Re: [Elecraft] K3 12v ERR - Deoxit
Guys, Thanks for all the replies to my original question below. Had a closer look at what I have and the 'cleaner' is the D100L (Caig). I got them both from a HiFi supplier in the UK in 2ml squeeze tubes...about £5 a throw but it goes a long way! May have mentioned this before but I use those small interdental brushes to apply the stuff; if you get some of the really small ones you can get inside the header sockets as well. This way just a few microlitres can coat everything... 73, Stewart, GW0ETF GW0ETF wrote Due to an ordering misunderstanding I have 2 different Deoxit versions, standard cleaner and Deoxit Gold. According to the instructions the cleaner cleans(!) and the Gold is applied post cleaning to prevent any subsequent oxidation/tarnishing. Wonder which everyone's using..? Not had any problems with the PA module on K3 #145 but plenty with the front panel connections which Deoxit fixes. 73, Stewart, GW0ETF w0mu wrote I believe you can also purchase a can of deoxit and spray it liberally on the pins and connector side and carefully plug and unplug the board a few times. Mike W0MU W0MU-1 CC Cluster w0mu.net -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Re-K3-12v-ERR-tp7084750p7089124.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] KPA500 in 10 meter contest
I put my KPA500 #576 (built last Mon/Tue) through a workout during the past weekend contest. Worked great. No clicks that I could hear of course I was using headphones. I could just detect a very subtle change in fan speed during runs. Monitored the temp during runs at 500 watts (28 watts in) and the temp. would reach about 54/55C. Not sure if that is high low or normal. First time I ever ran 'high' power from home in a contest. I'm sure I will get trounced but had fun. 73, Joe K2UF No trees were harmed in the sending of this e-mail; however, many electrons were inconvenienced. __ 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 blur was a no-show during ARRL 10m
I have sent my recording in already. I heard some in my CW pileups. Some were zero beat issues but not all. -lu-W4LT- Message: 6 Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:43:04 -0700 From: David Gilbert xda...@cis-broadband.com Subject: [Elecraft] K3 blur was a no-show during ARRL 10m To: Elecraft Reflector elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID: 4ee63d28.5070...@cis-broadband.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Well, I recorded most of my time in the ARRL 10m contest this past weekend but I didn't save it. I only had three or four situations where I thought possibly I was hearing some blurring of signals but they weren't definitive at all, and in those cases the signals were virtually zero beat so I chalked it up to that instead. I was fairly seriously operating the contest (about 1,000 CW contacts) and running a frequency most of the time so I didn't go looking for other examples, and I was running low power so I rarely had more than three callers at a time. I was all primed to adjust RF Gain and manually switch roofing filters if the effect occurred, but it didn't for me this time. Sorry I couldn't come up with an example. Anyone else capture anything? 73, Dave AB7E __ 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 12v ERR Deoxit 5%
We use Deoxit here at work at Xerox where I am in the service area. When using deoxit over the years it has been found to be excellent but after some years after its application issues have arisen mostly due to over application. Some time ago, to solve this we switched from the 100% solution to the 5% solution d5l and found that it worked as well with less issues over time because of the much lower residue and better cleaning/flushing. This is really great stuff. its also great on Vintage gear. -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Re-K3-12v-ERR-tp7084750p7090008.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] K2 for sale
Group , This is a relist of a K2 for sale posted 6 weeks ago. K2 serial # 4869 Built and used by a non smoker. Cabinet is at least a 9 out of 10. Aligned with spectrogram. Includes the following options : KSB2 SSB adapter KDSP2 DSP filter KNB2 Noise blanker KIO2 AUX module KAT2 Antenna tuner K160RX 160 meter module All manuals will be included. Asking $1050 and I will ship. Please reply off list. Glenn , K5ZE __ 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] noisy VFO's
If there is not a felt washer between the VFO knob and the panel, then that is your problem. I have never experienced the noise that you describe after operating about 6 different K3s. 73, Ken K3IU On 12/13/2011 11:03 AM, Natan Huffman wrote: Hello All, Last Friday I took delivery of a new K3 along with a P3 and lots of accessories including Fred Cady's book on the K3. Only problem to date is noisy VFO knobs. The technique to lessen drag does decrease or eliminate the noise which sounds like fingernails dragged across a chalk board and I do find that noise most objectionable. Of course I can free myself of the noise by backing off the knobs but I'm left with no noise, and no drag at all. So my choices are no noise, or no drag. No drag leaves me with a surprisingly free turning VFO knobs that is problematical and proper drag leaves me with that horrible scraping which for me is simply intolerable. Has anyone come up with this same problem and has found proper mitigation solution? Thanks, Natan W6XR, C6AXR, VS6KR Freeville, NY __ 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] noisy VFO's
Hello All, Last Friday I took delivery of a new K3 along with a P3 and lots of accessories including Fred Cady's book on the K3. Only problem to date is noisy VFO knobs. The technique to lessen drag does decrease or eliminate the noise which sounds like fingernails dragged across a chalk board and I do find that noise most objectionable. Of course I can free myself of the noise by backing off the knobs but I'm left with no noise, and no drag at all. So my choices are no noise, or no drag. No drag leaves me with a surprisingly free turning VFO knobs that is problematical and proper drag leaves me with that horrible scraping which for me is simply intolerable. Has anyone come up with this same problem and has found proper mitigation solution? Thanks, Natan W6XR, C6AXR, VS6KR Freeville, NY __ 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] noisy VFO's
That's something entirely new, Natan, and not normal for a K3. The pad between the knob and the front panel should be nothing but a soft felt washer, virtually noiseless as the knob turns. Is there anything else there? If not, recommend that you drop an e-mail to K3support (at) Elecraft (dot) com. You'll get a quick response. 73, Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Natan Huffman Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 8:03 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] noisy VFO's Hello All, Last Friday I took delivery of a new K3 along with a P3 and lots of accessories including Fred Cady's book on the K3. Only problem to date is noisy VFO knobs. The technique to lessen drag does decrease or eliminate the noise which sounds like fingernails dragged across a chalk board and I do find that noise most objectionable. Of course I can free myself of the noise by backing off the knobs but I'm left with no noise, and no drag at all. So my choices are no noise, or no drag. No drag leaves me with a surprisingly free turning VFO knobs that is problematical and proper drag leaves me with that horrible scraping which for me is simply intolerable. Has anyone come up with this same problem and has found proper mitigation solution? Thanks, Natan W6XR, C6AXR, VS6KR Freeville, NY __ __ 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] noisy VFO's
