[Elecraft] K1 KFL1-2 board wanted
I have a K1 with a KFL1-4 installed 40,30, 20, 15 and want 80 meters. I am looking for a KFL1-2 that includes 80/17 or 80/?? meters as one of the bands. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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] Dramatic improvement in K3 RX sensitivity below 500 kHz -- looking for testers
So, after this testing is completed, will production KBPF3s be shipped with the modifications? 73, Ross N4RP On 4/29/2015 9:23 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote: Hi all, In honor of the FCC's proposed "2200 meter" allocation (137 kHz), we decided to see if we could improve the K3's receive sensitivity in the 100-500 kHz range. This extended coverage is made possible by the new synth (KSYN3A). After a lot of digging, we discovered the cause of the wide-band low-frequency noise. We also found a way to shift the passband of the KBPF3 lower. With a couple of simple modifications, the MDS (minimum discernible signal) can be improved by about 25 dB at the low end (100 kHz). Here are some test results (preamp off, 400-Hz bandwidth): 137 kHz -114 dBm FCC's proposed 2200 meter band 160 kHz -117 dBm low end of the "Low-Fer" band 250 kHz -126 dBm test frequency in the long-wave beacon band 472 kHz -133 dBm 630 meter experimental band This represents an improvement throughout the range, but especially at the low end. I believe -114 dBm MDS should suffice at 137 kHz, given the high band noise in this range. Another indication of how well the mods work: With no antenna connoted, the K3's S-meter now just barely flickers (S1) at 100 kHz. Without the mods, the no-antenna S-meter reading could be as high as S7 due to the noise source we've now identified (a voltage regulator). (By the way, this regulator noise had no impact on frequencies about about 500 kHz.) Here's a summary of the changes required: RF board: Add one leaded capacitor KRX3 (if applicable): Add one leaded capacitor KBPF3: Remove two inductors; parallel three new capacitors If you're interested in this low frequency range, and you'd like to try the mods, please email me directly. Note: To tune this range with the K3, you'll need the new synth (KSYN3A), a KBPF3 module (on the main and/or sub receiver), and a KXV3 module. A KXV3 is required because the antenna for the 100-500 kHz range should be connected to RX ANT IN or XVTR IN. The ANT1/ANT2 path goes through the T/R switch, which has a high-pass filter to protect the K3's fast PIN-diode T/R circuitry. 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 n...@n4rp.com -- FCC Section 97.313(a) “At all times, an amateur station must use the minimum transmitter power necessary to carry out the desired communications.” __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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] K2's ATU "vagaries"
By "off," Don, I meant using the POUT settingthat's what I usedsaw 5 watts out 2 watts reflected in the POUT modeconnected the k2 to a dummy load, set the K2 to AUTO, tuned up on all bands, set the K2 to POUT, hooked the antenna back up and now see 0 watts reflected on 40... > Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2015 09:17:37 -0400 > From: w3...@embarqmail.com > To: rodenkirch_...@msn.com; elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2's ATU "vagaries" > > Jim, > > I am not certain how you would set the KAT2 to OFF. That is not an > option in the menu. > Setting the ATU menu to CALP or CALS will electrically bypass the L/C > elements in the tuner, but there will be some residual reactance in the > tuner. > > The best method to "bypass" the tuner is to do as stated in the manual - > tune (on each band) using AUTO mode into a dummy load and then set the > ATU menu to POUT. The L/C combination last used for the TUNE on each > band will be set when you return to that band. > > Note for KAT100 users - POUT is not an available menu option - you can > use CAL which bypasses the L/C elements completely. