[Elecraft] Possible K3s TX failure - distorted audio

[Peter Dougherty (W2IRT)]

Hi all.
Early into CQWW this weekend I was getting reports of extremely distorted
audio from my K3s. Being mostly a CW (and 6m FT8) operator I wasn't sure
what was going on. I figured it was RF, but it was happening at all power
levels, from QRP to 100W, and QRO with my KPA-1500. Same (bad) audio, just
stronger/weaker signals. All bands were equally bad.

I ended up going from the radio directly to the tower, physically bypassing
the amp and tuner, and only running low power, with the same result. It
sounded more like distorted audio than RF ingress.

Some troubleshooting by Dave, WO2X, who is a Flex owner: He remoted in to
his Flex a few miles away and noticed my garbled signal was absolutely dirty
and wide, despite low mic gain and little or no compression. The audio
sounded clean through the monitor, so it wasn't the audio chain. He's
speculating I may have a blown FET in the PA stage. 

We put in a Flex 6500 temporarily and it seems to be running fine. Wondering
if anybody here has had experience with this, and if so, what are my next
steps?

Thanks in advance.

-
73 and Good DX
Peter, W2IRT

K3s S/N 10023


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[Elecraft] Elecraft CW Net Announcement

[kevinr]

Good Evening,

   I know winter is approaching.  The sun has dropped so low in the sky 
the mountain blocks it for much of the day.  I see it when it comes up, 
a little around noon, and then just before it sets. However, the 
non-stop rain creates a deeper layer to the gloom. In the satellite 
photos there is a steady stream of clouds coming in from the southwest.


   Wind from the sun is due in a few days.  That will enhance the 
ionosphere.  The lower sun angle tomorrow should help propagation.  If 
it works well I won't change the times the following week.  Like the sun 
the times remain in flux.


Please join us tomorrow on:

14050 kHz at 2200z Sunday (3 PM PDT Sunday)
  7047 kHz at z Monday (5 PM PDT Sunday)

73,
Kevin. KD5ONS

_

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Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft Talk At Pacificon -- 9 AM Saturday: "Honey I Shrunk the Linear.."

[Christopher Hoover]

Hi Eric,

Is the presentation available online?

(I was at Pacificon, but my waking hours were used to help run the special
event station.)

73 de AI6KG


On Thu, Oct 18, 2018, 6:51 PM Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft <
e...@elecraft.com> wrote:

> I will also be giving a talk at Pacificon on this Saturday at 9 AM Titled:
>
> "Building a Modern Solid-State Amplifier
>-or-
>Honey, I shrunk the Linear!"
>
> I'll be covering our KPA1500 design goals and what it takes to manufacture
> and
> test a modern solid state amplifier like the KPA1500, followed with
> general Q&A
> from the audience.
>
> See you all there!
>
> 73,
> Eric
> /elecraft.com/
>
>
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Re: [Elecraft] Adding mini-banana jack counterpoise point to a KX3?

[Jim Brown]

On 10/27/2018 3:17 PM, Ken Ford - W9LSL wrote:

One of the things I really like about the KX2 is the hole for a mini-banana
jack counterpoise connection.


When I want to run that sort of portable setup, I simply plug a BNC male 
to Pomona (double banana) adapter onto the KX3 output.


https://www.pomonaelectronics.com/products/adapters/bnc-m-binding-posts

73, Jim K9YC

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Re: [Elecraft] Adding mini-banana jack counterpoise point to a KX3?

[rich hurd WC3T]

I have a little pigtail with a PowerPole connector on it. Folds nicely out
of the way.

