[Elecraft] KXPA100 not making antenna connection
Hi there! I assembled my KXPA100 (with ATU) recently, serial number 0595. Unfortunately, it isn't working. The link to the KX3 works great (rather slick, everything was instantly recognized), but the KXPA100 is not making any antenna connection cleanly. KX3 is properly configured to link with the KXPA100. I heard nothing at all, on any band, as if the antenna wasn't connected at all. I tried initiating an ATU tuning cycle, only to see a SWR fault on the KXPA100 almost instantly, so I stopped that rather quickly. The SWR wouldn't improve below 32.0-1 (terrible). I opened it up again and removed then reconnected the tricky little TMP connectors, and that helped a little. Using needlenose pliers made all the difference. I am now pretty confident I have the TMP connectors fully inserted (they weren't, earlier). Now, I can hear stations very faintly, S0 at most (not enough to light up any signal bars on the KX3). This is still very bad, because when bypassing the KXPA100 by using a barrel connector to connect the KX3 to the antenna directly (for testing), it's loud and clear, around S5-S9, which is normal for my antenna. I can transmit just fine, using the KX3 and its built-in ATU, without the KXPA100, so I can rule out anything else in my setup that might be causing a problem. Both antenna and dummy load normally work great. Ruled out cables by using barrel connector to join two cables together directly (cutting the KXPA100 out of the circuit) and that also worked great. I just can't get a good connection when going through the KXPA100. Now, I'm at a loss what to do. I think there might be a fault with the ATU connection internally of the KXPA100. It was straightforward to put it together, though, I don't think I made any mistakes there, but probably will disassemble it all and try again. Switching between antenna 1 and antenna 2 makes an audible difference in the noise level, so I know that works. However, the ATU switch on the KXPA100 doesn't seem to make a difference at all, there is no difference in noise level between bypass/manual/auto. Shouldn't there be an audible difference here? There also is no difference when KXPA100 is powered off vs. on, which seems strange to me. Same SWR fault happens instantly when trying to tune with ATU, or doing any transmission for that matter. What should be my next step in troubleshooting? Thanks! Josh K6JSH __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KXPA100 not making antenna connection
Josh, Unfortunately, I'm not familiar enough with the KXPA100 to know if, when bypassing the unit internally, there is DC continuity between the input and output. If there is (I suspect so), you should be able to measure between them with a regular ohm meter. While not 100% definitive, if it fails this test (again, assuming DC continuity), that would be a major indicator of some connection problem. Hope that helps! kurtt WB9FMC 2015 Hamfesters Hamfest Chairman Looking for my replacement since 2014! http:\\ham-ham.org On 9/3/2014 03:24, Josh Lehan wrote: Hi there! I assembled my KXPA100 (with ATU) recently, serial number 0595. Unfortunately, it isn't working. The link to the KX3 works great (rather slick, everything was instantly recognized), but the KXPA100 is not making any antenna connection cleanly. KX3 is properly configured to link with the KXPA100. I heard nothing at all, on any band, as if the antenna wasn't connected at all. I tried initiating an ATU tuning cycle, only to see a SWR fault on the KXPA100 almost instantly, so I stopped that rather quickly. The SWR wouldn't improve below 32.0-1 (terrible). I opened it up again and removed then reconnected the tricky little TMP connectors, and that helped a little. Using needlenose pliers made all the difference. I am now pretty confident I have the TMP connectors fully inserted (they weren't, earlier). Now, I can hear stations very faintly, S0 at most (not enough to light up any signal bars on the KX3). This is still very bad, because when bypassing the KXPA100 by using a barrel connector to connect the KX3 to the antenna directly (for testing), it's loud and clear, around S5-S9, which is normal for my antenna. I can transmit just fine, using the KX3 and its built-in ATU, without the KXPA100, so I can rule out anything else in my setup that might be causing a problem. Both antenna and dummy load normally work great. Ruled out cables by using barrel connector to join two cables together directly (cutting the KXPA100 out of the circuit) and that also worked great. I just can't get a good connection when going through the KXPA100. Now, I'm at a loss what to do. I think there might be a fault with the ATU connection internally of the KXPA100. It was straightforward to put it together, though, I don't think I made any mistakes there, but probably will disassemble it all and try again. Switching between antenna 1 and antenna 2 makes an audible difference in the noise level, so I know that works. However, the ATU switch on the KXPA100 doesn't seem to make a difference at all, there is no difference in noise level between bypass/manual/auto. Shouldn't there be an audible difference here? There also is no difference when KXPA100 is powered off vs. on, which seems strange to me. Same SWR fault happens instantly when trying to tune with ATU, or doing any transmission for that matter. What should be my next step in troubleshooting? Thanks! Josh K6JSH __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to ku...@pinrod.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] Vedr: SWR Readings:Differences
The first thing you need to do is to use the same SWR-meter both at the tower and at you're K3. When measurering close to the K3 and if it is a big difference between you're SWR meter and the K3, the K3 is probably indicating the wrong SWR, or the K3 tuner is coupled in making the SWR to be something quite different than it actually is. If both SWR-meters show higher SWR in the shack than at you're tower, there is probably something wrong in the last coax run, hook it up to a dummyload and measure SWR. The SWR shall normally be lower in the shack than at you're tower due to the losses in the coax. Martin Storli LA8OKA Oslo, Norway ARCTICPEAK's Radio pages! http://www.arcticpeak.com/radio.htm Fra: pastor...@verizon.net pastor...@verizon.net Til: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sendt: Onsdag, 3. september 2014 2.06 Emne: [Elecraft] SWR Readings:Differences Good Evening, This is Mark Griffin, KB3Z and I have some questions regarding the SWR readings I get at my tower versus what I get on my K3. I will give the SWR readings that I got at my tower for a 40 meter rotatable dipole at 55 feet. Tower: 7000 2.2 7025 1.8 7050 1.5 7075 1.3 7100 1.0 7125 1.1 7150 1.3 7175 1.6 7200 2.0 7225 2.2 K3 Readings: 7000 3.5 7025 3.2 7050 2.9 7075 2.6 7100 2.4 7125 2.3 7150 2.4 7175 2.5 7200 2.6 7225 2.9 What would cause such a big difference. The cable run from my antenna switch on the tower to my K3 is only an additional 75 feet. I am using RG-213 cable. Is there anyway that I can test the SWR reading that my K3 is giving me? Mark Griffin, KB3Z __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net/ Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arcticp...@yahoo.no __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] SWR Readings:Differences
