[Elecraft] AF/RF Knob situation - joined the club
After 2+ years of operation K-3 SN31 has just succumbed to a compound failure of the smaller Main control AF and RF knobs. I thought I was pretty lucky when I first saw list notes about the knobs failing and figured maybe a bad batch, etc. The rig SN 31 was originally placed in service in late October 2007. Last week during CQWW I lost AF control, determined the knob ws slipping and took a closer look. One of the set screws was at the face of a fracture that ran across the entire half of the shaft recess. For a quick fix, I decided to swap knobs with RF control. I no sooner slipped the other knob on the AF shaft and it split lengthwise. Quick trip to the junk box and an old Heathkit all metal knob saved the day. Today I take a look at the list and WOW what do I see, 3 days of knobitis has hit the fan. So, maybe the problem is not going to go away that soon. I figure if Elecraft hasn't been real responsive about the problem, they are at a loss for answers and need a few days to regroup. It does happen now and then. So, I haven't called for or requested any replacement pars right now. What I have done is take a look at some of the vast number of oscilloscopes I have piled up around my classroom. I have Leader, Heath, Phillips, Toshiba, Hitachi, Tek, ad HPs - several dozen. The only one that doesn't have a mini shaft control onit anywhere is a 60 year old DuMont. At least 75% of these scopes are over 25 years old and have had pretty rough handling in school room. Some I even brought to the classroom after 20 years use in my engineering Labs. Not one has ever had to have a knob replaced for breakage. So what's the difference? As far as I can tell the main difference, besides color, is the old well used knobs are made of a platic that is more compliant, and most have a metal collar inserted in them, but not all. The Heatkits from early days - up til about 1970 used metal knobs in most ham rig applications. My 54 year old Hallicrafters use plain plastic knobs - no inserts but larger shaft size. I have always used a very light touch when tightening the set screws, so I have no fear I overdid it. Right now the plan here is to get the operation stabilized with the best thing I can find, then, if I like the feel and appearance, stick with it til Elecraft gets a handle on things and can supply good replacements. Some of the Heath metal knobs are an almost perfect match and could be anodized black for a durable finish. Al, WA6VNN __ 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
[Elecraft] ARRL K3/100 up for auction
Item 08023 - starting bid $2500 - Goes on auction at 10AM ET Thursday 10/22/09. Just a few hours away. http://arrl.auctionanything.com/AuctionHelp.taf?S=nkeyword=return=50R=C=sort=1DA=st=1Category_ID=Donor_ID=su=status=skipkw=1_start=101days=10PD=CD=hr=bo=lo=hi=loc=at=P=Ltype=event_id= 73 es good luck, Al WA6VNN __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] RF feedback
In a message dated 12/5/2008 9:05:02 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I'm running the K3 with an Ameritron AL800 and a Steppir 3 element with 40m dipole add-on. I have a severe though intermittent feedback problem on 40m that I did not have with an Icom 751a. The feedback only occurs when I'm using the amp (even with very low drive). I've common core choked virtually every lead with ultimately no luck. I'm using the Elecraft hand mike. Is there a known problem here? Otherwise, I'll just keep searching. Dick Dick Lindzen, KA1SA 301 Lake Avenue Newton, MA 02461 USA 1-617-332-4342 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: _http://www.elecraft.com_ (http://www.elecraft.com) ++ Have you tried other bands? What Version Firmware are you using? I have a problem that may also be RF feedback related. I occurs only on 40M and only when I exceed 80 W to my Dipole antenna. No problem full power up to 120 watts into Vertical or any other band. Problem started immediately after upgrading FW to V 2.46. I have a couple upgrades to do on the rig including the AGC upgrade, which I have held off making until my Sub Receiver upgrade. Since that arrived a few days ago I will be doing all upgrades and the subreceiver install this weekend. I don't plan on any changes in FW other than activating the KRX3. I will then test the 40M issue. I do not have a good earth ground on the K3 nor am I running any form of Amp. But, the rig has worked perfectly since it was installed a year ago and the ATUs have always provided a good match in the 1.X:1 range on both Vert and Dipole including 160M, 30M, 12M, 17M in addition to the usual 5 bands the Ants are designed for. Al WA6VNN **Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and favorite sites in one place. Try it now. (http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dpicid=aolcom40vanityncid=emlcntaolcom0010) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] dmm vs vom
In a message dated 10/8/2008 11:03:32 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Hi all, Is there any problem using a VOM instead of a DMM to perform the resistance checks while building the K3? I have yet to make it fully into the modern era and to that end, do not have a DMM. Tnx es 73, Jim W5QM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: _http://www.elecraft.com_ (http://www.elecraft.com) Generally it is not a problem, if you are checking resistors. The area you can get into trouble is when you have semiconductors connected to the circuit - Elecraft Rigs are loaded with them. The problem can come from most VOMs not being able to limit the current applied to the circuit under test. Even at low voltage you could apply a voltage with enough current to bias a transistor to a destructive level. Most DMMs use a high impedance amplifier on input to reduce current flow to/from the meter. The resistance circuitry can also be made to sample E/I data at low enough levels to provide resistance measurement at much lower current and voltage. IMO, with many DVM/DMMs on the market at low cost, it's probably not worth the risk. Al WA6VNN **New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. Dining, Movies, Events, News more. Try it out! (http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew0001) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K2s transmitted phase noise
One of the main reasons touted by Elecraft for many years is the low phase noise presented on the K2. Some of the things that contribute to unacceptable phase noise levels can be attributed to incorrect alignment of circuits during build, inadequate shielding of CAT cables and bus interconnect cables. The K100 higher power levels will also have proportionately higher levels of 'corruption'. A damaged or poorly working interface cable from the K2 basic to the K100 bus panel can be picked up on the transmitted signal. Running a KW will certainly take any of the above and make it that much worse, hence a small almost unnoticeable tweak at the base level can make a big difference after 12 db of amplification. Al WA6VNN In a message dated 10/6/2008 10:55:34 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: At ZM1A (Multi-single/Multi-Two) contest station we had serious key-up wide-band noise problems with several different YaeComWood models - least obnoxious was the IC-780 plus Drake L4B, two sets of antennas separated about 100m, especially with both quads pointed at each other. K2s (#767 and #3725) plus a small external SS amp produced no discernible phase noise when driving a Sunair GL-1900B amp - bandpass ATUs on both stations. Please note that these were not K2/100s, so maybe our experience is not relevant. We now use two K3s, amps at 500w output. The K3s are so clean that we can operate within 3 kHz of 1st harmonic on CW. No clicks, no de-sense, no phase noise - happy contesters. 73, Ken ZL1AIH ( ZM1A in contests) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com **New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. Dining, Movies, Events, News more. Try it out! (http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew0001) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Young K2 Builder
Congratulations on your accomplishment. Last spring a group of students in my electronics class undertook the challenge of building a K2 (SN6281) It is now part of ARS KI6PRK at Dos Pueblos high school in Goleta CA. It was completed just before school let out for the summer and the new classes are just getting used to it. 3 students from last year are still on campus and currently taking the classes along with 17 of their classmates. We have done a little hamming and have two students nearing there general exams. Latest news is I have acquired a 60 ft tubular crank-up tower for the club station. Donated by K6HOZ, who has moved to Las Vegas to run his business, he needed to remove it from the prior residence. It's nice to have generous friends. My K3, sn 31 has spent many hours in the classroom also. FYI, the students who built ranged in age from 15 to 17 and did all the work themselves. My contribution was to post an inquiry on this list when it was deemed necessary to reset the firmware. One problem was experienced and fixed when I admonished them to review the assembly instructions to the letter and they found they had wound a toroid on the SWR bridge backwards, the one place that it is crucial. 73 es hope to hear you on the air! Al WA6VNN **Looking for simple solutions to your real-life financial challenges? Check out WalletPop for the latest news and information, tips and calculators. (http://www.walletpop.com/?NCID=emlcntuswall0001) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 by candlelight
Sounds like solderless kit building has arrived!! (Here's the story about the Eskimo fisherman I met while on a canoe trip to the Arctic. He lived in Tuktoyaktuk, of Ice Road Truckers fame, only this was 1965. He had built a Heathkit 'Fish Finder' kit and had a little trouble with it; he damaged the small motor in it while assembling it. Seems a Bolt heated over a charcoal fire in an Arctic cabin is less than an ideal tool. As it turned out I was using an identical model in my canoe to study river bottom contours and also operate ham radio ( SWAN SX(?) 250 and Master mobile equipped). I helped him get his unit working again - temporarily ( I carried the needed tools). I wrote a letter to Heath upon returning to So. Cal and told them the whole story. Got a phone call from the co president who told me he was so impressed by the details of that man's ordeal that they built a new unit and shipped it to him. They didn't have Fed-Ex yet and UPS didn't deliver the Ice Road, which hadn't been mapped yet, but I'm sure that old red barge made it up their just in time to beat the winter freeze. Talk about customer service! ) Al WA6VNN ++ In a message dated 9/16/2008 6:51:30 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I think this must be a first. Yesterday Sept 15th, I received my K3/100 kit, which was ordered on May 16th (SN 1672?). The day before we had a major windstorm here in Ohio with 70 mph gusts which knocked out power to much of our area. So last night I began assembling my K3 near a window to supply natural light, but quickly needed to break out the candles and flashlights. I'm up to the front panel assembly now, and we may not have power for several more days. Has anyone else assembled their K3 by candlelight? Boy, those split lock washers are tough to grab under a flickering candle! This will bring new meaning to the smoke test! Steve N9SZ -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-by-candlelight-tp1092717p1092717.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com **Pt...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog, plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com. (http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty000514) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] HELP! Permeability of Ferrite Cores...
This site is the manufacturer of the Ferrite materials They are responsible for a major percentage of the material used by the ferrite core manufacturers and retailers. There are several tutorials on a variety of lists that break down the relation-ship between Fair-Rite and the 2nd party suppliers. These usually describe the disparity in prices and availability - basic wholesale/retail and quantity handling issues. The part numbers you show are the result of the retailers part numbering. If you know the retailers part number-to-material type (i.e. I believe the FT37-43) is a toroid size - material type id) the you can go to the following web pages and see the material specs for all of Fair-Rites sizes in the various materials. _www.fair-rite.com/_ (http://www.fair-rite.com/) _http://www.fair-rite.com/cgibin/catalog.pgm#select:freq3_ (http://www.fair-rite.com/cgibin/catalog.pgm#select:freq3) Amidon is a retailer or value added supplier. This is their page for the FT-37-43 _https://www.amidoncorp.com/items/13_ (https://www.amidoncorp.com/items/13) which indicates the type 43 material in a FT37 size. Also, the ISO standards list will give you other mfg names which may add to your list. BTW, I used Google for all this. Having been in the business for many years (Computer magnetic components and materials), I knew of Fair-Rite by name. I searched using the terms FAIRRITE first and then FT37 TOROID. The word TOROID is key to yielding results. Good luck, Al WA6VNN In a message dated 9/12/2008 11:16:12 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Can nyone provide me with the permeability number for the T37-2 and the FT37-43 cores??? Using Google hasn't got me the data I need ;-(( -- Dave G. KK7SS '65 MK III Sprite in Richland, WA If life begins at 50, why am I falling apart ?! ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com **Pt...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog, plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com. (http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty000514) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Newbie
In a message dated 8/30/2008 6:09:10 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I've been a subscriber to this list since the day I ordered the K3 back in March 2008. The factory assembled and tested radio is due to arrive next week. I'd like to hear about any issues previously listed here I need to read before next week. Please respond to me OFF-LIST as I am sure this request is not interesting to the old timers. No sense in disrupting the flow of current info with my silly (perhaps, even lazy) request. I need all the time-saving help I can get since rewiring the station to integrate the K3 in the first operating position will take some time. Contest season is upon us. I'm using N1MM software for contests with Logic 8/TRX Manager for daily contacts and moving the FT-1000MP to the second position. Thanks, 73, Dick [EMAIL PROTECTED] + The best time saving advice I can give is to not try to do it all in one night. Fatige, cutting corners, skipping steps ( on purpose or by accident ) are usually contributors to a rework - redo operation. When you un-pack the radio and check the packing 1) unwrap / remove from plastic bags very carefully and gently, snagging a small SMD can result in timely delays to replace parts. 2) Unpack on a cleared large work area. It can be very frustrating to have a missing part only to find it a month later kicked under the coffee table as it fell from a larger bag. 3) Inspect ALL packing materials and bags for possible separated parts before you place packing in separate containers - ALSO it helps to put all discarded packing and bags boxes in shipping container and do not discard until the rig is completed and operating properly. 4) Stop to reread what you have done before proceeding to next step, compare to pictures diagrams and don't be afraid to ask online if you are unsure of next step or meaning. You should be able to have it on the air in two 4 - 5 hour sessions. Having had to wait 4 months, you probably had time to pre-read the assembly,manual, if not, at least do a close scan of the assembly manual. Be familiar with the Operators Manual and the tables used for setup and configuration, you will spend most of your time learning that after the assembly is complete. One last thing - take a few pictures so you can savor the moment later on - enjoy 73, AL WA6VNN (#31 FWIW) **It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here. (http://information.travel.aol.com/deals?ncid=aoltrv000547) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K2 UNBUILT KIT STILL WANTED!!