On Sat, Oct 27, 2018 at 19:04 Don Wilhelm  wrote:

> Ken,
>
> I don't know about mounting a mini-banana jack, but you could look at
> the left end of the heatsink (heatsink facing you) for a good grounding
> point other than the thumbscrews.
>
> Installing a mini-banana jack would involve drilling holes in the case.
> There is not a lot of free space to do that.  Pick your mounting
> location carefully before drilling to be sure it will not interfere with
> anything in the KX3.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 10/27/2018 6:17 PM, Ken Ford - W9LSL wrote:
> > One of the things I really like about the KX2 is the hole for a
> mini-banana
> > jack counterpoise connection.  Is there any place that could be added on
> a
> > KX3?  The case thumbscrews get cranky at times.
> >
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-- 
72,
Rich Hurd / WC3T / DMR: 3142737
Northampton County RACES, EPA-ARRL Public Information Officer for Scouting
Latitude: 40.761621 Longitude: -75.288988  (40°45.68' N 75°17.33' W) Grid:
*FN20is*
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Re: [Elecraft] Adding mini-banana jack counterpoise point to a KX3?

[Don Wilhelm]

Ken,

I don't know about mounting a mini-banana jack, but you could look at 
the left end of the heatsink (heatsink facing you) for a good grounding 
point other than the thumbscrews.


Installing a mini-banana jack would involve drilling holes in the case. 
There is not a lot of free space to do that.  Pick your mounting 
location carefully before drilling to be sure it will not interfere with 
anything in the KX3.


73,
Don W3FPR

On 10/27/2018 6:17 PM, Ken Ford - W9LSL wrote:

One of the things I really like about the KX2 is the hole for a mini-banana
jack counterpoise connection.  Is there any place that could be added on a
KX3?  The case thumbscrews get cranky at times.


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Re: [Elecraft] K3EXREF issue? K3

[Gary Smith]

The issue seems to be within the K3, 
likely the K3EXREF board? I just tried a 
different GPSDO for the 10MHz reference, a 
Trimble Thunderbolt. When I first 
connected the Thunderbolt I did get a 
rapid flashing asterisk.

Satisfied I went on to use the K3. On a 
hunch I went back to REF CAL and 
discovered the asterisk was now solid and 
not flashing. I restarted the radio and no 
asterisk in REF CAL. Neither GPSDO elicits 
a flashing asterisk but both are putting 
out a 10MHZ signal & the Thunderbolt for a 
short time, worked.

Seeing as two different oscillators are 
not being recognized by the K3, I have to 
assume it is the K3EXREF board that is of 
issue. Can't be the .1 TXCO or the radio 
would fail.

I'll have to contact Elecraft to see if 
it's worth sending the board in for 
repair.

Back to the contest.

73,

Gary
KA1J


> Ed,
> 
> Thanks for the reply. I do need an 
> oscilloscope. The only frequency counter 
> at this QTH is this K3, my K3s is at the 
> factory for an issue with SSB. 
> 
> That said, there does appear to be a 10MHz 
> signal coming from the GPSDO. There's 
> enough bleed-through that when I tune to 
> 10MHz I can still pick up the ticks from 
> WWV, however removing power from the GPSDO 
> and the signal drops considerably. I 
> connected 10' of wire to the center 
> conductor of the SMA and the signal in the 
> K3 increased considerably and it was dead 
> on top of WWV. So I'm feeling it's putting 
> out a signal at 10MHV but the strength or 
> condition of the signal, I have no way to 
> tell.
> 
> Looking at the info on the K3EXREF, the 
> Tech MD is on, REF CAL is displayed and I 
> need to engage keypad #2 to switch between 
> the EXREF being in or out, I have it 
> switched in. No asterisk.
> 
> I have not been inside the radio since I 
> started using it a week ago and the 
> asterisk was flashing at that time. I 
> saved the current configuration and loaded 
> the configuration that was good the last 
> time I used the radio and that didn't 
> help. I can't imagine the cable in the 
> radio failed without any mechanical 
> action. I'll have to take a look and see 
> if anything has become somehow dislodged 
> though it's been just sitting on the 
> table.
> 
> I was hoping it was something in a setting 
> that might have been altered and it seems 
> like that's not it. Thanks again for the 
> assistance.
> 
> 73,
> 
> Gary
> KA1J
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > Gary,
> > 
> > Well first thing I would check is whether 10-MHz is present at the
> > K3 EXREF sma jack.  If you have a freq counter check for correct
> > freq. No counter then use a radio that can tune 10-MHz for presence
> > of signal on correct freq.
> > 
> > Check for adequate reference level (I run 10mw which is more than
> > adequate; probably will run with 3mw to 5mw).  If you have no
> > milliwatt meter then use an oscilloscope to measure RF voltage.  Pav
> > = Vrms^2/R  or Vrms = 0.3535*Vp-p*probe multiplier.
> > 
> > From: http://www.ab4oj.com/test/pwrmeas.html
> > Pav = 10*10^-3 = 0.01 w , Vrms = sqrt(Pav*R) = 0.707v, Vp-p =
> > 2,.828*Vrms = 2v
> > 
> > If you are using a 10x probe Vp-p = 0.2v; Be sure to measure voltage
> > across 50-ohm load connected to the REF input.
> > 
> > If this is low or nonexistent try a different cable from the 
> > GPSDO.  Also check 10-MHz output at the GPSDO.
> > 
> > My guess either you have no 10-MHz ref signal or its off 
> > frequency.  If that is good then recheck configuration to enable
> > EXREF.  Still bad: then check internal coax from EXREF connector to
> > syn  board.
> > 
> > 73, Ed - KL7UW
> >http://www.kl7uw.com
> > Dubus-NA Business mail:
> >dubus...@gmail.com 
> > 
> > __
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> > 
> 
> 
> 
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> 



