[Elecraft] FS:P3
$625 shipped. No SVGA board.CONUS only. - 73, John N1JM K3 #5986 P3 #1752 KPA500 #596 XG3 XG1 -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/FS-P3-tp7596906.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] P3 for Alan: VFO A Cursor color in FixTrack Mode - for Alan
Interesting. Would a straight monochrome spectrum take care of all of this? Al. W6LX __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] vexing K3 transverter ptoblem solved
For what it’s worth, I thought I would pass along my recent experience with a vexing transverter problem, and the cause of the problem that I eventually identified. The issue was that my XV432 would light up its power output LEDs ever so briefly when the transmitter was keyed, and then shut down. It was pretty obviously a shorted output situation. I first assumed it was a faulty coax cable connecting either the K3 to the XV432 or the SV4 32 to the antenna. So I substituted different cables all the way around, with no benefit. I even tested the hypothesis that the dummy load had gone bad, and substituted an older and smaller dummy load. Still no joy. About the only thing left in the chain between the K3 and the XV432 was the KXV3 transverter I/O board. Upon initial inspection, I saw that it was wobbling back and forth about 1/4”. Upon closer inspection (requiring removal of the side panel of the case) it became clear that a 1/2” long 4-40 machine screw was missing, allowing the board to flex backward and forward, and apparently shorting the output. I replaced the missing machine screw, tightened the other machine screw on the opposite corner of the I/O board, and the problem was gone. Moral to the story: mechanical problems can cause electrical problems. At least I got it fixed in time for the upcoming VHF contest. 73, Lew Lew Phelps N6LEW Pasadena, CA DM04wd Elecraft K3-10 Yaesu FT-7800 l...@n6lew.us www.n6lew.us "The greatest tragedy in life is the gruesome murder of a beautiful theory by a brutal gang of facts.” __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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] KPA500 does not use "EBS", and doesn't have any associated bias noise
One additional note to Wayne's posting: If an on-air signal sounds bad it is frequently because the user is over-driving the amplifier, using and adjusting the amplifier to Rig ALC incorrectly (we strongly recommend not to use ALC) or possibly has gone inside the amp and manually mis-adjusted the fixed bias to the PAs. 73, Eric elecraft.com On 1/7/2015 3:35 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote: Recently there was speculation about the KPA500 using an "Electronic Bias System" (EBS), and whether that might be implicated in a noise issue. First, we have never heard any reports of a "bias crunch" or "paper crunch" problem with the KPA500. This particular noise is quite distinctive, which easily differentiates itself from other common station integration problems such as overdrive or RFI. Second, there is no "mod" available, because the KPA500 does not now, nor ever has had an EBS circuit. Details: The KPA500 definitely does not suffer from so-called "bias crunch"--a noise at the end of a SSB transmission similar to that made by wrinkling a sheet of paper--because full bias is applied immediately whenever the KPA500 is in OPER mode and is keyed. Full bias is maintained until the KPA500 is unkeyed. EBS is often used with vacuum tube amplifiers that require large bias currents to meet their linearity requirements. In some cases, the bias current required results in a standing power dissipation between 1/2 and 2/3 of the plate dissipation rating of the tube. Thus, the tube generates more waste heat while idling than under key down conditions. EBS works by sampling the RF drive signal. Until the drive reaches a watt or two, the tube is either cut off or idling with extremely low current. Then, after the input power threshold is reached, the EBS suddenly applies full bias. Just like a receiver's AGC attack and decay times, EBS timing is tricky and critical to proper operation without causing unwanted artifacts. The paper crunch noise occurs when the tube is caught amplifying without bias (temporarily operating in non-linear Class-C mode) due to improper time constants. When the KPA500 was designed, it was determined that the bias current required for proper linearity was low enough that EBS is not needed. As any KPA500 owner can quickly verify by placing the amplifier in OPER mode and grounding the KEY IN line, the front panel meter reads this standing bias current--even with zero RF drive. Amplifiers that have EBS do not show any standing bias current without drive. Any KPA500 that generates a paper-crunch artifact is not operating correctly. (I'd like to thank Bob, K6XX, for researching EBS so we could provide the above information.) 73, Wayne N6KR __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to elist_c...@elecraft.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] P3 for Alan: VFO A Cursor color in FixTrack Mode - for Alan
