Re: [Elecraft] Shipping via UPS - A Lesson Learned the Hard Way

[Jim Rhodes]

Decades ago by parents spent their winters travelling in warmer climates
and I, being the only one left in the area, took care of their mail, bills
and such. One winter they were home for christmas and my father took one of
his hearing aides in to be fixed and they had to sent it off to a repair
center. He asked that it be mailed out to him when it came back, then made
arrangements with the local post office to forward that package to the next
address they were going to be at for a few weeks. Well the few weeks came
and went and no package, they told him over the phone that they had mailed
it out. I double checked with the postmaster there and they hadn't seen
anything come through, so I called the hearing aide people. I talked to a
young lady there and asked when they had mailed it. She looked it up and
told me the date, which was around 2 weeks earlier. I told her the post
office out there said they never received it. she replied that no they
would not because they "mailed" it via UPS. I called and talked to a number
of people at UPS before getting an answer that it had been delivered on a
date about a week earlier. so I drove out to their house out in the
country, waded through about 50 yards of knee to waist deep snow and found
the package about half way down through the drift by the door. When I
called UPS back I asked them who signed for the package and was told the
"Mr. Rhodes" signed for it. I said "That was quite a trick as he was in
Arizona at the time, over 1500 miles away." I was told well he must have
been there to sign, I said the only one there was a snow drift and it
couldn't sign.
This morning my doorbell rang and it was the mailman who had a package from
KF7P that the box was a little bit squashed on one side. He appologized for
the condition but the damage was minimal and it was just come cores and
other small parts, so nothing was damaged. But a far cry from the "drop and
dash" you get from UPS, FedEx, Amazon and the like.

On Thu, Apr 14, 2022, 20:16 jerry  wrote:

> I have one problem with USPS - they lie.  Occasionally.  They say things
> have
> been delivered when they have not been delivered.  Yesterday, they said
> they
> delivered a couple of pieces of aluminum for my latest project - I went
> out to
> look when the email came in... no package.
>
>Sometimes stuff will appear a few days later, sometimes not.  It's a
> real PITA,
> because then I have to go argue with the seller - who is totally not at
> fault, but
> what can I do?
>
>  - Jerry KF6VB
>
>
>
> On 2022-04-13 08:06, Andrew Moore wrote:
> >> What's your favorite kind of potato chips? I like Utz, or anything
> >> plain
> > and unruffled. Cape Cod is good too.
> >
> > Plain Utz is my favorite! But with ruffles. For Cape Cod it's the dark
> > russets.
> >
> > Salt and vinegar: Just say no. If vinegar and chips don't belong in the
> > same room together, how can they possibly be allowed in the same bag?
> > Makes
> > no sense.
> >
> > Your preemptive strike on the "easily ruffled" joke is appreciated.
> >
> > On Wed, Apr 13, 2022 at 10:38 AM Julia Tuttle 
> > wrote:
> >
> >> What's your favorite kind of potato chips? I like Utz, or anything
> >> plain
> >> and unruffled. Cape Cod is good too.
> >>
> >> Tragically, I will now be making the "that's funny because you're so
> >> easily ruffled, Julia" joke before any of y'all have a chance.
> >>
> >> On Wed, Apr 13, 2022, 10:01 Andrew Moore 
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >>> > Elecraft products are relatively small however they are expensive and
> >>> many of us have shipped them so I think this is a good subject for
> >>> the
> >>> list.
> >>>
> >>> Kudos to John for bringing some humor into an otherwise monotonous
> >>> thread
> >>> (I'm not being sarcastic here).
> >>>
> >>> I eat snacks in front of my Elecraft so a discussion of potato chips
> >>> is
> >>> warranted too, LOL.
> >>>
> >>> The irony is that despite my initial ask (which I think only three
> >>> people
> >>> actually understood and addressed; the rest responded with irrelevant
> >>> opinion), I find myself reading most of the thread.
> >>>
> >>> To the original poster (Ted I think? I was a while back):
> >>>
> >>> In the interest of staying on topic: despite your frustration with
> >>> the
> >>> cost
> >>> of the UPS Store service, the explanation is also revealed what you
> >>> wrote:
> >>> the alternative - nearest UPS depot - was a 90 mile round trip. You
> >>> pay
> >>> for
> >>> the convenience of having a drop-off location close by, not having to
> >>> pay
> >>> high fuel costs for a 90 mile drive, not having to spend a minimum of
> >>> 3
> >>> hours for that effort, etc.
> >>>
> >>> In the interest of getting off topic: I've had loads of success with
> >>> USPS
> >>> Priority, and there's probably a real USPS office near your location.
> >>>
> >>> I do understand your frustration with the price. I grumble every time
> >>> the
> >>> cost of potato chips goes up. A family size bag cost $2.45 just a f

