Re: [Elecraft] KX3 receive discontinuity at 6.000 MHz

[Walter Underwood]

I watched the lights on the KXP100 carefully tonight and it was switching to 
ANT 2 at 6 MHz. In my shack, ANT 2 is connected to a dummy load.

I switched it to ANT 1 and Arnie Coro was coming in nicely both above and below 
6 MHz.

wunder
K6WRU
Walter Underwood
CM87wj
http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog)

> On Nov 27, 2018, at 7:04 AM, Mike Morrow  wrote:
> 
> I believe my KX2 and your KX3 use almost identical BPF and LPF network 
> switching breakpoints (not including the KX3 6m band):
> 
> BPF/LPF Span (MHz) Ham Bands (meters)
> Below   4.5   160, 80 (160 below  3.0)
> 4.5 to  8.560, 40 ( 60 below  6.0)
>  8.5 to 17.030, 20 ( 30 below 13.0)
> 17.0 to 23.017, 15 ( 17 below 19.0)
> 23.0 to 30.012, 10 ( 12 below 26.0)
> 
> Although no BPF or LPF switching occurs at 6.0 MHz, my KX2 band changes from 
> 60m to 40m at that point and thus changes the KXAT2 ATU relay presets unless 
> I have ATU MD in BYP.  That can cause signal strength changes at 6.0 MHz 
> similar to what you report.  With ATU MD in AUTO, I get some signal drop at 
> 6.0 MHz increasing.  With ATU MD in BYP, I get absolutely NO signal change at 
> 6.0 MHz, increasing or decreasing.
> 
> The mystery is that you report the signal strength changes at 6.0 MHz even 
> with the KXAT3 ATU MD in BYP.  I am at a loss.  There should be no relay 
> operation in the KX2/3 at 6.0 MHz if the KXAT2/3 ATU MD is BYP.  Do you hear 
> any relay operation at 6.0 MHz with ATU MD in BYP?
> 
> Mike / KK5F
> 
> -Original Message-
>> From: Walter Underwood 
>> Sent: Nov 26, 2018 11:04 PM
>> To: "Elecraft QTH.net List" 
>> Subject: [Elecraft] KX3 receive discontinuity at 6.000 MHz
>> 
>> I was tuning in Radio Havana Cuba with my KX3 a few nights ago. I received 
>> them fine at 5999.999 kHz, but their signal and the background noise dropped 
>> way, way down when I tuned 6000.000 kHz. This happened with AM, USB, and 
>> LSB. It was also visible on my PX3. I bypassed the ATU, no change. Set the 
>> XPA100 to “not installed”, no change. Bypassed the ATU.X, no change.
>> 
>> KX3 serial number 2985, latest firmware.
>> 
>> Any clues? I’m tempted to do an EEINIT and reload the config, just on 
>> general principles.
>> 
>> wunder
>> K6WRU
>> Walter Underwood

__
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] PROPOSAL: K2/10 Battery LiPO / 8AA carrier option

[Bryan Nehl]

Specs say the K2 operates on 10-15V, page 2 of the K2 manual online.
Here are my notes for 3S LiPO and 8AA NiMH packs:
Type      Vmin Warn Vnom Vmax Vstorage  3S LiPO  9.0  9.6 11.1 12.6 11.55  4S 
LiPO 12.0 12.8 14.8 16.8 15.4 8AA NiMH  6.4  7.2  9.6 12.010AA NiMH  8.0  9.0 
12.0 15.0
So, a 3S LiPO should be just fine.  A 4S LiPO with a Vmax of 16.8V would be too 
much.However, using a smart battery charger, you could cut off charging at 15V.
The 8AA NiMH may not have much operating time before falling below the 10V 
spec.However, a 10AA NiMH with a peak of 15V should be okay. 

On Tuesday, November 27, 2018 8:15 PM, James Doty  
wrote:
 

 I like the idea.

You'd have to add a low voltage sensor though to protect the battery and
radio from over discharge.  It would be pretty light too.

That said, the battery only puts out 11.1volts.  Will a K2 run on that?
I honestly haven't checked.

__
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 k0...@dbbear.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] KX3-Utility worked in May but not now.

[JEROME SODUS]

Hello,


As the subject-line states, my records show that all was good this past May 
when I checked if I was up-to-date firmware-wise.

Also, in September, for the power-up sequence, I successfully used the Utility 
to put in a banner with my call-sign.


The idea today was to get DX-Lab and its WinWarbler connected to the KX3.

I had read that the KX3's CW-decoding could be displayed in WinWarbler.


But now, I have an issue and I'm not even out of the starting-gate.

The Utility's tab "Firmware" shows that wheels are spinning in "Attempting to 
connect KX3 on port COM3 at " using various bit/s speeds.

The KX3 is set at 4800 bits/s.


So, I used Win10's trouble-shooting and got this message:

The error I get is "Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port (COM8) has a driver 
problem."


I'm mystified that I see COM3 in one place and COM8 in another.

I have no idea what to do next.

I was horrified to read that I had a Prolific USB adapter; so much bad press 
about Prolific.

TIA for any help.

73 Jerry KM3K
__
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-1500 issues

[K9MA]

I think the point Mike is trying to make is that many SWR meters don't 
actually measure SWR all that accurately as impedance changes. While the 
length of transmission line doesn't affect SWR (other than the effect of 
loss), the impedance at a given SWR does change with line length, and 
that may cause the indicated SWR to change with some instruments. I 
wonder if an antenna analyzer, which actually measures impedance, and 
calculates SWR from that, would do any better. If it measures impedance 
accurately, it should.



73,
Scott K9MA


On 11/27/2018 21:34, Wes Stewart wrote:
I fail to see what that will prove. The only length that will do 
anything exciting is the 1/4 wavelength line and even that doesn't 
affect the SWR.  The other two will just repeat (less loss) on the 
input side, what terminates the load side.


Wes  N7WS

On 11/27/2018 3:51 PM, Michael Walker wrote:
If you truly want to understand SWR, I recommend you pick a frequency 
and

make up a 1/4, 1/2 and 1 wavelength sections of 50ohm coax.

Then measure the SWR at those points into various different resistive
loads, like 10, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150 and 200 ohms.

I think you will find the results very interesting.

Mike va3mw



__
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 k...@sdellington.us



--
Scott  K9MA

k...@sdellington.us

__
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com

Re: [Elecraft] FS: New CM500 headset

[Edward R Cole]

David Woolley wrote:
"Are you sure of those figures?  30dB is normally only considered mild
loss.  15dB is in the normal range."

Good question - I am unsure.  I have my annual hearing test tomorrow 
and will ask my audiologist for a spectrum chart for each ear.


I have an optional remote that provides bluetooth connection which I 
use with my iphone.  It also has a little plug-in adapter to provide 
bluetooth connection to any audio source (probably intended for 
computer soundcard connection).  I have not tried it.


The hearing aids provide for T-coil connection but I found that not 
good for my use.  Picks up too much magnetic fields and noise.


Let you know my results after my checkup.




73, Ed - KL7UW
  http://www.kl7uw.com
Dubus-NA Business mail:
  dubus...@gmail.com 


__
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com

[Elecraft] K3s/P3 For Sale

[John_N1JM]

K3S-F Transceiver #11139
100W upgrade for K3/K3S, Factory Installed 
ATU for K3/K3S, Factory Installed
K3 TCXO 1ppm, factory installed
2.7kHz Elecraft Filter
K3 500 Hz, 5 Pole Filter, factory installed 
KRX3A 2nd RX Factory Installed
KFL3A-2.7K Filter installed in KRX3A
K3 500 Hz, 5 Pole Filter, factory installed in KRX3A
K3 5 & 6 pole filter matching to 40 Hz 
P3 Panadapter for the K3 - Factory Assembled 
Transmit Monitor for P3- Installed
Coupler, 1.8-54 MHz, 1- 2000W 
Includes everything that came with it-manuals, cables, original boxes, etc.
New Feb 2017. Nonsmoking home.
$3995 USA only. PayPal plus fees, bank check or personal check but wait to
clear, USPS MO. No trades. Will not split. 
Please contact me off list.

