Re: [Elecraft] Reference Oscillator Calibration
Hi Don, I'm awaiting the arrival of the G5RV from True Talk. It has a lot of good reviews over at eham. I'm not sure where I'll put it, though. I was thinking of the attic, but 50 ft is longer than my 25 ft attic. I'm also considering one of the tak-tenna (taktenna.com) setups. This is another with good eham reviews and looks relatively simple to set up on the roof of the house. I know the antenna is as important as the transceiver, and I'm hoping for a more elaborate setup eventually, but right now I'd be happy with a basic operational level. I'm trying to figure out how to set up the grounding. Also, the wiring in the house wasn't done by professionals. The receptacle tester shows a number of outlets having a ground/neutral reversed error. Some check out ok and others don't even have the ground connection on the receptacle. Hopefully I won't have to rewire the whole house. As always, any suggestions are welcome. Merry Christmas to you, too! J KC9VBI On 12/22/11, gold...@charter.net gold...@charter.net wrote: HI jay, Once you have an antenna set up you will be able to do the reference oscillator calibration. It does not have to be done until you get on the air and it only takes a few minutes. When I finished my K3 I was afraid of the oscillator calibration so I thought the factory defaults would be ok. It did work but after caibration it sounded like a radio should. I called elecraft support for some help and they walked my thru the procedure as the manual was a little vauge for an inexperienced operation like myself. Anyway you did good with your K3 it is one of the best on the market and I had no idea on how good of a radio I acutally purchase. I almost bought another IC7000 for the shack, that would been a big mistake. The receive on this radio is fantastic and I always get random complements when on the air about my clean signal. So get ready for the ride as it will be fun. What are you planning for your first antenna? Merry Christmas ~73 Don KD8NNU On Wed, Dec 21, 2011 at 5:21 PM, g...@abcs.com g...@abcs.com wrote: Hello! I'm a complete newby when it comes to ham radio. Got my tech license a couple of weeks ago and I'm now studying for the General class exam. I thought building the K3 would be a good educational experience for me. I just finished assembly and all went well. I've had an excellent experience so far. But I'm stuck at the reference oscillator calibration stage. I don't have a frequency counter, though I suppose I could purchase one. I've tried hitting the frequencies for WWV but I'm not picking anything up. Of course, I don't have an antenna yet as the manual did not mention it as being a required piece of equipment. I'm short on radio sense, I think. I have one on order, but it has not yet arrived. I was hoping to have the K3 calibrated and then begin dealing with the antenna setup. Is there any other way of calibrating the ref oscillator? Can it be done online with the KUSB?Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks for your help, Jay __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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] No 6m on KPA500
Sounds like the KPA500 Pin11 inhibit input is low on 6-meters. If you are using the Elecraft 6-meter preamp and switching it on automatically using this pin on the K3 accessory port, then you are also disabling the amplifier on that band. Pin11 needs to stay high. Phil - AD5X __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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 - Fuses ...A Cautionary Tale
Just one other caution, if I may. Before dabbling inside any piece of equipment where a current can possibly flow, remove any rings from your fingers and remove your wristwatch and any other conductive material. If they happen to be on the hand in your pocket, so be it, but don't forget that if something happens, you may react without thinking and put that left hand into service. Season's Greetings, everyone. 73 Dave G3TJP __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] 250 Hz Cw Filter Setup
Good Morning. I just received my 250Hz CW roofing filter in the mail but have not yet inserted the filter in the K3. I do have a question with setting up the filter with the K3 utility. I have never done this before or even looked at it as they say. Does anyone have any advice on how I should do this? Thanks!! Mark Griffin KB3Z -- Sent using Verizon.net Mobile __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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 RF Gain control reduced range after RF gain
* On 2011 22 Dec 10:29 -0600, David Fleming wrote: The -33 dBm gain calibration is coming soon for Linux and OS X. Hopefully within a couple of weeks. Good, I'm looking forward to it. 73, de Nate N0NB -- The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears this is true. Ham radio, Linux, bikes, and more: http://www.n0nb.us __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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 - Fuses ...A Cautionary Tale