My newly acquired K3 makes this VFO noise as well for the VFO A knob. It is only annoying when I have the headphones off. Keith Sent from my iPhone please excuse typos On Dec 13, 2011, at 8:28 AM, Ron D'Eau Claire r...@cobi.biz wrote: That's something entirely new, Natan, and not normal for a K3. The pad between the knob and the front panel should be nothing but a soft felt washer, virtually noiseless as the knob turns. Is there anything else there? If not, recommend that you drop an e-mail to K3support (at) Elecraft (dot) com. You'll get a quick response. 73, Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Natan Huffman Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 8:03 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] noisy VFO's Hello All, Last Friday I took delivery of a new K3 along with a P3 and lots of accessories including Fred Cady's book on the K3. Only problem to date is noisy VFO knobs. The technique to lessen drag does decrease or eliminate the noise which sounds like fingernails dragged across a chalk board and I do find that noise most objectionable. Of course I can free myself of the noise by backing off the knobs but I'm left with no noise, and no drag at all. So my choices are no noise, or no drag. No drag leaves me with a surprisingly free turning VFO knobs that is problematical and proper drag leaves me with that horrible scraping which for me is simply intolerable. Has anyone come up with this same problem and has found proper mitigation solution? Thanks, Natan W6XR, C6AXR, VS6KR Freeville, NY __ __ 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] KPA500 Heat Expansion Pop
I don't think there are any 1/4 4-40 flat head screws in the K3 (either) ... ? There are 1/4 pan heads, but flat heads are 3/16 or 5/16 (IIRC) ~iain / N6ML On Mon, Dec 12, 2011 at 9:04 PM, n...@widomaker.com n...@widomaker.com wrote: How about spares from the K3 kit? ...bc. nr4c Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4GLTE Phone -Original message- From: KD2A rvr...@verizon.net To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tue, Dec 13, 2011 03:27:34 GMT+00:00 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 Heat Expansion Pop My amp has been click free for four days now. To clarify, page 22 Fig.27, is the area I'm referring to. Change the five 5/16 screws to 3/16 when mounting the Z-bracket on the PA/LPF module. I also would have preferred to use 1/4 screws but none come with the kit. -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KPA500-Heat-Expansion-Pop-tp7082519p7088 611.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 __ 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] noisy VFO's
Is there felt behind the knobs?73, Guy. On Tue, Dec 13, 2011 at 11:40 AM, Keith Heimbold ag...@hotmail.com wrote: My newly acquired K3 makes this VFO noise as well for the VFO A knob. It is only annoying when I have the headphones off. Keith Sent from my iPhone please excuse typos On Dec 13, 2011, at 8:28 AM, Ron D'Eau Claire r...@cobi.biz wrote: That's something entirely new, Natan, and not normal for a K3. The pad between the knob and the front panel should be nothing but a soft felt washer, virtually noiseless as the knob turns. Is there anything else there? If not, recommend that you drop an e-mail to K3support (at) Elecraft (dot) com. You'll get a quick response. 73, Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Natan Huffman Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 8:03 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] noisy VFO's Hello All, Last Friday I took delivery of a new K3 along with a P3 and lots of accessories including Fred Cady's book on the K3. Only problem to date is noisy VFO knobs. The technique to lessen drag does decrease or eliminate the noise which sounds like fingernails dragged across a chalk board and I do find that noise most objectionable. Of course I can free myself of the noise by backing off the knobs but I'm left with no noise, and no drag at all. So my choices are no noise, or no drag. No drag leaves me with a surprisingly free turning VFO knobs that is problematical and proper drag leaves me with that horrible scraping which for me is simply intolerable. Has anyone come up with this same problem and has found proper mitigation solution? Thanks, Natan W6XR, C6AXR, VS6KR Freeville, NY __ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] noisy VFO's
I will have to check it this weekend. I got the rig fully assembled. Keith Sent from my iPhone please excuse typos On Dec 13, 2011, at 9:35 AM, Guy Olinger K2AV olin...@bellsouth.net wrote: Is there felt behind the knobs?73, Guy. On Tue, Dec 13, 2011 at 11:40 AM, Keith Heimbold ag...@hotmail.com wrote: My newly acquired K3 makes this VFO noise as well for the VFO A knob. It is only annoying when I have the headphones off. Keith Sent from my iPhone please excuse typos On Dec 13, 2011, at 8:28 AM, Ron D'Eau Claire r...@cobi.biz wrote: That's something entirely new, Natan, and not normal for a K3. The pad between the knob and the front panel should be nothing but a soft felt washer, virtually noiseless as the knob turns. Is there anything else there? If not, recommend that you drop an e-mail to K3support (at) Elecraft (dot) com. You'll get a quick response. 73, Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Natan Huffman Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 8:03 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] noisy VFO's Hello All, Last Friday I took delivery of a new K3 along with a P3 and lots of accessories including Fred Cady's book on the K3. Only problem to date is noisy VFO knobs. The technique to lessen drag does decrease or eliminate the noise which sounds like fingernails dragged across a chalk board and I do find that noise most objectionable. Of course I can free myself of the noise by backing off the knobs but I'm left with no noise, and no drag at all. So my choices are no noise, or no drag. No drag leaves me with a surprisingly free turning VFO knobs that is problematical and proper drag leaves me with that horrible scraping which for me is simply intolerable. Has anyone come up with this same problem and has found proper mitigation solution? Thanks, Natan W6XR, C6AXR, VS6KR Freeville, NY __ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 blur was a no-show during ARRL 10m
Any chance you could upload that recording to some place where we could all access it? It would be nice to be able to compare perceptions. If you edited the file to isolate the occurrences it shouldn't be too large. 73, Dave AB7E On 12/13/2011 6:16 AM, Lu Romero wrote: I have sent my recording in already. I heard some in my CW pileups. Some were zero beat issues but not all. -lu-W4LT- Message: 6 Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:43:04 -0700 From: David Gilbertxda...@cis-broadband.com Subject: [Elecraft] K3 blur was a no-show during ARRL 10m To: Elecraft Reflectorelecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID:4ee63d28.5070...@cis-broadband.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Well, I recorded most of my time in the ARRL 10m contest this past weekend but I didn't save it. I only had three or four situations where I thought possibly I was hearing some blurring of signals but they weren't definitive at all, and in those cases the signals were virtually zero beat so I chalked it up to that instead. I was fairly seriously operating the contest (about 1,000 CW contacts) and running a frequency most of the time so I didn't go looking for other examples, and I was running low power so I rarely had more than three callers at a time. I was all primed to adjust RF Gain and manually switch roofing filters if the effect occurred, but it didn't for me this time. Sorry I couldn't come up with an example. Anyone else capture anything? 73, Dave AB7E __ 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 blur was a no-show during ARRL 10m
