the CW guys that requires more accuracy than the SSB guys use. He's going to have to 1 - re-write the manual on how to set up the Center, then the Ref-cal alignments, and then 2 - add the extra 2 digits to the center display freq. This is NO different that putting your K3 on 10.000.000 and setting up the Zero beat on your Config: Ref Cal. You just wouldn't do it that way if you didn't know that your K3 wasn't parked at exactly 10.000.000. You can disagree all you like. I've made my point, shown my facts, and I'm not going to argue any further on the reflector. Feel free to contact me off the reflector if you need me to explain further. That goes for Alan as well, I would
Re: [Elecraft] P3: a modest proposal for QSY
Actually... In a CW contest, where following packet spots can put you on the exact same frequency with all the other braying lemmings, contributing to your signal's non-pickoutable status at the other end, being off the crowd frequency by 20-50 hertz is a SUCCESSFUL strategy to break through the pile, practiced ON PURPOSE by top CW contest operators. If you are following CW packet spots, best to set your XIT up or down 20-30 Hz and leave it there. DON'T ever use zero offset chasing CW packet spots. (It will NOT bother me in the LEAST if all those who read this think such an assertion is nonsense and never try it out. I have outlined one of my competitive edge secrets, and I WON'T mind if you DON'T use it.) So being within 50 Hz is QUITE adequate and USEFUL. And despite given what seems to be being played as some failure of the P3, one DOES still have the K3 tuning knob to very quickly adjust to perfect centering for RTTY, and digital modes. On the K3, it's the big easy-to-use same-size-as-the-maxi-boxes knob. For other transceivers, consult owner's manual for location and instructions for tuning knob. 50 Hz off will still be within the audible passband on the NARROWEST K3 passband setting. Most contesters will use something like 200 or 250 for search and pounce, especially for chasing packet spots. Many of these spots will be off 100 or 200 Hz, in addition to carrying blown calls, which is why the need for a quite wider bandwidth than 50 Hz for any kind of search and pounce operation. As I have sort of been on the fence as to usefulness of a P3, you have convinced me that a SPECTRUM DISPLAY, of all things, can be SO ACCURATE, that by dropping the K3 to within 50 Hz of a VERY sharp display blip, I would hear the blip station even if I forgot to back off 50 Hz selectivity before QSY. In contrast to your presentation that the 50 Hz is some kind of failure, inattention to proper level of details or some such, you may have sold the P3 to a long time cranky hard-to-convince, uses-narrow-filter-settings-all-the-time CW contester, who probably wasn't going to buy one. Fixing the P3 50 Hz problem is probably one of these how-many-angels-fit-on-the-head-of-a-pin controversies with a solution that doesn't appear to warrant serious Elecraft business development money when other good stuff is on the way. But thanks for the dissertation, folks. 73, Guy. On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 12:28 PM, The Smiths notforc...@hotmail.com wrote: Fair enough, so lets say that you're within 50Hz accuracy then... That still wouldn't QSY you to the Zero Beat on CW would it. __ 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 Band Decoders
That was quick. One is spoken for...on still available. - 73, Greg - AB7R Whidbey Island WA NA-065 On Thu Aug 12 10:11 , Greg - AB7R sent: I have TWO TopTen Devices Yaesu/K3 band decoders WITH the decoder to K3 interconnect cables in excellent condition for sale. Presently in use and they will be available after NEXT weekend. They both have the ability to do 12V source and sinc. I would like $100 for each combo (decoder and cable). New this would cost $180. Please contact by email or phone at (360)320-3436. Thanks. - 73, Greg - AB7R Whidbey Island WA NA-065 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net','','','')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] OT: Coax Switch After the Tuner?
Your friends are probably concerned that you'll transmit into a very high SWR if you transmit when the switch is in position to switch the analyzer into the circuit. Transmitters do not like open or grounded antenna circuits at the output - they're the ultimate high SWR condition. Of course, if you're careful it'll never happen (but never say never, Hi) Even so, the K3 can handle it, but it's bad practice. A better approach would be a double pole switch that simultaneously switches the K3 from the tuner to a dummy load and the analyzer to the tuner. Then, should you accidentally transmit while the analyzer is in the circuit, the K3 will see a normal RF load on its output. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- Hello Wise and Powerful Reflector; I have a couple of doublets I feed with balanced line. The balanced line goes to a current balun and then a short coax run (5') to my tuner. After the tuner I have another short coax run (3') to a coax switch that places either my antenna analyzer or the rig in the system so I can tune the antenna. I've had it suggested to me that the coax switch places my precious K3 in danger. The fact that this arrangement has worked up until this point isn't reassuring. What say you all? TIA, 73 de Eric, KG6MZS __ 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] P3: a modest proposal for QSY
So now I am getting a much better understanding... What Joe W4TV is saying is that a P3 is never more than 50 cycles from the K3 frequency readout when correctly calibrated. With a 100 cycle bandwidth, this is somewhat acceptable. However, on a Flex, I can click on a signal and be DEAD ON the signal I have selected. I have never operated a LP-Pan, but can I assume that it will function just like the Flex (it is the same software front end after all)? And Skimmer's waterfall display is also just as accurate. This means that if I am a shoot fish in a barrel mult operator and are combing the band for signals, I would be much more efficient time wise using a Flex/LP-Pan or a Skimmer than using a P3 on my K3, even with the Macro Magic CWT solution, right? The upside is that no computer is needed (which is a non trivial thing, IMO). Will/can the P3/K3 combination approach the accuracy of the above systems? -lu-w4lt- Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 02:58:27 -0400 From: Joe Subich, W4TV li...@subich.com Subject: Re: [Elecraft] P3: a modest proposal for QSY To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID: 4c639b93.8030...@subich.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed You're wrong Brett... No matter what you say the P3 doesn't automatically sync with the K3 to a 1Hz accuracy. The Center line on the P3 CAN be and usually is off by as much as 99Hz. You're wrong. The P3 display will never be more than 50 Hz from the K3 if you calibrate it properly. Hold center until the Center Frequency adjust display comes on and then hold Center again. The P3 center frequency will be calibrated to the K3 frequency ... the display will change +/- 50 Hz (e.g. it will show 10.000.0 from 9.999.950 to 10.000.049). Look, try this.. it's a very simple test. Take your rig, put it on 10.000.000 Now look at your P3, does it say 10.000.0. Let's say that it does (according to you it should), now, turn your VFO knob up until the P3 reads 10.000.1. Where is your K3 displaying? I'm sure it's not going to be 10.000.100. No, the P3 display will change to 10.000.1 at 10.000.050 as I just explained above. The P3 shows the correctly rounded version (not truncated) of the K3 frequency. If you want the P3 center frequency to align with the K3 simply do the Center Center process as documented in the manual. You just can't set the Ref-cal until you know the center has been set correctly. If you do, than you're going to have EVERYTHING out of wack by that much difference. Moving that Ref cal just confuses things more. If you properly zero the Center as instructed in the manual and use WWV or an AM broadcast signal with SPAN set to 2 KHz, you will get REF-CAL set to well less than 0.1 Hz ... probably on the order of 0.01 Hz. It's not rocket science ... just follow the instructions from those who designed the product and stop trying to argue. 73, ... Joe, W4TV __ 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 #4407 - dead
I'm kind of new to this whole insurance claim thing... The person I spoke to on the phone from the insurance company was pretty insistent that they just wanted replacement cost. I asked the guy about one of the computers that I built myself from parts, and he didn't want to know about all that. He kept saying just write down how much it will cost you to replace the whole computer. In that case, he suggested I put down the computer model as Gary's Built or something. It's possible, I guess, that some insurance companies just assume any electronic devices impacted by a lightning strike are considered a total loss. It's also possible that what I was told on the phone was wrong and once I get all the paperwork to fill out, the instructions will say something completely different. Whatever... I'm not assuming I have to replace the radio, but if thats what my insurance company wants then I'm not going to argue with them. It'd certainly be much faster to order a brand new radio (even one pre-built) when compared to sending one in for repair with unknown damage resulting from a lightning strike. I can add together the cost of all the parts in my kit preassembled, but that number will be invalid in a couple weeks when the prices go up. I called Elecraft and they don't have or can't give out the new price list, so I just have to give the current cost with a note saying that by the time they process the claim, the replacement cost will have gone up. Oh well, my wife and children are safe, and there appears to be no damage to my home. The rest, while sad, doesn't really matter too much. Take care / 73 Gary / k3wow (RIP k34407) On Aug 12, 2010, at 8:58 AM, Jim McDonald wrote: Don’t assume that you have to replace the radio. Several boards had to be replaced (over $1600) in mine after an April strike, but the modularity of the radio made it possible to repair it. __ 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] Free to a good home...OT
Hola, I have a OEM battery for a Blackberry, model C-S2. I think it fits the 8300-8500 and 8700 series of BB. I ordered, received it and opened the package before realizing that my 8900 takes diff battery. Unopened meant not able to return. I will be in the states for two weeks starting 16 Aug. FCFS. 73 Tom CX7TT __ 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] Elecraft [P3] Idea