Aside from the fact that many unused kits sell for almost the price of a new one, there is a certain value in having the warranty (one year) of a new kit in addition to the guarantee of success that is attached to it. You are also assured of the latest version firmware and current state of any mods that may have been applied. If you buy and older unassembled kit, you can be assured that you will get all the advice and info needed to make it a success, but there is always a chance that implementing changes and add-ins/upgrades will com at a price. This may be more value to you as a bargaining chip rather than to alter your decision making. Al, WA6VNN **It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here. (http://information.travel.aol.com/deals?ncid=aoltrv000547) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Truncated Daily Digests
I have many e-mail accounts and use a variety of e-mail softwares. One of the features of many of them sets the maximum size of e-mails that it will receive. Eudora is one that has that feature. Check your e-mail software settings or preferences/options for setting size of e-mails it'll receive. Maybe that will help. 73 de Al WA6VNN ++ In a message dated 7/25/2008 7:40:30 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: WAYNE - I have received several replies indicating I am not alone in receiving truncated Daily Digests. Comcast pleads innocence. Would it be possible to put a size limit on Digests? In my case, some digests get through - many do not. Last digest was 227kb. Perhaps they could be released in 50 - 60 kb bunches. Thanks Jim K7EG ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com **Get fantasy football with free live scoring. Sign up for FanHouse Fantasy Football today. (http://www.fanhouse.com/fantasyaffair?ncid=aolspr000520) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] And yet even More K2 Distorted TX audio on 10m and 12m only
It sounds like you may have a spurious oscillation problem inside the box. A spur can drain a high level of power, be off frequency, destroy finals, etc. The power on one band and none on the other sounds like you may have a component misplaced or wrong value - including the tuning of the coil. Another possibility is a bad solder joint so a critical capacitor value is not being seen. I suggest doing a real thorough visual on both sides of the board and maybe a touch up on all the solder joints on those bands. Al WA6VNN In a message dated 6/27/2008 12:27:19 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I lied about lying about the power, after realigning my filters my 12 and 10m power is normal. The signal is still horrible, however. -- 73 de n1ywb ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com **Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars. (http://autos.aol.com/used?ncid=aolaut000507) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K2 Modification Help
Check the Elecraft web page for upgrades that either rig might be lacking in support of the KPA. Also make sure your Firmwares are up-to-date. I would recommend doing a reset on the older rig after install hardware and prior to configuring setup. You may want to check your filter configs and record any configs that will get wiped in a reset. Of course all power settings thru the KAT will need to be cal'd too. Al WA6VNN, K3#31, K2# 4887 6281 In a message dated 6/20/2008 9:56:26 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I'd keep the K2/10 with the KAT2. That's a nice tuner and can't be used with the PA. The only other option in the qrp rig you don't have for the qro is the K60RX. Might be better to move that than to waste the KAT2. Dan / WG4S / K2 #2456 snip Here are the two radios: K2/10 S/N 02689 with KSB2, K160RX, K60XV, KNB2, KAF2, KAT2 k2/100 S/N 3523 with KSB2 ( I have KNB2, K160RX and KAF2 kits to install ) What I would like to do is pull the KPA100 out of the one radio and make what is currently the QRP radio a K2/100. /snip ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com **Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars. (http://autos.aol.com/used?ncid=aolaut000507) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Probelm with KPA-100
Although the KPA is installed and is responding to setup configs, there is one area that is sometimes overlooked. The internal RF connection to the Main board needs to be connected correctly, and the antenna needs to go to the KPA SO239, not the Mainboard BNC. Al WA6VNN +++ In a message dated 6/15/2008 7:46:16 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Dave, How is receive with the KPA100 in-line? If receive is degraded, then the KPA100 LPF may be the problem, but if power output is the only problem than the PA transistors (or the T/R switch) is the area that needs attention. The first step that I would take is to check the bias adjustment - do the steps indicated in the manual. Secondly, check the RF voltages at the input to the KPA100 and the bases of the PA transistors - if the bases are receiving RF, then the KPA100 should amplify. 73, Don W3FPR Dave White wrote: I have a KPA-100 that is not putting out any power. The K2 operates fine using the standard QRP power (up to 10 watts). Power is good and the SWR is low. When the power control is advanced to bring in the KPA-100 (relay click), the power reading immediately goes to 1 and there is no power output. The KPA-100 is recognized and the PA is turned ON in the setup menu. Everything else appears normal .This is a used KPA-100 and there are no obvious signs of damage; the construction quality looks to be excellent. The previous owner said there was no history of problems. Any quick ideas on where to start the troubleshooting process? I have some hobbyist test equipment and modest to good troubleshooting skills. Thanks in advance for your help. Regards Dave White, VE6DRW [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 8.0.100 / Virus Database: 270.3.0/1503 - Release Date: 6/14/2008 6:02 PM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com **Vote for your city's best dining and nightlife. City's Best 2008. (http://citysbest.aol.com?ncid=aolacg0005000102) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] OT: We're on Mars!!
If you guys are excited, you can only imagine how some of us who have hardware on board feel!! Al WA6VNN **Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch Cooking with Tyler Florence on AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4?NCID=aolfod000302) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] OT: Manufacturers may need to redesign Frequency Displays
Here is an rather old post with serious implications for amateurs.This could mean major revisions in the way manufacturers display frequency. It may also lead to serious complications with the design precision of many rigs and other electronics devices. _http://www.snopes.com/lost/fraction.asp_ (http://www.snopes.com/lost/fraction.asp) On the Positive side, it will finally put an end to the idiotic pricing of Gasoline to a tenth of a cent - as if that really matters anymore. Be careful the next time you buy a pair of shoes and be prepared to buy groceries in even numbers of pounds. (I can now picture buying strawberries and sifting through the bins for that evasive berry that makes a full pound.) Seriously, can still call these idiot legislators half-wits in the belief they will know what it means? I sure would like to find an April 1st date on that bill! My Class couldn't stop laughing for half an. . . .oops! 30 minutes when they read this ;) Al WA6VNN **Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch Cooking with Tyler Florence on AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4?NCID=aolfod000302) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Very Dissatisfied With Elecraft Support
Jon, I haven't read all the replies on this list, it's getting late here in California, so I hope I'm not being repetitious. From what I read it sounds like you are having a rather normal experience. I don't know how old you are, so I can't tell if this will be very helpful. Usually I can guess from the call sign, but a KB1 that's only a couple months old is a little difficult to 'decode.' Anyway, I wanted to tell you that I am a retired engineer who is teaching electronics at the local high school. I have actually been teaching part time for the last 23 years, partly for my own fun and partly to help make sure some of our youth gets more out of high school than most schools offer. If you were living in Santa Barbara, I can guarantee you wouldn't be having this problem. Our local school district offers the classes I teach absolutely free of charge and there is no age restriction except we prefer students be over 15. ( I have several 9th graders that are barely 14 and several adults in their 40s.) We offer the training along with the books and online resources, and every imaginable test equipment you could need. My class just completed a K2 10 Watt transceiver, and their antenna is going up tomorrow. I suggest you get in touch with your local school district/community college and local ham clubs. You may have had some contact with a local club already. In fact the ARRL headquarters and their entire lab is only a short drive (~69Mi) away from Stamford, where you live. And be sure to take your K1 with you. Take an adult ed class, maybe. Hams are one of the greatest 'fraternities' I know of. Look at all the replies you got on this list! We've all been through this and we rely on each other, most of us can't afford a lot of test gear, etc. either. So, we share with each other. Oh, yes! One other thing - don't be too hard on the Elecraft support people. After all, this list is their idea. Plus, they have don't a super human job of putting a new product on the market this past year and it may have them spread a little thin. What you have received from them isn't available from most companies at any level. Good Luck, let us know how you make out. (Even experienced builders have had problems getting as far as you have). Al WA6VNN and the Class of Dos Pueblos ARC (KI6PRK) **Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Fan Panel Flipped???
My SN31 doesn't exhibit a noticeable difference between inner surface finish and outer surface finish. It is conceivable that a metal working shop might assume the surface with the flush screws faced the exterior for appearance sake, rather than the engineered aspects. Al WA6VNN ++ In a message dated 5/10/2008 2:40:48 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: My #818 has the same problem with the fan panel finish painted on the wrong side. One wonders if this is just a new batch of panels with the problem or the problem has been there from the git go? Bob K9PAG -- View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/Fan-Panel-Flippedtp17165302p17167835.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com **Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] [K2] SN6281 0n the air
I'm pleased to announce that the construction of K2 SN 6281 has been successfully completed by the students of the Dos Pueblos Amateur Radio Club ( Dos Pueblos High School, Goleta, CA) with the new Call Sign of KI6PRK, and is now on the air. The newly completed rig is a K2/10 with KAT2, KIO2, KSB2 and KDSP2 installed. No particular difficulty in building, one toroid (K1 on KAT2) needed to be rewound. After comparing it to the drawing it was found to be a mirror image. As a comment, were this a simple inductor or transformer, it wouldn't have mattered. But, as the pickup point for the SWR bridge, the mirroring of the windings causes the single turn pickup loop to work in reverse - swapping the apparent Forward and Reverse currents. As I told my students when they found this, if the Elecraft manual says 'exactly like the drawing' they mean it! We have a VE session this Saturday - getting ready for FD. 73 de WA6VNN, Al Trustee of KI6PRK **Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Re: Firmware Fatigue - was K2 v K3
No problem here Wayne, I remember when a mod required a hot soldering Iron to undo. And in case any of the younger crowd here thinks this wasn't a big deal should have owned the hotest rig for 1978, the Yaesu FT901DM. It kept a monthly newsletter full of mods (Fox Tango Club, before internet e-mail) and they didn't always work, and the hardware was not returnable. The one I'm reminded of most from those days was tearing into the audio card to modify the mic amp front end. Most of us hated the tinny high pitched mic audio the Japanese built into those rigs. A few caps and resistors later it sounded a little better. That one mod took more time to get right than ALL the FW upgrades I've done on my K3 since Last November. (I think you're spoiling some of these kids ;-) 73, Al, WA6VNN (Oh Yes! Talk about spoiled, Thanks for the best drawing prize I ever won at DX Convention. I Took care of ordering a KRX3 and FM filter the next day) + In a message dated 5/7/2008 9:57:00 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: S Sacco wrote: ...they go from Alpha right into Production. Steve, This isn't the case at all. We have 20 beta testers who work tirelessly testing interim releases. They're doing it as we speak. They pounded on rev 1.87 for three weeks. The K3 is a very complex radio, yet we're trying to make it easy to use. This paradox keeps Lyle and I up at night, but I think we're converging. We appreciate everyone's patience. 73, Wayne N6KR --- http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com **Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 wish list - option to turn off display
Bob, I don't think your concerns are warranted. The LCD is an array of transistor switches which affect the transmission of light by polarizing effects of their electrostatic field. The actual light is provided by backlighting from light emitting diodes which are well known for their longevity. The Day mode will shut off the LED backlights on the LCD, but unfortunately it also ups the level of brightness for the LEDs on the controls. That would seem to be a simple fix in the firmware. Al WA6VNN In a message dated 4/27/2008 7:06:34 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I increasingly like to operate remote, especially when traveling. This can sometimes mean that the rig is turned on for several days. I have some concern about burn-out of the LCD display in areas where it remains unchanged for long periods. Maybe this is an unjustified worry, but it would be good to have the option to simply turn off the display when using remote operation, or even when operating the rig from a PC in the shack. Bob, G3YIQ ___ **Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp0030002851) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] RE: K3 at Auction
H! It seems to me that would put Icom/Yaesu/Kenwood and many other Ham radio Rigs in a not in the spirit of ham radio category. As I recall every one that I ever bought was first sold to someone before they marked it up and sold it to me. At least that's what the AES, HRO and Jun's sales receipt said. ;-) Al WA6VNN The law of Supply and Demand is applied here, although, in my opinion, it's sure not, in the spirit of ham radio. . . . **Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp0030002851) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 at auction
Is the Country configuration of the K3 an issue? Al WA6VNN **Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp0030002851) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Dangerous Low Voltage (WAS: Power pole for K3?)