What I do if I let the smoke out of a trace is to replace the burned portion of the trace with a SINGLE strand from some braided wire. In effect, reapiring the burned trace with a fuse. 73 de Al, W2GZN From: Rick Bates happymooseph...@gmail.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 7:55 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 - Fuses ...A Cautionary Tale And don't do this again because now that the melted trace has been replaced with a wire, which can likely handle more current, you'll break something else farther down the chain. :-\ Glad it was easily fixed, Rick WA6NHC -Original Message- From: Don Wilhelm OK -- There are *dumb* things, and there are *stupid* things - __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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 - Fuses ...A Cautionary Tale
I took a Sharpie that had laying on my workbench, and changed the color of the aux power connector both on the board and the wiring harness, which is what the manual suggests, IIRC. No, it doesn't prevent one from swapping them, but is a visual indication which one goes where. One still has to take their time when working on a $1000 piece of equipment. Glad you got it fixed and nothing else was smoked besides the PC board trace. 73, David AJ4TF Message: 7 Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:08:43 -0800 From: Fred Jensen k6...@foothill.net Subject: [Elecraft] K2 - Fuses ...A Cautionary Tale To: Elecraft Reflector elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID: 4ef38e4b.9000...@foothill.net Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed With a feeling of great stupidity coupled with a desire to prevent this for others: Yesterday, I reassembled my K2 [#4398, Sep 2004] with the QRP top and KAT2, having just sold my KPA100. I was interrupted by a phone call after plugging the edge connector and speaker in. When I returned, I plugged the KAT2 coax into ... AUX 12V, grounding the 12V. :-(( Finishing the assembly, I decided to quickly power it up just to make sure. Now, the cables I normally use with the K2 and KX1 have in-line fuses, and I have just converted all the DC in the shack to APP. The power supply was at the other end of the desk, so I grabbed the LiFePO4 15C battery, plugged in one of my little adapter jumpers [APP to coaxial power] ... no fuse ... and plugged it into the K2. I heard a distinct click, I wondered if the on/off switch was on, it wasn't, I turned it on, and radio was dead. At this point, I noticed the distinct odor of misrouted electrons, an odor we all recognize, and removed the battery. With no fuse, the heavy trace between the power connector and hot end of C196, way above and beyond its call of duty, sacrificed itself. Fortunately, the trace is now replaced by a short jumper wire and the radio works. D10 seems to have survived, probably because, when used as a fuse, a PCB trace is ultra-fast. A colleague of mine once said, The problem with 'Lessons Learned' is that they rarely are. Thus encouraged, my lessons from this are: 1. Never connect any power to any radio without an in-line fuse. 2. Tape or otherwise cover AUX 12V unless you're actually using it [KPA100] 3. Just because you've done something many times does not mean you'll get it right on the many+1'th time. Many years ago in military uniform, I knew this. I guess I just forgot. 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 2012 Cal QSO Party 6-7 Oct 2012 - www.cqp.org __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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 AGC Mod Audio Test Files
I ran into a few problems when I tried to send the wav files as email attachments; turns out they were all too big unless cut up into 5 minute slices. Instead, I posted them to my website at https://sites.google.com/site/w1uehamradio/ where they are available for download. I cut the files into 15 minute slices, and was able to post 7 slices before I ran into the web site maximum storage figure. Comments welcome. Dennis W1UE __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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 + LP100A + Dummy Load