Bob, I think your idea for fine tuning using the P3 is great. I hope you convayed your idea directly to Elecraft. 73 Dave KD1NA P3 s/n 74 arrived today, went together nicely and works great. I'm still getting used to it, but as a long-time LP-Pan/PowerSDR-IF user, I was struck by one thing right away. With PowerSDR-IF point and click tuning with the mouse is enhanced by the fact that after pointing and clicking to change the K3 frequency, one may immediately fine tune the signal with the mouse scroll wheel. Especially for CW signals, this becomes second nature, a quick, fluid series of actions - point, click, fine tune up or down to zero-beat the signal (I do it by ear), using only one hand. This is good because I can't always point with perfect accuracy, so am often some tens or hundreds of Hz away from the desired signal. I set the scroll wheel fine tuning rate to either 10 or 50 Hz per step. With the P3, when I move the marker and tap the SELECT knob to QSY to the frequency of some CW signal, rarely end up at zero-beat, often at least 100-200 Hz away, sometimes more. So, in order to zero-beat I must move a hand to the K3 and tune it in or press SPOT. I'd rather finish the job using the hand already on the P3 SELECT knob, it's much easier that way when it's done repeatedly (search and pounce etc). I like panadaptor spans of 30 to 40 kHz, but even with narrower spans I just can't consistently get close enough to zero-beat with a CW signal on the P3 using the marker. What I'd like to propose is a P3 fine tune QSY mode (optional, controlled by menu setting), where the act of QSYing by tapping the SELECT knob not only changes the K3 frequency, but also: 1. Clears the marker. 2. Puts the P3 into a mode where turning the select knob one way or the other fine tunes the K3 at some rate like 200 Hz per revolution or so (a fine rate, maybe adjustable). 3. Then, after any required fine tuning is complete, one more tap of the select knob disables fine tuning, and it's business as usual. The marker is cleared in step 1 because otherwise turning the SELECT knob should continue to move the marker. So the flow goes like this, with the proposed Fine Tune QSY mode enabled in menu: 1. Tap MKR A to enable marker. 2. Turn SELECT knob to move marker onto desired signal. 3. Tap SELECT knob to QSY. The marker is cleared. Fine tuning of K3 is enabled. 4. Turn SELECT knob to fine tune (to zero-beat in the CW case, by ear or using CWT indicator) the desired signal. 5. Tap SELECT knob once more to disable fine tuning, returning to normal state. MKR B would get the same treatment. This would be perfectly general, working for all modes, and less tiring when QSYing repeatedly using the marker. Bob NW8L __ 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] [P3] SS Hardware
Hi All, Those with P3 in hand. Have you got SS hardware or normal h/w ? If possible,I would like to start of with SS h/w at the outset instead of retrofit at a later date. Have got mail for P3 confirmation,placed order on 16Apr'10. 73 es GD DX, Nandu..VU2NKS with sole K3 in VU __ 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] P3: a modest proposal for QSY
No what is going on is the P3 only displays one decimal point after Khz. Its dead on and it knows what the actual frequency is its just that it rounds it to save a little space at the center of the display. Move your eyes over to the radio or your logging software and you get a full readout of the same frequency from the same source the P3 is collecting it (the radio). Its not that you're off frequency its just that you're seeing a rounded copy of it on the P3. However once you center the P3 on the radios frequency you know that the P3 and the radio are in sync with one another and on the same frequency. ~Brett (N7MG) On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 11:11 AM, Lu Romero lrom...@ij.net wrote: So now I am getting a much better understanding... What Joe W4TV is saying is that a P3 is never more than 50 cycles from the K3 frequency readout when correctly calibrated. With a 100 cycle bandwidth, this is somewhat acceptable. However, on a Flex, I can click on a signal and be DEAD ON the signal I have selected. I have never operated a LP-Pan, but can I assume that it will function just like the Flex (it is the same software front end after all)? And Skimmer's waterfall display is also just as accurate. This means that if I am a shoot fish in a barrel mult operator and are combing the band for signals, I would be much more efficient time wise using a Flex/LP-Pan or a Skimmer than using a P3 on my K3, even with the Macro Magic CWT solution, right? The upside is that no computer is needed (which is a non trivial thing, IMO). Will/can the P3/K3 combination approach the accuracy of the above systems? -lu-w4lt- Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 02:58:27 -0400 From: Joe Subich, W4TV li...@subich.com Subject: Re: [Elecraft] P3: a modest proposal for QSY To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID: 4c639b93.8030...@subich.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed You're wrong Brett... No matter what you say the P3 doesn't automatically sync with the K3 to a 1Hz accuracy. The Center line on the P3 CAN be and usually is off by as much as 99Hz. You're wrong. The P3 display will never be more than 50 Hz from the K3 if you calibrate it properly. Hold center until the Center Frequency adjust display comes on and then hold Center again. The P3 center frequency will be calibrated to the K3 frequency ... the display will change +/- 50 Hz (e.g. it will show 10.000.0 from 9.999.950 to 10.000.049). Look, try this.. it's a very simple test. Take your rig, put it on 10.000.000 Now look at your P3, does it say 10.000.0. Let's say that it does (according to you it should), now, turn your VFO knob up until the P3 reads 10.000.1. Where is your K3 displaying? I'm sure it's not going to be 10.000.100. No, the P3 display will change to 10.000.1 at 10.000.050 as I just explained above. The P3 shows the correctly rounded version (not truncated) of the K3 frequency. If you want the P3 center frequency to align with the K3 simply do the Center Center process as documented in the manual. You just can't set the Ref-cal until you know the center has been set correctly. If you do, than you're going to have EVERYTHING out of wack by that much difference. Moving that Ref cal just confuses things more. If you properly zero the Center as instructed in the manual and use WWV or an AM broadcast signal with SPAN set to 2 KHz, you will get REF-CAL set to well less than 0.1 Hz ... probably on the order of 0.01 Hz. It's not rocket science ... just follow the instructions from those who designed the product and stop trying to argue. 73, ... Joe, W4TV __ 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] P3 Reference Calibraton Error
Well, that's what I get for reading this list while at work and trying to multi-task with other stuff... W4ZV states that the P3 display is NOT controlling the K3, but it's actually the other way around. Now this makes more sense. Let me know if I have understood this correctly: The P3 display *follows* the K3 within a 1.4 Hz, but displays the frequency ROUNDED OFF to 50 Hz. That is, the GRANULARITY of the P3 display, versus the granularity of the K3 display is 50 Hz versus the 1 Hz accuracy displayed by the K3. So, aftr all of the careful calibration is done and the rig and the K3 are warmed up and ready, when I QSY to a peak on the screen, gents, how close to the actual frequency of the displayed signal on the P3 do I come on the K3? My Christmas list is written in pencil... -lu-w4lt- Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 07:06:05 -0700 (PDT) From: Bill W4ZV btipp...@alum.mit.edu Subject: [Elecraft] P3 Reference Calibraton Error To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID: 1281621965933-5416204.p...@n2.nabble.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Brett Howard wrote: The center follows the K3 you can tell where it is based on the fact that there is a K3 next to you. So long as you've got the two synced and don't have a center offset in you know where the center is. Correct. I believe his confusion is thinking the P3 display is controlling the K3, but it's actually the other way around. 1. First calibrate the K3 to WWV using the K3 Manual procedure. With a good ear (or other methods) you can do this to 1 Hz. The K3 should be reading 15.000.000 with FINE resolution and you should hear no beating or change in pitch when switching between UCW and LCW. 2. The P3's Center line tracks the K3 so P3 CF is exactly indicating the K3's frequency (15.000.000) even though the display is rounded (i.e. 15.000.0). So far we have not touched our P3 at all. 3. Next calibrate the P3's spectrum display per the manual procedure by using Ref Cal to shift the spectrum display so that it centers on the center line. Use the minimum SPAN (2.0 kHz) and adjust Ref Cal in 10 Hz steps until the spectrum display is best aligned on the center line. I find this easiest to do if you set SCALE = 10 and adjust REF LVL so the signal peak is mid-scale in the P3 display. Adjust Ref Cal so the signal shoulders are symmetrical about the center, or as close to symmetrical as possible, given the 10 Hz adjustment resolution. Potential sources of error are: 1. Drift in K3 reference oscillator (49.38 MHz). 2. Drift in P3 reference oscillator (60 MHz). 3. Adjustment resolution of the P3's Ref Cal steps. Adjustment steps are 10 Hz (at the P3's 60 MHz clock). At WWV's 15 MHz (1/4 of 60 MHz), each adjustment step is 1/4 of 10 Hz = 2.5 Hz, which results in a maximum 1/2 step uncertainty (1.25 Hz) in adjustment resolution when centering the P3 display. The P3's adjustment error (e.g. 1.25 Hz at 15 MHz) is accurate enough to easily hit 50 Hz bandwidth filters when using the minimum SPAN (even assuming some reference oscillator drift). There may be other minor rounding errors in the DSP but I'll let the nit-pickers argue over that. 73, 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] [P3] Firmware Reload