I may be the only Elecraft customer with this problem, monochromacy is extremely rare [poor choice of both Mom and Dad :-)], but other forms of defective color vision are much more common, mainly in males and most hams are male. Consequently I'll reply to Alan on the list so everyone can help him. On 1/6/2015 8:28 PM, Alan Bloom wrote: By the way, I also have typical male red-green color blindness but I have no trouble distinguishing the VFO A and VFO B cursors. There are several types of red-green color blindness, so perhaps that's the difference. There are actually multiple forms of colorblindness. The most common types involve a shift in the absorption spectra on one or more of the photoreceptors. Most are inherited and are sex-linked because the pigment genes are on the X chromosome and males have only one. If it's bad, you're color blind. For females with two X chromosomes, if one is good, it will prevent color vision defects. Some forms are caused by a defective gene on a non-sex chromosome [#7 I think, but don't hold me to that]. I just physically don't have any color receptors at all. This results in more luminance receptors in their place, I'm somewhat light sensitive, and I can see quite well in very dim light where those with normal color vision can't see at all. Part of that effect is also psychological for "normies."** The VFO A cursor is green, the spectrum trace is yellow and the background color is dark blue. If the yellow trace and green cursor are too similar I would think the problem is not being able to see the trace in the cursor area, rather than not being able to see the cursor (against the dark-blue background). So I'm confused about that one. On a quiet band such as 15 right now at 2350Z, I can tell that there is a difference between the VFO A cursor and the spectrum trace. It's not a big difference, but I'm watching the intruder carrier at 21.003 right now on CW, the carrier trace shows up 500 Hz below the cursor [my sidetone frequency], and they're not exactly the same. The DSP bandpass appears as a very slight brightening against the background. The cursor stands out from that. During the RTTY RU this last weekend, there were many signals, and the difference between the cursor and the spectrum trace isn't enough to allow me to pick it out. Incidentally, on a moderately quiet band, if VFO A and VFO B cursors are both visible and close, I can usually distinguish them [A is a little bit brighter]. If they're not together, I can't tell you which is which, *however* there are other obvious ways to determine which one I'm looking at so this is not a problem at all. Anyway, is the solution to make the VFO A cursor bright white? I think it would look nicer to make it gray, but then it might look too similar to the yellow trace for those who are totally color-blind. When I first got the P3, the waterfall was of very limited usefulness to me. Weaker signals were various shades of blue and they did not show up for me against the blue background. Moderate signals were much brighter and did. Very strong signals were deep red and faded into the background again. When you added the monochrome WF option, it all changed. I can discern any strength signal, even the weakest ones I might not even hear, and they just get brighter the stronger they are. Based on that, I'm pretty sure a bright white VFO A cursor would allow me to find it in the spectrum trace when the band is full of signals. If the VFO B cursor was also bright white but dashed, I'd be totally home free :-)) ... that's a joke, NOT a request, as I said there are other ways to tell which is which, and the only time I use the VFO B cursor is working DX split and marking where I'm going to send stations to clear their traffic when I'm NCS. Someone once told me I'm not color-blind, I'm color-ignorant. Technically, I can "see" any color you offer me, I just can't name it. It's a matter of contrast for me, two different colors, both of which I can see, may present no contrast difference. That's why the monochrome WF works so well for me, it's *all* contrast, and thank you again for that! I can't see the red numerals on the direct frequency entry keys on the K3 unless the sunlight is just right on them ... no contrast with the key itself. That's just a fact, NOT a complaint. :-) 73, Fred K6DGW - Northern California Contest Club - CU in the 50th Running of the Cal QSO Party 3-4 Oct 2015 - www.cqp.org **The color receptors "normies" have are less sensitive than their luminance receptors, and everyone with normal color vision will lose it in dim light. In infancy and very early childhood, the brain gets wired for a chromatic world, and when it disappears in dim light, the brain decides you can't see at all, even if you actually can, dimly, with a monochrome image. __ Elecraft mailin
Re: [Elecraft] K3, Elecraft Transverter K144XV-K
Jim (KG0KP) wrote: > I recall my range was about 4 watts, roughly 4 to 8 watts. > My need was for a max of 2 watts and that isn't going to happen. Hi Jim, At the time we designed this module, we were trying for maximum power output, and I'm sorry to say that we didn't attempt to ensure any particular minimum. Field testers for the unit were all asking for even higher power, and there was no discussion that I recall of an application for less. Even though the sales brochure and the manual for the K144XV only mention "maximum power output" and never make a claim for "minimum", I can see why you would expect less than 4 watts, given the available 10-to-1 drive range. There appears to be significant variance in results at minimum drive (0.1 mW), so I've asked the engineer who designed the unit to investigate. There are only a few factors that control power output and gain, so it could be that a very simple modification might be possible to increase the output range. I'll post the results of our investigation. 73, Wayne N6KR __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] KPA500 does not use "EBS", and doesn't have any associated bias noise