My experience with this is that if one is seeing an SWR 2.5 -3 it usually means either the braid or center conductor isn't connected. I'd redo the connectors. You don't say how the measurements were made at the tower. But I'm guessing it was done with another short piece of coax. Thus both connectors (ant end and shack end) are suspect. Testing out the coax (coax problems are really rare these days with new coax) is a good idea. After connectors are installed, put a dummy load at one end and measure the SWR. It should be close to 1:1. 73 GL Brian/K3KO On 9/2/2014 8:06 PM, pastor...@verizon.net wrote: Good Evening, This is Mark Griffin, KB3Z and I have some questions regarding the SWR readings I get at my tower versus what I get on my K3. I will give the SWR readings that I got at my tower for a 40 meter rotatable dipole at 55 feet. Tower: 7000 2.2 7025 1.8 7050 1.5 7075 1.3 7100 1.0 7125 1.1 7150 1.3 7175 1.6 7200 2.0 7225 2.2 K3 Readings: 7000 3.5 7025 3.2 7050 2.9 7075 2.6 7100 2.4 7125 2.3 7150 2.4 7175 2.5 7200 2.6 7225 2.9 What would cause such a big difference. The cable run from my antenna switch on the tower to my K3 is only an additional 75 feet. I am using RG-213 cable. Is there anyway that I can test the SWR reading that my K3 is giving me? Mark Griffin, KB3Z __ Elecraft mailing list Home:http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help:http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post:mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by:http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list:http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered toals...@nc.rr.com - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG -www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.2247 / Virus Database: 4015/7640 - Release Date: 09/02/14 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] [KX3] KXAT3 Per Band Setting
Is it possible to set the KXAT3 to activate per band? If so, can someone point me to where that is in the manual? I cannot seem to find it. Thanks, Joel - W4JBB __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] SWR Readings:Differences
Mark, Any transmission line will have an impedance transformation unless it is terminated in its characteristic impedance. The other factor may be that you have some common mode current on the coax shield - that can skew SWR readings. 73, Don W3FPR On 9/2/2014 8:06 PM, pastor...@verizon.net wrote: Good Evening, This is Mark Griffin, KB3Z and I have some questions regarding the SWR readings I get at my tower versus what I get on my K3. I will give the SWR readings that I got at my tower for a 40 meter rotatable dipole at 55 feet. Tower: 7000 2.2 7025 1.8 7050 1.5 7075 1.3 7100 1.0 7125 1.1 7150 1.3 7175 1.6 7200 2.0 7225 2.2 K3 Readings: 7000 3.5 7025 3.2 7050 2.9 7075 2.6 7100 2.4 7125 2.3 7150 2.4 7175 2.5 7200 2.6 7225 2.9 What would cause such a big difference. The cable run from my antenna switch on the tower to my K3 is only an additional 75 feet. I am using RG-213 cable. Is there anyway that I can test the SWR reading that my K3 is giving me? Mark Griffin, KB3Z __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to w3...@embarqmail.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Vedr: SWR Readings:Differences
Hi, Martin makes an important point! The VSWR indicated on the K3 is measured between tuner and PA. The tuner does not influence the VSWR on the feeder. P-T / LA7NO On 3 September 2014 12:18, Martin Storli - LA8OKA arcticp...@yahoo.no wrote: The first thing you need to do is to use the same SWR-meter both at the tower and at you're K3. When measurering close to the K3 and if it is a big difference between you're SWR meter and the K3, the K3 is probably indicating the wrong SWR, or the K3 tuner is coupled in making the SWR to be something quite different than it actually is. If both SWR-meters show higher SWR in the shack than at you're tower, there is probably something wrong in the last coax run, hook it up to a dummyload and measure SWR. The SWR shall normally be lower in the shack than at you're tower due to the losses in the coax. Martin Storli LA8OKA Oslo, Norway ARCTICPEAK's Radio pages! http://www.arcticpeak.com/radio.htm Fra: pastor...@verizon.net pastor...@verizon.net Til: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sendt: Onsdag, 3. september 2014 2.06 Emne: [Elecraft] SWR Readings:Differences Good Evening, This is Mark Griffin, KB3Z and I have some questions regarding the SWR readings I get at my tower versus what I get on my K3. I will give the SWR readings that I got at my tower for a 40 meter rotatable dipole at 55 feet. Tower: 7000 2.2 7025 1.8 7050 1.5 7075 1.3 7100 1.0 7125 1.1 7150 1.3 7175 1.6 7200 2.0 7225 2.2 K3 Readings: 7000 3.5 7025 3.2 7050 2.9 7075 2.6 7100 2.4 7125 2.3 7150 2.4 7175 2.5 7200 2.6 7225 2.9 What would cause such a big difference. The cable run from my antenna switch on the tower to my K3 is only an additional 75 feet. I am using RG-213 cable. Is there anyway that I can test the SWR reading that my K3 is giving me? Mark Griffin, KB3Z __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net/ Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arcticp...@yahoo.no __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to p...@ieee.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] Trade for Elecreaft Equipment...
I have a 12.5 inch diameter, f/6, full thickness, (2.13 inches), fully aluminized, fully parabolized, Pyrex, research grade mirror for sale or trade. It was tested at better than 1/8 wave accuracy, and has a tested value of .972 for Sterehl rating. Testing performed by Optical Wave Labs in California. The original test certificate will be included with the mirror when purchased. This is a high quality mirror, that has been finished, tested, and aluminized by a professionals in the United States. If you are going to build a 12.5 inch scope, this is the mirror to use! To purchase this mirror, it would cost you between $1000, and $1500. I am no longer interested in Astronomy, (I was going to build a scope out of this mirror), and the mirror is now up for sale, or trade, for amateur gear. I will consider any like value trade for this mirror. The mirror is in mint condition, not near mint, but mint condition...Unused, unmounted, and still packed in the original shipping box from the lab that ground it. What have you to trade for it? I will pay shipping/Insurance for the mirror within CONUS, you pay shipping/insurance within CONUS for your item. Looking for Perhaps used as partial payment om K500... Interested in any Elecraft equipment. Please email me if interested. -- Thanks and 73's, For equipment, and software setups and reviews see: www.nk7z.net for MixW support see; http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/mixw/info for Dopplergram information see: http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/dopplergram/info for MM-SSTV see: http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/MM-SSTV/info __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] SWR Readings:Differences
Here is a small, non-inclusive list of things that can be bad with a coax run to the house. I have personally seen all of them at some time or place. Some big names, too. 1) At either or both ends, the shield was not soldered to the PL259 shell, and the connection has dwindled to a small percentage of the shield due to gradual destruction of the fine wire touching points. 1a) Ditto for the center conductor to the hollow center conductor pin of the PL259. Amazing how many PL259's are not soldered in a hurry to 'hear how it works. I've done it myself and forgotten I didn't. For years. 2) Balun is cheep junk, or burned up/melted/shorted turns/cracked/destroyed core, now junk. 3) Coax on tower is not high quality, and does not have it's weight supported. The stretch has changed the separation of shield and center conductor, and the characteristic impedance has shifted, introducing an unwanted transformation into the equation. 3a) Coax is very old, but still looks OK even though it isn't. Much coax material undergoes very slow (even decades) chemical changes which can change characteristics. Wide frequency and TDR scans of coax into opens, shorts, checked 50 ohm and 200 ohm terminations are only way to check for still-OK-ness. 4) Water has invaded the coax, from a nick, tear or critter bite in the jacket, or non/poorly sealed coax connector, and capillary action has wicked along it's entire length. This can be hundreds of feet in the worst of cases. The loss-added coax does not necessarily stay at 50 ohms Z zero. I have seen coax shields green (copper oxide) their entire length. Interestingly the practical outcomes of this extra loss was initially most often blamed on the transceiver. 