You should also do a reset of the P3 after the reload of the latest software. Hold the MENU/LABELS key while turning the P3 power on. Hold the button till it says configuration reset. You'll lose your reference calibration and any of your FN labels but this has been known to flush out some of the problems that existed and gives you a clean slate from which to start from with your new firmware. ~Brett (N7MG) On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 9:14 AM, Bill W4ZV btipp...@alum.mit.edu wrote: Don Cunningham wrote: I forgot, in the heat of playing with a new toy, to pass something along that may help others. My P3 came loaded with the latest firmware, so I was happily using it, and having some strange issues, like excessive display flickering, signals not centered, readout on P3 not matching K3's dial, etc. Some MAJOR firmware fixes were implemented. The first thing anyone should do after turning on their new K3 or P3 is to load the latest firmware. Don't be afraid of this...it's very important for best performance and especially so for a newly introduced product. -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/P3-Firmware-Reload-tp5416645p5416797.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 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] P3: a modest proposal for QSY
Fair enough, so lets say that you're within 50Hz accuracy then... That still wouldn't QSY you to the Zero Beat on CW would it. 50 Hz is only the accuracy of the readout. Set Span to 2 KHz and move MKR A ... you will notice it moves with much finer resolution than 100 Hz steps. With a span of 50 KHz I can see 10 Hz steps in the frequency sent to the K3 when tapping the select knob. With a 100 KHz span, 50 Hz accuracy/resolution on select seems easy. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 8/12/2010 12:28 PM, The Smiths wrote: Fair enough, so lets say that you're within 50Hz accuracy then... That still wouldn't QSY you to the Zero Beat on CW would it. From: br...@livecomputers.com Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 23:15:02 -0700 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] P3: a modest proposal for QSY To: notforc...@hotmail.com CC: elecraft@mailman.qth.net My P3 shows a rounded version of what is on the K3 when they are synced. When my K3 says 7.100.000 the P3 shows 7.100.0 when I go to 7.100.050 it goes to 7.100.1 its a rounded version. So when my P3 and K3 are synced (by simply pressing center twice) I can read the frequency on the K3 and know that is the frequency that the P3 is on. I simply set the K3 to 10.000.000 and then do the ref cal on the P3. ~Brett (N7MG) On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 11:09 PM, The Smithsnotforc...@hotmail.com wrote: You're wrong Brett... No matter what you say the P3 doesn't automatically sync with the K3 to a 1Hz accuracy. The Center line on the P3 CAN be and usually is off by as much as 99Hz. No matter how you look at it, if you can move a Center position on the P3 with the select knob in the CENTER adjustment mode, and it doesn't change from the reading of 10.000.0 until you get up to 10.000.1 or down to 9.999.9 than logic tells you that SOMETHING is changing between those two positions which just happen to be 100Hz apart from each other. Conversely, if you can change the K3 from 10.000.099 down to 9.999.999 before the display on the P3 center line changes, than obviously the K3 and the P3 are not in sync to the Hz. Look, try this.. it's a very simple test. Take your rig, put it on 10.000.000 Now look at your P3, does it say 10.000.0. Let's say that it does (according to you it should), now, turn your VFO knob up until the P3 reads 10.000.1. Where is your K3 displaying? I'm sure it's not going to be 10.000.100. I know mine sure isn't, and that's after I set that center as close as possible. My rig displays 10.000.042. That's 58Hz off. Take your VFO move it down until the P3 says 9.999.9. What does your K3 display? Mine says 9.999.940, 60Hz Off. it's NOT accurate. We need the extra 2 digits in order to set the true Center of the P3 BEFORE doing a Ref-Cal. You just can't set the Ref-cal until you know the center has been set correctly. If you do, than you're going to have EVERYTHING out of wack by that much difference. Moving that Ref cal just confuses things more. I'm not over thinking it, on the contrary you're putting your head in the sand and pretending that the P3's center is following the K3 with 000Hz accuracy. When you center that marker and hit the QSY button you are going to move the CENTER of that carrier on the display as far or as close to the center that you just calibrated it to. You're just wrong.. I'm sorry. I don't know why Alan hasn't just come on here and said so... I've already seen 3 posts from him since we've been discussing this. The only people that this isn't important to are SSB guys that don't mind coming within 100Hz of the QSY freq. I don't know if you do CW, but I do, and when I land 80 hz away from someone with my 100 Hz filter on it makes a difference. The P3 was designed with SSB guys in mind, NOT cw guys. The accuracy of the center display, and the tremendous warm up drift all indicate it. I love my P3, and I'm having fun with it, but if Alan wants to make this friendly to the CW guys that requires more accuracy than the SSB guys use. He's going to have to 1 - re-write the manual on how to set up the Center, then the Ref-cal alignments, and then 2 - add the extra 2 digits to the center display freq. This is NO different that putting your K3 on 10.000.000 and setting up the Zero beat on your Config: Ref Cal. You just wouldn't do it that way if you didn't know that your K3 wasn't parked at exactly 10.000.000. You can disagree all you like. I've made my point, shown my facts, and I'm not going to argue any further on the reflector. Feel free to contact me off the reflector if you need me to explain further. That goes for Alan as well, I would love to talk with you and explain what's going on here if my explanation doesn't make sense to you. From: br...@livecomputers.com Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:53:07 -0700 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] P3: a modest proposal for QSY To: notforc...@hotmail.com The P3 is centered on the K3 by default. Thus you can read the K3 to tell what frequency the P3
Re: [Elecraft] K3 #4407 - dead
This was exactly my point - unless you have a letter-perfect installation, leaving things connected and relying on a bunch of gas tubes is a recipe for disaster. As Guy suggested, disconnection won't always prevent damage, but remaining connected with less than professionally designed and installed bonding schemes is just inviting it. 73, Pete N4ZR The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at www.conteststations.com The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net, blog at reversebeacon.blogspot.com, spots at telnet.reversebeacon.net, port 7000 On 8/12/2010 12:50 PM, W8JI wrote: The real problem is almost always that people pepper the station with protection devices but use poor wiring layouts or poor entrance schemes. 99% of the protection is in the layout and bonding, not in the protection devices we throw into the system. __ 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] P3: a modest proposal for QSY
Lu, I don't think the accuracy is a problem, it is the rounding of the frequency that is displayed on the P3 - that is simply resolution of the frequency indicated. At least that is my understanding from a perusal of the P3 manual. The screen is continuous, but a frequency of 7035.265 displayed on the K3 will be 7035.3 on the P3 In fact, any frequency between 7035.250 and 7035.349 will show up on the P3 as 7035.3 If there are several signals in that 100 Hertz span, you should be able to point to one of them and click - the K3 should show the low order digits, the P3 will not. 73, Don W3FPR Lu Romero wrote: So now I am getting a much better understanding... What Joe W4TV is saying is that a P3 is never more than 50 cycles from the K3 frequency readout when correctly calibrated. With a 100 cycle bandwidth, this is somewhat acceptable. . Will/can the P3/K3 combination approach the accuracy of the above systems? -lu-w4lt- __ 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] Free to a good home...OT
Here is the compatibility listing for the C-S2 battery, FWIW. http://www.wirelessground.com/blba10mahoro.html On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:22:29 -0300, cx...@4email.net wrote: Hola, I have a OEM battery for a Blackberry, model C-S2. I think it fits the 8300-8500 and 8700 series of BB. I ordered, received it and opened the package before realizing that my 8900 takes diff battery. Unopened meant not able to return. I will be in the states for two weeks starting 16 Aug. FCFS. 73 Tom CX7TT __ 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 -- 73 de N6CCH aka Rebar __ 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] P3 Ideas and questions
Make sure you have the latest software installed and do a configuration reset by holding MENU/LABELS while turning the P3 on. Continue to hold MENU/LABELS till it says that its reset things. Then reconfigure your ref cal and your FN labels and see if it takes care of things for you. Thankfully there arent a TON of configurable things in the P3 (yet) so its not too painful to do a reset... ;) ~Brett (N7MG) On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 5:29 AM, Craig D. Smith cr...@powersmith.net wrote: I had previously tried it with FN 1 and FN 2 without success. I just now tried it with FN 7 and get the same result. Brett N7MG who is one of the field testers has indicated that this is, or has been, a known issue - so I am confident that it will be resolved in an upcoming firmware revision. In the meantime, it is no big deal. 73 Craig AC0DS Try moving that function to another button.. For example, use F7, and that's where I have mine now without issue. See if that works for you. __ 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 #4407 - dead