73, John N1JM




--
Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.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] Phantom signals

[Don Wilhelm]

Pete,

Any chance you can borrow a P3 to see if those spurs are present both 
with and without the computer?

That would be a good test if you can manage it.

The other thing that may help is to bond the K3 to the other gear, 
following the paths of the IF out coax and also the audio cables. Bond 
from box to box rather than trying to "ground" everything to a single 
point (which may cause additional noise pickup.  Use the information on 
that subject from Jim Brown K9YC.
If everything else other than the K3 is plastic cased, bond to BNC 
connector shells and/or computer I/O connector jackscrews.


73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/27/2018 9:44 PM, N4ZR wrote:


Trouble is, my computer supplies N1MM+, including its spectrum 
display. Catch 22





__
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-1500 issues

[Wes Stewart]

I fail to see what that will prove. The only length that will do anything 
exciting is the 1/4 wavelength line and even that doesn't affect the SWR.  The 
other two will just repeat (less loss) on the input side, what terminates the 
load side.


Wes  N7WS

On 11/27/2018 3:51 PM, Michael Walker wrote:

If you truly want to understand SWR, I recommend you pick a frequency and
make up a 1/4, 1/2 and 1 wavelength sections of 50ohm coax.

Then measure the SWR at those points into various different resistive
loads, like 10, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150 and 200 ohms.

I think you will find the results very interesting.

Mike va3mw



__
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] Wish I had a KAT1500

[Bob McGraw K4TAX]

Sold new in 1988 for $995.  Used market today about $450 to $650 
depending on condition.  Rated at 2KW with 10:1 SWR 1.8 MHz to 30 MHz.


73

Bob, K4TAX


On 11/27/2018 7:21 PM, AB4IQ wrote:

Ten Tec made the 253 automatic tuner and a friend of mine bought his in 1988
or so and still uses it daily with his Orion II and 425 Titan.

Ed.. AB4IQ

-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Peter Dougherty
(W2IRT)
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 6:40 PM
To: 'Victor Rosenthal 4X6GP' ; 'Elecraft Reflector'

Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Wish I had a KAT1500

I agree, Victor!

I have a newer HF-Auto which is even more problematic than the AT-Auto. The
issues for me are 40 and 80. I have a shorty forty Yagi, with about 175 kHz
between the 2:1 points. Since I normally operate in the bottom end of the
band (CW and occasionally FT8) I set the resonant point around 7040, which
makes it usable all the way to the bottom of the phone band. But on phone,
the SWR varies from 2:1 at 7128 to about 8:1 at 7300. It's equally
problematic on 80 (resonant 3575, 3:1 points 3500 to 3675 to make the
KPA-1500 happy). Above 40, and 160m, my antennas are resonant. I'd pay
anything for an auto-tuner that can handle full power, works properly every
time and uses band data, rather than RF sensing (which is how the HF-Auto
works).

I don't have a tower that can handle a full-size/full-bandwidth 40m Yagi as
well as everything else I need up there, so I'm reliant on a tuner to make
things usable.

I remote in to my station once in a while, and I'm at a big disadvantage on
40 when I need to go on phone. I'm almost never on 80 phone (except for two
contest weekends a year) so that's not a big problem.

I can't believe that nobody in the ham community has come out with a
5kW-rated 10:1 fully automatic tuner, with everything else that's been done
lately.


Regards,
Peter Dougherty, W2IRT
DXCC Card Checker/CQ-WAZ Checkpoint

www.facebook.com/W2IRT

-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Victor Rosenthal
4X6GP
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 10:32 AM
To: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: [Elecraft] Wish I had a KAT1500

I am using an older Palstar AT-Auto automatic tuner. It has a coil and
capacitor operated by stepper motors. When it works, it's fine; but it
requires a lot of maintenance and fiddling. What I need is something that
works as well as the KAT3 in my K3; quick, trouble-free, and good for a 10:1
SWR on HF.

Oh yes, it has to handle 1.5 kW, too.

If Elecraft would beef up the KAT500 to meet the above specs, I'd buy one.
--
73,
Victor, 4X6GP
Rehovot, Israel
Formerly K2VCO
CWops no. 5
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/
__
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 li...@w2irt.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 ab...@comcast.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 rmcg...@blomand.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] FS: New CM500 headset

[John Simmons]

A friend of mine told me about the new Olive hearing aids coming from S. 
Korea. They are currently being sold only on Indiegogo and one ear is 
$139 instead of the multikilobuck jobs. I'm interested to hear how they 
work for him. You configure the amplification and response curves using 
a smartphone app.


-John NI0K

David Woolley wrote:


Are you sure of those figures?  30dB is normally only considered mild 
loss.  15dB is in the normal range.


I have at least 40dB. across the spectrum, in one ear, and 15dB at 
500Hz, degrading to 70dB at 8kHz, in the other, and I'm only classed 
as having a moderate loss.  These figures are a few years old, so the 
current ones are marginally worse.


If you have severe enough loss to need full ear moulds, I think all 
modern aids have various options to directly feed the aid with, at 
least mono, audio, and some headsets will naturally work with aids 
that can be set to an induction loop setting.


Typical options for full stereo, are blank headsets, that just create 
an induction field, ear hooks that hook over the ear and create an 
induction field, and direct audio input shoes that plug into over the 
ear aids, and allow a copper connection to the aid.


For most aids you can get a bluetooth adapter, that you wear on a, 
conductive, neck loop.  This is generally mono.  You can typically 
provide a copper audio feed to these, in which case there is no 
bluetooth (the near field link uses a different protocol, and at HF, 
not SHF), or you can remote bluetooth adapters, which have low 
latency, as well as the normal bluetooth adapters, with their high 
latency.


The Phonak brand name for this feature is ComPilot.  My aids are 
Oticon, for which it is ConnectLine.


I think the open fit aids, used by people with, typical, age related, 
high frequency loss may be more of a challenge, as they are designed 
to pass the low frequencies directly and only amplify the high ones.




__
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] Phantom signals

[N4ZR]

Trouble is, my computer supplies N1MM+, including its spectrum display.  
Catch 22


73, Pete N4ZR
Check out the Reverse Beacon Network
at , now
spotting RTTY activity worldwide.
For spots, please use your favorite
"retail" DX cluster.

On 11/27/2018 6:16 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
Another thing to suspect is noise generated by a computer, or ethernet 
modems and routers and being routed to the K3 and P3 via the K3 to 
computer connection.  I believe that is why Tom suggested winding the 
USB cable through a type 31 ferrite core.  BTW, that core should be 
near the computer end).


Disconnect and power down the computer to see if that is contributing 
to the "spurs".


73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/27/2018 5:57 PM, ab2tc wrote:

Hi,

Absolutely no sign of any of these spurs here with my K3S. Since they 
are at
constant frequencies they must be coming in through the K3 front end 
(*not*
at the IF level). So either your K3 front end is generating them 
(which it
shouldn't) or they are present in your environment. Again, since they 
are at
constant frequencies, the P3 or any other SDR connected to the K3 IF 
output
should not be the culprit. Send me an E-mail and I will give you 
spectral
plots collected with LP-PAN/NAP3 with K3 connected to a well shielded 
dummy

load.

AB2TC


tomb18 wrote
This is pretty common. One thing that can help is to wrap your USB 
cable

through an ft241 31 to rid. About 6 turns gets rig of lots of picked up
garbage. 73 Tom



__
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...@comcast.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] Wish I had a KAT1500

[AB4IQ]

Ten Tec made the 253 automatic tuner and a friend of mine bought his in 1988
or so and still uses it daily with his Orion II and 425 Titan.

Ed.. AB4IQ

-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Peter Dougherty
(W2IRT)
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 6:40 PM
To: 'Victor Rosenthal 4X6GP' ; 'Elecraft Reflector'

Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Wish I had a KAT1500

I agree, Victor!