I would like to hear you it, too, Lu. If you don't have any webspace please feel free to send it to me by mail and I will gladly upload it on my site and provide the download link for the list ... Vy 73, Olli - DH8BQA http://www.dh8bqa.de - Original Message - From: David Gilbert xda...@cis-broadband.com To: lrom...@ij.net Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 6:55 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 blur was a no-show during ARRL 10m Any chance you could upload that recording to some place where we could all access it? It would be nice to be able to compare perceptions. If you edited the file to isolate the occurrences it shouldn't be too large. 73, Dave AB7E On 12/13/2011 6:16 AM, Lu Romero wrote: I have sent my recording in already. I heard some in my CW pileups. Some were zero beat issues but not all. -lu-W4LT- Message: 6 Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:43:04 -0700 From: David Gilbertxda...@cis-broadband.com Subject: [Elecraft] K3 blur was a no-show during ARRL 10m To: Elecraft Reflectorelecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID:4ee63d28.5070...@cis-broadband.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Well, I recorded most of my time in the ARRL 10m contest this past weekend but I didn't save it. I only had three or four situations where I thought possibly I was hearing some blurring of signals but they weren't definitive at all, and in those cases the signals were virtually zero beat so I chalked it up to that instead. I was fairly seriously operating the contest (about 1,000 CW contacts) and running a frequency most of the time so I didn't go looking for other examples, and I was running low power so I rarely had more than three callers at a time. I was all primed to adjust RF Gain and manually switch roofing filters if the effect occurred, but it didn't for me this time. Sorry I couldn't come up with an example. Anyone else capture anything? 73, Dave AB7E __ 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 - eMail ist virenfrei. Von AVG uberpruft - www.avg.de Version: 10.0.1415 / Virendatenbank: 2102/4078 - Ausgabedatum: 13.12.2011 __ 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] Balun at input or output of tuner
On 12/12/2011 5:10 PM, Jim Brown wrote: Yes, chokes like these would be a great choice for use at the feedpoint of ANY HF antenna, whether fed with coax or parallel conductor line. One VERY important exception that I forgot to mention is that common mode chokes can be destructively overheated by running high power into badly unbalanced antennas. Off-center fed antennas like Windoms can place VERY high common mode voltages across common mode chokes. The only solution I know of is to use multiple chokes in series on the feedline IMO, this sort of antenna is a poor choice in today's world, where local RF noise is made worse by pickup on the feedline. A few years ago, I investigated this by modeling the common mode voltage, and the resulting heat dissipation, in a common mode choke at the feedpoint of a 40M dipole whose feedpoint was moved off center in increments of 3 ft, at 1.5kW, fed by a half wavelength of coax (67 ft). At this worst case feedline length, you don't have to go very far off center to produce a lot of heat in the choke. The results are summarized in a table in a Power Point for a presentation I've done for several ham clubs. One of these bifilar chokes would be OK on a Windom at the 600W level produced by the KPA500, but could fail at max legal power. See page 43 of http://audiosystemsgroup.com/CoaxChokesPPT.pdf 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] Balun at input or output of tuner
Jim Brown said: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:10:36 -0800 I have not attempted to measure the Zo of the bifilar wound chokes I've built using #12 and #14 THHN, but Jerry Sevick, in the last of his books, did wind some using exactly that method and that wire, and he says the Zo of those he wound were about 100 ohms. This is a useful data point. (I've got to rummage through my library to find the Sevick book.) I used a bifilar wound CM choke at the input of the ARRL high-powered tuner described in late editions of The ARRL Antenna Book. It had 12 bifilar turns of #10 AWG Formvar wire on a 24-inch diameter OD Type 43 core. (Nowadays I'd probably use a more optimal Type 31 mix.) In testing the input balun (aka CM choke) 1500 W of RF at 29.7 MHz was applied for 60 seconds. The #10 wire in the balun got warm to the touch (after the RF was shut off!) but the core remained cool, as it should when there are no common-mode currents, only differential-mode current in the bifilar-wound transmission line. Now, #10 wire is roughly the same size as the inner conductor used in RG-213. On 10 meters the majority of loss in the bifilar transmission line wound around the torroid will be I-squared-R conductor loss, rather than additional dielectric losses that come into effect in the VHF and UHF regions. So, I then assume that the matched-line loss in the bifilar-wound transmission line is the same as that for RG-213 at HF so that I can do computations using TLW. I then used the User-Defined Transmission Lines capability in TLW as follows: Frequency = 28.0 MHz; Matched-Line Attenuation, dB/100 Feet = 1.142, Velocity Factor = 0.95; R0 = 100 ohms; Computed X0 = -0.698 ohms. Again, a total length of three feet is assumed for the bifilar-wound transmission line. For a 3000 + j 0 load, TLW reports additional line loss due to SWR (which is 30:1) of 0.416 dB, a power loss in the balun of 137.0 W for a 1500-W transmitter. This level of dissipation in a physically small package will result in catostrophic destruction when the balun is placed at the output of the tuner. For a 3 + j 0 ohm load, the SWR is 33.33:1, and the total line loss is 0.449 dB, amounting to 147.3 W dissipation in the balun -- again, this amount of power in the CM choke balun would surely destroy it. The use a a bifilar-wound transmission line instead of RG-213 has resulted in a slightly greater susceptibility to catosphrophic destruction at low-impedance loads when the balun is placed at the output of the tuner. For a 5 + j 0 load (a 10:1 SWR), the total line loss is 0.274 dB, which for 1500 W is 91.7 W for 1500 W input, or 30.6 W for 500 W RF input. This would be about the limit of safe operation for a CM choke balun placed at the output terminals of an antenna tuner. 73, Dean, N6BV __ 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] Balun at input or output of tuner
On 12/13/2011 10:43 AM, Dean Straw wrote: I used a bifilar wound CM choke at the input of the ARRL high-powered tuner described in late editions of The ARRL Antenna Book. It had 12 bifilar turns of #10 AWG Formvar wire on a 24-inch diameter OD Type 43 core. Jerry said that Zo for this sort of wire and winding style was about 50 ohms. I wound some that way, and they acted like they were close to 50 ohms (as observed by SWR measurements) when inserted between TX and tuner. 73, Jim 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] Balun at input or output of tuner
I used a bifilar wound CM choke at the input of the ARRL high-powered tuner described in late editions of The ARRL Antenna Book. It had 12 bifilar turns of #10 AWG Formvar wire on a 24-inch diameter OD Type 43 core. (Nowadays I'd probably use a more optimal Type 31 mix.) In testing the input balun (aka CM choke) 1500 W of RF at 29.7 MHz was applied for 60 seconds. The #10 wire in the balun got warm to the touch (after the RF was shut off!) but the core remained cool, as it should when there are no common-mode currents, only differential-mode current in the bifilar-wound transmission line. Moving this discussion away from the tuner and to the feedpoint of the antenna ... I would never use a bifilar wound CM choke with a high HF antenna. Years ago I tried to use a well known, third party high power balun on a triband antenna with a reputation for blowing its OEM (fuse) balun. That attempt was spectacularly unsuccessful on 15 meters where the 90-100 Ohm Zo of the bifilar winding coupled with a line length of slightly over 12 feet transformed the normally benign 50 Ohm SWR of the antenna into something that was poor across the entire band. With an antenna supporting more than three bands, it is likely that the transformer effect would impact at least one band! 