Just FYI, Tripp Lite says their DB9R uses avalanche diodes. From Wikipedia: A common application is protecting electronic circuits http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_circuit against damaging high voltages http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overvoltage. The avalanche diode is connected to the circuit so that it is reverse-biased. In other words, its cathode http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathode is positive with respect to its anode http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anode. In this configuration, the diode is non-conducting and does not interfere with the circuit. If the voltage increases beyond the design limit, the diode suffers avalanche breakdown http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avalanche_breakdown, causing the harmful voltage to be conducted to earth. When used in this fashion they are often referred to as clamper diodes http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Clamper_diodesaction=editredlink=1 or Transient voltage suppression diode http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transient_voltage_suppression_diode because they clamp the maximum voltage to a predetermined level. Avalanche diodes are normally specified for this role by their clamping voltage /V/_BR and the maximum size of transient they can absorb, specified by either energy (in joules http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joule) or /i/^2 /t/. Avalanche breakdown is not destructive, as long as the diode is not allowed to overheat. 73, Pete N4ZR The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at www.conteststations.com The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net, blog at reversebeacon.blogspot.com, spots at telnet.reversebeacon.net, port 7000 On 8/12/2010 8:58 AM, Jim McDonald wrote: I moved the internet unit off my tower and made other improvements, including adding a Tripp-Lite DB9 surge protector (MOVs, I assume) at the K3. My new computer is connected to the router via RF instead of Ethernet even though it's only a few feet away. __ 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} PSK31 tuning
On Aug 12, 2010, at 8/129:09 AM, Lyle Johnson wrote: ... Tuning is critical and an error of more than 5 Hz changes from solid copy to no copy. With a binary PSK demodulator, you can be off tuned up to an amount of plus or minus 90 degrees of perfect phase coherency between bit periods (what is sometimes called a modulation chip). BPSK31 has a bit rate of 31.25 per second. That means the carrier or pseudo carrier can be off up to 90 degrees in 1/31.25 of a second, i.e., 7.8 Hz is how much a demodulator can be off tuned under good SNR conditions. With QPSK31, everything is halved since the signal constellation is doubled but all still lie on the circumference of a single circle. If a higher order DPSK demodulator is used (for example, an Okunev demodulator), then the tuning range will be reduced accordingly. A second order Okunev for BPSK31 requires 5.2 Hz tuning accuracy, a third order Okunev requires 3.9 Hz, and so on. Higher order demodulators can give very significantly fewer decoding errors, but you also need to tune more carefully. Higher order demodulators (ditto coherent demodulation schemes such as the Costas Loop) also perform poorly when there is HF multipath. Under non-ideal propagation, the simplest non-coherent differential PSK demodulator often works best for copying BPSK31. It is also the most forgiving when it comes to tuning accuracy. 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] P3: a modest proposal for QSY
Yes, this is enough to hit the spot button, but having the extra two digits would be very helpful. You don't need the extra digits for REF CAL. Simply zero beat your reference signal on the K3, Hold CENTER twice to align the P3 Center frequency with the K3, then turn on REF CAL and adjust the signal so it is centered in the display. P3 REF CAL doesn't care about the frequency of the signal you are using for alignment. The only thing REF CAL does is to move the spectrum/Waterfall display so it aligns with the frequency reported by the K3. You can even use one of those strange beacons on a odd frequency as long as you properly tune the station and do CENTER CENTER before adjusting REF CAL. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 8/12/2010 12:31 PM, The Smiths wrote: I agree with you for once Joe... 50Hz sounds right. If you Ref cal from that point than you'll most likely be 4 to 5Hz off. I've not once been able to get it to 1Hz resolution. Yes, this is enough to hit the spot button, but having the extra two digits would be very helpful. Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 02:58:27 -0400 From: li...@subich.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] P3: a modest proposal for QSY You're wrong Brett... No matter what you say the P3 doesn't automatically sync with the K3 to a 1Hz accuracy. The Center line on the P3 CAN be and usually is off by as much as 99Hz. You're wrong. The P3 display will never be more than 50 Hz from the K3 if you calibrate it properly. Hold center until the Center Frequency adjust display comes on and then hold Center again. The P3 center frequency will be calibrated to the K3 frequency ... the display will change +/- 50 Hz (e.g. it will show 10.000.0 from 9.999.950 to 10.000.049). Look, try this.. it's a very simple test. Take your rig, put it on 10.000.000 Now look at your P3, does it say 10.000.0. Let's say that it does (according to you it should), now, turn your VFO knob up until the P3 reads 10.000.1. Where is your K3 displaying? I'm sure it's not going to be 10.000.100. No, the P3 display will change to 10.000.1 at 10.000.050 as I just explained above. The P3 shows the correctly rounded version (not truncated) of the K3 frequency. If you want the P3 center frequency to align with the K3 simply do the Center Center process as documented in the manual. You just can't set the Ref-cal until you know the center has been set correctly. If you do, than you're going to have EVERYTHING out of wack by that much difference. Moving that Ref cal just confuses things more. If you properly zero the Center as instructed in the manual and use WWV or an AM broadcast signal with SPAN set to 2 KHz, you will get REF-CAL set to well less than 0.1 Hz ... probably on the order of 0.01 Hz. It's not rocket science ... just follow the instructions from those who designed the product and stop trying to argue. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 8/12/2010 2:09 AM, The Smiths wrote: You're wrong Brett... No matter what you say the P3 doesn't automatically sync with the K3 to a 1Hz accuracy. The Center line on the P3 CAN be and usually is off by as much as 99Hz. No matter how you look at it, if you can move a Center position on the P3 with the select knob in the CENTER adjustment mode, and it doesn't change from the reading of 10.000.0 until you get up to 10.000.1 or down to 9.999.9 than logic tells you that SOMETHING is changing between those two positions which just happen to be 100Hz apart from each other. Conversely, if you can change the K3 from 10.000.099 down to 9.999.999 before the display on the P3 center line changes, than obviously the K3 and the P3 are not in sync to the Hz. Look, try this.. it's a very simple test. Take your rig, put it on 10.000.000 Now look at your P3, does it say 10.000.0. Let's say that it does (according to you it should), now, turn your VFO knob up until the P3 reads 10.000.1. Where is your K3 displaying? I'm sure it's not going to be 10.000.100. I know mine sure isn't, and that's after I set that center as close as possible. My rig displays 10.000.042. That's 58Hz off. Take your VFO move it down until the P3 says 9.999.9. What does your K3 display? Mine says 9.999.940, 60Hz Off. it's NOT accurate. We need the extra 2 digits in order to set the true Center of the P3 BEFORE doing a Ref-Cal. You just can't set the Ref-cal until you know the center has been set correctly. If you do, than you're going to have EVERYTHING out of wack by that much difference. Moving that Ref cal just confuses things more. I'm not over thinking it, on the contrary you're putting your head in the sand and pretending that the P3's center is following the K3 with 000Hz accuracy. When you center that marker and hit the QSY button you are going to move the CENTER of that carrier on the display as far or as close to the center that you just calibrated it to. You're just wrong.. I'm sorry. I don't know why Alan hasn't just come on
Re: [Elecraft] {k3} PSK31 tuning
Ron, I share the same challenges with PSK and RTTY decoding. My baseline is to operate my K3 while RV camping and to explore as much as I can without using a computer. I don't have full answers and folks like Lyle have been most helpful. I was last on HF 25 years ago so my K3, SN 4335, is pretty new. I think my challenge has been to better identify some aids to help in the tuning. See http://www.netdave.com/wa0ttn/Tuning.asp but note he demonstrates some concepts using a PC and I still want to tackle while camping. As a work in progress, here are some things I've noticed and some questions for the group. WA0TTN article above mentions to keep the PSK31 signal in the center of the most sensitive audio region of your receiver. I have 8-pole 2.8 and 8-pole 400 Hz filters but still uncertain where the most sensitive audio region of the K3 is. The tactics I'm using right now is that I set one VFO on data mode and the other VFO mode on CW, using 440 Hz (the A above C on the musical scale--the 'perfect pitch' A. It isn't clear to me yet, despite some poking around on the net what two frequencies are used for PSK signaling. I'm assuming that if I knew the 2 freqs then I could pick a center freq and use some PITCH setting in CW mode to get me close? For example, one of the PSK macros submitted by Matt, W6NIA, in the K3 Utility Command Tester Help file shifts the IF center freq to 1100 Hz and changes filter bandwidth to 1800 Hz. But there isn't explanation of why those numbers were chosen and I haven't tried IF shifting before. In other words, when I can't get a quick decode using the recommended techniques, what can I do in CW mode to 'get me in the ballpark. I do notice that I can decode much weaker PSK signals than RTTY signals -- and that is still a challenge for me (have some disabilities). Within the last day or two, it occurred to me that I should tune into the W1AW data transmissions 14.095 at 3PM and 6PM Pacific time. Then I assume that once I get a solid decode, I could switch into CW or some other mode to compare what the audio should sound like. It would be neat to pick a certain CW pitch freq then SPOT it in CW mode to get me closer. SPOT in PSK mode sometimes works and sometimes doesn't, but without a computer I can't analyze why it works or why it doesn't work. I haven't run into too much QRM as an issue and SPOT PSK mode certainly works pretty good on strong signals. SPOT CW mode on actual CW signals pretty much is nearly 100% in matching whatever PITCH tone I select. But, as the more experienced folks say, the SPOT PSK technique doesn't get a PSK decode with the same reliability as SPOT CW when actually doing CW QSOs. I'll be following this thread most carefully. Dennis KB7ST Snohomish WA -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/k3-PSK31-tuning-tp5416698p5417461.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 #4407 - dead