Re: [Elecraft] KX2 WTB(uild) external amplified speaker

[Andrew Moore]

Hi all - thanks for the replies regarding speakers.

I do occasionally check the local thrift shop to see if there are any
electronics on the shelf to take apart for components, and they do
currently have a set of amplified PC speakers for short money. But I got
bit by the homebrewing bug recently so I want to build something from
salvaged components. I think I have everything on hand now to do that.

I mentioned this project to my son a few weeks ago - told him I bought some
cheap amplified speakers at Best Buy then returned them, unopened, because
it occurred to me I'm a ham so I should be able to build my own instead. He
says good idea, that way you'll appreciate them more every time you use
them.

How it took him 5 seconds to realize that, and 30+ years (as a ham) for me,
is beyond me ;)

73,
Andrew NV1B
..

On Thu, Apr 14, 2022 at 7:56 PM Walter Underwood 
wrote:

> This post describes what I put together for my KX3. That specific amp is
> no longer available, but there are similar ones.
>
> https://observer.wunderwood.org/2017/03/04/speakers-for-my-elecraft-kx3/
>
> wunder
> K6WRU
> Walter Underwood
> CM87wj
> http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog)
>
> > On Apr 14, 2022, at 4:50 PM, Andrew Moore  wrote:
> >
> > KX2 arrived yesterday after a ~15 week wait, which was pretty much spot
> on
> > with Elecraft's original estimate.
> >
> > One of the best features is, especially for a compact rig with limited
> > dedicated controls, the ability to assign a programmable function button
> to
> > an otherwise buried menu feature. For menu features that are binary
> choices
> > (such as enable/disable CW transmit), not only does the PFn button
> activate
> > the menu item, but it also toggles the parameter and dumps you right back
> > into operating mode. For example, you can toggle between "CW transmit"
> and
> > "CW practice (no transmit)" by pressing only two buttons. No need to go
> > through deep menus. Kudos to KX2 designers for thinking ahead.
> >
> > One of the not so great features is the internal speaker. It's even
> raspier
> > and more distorted than the forward-facing one supplied with the KX3.
> This
> > is to be expected; there are design trade-offs and this rig wasn't
> designed
> > to be a desktop model with high wattage audio output.
> >
> > My typical use case for the KX2 is to listen to it in the background on
> the
> > desktop with good quality speaker audio, and then to switch to
> > headphones/earphones when in QSO.
> >
> > So I'd like to build an audio amplifier to convert the KX2 headphone
> output
> > levels to say 5 watt speaker output (one of the two channels will
> suffice)
> > for listening to relatively undistorted audio in the shack. A good
> starting
> > point is knowing what the output level and impedance is for the
> headphones
> > jack. I measured approx 20 mV P-P (impedance unknown) at an audio output
> > level around "AF 10" according to the KX2 display. Does this sound about
> > right?
> >
> > Bonus points: First QSO with the KX2 was from Maine to Bermuda at 1 watt.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > -Andrew NV1B
> > ..
> > __
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
> >
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> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> > Message delivered to wun...@wunderwood.org
>
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Re: [Elecraft] Shipping via UPS - A Lesson Learned the Hard Way