5) Coax has been wrapped around a pipe by rotator torque. See 3) 6) Coax has had something heavy dropped on it. See 3) 7) Coax shield was only ground path for induced current for a close lightning strike. (Usually a direct strike smokes coax beyond any confusion.) 8) PL259 shell was not pliers-tightened and has worked loose, gradually producing burned points of connection. 9) Long coax run was laid tight in summer heat, and stretched in the winter. See 3) 10) Constant flexing of coax finally breaks the center conductor. After that, connection is strange. 11) Unsupported aerial coax over-weighted by ice and stretched, pulled out of connectors, see 8). 12) Coax is innocent and it's really the antenna. 13) Operator in fact does not know how to operate the instrument or how to interpret readings. 14) Short lengths of coax and other boxes are ignored, and those in fact contain the problem. 15) Measuring instrument has been damaged or was defective from the factory. 15a) Measuring instrument is cheep junk. 16) Operator was told what the trouble was by a trusted source and is having a lot of trouble thinking outside of the trusted box when the trusted source was in fact in error for this instance. 17) Dummy load used to calibrate/provide 50 J zero comparison or reference termination is not 50 J zero for any number of reasons, including the likes of several seconds of QRO on a 2 watts worth of 50 ohms. Didn't turn black on the outside, but the resistor innards were already toast. Didn't *look* burned, so must be fine, right? 18) Dummy load while accurate at DC has significant reactive components at RF. 19) Coax was not 50 ohms from the get-go (try 56). But it looks good so it must be good. And the seller had a nice looking web page and the best price. 20) I need to wrap this up, but I know I'm not remembering something really juicy, which will come to mind after I hit the send button. A group of Olde Pharte hams sitting around a table in a Lunche Jointe, came up with a napkin version of this that had over 40 items on it. The napkins were used for the inevitable outcome of ribs, and so was lost to posterity. One of these included a male F connector that had not had its threads grooved into the shell. This ignominious occurrence is not mentioned above, because it could not ever be part of a working setup. But it was amazing how many other things were blamed for not fitting, including calls to an equipment maker about female chassis connectors, before the lack of threads was noticed. Good luck to all and 73, Guy K2AV On Wed, Sep 3, 2014 at 12:18 AM, Vic, K2VCO k2vco@gmail.com wrote: If your line is lossless (it isn't) you would expect the same SWR readings anywhere along the line. With practical lines that have some loss, the SWR should be LOWER farther away from the antenna. You are getting the opposite result. One cause of erroneous SWR readings is RF flowing on the outside of the coax. If your rotary dipole doesn't have a balun, this could be the cause. It's also possible that you have a bad connector or bad piece of coax between the tower and the K3. On 9/3/14 3:06 AM, pastor...@verizon.net wrote: Good Evening, This is Mark Griffin, KB3Z and I have some questions regarding the SWR
Re: [Elecraft] PX3
They have updated their shipping status page to late this week or early next week. 73, John N1JM - 73, John N1JM K3 #5986 P3 #1752 KPA500 #596 KX3 #926 XG3 XG1 -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/PX3-tp7592728p7592773.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] SWR Readings:Differences
Good list, and here at least is one more. # PL-259 male or female connector made of some non-solderable material. Looks like it soldered but isn't. Cheap import. Mel, K6KBE On Wednesday, September 3, 2014 6:57 AM, Guy Olinger K2AV k2av@gmail.com wrote: Here is a small, non-inclusive list of things that can be bad with a coax run to the house. I have personally seen all of them at some time or place. Some big names, too. 1) At either or both ends, the shield was not soldered to the PL259 shell, and the connection has dwindled to a small percentage of the shield due to gradual destruction of the fine wire touching points. 1a) Ditto for the center conductor to the hollow center conductor pin of the PL259. Amazing how many PL259's are not soldered in a hurry to 'hear how it works. I've done it myself and forgotten I didn't. For years. 2) Balun is cheep junk, or burned up/melted/shorted turns/cracked/destroyed core, now junk. 3) Coax on tower is not high quality, and does not have it's weight supported. The stretch has changed the separation of shield and center conductor, and the characteristic impedance has shifted, introducing an unwanted transformation into the equation. 3a) Coax is very old, but still looks OK even though it isn't. Much coax material undergoes very slow (even decades) chemical changes which can change characteristics. Wide frequency and TDR scans of coax into opens, shorts, checked 50 ohm and 200 ohm terminations are only way to check for still-OK-ness. 4) Water has invaded the coax, from a nick, tear or critter bite in the jacket, or non/poorly sealed coax connector, and capillary action has wicked along it's entire length. This can be hundreds of feet in the worst of cases. The loss-added coax does not necessarily stay at 50 ohms Z zero. I have seen coax shields green (copper oxide) their entire length. Interestingly the practical outcomes of this extra loss was initially most often blamed on the transceiver. 5) Coax has been wrapped around a pipe by rotator torque. See 3) 6) Coax has had something heavy dropped on it. See 3) 7) Coax shield was only ground path for induced current for a close lightning strike. (Usually a direct strike smokes coax beyond any confusion.) 8) PL259 shell was not pliers-tightened and has worked loose, gradually producing burned points of connection. 9) Long coax run was laid tight in summer heat, and stretched in the winter. See 3) 10) Constant flexing of coax finally breaks the center conductor. After that, connection is strange. 11) Unsupported aerial coax over-weighted by ice and stretched, pulled out of connectors, see 8). 12) Coax is innocent and it's really the antenna. 13) Operator in fact does not know how to operate the instrument or how to interpret readings. 14) Short lengths of coax and other boxes are ignored, and those in fact contain the problem. 15) Measuring instrument has been damaged or was defective from the factory. 15a) Measuring instrument is cheep junk. 16) Operator was told what the trouble was by a trusted source and is having a lot of trouble thinking outside of the trusted box when the trusted source was in fact in error for this instance. 17) Dummy load used to calibrate/provide 50 J zero comparison or reference termination is not 50 J zero for any number of reasons, including the likes of several seconds of QRO on a 2 watts worth of 50 ohms. Didn't turn black on the outside, but the resistor innards were already toast. Didn't *look* burned, so must be fine, right? 18) Dummy load while accurate at DC has significant reactive components at RF. 19) Coax was not 50 ohms from the get-go (try 56). But it looks good so it must be good. And the seller had a nice looking web page and the best price. 20) I need to wrap this up, but I know I'm not remembering something really juicy, which will come to mind after I hit the send button. A group of Olde Pharte hams sitting around a table in a Lunche Jointe, came up with a napkin version of this that had over 40 items on it. The napkins were used for the inevitable outcome of ribs, and so was lost to posterity. One of these included a male F connector that had not had its threads grooved into the shell. This ignominious occurrence is not mentioned above, because it could not ever be part of a working setup. But it was amazing how many other things were blamed for not fitting, including calls to an equipment maker about female chassis connectors, before the lack of threads was noticed. Good luck to all and 73, Guy K2AV On Wed, Sep 3, 2014 at 12:18 AM, Vic, K2VCO k2vco@gmail.com wrote: If your line is lossless (it isn't) you would expect the same SWR readings anywhere along the line. With practical lines that have some loss, the SWR should be LOWER farther away from the antenna. You are getting the opposite result. One cause of erroneous SWR readings is RF flowing on the outside of the coax. If your rotary dipole doesn't have a