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Re: [Elecraft] Adding mini-banana jack counterpoise point to a KX3?

[Ken G Kopp]

Adding two flat washers under the knurled screw heads would likely help.

73 !

K0PP

On Sat, Oct 27, 2018, 16:17 Ken Ford - W9LSL  wrote:

> One of the things I really like about the KX2 is the hole for a mini-banana
> jack counterpoise connection.  Is there any place that could be added on a
> KX3?  The case thumbscrews get cranky at times.
>
> Ken Ford W9LSL
>
>
>
> --
> Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/
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Re: [Elecraft] W2 Software

[kq8m]

Thank you, David.

That is exactly what I am looking for. I am also thinking of writing a little 
utility to display the data.

On that page is a link that is supposed to go to a mod for the W2 but it goes 
to the serial interface commands file. I think Elecraft is having trouble with 
their new design. Oh well, they will get it fixed.

73
Tim, KQ8M
k...@kq8m.com

-Original Message-
From: David Fleming [mailto:df...@yahoo.com] 
Sent: Saturday, October 27, 2018 17:01
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net; k...@kq8m.com
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] W2 Software

Hello Tim,

You are right. The W2 Utility is used mainly for updating the firmware. I 
believe you are looking for the W2 Interface software. The new web site doesn't 
appear to have a link on the software page, but by typing "W2" in the Search 
box I was able to find it. Scroll about half way down the page to find the W2 
Interface software.

https://elecraft.com/pages/w2-wattmeter-swr-bridge-software

Best 73,

David, W4SMT


On Friday, October 26, 2018, 4:58:31 PM EDT,  wrote: 


Thanks to all who answered so quickly. I misunderstood what was what. I was 
under the impression that the utility was mainly for updating the firmware. I 
was wrong. Thanks for setting me straight.

73
Tim, KQ8M
k...@kq8m.com

-Original Message-
From: Don Wilhelm [mailto:donw...@embarqmail.com] 
Sent: Friday, October 26, 2018 16:20
To: k...@kq8m.com; elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] W2 Software

Tim,

It is on the new Elecraft website.
Go to www.elecraft.com and click on SUPPORT
Then on the page that opens, click on Firmware and Software
On that page, click on Test Equipment Line Firmware and Software
Lastly click on W2 Firmware and Utility.  The Utility link is located 
near the bottom of that page.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 10/26/2018 3:58 PM, k...@kq8m.com wrote:
> Hi,
> 
>  
> 
> I have been trying ot find the software for the W2 computer control. I found
> the app to update the firmware but cannot find the control software. Does
> anyone know where I can find it?

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[Elecraft] Adding mini-banana jack counterpoise point to a KX3?