On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:32:59 -0400, Tom W8JI wrote: I'm going to disagree with the popular but misplaced notion that when lightning hits nothing can be done to prevent damage other than a complete disconnect. The real problem is almost always that people pepper the station with protection devices but use poor wiring layouts or poor entrance schemes. 99% of the protection is in the layout and bonding, not in the protection devices we throw into the system. I strongly agree. Proper bonding is probably more important than protection devices (although I wouldn't do without either). And IMPROPER bonding, or missing bonding, is a common CAUSE of lightning damage. This is especially true when shunt mode protection is in use (MOVs, for example). 73, Jim Brown K9YC __ 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] [P3] Firmware Reload
I just did the reset and it fixed the problem with the waterfall function disappearing from the FN keys. I had never done a reset previously. Thanks Brett! 73 Craig AC0DS You should also do a reset of the P3 after the reload of the latest software. __ 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} PSK31 tuning
One thing that is important to remember is to make sure the threshold setting is set so that the signal indicator on the CWT meter is set to beat with the signal. If you have it set for copying moderately strong signals and you try to copy a weak one you may need to adjust the threshold a bit. - 73, Greg - AB7R Whidbey Island WA NA-065 On Thu Aug 12 12:04 , Dennis KB7ST sent: Ron, I share the same challenges with PSK and RTTY decoding. My baseline is to operate my K3 while RV camping and to explore as much as I can without using a computer. I don't have full answers and folks like Lyle have been most helpful. I was last on HF 25 years ago so my K3, SN 4335, is pretty new. I think my challenge has been to better identify some aids to help in the tuning. See http://www.netdave.com/wa0ttn/Tuning.asp but note he demonstrates some concepts using a PC and I still want to tackle while camping. As a work in progress, here are some things I've noticed and some questions for the group. WA0TTN article above mentions to keep the PSK31 signal in the center of the most sensitive audio region of your receiver. I have 8-pole 2.8 and 8-pole 400 Hz filters but still uncertain where the most sensitive audio region of the K3 is. The tactics I'm using right now is that I set one VFO on data mode and the other VFO mode on CW, using 440 Hz (the A above C on the musical scale--the 'perfect pitch' A. It isn't clear to me yet, despite some poking around on the net what two frequencies are used for PSK signaling. I'm assuming that if I knew the 2 freqs then I could pick a center freq and use some PITCH setting in CW mode to get me close? For example, one of the PSK macros submitted by Matt, W6NIA, in the K3 Utility Command Tester Help file shifts the IF center freq to 1100 Hz and changes filter bandwidth to 1800 Hz. But there isn't explanation of why those numbers were chosen and I haven't tried IF shifting before. In other words, when I can't get a quick decode using the recommended techniques, what can I do in CW mode to 'get me in the ballpark. I do notice that I can decode much weaker PSK signals than RTTY signals -- and that is still a challenge for me (have some disabilities). Within the last day or two, it occurred to me that I should tune into the W1AW data transmissions 14.095 at 3PM and 6PM Pacific time. Then I assume that once I get a solid decode, I could switch into CW or some other mode to compare what the audio should sound like. It would be neat to pick a certain CW pitch freq then SPOT it in CW mode to get me closer. SPOT in PSK mode sometimes works and sometimes doesn't, but without a computer I can't analyze why it works or why it doesn't work. I haven't run into too much QRM as an issue and SPOT PSK mode certainly works pretty good on strong signals. SPOT CW mode on actual CW signals pretty much is nearly 100% in matching whatever PITCH tone I select. But, as the more experienced folks say, the SPOT PSK technique doesn't get a PSK decode with the same reliability as SPOT CW when actually doing CW QSOs. I'll be following this thread most carefully. Dennis KB7ST Snohomish WA -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/k3-PSK31-tuning- tp5416698p5417461.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: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net','','','')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] P3: a modest proposal for QSY
What Joe W4TV is saying is that a P3 is never more than 50 cycles from the K3 frequency readout when correctly calibrated. With a 100 cycle bandwidth, this is somewhat acceptable. You take what I said out of context. That statement was in reference to the FREQUENCY DISPLAY. The FREQUENCY DISPLAY is never move than 50 cycles from the K3 FREQUENCY DISPLAY. That divergence is ONLY because the K3 FREQUENCY display ROUNDS to the nearest 100 Hz (0.1 KHz). However, on a Flex, I can click on a signal and be DEAD ON the signal I have selected. If you have sufficient span (visual resolution) selecting a signal on the P3 will put you dead on in the K3. However, it is just like clicking on the spectrum or waterfall in any digital program, the mouse has a one pixel resolution - if you are trying to use a spectrum/waterfall span of 100 KHz in a window that is 360 pixels wide (1/4 of an SXGA screen), the BEST you can do is +/- 138 Hz (100 KHz/360). If you are using PowerSDR (the real FlexRadio) in full screen mode on a 1600 pixel wide screen, each pixel will represent about 70 Hz (100KHz/~1400 - the spectrum/waterfall is not full width) and you can get within +/-35 Hz. The same factors apply to the P3 ... your maximum accuracy is SPAN/DISPLAY RESOLUTION. In the case of a 100 KHz span, 100KHz/480 +/- 100Hz ... that's one pixel and represents the resolution limit of the display. However, I don't see it as a real issue since a 100 KHz wide view only makes sense on a relatively quiet band and you're not going to be using a 50 Hz wide filter under those circumstances. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 8/12/2010 2:11 PM, Lu Romero wrote: So now I am getting a much better understanding... What Joe W4TV is saying is that a P3 is never more than 50 cycles from the K3 frequency readout when correctly calibrated. With a 100 cycle bandwidth, this is somewhat acceptable. However, on a Flex, I can click on a signal and be DEAD ON the signal I have selected. I have never operated a LP-Pan, but can I assume that it will function just like the Flex (it is the same software front end after all)? And Skimmer's waterfall display is also just as accurate. This means that if I am a shoot fish in a barrel mult operator and are combing the band for signals, I would be much more efficient time wise using a Flex/LP-Pan or a Skimmer than using a P3 on my K3, even with the Macro Magic CWT solution, right? The upside is that no computer is needed (which is a non trivial thing, IMO). Will/can the P3/K3 combination approach the accuracy of the above systems? -lu-w4lt- __ 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] P3: Connection to the K2
Given the similarities between the K2 and K3 command sets, one should not need more than the Clifton Research Z-10 buffer to bring out the K2 IF and select the proper IF frequency in the P3. The radio data rate would need to be changed to 4800 bps (only rate supported by the KIO2) and the VFO cursors (bandwidth) might not act correctly due to differences in the FW/IS commands ... the only showstopper would be the data rate issue. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On Thu, 2010-08-12 at 09:18 +0200, Heinz Bärtschi wrote: It would be fine if the P3 could provide a configurable K2 emulation mode to communicate with the K2 and to support an appropriate (sub-)set of the exciting P3 functions in conjunction with the K2. Any pros and cons? 73, Heinz HB9BCB __ 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} PSK31 tuning
The K3's PSK encoder and decoder (used in DATA: PSK D mode) uses a pitch just above 1,000 Hz. If you narrow the badnwidth and use the CWT feature, you'll get the PSK signal. YOU can use the SPOT function in conjunction with the CWT indicator in this mode as described in the K3 manual. For RTTY, you have choices for the MARK tone using the PITCH button while selecting DAT AFSK or DATA FSK modes. You must manually tune the RTTY signal using the tuning indicator as described in the K3 manual. The MARK pitch you choose need not be the same the MARK pitch used by the sending station. 73, Lyle KK7P I share the same challenges with PSK and RTTY decoding __ 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 #4407 - dead
I strongly agree. Proper bonding is probably more important than protection devices (although I wouldn't do without either). And IMPROPER bonding, or missing bonding, is a common CAUSE of lightning damage. Not to be piling on ... but improper bonding will GUARANTEE lightning damage. Any system that lacks proper bonding will assure that the transceiver and computer are connected to two grounds that WILL have a significant voltage difference in the event of a nearby lightning strike or significant power surge. As soon as the ground potentials diverge by more than 5 Volts you have the possibility that logic devices will be damaged due to reverse voltage when the chassis (ground potential) in one device goes above the power supply voltage in the other device. This can happen if the RF ground (coax shield) goes positive with respect to the safety ground (grounding pin on the power cable) or if the safety ground goes high with respect to the RF ground. This is especially true when shunt mode protection is in use (MOVs, for example). MOVs on power distribution circuits can very easily cause the safety ground to reach several hundred volts in improperly wired (open ground or reversed ground and neutral) installations. Unless you are 100% sure that your home/shack is properly wired and bonded, the *ONLY* place you should have shunt mode protection is at the service entrance (meter) or primary circuit breaker panel (what is known as whole house protection). 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 8/12/2010 3:09 PM, Jim Brown wrote: On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:32:59 -0400, Tom W8JI wrote: I'm going to disagree with the popular but misplaced notion that when lightning hits nothing can be done to prevent damage other than a complete disconnect. The real problem is almost always that people pepper the station with protection devices but use poor wiring layouts or poor entrance schemes. 99% of the protection is in the layout and bonding, not in the protection devices we throw into the system. I strongly agree. Proper bonding is probably more important than protection devices (although I wouldn't do without either). And IMPROPER bonding, or missing bonding, is a common CAUSE of lightning damage. This is especially true when shunt mode protection is in use (MOVs, for example). 73, Jim Brown K9YC __ 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 #4407 - dead