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 12/13/2011 1:43 PM, Dean Straw wrote: Jim Brown said: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:10:36 -0800 I have not attempted to measure the Zo of the bifilar wound chokes I've built using #12 and #14 THHN, but Jerry Sevick, in the last of his books, did wind some using exactly that method and that wire, and he says the Zo of those he wound were about 100 ohms. This is a useful data point. (I've got to rummage through my library to find the Sevick book.) I used a bifilar wound CM choke at the input of the ARRL high-powered tuner described in late editions of The ARRL Antenna Book. It had 12 bifilar turns of #10 AWG Formvar wire on a 24-inch diameter OD Type 43 core. (Nowadays I'd probably use a more optimal Type 31 mix.) In testing the input balun (aka CM choke) 1500 W of RF at 29.7 MHz was applied for 60 seconds. The #10 wire in the balun got warm to the touch (after the RF was shut off!) but the core remained cool, as it should when there are no common-mode currents, only differential-mode current in the bifilar-wound transmission line. Now, #10 wire is roughly the same size as the inner conductor used in RG-213. On 10 meters the majority of loss in the bifilar transmission line wound around the torroid will be I-squared-R conductor loss, rather than additional dielectric losses that come into effect in the VHF and UHF regions. So, I then assume that the matched-line loss in the bifilar-wound transmission line is the same as that for RG-213 at HF so that I can do computations using TLW. I then used the User-Defined Transmission Lines capability in TLW as follows: Frequency = 28.0 MHz; Matched-Line Attenuation, dB/100 Feet = 1.142, Velocity Factor = 0.95; R0 = 100 ohms; Computed X0 = -0.698 ohms. Again, a total length of three feet is assumed for the bifilar-wound transmission line. For a 3000 + j 0 load, TLW reports additional line loss due to SWR (which is 30:1) of 0.416 dB, a power loss in the balun of 137.0 W for a 1500-W transmitter. This level of dissipation in a physically small package will result in catostrophic destruction when the balun is placed at the output of the tuner. For a 3 + j 0 ohm load, the SWR is 33.33:1, and the total line loss is 0.449 dB, amounting to 147.3 W dissipation in the balun -- again, this amount of power in the CM choke balun would surely destroy it. The use a a bifilar-wound transmission line instead of RG-213 has resulted in a slightly greater susceptibility to catosphrophic destruction at low-impedance loads when the balun is placed at the output of the tuner. For a 5 + j 0 load (a 10:1 SWR), the total line loss is 0.274 dB, which for 1500 W is 91.7 W for 1500 W input, or 30.6 W for 500 W RF input. This would be about the limit of safe operation for a CM choke balun placed at the output terminals of an antenna tuner. 73, Dean, N6BV __ 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] noisy VFO's
Recently, my VFOA knob got a little wobbly, and then it started dragging heavily, only when turned clockwise. I took the knob off and discovered that the top one of the two control nuts had worked loose entirely, and the bottom one was loose. Tightened them back up and readjusted the drag, and everything was fine again. Perhaps yours is another variation on this theme. 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 AND now at arcluster.reversebeacon.net port 7000 On 12/13/2011 11:40 AM, Keith Heimbold wrote: My newly acquired K3 makes this VFO noise as well for the VFO A knob. It is only annoying when I have the headphones off. Keith Sent from my iPhone please excuse typos On Dec 13, 2011, at 8:28 AM, Ron D'Eau Clairer...@cobi.biz wrote: That's something entirely new, Natan, and not normal for a K3. The pad between the knob and the front panel should be nothing but a soft felt washer, virtually noiseless as the knob turns. Is there anything else there? If not, recommend that you drop an e-mail to K3support (at) Elecraft (dot) com. You'll get a quick response. 73, Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Natan Huffman Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 8:03 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] noisy VFO's Hello All, Last Friday I took delivery of a new K3 along with a P3 and lots of accessories including Fred Cady's book on the K3. Only problem to date is noisy VFO knobs. The technique to lessen drag does decrease or eliminate the noise which sounds like fingernails dragged across a chalk board and I do find that noise most objectionable. Of course I can free myself of the noise by backing off the knobs but I'm left with no noise, and no drag at all. So my choices are no noise, or no drag. No drag leaves me with a surprisingly free turning VFO knobs that is problematical and proper drag leaves me with that horrible scraping which for me is simply intolerable. Has anyone come up with this same problem and has found proper mitigation solution? Thanks, Natan W6XR, C6AXR, VS6KR Freeville, NY __ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Balun at input or output of tuner
Now, #10 wire is roughly the same size as the inner conductor used in RG-213. On 10 meters the majority of loss in the bifilar transmission line wound around the torroid will be I-squared-R conductor loss, rather than additional dielectric losses that come into effect in the VHF and UHF regions. So, I then assume that the matched-line loss in the bifilar-wound transmission line is the same as that for RG-213 at HF so that I can do computations using TLW. Is that a valid assumption? I thought that much of the loss in coax is due to the dielectric loss of the insulation. That implies that the bifilar winding should have less loss than coax. Alan On Tue, 2011-12-13 at 10:43 -0800, Dean Straw wrote: Jim Brown said: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:10:36 -0800 I have not attempted to measure the Zo of the bifilar wound chokes I've built using #12 and #14 THHN, but Jerry Sevick, in the last of his books, did wind some using exactly that method and that wire, and he says the Zo of those he wound were about 100 ohms. This is a useful data point. (I've got to rummage through my library to find the Sevick book.) I used a bifilar wound CM choke at the input of the ARRL high-powered tuner described in late editions of The ARRL Antenna Book. It had 12 bifilar turns of #10 AWG Formvar wire on a 24-inch diameter OD Type 43 core. (Nowadays I'd probably use a more optimal Type 31 mix.) In testing the input balun (aka CM choke) 1500 W of RF at 29.7 MHz was applied for 60 seconds. The #10 wire in the balun got warm to the touch (after the RF was shut off!) but the core remained cool, as it should when there are no common-mode currents, only differential-mode current in the bifilar-wound transmission line. Now, #10 wire is roughly the same size as the inner conductor used in RG-213. On 10 meters the majority of loss in the bifilar transmission line wound around the torroid will be I-squared-R conductor loss, rather than additional dielectric losses that come into effect in the VHF and UHF regions. So, I then assume that the matched-line loss in the bifilar-wound transmission line is the same as that for RG-213 at HF so that I can do computations using TLW. I then used the User-Defined Transmission Lines capability in TLW as follows: Frequency = 28.0 MHz; Matched-Line Attenuation, dB/100 Feet = 1.142, Velocity Factor = 0.95; R0 = 100 ohms; Computed X0 = -0.698 ohms. Again, a total length of three feet is assumed for the bifilar-wound transmission line. For a 3000 + j 0 load, TLW reports additional line loss due to SWR (which is 30:1) of 0.416 dB, a power loss in the balun of 137.0 W for a 1500-W transmitter. This level of dissipation in a physically small package will result in catostrophic destruction when the balun is placed at the output of the tuner. For a 3 + j 0 ohm load, the SWR is 33.33:1, and the total line loss is 0.449 dB, amounting to 147.3 W dissipation in the balun -- again, this amount of power in the CM choke balun would surely destroy it. The use a a bifilar-wound transmission line instead of RG-213 has resulted in a slightly greater susceptibility to catosphrophic destruction at low-impedance loads when the balun is placed at the output of the tuner. For a 5 + j 0 load (a 10:1 SWR), the total line loss is 0.274 dB, which for 1500 W is 91.7 W for 1500 W input, or 30.6 W for 500 W RF input. This would be about the limit of safe operation for a CM choke balun placed at the output terminals of an antenna tuner. 73, Dean, N6BV __ 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] More precise pitch options?