I have been recommending the dummy loads and power attenuators from Ridge Equipment for years. They usually have a good selection, excellent quality and great prices. They will also provide a VNA plot for 10 bucks more as I recall. Remember that these loads usually have N connectors, so you may need an adapter. 73, Larry N8LP On 12/23/2011 6:48 AM, elecraft-requ...@mailman.qth.net wrote: Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:29:14 -0800 (PST) From: ab2tcab...@arrl.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 + LP100A + Dummy Load To:elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID:1324592954992-7120191.p...@n2.nabble.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Hi, I highly recommend the 75W dummy load from Ridge Equipment. I have one permanently connected in my system. I believe it is a military surplus piece of equipment with absolutely superior characteristics like an SWR at 500MHz of 1.05 or less. It has no problem with 100W for a minute or less for sure. AB2TC - Knut Phil, All dummy loads are not created equal. Connect yours directly (no coax) to the LP-100 or an antenna analyzer to determine its characteristics with frequency (I assume Larry calibrated your LP-100 to NIST standards). A common ham dummy load is something to tune your amplifier into and use for general purposes. If you are going to do measurements, you will need something more like lab quality dummy loads. Both your dummy load and the 6 feet of RG8X will show a frequency dependency since you do not have a precision 50 ohm dummy load. A transmission line that is not terminated in its characteristic impedance acts like an impedance transformer, and that transformation ratio is frequency dependent. If you want a dummy load that is flat WRT frequency and suitable for instrumentation use, take a look at the Caddock 50 ohm Thick Film Resistors - they are available up to 100 watt rating. You must use them on a heat sink, and keep the leads as short as possible, and you will have a precision dummy load. Caution - even with the heat sink, do not exceed their power ratings, they will go open circuit in an instant. I use several of those as instrumentation precision loads. Other sources of precision dummy loads is Ridge Equipment - https://www.ridgeequipment.com/store/dummyloads.html. They have one rated at 75 watts for $12 and one rated at 15 watts for $7.50 - those are quite good for instrumentation purposes. 73, Don W3FPR snip /quote __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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] Problems with knobs
Knobs were an issue on early K3s. In my case, #24. I guess it's possible some of the early defective ones are still in circulation. Elecraft indicated that they'd solved the problem and replaces defective knobs for those that find them. I know that they sent me a replacement AF and RF gain knob, one each. 73, matt W6NIA On Wed, 21 Dec 2011 07:22:54 -0500, you wrote: No problems of this ilk on my 2+ year old K3. John Ragle -- W1ZI = On 12/21/2011 7:01 AM, Ken Wagner K3IU wrote: G'morning: If you address this problem to K3Support @ elecraft.com, I'm sure that a solution will be provided. 73, Ken K3IU On 12/21/2011 6:17 AM, Ricardo Navarrete wrote: *Hello,* *I'm having some problems with some of my K3 knobs, I have the AF knob broken and RF knob seems to be the same way* *Do you know if elecraft knows about this issue???* __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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] Problems with knobs
What happened with the old knobs is that the material was not fully cured, and they would shrink. So slowly it was like severely over-tightening the knobs. Email or phone call to Elecraft gets you replacements, no questions asked. 73, Guy. On Fri, Dec 23, 2011 at 10:07 AM, Matt Zilmer mzil...@verizon.net wrote: Knobs were an issue on early K3s. In my case, #24. I guess it's possible some of the early defective ones are still in circulation. Elecraft indicated that they'd solved the problem and replaces defective knobs for those that find them. I know that they sent me a replacement AF and RF gain knob, one each. 73, matt W6NIA On Wed, 21 Dec 2011 07:22:54 -0500, you wrote: No problems of this ilk on my 2+ year old K3. John Ragle -- W1ZI = On 12/21/2011 7:01 AM, Ken Wagner K3IU wrote: G'morning: If you address this problem to K3Support @ elecraft.com, I'm sure that a solution will be provided. 73, Ken K3IU On 12/21/2011 6:17 AM, Ricardo Navarrete wrote: *Hello,* *I'm having some problems with some of my K3 knobs, I have the AF knob broken and RF knob seems to be the same way* *Do you know if elecraft knows about this issue???* __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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] KAT2 only intermittently recognized by the K2