I have a newer HF-Auto which is even more problematic than the AT-Auto. The
issues for me are 40 and 80. I have a shorty forty Yagi, with about 175 kHz
between the 2:1 points. Since I normally operate in the bottom end of the
band (CW and occasionally FT8) I set the resonant point around 7040, which
makes it usable all the way to the bottom of the phone band. But on phone,
the SWR varies from 2:1 at 7128 to about 8:1 at 7300. It's equally
problematic on 80 (resonant 3575, 3:1 points 3500 to 3675 to make the
KPA-1500 happy). Above 40, and 160m, my antennas are resonant. I'd pay
anything for an auto-tuner that can handle full power, works properly every
time and uses band data, rather than RF sensing (which is how the HF-Auto
works). 

I don't have a tower that can handle a full-size/full-bandwidth 40m Yagi as
well as everything else I need up there, so I'm reliant on a tuner to make
things usable.

I remote in to my station once in a while, and I'm at a big disadvantage on
40 when I need to go on phone. I'm almost never on 80 phone (except for two
contest weekends a year) so that's not a big problem.

I can't believe that nobody in the ham community has come out with a
5kW-rated 10:1 fully automatic tuner, with everything else that's been done
lately. 


Regards,
Peter Dougherty, W2IRT
DXCC Card Checker/CQ-WAZ Checkpoint

www.facebook.com/W2IRT

-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Victor Rosenthal
4X6GP
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 10:32 AM
To: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: [Elecraft] Wish I had a KAT1500

I am using an older Palstar AT-Auto automatic tuner. It has a coil and
capacitor operated by stepper motors. When it works, it's fine; but it
requires a lot of maintenance and fiddling. What I need is something that
works as well as the KAT3 in my K3; quick, trouble-free, and good for a 10:1
SWR on HF.

Oh yes, it has to handle 1.5 kW, too.

If Elecraft would beef up the KAT500 to meet the above specs, I'd buy one.
--
73,
Victor, 4X6GP
Rehovot, Israel
Formerly K2VCO
CWops no. 5
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/
__
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 li...@w2irt.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 ab...@comcast.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] Wish I had a KAT1500

[Peter Dougherty (W2IRT)]

I agree, Victor!

I have a newer HF-Auto which is even more problematic than the AT-Auto. The
issues for me are 40 and 80. I have a shorty forty Yagi, with about 175 kHz
between the 2:1 points. Since I normally operate in the bottom end of the
band (CW and occasionally FT8) I set the resonant point around 7040, which
makes it usable all the way to the bottom of the phone band. But on phone,
the SWR varies from 2:1 at 7128 to about 8:1 at 7300. It's equally
problematic on 80 (resonant 3575, 3:1 points 3500 to 3675 to make the
KPA-1500 happy). Above 40, and 160m, my antennas are resonant. I'd pay
anything for an auto-tuner that can handle full power, works properly every
time and uses band data, rather than RF sensing (which is how the HF-Auto
works). 

I don't have a tower that can handle a full-size/full-bandwidth 40m Yagi as
well as everything else I need up there, so I'm reliant on a tuner to make
things usable.

I remote in to my station once in a while, and I'm at a big disadvantage on
40 when I need to go on phone. I'm almost never on 80 phone (except for two
contest weekends a year) so that's not a big problem.

I can't believe that nobody in the ham community has come out with a
5kW-rated 10:1 fully automatic tuner, with everything else that's been done
lately. 


Regards,
Peter Dougherty, W2IRT
DXCC Card Checker/CQ-WAZ Checkpoint

www.facebook.com/W2IRT

-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Victor Rosenthal
4X6GP
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 10:32 AM
To: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: [Elecraft] Wish I had a KAT1500

I am using an older Palstar AT-Auto automatic tuner. It has a coil and 
capacitor operated by stepper motors. When it works, it's fine; but it 
requires a lot of maintenance and fiddling. What I need is something 
that works as well as the KAT3 in my K3; quick, trouble-free, and good 
for a 10:1 SWR on HF.

Oh yes, it has to handle 1.5 kW, too.

If Elecraft would beef up the KAT500 to meet the above specs, I'd buy one.
-- 
73,
Victor, 4X6GP
Rehovot, Israel
Formerly K2VCO
CWops no. 5
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/
__
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 li...@w2irt.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] Phantom signals

[Grant Youngman]

I sometimes notice a host of phantoms that follow the tuning, but only when the 
preamp is off. Turning on the preamp generally kills them all. 

This doesn’t help with the fixed frequency junk being generated by the myriad 
of switchers in the house, though. Different issue. 

Grant NQ5T

> On Nov 27, 2018, at 6:16 PM, Don Wilhelm  wrote:
> 
> Another thing to suspect is noise generated by a computer, or ethernet modems 
> and routers and being routed to the K3 and P3 via the K3 to computer 
> connection.  I believe that is why Tom suggested winding the USB cable 
> through a type 31 ferrite core.  BTW, that core should be near the computer 
> end).
> 
> Disconnect and power down the computer to see if that is contributing to the 
> "spurs".
> 
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
> 
>> 
__
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-1500 issues

[Walter Underwood]

> On Nov 27, 2018, at 12:02 PM, Bill Johnson  wrote:
> 
> If one thinks about it, no auto tuner can be expected to get an exact match 
> unless it is adjusted manually (that would be a PITA). 

When I think about it, it seems pretty obvious that an autotuner could get at 
least as good a match as a human, and probably faster. We’ve had AI search 
algorithms for thirty or forty years. The true match can’t be much better than 
the accuracy of the reflected power bridge. Look at the accuracy of the bridge, 
make sure the smallest L and C values have a reactance that makes adjustments 
that small, then use a good algorithm.

wunder
K6WRU
Walter Underwood
CM87wj
http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog)

__
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-1500 issues

[Roger D Johnson]

Interesting! I just ran some tests on my station into Bird load; tuner bypassed:

At 50.1 mHz:

LP-700 1.06
K3 1.5
KPA1500 1.0

At 9.56 mHz (geometric mean freq)

LP-700  1.05
K3 1.1
KPA1500 1.0

At 1.825 mHz:

LP-700 1.05
K3 1.1
KPA1500 1.0

My KPA1500 looks good but K3 is off on 6m.

73, Roger


On 11/27/2018 5:22 PM, Wes Stewart wrote:
A few months ago I wrote about the potential errors in measuring SWR with 
amateur grade equipment. See my comments in this thread:


http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-SWR-Numerical-Indication-td7643839.html

I imagine "the best they can do" is accurate.

Wes  N7WS

ps. I also said that if I was wrong, I was sure I would hear about it.  
Crickets.

On 11/27/2018 12:39 PM, Paul Baldock wrote:

[snip]

I also note that when into a perfect 50 Ohms, and the tuner bypassed, on 6 
meters, my KPA1500 says the SWR is 1.4:1. On 10 meters it reads 1.2:1. Rene 
from Elecraft says "this is the best they can do".


Other than the issues above I am very happy with the KPA1500.

- Paul


__
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...@roadrunner.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] P3 Phantom Signals

[Ken Widelitz]

I've noticed a large number of "phantom" signals on the P3. They look like
signals but when I turn the RX dial, they move along with the cursor. When I
turned the P3 off and then on, they went away of 40m but that same thing
didn't happen on 15m. Any ideas?

 

73, Ken, K6LA / VY2TT

 

 

__
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-1500 issues

[K9MA]

The ATU in the K3, which should work exactly like the one in the 
KPA1500, seems to consistently find a very good match, at least on the 
lower bands where the L/C resolution is very good. Why the KPA1500 often 
fails to find such a good match is a mystery to me. The only difference 
should be the power handling capacity of the components. This would 
affect strays, but I wouldn't expect them to be significant on 20 meters 
and below.


73,
Scott K9MA



On 11/27/2018 14:02, Bill Johnson wrote:

If one thinks about it, no auto tuner can be expected to get an exact match 
unless it is adjusted manually (that would be a PITA).  And if done manually, 
that doesn't mean that the match is perfect.  It just appears that way.  
Consider what goes on with feedline, connections and the antenna itself.  
Grounding, RF and impedance issues, etc., all can contribute to inconsistent 
behavior.  The Elecraft tuning is among the best for price for in rig 
performance IMO.  I prefer remote auto tuning myself which requires a different 
operation method.