[Ken Ford - W9LSL]

One of the things I really like about the KX2 is the hole for a mini-banana
jack counterpoise connection.  Is there any place that could be added on a
KX3?  The case thumbscrews get cranky at times. 

Ken Ford W9LSL



--
Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/
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Re: [Elecraft] W2 Software

[David Fleming via Elecraft]

Hello Tim,

You are right. The W2 Utility is used mainly for updating the firmware. I 
believe you are looking for the W2 Interface software. The new web site doesn't 
appear to have a link on the software page, but by typing "W2" in the Search 
box I was able to find it. Scroll about half way down the page to find the W2 
Interface software.

https://elecraft.com/pages/w2-wattmeter-swr-bridge-software

Best 73,

David, W4SMT


On Friday, October 26, 2018, 4:58:31 PM EDT,  wrote: 


Thanks to all who answered so quickly. I misunderstood what was what. I was 
under the impression that the utility was mainly for updating the firmware. I 
was wrong. Thanks for setting me straight.

73
Tim, KQ8M
k...@kq8m.com

-Original Message-
From: Don Wilhelm [mailto:donw...@embarqmail.com] 
Sent: Friday, October 26, 2018 16:20
To: k...@kq8m.com; elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] W2 Software

Tim,

It is on the new Elecraft website.
Go to www.elecraft.com and click on SUPPORT
Then on the page that opens, click on Firmware and Software
On that page, click on Test Equipment Line Firmware and Software
Lastly click on W2 Firmware and Utility.  The Utility link is located 
near the bottom of that page.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 10/26/2018 3:58 PM, k...@kq8m.com wrote:
> Hi,
> 
>  
> 
> I have been trying ot find the software for the W2 computer control. I found
> the app to update the firmware but cannot find the control software. Does
> anyone know where I can find it?

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[Elecraft] Web Page Note

[Dick Dickinson]

I was attempting to download the Elecraft Frequency Memory Editor.  It
evoked an Alert:  550 Failed to change directory.  I do have a copy of the
latest, so no loss for me.

 

.just FYI for the site manager.

 

 

Kindly,

Dick - KA5KKT

 

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Re: [Elecraft] A Note on Keying Line from KX3 to KPA500

[Don Wilhelm]

Ted,

That is exactly right.  The KAT500 manual explains it.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 10/27/2018 10:23 AM, Dauer, Edward wrote:

There was recently an exchange here about connecting the keying line from a KX3 
to a KPA500 amp, specifically about which parts of a TRS plug to use.  There is 
an additional item of importance, which I believe I saw in one of Fred Cady’s 
texts.  If the operator is also using the KAT500 tuner, the keying line must go 
to the tuner first, then from the tuner to the amp.  The tuner is designed to 
inhibit the amp during a tuning cycle.  For that to happen, the key line should 
go from the KX3 to the KAT500 directly.  Maybe someone can confirm my 
recollection about this.

Ted, KN1CBR

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[Elecraft] A Note on Keying Line from KX3 to KPA500

[Dauer, Edward]

There was recently an exchange here about connecting the keying line from a KX3 
to a KPA500 amp, specifically about which parts of a TRS plug to use.  There is 
an additional item of importance, which I believe I saw in one of Fred Cady’s 
texts.  If the operator is also using the KAT500 tuner, the keying line must go 
to the tuner first, then from the tuner to the amp.  The tuner is designed to 
inhibit the amp during a tuning cycle.  For that to happen, the key line should 
go from the KX3 to the KAT500 directly.  Maybe someone can confirm my 
recollection about this.

Ted, KN1CBR


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[Elecraft] Elecraft New Web Presence

[Bob DeHaney]

Looks like there are some things to clean up.  Links on several of the web 
pages, for instance to PDFs, are dead links.  For example:  
 
https://elecraft.com/products/k1upkt_k1-upgrade-kit

 

The PDF and the firmware links are dead. I didn’t list all I found but there 
are several.

 

Vy 73 de Bob DJ0RD/WU5T

 

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