Ariel, Check the grounds. What you are saying is that when the chassis ground is connected to the base K2 your KAT2 is not recognized. Make certain the ground side of the connectors (KAT2 input coax and speaker wire) are on the correct side. 73, Don W3FPR On 12/22/2011 7:34 PM, Ariel Jacala wrote: Elecrafters I have been using the KPA100 for a while and the K2 QRP top has been sitting quietly in its box for a few months. Last night I decided to reconnect it for potential portable use and the the K2 does not recognize its presence- (i.e. the menus for the KAT2 do not show up). I decided to unplug and re-plug the connectors while the K2 top is standing next to the K2 and lo and behold, the K2 recognizes it on the menu. As soon as I bolted the top on - the K2 un-recognized the KAT2. I went through the routine of unplugging and re-plugging the 12V and RF connectors but as soon as I tightened the top screws the KAT2 was no longer recognized. Has this ever happened to anyone in the reflector? Perhaps someone can shed some light to steer me to solving this problem. Ariel NY4G __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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] No 6m on KPA500
Im new at all this menu stuff and it looks like it was my fault the KPA500 was a replacement for a SGC500 ( with no 6m ) and 6m was turned of in the ts480hx radio menu thanks for the help 73 Ron Leech ve7nex __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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 Command Tester
Solution Found: Neglected to put the semicolon at the end. Apparently, this is not needed when you use K3 buttons, but is when you use the application. Jim -- -- -- --- Jim Kohnke, W6VAR 508 Saddle Creek Court San Ramon, CA 94582 w6...@comcast.net -Original Message- From: Dick Dievendorff [mailto:die...@comcast.net] Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 10:06 PM To: 'Jim - W6VAR'; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: RE: [Elecraft] K3 Command Tester You should be able to test macros from the K3 Utility. If you look at K3 Utility Help, search for Edit Command Tester/K3 Macros. There's a screen shot of a number of macros. You enter macro captions and the associated text in this dialog and close the dialog. Then in the main command tester window, click one of the macro buttons and the text for that macro is sent to the K3. Dick, K6KR -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Jim - W6VAR Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 7:50 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Command Tester I've just started dabbling with K3 Macros. I've been able to save a simple macro and program PF1 to run it. However, I have not been able to click on the macro button in the command tester or enter commands in the tester and have them execute on the K3. Am I either doing something wrong or am I incorrect that commands can be tested from this window? Thanks, Jim -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-Command-Tester-tp7120838p7120838.htm l 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] K3 Mic input rear panel
What is the pinout for K3 rear panel mic input? Looking for how to wire a mic. Didn't see it in the manual. Off-the-shelf mic does seem to work even with K3 set to use rear panel mic. Pete Meier pme...@me.com Amateur Radio Callsign: WK8S || If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you. But if you really make them think, they'll hate you - Don Marquis || __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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 Command Tester
K3 commands should all have semicolon terminators. Dick, K6KR On Dec 23, 2011, at 5:47, W6VAR w6...@comcast.net wrote: Solution Found: Neglected to put the semicolon at the end. Apparently, this is not needed when you use K3 buttons, but is when you use the application. Jim -- -- -- --- Jim Kohnke, W6VAR 508 Saddle Creek Court San Ramon, CA 94582 w6...@comcast.net -Original Message- From: Dick Dievendorff [mailto:die...@comcast.net] Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 10:06 PM To: 'Jim - W6VAR'; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: RE: [Elecraft] K3 Command Tester You should be able to test macros from the K3 Utility. If you look at K3 Utility Help, search for Edit Command Tester/K3 Macros. There's a screen shot of a number of macros. You enter macro captions and the associated text in this dialog and close the dialog. Then in the main command tester window, click one of the macro buttons and the text for that macro is sent to the K3. Dick, K6KR -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Jim - W6VAR Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 7:50 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Command Tester I've just started dabbling with K3 Macros. I've been able to save a simple macro and program PF1 to run it. However, I have not been able to click on the macro button in the command tester or enter commands in the tester and have them execute on the K3. Am I either doing something wrong or am I incorrect that commands can be tested from this window? Thanks, Jim -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-Command-Tester-tp7120838p7120838.htm l 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] Impact of this mod: K3 I.F. Output Buffer Gain Modification???