Now if Elecraft could design a remotely controlled, wireless preferred, tuner, 
I would buy one yesterday!

72 & 73,
Bill
K9YEQ
FT'er for K2, KX1, KX3, KXPA100,  KAT500, W2, etc.

-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net  On 
Behalf Of Paul Baldock
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 1:39 PM

There is definitely room for improvements in the tuning algorithm. Because of 
this I have tuned all my segments manually. I find if the SWR is not adjusted 
to be close to 1:1 in all segments of a band then the drive requirements vary 
across that band, which would be very annoying.

In addition the tuner may not always be in the segment you think it is. This is due to 
the 8KHz resolution of the internal counter, that wins over you sending it a more 
accurate frequency, and also the hysteresis algorithm that can require a 2 segment 
frequency change before the tuner changes. Gary from Elecraft says "if you are off 
by one bin segment then it should not matter too much"

I also note that when into a perfect 50 Ohms, and the tuner bypassed, on 6 
meters, my KPA1500 says the SWR is 1.4:1. On 10 meters it reads 1.2:1.
Rene from Elecraft says "this is the best they can do".

Other than the issues above I am very happy with the KPA1500.

- Paul

__
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 k...@sdellington.us



--
Scott  K9MA

k...@sdellington.us

__
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com

Re: [Elecraft] Phantom signals

[Don Wilhelm]

Another thing to suspect is noise generated by a computer, or ethernet 
modems and routers and being routed to the K3 and P3 via the K3 to 
computer connection.  I believe that is why Tom suggested winding the 
USB cable through a type 31 ferrite core.  BTW, that core should be near 
the computer end).


Disconnect and power down the computer to see if that is contributing to 
the "spurs".


73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/27/2018 5:57 PM, ab2tc wrote:

Hi,

Absolutely no sign of any of these spurs here with my K3S. Since they are at
constant frequencies they must be coming in through the K3 front end (*not*
at the IF level). So either your K3 front end is generating them (which it
shouldn't) or they are present in your environment. Again, since they are at
constant frequencies, the P3 or any other SDR connected to the K3 IF output
should not be the culprit. Send me an E-mail and I will give you spectral
plots collected with LP-PAN/NAP3 with K3 connected to a well shielded dummy
load.

AB2TC


tomb18 wrote

This is pretty common. One thing that can help is to wrap your USB cable
through an ft241 31 to rid. About 6 turns gets rig of lots of picked up
garbage. 73 Tom



__
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-1500 issues

[Don Wilhelm]

Mike,

I don't know if that really explains SWR, but with the different loads, 
I "get" what you are alluding to.
One comment is that those feedline lengths should be electrical lengths 
- they will be shorter than the physical length by the amount 
contributed by the feedline velocity factor.


After (or before) that experiment, grab most any good book on antennas 
and transmission lines, looking with particular interest at the sections 
dealing with mismatched lines which are directly associated with SWR.


73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/27/2018 5:51 PM, Michael Walker wrote:

If you truly want to understand SWR, I recommend you pick a frequency and
make up a 1/4, 1/2 and 1 wavelength sections of 50ohm coax.

Then measure the SWR at those points into various different resistive
loads, like 10, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150 and 200 ohms.

I think you will find the results very interesting.

__
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] Phantom signals

[ab2tc]

Hi,

Absolutely no sign of any of these spurs here with my K3S. Since they are at
constant frequencies they must be coming in through the K3 front end (*not*
at the IF level). So either your K3 front end is generating them (which it
shouldn't) or they are present in your environment. Again, since they are at
constant frequencies, the P3 or any other SDR connected to the K3 IF output
should not be the culprit. Send me an E-mail and I will give you spectral
plots collected with LP-PAN/NAP3 with K3 connected to a well shielded dummy
load.

AB2TC


tomb18 wrote
> This is pretty common. One thing that can help is to wrap your USB cable
> through an ft241 31 to rid. About 6 turns gets rig of lots of picked up
> garbage. 73 Tom
> 
> 
> Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
>  Original message From: Fred Jensen <

> k6dgw@

> > Date: 2018-11-26  6:14 PM  (GMT-05:00) To: 

> elecraft@.qth

>  Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Phantom signals 
> I have a clean carrier at 7039.6, about S4, but nothing on 20.  It's 
> pretty hard to build a double conversion superhet that doesn't have a 
> few weak spurs.
> 
> 73,
> Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
> Sparks NV DM09dn
> Washoe County
> 
> On 11/26/2018 2:20 PM, N4ZR wrote:
>> I recently started using N1MM+'s spectrum display with my K3, and it 
>> made me notice that I have some phantom signals on the display. 
>> Specifically, there are steady carriers at 14039.6 and 28039.6. Each 
>> of these carriers has "sidebands" spaced 1 KHZ apart on either side. 
>> There is a slight AC roughness to the tones as heard in CW mode, 
>> particularly on 20M.  On 7039.6 and 21039.6 a single carrier is 
>> audible, much weaker than on 20 or 10 meters.
>>
>> Disconnecting the antenna from the K3 does not affect these signals, 
>> nor does disconnecting my Airspy HF+ from the IF Out jack.
>>
>> Any idea what these might be?  Because they are discrete frequencies 
>> and relatively weak, they aren't particularly an operational problem, but
>>
>> 73, Pete N4ZR
>> Check out the Reverse Beacon Network
>> at ;, now
>> spotting RTTY activity worldwide.
>> For spots, please use your favorite
>> "retail" DX cluster.
> 
> __
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:

> Elecraft@.qth

> 
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to 

> tomb18@

> __
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:

> Elecraft@.qth

> 
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to 

> lists+1215531472858-365791@.nabble





--
Sent from: http://elecraft.365791.n2.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] KPA-1500 issues

[Michael Walker]

If you truly want to understand SWR, I recommend you pick a frequency and
make up a 1/4, 1/2 and 1 wavelength sections of 50ohm coax.

Then measure the SWR at those points into various different resistive
loads, like 10, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150 and 200 ohms.

I think you will find the results very interesting.

Mike va3mw


On Tue, Nov 27, 2018 at 5:23 PM Wes Stewart  wrote:

> A few months ago I wrote about the potential errors in measuring SWR with
> amateur grade equipment. See my comments in this thread:
>
>
> http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-SWR-Numerical-Indication-td7643839.html
>
> I imagine "the best they can do" is accurate.
>
> Wes  N7WS
>
> ps. I also said that if I was wrong, I was sure I would hear about it.
> Crickets.
>
> On 11/27/2018 12:39 PM, Paul Baldock wrote:
> > [snip]
> >
> > I also note that when into a perfect 50 Ohms, and the tuner bypassed, on
> 6
> > meters, my KPA1500 says the SWR is 1.4:1. On 10 meters it reads 1.2:1.
> Rene
> > from Elecraft says "this is the best they can do".
> >
> > Other than the issues above I am very happy with the KPA1500.
> >
> > - Paul
>
> __
> 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 va...@portcredit.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] KX3 not switching ant when changing bands

[Don Wilhelm]

Instead of grounding each piece of equipment separately to a ground rod, 
try "bonding" instead.  Connect the KX3 to the PX3 with heavy wire (or 
braid), then connect the KX3 to  the  KXPA100 with heavy wire - from the 
KXPA100, connect to the ground rod.


You should see a reduction is audio noise on the PX3 (which can be made 
worse by separate ground wires) and the KXPA100 and KX3 should 'play' 
better together.


If you want more information on bonding, look at the documents produced 
by Jim Brown K9YC - he posts frequently on this reflector.


One thing to keep in mind - grounding everything (the KX3 and PX3 are 
'grounded" by virtue of the bonding wires) will not do anything about RF 
pickup - Mother Earth is not a sink for RF.  The grounding is for AC 
main safety and some protection against lightning and static charges 
(but not a direct strike).