Re: [Elecraft] Vedr: SWR Readings:Differences
Hi, Martin makes an important point! The VSWR indicated on the K3 is measured between tuner and PA. The tuner does not influence the VSWR on the feeder. P-T / LA7NO On 3. sep. 2014, at 12:18, Martin Storli - LA8OKA arcticp...@yahoo.no wrote: The first thing you need to do is to use the same SWR-meter both at the tower and at you're K3. When measurering close to the K3 and if it is a big difference between you're SWR meter and the K3, the K3 is probably indicating the wrong SWR, or the K3 tuner is coupled in making the SWR to be something quite different than it actually is. If both SWR-meters show higher SWR in the shack than at you're tower, there is probably something wrong in the last coax run, hook it up to a dummyload and measure SWR. The SWR shall normally be lower in the shack than at you're tower due to the losses in the coax. Martin Storli LA8OKA Oslo, Norway ARCTICPEAK's Radio pages! http://www.arcticpeak.com/radio.htm Fra: pastor...@verizon.net pastor...@verizon.net Til: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sendt: Onsdag, 3. september 2014 2.06 Emne: [Elecraft] SWR Readings:Differences Good Evening, This is Mark Griffin, KB3Z and I have some questions regarding the SWR readings I get at my tower versus what I get on my K3. I will give the SWR readings that I got at my tower for a 40 meter rotatable dipole at 55 feet. Tower: 7000 2.2 7025 1.8 7050 1.5 7075 1.3 7100 1.0 7125 1.1 7150 1.3 7175 1.6 7200 2.0 7225 2.2 K3 Readings: 7000 3.5 7025 3.2 7050 2.9 7075 2.6 7100 2.4 7125 2.3 7150 2.4 7175 2.5 7200 2.6 7225 2.9 What would cause such a big difference. The cable run from my antenna switch on the tower to my K3 is only an additional 75 feet. I am using RG-213 cable. Is there anyway that I can test the SWR reading that my K3 is giving me? Mark Griffin, KB3Z __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net/ Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arcticp...@yahoo.no __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to p...@ieee.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] [KX3] Weather protection for a KX3
The tablet sized E Series 20 case seen at the url below should do nicely for weather protection, w/o adding any appreciable bulk or weight. The KX3 could be operated while being protected by placing your hand, and operating cables, through the partially open end. There are other cases like this, and some can be seen if you have a local REI, in the water sport area. Taking a minimalist approach, even a large Ziploc freezer bag could be helpful. http://www.cascadedesigns.com/e-case/eseries/eseries-20/product 73 de Dennis KD7CAC Scottsdale, AZ On Sep 2, 2014, at 6:19 PM, wei...@ymail.com [KX3] k...@yahoogroups.com wrote: Granted, the KX3 was not designed for harsh weather use. But fact is, it's a lovely unit for outdoor applications. Did a search on the group but did not find any. So the question I have is, how have you weather proofed, or at least partially weather protected your KX3 rig for outdoor use? Read on a SOTA group that one member activated an ice covered mountain top. Can't imagine I'd take my KX3 into such an environment without some protection. Of course, no need for 3rd party heat sink._,_.___ Posted by: wei...@ymail.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Trade for Elecreaft Equipment OT
Sounds like mirror for smoke to me. (Assuming worst case.) 73 Fred, AE6QL -Original Message- From: David Cole d...@nk7z.net Sent: Sep 3, 2014 5:46 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Trade for Elecreaft Equipment... I have a 12.5 inch diameter, f/6, full thickness, (2.13 inches), fully aluminized, fully parabolized, Pyrex, research grade mirror for sale or trade. It was tested at better than 1/8 wave accuracy, and has a tested value of .972 for Sterehl rating. Testing performed by Optical Wave Labs in California. The original test certificate will be included with the mirror when purchased. This is a high quality mirror, that has been finished, tested, and aluminized by a professionals in the United States. If you are going to build a 12.5 inch scope, this is the mirror to use! __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Trade for Elecreaft Equipment OT
Hi, Nope... It really is me Dave, NK7Z, and it really is a quality objective mirror, and I really am not using it, and want to swap it for equipment, preferably Elecraft stuff... -- Thanks and 73's, For equipment, and software setups and reviews see: www.nk7z.net for MixW support see; http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/mixw/info for Dopplergram information see: http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/dopplergram/info for MM-SSTV see: http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/MM-SSTV/info On Wed, 2014-09-03 at 10:01 -0700, Fred Townsend wrote: Sounds like mirror for smoke to me. (Assuming worst case.) 73 Fred, AE6QL -Original Message- From: David Cole d...@nk7z.net Sent: Sep 3, 2014 5:46 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Trade for Elecreaft Equipment... I have a 12.5 inch diameter, f/6, full thickness, (2.13 inches), fully aluminized, fully parabolized, Pyrex, research grade mirror for sale or trade. It was tested at better than 1/8 wave accuracy, and has a tested value of .972 for Sterehl rating. Testing performed by Optical Wave Labs in California. The original test certificate will be included with the mirror when purchased. This is a high quality mirror, that has been finished, tested, and aluminized by a professionals in the United States. If you are going to build a 12.5 inch scope, this is the mirror to use! __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to d...@nk7z.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] SWR Readings:Differences
Add to the list. The PL-259 has an undersized center pin. I've seen these. 73 de Brian/K3KO On 9/3/2014 14:20, Mel Farrer via Elecraft wrote: Good list, and here at least is one more. # PL-259 male or female connector made of some non-solderable material. Looks like it soldered but isn't. Cheap import. Mel, K6KBE On Wednesday, September 3, 2014 6:57 AM, Guy Olinger K2AV k2av@gmail.com wrote: Here is a small, non-inclusive list of things that can be bad with a coax run to the house. I have personally seen all of them at some time or place. Some big names, too. 1) At either or both ends, the shield was not soldered to the PL259 shell, and the connection has dwindled to a small percentage of the shield due to gradual destruction of the fine wire touching points. 1a) Ditto for the center conductor to the hollow center conductor pin of the PL259. Amazing how many PL259's are not soldered in a hurry to 'hear how it works. I've done it myself and forgotten I didn't. For years. 2) Balun is cheep junk, or burned up/melted/shorted turns/cracked/destroyed core, now junk. 3) Coax on tower is not high quality, and does not have it's weight supported. The stretch has changed the separation of shield and center conductor, and the characteristic impedance has shifted, introducing an unwanted transformation into the equation. 