Another low voltage power source that is in common use is the lead-acid storage battery used on cars and especially the deep cycle marine battery favored by hams for backup. Usually a ring or watchband is not a problem because of the terminal spacing at the battery, but the danger is very much present at the other end of the cables where it may be connected to a terminal strip etc. The added danger of these batteries is they can deliver as much as 800 amps depending on the internal resistance of the battery and cables. If the internal resistance is as little as 1/10th Ohm at 14 volts that is 140 amps. The power generated in the battery under these conditions is 140X140/10 or 1960 Watts. 2KW heating the acid contents of a battery can cause it to explode from steam pressure in a matter of seconds, thus spraying everything in the area with sulphuric acid and hot lead. When this happens in a car the result is usually a totalled vehicle and seriously injured mechanic and passers-by. I never use a wrench which has exposed metal surfaces long enough to short a battery, and I always disconnect the negative terminal (- ground assumed here) and cap it before working around them. Al WA6VNN __ In a message dated 4/19/2008 8:11:26 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I see you got plenty of answers about the APPs, Bill. You will need to provide your own suitable connectors for the power supply end of the cable. You mention having high-capacity batteries and a 70-amp Astron supply. It sounds like you have experience with high-current supplies and understand how dangerous they can be, but there are a lot of readers here who may not have that background. I mention it because many Hams think 13.8 VDC is safe to handle. It's *NOT*. It's not the voltage, of course, but the current. A short often produces a flash of molten metal that may continue for a while if the resistance is enough to avoid tripping a breaker or crowbar circuit. It can take off a finger or a hand, or very severely injure a person in an instant should a ring or watch band get across the supply line, immediately transformed by the current into red-hot metal burning its way through flesh. In my days working in the field as an aircraft radio/radar tech I knew some who were missing fingers because they neglected to take off a wedding band when working. It's not a nice way to lose a hand or finger. It's not always quick. It can take a while, with the ring or watch band welded solidly to the terminals by the current as the hot metal eats its way through a finger or wrist. I've seen tempered steel screwdrivers literally explode into a spray of molten metal blobs when dropped across a high-current, low-voltage supply - blobs of molten steel that splatter the face and eyes of the unwary worker not wearing protective gear. Less severe shorts can set wiring, and the shack, on fire in short order, all without opening a breaker or tripping the crowbar protective circuit in the power supply. Even a more moderate 35 Amp supply can start a fire or cause a severe burn under the right conditions. Working on shipboard and aircraft systems using 12 to 28 VDC at high currents, I've learned to treat such supplies with the same respect I do a 3KV high-voltage supply. The concerns and procedures needed to be safe are different, but either a high voltage or a low-voltage, high-current supply is dangerous in its own way. I use soldered-on ring terminals on my Astron supplies that provide large, low-resistance contact areas with the lugs and which cannot be pulled loose without physically breaking the wire, and I make very sure there are no metallic objects (cabinets, connectors, other equipment, etc.) located where they might be accidentally moved and make contact with exposed supply terminals anywhere. And then I make sure the terminals on my power supply (and anywhere else) are carefully covered and insulated from accidental contact, just in case. Ron AC7AC ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com **Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp0030002851) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Tin Whiskers
Tin Whiskers has primarily been a problem inside hermetic seals where there is little or no atmosphere and in weightless environments. Satellite and space probe instrument makers are the most concerned (Hence NASAs involvement). Has anyone heard of the tin whisker as a problem in automotive or home entertainment environment? Al WA6VNN ++ In a message dated 4/7/2008 7:58:01 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Tin whiskers could be a problem in more than a home entertainment system, a PC, or that K-3 under the dash...Automobiles today are fully computerized and that could spell disaster if whiskers short out the control unit while you are bombing down the expressway at 65 MPH...You lose most of your braking, your ability to steer and your ability to motor out of the way of that semi behind you...It was a long time ago and there is no evidence that I know of as to why it happened, but Harry Chapin was killed on the Long Island Expressway when his Volkswagen died and he was run over by a semi... Jerry, wa2dkg___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com **Planning your summer road trip? Check out AOL Travel Guides. (http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/united-states?ncid=aoltrv000316) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K2 L33
Scott, I just installed L33 in a K2 last night. The wire should not require stripping in any manner. Be careful and don't flex it too much it is very fragile. Follow the procedure in the assembly manual closely. The hardest part is after the coil is in place on the rubber spacer, and the small 5.1 MOhm resistor is formed over the coil and soldered in place. The next operation requires looping each of the two wires around the ends of the resistor wire near the solder pad. It is best to use a tweezer to gently slip the wire ends around the resistor lead on each side and if you can, wrap it once more, then trim excess wire and solder the connection. Examine the solder joint with a magnifier and you should see a smooth well bonded solder joint. BTW Elecraft support is very good about answering e-mails, usually same day unless its a weekend or late at night. The list is a good backup in any case. Good luck es 73 de Al WA6VNN **Planning your summer road trip? Check out AOL Travel Guides. (http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/united-states?ncid=aoltrv000316) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Problems with my K2 --- can anyone help??
I had similar problem during the build of my 2nd K2. I had the experience during the First test stage - very few parts on RF Board. Consequently I re-soldered many pads on the FP and Cont boards, to no avail. I discovered that I could press DISPLAY button and Menu button and get mainly correct responses, but no tuning. All voltage and resistance tests were OK. I resorted to doing a RESET on the EEPROM (press 4+5+6 simultaneously while turning ON power). After that, all has been well since. If you do a reset you will loose some EEPROM F/W setting you have made - filter configs, etc. Check the supply voltage first, just in case it is falling too low. If the problem persists after reset and/or if it works but becomes intermittent, you should re seat the FP and Control boards in their connectors and consider inspecting/re soldering control board pads. 73 es Good Luck, Al WA6VNN In a message dated 3/30/2008 6:37:47 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: My K2 just started with these issues yesterday. Does anyone have any suggestion other than sending the rig to Elecraft? When I power the K2 up, it is like it has no antenna connection (I have the KAT 100 external tuner that I use with the rig). When I also power up only a few of the letters for ELECRAFT appear on the LED Screen. Maybe 3 or 4 letters only and the S meter has three bars then a few blank and then 2 filled in. The rig sounds like it is almost muted or at times no audio. Also when I power up, the KAT 100 shows the rig in the low power position even though I have the pot set for 100 watts. It can take me about 5 to 10 minutes of turning the rig on and off until it will then function normally. Once normal it is fine unless the rig is off for about an hour. If I turn the rig off for an hour and come back to it it will not start normally and I have the same issues all over again. I have checked all of my connections into the rig especially the power connections and antenna connections. It kind of reminds me if I had an IC that was somehow failing somewhere? Thanks for the feedback! Best 73's -- Norm K9NK ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com **Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL Home. (http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15ncid=aolhom000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] CW rise time mod
It's not that 3ms is a lot of time in terms of human scale. But, it is the rise time of an electronic pulse. This can have a lot of impact on the transient waveform that results in an audio demodulator - i.e. receiver. The difference is noticeable enough to make the difference in a crowded band weak signal situation when the receiving station is differentiating what he hears. That's why a banjo sounds different than a guitar or violin. Al WA6VNN + In a message dated 3/29/2008 5:34:22 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: People, 8 ms.- 5 ms.= 3 ms., does it matter in any practical sense? I would really like to know who cares, and why? Can anyone hear the difference? Three-thousanths of a second? Not my old brain. 73, John, W2GW K3 #384 - Original Message - From: Lyle Johnson [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Elecraft Reflector elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2008 5:21 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] CW rise time mod Or do Rev A RF boards have a lower value for C222 than that shown on the schematic? Early production K3 RF boards have a 1 uF capacitor instead of a 0.1 uF capacitor installed at C222. Yes, the published schematics show a 0.1 uF capacitor. The effect of the larger capacitor is to increase the TX waveform rise time to about 8 ms instead of 5 ms. Rev B RF boards have the correct 0.1 uF value installed. Sometime during Rev A RF board production, the value installed on the board was changed from 1 uF to 0.1 uF. Surface mount ceramic capacitors are not marked with a value, so you cannot tell which you have by visual inspection. You can determine if you have a 1 uF rather than a 0.1 uF by: 1) Measuring the capacitance if you have a capacitance meter. 2) Looking at the Tx output RF envelope on an oscilloscope or station monitor scope. If the fall time and the rise time look very similar in duration, you have the 0.1 uF cap. If the rise time is about 50% longer than the fall time, you have the 1 uF capacitor. You don't need an oscilloscope with an accurate time base to make this comparative measurement. If your oscilloscope has a low bandwidth (2 to 10 MHz), use the 160 meter band. 3) If you are concerned that your unit may have the 1 uF capacitor and you have no way to determine it otherwise, you can just replace it with the 0.1 uF part and sleep better at night :-) If you don't change it, you will not damage anything. Your K3 will just have slightly softer keying and an upcoming firmware adjustment of the keying time will be less accurate. 73, Lyle KK7P ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com **Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL Home. (http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15ncid=aolhom000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Disable 5mHz
Maybe you are not using the Broadcast band on your K3, but if you ever install the BPF3 and AM filters to use BCB receive, you may find the 5 MHz band to be an excellent place to do your listening. Al WA6VNN In a message dated 3/22/2008 5:54:55 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Hi All, Still trying to figure out all out all the 'ins and outs' of my K3. Quick question, can I turn off the 5mHz band, so when I scroll through the bands using the up and down band buttons, it doesn't show up?? We don't have access to this in Australia, and I don't have any real interest in listening in!! thanks David, VK2NU ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com **Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL Home. (http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15?ncid=aolhom000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] OT - Botnets - the growing threat
One of the courses I teach is Computer Repair and Service. My students recycle about 200 donated computers (PCs) per semester. They are redistributed to needy families locally. We have just migrated to Windows XP on the newer donations with fast processors and larger ( 256MB) But, for at least 4 years now we have been distributing computers with smaller RAM and CPUs that started at 166MHZ. I'm currently cleaning out the last of about 50 Gateways with P3450s and 128/256 RAM. We have run Windows 2000 (Win2K) exclusively on these computers (100s of them) with no problems. Also, it may be of interest top know that the recipients have been getting a full suite of software installed, all of it except the O/S is freeware like Open Office. The only computers that have been slightly problematic are some HP Pavillions that need to have a special prep performed on the HD so they accept the O/S gracefully. We do have one advantage on the O/S because of the use of these computers being charitable in nature we have a free license to install Win2K. There is a way around this for the general public. If they acquire a PC that has a Win2K sticker in tact, they can legally install the O/S if it was originally purchased legally. For most users, they will find Win2K runs as good as XP with virtually no problems - and miles ahead of Win9x. If you install Win2K you should also make sure to download and install SP4, to make it current. Al WA6VNN + In a message dated 3/18/2008 10:44:48 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: A good thing to do with older computers running Win98 is to try one of the small versions of Linux designed for ham radio use on older computers. Dave W1HKJ has bundled digimode and logging programs onto a CD-bootable version of Linux that runs great on small machines. I just tried it recently on a 366Mhz Thinkpad. You can boot from CD, and to do an upgrade, boot from a new CD. It can store your settings on the existing Windows disk, so you will have your log files and data stored. Or if you decide instead to replace Windows 98, you can install it directly and update it with new releases of the software with a few mouse clicks. Give EMCPup a try at http://w1hkj.com/emcpup.html or at least look at the screenshot. It includes: - fldigi, the premier Linux digimode program (same DSP modems as in Ham Radio Deluxe's DM780) now with K2 and K3 support - fl logbook - flarq (an ARQ-based soundmode program) - plus the usual email, browser, etc. Leigh/WA5ZNU P.S. I've contributed a few features to fldigi itself, but tried using EMCPup until recently. K4DGW wrote: Hams often are using older computers, running operating systems like Windows 98, that are no longer supported, and are no longer being patched, but still connected to the internet (often directly without a firewall / router). In other cases, updates are considered a hassle, and are not performed. These reasons, along with some bad decision's on Microsoft's part, plus human and criminal ingenuity, has led us to where we are today. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com **Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL Home. (http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15?ncid=aolhom000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Amplifier Vacuum Tubes