73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/27/2018 4:58 PM, richard gilley wrote:

Hi,
Following F. Cady advice on grounding the station equipment to a common 
bus, I did so.  My set up includes a KXPA100 with the ATU, the KX3 and PX3. Now 
I noticed that the KX3 does not always indicate the same antenna as the KXPA100 
when I switch bands.  Sometime it does and then does not, or will change after 
5 to 10 seconds.   I have a Vertical for 30 meters, and a Dipole for 40 and 20 
meters, the KXPA100 switches immediately.

I have powered down all the equipment, restarted and sometime this does the 
trick and all is well.  But sometime it does not.  If I remove the ground from 
the KX3 and the PX3 the issue goes away.
The equipment ground is #18 stranded, < 10” to the bus, the bus has a copper 
braid to the KXPA100, the antenna grounds and on to the station ground rod 8’ feet 
outside the shack.

At the moment all is OK.  I just do not know the root cause.  Any ideas or 
thoughts.

R Gilley
AD1G


__
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 donw...@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] KPA-1500 issues

[Wes Stewart]

A few months ago I wrote about the potential errors in measuring SWR with 
amateur grade equipment. See my comments in this thread:


http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-SWR-Numerical-Indication-td7643839.html

I imagine "the best they can do" is accurate.

Wes  N7WS

ps. I also said that if I was wrong, I was sure I would hear about it.  
Crickets.

On 11/27/2018 12:39 PM, Paul Baldock wrote:

[snip]

I also note that when into a perfect 50 Ohms, and the tuner bypassed, on 6 
meters, my KPA1500 says the SWR is 1.4:1. On 10 meters it reads 1.2:1. Rene 
from Elecraft says "this is the best they can do".


Other than the issues above I am very happy with the KPA1500.

- Paul


__
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 not switching ant when changing bands

[richard gilley]

Hi,
Following F. Cady advice on grounding the station equipment to a common 
bus, I did so.  My set up includes a KXPA100 with the ATU, the KX3 and PX3. Now 
I noticed that the KX3 does not always indicate the same antenna as the KXPA100 
when I switch bands.  Sometime it does and then does not, or will change after 
5 to 10 seconds.   I have a Vertical for 30 meters, and a Dipole for 40 and 20 
meters, the KXPA100 switches immediately.

I have powered down all the equipment, restarted and sometime this does the 
trick and all is well.  But sometime it does not.  If I remove the ground from 
the KX3 and the PX3 the issue goes away. 
The equipment ground is #18 stranded, < 10” to the bus, the bus has a copper 
braid to the KXPA100, the antenna grounds and on to the station ground rod 8’ 
feet outside the shack.

At the moment all is OK.  I just do not know the root cause.  Any ideas or 
thoughts.

R Gilley
AD1G


__
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] Wish I had a KAT1500

[Victor Rosenthal 4X6GP]

I would worry about exceeding voltage ratings on capacitors even if it 
was pre-tuned. I believe in judiciously exceeding ratings of 
conservatively rated devices, but this doesn't seem "judicious!"


73,
Victor, 4X6GP
Rehovot, Israel
Formerly K2VCO
CWops no. 5
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/

On 27/11/2018 21:53, Bill Johnson wrote:

If you manually tune at low power first, then there should rarely be
an  issue.  Frequency hopping with the segments memorized should
yield good results as well.  If there are changes in the antenna due
to wind, moisture, reaction to other materials, etc., then one can
expect the tuning to need adjustment even if recently tuned.

As you probably know, there is more to tuning than just an SWR
reading. I do not hesitate running my KPA1500 into 1.7 to 1 as
indicated on my W2 without retuning.

73, Bill K9YEQ

https://wrj-tech.com/

-Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net
 On Behalf Of Victor Rosenthal
4X6GP Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 1:43 PM To:
donw...@embarqmail.com; Elecraft Reflector
 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Wish I had a
KAT1500

My somewhat unique antenna system presents SWRs up to about 8:1 on
some bands, so this would be kind of limiting.

73, Victor, 4X6GP Rehovot, Israel Formerly K2VCO CWops no. 5 
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/ On 27/11/2018 18:39, Don Wilhelm wrote:

Vic,

From what I have heard, the KAT500 will handle 1500 watts, but at
an SWR of only 3:1 - that is the same as the ATU in the KPA1500 can
handle. At lower power (its rated power of 500 watts) the KPA500
will tune a 10:1 SWR.

73, Don W3FPR

On 11/27/2018 10:32 AM, Victor Rosenthal 4X6GP wrote:

I am using an older Palstar AT-Auto automatic tuner. It has a
coil and capacitor operated by stepper motors. When it works,
it's fine; but it requires a lot of maintenance and fiddling.
What I need is something that works as well as the KAT3 in my K3;
quick, trouble-free, and good for a 10:1 SWR on HF.

Oh yes, it has to handle 1.5 kW, too.

If Elecraft would beef up the KAT500 to meet the above specs, I'd
buy one.

__
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-1500 issues

[Bill Johnson]

If one thinks about it, no auto tuner can be expected to get an exact match 
unless it is adjusted manually (that would be a PITA).  And if done manually, 
that doesn't mean that the match is perfect.  It just appears that way.  
Consider what goes on with feedline, connections and the antenna itself.  
Grounding, RF and impedance issues, etc., all can contribute to inconsistent 
behavior.  The Elecraft tuning is among the best for price for in rig 
performance IMO.  I prefer remote auto tuning myself which requires a different 
operation method.  

Now if Elecraft could design a remotely controlled, wireless preferred, tuner, 
I would buy one yesterday!

72 & 73,
Bill
K9YEQ
FT'er for K2, KX1, KX3, KXPA100,  KAT500, W2, etc. 

-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net  On 
Behalf Of Paul Baldock
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 1:39 PM

There is definitely room for improvements in the tuning algorithm. Because of 
this I have tuned all my segments manually. I find if the SWR is not adjusted 
to be close to 1:1 in all segments of a band then the drive requirements vary 
across that band, which would be very annoying.

In addition the tuner may not always be in the segment you think it is. This is 
due to the 8KHz resolution of the internal counter, that wins over you sending 
it a more accurate frequency, and also the hysteresis algorithm that can 
require a 2 segment frequency change before the tuner changes. Gary from 
Elecraft says "if you are off by one bin segment then it should not matter too 
much"

I also note that when into a perfect 50 Ohms, and the tuner bypassed, on 6 
meters, my KPA1500 says the SWR is 1.4:1. On 10 meters it reads 1.2:1. 
Rene from Elecraft says "this is the best they can do".

Other than the issues above I am very happy with the KPA1500.

- Paul

__
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] Wish I had a KAT1500

[Bill Johnson]

If you manually tune at low power first, then there should rarely be an  issue. 
 Frequency hopping with the segments memorized should yield good results as 
well.  If there are changes in the antenna due to wind, moisture, reaction to 
other materials, etc., then one can expect the tuning to need adjustment even 
if recently tuned.  

As you probably know, there is more to tuning than just an SWR reading. I do 
not hesitate running my KPA1500 into 1.7 to 1 as indicated on my W2 without 
retuning.   

73,
Bill
K9YEQ

https://wrj-tech.com/

-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net  On 
Behalf Of Victor Rosenthal 4X6GP
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 1:43 PM
To: donw...@embarqmail.com; Elecraft Reflector 
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Wish I had a KAT1500

My somewhat unique antenna system presents SWRs up to about 8:1 on some bands, 
so this would be kind of limiting.

73,
Victor, 4X6GP
Rehovot, Israel
Formerly K2VCO
CWops no. 5
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/
On 27/11/2018 18:39, Don Wilhelm wrote:
> Vic,
> 
>  From what I have heard, the KAT500 will handle 1500 watts, but at an 
> SWR of only 3:1 - that is the same as the ATU in the KPA1500 can handle.
> At lower power (its rated power of 500 watts) the KPA500 will tune a
> 10:1 SWR.
> 
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
> 
> On 11/27/2018 10:32 AM, Victor Rosenthal 4X6GP wrote:
>> I am using an older Palstar AT-Auto automatic tuner. It has a coil 
>> and capacitor operated by stepper motors. When it works, it's fine; 
>> but it requires a lot of maintenance and fiddling. What I need is 
>> something that works as well as the KAT3 in my K3; quick, 
>> trouble-free, and good for a 10:1 SWR on HF.
>>
>> Oh yes, it has to handle 1.5 kW, too.
>>
>> If Elecraft would beef up the KAT500 to meet the above specs, I'd buy 
>> one.
__
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 k9...@live.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] Wish I had a KAT1500

[Victor Rosenthal 4X6GP]

My somewhat unique antenna system presents SWRs up to about 8:1 on some 
bands, so this would be kind of limiting.