Can someone explain the real world value of making this modification? This mod is listed on the Elecraft website with this description (new production incorporates this mod): This modification increases the signal level at the I.F. output by more than 10 dB. It requires changing one easily-accessible resistor on the K3’s main RF board with either another surface mount device (SMD) or a leaded 1/8 watt resistor. I have s/n #3012 and expect my radio was pre-modification. I will be adding filters and other mods after the first of the year and want to make this is one time affair if possible. Merry Christmas! Jack - WE5ST __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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] Impact of this mod: K3 I.F. Output Buffer GainModification???
The main value is bringing the IF output up to a level that is usable by the P3. I thought that the mod was in all K3's after s/n 3600-something or other, but there are probably experts around (or Elecraft crew) that know the exact cut-in s/n or date. 73, matt W6NIA On Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:05:22 -0800 (PST), you wrote: Can someone explain the real world value of making this modification? This mod is listed on the Elecraft website with this description (new production incorporates this mod): This modification increases the signal level at the I.F. output by more than 10 dB. It requires changing one easily-accessible resistor on the K3s main RF board with either another surface mount device (SMD) or a leaded 1/8 watt resistor. I have s/n #3012 and expect my radio was pre-modification. I will be adding filters and other mods after the first of the year and want to make this is one time affair if possible. Merry Christmas! Jack - WE5ST __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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 Mic input rear panel
Hello Pete, The rear panel mic jack is a stereo (T-R-S) jack with the mono mic signal on the tip. The ring is not connected. It is an unbalanced input and accepts balanced or unbalanced dynamic mics but only unbalanced electret condenser mics. When RL.X bias is on, it supplies 8 volts. You can glean most of this by perusing the schematics. You can also see a summary of all the KIO3 connections in the chapter 7 sampler for the KE7X K3 book. Have a look at www.ke7x.com. Cheers and 73, Fred KE7X The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration and Operation www.ke7x.com -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net on behalf of Pete Meier Sent: Fri 12/23/2011 9:24 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Mic input rear panel What is the pinout for K3 rear panel mic input? Looking for how to wire a mic. Didn't see it in the manual. Off-the-shelf mic does seem to work even with K3 set to use rear panel mic. Pete Meier pme...@me.com Amateur Radio Callsign: WK8S || If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you. But if you really make them think, they'll hate you - Don Marquis || __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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] Impact of this mod: K3 I.F. Output Buffer GainModification???
I'd be interested in knowing also. 73, Mike NF4L On 12/23/2011 12:15 PM, Matt Zilmer wrote: The main value is bringing the IF output up to a level that is usable by the P3. I thought that the mod was in all K3's after s/n 3600-something or other, but there are probably experts around (or Elecraft crew) that know the exact cut-in s/n or date. 73, matt W6NIA On Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:05:22 -0800 (PST), you wrote: Can someone explain the real world value of making this modification? This mod is listed on the Elecraft website with this description (new production incorporates this mod): This modification increases the signal level at the I.F. output by more than 10 dB. It requires changing one easily-accessible resistor on the K3’s main RF board with either another surface mount device (SMD) or a leaded 1/8 watt resistor. I have s/n #3012 and expect my radio was pre-modification. I will be adding filters and other mods after the first of the year and want to make this is one time affair if possible. Merry Christmas! Jack - WE5ST __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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] Impact of this mod: K3 I.F. Output Buffer GainModification???