Recently there was speculation about the KPA500 using an "Electronic Bias System" (EBS), and whether that might be implicated in a noise issue. First, we have never heard any reports of a "bias crunch" or "paper crunch" problem with the KPA500. This particular noise is quite distinctive, which easily differentiates itself from other common station integration problems such as overdrive or RFI. Second, there is no "mod" available, because the KPA500 does not now, nor ever has had an EBS circuit. Details: The KPA500 definitely does not suffer from so-called "bias crunch"--a noise at the end of a SSB transmission similar to that made by wrinkling a sheet of paper--because full bias is applied immediately whenever the KPA500 is in OPER mode and is keyed. Full bias is maintained until the KPA500 is unkeyed. EBS is often used with vacuum tube amplifiers that require large bias currents to meet their linearity requirements. In some cases, the bias current required results in a standing power dissipation between 1/2 and 2/3 of the plate dissipation rating of the tube. Thus, the tube generates more waste heat while idling than under key down conditions. EBS works by sampling the RF drive signal. Until the drive reaches a watt or two, the tube is either cut off or idling with extremely low current. Then, after the input power threshold is reached, the EBS suddenly applies full bias. Just like a receiver's AGC attack and decay times, EBS timing is tricky and critical to proper operation without causing unwanted artifacts. The paper crunch noise occurs when the tube is caught amplifying without bias (temporarily operating in non-linear Class-C mode) due to improper time constants. When the KPA500 was designed, it was determined that the bias current required for proper linearity was low enough that EBS is not needed. As any KPA500 owner can quickly verify by placing the amplifier in OPER mode and grounding the KEY IN line, the front panel meter reads this standing bias current--even with zero RF drive. Amplifiers that have EBS do not show any standing bias current without drive. Any KPA500 that generates a paper-crunch artifact is not operating correctly. (I'd like to thank Bob, K6XX, for researching EBS so we could provide the above information.) 73, Wayne N6KR __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3, Elecraft Transverter K144XV-K
I too am very dissatisfied with my internal transverter and sent it to Elecraft to be "fixed". It returned with the comment that it was "operating as expected". I recall my range was about 4 watts, roughly 4 to 8 watts. My need was for a max of 2 watts and that isn't going to happen. I can't believe Elecraft would produce a product that is implied to operate from .1 to 10 watts and then say this is acceptable. It is only fair to believe that this product would operate accurately and precisely as the HF portion of this fine radio and all of their other excellent products. Sorry for being disgruntled but this is one option I am sorry I bought. 73, Jim KG0KP David> I have just measured my K144XV power output with an accurate power output meter and find that with the K3 set for 1mW the output is 10.5W. But setting the K3 to 0.1mW (fully counter-clockwise) the output goes down to only about 7W. No matter what I do, I am unable to reduce the power further. David> It will be interesting to see if other K144XV users find the same. Mine doesn't go below 6W as measured with the W2. -- Pierfrancesco Caci, ik5pvx __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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 jimmil...@stl-online.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] K3 , Elecraft Transverter K144XV-K
> "David" == David Pratt writes: David> I have just measured my K144XV power output with an accurate power output meter and find that with the K3 set for 1mW the output is 10.5W. But setting the K3 to 0.1mW (fully counter-clockwise) the output goes down to only about 7W. No matter what I do, I am unable to reduce the power further. David> It will be interesting to see if other K144XV users find the same. Mine doesn't go below 6W as measured with the W2. -- Pierfrancesco Caci, ik5pvx __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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] K3 , Elecraft Transverter K144XV-K