3a) Coax is very old, but still looks OK even though it isn't. Much coax material undergoes very slow (even decades) chemical changes which can change characteristics. Wide frequency and TDR scans of coax into opens, shorts, checked 50 ohm and 200 ohm terminations are only way to check for still-OK-ness. 4) Water has invaded the coax, from a nick, tear or critter bite in the jacket, or non/poorly sealed coax connector, and capillary action has wicked along it's entire length. This can be hundreds of feet in the worst of cases. The loss-added coax does not necessarily stay at 50 ohms Z zero. I have seen coax shields green (copper oxide) their entire length. Interestingly the practical outcomes of this extra loss was initially most often blamed on the transceiver. 5) Coax has been wrapped around a pipe by rotator torque. See 3) 6) Coax has had something heavy dropped on it. See 3) 7) Coax shield was only ground path for induced current for a close lightning strike. (Usually a direct strike smokes coax beyond any confusion.) 8) PL259 shell was not pliers-tightened and has worked loose, gradually producing burned points of connection. 9) Long coax run was laid tight in summer heat, and stretched in the winter. See 3) 10) Constant flexing of coax finally breaks the center conductor. After that, connection is strange. 11) Unsupported aerial coax over-weighted by ice and stretched, pulled out of connectors, see 8). 12) Coax is innocent and it's really the antenna. 13) Operator in fact does not know how to operate the instrument or how to interpret readings. 14) Short lengths of coax and other boxes are ignored, and those in fact contain the problem. 15) Measuring instrument has been damaged or was defective from the factory. 15a) Measuring instrument is cheep junk. 16) Operator was told what the trouble was by a trusted source and is having a lot of trouble thinking outside of the trusted box when the trusted source was in fact in error for this instance. 17) Dummy load used to calibrate/provide 50 J zero comparison or reference termination is not 50 J zero for any number of reasons, including the likes of several seconds of QRO on a 2 watts worth of 50 ohms. Didn't turn black on the outside, but the resistor innards were already toast. Didn't *look* burned, so must be fine, right? 18) Dummy load while accurate at DC has significant reactive components at RF. 19) Coax was not 50 ohms from the get-go (try 56). But it looks good so it must be good. And the seller had a nice looking web page and the best price. 20) I need to wrap this up, but I know I'm not remembering something really juicy, which will come to mind after I hit the send button. A group of Olde Pharte hams sitting around a table in a Lunche Jointe, came up with a napkin version of this that had over 40 items on it. The napkins were used for the inevitable outcome of ribs, and so was lost to posterity. One of these included a male F connector that had not had its threads grooved into the shell. This ignominious occurrence is not mentioned above, because it could not ever be part of a working setup. But it was amazing how many other things were blamed for not fitting, including calls to an equipment maker about female chassis connectors, before the lack of threads was noticed. Good luck to all and 73, Guy K2AV On Wed, Sep 3, 2014 at 12:18 AM, Vic, K2VCO k2vco@gmail.com wrote: If your line is lossless (it isn't) you would expect the same SWR readings anywhere along the line. With practical lines that have some loss, the SWR should be LOWER farther away from the antenna. You are getting the
Re: [Elecraft] SWR Readings:Differences
SWR meters don't generally tell you the SWR on the line they're connected to, except in special cases. That's independent of the line losses discussion. If the SWR on the line is other than 1:1 and you move the meter along the line, the indicated SWR will change but the actual SWR on the line does not change. Again, independent of line losses. 73- Nick, WA5BDU __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] KPA-500 FW Update
Just thought I'd describe my recent KPA-500 firmware update experience for those Mac users who might be unsure about the process. I purchased my KPA-500 in Sept 2012 and have enjoyed using it ever since. I've also enjoyed lurking since then on this list - learning much in the process. During the ARRL convention this past July I stopped by the Elecraft booth to say hello and check on the usability of the Elecraft SW utilities for the Mac. I was told the Elecraft Mac SW utilities would work well and the KPA-500 firmware version 1.38 update was highly recommended. I was skeptical but decided to proceed. After acquiring the interface cable I downloaded the Elecraft SW, followed the instructions for connecting my Mac to the KPA-500 and proceeded. To my amazement - It just worked” - the firmware updated with no issues! Well-done Elecraft! In many ways Elecraft is the Apple (Computer) of the ham radio equipment manufacturers in terms of customer relationships and equipment versatility. Thanks 73 Bob W3RW __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] SWR Readings:Differences
Unless your antenna is exactly the same impedance as your feedline at the desired frequency (pretty unlikely) then the feedline is going to transform the antenna impedance based on distance from the antenna. The exception to this is feedline lengths that are perfect multiples of a half wave, electrically (that is to say, accounting for the velocity factor) Any other length will result in a transformed impedance, and corresponding different VSWR. You can demonstrate this by changing the feedline length and watching the VSWR change. Try adding some small fraction of a electrical wavelength of coax at 40M and see what your meter shows. You might be surprised. TLDR; try adjusting the length of your coax and see if the readings change. Jeff n1kdo Good Evening, This is Mark Griffin, KB3Z and I have some questions regarding the SWR readings I get at my tower versus what I get on my K3. I will give the SWR readings that I got at my tower for a 40 meter rotatable dipole at 55 feet. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KPA-500 FW Update
On Wed,9/3/2014 12:19 PM, J Robert Witmer wrote: I was skeptical but decided to proceed. After acquiring the interface cable I downloaded the Elecraft SW, followed the instructions for connecting my Mac to the KPA-500 and proceeded. To my amazement - It just worked” - the firmware updated with no issues! Well-done Elecraft! In many ways Elecraft is the Apple (Computer) of the ham radio equipment manufacturers in terms of customer relationships and equipment versatility. No reason to be surprised -- Elecraft is at the edge of Silicon Valley, just south of Santa Cruz, often referred to as Silicon Beach, and there are Apple users among the design team. :) 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] SWR Readings:Differences
You're kidding, right? On 9/3/2014 10:46 AM, Nick Kennedy wrote: SWR meters don't generally tell you the SWR on the line they're connected to, except in special cases. That's independent of the line losses discussion. If the SWR on the line is other than 1:1 and you move the meter along the line, the indicated SWR will change but the actual SWR on the line does not change. Again, independent of line losses. 73- Nick, WA5BDU __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] SWR Readings:Differences
Oh dear me! If I take a lossless 50-ohm line and terminate it in 100 ohm and measure the VSWR using an ideal bridge/coupler/VNA/etc that is calibrated for a 50-ohm system, I will measure 2:1 SWR no matter how long the line is, from zero to infinity. The transformed Z will change with length, but the SWR will not. That's why one can draw a circle of constant SWR on a Smith Chart. Any point on the circle will have a different Z from another, but they all have the same SWR. If you change line length and the SWR reading changes, then: 1) the line has loss, 2) the line Z and the SWR meter Z are different, 3) the source match is poor, 4) the bridge/coupler directivity is poor, or 5) all of the foregoing. With most ham stuff, it's 5. Wes N7WS On 9/3/2014 1:19 PM, Jeffrey Otterson wrote: Unless your antenna is exactly the same impedance as your feedline at the desired frequency (pretty unlikely) then the feedline is going to transform the antenna impedance based on distance from the antenna. The exception to this is feedline lengths that are perfect multiples of a half wave, electrically (that is to say, accounting for the velocity factor) Any other length will result in a transformed impedance, and corresponding different VSWR. You can demonstrate this by changing the feedline length and watching the VSWR change. Try adding some small fraction of a electrical wavelength of coax at 40M and see what your meter shows. You might be surprised. TLDR; try adjusting the length of your coax and see if the readings change. Jeff n1kdo __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] SWR Readings:Differences