Having lived in Santa Barbara most of my life I have had the privilege of friendship with many of the staff of the original EiMac Vacuum Tube company. One of the last of their original Tech staff, Rad Leonard, Just passed on a few months ago. In the course of these acquaintances I was privy to many of the stories of the development of these vacuum tubes. I'm sure there are published accounts as well. The main thrust of these tails was the incredible meticulous crafting they had to go through to make these tubes right. There are innumerable accounts of their dealings with government contracts and the failings of their competitors who were attempting to copy their designs. The usual government contract gave the design right to the government who would then offer those designs to competitors for competitive bidding. The companies original trade secrets were not a part of the deal. The outcome was that detailed designs were not enough to build a successful product. The details of the exact alloys used for such critical components as filaments and cathodes, plates and gridwires; the thermal design of the feedthru pins and the correct composition of the base materials are all very critical. I have never been convinced that these devices could be 'copied'. Like so many devices from the vacuum tube era, including the rigs we used, the heart of success was the original design concept and philosophy - The very things that are lost when something is merely copied. In the world of today, there is a belief that our technology is superior to that of the past and we can use that technology to create copies of things that are better than the original. All that and make it cheaper and in more volume. It just doesn't work like that! I have my hat off to the guys at Svetlana for getting as far as they have. Some call it mojo, others know it is skill coupled with a philosophy and experience. If they keep trying and acknowledge their failures the worldwide market will eventually re-learn a lot that has been lost of the past. In the mean time - some of these old amps that are laying around gathering dust may have some very useful spare parts in them. 73 Al WA6VNN +++ In a message dated 3/16/2008 1:23:17 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I have an amplifier with four 572B tubes. I have been running the same Cetron 572Bs since 1976 in this Dentron Clipperton L and in a Hunter Bandit before. This summer I decided to lay in another set to stretch the life of the amp. I ordered a quad of the premium Chinese Tubes from the distributor that I considered to be the best available. When I received and installed them they didn't work. After some investigation and head scratching I found that one of them had an open filament. The distributor replaced them with another set and a rude accusation that I ruined the tubes by overdriving them. The second set lasted a month, but were not as good as the 30 year old Cetrons when installed and were dead by the end of the two CQWW DX contests. I pulled the new tubes and reinstalled the Cetrons which are still going strong. I emailed the distributor and asked what he would recommend that I do and how he would be willing to help. After my second email, I received a very rude phone call from the Customer Service Department which essentially told me to stuff it. My conclusion is that amplifier tube supply as far as 572Bs are concerned is dead now. The Chinese are not making a good product and the US distributor feels that he can do nothing about it, so his present approach it to stonewall the problem. My next amplifier will be whatever I deem the best solid state amp available at a price that I can manage. I hope that my Clipperton will hang in until I can recover from paying for my K3. Willis 'Cookie' Cooke K5EWJ ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com **It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K2 - Initial Alignment Test Part 1 - Issues
Whoa! Is this deja vu (all over again). Maybe you missed the exchange between me and Gary a couple days ago over the same question. I suspected I was having the identical problem you are having because of some of the random button pushing that took place during the assembly of K2 sn 6281. I had forgotten the eeprom reset command and Gary was able to provide it. It worked great to clear the problem. Incidentally, the 2 in 0250.xx actually looks more like a ? without the dot, like in a K3 cw text display. Anyway . . .ready? 1. Power off. 2. press and hold keys 4 - 5 - 6 simultaneously ( I used a short pencil to do this ) and press power on. 3. you should first see INFO 201- wait around 10 seconds you should see ELECrAFt then 7100.0 c with annunciator marks as indicated in the manual. Good luck, let me know how it turns out. This does not preclude the possibility of an initial soldering problem somewhere, but eventually you'll need to do this to get back on track. 73 AL WA6VNN ++ In a message dated 3/16/2008 5:11:16 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Maybe there is someone on the list that has been through this issue and can lend me their insight. I am on page 42 which is the Alignment and Test Part 1 section of the assembly notes. My relays all click as expected, I get the Elecraft message and then I get a message on the screen: 0250.33r and at the same time VFO B, RIT, and XIT are all flashing. I am expecting 7100.00c according to the book. The 0250.33r message will change as the RIT is adjusted. --I don't see any references in the troubleshooting to this. The other weird thing is that when I turn the VFO the display does not change. The other initial tests seem fine. (Voltages, relays, etc) I am going to hold off going any further until I understand why the message does not look right for where I am in the book. Any thoughts or ideas? Thanks, JH -- John Hoaglun NG0R - EN25 http://www.hoaglun.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com **It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] K2 Question - First Power on test results
I am at the first power on test stage of K2 # 6281 and have anomalous readings. Should be INFO 250 or 7100.0 c What I get is ELECrAFT followed a few seconds later by 0 ? 50.0 c (or u,r,etc) Turning VFO dial does not change frequencies as expected but changes to 1 5 15.1 and other strangeness. After that I can hit DISP and read normal voltages. Power display works when power adjusted, keyer speed adjusts ok. RIT/XIT is adjustable but the range is like 23253 +/-. So, many things work correctly for a rig that's only partially built, and other things are incoherent. I can access menus and use edit. Most things are OK but no frequency display that makes sense. Component value and placements checked and rechecked and all solder connections reflowed. MCU chips 1.09 and 2.04 swapped with working K2 and replaced with no indication of fault. Due to all the playing around with the FP and Control Board I am suspicious that the eeprom may have been exposed to some random resetting that is confusing the issues. Does anyone have a 'reset to default' procedure that might take us back to the starting point? Anyone else ever see this kind of behaviour? I have half a dozen highschoolers who are afraid they have broke the pooch but I can find no visible signs of an error. ESD practices were scrupulously adhered to and swapping parts with a working K2 hasn't uncovered anything, so far. 73, Al WA6VNN **It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] K2 mojo lives on
After my prior post: In a message dated 3/14/2008 11:15:55 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I am at the first power on test stage of K2 # 6281 and have anomalous readings. Should be INFO 250 or 7100.0 c What I get is ELECrAFT followed a few seconds later by 0 ? 50.0 c (or u,r,etc) . . . and so on Following receipt of the message from Gary,KI4GGX, Holding 4 + 5 + 6 at power up does a factory reset. However, this will blow away any alignment that you have performed to date. I performed the reset and within 10 seconds all the readings were normal. Good news for my class because the students didn't make any mistakes and the rig will finish on schedule. Also, more convincing evidence the Mojo lives on - maybe more so because of the members of the list and the endless good commentary that is the lifeblood of our 'hobby'! 73 es tnx agn Gary, Al WA6VNN **It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft Hex Key
In a message dated 3/3/2008 12:28:35 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: The finger tabs on this keyer are they held by rivets or screws? On my other Bencher the finger tabs are held by rivets and the dit paddle is getting loose which is a bit annoying. Anyone have any tips on this or info on the hex? Thanks much gentlemen. ~Brett (KC7OTG) ___ They are button head screws with a very small hex socket (.05 maybe) Al WA6VNN **It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Radio Shack ESD mat doesn't meet spec
In a message dated 2/27/2008 9:54:12 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Well, I've convinced myself that the Radio Shack portable ESD mat, P/N 276-2370 doesn't work properly. The ESD Association http://www.esda.org has promulgated an industry-standard test for ESD mats, ESD S4.1. It is the standard specified by most commercial mats. I decided not to spring for the $70 to buy a copy of the standard, but other information I found on the web describes the test in general terms. It uses two circular electrodes, each weighted with 5 pounds, spaced 10 inches apart on the mat. The Point to Point Resistance is specified to be: At 40-60% RH: 10^6 - 10^7 ohms At 20-40% RH: 10^7 - 10^8 ohms At 10-20% RH: 10^8 - 10^9 ohms I don't know what the RH here in Santa Rosa was yesterday when I did the test, but I don't think it was very low since it has been raining recently and the ground is still damp. For sure the resistance shouldn't be below 10^9 ohms (1 gigohm) and probably more like 10^8 or 10^7 (100 or 10 megohms). I measured 2.5 x 10^10 ohms (25 gigohms), which puts the Radio Shack mat way out of spec. Test procedure: I didn't find a specification on the electrode size, but in the photo of a popular tester they look to be maybe 3 or 4 inches in diameter. For my test, the electrodes were two saucepans, each about 7 inches in diameter and weighted with 5 pounds. They were spaced 10 inches apart on the mat (3 inches edge-to-edge). I connected a 0.1 uF film capacitor between the two pans and charged it to 15V with a power supply. I set my ancient Simpson analog volt-ohm meter to 60 uA full scale. If I touch the leads across the capacitor immediately after charging, the needle momentarily jumps to about 6 uA (1/10 full scale) as the capacitor discharges through the meter. If I wait half an hour (1800 seconds) for the capacitor to partially discharge through the mat resistance, the needle jumps to about 3 uA. An R-C network discharges to 3/6 of original voltage in about 0.7 time constant. So the time constant must be 1800/0.7 = 2571 seconds. That implies the mat resistance is 2571 sec / 0.1 uF ~= 2.5 x 10^10 ohms. Al N1AL ___ Did the test standard you used tell you what the test device voltages should be. Also, most Static dissipative mats have a texture which can significantly reduce the actual surface contact area affecting the readings considerably. I still think the best way to test is to fabricate a simple electrometer and connect the sensor (after charging) to the surface through contact. That will tell you very quickly if it is working. Point to this is the voltage of a transistor amplified Ohmmeter is very low these days. A standard VOM is usually 1.5 volts and many FET DVM is much lower because they are also used to test semiconductors and capacitors. ESD that is damaging is at least a few hundred volts. Most ESD workstations are certified to 1000 volts or more. Don't throw out the RS mat yet. The highest quality mil spec'd mats may cost you a lot more and not buy you anything. One big point - Mats do age and dry out becoming useless in a matter of a few years. Al WA6VNN **Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living. (http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/ 2050827?NCID=aolcmp0030002598) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] VP6DX on CW
In a message dated 2/27/2008 2:32:05 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I would point out that in order to work DXpeditions such as VP6DX on CW, realistically, all that is required is the ability to recognize your own call. Your report will be 5NN or, perhaps 599. Your response is something like TU 5NN BK or QSL 5NN BK or just 5NN BK, easily stored in a memory. If you have the K3 cw decode ability you may not even need to recognize your call! Do I approve of this type of operation? Not really but anyting that encourages cw operation is a plus. 73, Doug W6JD ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: _http://www.elecraft.com_ (http://www.elecraft.com) OTOH, the requirement for a QSL is to establish and confirm 2-way contact. At the rate they were making contacts, sometimes five or six a minute, I'd say the requirement was adequately met when they returned my call accurately. BTW 'VNN' to most contesters and DX just sounds like the tail of another 5NN - which sure doesn't make it any easier. After 4 hours of listening to them working Northern Europe, I was never quite sure if it was my call coming back or an RST. The best part of the contacts with VP6DX was working 12, 17, 1nd 30 M for the first time on an 80 M Dipole, and working RTTY with the bug. 73 es CUL, AL WA6VNN **Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living. (http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/ 2050827?NCID=aolcmp0030002598) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] VP6DX scraping the bottom
In a message dated 2/27/2008 5:19:21 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: David Ferrington, M0XDF wrote: I managed on 80m SSB at 07:25z the other day. Ok is was 120w, but I got a good 59, so I think 10 might have made it. I tried, for an hour. There was simply no chance against all the stronger, mainly Southern Europeans trying for their 3rd or 4th band contact. When they did come up a bit stronger and some of the Eastern EU faded, they went off to 7.29MHz to work the USA. All this was SSB. CW was not an option for me as unfortunately, VP6DX never seemed to slow down in their CW for those of us limited in ability to around 15WPM. I can see why as they make more contacts that way, but the speed they were going it was nearly impossible for me to tell what was going on, when to call etc. Mike ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: _http://www.elecraft.com_ (http://www.elecraft.com) Well at least I feel better now about needing up to 4 hours to work what is usually a 'slam dunk' QSO from SoCal. I listened to VP6DX for many hours on many bands with solid (rapid fire) contacts to North Atlantic/European stations. I don't think you could blame a weak signal - just phenomenal pile ups! Al WA6VNN **Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living. (http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/ 2050827?NCID=aolcmp0030002598) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 New Problems after MCU 1.69 update - OT humor
In a message dated 2/21/2008 3:57:57 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Anyone else have this??? My toast has been coming out burned on one side ONLY AFTER the MCU 1.69 update. Before the update my toast always came out perfect. I have never unplugged nor moved my toaster, so I know it's not that. What the #$%^ are you folks doing with my K3 firmware??? !!! Please advise. ** No I never thought to email [EMAIL PROTECTED] directly, this is the ONLY email address I know how to use. ;-) ___ Don't know about the toast, but my sideband selection is very one sided. I remember the upgrade that drove the display to the popular sideband, but haven't yet located the note with instructions to invoke the other sideband. On a good note - I was bemoaning the fact that I don't have a WARC band antenna up at the moment and I wanted to work the guys on Ducie on 17M they were very loud this afternoon. Hit the ATU Tune on the K3 and my 80M dipole instantly became a 1:1 match on 18.7MHz. Worked 'em 599 (honest 599) and went to 30 M. Again the ant tuned to 1.2:1 and could hear lots of activity but no VP6DX yet so I worked a few East coast. I cannot complain about the ATU in the K3 - first rate. Now, back to the SSB issue. . . Al WA6VNN **Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living. (http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/ 2050827?NCID=aolcmp0030002598) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 #441 received
In a message dated 2/19/2008 3:17:50 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: From my posting from last week: - Ordered (with 50% deposit) 6 June 2007 with subsequent modifications. - Received and responded to Lisagram late Tuesday, 12 Feb 2008. - Called by Madeline for final payment info on Thursday, 14 Feb. - Received UPS shipping notice late that same day. Scheduled delivery is 19 Feb. Update: - Received K3/100 kit today (Tuesday, 19 Feb) as promised. Now I have a big decision to make. Should I drive up to Boulder from Denver to see Rob Sherwood's talk or stay home and assemble my new toy? Other alternatives that I've considered that would give Rob another K3 sample to test: - Assemble it when I get back home around midnight. No - I really need my beauty sleep and generally function badly when I'm tired. - Let Rob assemble and align it himself. No - someone will say he's too expert and that would bias the results. - Assemble it later when my workload permits. But I might be disqualified for being an electronics engineer and firmware developer who might tweak the performance in Elecraft's favor. - Have my daughter, an art historian, assemble and align it. Oops, can't do that - she's living in France. Oh my, what to do? Gus Hansen KB0YH ___ Align a K3 Al WA6VNN **Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living. (http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/ 2050827?NCID=aolcmp0030002598) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] My Lisagram arrived!