If one absolutely insists on branch circuit protection at the AC receptacle, MOV shunt mode from line-to-neutral, rather than line-to-ground, is generally acceptable. These are referred to as single-mode surge protection devices (SPD). By contrast, most receptacle and power strip SPDs utilize the so-called 3-mode MOV shunting and can produce the disastrous results that Joe and K9YC have described. Paul, W9AC Unless you are 100% sure that your home/shack is properly wired and bonded, the *ONLY* place you should have shunt mode protection is at the service entrance (meter) or primary circuit breaker panel (what is known as whole house protection). __ 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] [P3] K3IOBUFFKT comes with P3
Just a note to those ordering a P3 and have not done the above mod - you don't need to order the mod separatey, it comes with the P3. 73 de M0XDF, K3 #174, P3 #108 -- The nice thing about standards is that there are so many of them to choose from. -Andrew Tannenbaum, computer science professor (1944- ) __ 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] [P3] K3IOBUFFKT comes with P3
I also got one of the referenced kits with my P3 and my radio was late enough not to need it. I would send it to anyone with an older rig that needs it for another purpose (not ordering the P3, that is). 73, Don, WB5HAK __ 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} PSK31 tuning
Thanks to all that replied. I guess the problem is not with me... I expected PSK31 operation to be less critical after playing with Digipan. I also had hoped to use the computer interface to incorporate PSK/RTTY operation into my home brew logger/station control. But between tuning difficulties and quirky interface behavior I guess it will have to wait... Maybe the P3 will do something to help this in the future. __ 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] [P3] - missing Nuts
No, it's not a joke! I've just inventoried my P3 kit and the 2 9/16' BNC Nuts are missing from the Chassis Hardware - E850409 packet. I've checked the entire kit and the aren’t there, including ensuring they aren’t on the 2 BNC sockets. The 4 lock washers are in the packet. Have mailed Sales, but just wondering if anyone else with a delivery today is missing them too? 73 de M0XDF, K3 #174, P3 #108 -- All the world's a stage and most of us are desperately unrehearsed. -Sean O'Casey, playwright (1880-1964) __ 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] [P3] - missing Nuts
These nuts were also missing from SN107 kit. Ed - W0YK --Original Message-- From: David Ferrington, M0XDF Sender: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] [P3] - missing Nuts Sent: Aug 12, 2010 14:19 No, it's not a joke! I've just inventoried my P3 kit and the 2 9/16' BNC Nuts are missing from the Chassis Hardware - E850409 packet. I've checked the entire kit and the aren’t there, including ensuring they aren’t on the 2 BNC sockets. The 4 lock washers are in the packet. Have mailed Sales, but just wondering if anyone else with a delivery today is missing them too? 73 de M0XDF, K3 #174, P3 #108 -- All the world's a stage and most of us are desperately unrehearsed. -Sean O'Casey, playwright (1880-1964) __ 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 Sent from my BlackBerry __ 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] [P3] - missing Nuts
Just had a mail from Lisa, they are shipping Int'l priority. Can't fault Elecraft of customer service. Interesting it's the number before mine Ed. 73 de M0XDF, K3 #174, P3 #108 -- There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience. -French proverb On 12 Aug 2010, at 22:40, Ed Muns wrote: These nuts were also missing from SN107 kit. Ed - W0YK --Original Message-- From: David Ferrington, M0XDF Sender: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] [P3] - missing Nuts Sent: Aug 12, 2010 14:19 No, it's not a joke! I've just inventoried my P3 kit and the 2 9/16' BNC Nuts are missing from the Chassis Hardware - E850409 packet. I've checked the entire kit and the aren’t there, including ensuring they aren’t on the 2 BNC sockets. The 4 lock washers are in the packet. Have mailed Sales, but just wondering if anyone else with a delivery today is missing them too? __ 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] P3 - Missing Nuts
This morning I picked up P3 Kit No.77 (ordered April 15) from the Parcelforce Leeds Depot. I assembled it this afternoon and it works well :-) Luckily I have all my nuts ;-) but the following minor points arose, mainly about the latest manual and errata:- 1. As far as I can tell, having searched the (good) packaging several times, my kit did not include the Hole Cover - Part No E100396 referred to in Errata A3-1. I have emailed parts. 2. Errata A-3 asks for the part number of the ribbon cable to be changed on page 25 of the manual, but it's already the same as the part number in the Errata. 3. Item 5 in Errata A3-1 asks for a change to be made on page 38 of the manual but the change is actually required on page 37, not 38. (The change refers to page 38) 4. Page 36. The paragraph at the top of the page asks for one end of the TMP cable to be plugged into J102 on the RF Board. On my RF Board the TMP socket is labelled J902. 73 to all Geoff G3UCK __ 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 inline fuse
You are much better off using the current limiting feature of your dc supply. A fuse is not fast enough to protect any electronic circuitry. Strictly speaking a fuse in line is rated to protect the cable in the event of a short circuit in the rig which would be a very big fuse, far bigger than your psu is rated to supply most likely. Fuses and their holders are too slow and drop valuable volts along with the cable drop and connectors, which all add up to a poorer distortion figure on transmit. David G3UNA Hi, I am ready to apply 12v for the first time to my new K3. Should I have a inline fuse on the DC to the K3? and if so what amp. Just don't look right not to have a fuse inline. Thanks Chris W7CTH __ 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 inline fuse
I completely agree with you. The inline fuses are there for mobile installations where you have a direct connection to the car battery. On my ICOM radios I have always shortened the power cable removing the inline fuse in the process. AB2TC - Knut David Cutter wrote: You are much better off using the current limiting feature of your dc supply. A fuse is not fast enough to protect any electronic circuitry. Strictly speaking a fuse in line is rated to protect the cable in the event of a short circuit in the rig which would be a very big fuse, far bigger than your psu is rated to supply most likely. Fuses and their holders are too slow and drop valuable volts along with the cable drop and connectors, which all add up to a poorer distortion figure on transmit. David G3UNA snip -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-inline-fuse-tp5414371p5418061.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 inline fuse
Follow the instructions and check the + terminal to - with an ohm meter for any shorts. The problem you face is the transistor is the worlds fastest fuse and on initial turn on you are looking at a low current surge as the unit charges the supply and decoupling caps. A full current rated fuse will not protect the PCB if you did something wrong, nor will current limit if set for the max current the K3 will draw on transmit. If you test the resistance first, the chances are you will be safe on initial power up. Like one suggested using a current limiting PS set say at 3 amps, that will protect you adequately. When the K3 comes alive, you can increase the current limit to operating conditions. I hope this helps. Mel --- On Thu, 8/12/10, ab2tc ab...@arrl.net wrote: From: ab2tc ab...@arrl.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 inline fuse To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Thursday, August 12, 2010, 3:13 PM I completely agree with you. The inline fuses are there for mobile installations where you have a direct connection to the car battery. On my ICOM radios I have always shortened the power cable removing the inline fuse in the process. AB2TC - Knut David Cutter wrote: You are much better off using the current limiting feature of your dc supply. A fuse is not fast enough to protect any electronic circuitry. Strictly speaking a fuse in line is rated to protect the cable in the event of a short circuit in the rig which would be a very big fuse, far bigger than your psu is rated to supply most likely. Fuses and their holders are too slow and drop valuable volts along with the cable drop and connectors, which all add up to a poorer distortion figure on transmit. David G3UNA snip -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-inline-fuse-tp5414371p5418061.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
[Elecraft] K3 in line fuse
The fuse is used to prevent secondary failure. Fast response fuses are timed in msecs. Besides when was the last time anybody put a high current amp meter across the output of their power supply to test the current limiting point? George, W6GF __ 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 inline fuse
The best method is Wayne's suggestion from way back: In both Neg and Pos leads, supply a fuseholder and fuse. I use the stubby fuses from Motorola @ 30A, you should use something like that. These are T-rated, meaning they're designed to open with a DC load. Don't use a fuse out of your home's fusebox... General setup: 12V AGM Battery @ 110 AH, cabled to a set of panel-mounted MOT inline fuse holders. Each lead is covered by a 30A fuse. The battery is charged by solar power, two Siemens SR50 (50W) panels on the roof of the shack. Note: This recommendation is a little more permanent than what you're probably looking for right now. If you're interested in this approach, I can probably get you the part numbers you need. MOT has a service center in IL, and you can phone in your order. 73, matt W6NIA On Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:32:12 -0700 (PDT), you wrote: Hi, I am ready to apply 12v for the first time to my new K3. Should I have a inline fuse on the DC to the K3? and if so what amp. Just don't look right not to have a fuse inline. Thanks Chris W7CTH __ 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] K2 internal keyer 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