I've gotten more than a few off list comments on this and every one has been a good read. I put the idea out and apparently it resonated (pun intended) with many on the list. If you want to see just how connected you are to perfect pitch, how well you can identify random sequences in notes and how good your ability to discern rhythm then check out this web page and click on the Music Tests. You will need Java to run the tests. Fwiw, according to the adaptive pitch test using my Bose QC15 headsets at 61 YO I can reliably discriminate to .23 Hz. I don't have perfect pitch but it is pretty close. As to the K3, I love the diversity mode on the low bands. Gary KA1J __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] KAT2 found
Thanks to all who responded, I now have my KAT2. 73 Bob w7wo __ 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 blur was a no-show during ARRL 10m
I have read with great interest the threads regarding mush or blur that some have experienced in pile-up situations where several callers were near or at the noise level, and all blended together. I am not qualified to say whether or not I have experienced this specific artifact. However, during last weekend's 10M contest I experienced some interesting phenomena while working each day (at a leisurely pace) for about 3 hours on CW only. My antenna at the time was a 176ft doublet fed with ladder line, from the K3/KPA500 (amp was not really needed, but it was there). I would occasionally switch to a coax-fed G5RV at 90 degrees to, and below the 176fter. As these antennas are not unidirectional, I would often hear stations short-path and long path at the same time, which would add to the perceived blur or mush. It was also QUITE interesting to hear MYSELF call, as my own signal returned to my receiver after circling the globe. The smooth QSK in the K3 made this quite apparent. Great fun. 72/73, Bruce N1RX __ 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 blur was a no-show during ARRL 10m
Hi Bruce, It was really interesting... I was QRV for about 4 hours during ARRL 10m as S50G (CW only) and it was interesting to hear last part of my transmission (something like ET) after CQ... TEST. At the begging I was not sure what is really happening with my K3 :-) 73 Robert, S57AW It was also QUITE interesting to hear MYSELF call, as my own signal returned to my receiver after circling the globe. The smooth QSK in the K3 made this quite apparent. Great fun. 72/73, Bruce N1RX __ 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] noisy VFO's
Hello Natan, I can hear the same thing here. Decent high frequency hearing and a reasonably quiet shack are prerequisites to hearing it though. It's a 'sh' sound that occurs as a result of the surface of the knob dragging against the felt as the VFO knob is spun. I've considered applying a light coat of mineral oil to the felt washer to quiet it down, but haven't tried it yet. NOTE: I am not recommending this; I was just thinking about trying it... 73, Dale WA8SRA On 12/13/2011 11:03 AM, Natan Huffman wrote: Hello All, Last Friday I took delivery of a new K3 along with a P3 and lots of accessories including Fred Cady's book on the K3. Only problem to date is noisy VFO knobs. The technique to lessen drag does decrease or eliminate the noise which sounds like fingernails dragged across a chalk board and I do find that noise most objectionable. Of course I can free myself of the noise by backing off the knobs but I'm left with no noise, and no drag at all. So my choices are no noise, or no drag. No drag leaves me with a surprisingly free turning VFO knobs that is problematical and proper drag leaves me with that horrible scraping which for me is simply intolerable. Has anyone come up with this same problem and has found proper mitigation solution? Thanks, Natan W6XR, C6AXR, VS6KR Freeville, NY __ 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] Balun at input or output of tuner
Joe: Right on -- certain unnamed baluns had a quite reputation as being RF fuses. But as the suject title above says, I'm still talking about the pros and cons of placing a CM choke balun at the input or at the output of an unbalancing antena tuner to feed balanced lines. Both positions are valid ones, and like most engineering matters there are tradeoffs to both approaches. Some tradeoffs involve significant smoke and flames... ! 73, Dean, N6BV -Original Message- From: Joe Subich, W4TV [mailto:li...@subich.com] Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 11:21 AM To: Dean Straw Cc: j...@audiosystemsgroup.com; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Balun at input or output of tuner I used a bifilar wound CM choke at the input of the ARRL high-powered tuner described in late editions of The ARRL Antenna Book. It had 12 bifilar turns of #10 AWG Formvar wire on a 24-inch diameter OD Type 43 core. (Nowadays I'd probably use a more optimal Type 31 mix.) In testing the input balun (aka CM choke) 1500 W of RF at 29.7 MHz was applied for 60 seconds. The #10 wire in the balun got warm to the touch (after the RF was shut off!) but the core remained cool, as it should when there are no common-mode currents, only differential-mode current in the bifilar-wound transmission line. Moving this discussion away from the tuner and to the feedpoint of the antenna ... I would never use a bifilar wound CM choke with a high HF antenna. Years ago I tried to use a well known, third party high power balun on a triband antenna with a reputation for blowing its OEM (fuse) balun. That attempt was spectacularly unsuccessful on 15 meters where the 90-100 Ohm Zo of the bifilar winding coupled with a line length of slightly over 12 feet transformed the normally benign 50 Ohm SWR of the antenna into something that was poor across the entire band. With an antenna supporting more than three bands, it is likely that the transformer effect would impact at least one band! 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 12/13/2011 1:43 PM, Dean Straw wrote: Jim Brown said: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:10:36 -0800 I have not attempted to measure the Zo of the bifilar wound chokes I've built using #12 and #14 THHN, but Jerry Sevick, in the last of his books, did wind some using exactly that method and that wire, and he says the Zo of those he wound were about 100 ohms. This is a useful data point. (I've got to rummage through my library to find the Sevick book.) I used a bifilar wound CM choke at the input of the ARRL high-powered tuner described in late editions of The ARRL Antenna Book. It had 12 bifilar turns of #10 AWG Formvar wire on a 24-inch diameter OD Type 43 core. (Nowadays I'd probably use a more optimal Type 31 mix.) In testing the input balun (aka CM choke) 1500 W of RF at 29.7 MHz was applied for 60 seconds. The #10 wire in the balun got warm to the touch (after the RF was shut off!) but the core remained cool, as it should when there are no common-mode currents, only differential-mode current in the bifilar-wound transmission line. Now, #10 wire is roughly the same size as the inner conductor used in RG-213. On 10 meters the majority of loss in the bifilar transmission line wound around the torroid will be I-squared-R conductor loss, rather than additional dielectric losses that come into effect in the VHF and UHF regions. So, I then assume that the matched-line loss in the bifilar-wound transmission line is the same as that for RG-213 at HF so that I can do computations using TLW. I then used the User-Defined Transmission Lines capability in TLW as follows: Frequency = 28.0 MHz; Matched-Line Attenuation, dB/100 Feet = 1.142, Velocity Factor = 0.95; R0 = 100 ohms; Computed X0 = -0.698 ohms. Again, a total length of three feet is assumed for the bifilar-wound transmission line. For a 3000 + j 0 load, TLW reports additional line loss due to SWR (which is 30:1) of 0.416 dB, a power loss in the balun of 137.0 W for a 1500-W transmitter. This level of dissipation in a physically small package will result in catostrophic destruction when the balun is placed at the output of the tuner. For a 3 + j 0 ohm load, the SWR is 33.33:1, and the total line loss is 0.449 dB, amounting to 147.3 W dissipation in the balun -- again, this amount of power in the CM choke balun would surely destroy it. The use a a bifilar-wound transmission line instead of RG-213 has resulted in a slightly greater susceptibility to catosphrophic destruction at low-impedance loads when the balun is placed at the output of the tuner. For a 5 + j 0 load (a 10:1 SWR), the total line loss is 0.274 dB, which for 1500 W is 91.7 W for 1500 W input, or 30.6 W for 500 W RF input. This would be about the limit of safe operation for a CM choke balun placed at the output terminals of an antenna tuner. 73, Dean, N6BV __ Elecraft
Re: [Elecraft] Balun at input or output of tuner