Exactly what I needed to know. I do plan to add the P3. Thanks! Jack - WE5ST From: Matt Zilmer mzil...@verizon.net To: Jack Berry jlbe...@yahoo.com Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Fri, December 23, 2011 11:15:39 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Impact of this mod: K3 I.F. Output Buffer GainModification??? The main value is bringing the IF output up to a level that is usable by the P3. I thought that the mod was in all K3's after s/n 3600-something or other, but there are probably experts around (or Elecraft crew) that know the exact cut-in s/n or date. 73, matt W6NIA On Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:05:22 -0800 (PST), you wrote: Can someone explain the real world value of making this modification? This mod is listed on the Elecraft website with this description (new production incorporates this mod): This modification increases the signal level at the I.F. output by more than 10 dB. It requires changing one easily-accessible resistor on the K3’s main RF board with either another surface mount device (SMD) or a leaded 1/8 watt resistor. I have s/n #3012 and expect my radio was pre-modification. I will be adding filters and other mods after the first of the year and want to make this is one time affair if possible. Merry Christmas! Jack - WE5ST __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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] Impact of this mod: K3 I.F. Output Buffer GainModification???
The app note says that the mod is incorporated into all new K3's since September 2009. Without it, the P3 (or other panadapters) should still function, but some weak signals may be undetectable due to the noise floor of the IF being below that of the panadapter. ~iain / N6ML On Fri, Dec 23, 2011 at 10:22 AM, Mike n...@nf4l.com wrote: I'd be interested in knowing also. 73, Mike NF4L On 12/23/2011 12:15 PM, Matt Zilmer wrote: The main value is bringing the IF output up to a level that is usable by the P3. I thought that the mod was in all K3's after s/n 3600-something or other, but there are probably experts around (or Elecraft crew) that know the exact cut-in s/n or date. 73, matt W6NIA On Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:05:22 -0800 (PST), you wrote: Can someone explain the real world value of making this modification? This mod is listed on the Elecraft website with this description (new production incorporates this mod): This modification increases the signal level at the I.F. output by more than 10 dB. It requires changing one easily-accessible resistor on the K3’s main RF board with either another surface mount device (SMD) or a leaded 1/8 watt resistor. I have s/n #3012 and expect my radio was pre-modification. I will be adding filters and other mods after the first of the year and want to make this is one time affair if possible. Merry Christmas! Jack - WE5ST __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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] Impact of this mod: K3 I.F. Output Buffer GainModification???
The P3 is usable without the mod but it increases the sensitivity of the P3 display. On the low bands you probably won't notice any difference but if you do much 10 or 6 meter operating you probably want to make sure the modification has been done. I'm not sure of the serial number of the changeover, but the web site says RF board Rev H3 and later have the new resistor value. Alan N1AL On Fri, 2011-12-23 at 09:15 -0800, Matt Zilmer wrote: The main value is bringing the IF output up to a level that is usable by the P3. I thought that the mod was in all K3's after s/n 3600-something or other, but there are probably experts around (or Elecraft crew) that know the exact cut-in s/n or date. 73, matt W6NIA On Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:05:22 -0800 (PST), you wrote: Can someone explain the real world value of making this modification? This mod is listed on the Elecraft website with this description (new production incorporates this mod): This modification increases the signal level at the I.F. output by more than 10 dB. It requires changing one easily-accessible resistor on the K3’s main RF board with either another surface mount device (SMD) or a leaded 1/8 watt resistor. I have s/n #3012 and expect my radio was pre-modification. I will be adding filters and other mods after the first of the year and want to make this is one time affair if possible. Merry Christmas! Jack - WE5ST __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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] K2 - Fuses ...A Cautionary Tale