73,
Victor, 4X6GP
Rehovot, Israel
Formerly K2VCO
CWops no. 5
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/
On 27/11/2018 18:39, Don Wilhelm wrote:

Vic,

 From what I have heard, the KAT500 will handle 1500 watts, but at an 
SWR of only 3:1 - that is the same as the ATU in the KPA1500 can handle.
At lower power (its rated power of 500 watts) the KPA500 will tune a 
10:1 SWR.


73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/27/2018 10:32 AM, Victor Rosenthal 4X6GP wrote:
I am using an older Palstar AT-Auto automatic tuner. It has a coil and 
capacitor operated by stepper motors. When it works, it's fine; but it 
requires a lot of maintenance and fiddling. What I need is something 
that works as well as the KAT3 in my K3; quick, trouble-free, and good 
for a 10:1 SWR on HF.


Oh yes, it has to handle 1.5 kW, too.

If Elecraft would beef up the KAT500 to meet the above specs, I'd buy 
one.

__
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-1500 issues

[Paul Baldock]

There is definitely room for improvements in the 
tuning algorithm. Because of this I have tuned 
all my segments manually. I find if the SWR is 
not adjusted to be close to 1:1 in all segments 
of a band then the drive requirements vary across 
that band, which would be very annoying.


In addition the tuner may not always be in the 
segment you think it is. This is due to the 8KHz 
resolution of the internal counter, that wins 
over you sending it a more accurate frequency, 
and also the hysteresis algorithm that can 
require a 2 segment frequency change before the 
tuner changes. Gary from Elecraft says "if you 
are off by one bin segment then it should not matter too much"


I also note that when into a perfect 50 Ohms, and 
the tuner bypassed, on 6 meters, my KPA1500 says 
the SWR is 1.4:1. On 10 meters it reads 1.2:1. 
Rene from Elecraft says "this is the best they can do".


Other than the issues above I am very happy with the KPA1500.

- Paul


 At 09:59 AM 11/27/2018, Dick via Elecraft wrote:
I've experienced some of these same issues with 
my KPA-1500.  In addition, sometimes the amp 
will switch to stand-by for no apparent reason, 
on 6 meters the AT won't tune a 1.7 to 1 SWR 
under 1.5 to 1, and one of the exhaust fans got 
a good deal noisier after about 25 hours of 
operation.  My amp is back at Elecraft for 
service as I write. Â  73, Dick- K9OMÂ  Â  On 
Mon, Nov 26, 2018 at 5:15 PM K9MA 
 wrote: > This was my first 
serious contest effort with the new amplifier. 
It is > paired with a K3. It survived about 24 
hours of operation, though it > faulted a few 
times, as described below. Clearly, the 
protection > circuitry did its job. Firmware is 
1.87. > > A couple glitches: > > The power gain 
drifts downward as the transistors heat up. If I 
start > out at 1500 W, it will drift down to 
about 1100, without changing > frequency or SWR. 
Conversely, if I turn the drive up after the amp 
is > warm, and forget to turn it back down, the 
amp will fault when cold. > Since the amp is 
talking to the K3, couldn't some clever software 
fix this? > > Despite setting tune power to 40 
W, the ATU sometimes just won't get the > SWR 
below 1.4:1 or so. This is with antennas below 
2:1, and the ATU stop > set to 1.0. This happens 
on 40 meters, so it's probably not an ATU L/C > 
resolution limit. This 1.4:1 SWR is sometimes 
high enough to limit > output to well below 1500 
W due to high drive power or high current. I > 
have not yet tried manually tuning the ATU to 
see if I can get the SWR > lower. > > Finally, 
after "training" the ATU across the band, I 
sometimes find that > the SWR has gone up 
significantly at some frequencies. I don't 
believe > this is due to changing antenna SWR. 
It seems more like the ATU has > "forgotten" the 
settings, or tried to retune itself without 
permission. > (HiSWR RETUNE OFF) > > Has anyone 
else seen similar issues? > > 73, > > Scott 
K9MA > > -- > Scott K9MA > > k...@sdellington.us 
__ 
Elecraft mailing list Home: 
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft 
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: 
mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted 
by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this 
email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html 
Message delivered to p...@paulbaldock.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: New CM500 headset

[David Woolley]

Are you sure of those figures?  30dB is normally only considered mild 
loss.  15dB is in the normal range.


I have at least 40dB. across the spectrum, in one ear, and 15dB at 
500Hz, degrading to 70dB at 8kHz, in the other, and I'm only classed as 
having a moderate loss.  These figures are a few years old, so the 
current ones are marginally worse.


If you have severe enough loss to need full ear moulds, I think all 
modern aids have various options to directly feed the aid with, at least 
mono, audio, and some headsets will naturally work with aids that can be 
set to an induction loop setting.


Typical options for full stereo, are blank headsets, that just create an 
induction field, ear hooks that hook over the ear and create an 
induction field, and direct audio input shoes that plug into over the 
ear aids, and allow a copper connection to the aid.


For most aids you can get a bluetooth adapter, that you wear on a, 
conductive, neck loop.  This is generally mono.  You can typically 
provide a copper audio feed to these, in which case there is no 
bluetooth (the near field link uses a different protocol, and at HF, not 
SHF), or you can remote bluetooth adapters, which have low latency, as 
well as the normal bluetooth adapters, with their high latency.


The Phonak brand name for this feature is ComPilot.  My aids are Oticon, 
for which it is ConnectLine.


I think the open fit aids, used by people with, typical, age related, 
high frequency loss may be more of a challenge, as they are designed to 
pass the low frequencies directly and only amplify the high ones.


--
David Woolley
Owner K2 06123

On 27/11/2018 01:20, Edward R Cole wrote:

> Firstly, I have extreme hearing loss.  Without my Phonac-Silvia hearing
> aids the world it very quiet.  I have something like 30-dB loss in both
> ears so not wearing

__
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] Loaded K3 with 2nd Receiver For Sale

[Paul Ecker]

This K3 has been Sold.
73
Paul
w2eck
__
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] PROPOSAL: K2/10 Battery LiPO / 8AA carrier option

[James Doty]

I like the idea.

You'd have to add a low voltage sensor though to protect the battery and
radio from over discharge.  It would be pretty light too.

That said, the battery only puts out 11.1volts.  Will a K2 run on that?
I honestly haven't checked.

__
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-1500 issues

[Dick via Elecraft]

I've experienced some of these same issues with my KPA-1500.  In addition, 
sometimes the amp will switch to stand-by for no apparent reason, on 6 meters 
the AT won't tune a 1.7 to 1 SWR under 1.5 to 1, and one of the exhaust fans 
got a good deal noisier after about 25 hours of operation.  My amp is back at 
Elecraft for service as I write.
 