Re: [Elecraft] [P3][w2] Firmware Reload
I had an issue with W2. Could not figure out what was going on. It was WORKING! Cables ok, everything tested ok. Had current firmware... reloaded it again. Fixed! WHEW! When in doubt, reload, reboot. Bill -Original Message- I forgot, in the heat of playing with a new toy, to pass something along that may help others. My P3 came loaded with the latest firmware, so I was happily using it, and having some strange issues, like excessive display flickering, signals not centered, readout on P3 not matching K3's dial, etc. I was in the midst of reading the calibration section of the manual, loading P3 utility and several other things at once and I just happened to reload the P3 firmware really just to see if all was okay in my cabling. Presto, all those issues suddenly went away!!! We too often take firmware for granted, I think, and I suspect I may have had some corruption in the download from the factory. If the reload didn't fix mine, I guess I just had a miraculous healing of my P3, hi. 73 all, Don, WB5HAK __ __ 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 internal keyer problem
I will do more testing. The auto detect is off, and I have good baluns/chokes on both of my antennas. It may be that I'm too close to my new elevated 40 vertical antenna. -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K2-internal-keyer-problem-tp5385342p5418371.html Sent from the [K2] 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] P3: a modest proposal for QSY
No worries. I figured this stuff out in a later post. The K3 is the boss, the P3 is the slave. Sorry about the bandwidth. I aint thinking correctly at work. Trying to do too much at once. -lu- - Original Message Follows - From: Joe Subich, W4TV li...@subich.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net, Lu Romero w...@ij.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] P3: a modest proposal for QSY Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:23:09 -0400 What Joe W4TV is saying is that a P3 is never more than 50 cycles from the K3 frequency readout when correctly calibrated. With a 100 cycle bandwidth, this is somewhat acceptable. You take what I said out of context. That statement was in reference to the FREQUENCY DISPLAY. The FREQUENCY DISPLAY is never move than 50 cycles from the K3 FREQUENCY DISPLAY. That divergence is ONLY because the K3 FREQUENCY display ROUNDS to the nearest 100 Hz (0.1 KHz). However, on a Flex, I can click on a signal and be DEAD ON the signal I have selected. If you have sufficient span (visual resolution) selecting a signal on the P3 will put you dead on in the K3. However, it is just like clicking on the spectrum or waterfall in any digital program, the mouse has a one pixel resolution - if you are trying to use a spectrum/waterfall span of 100 KHz in a window that is 360 pixels wide (1/4 of an SXGA screen), the BEST you can do is +/- 138 Hz (100 KHz/360). If you are using PowerSDR (the real FlexRadio) in full screen mode on a 1600 pixel wide screen, each pixel will represent about 70 Hz (100KHz/~1400 - the spectrum/waterfall is not full width) and you can get within +/-35 Hz. The same factors apply to the P3 ... your maximum accuracy is SPAN/DISPLAY RESOLUTION. In the case of a 100 KHz span, 100KHz/480 +/- 100Hz ... that's one pixel and represents the resolution limit of the display. However, I don't see it as a real issue since a 100 KHz wide view only makes sense on a relatively quiet band and you're not going to be using a 50 Hz wide filter under those circumstances. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 8/12/2010 2:11 PM, Lu Romero wrote: So now I am getting a much better understanding... What Joe W4TV is saying is that a P3 is never more than 50 cycles from the K3 frequency readout when correctly calibrated. With a 100 cycle bandwidth, this is somewhat acceptable. However, on a Flex, I can click on a signal and be DEAD ON the signal I have selected. I have never operated a LP-Pan, but can I assume that it will function just like the Flex (it is the same software front end after all)? And Skimmer's waterfall display is also just as accurate. This means that if I am a shoot fish in a barrel mult operator and are combing the band for signals, I would be much more efficient time wise using a Flex/LP-Pan or a Skimmer than using a P3 on my K3, even with the Macro Magic CWT solution, right? The upside is that no computer is needed (which is a non trivial thing, IMO). Will/can the P3/K3 combination approach the accuracy of the above systems? -lu-w4lt- __ 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 inline fuse
Positive lead fuses are a good idea. Negative lead fuses never were a good idea unless the radio has a totally floating negative buss. If the negative lead fuse to the radio opens for any reason all the negative lead current for the radio will flow through the negative lead of any accessories connected to the power supply. They are a terrible idea for any system with the negative lead common to ports in and out of the radio, or to the chassis. You certainly won't catch me using one!The negative lead needs to be connected solidly to the power supply negative for a multitude of reasons, the most prominent of which is if the negative lead fuse to the radio opens you can blow up accessories or open ground traces including traces in the radio. They are not even recommended in vehicles any longer in some countries because of the fire and damage hazard they create. 73 Tom In both Neg and Pos leads, supply a fuseholder and fuse. I use the stubby fuses from Motorola @ 30A, you should use something like that. These are T-rated, meaning they're designed to open with a DC load. Don't use a fuse out of your home's fusebox... __ 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] [P3] Missing Part: The Hole Cover
Am I the only one who is missing the hole cover strip that was added to the parts list and assembly instructions in the latest errata to the P3 manual? I looked everywhere and this is my second inventory of parts. It is not critical and will not hold up my assembly but I was curious if anyone else has it. 73, phil, K7PEH __ 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] [P3] Missing Part: The Hole Cover
It was just received at the factory and added to the product. I suspect everyone will get one as amatter of course. If there isn't an announcemnt or a contact in the next few days, you might send an email requesting one. Mine doesn't have one, either :-) 73, Lyle kK7P Am I the only one who is missing the hole cover strip that was added to the parts list and assembly instructions in the latest errata to the P3 manual?... __ 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] [P3] Missing Part: The Hole Cover
Most of us don't yet have the hole cover. Dick, K6KR -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Phil Hystad Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2010 6:09 PM To: elecraft Reflector Subject: [Elecraft] [P3] Missing Part: The Hole Cover Am I the only one who is missing the hole cover strip that was added to the parts list and assembly instructions in the latest errata to the P3 manual? I looked everywhere and this is my second inventory of parts. It is not critical and will not hold up my assembly but I was curious if anyone else has it. 73, phil, K7PEH __ 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] [P3] Missing Part: The Hole Cover
Am I the only one who is missing the hole cover strip that was added to the parts list and assembly instructions in the latest errata to the P3 manual? No. It appears to have been added somewhere around s/n 60 along with the IF buffer mod. Neither was present in s/n 37. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 8/12/2010 9:08 PM, Phil Hystad wrote: Am I the only one who is missing the hole cover strip that was added to the parts list and assembly instructions in the latest errata to the P3 manual? I looked everywhere and this is my second inventory of parts. It is not critical and will not hold up my assembly but I was curious if anyone else has it. 73, phil, K7PEH __ 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 inline fuse
Tom, You are absolutely correct. Take a mobile situation - the radio's power ground is connected to the transceiver chassis ground, as is the coax shield, microphone shield and other stuff. All that stuff can (and will) connect to the vehicle chassis at some point. I know the coax will connect at the point where it attaches to the antenna. Now imagine a situation where the negative lead fuse is open. The vehicle chassis is still connected to the battery negative - so the radio gets it positive lead directly from the battery (since that fuse is still good), but the negative battery terminal voltage flows through the vehicle chassis to the point where the coax shield connects to the vehicle chassis (presumably at the antenna), and then follows the coax shield to the transceiver. The transceiver still works, so you (the operator) are not aware that the negative fuse has opened, but the DC current paths will give rise to strange happenings. Bottom line, follow Tom's advice and fuse only the positive lead, and in a mobile situation, take the negative voltage from the vehicle chassis close to the radio. The fusing of the negative lead started when some were concerned about the vehicle's battery to engine block (or vehicle chassis) connection is broken, which could lead to massive starting motor currents being conducted from the coax ground at the mobile antenna, through the radio, and onto the battery negative terminal. Yes, that situation is quite real, but can be circumvented by periodically checking the engine block to chassis grounding in the vehicle, as well as the battery negative connection to the vehicle chassis. If the radio has an isolated (floating) negative connection (I believe only commercial mobile radios do that), then fusing of the negative lead is OK, but for most ham radios, the fusing of the negative lead can cause as much damage as the reasons given for inserting a fuse into the negative lead. Take your pick. 73, Don W3FPR Tom W8JI wrote: Positive lead fuses are a good idea. Negative lead fuses never were a good idea unless the radio has a totally floating negative buss. If the negative lead fuse to the radio opens for any reason all the negative lead current for the radio will flow through the negative lead of any accessories connected to the power supply. They are a terrible idea for any system with the negative lead common to ports in and out of the radio, or to the chassis. You certainly won't catch me using one!The negative lead needs to be connected solidly to the power supply negative for a multitude of reasons, the most prominent of which is if the negative lead fuse to the radio opens you can blow up accessories or open ground traces including traces in the radio. They are not even recommended in vehicles any longer in some countries because of the fire and damage hazard they create. 73 Tom In both Neg and Pos leads, supply a fuseholder and fuse. I use the stubby fuses from Motorola @ 30A, you should use something like that. These are T-rated, meaning they're designed to open with a DC load. Don't use a fuse out of your home's fusebox... __ 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] problem mating FP DSP