HI David, so my numbers: for 144.300MHz 0,1mW -> 2W out 1mW -> 9W for 146.100MHz (as I have I/F for 10GHz from 146MHz up) 0,1mW -> 1,3W 1mW -> 7W hope You did power calibration via K3 Utility whwre is also 1mW output calibration (I did ;-)) All the best and GL, 73! Lexa, OK1DST K3/100 #727 -- Původní zpráva -- Od: David Pratt Komu: Viggo Magnus Nilsen Datum: 7. 1. 2015 10:10:58 Předmět: Re: [Elecraft] K3 , Elecraft Transverter K144XV-K "I have just measured my K144XV power output with an accurate power output meter and find that with the K3 set for 1mW the output is 10.5W. But setting the K3 to 0.1mW (fully counter-clockwise) the output goes down to only about 7W. No matter what I do, I am unable to reduce the power further. It will be interesting to see if other K144XV users find the same. 73 de David G4DMP On 7 Jan 2015 04:20, Viggo Magnus Nilsen wrote: > > Hello K3 owners ! > > Want to know the lowest power setting Elecraft internal 2 meter transv.( K 144XV-K)??, know the max out is 8 to 10 watt approx... > > My DB6NT transverters ( IF 144 MHz) need 0,5 to 5 watt ,(IF power settings are adjustable in the DB6NT Transverter) __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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 alexandr.kobra...@seznam.cz" __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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] P3 + Icom 746Pro
The subject line says it all. Anyone have any experience with this combination? Does it work? Any problems? Comments/advice appreciated. 73, Phil/VE1BVD -- Phil & Anne Irons Sydney, Nova Scotia __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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 DSW-II QRP transceivers for K1
Is anyone interested in trading their Elecraft K1 for two Small Wonder Labs DSW-II CW QRP transceivers? These are single band DDS VFO transceivers with CW frequency annunciation. I have the 20 and 40 meter band versions -- both are in very good condition and have the DSWK keyer IC upgrade. They are rated at 4 watts and both show 4.2 watts output (using an Elecraft W1 power meter) into a 50 ohm dummy load using a 13.8 volt power supply. These radios are very well regarded (see eham.net reviews) and no longer available. Please contact me off list for details and photos. Steve N9SZ zabarnick at 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
[Elecraft] test
test __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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] K3 , Elecraft Transverter K144XV-K
It might be safest to consider using a 3dB power attenuator on the input of the DB6NT transverter, then you don't have to worry about over driving it. There are some inexpensive 20 watt 3dB or 6 dB attenuators on eBay from China that would do, or you could use the smaller more expensive types that bolt onto a heat sink. If the DB6NT has a common RX/TX IF port then that loss on RX should not matter very much as the gain of the transverter should be high enough to overcome it. It also is better from a transmitted wideband noise point of view to do this, as just turning down the drive level to the 144MHz transverter by 3dB reduces the S/N of the transmitter output by that figure. 73 David Anderson GM4JJJ > On 7 Jan 2015, at 09:10, David Pratt wrote: > > I have just measured my K144XV power output with an accurate power output > meter and find that with the K3 set for 1mW the output is 10.5W. But setting > the K3 to 0.1mW (fully counter-clockwise) the output goes down to only about > 7W. No matter what I do, I am unable to reduce the power further. > > It will be interesting to see if other K144XV users find the same. > > 73 de David G4DMP > >> On 7 Jan 2015 04:20, Viggo Magnus Nilsen wrote: >> >> Hello K3 owners ! >> >> Want to know the lowest power setting Elecraft internal 2 meter transv.( >> K144XV-K)??, know the max out is 8 to 10 watt approx... >> >> My DB6NT transverters ( IF 144 MHz) need 0,5 to 5 watt ,(IF power settings >> are adjustable in the DB6NT Transverter) > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto: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 gm4...@yahoo.co.uk __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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] K3 , Elecraft Transverter K144XV-K
I have just measured my K144XV power output with an accurate power output meter and find that with the K3 set for 1mW the output is 10.5W. But setting the K3 to 0.1mW (fully counter-clockwise) the output goes down to only about 7W. No matter what I do, I am unable to reduce the power further. It will be interesting to see if other K144XV users find the same. 73 de David G4DMP On 7 Jan 2015 04:20, Viggo Magnus Nilsen wrote: > > Hello K3 owners ! > > Want to know the lowest power setting Elecraft internal 2 meter transv.( > K144XV-K)??, know the max out is 8 to 10 watt approx... > > My DB6NT transverters ( IF 144 MHz) need 0,5 to 5 watt ,(IF power settings > are adjustable in the DB6NT Transverter) __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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 + iMic Sound Card = Wild Scan
David, Set MIC BTN to OFF That should fix it I think. 73 David Anderson GM4JJJ > On 7 Jan 2015, at 02:53, David Ahrendts wrote: > > Strange one. Trying to make audio in and out connections with my Mac Mini and > my KX3 Line for use with cocoaModem and FLDigi. Mac Mini “sees" the Mic, and > responds to the RX I/Q stream from the PX3. BUT, when I connect the iMic to > the KX3 MIC port, it sends the KX3 into a scan frequency mode. What am I > doing wrong? > > David Ahrendts, KC0XT, LA > > > > David Ahrendts davidahren...@me.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 gm4...@yahoo.co.uk __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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