In a message dated 2/17/2008 8:20:51 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: - Original Message - From: Ron D'Eau Claire [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2008 8:44 PM Subject: RE: [Elecraft] My Lisagram arrived! As a native of the USA married to a native of the Netherlands, my favorite is this: What do you call someone who speaks two languages? Answer: Bilingual. What do you call someone who speaks one language? Answer: An American. Ron AC7AC And, unfortunately, not very well as a general rule! Dave W7AQK ___ Don't be surprised if you see things changing in the future. I've been involved with technology engineering in foreign markets for over 40 years and teaching in a high school technology program for over 20 of those years. Now I'm retired from engineering and teaching 4 classes a day at the nearby high school. I'm certificated staff and that requires me to be fluent in several languages. Locally that's English, Spanish, and several asian dialects. As luck would have it my parents were/are fluent in German and I studied French, neither of which has been of great value except in the case of Vietnamese. Anyway - the point is the students in one class of 21 alone are an aggregate of 5 different languages and we freely use them in classroom dialogue to communicate with each other - that's the trend of the future. Why do I bother with this? Teaching technology is only as good as your ability to communicate and these students will be in high demand for their ability. I already have two kids who just realized they have relatives in a position to export from our number one exporter (China) and have found a renewed interest in their education. (Ever wish you could talk to the guy who designed your motherboard) For a lot of people, you call someone who speaks two languages Boss. 73 es gud luck in the contest : ) Al WA6VNN **Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living. (http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/ 2050827?NCID=aolcmp0030002598) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Front Panel Icons
In a message dated 2/17/2008 3:45:27 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: All of a sudden, I'm getting a strange icon on every band change. It appears momentarily only. Looks like an antenna symbol with a bar across the top. Has anyone any idea what this icon represents, it's probably due to some menu change I've inadvertently made, not seen it previously. Thanks Mal G4KFT K3 #263 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: _http://www.elecraft.com_ (http://www.elecraft.com) The Inverted Triangle With a vertical line through it is a standard schematic symbol for an antenna. Look at the K3 Op Manual last page - Block diagram - upper right corner. It will appear when you assign an antenna a name by holding down the ANT button. Al WA6VNN **Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living. (http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/ 2050827?NCID=aolcmp0030002598) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: KBPF3 and KFL3A-6K
In a message dated 2/11/2008 8:35:24 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Roger, I have been lobbying from the sidelines that when the (not yet available) FM filter is ready that it should be usable for AM and FM reception both, because 5 khz is not enough IMO. SSB reception through this filter also makes sense to me. At present, if you don't have the AM 5khz filter, the 2.7 khz filter is used on receive and there is no AM transmit. The FM filter is supposed to be ready by the end of this week, don't know if it will be or if the firmware is ready for FM, my cat control program cannot set the FM mode yet. All of these are fine tuning details, the radio is absolutely worthy of getting serious about!!! [Elecraft] K3: KBPF3 and KFL3A-6K Roger Marrotte rmarrotte at verizon.net Mon Feb 11 20:38:21 EST 2008 I'm finally getting serious about buying a K3. Up until now I have not paid much attention to all the details, especially those concerning the filters. For now I'll not get the 2nd RX. It's not available yet, so maybe I'll get it later on. I'll get a couple of CW filters for now. I do mostly CW. I'll get a narrow 1.8KHz SSB filter. I do get on SSB sometimes. I sometimes like to listen to AM but will probably never transmit on AM. I've read the archives but I'm still not absolutely clear about the need for the KFL3A-6K filter in addition to the KBPF3 filter for AM listening. I see the need for the KBPF3 for AM listening outside the ham bands. What will the KFL3A-6K filter do for a casual AM listener? Will there be a noticeable narrowing of the AM signal without it? If the AM will sound better and/or be better filtered with it, I might as well get it. I'm cheap but not that cheap. Roger, W1EM +++ I believe the only real issue with the FM filter in AM mode is in transmitting and risking out of bandwidth transmission. The DSP would need to hold the AM XMIT to the legal limit if the XTAL filter doesn't. Al WA6VNN **The year's hottest artists on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards. Go to AOL Music. (http://music.aol.com/grammys?NCID=aolcmp0030002565) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 ssb tx passband
In a message dated 1/23/2008 7:11:35 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Are ssb tx passband adjustments in the K3 limited to TX EQ? If so, is there a spec on what the tx audio passband is adjusted to at the factory with the stock 2.7Khz filter? The default Tx Audio passband is 250 Hz to 3150 Hz. Its adjustment is not yet part of the user interface, but will be. 73, Lyle KK7P ___ I see the anticipated response. Now I begin to think and wonder if we should expect the K3 to also retain some of it's unique flavor, something that has made it special among the many. I like most of these suggestions but am concerned that there is too much emphasis being placed on making it the same as 5 or 6 existing other rigs. I'd prefer a catalog of firmware to emulate a variety of different rigs. That way, maybe some of us simpler folks could retain the features that are most meaningful to our way of operating. May I be so bold as to suggest a suite of features for the CW op that is separate to the Phone OP or the Data OP. I see that with the correct firmware dejour we could sweep the market with the ideal SDR rig with a knob on it. Al WA6VNN **Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL Music. (http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy?NCID=aolcmp00300025 48) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] what?
In a message dated 1/23/2008 3:49:18 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Is the list being actively filtered? The endless stream of griping, carping, whining emails seems to have stopped (thank goodness). MikeW5FTD __ A lot of them got their rigs in the last two weeks ;-) Al WA6VNN **Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape. http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp0030002489 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K2 Diffuser Again
In a message dated 1/20/2008 10:07:21 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: The build of K2 #6358 has hit a road block! I have a couple of questions concerning the backlight/diffuser: 1. The leads are too short. About a week ago Gerard, PA3GP, proposed extending the leads by soldering short extensions. He got no responses so I assume this is a safe way to proceed. 2. The diffuser has what I assume are polarity markings. Each LED has the leads marked with 'A' and 'K' and the board has a '+' indicated for each diode. Can I assume that the 'K' is the '+', or do I not care? Thanks! Tony ke6g ___ 1. I agree, but they did fit without modifying the process on #6281, but definitely shorter than #4887. 2. You do not care, as far as K2. 'K' has always meant Cathode (-) to avoid confusion with 'C' for Capacitance? or maybe because of the German language origins. In any even the device is symmetrical and cannot be installed incorrectly from the front side. My students, 10-12th grade had a little trouble figuring the plastic diffusion screen until they read the FAQs on it. We have the front panel done, the KAT2 KIO2 done and will start the RF Board as soon as the control board (1/2 done) is complete. 73, Al WA6VNN **Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape. http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp0030002489 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] New K3 SN#207 built but question on AM Filter
In a message dated 1/12/2008 3:40:37 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Hi All just built my K3 up to the 10 watt level (still to fit the 100w pa) have been giving it a quick test and have a question, i have fitted the AM filter in FL2 (The FM will go in FL1) and the stock filter in FL3 (2.7KHz), i have set the filters for all modes and set FL2 (6KHz) for AM mode and also selectable in SSB Modes. now when i select SSB and tune to a AM signal i can alter the bandwidth to anything up to 6KHz, when i switch to AM i can only adjust the bandwidth up to 3KHz , the audio sounds like it is a 3KHz filter too, what am i doing wrong since i cant set the 6KHz bandwidth in AM. any ideas??? regards Paul M0BMN K3 S/N 207 It's working OK. AM bandwidth includes both sidebands. Also, if you tune in an AM station using AM mode and then switch to a SSB mode, you will note a change in the fidelity (audio band response). There was much discussion on the list a while ago on the subject. I'm looking toward the release of the fm filter that should be in excess of 12 Khz, thus improving the fidelity. The advantage of the 6 KHz filter in AM is primarily for transmitting, to maintain a legal bandwidth, and to eliminate the heterodynes to some degree. Al WA6VNN **Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape. http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp0030002489 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Microphone capsule for K2
In a message dated 1/6/2008 6:21:57 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I have a MH2, and going back and reviewing the SSB passband and filter alignment helped me quite a bit. It sounds fine, though I heard through another on the list that they had success with their Proset with HC5 without the preamp. I tried it out with a friend listening, and it worked just fine, and is now what I use. I do notice that it is impacted by the nearness of the mic to my mouth, so it would likely have more dynamic activity with a preamp, but I am driving to a full signal with the current setup. If you are not getting good reports with the MH2, then switching to another, similar mic (or even the HC5) will not help. First thing you need to do is check you passband, make sure they start at 300hz and then listen to both U L sideband on another rig. - David Wilburn [EMAIL PROTECTED] K4DGW K2 S/N 5982 On Sun, 2008-01-06 at 13:29 +0100, Karsten Eppert (DK4AS) wrote: I have purchased together with my K2 an MH2 microphone short before it was discontinued two years ago. The reports I receive always state, that the mike has too much bass. The filters of my K2 were checked with spectrogram and - to me - appear correct. In parallel I have tried a cheap boomset with an electret-mike. That resulted in unfavourable reports like sounds like a c-class-amplifier. Too little bias current. So I checked the bias and it is ok. Well - I?m looking for a good alternative now, but which one to select? Go for a Heil Proset K2? I figure, that one contains the Heil iC-electret-capsule. But what are the specs? Go and replace the electret-capsule of my MD2 with a Heil HC-5-capsule? What disadvantages will I have with such solution regarding frequency response as the HC-5 apparently is a dynamic or condenser mike? Can anybody share his experience with me? 73 Karsten DK4AS K2 #4764 ___ web page: _http://www.elecraft.com_ (http://www.elecraft.com) I have run the Proset HC5 and the Elecraft Proset Which has an electret mic element and found them to both work well and also sound very much alike. I ran the checks while beta testing the IMA (Internal Mic Adapter) produced by UN-PCB. _http://www.unpcbs.com/_ (http://www.unpcbs.com/) Al WA6VNN **Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape. http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp0030002489 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 question
In a message dated 1/7/2008 3:23:00 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Can someone tell me what the cabinet color of the K3 is? I at first thought it was a brown color, then I thought I saw someone remark that is had been changed to black. Now I see remarks about using a black magic marker to hide the chipped paint. Is it black or brown? Stan Rife W5EWA Houston, TX K2 S/N 4216 ___ The K3 has always been Black, from the demo model I saw on 4/28/07 at Visalia to the SN031 that was delivered to my door on 11/2/07. The VWR lab marker CAT # 52877-310 is Black _http://www.vwrsp.com/catalog/product/index.cgi?catalog_number=52877-140inE=1highlight=52877-140_ (http://www.vwrsp.com/catalog/product/index.cgi?catalog_number=52877-140inE=1highlight=52877-140) Al WA6VNN **Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape. http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp0030002489 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] As good as it gets...for now?