On 12/23/2011 5:35 AM, Alan Davenport wrote: What I do if I let the smoke out of a trace is to replace the burned portion of the trace with a SINGLE strand from some braided wire. In effect, reapiring the burned trace with a fuse. When I lived in the Middle East in the mid-1960s that's how they actually made fuses in residential power boards - each strand was rated for 10 A. ! On Topic - has any determination ever been made on the use of a 12-V marine-rated circuit breaker versus a 3AG/ATC cartridge fuse in a distribution panel for Elecraft equipment installations? -- 73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane Elecraft K2/100 s/n 5402 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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 + LP100A + Dummy Load
Just a comment on dummy loads: I do a lot of ham radio work at VHF and higher (up to 10-GHz), so making good power measurements involves having a good 50-ohm termination (load). For most of my testing I have several coaxial loads: A 25w Termaline (Bird) is used a lot in the shack as it tests Z=51 + j0 on my MFJ-269B antenna analyzer and shows zero reflected on a Bird43 power meter. Some of the other loads show 52 or even 54 ohms on the MFJ, and not quite resistive (I marked all them so I would know). In all cases resistance measurement with an ohmmeter agrees with the R parameter in the complex impedance equation. I even have a 500w Sierra termination (door stop load) which has a integral power meter, but it is not exactly 50-ohms and the meter is not in agreement with the Bird43, so I use it as a safe load for high power but not for high accuracy measurements. I have seen coax loads shift way off 50-ohms due to overheating from too much or too long a transmission. I bought some of the Cadsoft 100w surface-mount attenuators to use in a 900-MHz amplifier to permit driving with 10w exciter. They were in the $12 range from Mouser. One can make very fine 50-ohm loads using them on a proper heat sink at a fraction of the cost of coaxial loads. 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 == BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com EME: 50-1.1kw?, 144-1.4kw, 432-QRT, 1296-?, 3400-? DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubus...@gmail.com == __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K3 MCU 4.47 Merry Christmas to me!
So I go to have a holiday lunch with a bunch of hams, and I sit across from fellow K3'r Paul, NF8J. We are a talking away, and I mention something about my remote base, and Paul tells me (I've been off this reflector for a while), that the K3 can now work with the RemoteRig. I was a little puzzled, as I use the RemoteRig with my K3, driving the home unit with my home computer and a copy of TRX. Nope Paul sez, there was something on the reflector. So I come home, and read up on firmware 4.47. Well, let's update both K3's, the one at home and the one at the remote base. Update the RemoteRig firmware at both ends, and then make up a simple rs-232 null-modem cable. Well, look at this. No mouse mouse dragging. Turn this knob, and the remote site K3 totally obeys. *This Is Way Cool!* Wayne, Eric et al, thank you for the Christmas Present. Now, the only problem is with K8AJ wanting to use it. Hmmm. 73 to all, de tom bosscher K8TB p.s., Eric and Wayne, I would LOVE to be able to buy just a front panel with a simple rs-232 interface, so I can use the remote base while K8AJ uses the local K3. Or the other way around if she wants to. :) __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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 Running Hot?
When I operated the OL-OK RTTY DX contest, I ran the KPA at 300 Watts output. The fan would generally go up three steps when I was running 'em, and the temperature got into the 60's. The fan was a little loud, but tolerable with earphones on. But today, I had occasion to need the amp to complete a QSO with a DX station on 20. I ran 150 Watts output and my transmissions were no more than 3 minutes long. Yet, every time I was transmitting a minute or so, the fan would kick in, and it stepped up three or four times by the time I was finsished. Now THAT was loud! Plus, the top rear of the amp was quite warm. Exhaust from the fan was warm, too! I didn't have the presence of mind to check the temperature today. Any ideas? Has anybody else had this experience? Bert, N4CW __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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 - Power up glitches with K3
I've got a P3 connected to my K3 with all the proper connections. K3 info: s/n 1206 Firmware: MCU 4.36, DSP 2.73, Flash Parameters 1.14 P3 info: s/n 1490 Firmware: 1.09 When I first hooked up the P3 a few months ago, I set the jumpers (and connected a power cable) to power it up from the K3. At that time, I got immediate connection and immediate talking between the P3 and the K3. Frequency and filter width showed up correctly immediately at power up. After a couple of months, it appears to not immediately 'talk' with the K3 upon power up. Sometimes no frequency nor filter bandwidth are displayed. Sometimes frequency is displayed, but no filter bandwidth. Sometimes the bandwidth shows up and is shifted off the right. In all cases, I can manually power down the P3 and toggle it back up, and all those things eventually show up properly. Sometimes it takes several on-off toggles (5 or more). In one instance, it didn't come up after several toggles, then about 10 minutes later they started talking correctly. Cables are tightly attached. There is no movement to the rigs during use. This appears to be software related, not mechanical. Ideas? - Phil, WA7URV -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/P3-Power-up-glitches-with-K3-tp7122888p7122888.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 - Power up glitches with K3