Aloha Jim, Joe, Alan, Dean and the rest of the reflector, I'm thoroughly enjoying reading this thread. I'd like to ask a few questions. Mine is a 100 watt station, but with aspirations of getting a KPA-500 eventually. I have a Palstar BT1500A Balanced L Antenna Tuner feeding a vertical dipole fed with 450 window line. The antenna is crafted from one continuous length of window line, the dipole being formed by splitting the last 30-some-odd feet of the window line and attaching it to a 40 foot fiberglass pole. This antenna is used only for 30 meters and higher. I believe Palstar puts their balun at the input of this tuner. I have a fairly small amount of RF in the shack. I read one of you advocate the use of a CM choke at the feed point of an antenna, even if it's being fed with a balanced feed line. I had never considered that, so the notion of a cm choke with a balanced feed line is a new one to me (but seems logical enough). If I understand correctly, that will minimize common mode currents on the feed line, just as it would with coax, and that may very well help to minimize the little bit of RF in the shack I seem to have. Then there was discussion of placing one at the output of the tuner, but then I read about the one at the tuner output being heat stressed and prone to fail ( ? ) My initial thought was if I'm guarding from common mode currents, maybe one would want to put a CM choke at both the feed point and the tuner output. My questions are basically these: would it be advisable to use CM chokes at both positions? (for me, the one at the tuner output would likely be outside, thus electrically 5 feet from the physical tuner) What about the heat dissipation and stress on the tuner output side CM choke - it sounds like a show stopper to me but maybe you can provide some perspective on this? If in this case only one cm choke is necessary or recommended, are we able to come to some consensus as to which position is best, at least in general? Again, I'm thoroughly enjoying this thread and thanks a lot for sharing this with us. 73 Aloha, Dave AH6TD __ 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] Balun at input or output of tuner
Jerry Sevick used a monster T400A-2 toroid, #2 powdered iron, 4 inches in diameter, intended to be the 4:1 up transformation for the back of high power tuners. (Sevick, Understanding Baluns 2003, CQ Communications, pp 60-61) I have run these some times with brick-on-key 1500 watts and never managed to get heat. I've never personally managed to construct anything that would stress one of these. I'm currently using a 17 turn trifilar winding on a T400A-2 as a 4:1 isolation transformer (not a balun, no direct connection between primary and secondary) feeding the 90 ohm base of my 160m 3/8 wave inverted L plus folded counterpoise to 360 ohm 450 window line (Wireman #554). Particularly with the significant capacitive reactance of the counterpoise, I was definitely expecting this would put some serious heat on the core QRO, and maybe invalidate the concept, but I have gone 15 min QRO BOK, immediately walked out to the base, and the core was stone cold. The whole thing seemed cold. There was a little bit of condensation visible inside the teflon tubing beforehand, and the BOK did not cause it to evaporate. I really don't know why it didn't heat up, but I'll take it. Thing is a killer ant. So I'm thinking if you put up Jerry's 20 turn bifilar on a T400A2 as a Ruthroff balun and slap it on the back of a tuner, that you're going to be very hard pressed to warm it up with ordinary stuff. 73, Guy. On Tue, Dec 13, 2011 at 1:43 PM, Dean Straw n...@arrl.net wrote: Jim Brown said: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:10:36 -0800 I have not attempted to measure the Zo of the bifilar wound chokes I've built using #12 and #14 THHN, but Jerry Sevick, in the last of his books, did wind some using exactly that method and that wire, and he says the Zo of those he wound were about 100 ohms. This is a useful data point. (I've got to rummage through my library to find the Sevick book.) I used a bifilar wound CM choke at the input of the ARRL high-powered tuner described in late editions of The ARRL Antenna Book. It had 12 bifilar turns of #10 AWG Formvar wire on a 24-inch diameter OD Type 43 core. (Nowadays I'd probably use a more optimal Type 31 mix.) In testing the input balun (aka CM choke) 1500 W of RF at 29.7 MHz was applied for 60 seconds. The #10 wire in the balun got warm to the touch (after the RF was shut off!) but the core remained cool, as it should when there are no common-mode currents, only differential-mode current in the bifilar-wound transmission line. Now, #10 wire is roughly the same size as the inner conductor used in RG-213. On 10 meters the majority of loss in the bifilar transmission line wound around the torroid will be I-squared-R conductor loss, rather than additional dielectric losses that come into effect in the VHF and UHF regions. So, I then assume that the matched-line loss in the bifilar-wound transmission line is the same as that for RG-213 at HF so that I can do computations using TLW. I then used the User-Defined Transmission Lines capability in TLW as follows: Frequency = 28.0 MHz; Matched-Line Attenuation, dB/100 Feet = 1.142, Velocity Factor = 0.95; R0 = 100 ohms; Computed X0 = -0.698 ohms. Again, a total length of three feet is assumed for the bifilar-wound transmission line. For a 3000 + j 0 load, TLW reports additional line loss due to SWR (which is 30:1) of 0.416 dB, a power loss in the balun of 137.0 W for a 1500-W transmitter. This level of dissipation in a physically small package will result in catostrophic destruction when the balun is placed at the output of the tuner. For a 3 + j 0 ohm load, the SWR is 33.33:1, and the total line loss is 0.449 dB, amounting to 147.3 W dissipation in the balun -- again, this amount of power in the CM choke balun would surely destroy it. The use a a bifilar-wound transmission line instead of RG-213 has resulted in a slightly greater susceptibility to catosphrophic destruction at low-impedance loads when the balun is placed at the output of the tuner. For a 5 + j 0 load (a 10:1 SWR), the total line loss is 0.274 dB, which for 1500 W is 91.7 W for 1500 W input, or 30.6 W for 500 W RF input. This would be about the limit of safe operation for a CM choke balun placed at the output terminals of an antenna tuner. 73, Dean, N6BV __ 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] Balun at input or output of tuner
On 12/13/2011 11:48 AM, Alan Bloom wrote: Is that a valid assumption? I thought that much of the loss in coax is due to the dielectric loss of the insulation. That implies that the bifilar winding should have less loss than coax. This is a very common misconception, and it is VERY wrong below UHF for nearly all practical transmission lines that aren't defective (for example, a wet dielectric). If you do the math, you see that below UHF, the loss is virtually ALL due to copper (taking skin effect into account for both conductors). There's an excellent paper by Frank Witt in one of the ARRL Antenna Compendiums (which Dean also edited) showing that window line exhibits significant dielectric loss at HF when it gets wet. You can see the equation for coax on datasheets for Times LMR coax types on their website, with the equation for each cable type reflecting the physical constants for that particular cable. There are two terms, one for copper loss, the other for dielectric loss. Measured data for a few cables that I've measured track those computed curves, and if you put them into a spreadsheet and plot the two terms vs frequency, you can clearly see which terms are contributing. I suspect that they are also used in Dean's TLW program. Right, Dean? 73, Jim 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] noisy VFO's
Dale, That describes the noise I hear as well. Let me know if the oil treatment works. Regards, Keith AG6AZ Sent from my iPhone please excuse typos On Dec 13, 2011, at 12:29 PM, Dale Boresz d...@lightstream.net wrote: Hello Natan, I can hear the same thing here. Decent high frequency hearing and a reasonably quiet shack are prerequisites to hearing it though. It's a 'sh' sound that occurs as a result of the surface of the knob dragging against the felt as the VFO knob is spun. I've considered applying a light coat of mineral oil to the felt washer to quiet it down, but haven't tried it yet. NOTE: I am not recommending this; I was just thinking about trying it... 73, Dale WA8SRA On 12/13/2011 11:03 AM, Natan Huffman wrote: Hello All, Last Friday I took delivery of a new K3 along with a P3 and lots of accessories including Fred Cady's book on the K3. Only problem to date is noisy VFO knobs. The technique to lessen drag does decrease or eliminate the noise which sounds like fingernails dragged across a chalk board and I do find that noise most objectionable. Of course I can free myself of the noise by backing off the knobs but I'm left with no noise, and no drag at all. So my choices are no noise, or no drag. No drag leaves me with a surprisingly free turning VFO knobs that is problematical and proper drag leaves me with that horrible scraping which for me is simply intolerable. Has anyone come up with this same problem and has found proper mitigation solution? Thanks, Natan W6XR, C6AXR, VS6KR Freeville, NY __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] OT: APRS igates needed in North Africa and Spain