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > On 4/30/2015 8:21 AM, James Rodenkirch wrote: > > While altering my existing antenna system which includes an LDG Z11ProII > > auto-tuner at the base, I had to do quite a bit of "testing" from the > > shack; e.g., add a un-un, go to shack, hit the tune switch, watch power out > > and SWR.switch to another un-un with a different ratio, follow same > > procedure. All of this with the K2' internal auto-tuner turned of. > > > > The antenna "alteration" I was trying wasn't providing the LDG auto-tuner > > with Zo values it liked so I was switching the K2's auto-tuner in and > > trying it across the various bands to see how it "played" with the altered > > antenna. After an afternoon of this I surrendered and restored the antenna > > to its original configuration, one the LDG auto-tuner tuned effortlessly. > > > > Note: the original system is a 36' vertical with 12 elevated radials an the > > auto-tuner at the base of the vertical. The LDG has always tuned that > > configuration effortlessly on 40 through 12. > > > > After restoring it back to its original configuration I went through the > > tuning cycle - K2's ATU off, hit the tune switchyadda, yadda; that's > > the configuration I use - ATU off, K2 set to watch pwr out and reflected- > > the POUT mode. What I found was: the LDG tuned 40 through 12 effortlessly > > BUT, on 40 meters I observed 5 watts out and 2 watts reflected (prior to > > all of this, it was zero watts reflected). Given the vertical is back to > > its 36' configuration one would expect zero watts..so, I retuned > > several times but, same result. I could tell the LDG was tuning correctly > > and with 30 through 12 showing no reflected power I kept wondering of the > > K2 was "acting up." > > > > I found the internal ATU manual and start reading up on the "Using the > > ATU." I found this: > > > > As an alternative to CALS or CALP, you can tune up the ATU into a 50 > > ohm dummy load on each band using AUTO mode. This will > > cancel out most or all of the stray inductance and capacitance so that > > you can connect your external tuner or resonant antenna. > > After tuning up on all bands, put the ATU in to POUT or SWR mode> The > > matching network settings will not change. > > > > I ran through that sequence and...poofno reflected power on 40 meters! > > > > > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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] K2's ATU "vagaries"
Jim, I am not certain how you would set the KAT2 to OFF. That is not an option in the menu. Setting the ATU menu to CALP or CALS will electrically bypass the L/C elements in the tuner, but there will be some residual reactance in the tuner. The best method to "bypass" the tuner is to do as stated in the manual - tune (on each band) using AUTO mode into a dummy load and then set the ATU menu to POUT. The L/C combination last used for the TUNE on each band will be set when you return to that band. Note for KAT100 users - POUT is not an available menu option - you can use CAL which bypasses the L/C elements completely. 73, Don W3FPR On 4/30/2015 8:21 AM, James Rodenkirch wrote: While altering my existing antenna system which includes an LDG Z11ProII auto-tuner at the base, I had to do quite a bit of "testing" from the shack; e.g., add a un-un, go to shack, hit the tune switch, watch power out and SWR.switch to another un-un with a different ratio, follow same procedure. All of this with the K2' internal auto-tuner turned of. The antenna "alteration" I was trying wasn't providing the LDG auto-tuner with Zo values it liked so I was switching the K2's auto-tuner in and trying it across the various bands to see how it "played" with the altered antenna. After an afternoon of this I surrendered and restored the antenna to its original configuration, one the LDG auto-tuner tuned effortlessly. Note: the original system is a 36' vertical with 12 elevated radials an the auto-tuner at the base of the vertical. The LDG has always tuned that configuration effortlessly on 40 through 12. After restoring it back to its original configuration I went through the tuning cycle - K2's ATU off, hit the tune switchyadda, yadda; that's the configuration I use - ATU off, K2 set to watch pwr out and reflected- the POUT mode. What I found was: the LDG tuned 40 through 12 effortlessly BUT, on 40 meters I observed 5 watts out and 2 watts reflected (prior to all of this, it was zero watts reflected). Given the vertical is back to its 36' configuration one would expect zero watts..so, I retuned several times but, same result. I could tell the LDG was tuning correctly and with 30 through 12 showing no reflected power I kept wondering of the K2 was "acting up." I found the internal ATU manual and start reading up on the "Using the ATU." I found this: As an alternative to CALS or CALP, you can tune up the ATU into a 50 ohm dummy load on each band using AUTO mode. This will cancel out most or all of the stray inductance and capacitance so that you can connect your external tuner or resonant antenna. After tuning up on all bands, put the ATU in to POUT or SWR mode> The matching network settings will not change. I ran through that sequence and...poofno reflected power on 40 meters! __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto: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