Wes, As someone involved in the design and manufacture of couplers for VSWR measurement for the aviation industry (admittedly some 30 odd years ago!), I would say that you are 100% correct, although I suspect that in amateur gear number 4 in your list is probably the biggest culprit of all. We had people on the production tweaking bridges to maximise directivity and it was a job that required some skill, e.g. bending leads of matched zero bias Schottky diodes until the spec was achieved - admittedly this was in the days before the large scale adoption of lead-less components, which must have made things a bit easier. 73 Stephen G4SJP On 3 September 2014 22:12, Wes (N7WS) w...@triconet.org wrote: Oh dear me! If I take a lossless 50-ohm line and terminate it in 100 ohm and measure the VSWR using an ideal bridge/coupler/VNA/etc that is calibrated for a 50-ohm system, I will measure 2:1 SWR no matter how long the line is, from zero to infinity. The transformed Z will change with length, but the SWR will not. That's why one can draw a circle of constant SWR on a Smith Chart. Any point on the circle will have a different Z from another, but they all have the same SWR. If you change line length and the SWR reading changes, then: 1) the line has loss, 2) the line Z and the SWR meter Z are different, 3) the source match is poor, 4) the bridge/coupler directivity is poor, or 5) all of the foregoing. With most ham stuff, it's 5. Wes N7WS On 9/3/2014 1:19 PM, Jeffrey Otterson wrote: Unless your antenna is exactly the same impedance as your feedline at the desired frequency (pretty unlikely) then the feedline is going to transform the antenna impedance based on distance from the antenna. The exception to this is feedline lengths that are perfect multiples of a half wave, electrically (that is to say, accounting for the velocity factor) Any other length will result in a transformed impedance, and corresponding different VSWR. You can demonstrate this by changing the feedline length and watching the VSWR change. Try adding some small fraction of a electrical wavelength of coax at 40M and see what your meter shows. You might be surprised. TLDR; try adjusting the length of your coax and see if the readings change. Jeff n1kdo __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to eastbrantw...@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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KXPA100 not making antenna connection
On 09/03/2014 03:17 AM, Kurt Pawlikowski wrote: Josh, Unfortunately, I'm not familiar enough with the KXPA100 to know if, when bypassing the unit internally, there is DC continuity between the input and output. If there is (I suspect so), you should be able to measure between them with a regular ohm meter. While not 100% definitive, if it fails this test (again, assuming DC continuity), that would be a major indicator of some connection problem. Good advice. I used a multimeter to measure for continuity. Yikes, the tip and the ring of my RX IN jack appear to be shorted to each other, and also shorted to ground! Is that normal? I'm going to open it up and check the wires carefully on the panel where the jacks are, hopefully nothing is touching. I've heard that measuring antenna stuff at DC can be an illusion, as some things are supposed to appear open or appear shorted at DC, as they're designed to carry RF, not DC. My meter can only measure resistance at DC, it can't do anything fancier (no capacitance or inductance, no measuring resistance at AC/RF, no impedance or reactance). Also, when the antenna is selected, the tip and the ring of ANT 1 (or ANT 2 if selected) also appear to be shorted to each other and to ground. The KXPA100 isolates the antenna that is *not* selected: its ring is still shorted to ground, but its tip has no connection. Josh K6JSH Hope that helps! kurtt WB9FMC 2015 Hamfesters Hamfest Chairman Looking for my replacement since 2014! http:\\ham-ham.org On 9/3/2014 03:24, Josh Lehan wrote: Hi there! I assembled my KXPA100 (with ATU) recently, serial number 0595. Unfortunately, it isn't working. The link to the KX3 works great (rather slick, everything was instantly recognized), but the KXPA100 is not making any antenna connection cleanly. KX3 is properly configured to link with the KXPA100. I heard nothing at all, on any band, as if the antenna wasn't connected at all. I tried initiating an ATU tuning cycle, only to see a SWR fault on the KXPA100 almost instantly, so I stopped that rather quickly. The SWR wouldn't improve below 32.0-1 (terrible). I opened it up again and removed then reconnected the tricky little TMP connectors, and that helped a little. Using needlenose pliers made all the difference. I am now pretty confident I have the TMP connectors fully inserted (they weren't, earlier). Now, I can hear stations very faintly, S0 at most (not enough to light up any signal bars on the KX3). This is still very bad, because when bypassing the KXPA100 by using a barrel connector to connect the KX3 to the antenna directly (for testing), it's loud and clear, around S5-S9, which is normal for my antenna. I can transmit just fine, using the KX3 and its built-in ATU, without the KXPA100, so I can rule out anything else in my setup that might be causing a problem. Both antenna and dummy load normally work great. Ruled out cables by using barrel connector to join two cables together directly (cutting the KXPA100 out of the circuit) and that also worked great. I just can't get a good connection when going through the KXPA100. Now, I'm at a loss what to do. I think there might be a fault with the ATU connection internally of the KXPA100. It was straightforward to put it together, though, I don't think I made any mistakes there, but probably will disassemble it all and try again. Switching between antenna 1 and antenna 2 makes an audible difference in the noise level, so I know that works. However, the ATU switch on the KXPA100 doesn't seem to make a difference at all, there is no difference in noise level between bypass/manual/auto. Shouldn't there be an audible difference here? There also is no difference when KXPA100 is powered off vs. on, which seems strange to me. Same SWR fault happens instantly when trying to tune with ATU, or doing any transmission for that matter. What should be my next step in troubleshooting? Thanks! Josh K6JSH __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to ku...@pinrod.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] SWR Readings:Differences
On 09/03/2014 02:12 PM, Wes (N7WS) wrote: Oh dear me! If I take a lossless 50-ohm line and terminate it in 100 ohm and measure the VSWR using an ideal bridge/coupler/VNA/etc that is calibrated for a 50-ohm system, I will measure 2:1 SWR no matter how long the line is, from zero to infinity. The transformed Z will change with length, but the SWR will not. That's why one can draw a circle of constant SWR on a Smith Chart. Any point on the circle will have a different Z from another, but they all have the same SWR. If you change line length and the SWR reading changes, then: 1) the line has loss, 2) the line Z and the SWR meter Z are different, 3) the source match is poor, 4) the bridge/coupler directivity is poor, or 5) all of the foregoing. With most ham stuff, it's 5. Or 6) there is common-mode current on the feedline. In other words, the feedline is part of the antenna so when you change its length you change the SWR. Alan N1AL __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] Question about using external DPS audio filter with K2