[Rick Tavan]

:-)  OK, here's my favorite courier story: In rural Truckee, CA, the
courier services contract with USPS for occasional "last mile" delivery
service. When they do that, USPS operates by their own service rules which
stipulate that you must have a USPS mailbox. I don't, which is why I use
couriers who offer doorstep delivery. So I ordered a nice camera lens for
courier delivery to my house and USPS got the delivery assignment. But,
because I don't have a mailbox, USPS marked it "Delivery refused, return to
sender." I was ticked off, cancelled the order, and pondered how best to
get the lens. A couple weeks later, it went on sale at $100 off the
original price. I re-ordered with delivery to a suburban address where it
arrived promptly by courier, saving me $100.  ;-)

/Rick N6XI

On Fri, Apr 15, 2022 at 1:00 AM Jim Rhodes  wrote:

> Decades ago by parents spent their winters travelling in warmer climates
> and I, being the only one left in the area, took care of their mail, bills
> and such. One winter they were home for christmas and my father took one of
> his hearing aides in to be fixed and they had to sent it off to a repair
> center. He asked that it be mailed out to him when it came back, then made
> arrangements with the local post office to forward that package to the next
> address they were going to be at for a few weeks. Well the few weeks came
> and went and no package, they told him over the phone that they had mailed
> it out. I double checked with the postmaster there and they hadn't seen
> anything come through, so I called the hearing aide people. I talked to a
> young lady there and asked when they had mailed it. She looked it up and
> told me the date, which was around 2 weeks earlier. I told her the post
> office out there said they never received it. she replied that no they
> would not because they "mailed" it via UPS. I called and talked to a number
> of people at UPS before getting an answer that it had been delivered on a
> date about a week earlier. so I drove out to their house out in the
> country, waded through about 50 yards of knee to waist deep snow and found
> the package about half way down through the drift by the door. When I
> called UPS back I asked them who signed for the package and was told the
> "Mr. Rhodes" signed for it. I said "That was quite a trick as he was in
> Arizona at the time, over 1500 miles away." I was told well he must have
> been there to sign, I said the only one there was a snow drift and it
> couldn't sign.
> This morning my doorbell rang and it was the mailman who had a package from
> KF7P that the box was a little bit squashed on one side. He appologized for
> the condition but the damage was minimal and it was just come cores and
> other small parts, so nothing was damaged. But a far cry from the "drop and
> dash" you get from UPS, FedEx, Amazon and the like.
>
> On Thu, Apr 14, 2022, 20:16 jerry  wrote:
>
> > I have one problem with USPS - they lie.  Occasionally.  They say things
> > have
> > been delivered when they have not been delivered.  Yesterday, they said
> > they
> > delivered a couple of pieces of aluminum for my latest project - I went
> > out to
> > look when the email came in... no package.
> >
> >Sometimes stuff will appear a few days later, sometimes not.  It's a
> > real PITA,
> > because then I have to go argue with the seller - who is totally not at
> > fault, but
> > what can I do?
> >
> >  - Jerry KF6VB
> >
> >
> >
> > On 2022-04-13 08:06, Andrew Moore wrote:
> > >> What's your favorite kind of potato chips? I like Utz, or anything
> > >> plain
> > > and unruffled. Cape Cod is good too.
> > >
> > > Plain Utz is my favorite! But with ruffles. For Cape Cod it's the dark
> > > russets.
> > >
> > > Salt and vinegar: Just say no. If vinegar and chips don't belong in the
> > > same room together, how can they possibly be allowed in the same bag?
> > > Makes
> > > no sense.
> > >
> > > Your preemptive strike on the "easily ruffled" joke is appreciated.
> > >
> > > On Wed, Apr 13, 2022 at 10:38 AM Julia Tuttle 
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > >> What's your favorite kind of potato chips? I like Utz, or anything
> > >> plain
> > >> and unruffled. Cape Cod is good too.
> > >>
> > >> Tragically, I will now be making the "that's funny because you're so
> > >> easily ruffled, Julia" joke before any of y'all have a chance.
> > >>
> > >> On Wed, Apr 13, 2022, 10:01 Andrew Moore 
> > >> wrote:
> > >>
> > >>> > Elecraft products are relatively small however they are expensive
> and
> > >>> many of us have shipped them so I think this is a good subject for
> > >>> the
> > >>> list.
> > >>>
> > >>> Kudos to John for bringing some humor into an otherwise monotonous
> > >>> thread
> > >>> (I'm not being sarcastic here).
> > >>>
> > >>> I eat snacks in front of my Elecraft so a discussion of potato chips
> > >>> is
> > >>> warranted too, LOL.
> > >>>
> > >>> The irony is that despite my initial ask (which I think only three
> > >>> peop