In a message dated 12/31/2007 8:49:19 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Folks, After a 2+ year hiatus from RadioActivity, I finished up a K2 build, and tried getting on the air a bit--UGH dismal results! During the recent ARCI Homebrew Sprint I made 3 contacts, 1 in WA and 2 in ID, I'm in OR. Me and a friend back in CO have tried two or three times for a scheduled QSO--no luck we could just barley hear each other. One one of those attepts my freind was using a beam and 100W of power. More troubling is the lack of signals I'm hearing. Before each of the activities I mentioned I would tune around the bands to assess band conditions, I could hear no more than 5 or 6 other stations. I couldn't hear any of the NCDXF beacons--Are they still operational? I can hear WWV @ 10MHz 5x9. Set up here is QRP K2, and a Superantennas PW-1. Now before everybody jumps on the PW-1--NO PW-1/ANY OTHER ANTENNA BASHING!!! I mean it! :-) I had a PW-1 in CO and it worked great! ( see http://www.elecraft.com/PictureGallery/NewPics/n0rc_vw_foxhound_front.jpg for one example) Do I have a problem with my K2--I'm thinking not. With an XG-1 signal generator set to 1uV I can hear it fine on 40, and the harmonics on 20 and 15m. Is it my QTH? I have a city lot, the back yard is only 9m x 6m (30' X 20'), surrounded by one story houses on each side. The PW-1 in placed in the center. Further, I live in a river valley abt 275m (900Ft) ASL. The valley is surrounded by low mountains 900-1200m (3-4k Ft) AL abt 10 miles away. I have no other radio equipment, (or access to) to try A/B comparisons. I can not and will not change my antenna setup, I want nothing permanent outside. I have no room to set up take down temporary wire antennas. I WILL NOT MOVE TO A DIFFERENT QTH. I WILL NOT SPEND ANYMORE MONEY ON RADIO EQUIPMENT--I am at an economic/financial sweet spot all things [radio/non-radio] considered. So given my circumstances and the current lull in solar activity... Is this as good as it gets? -- 73 Rod, Ai7NN ~*~*~Happy Holidays~*~*~ __ Hang in there, Ron. Yeah!, the bands really are sucking right now, but there are moments. Like just after I got my K3 on the air I worked 60 new countries in the CQWW on my 50 year old mosely vertical. It wasn't just the K3. Sure I could hear them, but so could lots of others, and they could hear me too! My K2 could work them as well. There are a couple good contest weekends coming up this month (Jan) so get ready and maybe we'll be surprised with good activity. Personally, I think so many hams are sold on the premise that there's no one out there, that they don't even try. But the contest activity - not great - demonstrates the contacts can be made. CU there - WA6VNN, Al **See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Initialization time
In a message dated 12/30/2007 3:42:03 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Gentlemen: I noticed that several of the other highly computerized radios on the market have a substantial time delay after power on before the radio is fully operational (IC756Pro, IC7800, etc.). Would some of the current K3 owners please let me know how long before their radio display settles down and the radio is fully operational? Does this time vary according to certain accessories being present or configuration options being chosen? Thank you. 73, Forrest WA3FAE ___ Never timed it? 2 or 3 seconds maybe. Firmware upgrades take less than a minute when the rig is connected online at 9600baud. Several SDRs have built-in processors that need to boot the O/S a la PC style. My first 'real' rig was an SX101MkIII (hallicrafters) had a built in heater for stability and trickle current in the filaments (what are they?) and would be full on in a couple seconds too. Not bad for a vacuum tube rig. Also had a 50KHz IF that was very selective. 73 de Al WA6VNN K3 #31 **See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Initialization time
In a message dated 12/31/2007 9:46:26 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: In a message dated 12/30/2007 3:42:03 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Gentlemen: I noticed that several of the other highly computerized radios on the market have a substantial time delay after power on before the radio is fully operational (IC756Pro, IC7800, etc.). Would some of the current K3 owners please let me know how long before their radio display settles down and the radio is fully operational? Does this time vary according to certain accessories being present or configuration options being chosen? Thank you. 73, Forrest WA3FAE ___ Never timed it? 2 or 3 seconds maybe. Firmware upgrades take less than a minute when the rig is connected online at 9600baud. Several SDRs have built-in processors that need to boot the O/S a la PC style. My first 'real' rig was an SX101MkIII (hallicrafters) had a built in heater for stability and trickle current in the filaments (what are they?) and would be full on in a couple seconds too. Not bad for a vacuum tube rig. Also had a 50KHz IF that was very selective. 73 de Al WA6VNN K3 #31 ++ Rechecked it on timer: 3.72 seconds to full audio from power on, Al WA6VNN **See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Bit the bullet
In a message dated 12/29/2007 10:04:34 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I placed an order for a K3/100 yesterday. It looks like an April/May delivery, but given all I have heard from this group it will be well worth the wait. Now to sell my OMNI VI+. Dennis, K7FL Battle Ground, WA That's not 'Biting the bullet, That's 'Smelling the Roses 73 de Al WA6VNN **See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Which Heil Prosets should we carry?
In a message dated 12/29/2007 1:58:22 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: My Baptism of Fire was with MD4K on the IOM in CQWW MM . Thirty seconds after the contest started I was in shock..Five other operators, all in the same small room shouting their heads off. Transmitting CQ and callsign, and hearing the same said by others, albeit not quite in sync is quite off-putting ! That fact they are GOOD OPERATORS was shown in the results table when it was published. They managed just fine. The Heil headsets were about as good as a Chocolate Fire Guard, however eventually my brain started filtering out the background noise. 73 Stewart G3RXQ ++ The fact is the QRM is in the shack!! Now picture this: 5 guys all in a room with K3s and DVR active. All audio optimized for best transmitter performance and full quieting while the contesters concentrate on listening. We shall be so lucky!!! Al WA6VNN **See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Major critisism of the K3 - possible easy fix!
In a message dated 12/29/2007 6:19:25 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: The damn bail stand is too high !!! I've noticed it's a little on the high side for folks with smaller hands than I. Aside from that, the viewing angle is ideal, which can be a real hassle when its 'flat'. I've taken a look at the Bail legs and the plastic foot that holds them. It appears that with a little tool work (not for everyone, I agree) a notch could be formed on the outside of the plastic foot, similar to that on the inside except at a lower angle. This would make the bail height selectable depending on which direction the foot was installed. I may try this out when I'm not real busy playing Ham. The feet are common part so I'm not afraid to try. An alternative might be to purchase on of the commonly available wrist pads used by computer users to rest the wrist in front of the mouse or keyboard at a higher angle. The gel types are quite comfortable and come in many sizes and the viewing angle is unaffected this way. Al WA6VNN **See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Which Heil Prosets should we carry - boom mics
In a message dated 12/29/2007 4:51:25 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: - Original Message - From: Tom Childers, N5GE [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Elecraft List elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Saturday, December 29, 2007 12:15 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Which Heil Prosets should we carry? Well, since everyone else seems to be putting their oar in for what they really want, I will to. I use headset/mic combos most of the time if I operate SSB (not very often though). But it would be nice to not have to use the headphones for a comfortable QSO. Problem is, a desk mike just adds to the clutter on my desk. That premium space is already taken up by a laptop (or keyboard), my paddle, my pencil/pen, paper, and most importantly my coffee cup! Seriously, am I the only one who has to shift things around in front of me while operating? And wouldn't a desk mike just add to the problem? I would like to see some kind of gooseneck type microphone (perhaps with the IC element) that would easily attach and detach from the K3, or a K2. Maybe some sort of brace or bracket that would clamp across the top of the K3, and had some sort of quick release. It would have to be padded so as to not mar the K3. The gooseneck would lock into some kind of clamp on top of the bracket, and be a quick release type also. The gooseneck should probably be approx. 24 to 30 inches or so long (maybe more) so it reaches from the rig to, or near, the front edge of your desk so you can easily speak into it. You could further adjust the distance by where you place the bracket on the K3--either towards the front, or more towards the rear. Then you could swing the microphone into position or out of the way, but it wouldn't add to the clutter on the desk in front of you. Tall order, right? Yeah, I know--I'm dreaming. And it really doesn't respond very directly to Eric's question. But I'd buy something like this if it were available. Maybe it already is somewhere. I don't keep up very well with microphone stuff. Dave W7AQK + FWIW, I agree and its not a tall order, it's already available directly from Heil. _www.heilsound.com_ (http://www.heilsound.com) I prefer the flexible boom that looks like a piece of conduit, used on many lamps and mirrors. There is also a vendor advertised in QST that sells mobile components for mounting control heads that can be adapted to a mic, just get the heil mic for handheld and mount it in a holder then you have 2 in 1 handheld or boom mount. The heil booms are not real flexible and base mounted. The flex heads I have can be mounted using common electrical/plumbing supplies and can be hung from above (check out the professional talk show stations) or from a side panel. Also look at Heils professional line , not just the Amateur Radio pages. Check these: _http://www.markertek.com/SearchProdList.asp?off=0sort=prod_ (http://www.markertek.com/SearchProdList.asp?off=0sort=prod) **See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Shouting at the Mic? (WAS: Which Heil Prosets should we carry?)
In a message dated 12/29/2007 3:01:31 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Good evening, morning, day or night, That's why air traffic controllers, emergency service dispatchers and many others are carefully taught to *never* raise their voices on the air. They need to be heard, and heard correctly, as quickly as possible. I suppose it might be a question of definition of what a raised voice is. I'll never forget the first time I was in a studio during the 6PM news (actually it was shortly before 7PM) and was very surprised at the volume which the anchor used to speak. He did not shout (you breath differently when you shout) but he talked loudly. I have heard this time and time again at work over the years, a loud voice is better than one which is too low. This does not mean shouting or yelling! According the sound techs this has something to do with the dynamic range of the speech and allows lower microphone gain, which reduces the audio impact of the room surrounding the speaker. Also lower microphone gain has the advantage of picking less unwanted noise. When I referred to shouting I put in quotes on purpose, because I wanted to point out that when trying to fish out a week one, even a normal level voice will seem like shouting. In a broadcast studio, you have sound engineers monitoring everything that goes in and out of the transmitter, modulation levels are high priority. So a good sounding announcer is where it starts, a good engineer is where it flows. Ham Ops need to be both! Al WA6VNN **See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Which Heil Prosets should we carry?
In a message dated 12/28/2007 10:07:02 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Elecraft needs a desk microphone in it's product line. The stiff cord on the MH-2 is capable of dragging the radio around the desk before it yields. It's very stiff. I have a Heil Goldline w/desk stand that gives me the choice of switching between cartridges ... the best of both worlds. I also have a ProSet with an HC-5 cartridge. 73! Ken Kopp - K0PP K2 #5665 K3 #56 I agree with the Heil Goldline and a desk stand. I used an Astatic dynamic mic with a boom holder for years and really liked it. I have both the Heil Proset 5 and the Elecraft Proset K-2. Different type mic elements but they both work equally well on my K2 and K3 and several other rigs. The desk mic is the only addition I'd like to see, preferably a design that will work hand-held as well as on a stand or arm. Al WA6VNN **See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K2 Pictures/Road Trip Pictures!
In a message dated 12/26/2007 7:37:49 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I'm back from my week-long road trip, and I finally have pictures from my trip online, plus the pictures from my K2 build... http://www.flickr.com/photos/af6fh/collections/ (Note: If you're offended by pictures of ham radios and stuffed animals in close proximity, you probably shouldn't look... :-) I actually didn't do much radio stuff on my trip; it was my first road trip ever, and at times just getting from one place to another was as much as I could handle! However, I did set my K2 up in the field, which was good practice, because I expect to be doing more of that in the future. My road-trip kit needs a little refinement, too, and I'll have to work on that a bit. (Expect questions later!) Sarah AF6FH Sarah, I'm pleased that you took the time to stop in Gaviota and snap a few photos of the rest stop as well. I live a few miles down the road toward Santa Barbara. The dead trees you saw are more of a bush when foliated and were actually the remains of a burn that swept through the area about 3 years ago. The protracted draught in this area has delayed the usual re-growth considerably. This area is noted for its daily high winds and that contributes somewhat to the vulnerability to fires. I hope you had a chance to turn towards the beach area a 1/4 milesouth and have a look at one of the nicest beaches on the Cal coast. know for a very wide expanse of pure white sand I have spent quite a few days as a youngster playing there. The shot up hill at the ridge on the west side has a very interesting feature we cal the 'elephant'. It's most noticeable when in the southbound 101 as you approach from the canyon. along the ridgeback is a formation of rocks that look like a small family of elephants - mom, pop, and a couple young, as they trudge up the ridge tail in trunk with the lead elephants trunk/head and right ear very pronounced. Mostly only locals who travel the road frequently are aware of it. Hope the rest of trip was fun and love the K2! Al WA6VNN - K2 4887, 6281, K3 31 **See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] [OT] If you think that eHam reviews are, at times, strange...
In a message dated 12/18/2007 1:18:15 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: ...then you haven't seen this _http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bic-Crystal-ballpoint-medium-point/dp/customer-review s/B000JTOYLS/_ (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bic-Crystal-ballpoint-medium-point/dp/customer-reviews/B000JTOYLS/) ___ Don't believe it until you see it - seek the BORAT stamp of approval only!! My first experience with a ball point pen was in 1953 when I was going door-to-door as a newsboy selling subscriptions. I broke the pencil tip while I was writing a subscription for a neighbor of mine, and he offered up a strange looking pen with a toggle on top to push the pen tip down. Bright purple plastic with a dark violet ink. The only thing that was remarkable of the memory is who the customer was. Living in North Hollywood at the time, you'd meet a lot of people. This neighbor was the family of 'Mouseketeer' Karen Pendelton. Who was a few years younger than me. 8 -) Al WA6VNN **See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Re: Open Letter ....