Hi All, I have an opportunity to pickup a Timewave 599 audio filter to use with my K2. From what I understand, audio filters like the Timewave units are really good at reducing cyclical noises, but not simply to reduce general noise-floor levels. I'm wondering if it would be a waste of money for the attempt at simply reducing noise-floor, for CW on the lower bands. I have the KDSP2 DSP filter, but prefer the more natural sound of the KAF2 analog CW filter. Anyone have any past experience using the Timewave filters with a K2? Sincere thanks Duane -- bw...@fastmail.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Cracked knobs and Elecraft support
Same here took 2 days WOW! love this company. By the way. I installed the 2 meter module and wow! Works like a champ Good job guys! Thank you for all your hard work! Dan AD5NW KX3 #3039 On 9/2/2014 8:50 PM, John wrote: What a company! I sent an email to Elecraft re broken knobs and a parcel arrived in the mail today with replacements. No charge. Again, what a company! Thank you. 73. John. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KXPA100 not making antenna connection
Josh, Yes, DC measurements can be confusing - it all depends on the input and output networks. Rather than attempting to make that measurement at DC, connect your antenna analyzer to the RF IN jack and a dummy load to the ANT jack. 73, Don W3FPR On 9/3/2014 5:41 PM, Josh Lehan wrote: On 09/03/2014 03:17 AM, Kurt Pawlikowski wrote: Josh, Unfortunately, I'm not familiar enough with the KXPA100 to know if, when bypassing the unit internally, there is DC continuity between the input and output. If there is (I suspect so), you should be able to measure between them with a regular ohm meter. While not 100% definitive, if it fails this test (again, assuming DC continuity), that would be a major indicator of some connection problem. Good advice. I used a multimeter to measure for continuity. Yikes, the tip and the ring of my RX IN jack appear to be shorted to each other, and also shorted to ground! Is that normal? I'm going to open it up and check the wires carefully on the panel where the jacks are, hopefully nothing is touching. I've heard that measuring antenna stuff at DC can be an illusion, as some things are supposed to appear open or appear shorted at DC, as they're designed to carry RF, not DC. My meter can only measure resistance at DC, it can't do anything fancier (no capacitance or inductance, no measuring resistance at AC/RF, no impedance or reactance). Also, when the antenna is selected, the tip and the ring of ANT 1 (or ANT 2 if selected) also appear to be shorted to each other and to ground. The KXPA100 isolates the antenna that is *not* selected: its ring is still shorted to ground, but its tip has no connection. Josh K6JSH __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] [KX3] KXAT3 Per Band Setting
I found my answer - it is either in AUTO or BYP. In either mode, it is in that mode for all bands. Thanks, Joel - W4JBB On 9/3/14, 6:16 AM, Joel Black wrote: Is it possible to set the KXAT3 to activate per band? If so, can someone point me to where that is in the manual? I cannot seem to find it. Thanks, Joel - W4JBB __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to w4...@charter.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] [KX3] Mic gain settings per mode
Hi, It would be great if the KX3 could retain the mic gain setting per mode. When using the Elecraft mic, mic setting is quite different value between SSB and FM mode by example. Especially now with the 2m module, FM could be used now more often (at least for many) so always adjusting the mic gain every time the mode change is a non sense for me. :-) Like other great rig on the market, they offer the possibility to set and retain the mic setting per mode. It is only my wish... :-) 73 J-F VA2SS -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KX3-Mic-gain-settings-per-mode-tp7592793.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] SWR Readings:Differences
I'm talking about what goes on in the transmission line. You're bringing up a change in the antenna. That's another subject :-) Wes N7WS On 9/3/2014 2:41 PM, Alan wrote: On 09/03/2014 02:12 PM, Wes (N7WS) wrote: Oh dear me! If I take a lossless 50-ohm line and terminate it in 100 ohm and measure the VSWR using an ideal bridge/coupler/VNA/etc that is calibrated for a 50-ohm system, I will measure 2:1 SWR no matter how long the line is, from zero to infinity. The transformed Z will change with length, but the SWR will not. That's why one can draw a circle of constant SWR on a Smith Chart. Any point on the circle will have a different Z from another, but they all have the same SWR. If you change line length and the SWR reading changes, then: 1) the line has loss, 2) the line Z and the SWR meter Z are different, 3) the source match is poor, 4) the bridge/coupler directivity is poor, or 5) all of the foregoing. With most ham stuff, it's 5. Or 6) there is common-mode current on the feedline. In other words, the feedline is part of the antenna so when you change its length you change the SWR. Alan N1AL __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KXPA100 not making antenna connection
Josh, Looking at the owner's manual, page 41, there is a simplified schematic. In theory, if the unit is in bypass, it should be a direct in to out connection. There could still be some other considerations, but I would suspect that's the way it is. Until someone from Elecraft says otherwise or someone with a working unit can measure theirs to disprove of prove the idea, I would operate under that assumption. You might also want to give the good folks at Elecraft a call about your problem. Maybe it has a very simple solution. Hope you get it operational soon! kurtt WB9FMC 2015 Hamfesters Hamfest Chairman Looking for my replacement since 2014! http:\\ham-ham.org On 9/3/2014 16:41, Josh Lehan wrote: On 09/03/2014 03:17 AM, Kurt Pawlikowski wrote: Josh, Unfortunately, I'm not familiar enough with the KXPA100 to know if, when bypassing the unit internally, there is DC continuity between the input and output. If there is (I suspect so), you should be able to measure between them with a regular ohm meter. While not 100% definitive, if it fails this test (again, assuming DC continuity), that would be a major indicator of some connection problem. Good advice. I used a multimeter to measure for continuity. Yikes, the tip and the ring of my RX IN jack appear to be shorted to each other, and also shorted to ground! Is that normal? I'm going to open it up and check the wires carefully on the panel where the jacks are, hopefully nothing is touching. I've heard that measuring antenna stuff at DC can be an illusion, as some things are supposed to appear open or appear shorted at DC, as they're designed to carry RF, not DC. My meter can only measure resistance at DC, it can't do anything fancier (no capacitance or inductance, no measuring resistance at AC/RF, no impedance or reactance). Also, when the antenna is selected, the tip and the ring of ANT 1 (or ANT 2 if selected) also appear to be shorted to each other and to ground. The KXPA100 isolates the antenna that is *not* selected: its ring is still shorted to ground, but its tip has no connection. Josh K6JSH Hope that helps! kurtt WB9FMC 2015 Hamfesters Hamfest Chairman Looking for my replacement since 2014! http:\\ham-ham.org On 9/3/2014 03:24, Josh Lehan wrote: Hi there! I assembled my KXPA100 (with ATU) recently, serial number 0595. Unfortunately, it isn't working. The link to the KX3 works great (rather slick, everything was instantly recognized), but the KXPA100 is not making any antenna connection cleanly. KX3 is properly configured to link with the KXPA100. I heard nothing at all, on any