Re: [Elecraft] For sale: KX3,KXPA100,K3s,P3

[brian]

KX3, K3S, and P3 all sold. Still have KXPA100

73 Brian KF6C.

 

 

From: br...@kf6c.com  
Sent: Tuesday, April 5, 2022 10:10 AM
To: 'Elecraft@mailman.qth.net' 
Subject: For sale: KX3,KXPA100,K3s,P3

 

KX3 sn 10573, has antenna tuner, 2-meter converter, internal NiMH
Charger/Real-time Clock, Dual-Passband Roofing Filter, and Precision Iambic
Keyer Paddle.

KXPA100 sn 1272. Has had, easily removed, plates added to heat sink for RV
mounting, very little used.   

K3s sn 10174 with following options K144RFlk K144XV, K3EXREF, KDVR3, KPA3A,
KBPF3A, KRX3A Filters main 13, 6, 2.8, 0.4 Sub 2.7, 0.40.

P3 sn 4340 with P3SVGA, and external 12-inch monitor.

Will take best reasonable offers. Please email directly to br...@kf6c.com
  if you need more information and pictures.

 

73 Brian KF6C.

 

 

 

 

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[Elecraft] Using MFJ-1026 Noise Canceller on 6m-eme

[Ed Cole]

Diagram of final configuration: http://www.kl7uw.com/6M_NOISE_CANCEL.jpg

This a basic phasing unit to reduce band noise on HF bands.  But first I 
tried it on 6m where no null was achieved.


Next I configured to use the 1st IF output of my dual-Rx Elecraft K3 
running in Diversity mode which phase-locks both Rx to the main VFO.


That involved using an outboard SDR to detect the 8.215 MHz IF signal 
and supply audio to my computer.  Sensitivity was too low on the second 
Rx so required opening/inspecting cables inside the radio.  I found the 
synth coax not seated well to the second Rx.  Re-seating the connector 
fixed that.



But I still had too low an audio level from the 8-MHz SDR to drive 
wsjt-x.  A bit of research found the proper dialog box to adjust mic 
gain.  Apparently the K3 line output is much higher than the SDR audio 
(LP-Pan2).


Original design involved using an external preamp for the 6m noise 
antenna (3-element yagi) but I found I had adequate gain using the MFJ 
internal preamp set to gain=2 (out of 10).


To add additional RF protection to the MFJ, I added a coax relay to 
disconnect the aux input of the MFJ.  It does have a TR control line to 
give protection to the main Rx line, but none to the aux Rx input.  My 
main Rx is fed by a preamp at the tower located behind a TR relay.


I adjusted audio levels for main and aux inputs so wsjt-x read 36 on the 
audio bar meter for each.  With both inputs it read 40.


Placing the K3 into diversity mode I could null about 6-dB (reading 
dropped to 32/34.


No idea if this is enough noise reduction for 6m where I regularly see 
S5 pointing NE toward MR,  Pointing SE local noise often drops to S2/S3. 
 One s-unit is 6-dB.


Next is to test with actual eme signals.

73, Ed - KL7UW
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