From www.aprs.fi: An APRS-equipped high-altitude balloon, using the callsign K6RPT-11, launched from San Jose, California, has almost crossed the Atlantic Ocean, and is now passing Azores, and approaching North Africa. With a little change in direction it could as well go to Spain or Portugal! It was already a great success when it managed to travel to the east coast of the US. There is a catch - it's transmitting on the US frequency of 144.390 MHz instead of the usual European frequency of 144.800 MHz. That's will help reception, since 144.390 is very quiet around here, but we need some igates in Morocco, Tenerife, Canaria, Spain and Portugal to temporarily switch frequencies - and do it tonight! Please help spread the word, right now, tonight, amongst igate operators around that area. There might be a very fun recovery operation ahead for some hams down there. See http://blog.aprs.fi/2011/12/k6rpt-11-aprs-balloon-approaching-north.html for more info and a link to the tracking data. The balloon will lose GPS lock as darkness falls at its location, but could still be aloft. Hopefully if it's still in the air at sunrise, there will be stations within the footprint that can receive it. I hope this helps get the word out. -- He is a dangerous mixture of sophistication and recklessness which makes one anxious about his influence on other boys. __ 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] noisy VFO's
You might try wrapping the felt, torroid-like, with Teflon pipe thread tape. NE4W Sent from my Cap'n Crunch decoder ring On Dec 13, 2011, at 5:13 PM, Keith Heimbold ag...@hotmail.com wrote: Dale, That describes the noise I hear as well. Let me know if the oil treatment works. Regards, Keith AG6AZ Sent from my iPhone please excuse typos On Dec 13, 2011, at 12:29 PM, Dale Boresz d...@lightstream.net wrote: Hello Natan, I can hear the same thing here. Decent high frequency hearing and a reasonably quiet shack are prerequisites to hearing it though. It's a 'sh' sound that occurs as a result of the surface of the knob dragging against the felt as the VFO knob is spun. I've considered applying a light coat of mineral oil to the felt washer to quiet it down, but haven't tried it yet. NOTE: I am not recommending this; I was just thinking about trying it... 73, Dale WA8SRA On 12/13/2011 11:03 AM, Natan Huffman wrote: Hello All, Last Friday I took delivery of a new K3 along with a P3 and lots of accessories including Fred Cady's book on the K3. Only problem to date is noisy VFO knobs. The technique to lessen drag does decrease or eliminate the noise which sounds like fingernails dragged across a chalk board and I do find that noise most objectionable. Of course I can free myself of the noise by backing off the knobs but I'm left with no noise, and no drag at all. So my choices are no noise, or no drag. No drag leaves me with a surprisingly free turning VFO knobs that is problematical and proper drag leaves me with that horrible scraping which for me is simply intolerable. Has anyone come up with this same problem and has found proper mitigation solution? Thanks, Natan W6XR, C6AXR, VS6KR Freeville, NY __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Balun at input or output of tuner
Jim Brown wrote: On 12/13/2011 11:48 AM, Alan Bloom wrote: Is that a valid assumption? I thought that much of the loss in coax is due to the dielectric loss of the insulation. That implies that the bifilar winding should have less loss than coax. This is a very common misconception, and it is VERY wrong below UHF for nearly all practical transmission lines that aren't defective (for example, a wet dielectric). If you do the math, you see that below UHF, the loss is virtually ALL due to copper (taking skin effect into account for both conductors). Much of the confusion arises from the advertising for newer types of coax that have lower loss than a similar solid PE equivalent. The improvement is touted as being due to low loss foam dielectric when that simply isn't true. The reduction in loss is almost entirely due to increase in the diameter of the center conductor (because that conductor has the largest current density and hence the highest skin effect losses). The foam dielectric is merely something that *has* to be used to compensate for the thicker center conductor, in order to keep the same characteristic impedance. In all the coaxial cables we know in amateur radio, dielectric losses only begin to become important at frequencies above 1GHz. -- 73 from Ian GM3SEK http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek __ 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] noisy VFO's
I have only had my K3 since January but no noise. I have mine set pretty loose. I wonder if you could turn the pad over. If that stops the noise maybe just replacing the pad would work. Joe K2UF No trees were harmed in the sending of this e-mail; however, many electrons were inconvenienced. -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Keith Heimbold Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 5:14 PM To: Dale Boresz Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] noisy VFO's Dale, That describes the noise I hear as well. Let me know if the oil treatment works. Regards, Keith AG6AZ Sent from my iPhone please excuse typos On Dec 13, 2011, at 12:29 PM, Dale Boresz d...@lightstream.net wrote: Hello Natan, I can hear the same thing here. Decent high frequency hearing and a reasonably quiet shack are prerequisites to hearing it though. It's a 'sh' sound that occurs as a result of the surface of the knob dragging against the felt as the VFO knob is spun. I've considered applying a light coat of mineral oil to the felt washer to quiet it down, but haven't tried it yet. NOTE: I am not recommending this; I was just thinking about trying it... 73, Dale WA8SRA On 12/13/2011 11:03 AM, Natan Huffman wrote: Hello All, Last Friday I took delivery of a new K3 along with a P3 and lots of accessories including Fred Cady's book on the K3. Only problem to date is noisy VFO knobs. The technique to lessen drag does decrease or eliminate the noise which sounds like fingernails dragged across a chalk board and I do find that noise most objectionable. Of course I can free myself of the noise by backing off the knobs but I'm left with no noise, and no drag at all. So my choices are no noise, or no drag. No drag leaves me with a surprisingly free turning VFO knobs that is problematical and proper drag leaves me with that horrible scraping which for me is simply intolerable. Has anyone come up with this same problem and has found proper mitigation solution? Thanks, Natan W6XR, C6AXR, VS6KR Freeville, NY __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Balun at input or output of tuner
I used to think that dielectric losses were a significant factor until someone pointed out the attenuation data for various transmission lines between 2 and 500 MHz. The plots for all the various transmission lines are straight lines. If dielectric losses were involved, they should curve toward the higher frequencies. When I feed a doublet with open wire line for all-band operation with a tuner, I use the largest conductors practicable to minimize copper losses, especially at current loops. Another factor is the impedance the feed line sees at the radiator. Most open wire line has an impedance of somewhere between 300 to 600 ohms. It the radiator is at least 1/2 wavelength long, the impedance at the feed point will range from about 50 ohms at 1/2 wavelength to perhaps 3500 ohms when the radiator is 1 wavelength total. With 50 ohm line that represents a ratio of 1:1 to 70:1. Using open wire line at, say, 450 ohms nominal, the ratio is only between 8:1 and 9:1. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- Jim Brown wrote: On 12/13/2011 11:48 AM, Alan Bloom wrote: Is that a valid assumption? I thought that much of the loss in coax is due to the dielectric loss of the insulation. That implies that the bifilar winding should have less loss than coax. This is a very common misconception, and it is VERY wrong below UHF for nearly all practical transmission lines that aren't defective (for example, a wet dielectric). If you do the math, you see that below UHF, the loss is virtually ALL due to copper (taking skin effect into account for both conductors). Much of the confusion arises from the advertising for newer types of coax that have lower loss than a similar solid PE equivalent. The improvement is touted as being due to low loss foam dielectric when that simply isn't true. The reduction in loss is almost entirely due to increase in the diameter of the center conductor (because that conductor has the largest current density and hence the highest skin effect losses). The foam dielectric is merely something that *has* to be used to compensate for the thicker center conductor, in order to keep the same characteristic impedance. In all the coaxial cables we know in amateur radio, dielectric losses only begin to become important at frequencies above 1GHz. -- 73 from Ian GM3SEK http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek __ 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] Balun at input or output of tuner
On 12/13/2011 2:47 PM, Ian White GM3SEK wrote: The reduction in loss is almost entirely due to increase in the diameter of the center conductor (because that conductor has the largest current density and hence the highest skin effect losses). The foam dielectric is merely something that*has* to be used to compensate for the thicker center conductor, in order to keep the same characteristic impedance. Exactly! Jim __ 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] Use of a LP filter necessary with a KPA500?