73,
Dick- K9OM 
 

On Mon, Nov 26, 2018 at 5:15 PM K9MA  wrote:

> This was my first serious contest effort with the new amplifier. It is
> paired with a K3. It survived about 24 hours of operation, though it
> faulted a few times, as described below. Clearly, the protection
> circuitry did its job. Firmware is 1.87.
>
> A couple glitches:
>
> The power gain drifts downward as the transistors heat up. If I start
> out at 1500 W, it will drift down to about 1100, without changing
> frequency or SWR. Conversely, if I turn the drive up after the amp is
> warm, and forget to turn it back down, the amp will fault when cold.
> Since the amp is talking to the K3, couldn't some clever software fix this?
>
> Despite setting tune power to 40 W, the ATU sometimes just won't get the
> SWR below 1.4:1 or so. This is with antennas below 2:1, and the ATU stop
> set to 1.0. This happens on 40 meters, so it's probably not an ATU L/C
> resolution limit. This 1.4:1 SWR is sometimes high enough to limit
> output to well below 1500 W due to high drive power or high current. I
> have not yet tried manually tuning the ATU to see if I can get the SWR
> lower.
>
> Finally, after "training" the ATU across the band, I sometimes find that
> the SWR has gone up significantly at some frequencies. I don't believe
> this is due to changing antenna SWR. It seems more like the ATU has
> "forgotten" the settings, or tried to retune itself without permission.
> (HiSWR RETUNE OFF)
>
> Has anyone else seen similar issues?
>
> 73,
>
> Scott K9MA
>
> --
> Scott K9MA
>
> k...@sdellington.us
__
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com

[Elecraft] Contest noise

[greenacres113]

In W TN I use a HyTower vertical on the low bands. 80m & 40m were
very quiet and very good condx

here. With K3 & KPA500 got 38 entities on 80m & 69 on 40m. One night
on each band.

K9IL
__
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] PROPOSAL: K2/10 Battery LiPO / 8AA carrier option

[Bryan Nehl]

I'd love to see an optional cover that would allow me to switch in a 3S LiPO 
like this one:
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B075FPZL2F/ref=dp_prsubs_3

I would envision a replacement top plate with a battery door.The inside 
connector could be power pole, or deans or XT60.Leave enough room in the inside 
plastic/padded tray for the battery, cable and possibly a dongle to convert 
from one plug style to the other.That's also plenty of room for an 8AA cell 
holder too.
The toggle switch would switch between internal / external battery power.  
External power would NOT be used for charging.
This approach should be both lighter and have higher capacity than current SLAB 
option.
What do y'all think?
72 de Bryan, k0emt
__
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] Wish I had a KAT1500

[Bob McGraw K4TAX]

From the KAT500 manual:

3 - 30 MHz 1000 W into 16 ohms to 150 ohms (3:1 SWR)

1.8 - 2 MHz 600 W into 10 ohms to 500 ohms(5:1 Low Impedance, 10:1 High 
Impedance SWR)


30 - 60 MHz 500 W into 5:1 SWR (10 ohms to 250 ohms)

 "The cabling diagrams show how to use the KAT500 with any transceiver 
and amplifier in the 10 to 1000 watt output range."


I find with mine, in some cases the ATU will resolve a match at 20 
watts, but at 500 watts it goes into a FAULT mode.  This indicates power 
must be reduced to prevent damage as the SWR being resolved is outside 
of the power range of the tuner.


In all aspects, with the KPA500 and my antennas, it provides outstanding 
performance.


73

Bob, K4TAX


On 11/27/2018 10:39 AM, Don Wilhelm wrote:

Vic,

From what I have heard, the KAT500 will handle 1500 watts, but at an 
SWR of only 3:1 - that is the same as the ATU in the KPA1500 can handle.
At lower power (its rated power of 500 watts) the KPA500 will tune a 
10:1 SWR.


73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/27/2018 10:32 AM, Victor Rosenthal 4X6GP wrote:
I am using an older Palstar AT-Auto automatic tuner. It has a coil 
and capacitor operated by stepper motors. When it works, it's fine; 
but it requires a lot of maintenance and fiddling. What I need is 
something that works as well as the KAT3 in my K3; quick, 
trouble-free, and good for a 10:1 SWR on HF.


Oh yes, it has to handle 1.5 kW, too.

If Elecraft would beef up the KAT500 to meet the above specs, I'd buy 
one.

__
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 rmcg...@blomand.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] Wish I had a KAT1500

[Don Wilhelm]

Vic,

From what I have heard, the KAT500 will handle 1500 watts, but at an 
SWR of only 3:1 - that is the same as the ATU in the KPA1500 can handle.
At lower power (its rated power of 500 watts) the KPA500 will tune a 
10:1 SWR.


73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/27/2018 10:32 AM, Victor Rosenthal 4X6GP wrote:
I am using an older Palstar AT-Auto automatic tuner. It has a coil and 
capacitor operated by stepper motors. When it works, it's fine; but it 
requires a lot of maintenance and fiddling. What I need is something 
that works as well as the KAT3 in my K3; quick, trouble-free, and good 
for a 10:1 SWR on HF.


Oh yes, it has to handle 1.5 kW, too.

If Elecraft would beef up the KAT500 to meet the above specs, I'd buy one.

__
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] (OT) CQWW CW band noise

[Mike Furrey]

Yes, Higher at night than during the day. We did have rain move through Friday 
and Sunday here in East TN. NR in K3 helped a lot.
73, Mike
 

On Monday, November 26, 2018 6:35 PM, Robert G Strickland 
 wrote:
 

 Was it me/here, or did others encounter high band noise conditions 
during the CW WW?
...robert
-- 
Robert G Strickland, PhD ABPH - KE2WY
rc...@verizon.net.usa
Syracuse, New York, USA
__
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 mikefur...@att.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] Wish I had a KAT1500

[Victor Rosenthal 4X6GP]

I am using an older Palstar AT-Auto automatic tuner. It has a coil and 
capacitor operated by stepper motors. When it works, it's fine; but it 
requires a lot of maintenance and fiddling. What I need is something 
that works as well as the KAT3 in my K3; quick, trouble-free, and good 
for a 10:1 SWR on HF.


Oh yes, it has to handle 1.5 kW, too.

If Elecraft would beef up the KAT500 to meet the above specs, I'd buy one.
--
73,
Victor, 4X6GP
Rehovot, Israel
Formerly K2VCO
CWops no. 5
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/
__
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] FW: FS K3 P3 W2 KAT500

[Ron Durie]

Correction in Subject line; KAT500
I am listing these for a Ham friend.  
He uses his KX3 and these are surplus to his needs.  
K3/100  $1895
P3 -- $595
W2 - $220
KAT500 --- $495

If interested, call me; or contact me off line.  I am good in QRZ. 
Ron Durie
WB4OOA
Elecraft K-Line
704-843-3681



__
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 receive discontinuity at 6.000 MHz

[Mike Morrow]

I believe my KX2 and your KX3 use almost identical BPF and LPF network 
switching breakpoints (not including the KX3 6m band):

BPF/LPF Span (MHz) Ham Bands (meters)
 Below   4.5   160, 80 (160 below  3.0)
 4.5 to  8.5    60, 40 ( 60 below  6.0)
 8.5 to 17.0    30, 20 ( 30 below 13.0)
17.0 to 23.0    17, 15 ( 17 below 19.0)
23.0 to 30.0    12, 10 ( 12 below 26.0)

Although no BPF or LPF switching occurs at 6.0 MHz, my KX2 band changes from 
60m to 40m at that point and thus changes the KXAT2 ATU relay presets unless I 
have ATU MD in BYP.  That can cause signal strength changes at 6.0 MHz similar 
to what you report.  With ATU MD in AUTO, I get some signal drop at 6.0 MHz 
increasing.  With ATU MD in BYP, I get absolutely NO signal change at 6.0 MHz, 
increasing or decreasing.

The mystery is that you report the signal strength changes at 6.0 MHz even with 
the KXAT3 ATU MD in BYP.  I am at a loss.  There should be no relay operation 
in the KX2/3 at 6.0 MHz if the KXAT2/3 ATU MD is BYP.  Do you hear any relay 
operation at 6.0 MHz with ATU MD in BYP?

Mike / KK5F

-Original Message-
>From: Walter Underwood 
>Sent: Nov 26, 2018 11:04 PM
>To: "Elecraft QTH.net List" 
>Subject: [Elecraft] KX3 receive discontinuity at 6.000 MHz
>
>I was tuning in Radio Havana Cuba with my KX3 a few nights ago. I received 
>them fine at 5999.999 kHz, but their signal and the background noise dropped 
>way, way down when I tuned 6000.000 kHz. This happened with AM, USB, and LSB. 
>It was also visible on my PX3. I bypassed the ATU, no change. Set the XPA100 
>to “not installed”, no change. Bypassed the ATU.X, no change.
>
>KX3 serial number 2985, latest firmware.
>
>Any clues? I’m tempted to do an EEINIT and reload the config, just on general 
>principles.
>
>wunder
>K6WRU
>Walter Underwood
__
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] Funky CW from K3

[Richard Ferch]

First question: Do you have the old (original) synth board or the new
(K3S-type) KSYN3A synth(s)? The new synth board alleviates these CW
problems ("faster CW break-in and more accurate CW timing" as compared with
the original KSYN3 board).