Never had this happen with a Yaesu - never had the opportunity! Is there a value that can be placed on choice? I'm glad Elecraft gave me a choice. Al WA6VNN K3 #31 K2 #4887 K2 #6281 **See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 - SWR Fold-back
In a message dated 12/11/2007 11:40:11 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: You don't suppose trying to use an 80-meter dipole on 160 had anything to do with it, do you? K9ZTV [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I don't know if this will help, but I've had two experiences with my K3 regarding power reduction. While attempting to participate in the 160M contest, I connected to my 80M dipole and hit tune in the ATU active mode. I immediately got a high SWR and retune cycle which reduced the SWR at the rig to ~ 10:1. Checking the power output, which had been set at 106W, it was indicating 79W. During a second subsequent tune (same ant and same settings ) the rig initiated a tune cycle and immediately shut down. No overpower/high current indication. I turned the rig on again, and everything was the same as before. I suspect maybe the tune was marginal and that at that SWR the rig is between a 'continue or shutdown' logic process. No residual effects were noted. Al WA6VNN K3 #31 Of course it had everything to do with it - but an experiment is an experiment - I like to see what a well designed radio can really do. Besides I made a few dozen contacts on the 160M contest and they were the first contacts I've made on 160 in 46 years of hamming. I rather enjoyed it! I hope the info was helpful in answering the question about SWR and rollback. Yes it does roll back, and very gracefully I'd say. Al WA6VNN **See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 - SWR Fold-back
I don't know if this will help, but I've had two experiences with my K3 regarding power reduction. While attempting to participate in the 160M contest, I connected to my 80M dipole and hit tune in the ATU active mode. I immediately got a high SWR and retune cycle which reduced the SWR at the rig to ~ 10:1. Checking the power output, which had been set at 106W, it was indicating 79W. During a second subsequent tune (same ant and same settings ) the rig initiated a tune cycle and immediately shut down. No overpower/high current indication. I turned the rig on again, and everything was the same as before. I suspect maybe the tune was marginal and that at that SWR the rig is between a 'continue or shutdown' logic process. No residual effects were noted. Al WA6VNN K3 #31 **See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Microphone Impedance
Also look in Table on Pg 49 Main Menu Table under MIC SEL for the specific settings. Al WA6VNN **Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Assembly
It may also be helpful to mention that using the correct size philips head is very important in maintaining the appearance of the rig. It's worth the rip to the tool store with a screw in your pocket to get a new driver with a large enough tip to fit snuggly. There is such a wide variety of screwdrivers available, that even the size number printed on the driver is not a good indication. I've had many a #1 driver with too sharp a tip to get a tight fit, the result is slippage and a damaged screw head and loose screw. The K3 flatheads are very shallow because of the type of head and they will slip easily with a #0 or 'sharp' #1. I prefer the better brands like Craftsmen and Proto. OSH (Orchards) has a house brand that is good. I picked up a couple with 6 shank which was helpful when I installed the kpa3 shield. A well fitting screwdriver will hold an undamaged philips screw without needing a magnet. Al WA6VNN **Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 - Ham Radio Deluxe available
In a message dated 12/8/2007 5:11:35 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: For those with a K3 in the shack, HRD is now available. There will be a lot more support as Wayne adds CAT-related features. Folder: http://www.ham-radio.ch/kits/beta/3.5/1686/ Kit: http://www.ham-radio.ch/kits/beta/3.5/1686/HRDv035b1686_Full.exe Simon Brown, HB9DRV + fantastic +++ OK guys - is the K3 worth the wait??? 1. Read Simons list-mail 10 seconds 2. Click on link and download 33.2MB file 33 seconds (OK so I have High Speed) 3. Install software while turning on the K3 17 seconds 4. Click finish Open HRD 5. K3 on screen60 seconds - Priceless!!~ Al WA6VNN **Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] OT - 10 meter contest
In a message dated 12/8/2007 3:53:16 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Anybody else having a go at the 10 meter contest? Conditions pretty bleak here in Colorado - much worse than last year. So far I have 21 Texas QSOs, 21 local Colorado, 16 other assorted stateside and only one DX (Jamaica). Only 11 multipliers. Anyone having better luck? Or a similar tale of woe? 73 ... Craig AC0DS +++ I gave up after 2 hrs and 2 contacts. Not much ant here, either. I'll try again at sunrise. I heard lots of stations riding the ether but nothing lasted long enough to even get a complete call. Al WA6VNN **Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] strange K3 behaviour post firmware upgrade
I performed the upgrade V1.45 and have noticed nothing unusual. Check the CONFIG to make sure all your options are still ON, just in case something got bumped. My filters are set up starting with FL1, FL2, FL3 - nothing skipped. Nothing in the FL4 or FL5 slots (yet) I always make it a practise to shut down and re-boot the system after making firmware upgrade or Config changes that go beyond on-the-fly changes like switch the main spkr off. 73 Al WA6VNN K3 SN31 **Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: Reception below 500 kHz?
In a message dated 12/4/2007 11:19:16 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Hallo I see that the K3 receiver is spec'd down to 500 kHz. What about below that? Is it completely dead (e.g. due to filtering), or is it alive but with reduced sensitivity, selection, etc.? Will it even tune below 500 kHz? (I've seen some receivers that won't tune at all below their lower frequency specification.) Without having tried it, I do not think you can tune lower than 500kHz. . . + It has a hard stop at 500.000 KHz Al WA6VNN (K3 SN31) **Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 CW
K3 CW for me has been smmoth as silk, and I have a sensitive ear. Only deviation I've seen is when I run the DSP filter at 50 Hs there is somewhat of a rolling off of the higher frequency components of the tone. But, there is also an improved performance of the CMP with the reduction in noise at any BW. 73 Al WA6VNN **Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 displays
Thanks for the contact on 40M. Great Signal! pse QSL ; ) Al WA6VNN K3 sn0031 **Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 issues..
In a message dated 12/3/2007 2:04:14 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I have been looking at the reflector from time to time, and was shocked to read that the 100 plus K3's that have shipped do not have many options they were supposed to have, like AM mode, FM mode, AM sync detection, a working noise blanker, the high accuricy frequency readout, the variable bandwidth filters. Did any of the K3's ever have this stuff, did it ever work on any K3 ever, and if not, why do they think they can get it to work, and if they did get it to work, how come its not on the many units that have shipped??? It does not seem right to ship radios without most of the features they were supposed to have, no other manufacturer could get away with that, or do I have it all wrong and the things listed above work great on all the new K3's? +++ Having had the pleasure of operating my K3 in at least two of the last three major contests, I am so glad to have the rig in my shack, I could only express disappointment had I to wait even another month for it. I can listen to AM quite well for now. The accuricy[sic] of frequency does not lack for precision(1Hz) and accuracy is only limited by the reference source (available since the start of shipment). (Why is accuracy so important with an AM signal that can be easily zerobeat anyway?) The noise blanker is highly effective on the type of noise that can be blanked and is extremely adjustable. It'll still be a while before conditions make 10M FM fun again. I'll be pleased when the AM is fully implemented, although I probably won't care to use it as a transmit mode - mainly SWL there. I am also happy with Elecraft's announcing the rig well in advance, so I didn't waste my time or money with something else. The variable bandwidth filters were not announced until well after the K-3 was announced and made available to purchase. As far as low serial numbers are concerned, if I was worried about that I'd have kept the 1967 AC Cobra I had instead of selling it to finance a college education. AC Cobra $250,000, College education $priceless.. Having passed up years of hamming to focus on family and career, I would have bought the K3 with only a promise of ssb just to get on the air again. Maybe age has something to do with it or maybe just being the first kid on the block thing. I've had more fun with this rig than the last 4 I've had. It makes retirement fun while I can still have fun and I've pretty well debunked that a weak sunspot cycle is grounds for not working dx. But what really intrigues me is this: There has never been a rig available, save the K2, with the potential for the future. So many features that can be implemented by a firmware change - that doesn't require hardware changes, So many possibilities to add features with a hardware plug in! Let's get REAL - This radio NEVER will be finished, it will just keep getting better. Wouldn't it be great if our bodies were so well endowed. I guess I'm a sucker for buying a glass of water that was only half full. Some will always be half empty, sorry! 73 es my best to all, Al WA6VNN **Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 5-pole plots
I believe the 5 pole filters are made in house at Elecraft and the 8pole filters are sourced to Inrad. Here's a question - I have a perfectly good Yaesu FT990 and have always wanted a narrow CW filter for its 2nd IF ( The first IF has a roofing filter of sorts). Anything between 100Hz and 4/500Hz would be acceptable. The original filter options appear to have been Inrad products, and many web references come back to Inrad. But the well is dry when looking for one. (Anyone out therhave one to sell?) I haven't had a chance to check the 990 manual for IF freq, but am wondering if it is 8215, how difficult could it be to adapt a K3 designed filter to the 990? The 990 filter board has large enough space to do a 2 step with intermediate adapter board. That's something I can handle. Al WA6VNN **Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Curious behavio
Just to add another slant to the slippery hill, I have a perfectly good IPaq 5400 that is a very small computer and has huge storage capacity. It is hardly used because it lacks a lot of common interfacing. It does Blue tooth, WiFi and IR but no USB or RS232 (as if having a laptop weren't difficult to interface). There is a young fellow in Arizona who has interfaces for these pocket PCs - so that's the direction I am taking for portability. The Ipaq has a plug in keyboard and a large enough screen to run decent text. So as far as I can see all it needs is an RS232 interface. Comments? Al WA6VNN **Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Heil mics and the K3
I hope this helps answer some of the questions about the K3 and support for mics. First the Heil mics: It will support the Elecraft (Heil) Proset K2 and the Heil Proset HC-4 and HC-5. The HC-4 and HC-5 are very similar, differing mainly in frequency response. They are both unamplified dynamic mics. The ProSet K2 uses a similar mic element with a built in amp referred to as 'IC'. I don't know if the element is a HC-4 or HC-5 but its very close in response to the HC-5 judging from the audio I hear in my mon signal. They both have a mini phone plug (mono) for the mic that is colored grey. The Heil Prosets have a standard (1/4) Stereo phone plug for the headset speakers. The stretched ot length between the mic and phone plugs just barely fits the mic to the rear panel and the phones to the front panel. I didn't like stretching them that much. A 1/4 female to 3.5mm male adapter would help and keep them both on the back for this Proset. The Proset K2 has a mini stereo phone plug that easily allows for both mic and phone plugs in the rear panel. It also has a built in phasing switch for the phones. Setup for the Proset K2 is default on the K3 rig as I received it. For the HC-5 I have, it required changes in the menu selects. Refer to the Owner's manual 'MAIN Menu' Table on page 49 under the heading MIC SEL. Tap MENU to get the MAIN menu, rotate VFO B knob to MIC SEL. Note the default setting on display It may show 'rP.L bias' if it is default. This is the correct setting for the Proset K2 Headset. To use a Proset HC-4/5 Headset, first rotate the VFO A dial to rP.L bias or fP.L bias to select rear panel or front panel connectors. Next, tap the [2] (REV) button to turn off the bias. The display will now indicate 'rF.L' or 'fP.L'. Next tap the [1] (A/B) button to select the H/L for High mic gain/ Low mic gain. For the Heil Proset HC-5 which I also use, the settings will now display 'rP.H' . Close the menu. Next set up a phone mode (LSB/USB) and tap XMIT to active no transmit TUNE, and speak into the mic so you can adjust mic gain level. For me that is a setting of about 10. Adjust the MON for a comfortable level and set the mic gain for XMIT output that is desired or CMP level you like. If you switch mics, be sure to reset the MIC SEL settings. Aside from pin compatibilities on the 8 Pin connector this should work well with most any mic. That applies to PTT also. IMHO, I would find it most effective to wire the mics to a mini phone plug or build a shore 8 Pin to phone plug adapter. I know many hand mics are plug compatible as is. Consult the Mic jack diagram on page 13 to confirm your mic. Hope this is helpful. 73 de Al WA6VNN #31 **Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Curious behavior
In a message dated 11/27/2007 10:14:01 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Thanks Thomas. Gary set me straight on that one too. I guess it is easy to accidentally change some settings without realizing it. Doug -- K0DXV K3/100 #77 OK, time to be brutally frank about the K3. I love the rig and it's shaping up to the best radio I've ever owned. I still haven't even tried out any of the buttons to the right of the afx! Just got done wringing out the mic process. BUT, what don't I like ( or more correctly what would I like to see changed. A) It's too easy to bump the VFO A dial while in the Menu Modes and change an off to an on. It took Microsoft 20 years to build a half way functional 'UNDO' into their O/S and Apps. I'd at least like to have a glimps at what changed when I went back to normal op after accessing the menus - maybe a quick list of config items with a * indicating recent changes. Even if it's a download to printer it would be good to get a list that shows recent or last settings on one page - something that could be scanned when things don't look right. I know this may be a reach, but you gotta ask. B) It'd be nice to have the speaker selects on the 'tap once' menu list instead of buried down in the CONFIG list. Can a toggle between headphone only and headphone +spkr be created? I haven't started into the macro creation phase yet, and I have discovered some buttons which can do a hot change without going into menu, so maybe it's just something I missed earlier. For that I would apologize. AQl WA6VNN #31 **Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Heil mic question
I have 2 Heil Prosets, the Elecraft version and the ICOM/Yaesu /5 version. Later today I'll check them side by side for comparison on the K3. I can make both work equally well on the K-2 using the UN-PCB Universal Mic Interface to switch the bias in or out. I use the Heil/Elecraft Proset mono(mic) and stereo(headphones) 3.5mm jacks on back and I can switch the speaker in or out at will with or without the headset turned on. Al WA6VNN **Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] CQ WW CW a K3
Item 3) - The VFO B Should have 2 felt washers to adjust drag. See Assembly Manual any REV. Even if the washers are in place the knob may need to be adjusted closer to faceplate to increase drag. Al WA6VNN **Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] K3 SN31's first contest
Hi everyone - One main reason I got a K3 was to be more active in DX and Contesting, now that I'm semi-retired. I used to be a very active contester in the late 70s early 80s and stayed in it mostly as a club activity since. I was introduced to logging software with CT in it's early days and still have a CT V10.x on the computer. I truly became tired of the amount of time I spent getting a rig ready for interfacing to a contest software etc. lot of rigblaster and other stuff laying around to help out, but never much satisfaction. With a working schedule it was too much and mostly went by the wayside. My K2 was an improvement and made the listening a lot easier. Interfacing was somewhat easier but still required a lot of homework and interfacing. At least with the K2 it was worth the effort. Ok, This weekend I had a choice of working in the orchard, with the fall cleanup and yet another Santa Ana wind condition - or - taking a two week old K3 and bridging the gap to get it set up for contesting in CQWW CWDX. I had become tired of CTs endless menus and tricky help files, still stuck learning CT. With CT if I don't use it 4 times a year it's a whole new learning curve each time. I started in earnest Friday about 2pm and decided to try one of the softwares in the Elecraft Web Page. I want to try all of them, but had seen a lot of reference to N1MM and chose that to start with. At first glance I was overwhelmed with the amount of info, but followed the getting started and Quick start guide to installing and upgrading the latest version. I was really nice to see that the K3 had already been formatted in the boilerplate. It gives you a sense of confidence it might work sometime this week. So, given about an hour to get the software installed and read the basics, I gave it a shot. The rig was already connected to the computer and had the latest upgrade installed. The RS232 cable I used is a standard 9 pin interface with all 9 wires hooked up. I set the K3 CONFIG: PTT-KEY to rts-dtr, set up the software config to match ( I changed data rate to 38400 and port to 8N1 for the K3 ) It took less than 20 minutes to get the rig on the air with a contest logger. What an improvement! CU in the contest, break time is over. Al WA6VNN **Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 - too many firmware updates?