Just finished my KPA500 and was wondering if I need to use a low-pass filter on the out put? In the manual for the am p I noted there is a LP filter for each frequency band. I have a Bencher YA-1 LP filter , a nd yes I know that it cuts off at 29.7MHz. BTW the amp is going to be used with a SteppIR BigIR vertical and a Flex-5000a. Zack N8FNR __ 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] KX3 de référence en français (KX3 reference in French)
Thomas, F4ILX, a traduit le KX3 panneau de commande de référence en français. Le fichier PDF peut être trouvé au bas de notre page KX3: http://www.elecraft.com/KX3/kx3.htm Merci, Thomas! Wayne N6KR __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] Clicks and the 10m contest
When I could, I paid more attention to the click problem during this contest (after the CQ WW CW experience). Many times, some guy/guyette would snuggle up to me and start CQing, often .500 khz away, sometimes .400 and even .300 (measured). Obviously, my transmissions weren't interfering with them. Meanwhile, although their S-9 signals were outside my passband (usually I use between .400 and .250 hz), their clicks were S-6 to S-7, a major problem when I was called by weaker signals. I tried PREAMP on/off and AGC fast/slow/off, without noticing much difference. I am unable to determine if the problem is with my receiver or the other transmitters. To try to lessen the problem, I now see the solution as this: I need to dirty-up my signal, to keep them farther away from me. Why should they not suffer, as I am suffering? As far as the so-called 'mush' is concerned, I don't think it is a problem in my case. Yes, the great unwashed all wind up on the same frequency after clicking on their bandmaps, but I can usually outsmart them one way or another. I think it's time for a Q signal to tell them that they are interfering with one another, and need to spread out a bit. How about QSO (spread out)? Hmmm... that one's already in use. OK, how about QRM (you are being interfered with)? I use that one, but to minimum avail. I'm open to good suggestions. We can send the best choice to N0AX to put in his Contest Update column, and maybe publicize it a bit. I use another radio for the RAC 'test, to see if it fares any better. In between contests, I'm on 10m AM with my Ranger and R-390A. No clicks there! Ralph, VE7XF __ 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] Use of a LP filter necessary with a KPA500?
Zack, The additional LPF filter is not needed for use with the KPA500. 73, Bruce, N1RX __ 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] [KXPA100] Any more information?
Hello gang, I was perusing the KX3 page that Wayne so kindly linked to in his message about the french translation of the KX3 Quick Start Guide when I noticed the pictures of the KXPA100 and KXAT100. I am curious about those and was wondering when we will find out more about them; if there is already some information available, please feel free to point me to it. Matthew Pitts N8OHU Sent from my Wireless Device __ 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] Clicks and the 10m contest
The problem is their transmitter and/or amplifier. But your K3 can neutralize a lot of the clicks. Use the noise blanker. Set CONFIG:AGC PLS to nor. Set the NB level to IF OFF, and dsp t1-7, t2-7, or t3-7. Try 1-7 first, then 2-7, and finally 3-7 for really bad clicks. These three settings will round the CW bauds in-band, with t3-7 the roundest sounding. Using the 250 8 pole filter with the width set to 350 in the filter set-up menu, I have sometimes knocked down clicks 6 or 7 S units. This depends on whether the sharp skirts on the pass band set this way turn the clicks into sharp pulses or not, or whether they have yoopiness to them. The K3 with AGC PLS at nor will keep the AGC from being driven by pulses. Then it does very well suppressing the sharp pulses in the dsp blanking, but has more problems with yoopy clicks, because of their waveshape that lends itself less well to detection. Sometimes t1-7 or mostly t2-7 does it. t3-7 has a pretty severe softening of inband bauds that some might not want to put up with. Once in a while I need t3-7. I operate 40m at NY4A, listening on a fixed NE 5 element wide-spaced quad on a 220 foot catenary between towers. Some signals, clicky ones at that, manage 40 over 9 and are murderous without the settings above. They squeeze in, hoping I go away. I turn on the NB, squeeze to them a little, keep working stations and they go away after a while. In one contest, I had an S6 click from an EU station up 310 Hz, and operated that way for 8 hours from 20Z to 04Z. I'm sure my sparkling clean K3 signal was not bothering him at all. I had him blanked out. The dsp NB does not produce the unavoidable chop hash of the traditional IF blanking. That's why I turn IF blanking off. The dsp blanking is enough to kill clicks. 73, Guy. On Tue, Dec 13, 2011 at 9:17 PM, Ralph Parker ve...@dccnet.com wrote: When I could, I paid more attention to the click problem during this contest (after the CQ WW CW experience). Many times, some guy/guyette would snuggle up to me and start CQing, often .500 khz away, sometimes .400 and even .300 (measured). Obviously, my transmissions weren't interfering with them. Meanwhile, although their S-9 signals were outside my passband (usually I use between .400 and .250 hz), their clicks were S-6 to S-7, a major problem when I was called by weaker signals. I tried PREAMP on/off and AGC fast/slow/off, without noticing much difference. I am unable to determine if the problem is with my receiver or the other transmitters. To try to lessen the problem, I now see the solution as this: I need to dirty-up my signal, to keep them farther away from me. Why should they not suffer, as I am suffering? As far as the so-called 'mush' is concerned, I don't think it is a problem in my case. Yes, the great unwashed all wind up on the same frequency after clicking on their bandmaps, but I can usually outsmart them one way or another. I think it's time for a Q signal to tell them that they are interfering with one another, and need to spread out a bit. How about QSO (spread out)? Hmmm... that one's already in use. OK, how about QRM (you are being interfered with)? I use that one, but to minimum avail. I'm open to good suggestions. We can send the best choice to N0AX to put in his Contest Update column, and maybe publicize it a bit. I use another radio for the RAC 'test, to see if it fares any better. In between contests, I'm on 10m AM with my Ranger and R-390A. No clicks there! Ralph, VE7XF __ 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] More precise pitch options?
Ah rats, I forgot to list the website... http://jakemandell.com/ Click on Music Tests... I have the memory of a sieve... Gary KA1J I've gotten more than a few off list comments on this and every one has been a good read. I put the idea out and apparently it resonated (pun intended) with many on the list. If you want to see just how connected you are to perfect pitch, how well you can identify random sequences in notes and how good your ability to discern rhythm then check out this web page and click on the Music Tests. You will need Java to run the tests. Fwiw, according to the adaptive pitch test using my Bose QC15 headsets at 61 YO I can reliably discriminate to .23 Hz. I don't have perfect pitch but it is pretty close. As to the K3, I love the diversity mode on the low bands. Gary KA1J __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