Second question: What is the CONFIG:TX DLY set to? If it is anything above
the minimum (8 msec), that can result in "choppy" CW (shortened elements,
less accurate timing).

Third question: Do you have CONFIG:CW QRQ turned on? This improves CW
timing at high CW speeds, but it turns off automatically if RIT, XIT or
SPLIT is on. You are less likely to need CW QRQ on if you have the new
synth board installed.

This is not just hearsay; the issues with TX DLY and CW QRQ are described
in the K3 Owner's manual.

73,
Rich VE3KI

K1RX wrote:
Been having issues with the quality of the CW sending from my K3. Still
chasing down other possible fixes but recently heard that there was a
problem sending over 30 wpm with RIT on?  What is the story on this and fix?
__
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 K3 P3 W2 KAP500

[Ron Durie]

I am listing these for a Ham friend.  
He uses his KX3 and these are surplus to his needs.  
K3/100  $1895
P3 -- $595
W2 - $220
KAT500 --- $495

If interested, call me; or contact me off line.  I am good in QRZ. 
Ron Durie
WB4OOA
Elecraft K-Line
704-843-3681



__
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] Funky CW from K3

[Don Wilhelm]

Mark,

At what keying speeds?

See the K3 menu CONFIG: CW QRQ.  That mode will allow clean CW keying up 
to 100 WPM.  However, the transmit and receive frequencies must be 
shifted with each code element, and further if RIT, SPLIT or XIT are 
turned on, QRQ mode will be automatically turned off.


For the best results for high speed CW, install the new synthesizer(s) 
in a K3 that has not yet been upgraded.  The frequency can be changed 
more quickly than with the old synthesizer.


73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/27/2018 8:01 AM, Mpridesti via Elecraft wrote:

Been having issues with the quality of the CW sending from my K3. Still chasing 
down other possible fixes but recently heard that there was a problem sending 
over 30 wpm with RIT on?  What is the story on this and fix?

Regards,
Mark, K1RX


__
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 donw...@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] (OT) CQWW CW band noise

[John Simmons]

Gregg,

I'm using a GAP Voyager vertical for the low bands and during the 
contest I thought the conditions were bad. The DX signals were just 
above the noise. I did work some DX on 160 which was new for me. I went 
to bed at midnight.


I see from your QRZ page that you use the same barber as I do.

-John NI0K

gregg.w6i...@gmail.com wrote on 11/27/2018 3:49 AM:

I operated 80 SB and for the most part it was tough sledding from here in
GA. Conditions were not good. Others reported good conditions, so who knows.

Gregg
W6IZT

-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net  On
Behalf Of Robert G Strickland
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2018 9:17 PM
To: Barry ; Elecraft 
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] (OT) CQWW CW band noise

Barry...
Whenever I took the head phones off it sounded like I was in some sort of
echo chamber. Things better today, but horrible last nite after the contest.
I spent a lot of time on 20 just to escape the 80/40 noise. If I had to
listen to that stuff all the time I might take up stamp collecting!
...robert

On 11/26/2018 23:46, Barry wrote:

Life was miserable on 80 Friday night and part of Sunday here. It was
so bad 80 wasn't much fun. 40 and 20 were better, but still noisy.

73,
Barry
K3NDM

-- Original Message --
From: "Robert G Strickland" 
To: "Elecraft" 
Sent: 11/26/2018 6:33:50 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] (OT) CQWW CW band noise


Was it me/here, or did others encounter high band noise conditions
during the CW WW?
...robert
-- Robert G Strickland, PhD ABPH - KE2WY rc...@verizon.net.usa
Syracuse, New York, USA
__
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
barrylaz...@gmail.com



--
Robert G Strickland, PhD ABPH - KE2WY
rc...@verizon.net.usa
Syracuse, New York, USA
__
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 gregg.w6i...@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 jasimm...@pinewooddata.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] KPA1500 in CQWW CW

[Richard Zalewski]

Yes to all...

Richard
*W7ZR* ex:5C5Z, CN2ZR, K2JSP, W6SBZ, W7KXR, K9ZIJ, W9KNF, W0KDF, W0MQU,
J68ZR, KC6ZR, PJ4/W7ZR, KH2,W7ZR, KH6/W7ZR, V31ZR, VK4AAZ, XE2DV


*Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer*


On Mon, Nov 26, 2018 at 5:15 PM K9MA  wrote:

> This was my first serious contest effort with the new amplifier. It is
> paired with a K3. It survived about 24 hours of operation, though it
> faulted a few times, as described below. Clearly, the protection
> circuitry did its job. Firmware is 1.87.
>
> A couple glitches:
>
> The power gain drifts downward as the transistors heat up. If I start
> out at 1500 W, it will drift down to about 1100, without changing
> frequency or SWR. Conversely, if I turn the drive up after the amp is
> warm, and forget to turn it back down, the amp will fault when cold.
> Since the amp is talking to the K3, couldn't some clever software fix this?
>
> Despite setting tune power to 40 W, the ATU sometimes just won't get the
> SWR below 1.4:1 or so. This is with antennas below 2:1, and the ATU stop
> set to 1.0. This happens on 40 meters, so it's probably not an ATU L/C
> resolution limit. This 1.4:1 SWR is sometimes high enough to limit
> output to well below 1500 W due to high drive power or high current. I
> have not yet tried manually tuning the ATU to see if I can get the SWR
> lower.
>
> Finally, after "training" the ATU across the band, I sometimes find that
> the SWR has gone up significantly at some frequencies. I don't believe
> this is due to changing antenna SWR. It seems more like the ATU has
> "forgotten" the settings, or tried to retune itself without permission.
> (HiSWR RETUNE OFF)
>
> Has anyone else seen similar issues?
>
> 73,
>
> Scott K9MA
>
> --
> Scott  K9MA
>
> k...@sdellington.us
>
> __
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to dick.w...@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] Funky CW from K3

[Mpridesti via Elecraft]

Been having issues with the quality of the CW sending from my K3. Still chasing 
down other possible fixes but recently heard that there was a problem sending 
over 30 wpm with RIT on?  What is the story on this and fix?

Regards,
Mark, K1RX


__
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] (OT) CQWW CW band noise

[gregg.w6izt1]

I operated 80 SB and for the most part it was tough sledding from here in
GA. Conditions were not good. Others reported good conditions, so who knows.

Gregg
W6IZT

-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net  On
Behalf Of Robert G Strickland
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2018 9:17 PM
To: Barry ; Elecraft 
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] (OT) CQWW CW band noise

Barry...
Whenever I took the head phones off it sounded like I was in some sort of
echo chamber. Things better today, but horrible last nite after the contest.
I spent a lot of time on 20 just to escape the 80/40 noise. If I had to
listen to that stuff all the time I might take up stamp collecting!
...robert

On 11/26/2018 23:46, Barry wrote:
> Life was miserable on 80 Friday night and part of Sunday here. It was 
> so bad 80 wasn't much fun. 40 and 20 were better, but still noisy.
>
> 73,
> Barry
> K3NDM
>
> -- Original Message --
> From: "Robert G Strickland" 
> To: "Elecraft" 
> Sent: 11/26/2018 6:33:50 PM
> Subject: [Elecraft] (OT) CQWW CW band noise
>
>> Was it me/here, or did others encounter high band noise conditions 
>> during the CW WW?
>> ...robert
>> -- Robert G Strickland, PhD ABPH - KE2WY rc...@verizon.net.usa 
>> Syracuse, New York, USA 
>> __
>> 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 
>> barrylaz...@gmail.com
>
>

--
Robert G Strickland, PhD ABPH - KE2WY
rc...@verizon.net.usa
Syracuse, New York, USA
__
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 gregg.w6i...@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