band, as if the antenna wasn't connected at all. I tried initiating an ATU tuning cycle, only to see a SWR fault on the KXPA100 almost instantly, so I stopped that rather quickly. The SWR wouldn't improve below 32.0-1 (terrible). I opened it up again and removed then reconnected the tricky little TMP connectors, and that helped a little. Using needlenose pliers made all the difference. I am now pretty confident I have the TMP connectors fully inserted (they weren't, earlier). Now, I can hear stations very faintly, S0 at most (not enough to light up any signal bars on the KX3). This is still very bad, because when bypassing the KXPA100 by using a barrel connector to connect the KX3 to the antenna directly (for testing), it's loud and clear, around S5-S9, which is normal for my antenna. I can transmit just fine, using the KX3 and its built-in ATU, without the KXPA100, so I can rule out anything else in my setup that might be causing a problem. Both antenna and dummy load normally work great. Ruled out cables by using barrel connector to join two cables together directly (cutting the KXPA100 out of the circuit) and that also worked great. I just can't get a good connection when going through the KXPA100. Now, I'm at a loss what to do. I think there might be a fault with the ATU connection internally of the KXPA100. It was straightforward to put it together, though, I don't think I made any mistakes there, but probably will disassemble it all and try again. Switching between antenna 1 and antenna 2 makes an audible difference in the noise level, so I know that works. However, the ATU switch on the KXPA100 doesn't seem to make a difference at all, there is no difference in noise level between bypass/manual/auto. Shouldn't there be an audible difference here? There also is no difference when KXPA100 is powered off vs. on, which seems strange to me. Same SWR fault happens instantly when trying to tune with ATU, or doing any transmission for that matter. What should be my next step in troubleshooting? Thanks! Josh K6JSH __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by:
[Elecraft] Wanted: KANT3 board
Does anyone have a KANT3 board they'd be willing to part with? The board is supplied in place of the KAT3 if a K3 is purchased without the auto antenna KAT3 option. It is removed when the ATU option is fitted. It will be of use in resolving a bewildering fault on a K3, where the antenna tunes pretty much OK on 28MHz but as the frequency decreases, the auto ATU matching worsens until it generates increasingly severe mismatches from 7MHz down. Please contact me off-list to avoid additional QRM on the reflector. dave (at) lanks (dot) plus (dot) com Thanks and 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] New KX3 firmware, rev. 2.19
Hi all, You may have noticed that KX3 rev. 2.18 firmware just went to Production status (meaning you can download it to your KX3 with one click from within KX3 Utility). The associated release notes can be found below. Meanwhile, because we're _really_ starting to ship PX3s, I'm hoping to convince a few of you to test yet another release of KX3 firmware (2.19) that has one important change required for use with the PX3. Rev. 2.19 is not a very exciting firmware release, but it does need testing, so I would be grateful for a bit of help to ensure we didn't break anything. If you're interested in testing KX3 rev. 2.19 tonight, please email me directly in the next hour. Thanks a lot! Wayne N6KR * * * MCU 2.18 / DSP 1.30, 8-28-2014 New Features: • 2-M DIRECT FREQUENCY ENTRY FROM OTHER BANDS: Range is 120-168 MHz. Note: Sensitivity falls off as you move out of the 144-148 MHz range. • 2-M TRANSMIT LIMITS: Normally, 2-meter transmit is limited to 144-148 MHz. This can be increased to 141-151 MHz for MARS use. The range can also be limited to 144-146 MHz for KX3 owners outside the U.S. (see separate instruction sheet). • 2M/4M ANT. JACK PROVIDES OPTIONAL +5VDC DURING TRANSMIT: Many high-band transverters and other gear can use a DC voltage of 3-12 V on the center conductor of the antenna coax to provide T/R switching or other functions. The KX3-2M/-4M module can now place +5VDC (+/- 0.3 V) on the antenna jack if desired. To turn this feature on/off, locate the 2M/4M menu entry and tap 2 (ATTN switch). The parameter will be either TXant 5V- (off) or TXant 5V+ (on). ant is displayed as a small antenna symbol. Bug fixes: • PL TONE FM DEVIATION ERROR: The PL tone deviation displayed in the menu was about 40% lower than the actual deviation value in effect. Because of this, repeater users should re-check their PL deviation setting. To do this, locate the FM DEV menu entry, then tap 1 to switch to PL DEV. Set the value to 0.35 (kHz) the new default unless some other value is applicable. • CW-IN-SSB IMPROVEMENT: The operators specified CW QSK delay is now used during CW-in-SSB, even with external CW keying. (This was already working with the internal keyer.) • CW TIMING BUG FROM REV 1.95 CORRECTED: Element lengths with the internal keyer were slightly too short due to a calculation error. • KXPA100 AUTO POWER-ON WITH PX3: If a PX3 and KXPA100 are both in the system, KXPA100 automatic power-on will now work even if the PX3 is turned on first. (Note that at present there is no way to do automatic power-on of the PX3 itself.) • INCREASE IN ALLOWED TX CURRENT: Allows full-power output on some bands where previously a drop to 5 watts had been observed (with an external 12-14 V supply). • KX3-2M BAND-CHANGE FIX: With SLEEP enabled, a band change from 2 meters to any other band was causing the 2-m module to be left powered up __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] New KX3 firmware, rev. 2.19
Hi Wayne, I would like to try rev. 2.19 John Lally W7JJL __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] FS: Elecraft KX1
KX1 with KXAT1 auto antenna tuner, KXB30 and KXPD1 paddle. Covers 40, 30 and 20 meters. Solid 3+ watts on 12 volts. Clean, no scratches or dings non-smoking environment. Originally, well-built by K7MW who frequents this list. Serial number 539. Includes original bound manual. Photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/52936753@N04/sets/72157647212219115/ $350, shipping included to CONUS only, via UPS or USPS Priority Mail (you specify). Buddistick also available. Listed separately. Contact off list. Prefer paypal Eric, KE6US eric_c...@hotmail.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] FS: Buddistick
Buddistick with vertical antenna clamp. Clean, undamaged with travel bag. Retail about $165 plus shipping for basic package plus clamp. http://www.buddipole.com/buddistick.html Includes Buddipole in the Field by B. Scott Anderson, NE1RD, $15 retail, 154 pages, paperback book. Photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/52936753@N04/sets/72157646797263260/ Used for motorcycle camping where storage space was a premium. I don't take a rig on motorcycle tours anymore. $100, shipping included to CONUS only, via UPS or USPS Priority Mail (you specify). Contact off list. Prefer paypal Eric, KE6US eric_c...@hotmail.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] FS: Buddistick
Buddistick is sold. Thanks for the reflector bandwidth. Eric KE6US On 9/3/2014 8:25 PM, EricJ wrote: Buddistick with vertical antenna clamp. Clean, undamaged with travel bag. Retail about $165 plus shipping for basic package plus clamp. http://www.buddipole.com/buddistick.html Includes Buddipole in the Field by B. Scott Anderson, NE1RD, $15 retail, 154 pages, paperback book. Photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/52936753@N04/sets/72157646797263260/ Used for motorcycle camping where storage space was a premium. I don't take a rig on motorcycle tours anymore. $100, shipping included to CONUS only, via UPS or USPS Priority Mail (you specify). Contact off list. Prefer paypal Eric, KE6US eric_c...@hotmail.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 Message delivered to eric_c...@hotmail.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