Software doesn't age over time. It could be a problem with pin contact resistance. You can clean the connector pins off and see if this helps. 73, matt W6NIA On Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:40:35 -0800 (PST), you wrote: I've got a P3 connected to my K3 with all the proper connections. K3 info: s/n 1206 Firmware: MCU 4.36, DSP 2.73, Flash Parameters 1.14 P3 info: s/n 1490 Firmware: 1.09 When I first hooked up the P3 a few months ago, I set the jumpers (and connected a power cable) to power it up from the K3. At that time, I got immediate connection and immediate talking between the P3 and the K3. Frequency and filter width showed up correctly immediately at power up. After a couple of months, it appears to not immediately 'talk' with the K3 upon power up. Sometimes no frequency nor filter bandwidth are displayed. Sometimes frequency is displayed, but no filter bandwidth. Sometimes the bandwidth shows up and is shifted off the right. In all cases, I can manually power down the P3 and toggle it back up, and all those things eventually show up properly. Sometimes it takes several on-off toggles (5 or more). In one instance, it didn't come up after several toggles, then about 10 minutes later they started talking correctly. Cables are tightly attached. There is no movement to the rigs during use. This appears to be software related, not mechanical. Ideas? - Phil, WA7URV __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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 - Power up glitches with K3
Hi Phil, It does take several seconds for the K3 to initialize the P3 at power up but if some parameters are not getting initialized it must be a hardware problem with the serial interface. It sounds like you have already confirmed that the locking screws on both ends of the serial cable are tight. If you have a spare cable you might try that. Another possibility is a bad KIO3 board in the K3. Some units have a marginal negative power supply that can affect signal integrity. If you can borrow another K3, you could temporarily substitute it to tell if the problem is with the K3 or P3. I would contact Elecraft support to see what they recommend. k3supp...@elecraft.com Alan N1AL On Fri, 2011-12-23 at 17:40 -0800, Phil Westover wrote: I've got a P3 connected to my K3 with all the proper connections. K3 info: s/n 1206 Firmware: MCU 4.36, DSP 2.73, Flash Parameters 1.14 P3 info: s/n 1490 Firmware: 1.09 When I first hooked up the P3 a few months ago, I set the jumpers (and connected a power cable) to power it up from the K3. At that time, I got immediate connection and immediate talking between the P3 and the K3. Frequency and filter width showed up correctly immediately at power up. After a couple of months, it appears to not immediately 'talk' with the K3 upon power up. Sometimes no frequency nor filter bandwidth are displayed. Sometimes frequency is displayed, but no filter bandwidth. Sometimes the bandwidth shows up and is shifted off the right. In all cases, I can manually power down the P3 and toggle it back up, and all those things eventually show up properly. Sometimes it takes several on-off toggles (5 or more). In one instance, it didn't come up after several toggles, then about 10 minutes later they started talking correctly. Cables are tightly attached. There is no movement to the rigs during use. This appears to be software related, not mechanical. Ideas? - Phil, WA7URV -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/P3-Power-up-glitches-with-K3-tp7122888p7122888.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] Problems with knobs
My K3 is serial #5102 purchased in January 2011. My VFO B knob has just cracked: it's spontaneously developed ugly linear fissures across the face of the knob. The cracks begin nowhere near the screw hole. There are two cracks. The rig has spent its life in an internal room with no UV exposure. I emailed Elecraft and the response was perfect, as usual: a replacement knob was in the mail less than a day after I'd made email contact with the parts department. This is the first/only report of a cracked VFO knob. Such things happen - that's the nature of matter and entropy. What's important to me is the great response from Elecraft. That's why I buy from them. Thanks Richard Co. John VK7JB -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Problems-with-knobs-K3-tp7115008p7123274.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