I'm assembling K3 #4564, my third K3 build, and I can't get the front panel to mate with the DSP board. The problem seems to be at J32 and the pins won't fully penetrate the female connector. The standoffs near there miss toiching the underside of the DSP by about 1/16 I've accidentally verified this by allowing the J32 pins to slip down beside the connector and everything fit fine. The connector at the other end of the board mates fine. It's as though something is wrong inside the female part of J32. The J32 connector is still mating most of the way, so I'm thinking about clipping off about 1/16 of the pins. Any other suggestions? 73, Randy, KS4L __ 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] [P3] Missing Part: The Hole Cover
s/n 81 no hole cover strip but did include K3 I/O output buffer mod kit. 73 Bill NS4C -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Joe Subich, W4TV Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2010 9:18 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [P3] Missing Part: The Hole Cover Am I the only one who is missing the hole cover strip that was added to the parts list and assembly instructions in the latest errata to the P3 manual? No. It appears to have been added somewhere around s/n 60 along with the IF buffer mod. Neither was present in s/n 37. 73, ... Joe, W4TV __ 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] [P3] Missing Part: The Hole Cover
What is the IF Buffer Mod -- did I miss something? I am Serial number 0030. On Aug 12, 2010, at 6:18 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: Am I the only one who is missing the hole cover strip that was added to the parts list and assembly instructions in the latest errata to the P3 manual? No. It appears to have been added somewhere around s/n 60 along with the IF buffer mod. Neither was present in s/n 37. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 8/12/2010 9:08 PM, Phil Hystad wrote: Am I the only one who is missing the hole cover strip that was added to the parts list and assembly instructions in the latest errata to the P3 manual? I looked everywhere and this is my second inventory of parts. It is not critical and will not hold up my assembly but I was curious if anyone else has it. 73, phil, K7PEH __ 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] [P3] Missing Part: The Hole Cover
Phil, The documentation is available from the Elecraft website. It is only a resistor value change. Yes, K3 SN 0030 will need it. 73, Don W3FPR Phil Hystad wrote: What is the IF Buffer Mod -- did I miss something? I am Serial number 0030. __ 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] [P3] Missing Part: The Hole Cover
It's described in your P3 manual at the top of page 5. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Phil Hystad Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2010 7:22 PM To: Joe Subich, W4TV Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [P3] Missing Part: The Hole Cover What is the IF Buffer Mod -- did I miss something? I am Serial number 0030. __ 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] Tape over cabinet holes/
While enjoying completing my K2 #6963, I see where the manual several times refers to 'masking material' covering holes in the various cabinel panels. There isn't any tape on any of my panels. They didn't come with any. Am I missing something or are these just outdated references? Brian Denley http://home.comcast.net/~b.denley/index.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] [K2] Tape over cabinet holes/
There's always a chance the vendor fails to remove all the masking material that keeps the paint off of the panel in those places, so we include instructions to check and make sure the metal surfaces are clean and unpainted. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- While enjoying completing my K2 #6963, I see where the manual several times refers to 'masking material' covering holes in the various cabinel panels. There isn't any tape on any of my panels. They didn't come with any. Am I missing something or are these just outdated references? Brian Denley http://home.comcast.net/~b.denley/index.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] PSK tuning [k3]...alternatives for the immediate
The K3 manual states that the PSK31 and RTTY functionality is adequate for CASUAL use without a computer or something like that. If youre somewhat SERIOUS, you would be much better off to use external decoders to do any REAL work on those modes. I dont think it the built in PSK and RTTY modes were really designed for serious work. Like the Icom rigs with built in decoders and encoders, there are some compromises. They are just very convenient to use. The RTTY demod is pretty good, tho, and I wish we could output decoded text from the serial port... The RTTY capability is especially nice for the times when your spotting program emails your phone to tell you that Mt Athos is on 20m RTTY and you have to jump out of the pool, run and get a towel, partially dry off while running through the house to turn on the rig, swing the beam, flip on the solid state amp and try to work the elusive monk without waiting for Windows to boot and MMTTY to run. -lu-w4lt- Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 12:31:38 -0400 From: John Ragle tpcj1...@crocker.com Subject: [Elecraft] PSK tuning [k3]...alternatives for the immediate future To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID: 4c6421ea.7080...@crocker.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Please don't take this comment to be frivolous or intentionally snippy...but my take on the decoding functions built into the K3 firmware is that at this stage they are gimmicks or toys. As Ron observes, even an old warhorse like Digipan works much better (...more easily, less fussily...) than the K3 routines (and I love my K3!). When one considers the range of other digital methods available in, e.g. fldigi, it is apparent that Elecraft is thinking in the right direction but is not all the way there, YET. I use Digipan or fldigi (3.12.5) routinely with my K3 without problems. For digital mode operation, SpectraVue is also a very nice adjunct program. I have every faith that Elecraft will eventually enhance the digital decoding functions in the K3. One will still want something like SpectraVue to provide a window into the digital ops part of the spectrum (or an LP-PAN or a P3, if funds permit). Eventually it will be nice to be computer-free if one desires it...portability would be enhanced somewhat, though a small laptop (e.g. a netbook) is not much different in volume from an LP-PAN or a P3. My small ASUS Eee901 runs software like Digipan and SpectraVue without flinching. I am not at all a Luddite WRT new solutions...just very oriented toward functionality. This is also the reason that I rid myself of my Flex 3000. John Ragle -- W1ZI = On 8/12/2010 11:46 AM, Ron Herman wrote: How does one tune PSK31 on the K3 such that the built in decoder can read it. Tuning seems to be very selective and without a waterfall nearly impossible to tune. The capture range of the AFC doesn't seem to be very wide. The CWT spotting function sometimes helps but only on stronger signals. Sensitivity to weak signals doesn't seem to be very good either. With digipan on the PC I can decode stuff that I can hardly hear. __ 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] [P3] Missing Part: The Hole Cover
Neither was shipped with SN 67. ... Craig AC0DS No. It appears to have been added somewhere around s/n 60 along with the IF buffer mod. Neither was present in s/n 37. __ 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] P3 arrived damaged - sigh
P3 #96 finally arrived today. After assembling the display module to the front panel, I realized there was this empty hole where the Power button was supposed to be. Found the button in the bottom of the display's protective bag. Groan. Those membranes are really fragile. No way to tell if it tore loose going into the bag, or coming out of the bag. So it will be a while until I get to try this thing out. Hopefully my note to support will provide a solution quickly. Grant/NQ5T __ 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] PSK tuning [k3]...alternatives for the immediate
Lu, You can output decoded text from the RS-232 port. Put K3Utility into Terminal mode and the decoded text will appear in the K3Utility window. You can also type into the Transmit pane and it will be transmitted. Works for either RTTY or PSK31. Lacking the computer, you can use the paddle input and the VFO B readout. Yes, it all depends on what you have available - a proper functioning software application like DigiPan or HRD/DM780 will provide more convenience, but for those times when you have to be without the computer, the K3 will operate those modes standalone - just follow Lyle's instructions. 73, Don W3FPR Lu Romero wrote: I wish we could output decoded text from the serial port... __ 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] [P3] Missing Part: The Hole Cover
The hole cover labels just came in last week and were not included in early P3 shipments. We know who these are and will be sending them out to everyone. 73, Eric. WA6HHQ www.elecraft.com _..._ On Aug 12, 2010, at 6:08 PM, Phil Hystad phys...@mac.com wrote: Am I the only one who is missing the hole cover strip that was added to the parts list and assembly instructions in the latest errata to the P3 manual? I looked everywhere and this is my second inventory of parts. It is not critical and will not hold up my assembly but I was curious if anyone else has it. 73, phil, K7PEH __ 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