In a message dated 11/24/2007 5:12:21 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Brett announced: I have decided to cancel my order for the K3, I think I will wait snip OUCH! I wonder if it's already shipped. I remember about 30 years ago when I was in the Analog tape recording business and swore that digital would never make it. I was in the HDD drive business a couple years later using experience I never dreamed would be as valuable as it was. Built and sold two businesses before getting back into the Aerospace business. I'm still learning the digital side of things after 30 years, and knowing analog has only made it work better - after all the digital aspect is only a tool to making analog better. That's the human side of the interface. The K3 makes digital a snap compared to the IC-7000 and others. be lookin' for you next spring! 73 Al WA6VNN PS I've got and old FT-901DM I can't quite depart with it, yet! **Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 findings
In a message dated 11/24/2007 11:40:37 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: The quiet receiver is *very* pronounced when using data modes. I am so glad I sold my IC-7800 - this K3 is tons better. Listening to the CW contest with 250Hz and 1kHz filters is a pure pleasure, I would bet money that I am listening to an analogue system. Simon Brown, HB9DRV Ditto that! Al WA6VNN **Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] I didn't realize what you meant (was RE: WARNING! WARNING! WAR...
In a message dated 11/23/2007 12:13:55 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: No problem Gary and I'm glad we agree on that :-) Sorry if I didn't make that clear. To try to clarify this.. the basic premise is that anything you attach to you or your kit, while you are building, is bonded to the same point (that's important) and via a 1M ohm resistor lead. I also use dissipative tools, like screwdrivers, cutters etc etc, but that is not really necessary, as long as your body is grounded via a strap. I repeat, this ground MUST be via a 1M ohm resistor (or higher, but better to keep all resistances the same). +++ Sorry if I missed something here, and I'm not trying to confuse issues. But, after 40 years in the industry working with the most sensitive of semiconductor devices, the only requirement for a series resistance that I've seen used is in the devices like a wrist strap that were attached to the operators body. The purpose being to protect them from possible contact with power systems that could place the operator in the HV ground path. The 500K or larger resistor was usually adequate to provide a non-lethal warning of somethin amiss. I don't disagree that a big resistor to ground will dissipate a static charge, but most of us would prefer a total ground on the chassis. Otherwise, as I understand it, you still run the risk of setting up a voltage differential that could damage parts. The reasoning is that a static charge will dissipate, being of limited source. But an AC voltage delta between the tip of an Iron and an earth ground could be several volts, depending on the ground point and power system setup. I've seen as much as 40 volts in normal household wiring. The addition of a high value resistance in that circuit could raise the voltage substatially, AND it is a non dissipative source that could fry more than a small semi. The rule I have always applied at home and industrially is: 1) use isolation transformer where possible, 2) use a GFCI protected circuit, 3) establish a common ground point that has the best possible path back to the house ground.( That is usually at the service entrance and should be tested to make sure it works ) 4) use a ground tester to make sure the ground is not open at the outlet. (Testers are cheap and available in most hardware stores) . 5) Make sure the grounds from common point to work surface and chassis are firmly connected - alligator clips always pop off. 6) Wear your wrist strap and avoid synthetic or wool clothing. 7) last and very important - always use an ohmmeter to test the wrist strap and other ground jumpers to make sure they are working. A lot of good hardware can be damaged by an open ground wire. A good OP can be hurt by a bad wrist strap. With the constant flexing of the wrist cables,etc, the wires will break internally and not be noticed, there's no antenna or speaker attached to it to tell you something's wrong. I've done a lot of residential testing in the course of helping run an RFI committee for the local club. We have found many RFI cases caused by bad grounds In home's I've visited over 30 years, I've found about 1 in 10 homes is poorly grounded at the service entrance, and about 1 in 10 has open grounds on outlets. Many result from electrical wiring done by the homeowner without the help of a licensed electrician or city inspector. Judging from the Hams I have met over the years, the SKs I have known, and a lot of the traffic I see on these lists, I have come to the opinion we have many in our midst to with disputable sense of values is some areas. If you can't afford a little coin on Ohmmeters, new wrist straps, GFCIs and a visit from the power company (usually free), you probably don't have adequate insurance to be messing with this stuff. n This isn't where you want to play on the cheap. nuff said' Al WA6VNN **Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: am I missing something re: DMM
In a message dated 11/21/2007 11:05:45 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Hi all, especially those who have assembled a K3 already (Eric, Wayne, and the Elecraft FTers invited to answer as well): Okay...so here I am in the K3 queue, getting ready. I have picked up an ESD mat and wrist strap, some new Phillips (those I have were pretty beat up), and now I'm bothering several of the usuals on the reflector for advice (again) about a DMM. +++ Well Doug, if everything goes well, you won't really need a DMM. You can use the VOM to confirm that your wriststrap is working OK (500K Ohm min) and you shouldn't need a meter unless you run into a problem. I can't recall if you have built a K2 previously, but they use a RF probe in some of the alignment on a K2. The RF probe will convert RF to a DC voltage so you can trace RF to some degree. The VOM may not be the best choice for the RF Probe, because a lot of measurements of that type are in the mV range. FWIW - I was just reading the ads in the morning news and it looks like Sears, among many other stores, are having the usual after Thanksgiving Sales. A couple items caught my attention. Sears says that on Friday between 5am and noon they are selling a variety of things at half regular price. After noon they'll go up about 20% or so. One that looked good to me was a DMM that will be on sale at $9.99. Even at $20 it's a bargain. Also saw a shop vac portable 2 gal unit like I use in my classroom, that'll be $14.99, also a great deal. I use it in class to vacuum the dust out of donated computers - good and strong! Also, they are selling Roomba vacs, the kind that run the floor without help. They're Reg price $149 and going for $99. Sorry I went a little off topic, but I would sure like to get inside one of those vacs and see what makes them tick. Great classroom project. Maybe if you want to build the K3 and hold off on the DMM unless you need one. RS has them in the low$$ range as well. 73 Al WA6VNN **Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Happy Thanksgiving to All
Happy Thanksgiving to All And especially to the entire Crew at Elecraft, you deserve a rest! 73, AL WA6VNN **Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop000301) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] soldering suggestions?
Robert, From the description of the tools you have been using I wouldn't even guess you are a beginner at soldering. You've made all the right choices and have spent some time learning the vast range of devices that will confront you. The .05 chisel tip is a good choice, especially for the Elecraft devices. It is helpful to make sure the tip has been been wiped clean on the sponge to get good contact with the surface. But, it is also important that tip have a small amount of solder freshly applied to the tip to enhance wetting contact and to improve the thermal transfer to the pad/wire. Not too much, not too little solder to wet the tip. A common error is to use a sponge that is too wet and to bury the tip in it. This chills the tip and may delay the readiness to solder. The three seconds is a pretty vague figure - I rather rely on the time it takes to cause the solder 'break and flow' causing the solder to wet the metal surfaces. Since the tip may not cause the solder to flow immediately, it is also likely there is not a lot of heat going into the component that would cause damage. If you can't get the solder to flow in a reasonable time 4 - 6 seconds or so, you may not have ggod contact and might need to apply a little more pressure while gently moving the tip around in a scrubbing motion. That has always worked for me. It helps to have a flat side of the chisel tip against the pad to increase the contact area with the surface. Working off the end of a fine tip, like you are writing with a pencil, may not provide for good heat transfer. One last thing - to get solder to flow to a surface and alloy, it must be hot, so make sure you have contact with the pad and the wire to get things moving right. Avoid movement that will fracture the semi-solid solder yielding what is sometimes called a cold solder joint. The have a dull granular appearance. A well done solder joint will reveal the features of the wire and the pad (not excess solder) and will have a bright shiny appearance. Commmon rubbing alcohol can be used to clean the solder of flux residue if you need to do a close inspection, otherwise I wouldn't do it. It's often needed after doing a remove and replace repair, becaus eof the buildup of flux. A cotton q-tip can be used for a small job, but you'll get cotton fibres that need to be picked off. A better choice is a small swatch of cotton fabric, like a piece of old t-shirt. You can also use that to dry off excess. Avoid synthetic materials, they are good static generators and can cause ESD damage. My choice is a natural bristle brush. You can use an acid-brush with pure bristle or boar bristle, but not plastic. They are usually about a 1/2 inch of bristle, but I trim mine to less than 1/4 inch to give it a little scrubbing strength. These can usually be found in auto parts and tool stores. Also, you can sometimes find detail brushes or artists brushes that have stiff bristles - they just cost a little more. Remeber this is mainly for the fine work. If you get into 12 gauge wire and 1/4 inch terminals you'll need the 40 watt or larger iron with a 3/16 - 1/4 tip or the old trusty gun. Hope that helps. 73 de WA6VNN Al ** See what's new at http://www.aol.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 in SS Phone
In a message dated 11/19/2007 11:20:14 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Ed, I'm waiting for my K3 and I'm a phone man at present (working on my Morse). I have a 2.8kHz and 400Hz on order. Reading your post, maybe I should consider either a 1.8 or a 2.1 kHz filter too. Given the option, which would choose? Anyone else want to chip in too please. Kind of decision I couldn't make back in May. I opted for the std 2.7K to get the feel of the rig first. I found the dsp filter to be so effective that I'd be hard pressed to go to a narrower filter. But, I'm primarily a cw op with a lot of ssb time. I did find times when I was working between a couple strong stations where the 1.8k would have helped. I am presently ready to order a 250 hz for the cw ops, but again, the dsp works amazingly good at 50 hz. I haven't gotten into a deep CW brawl yet so I'm not sure how much I need the narrow roofing, but my experience in ss phone tells me I need it. I've placed high score in ss phone years ago an I have a feeling that the K3 is going to make that a reasonable expectation in the future. Good luck es CU in the test WA6VNN, Al ** See what's new at http://www.aol.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Who will be running a K3 in SS today/tomorrow?
In a message dated 11/17/2007 7:29:19 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Wonder which call letters I should be keeping an ear out for in Sweepstakes... If your K3 will be active, please let us know... Thanks! John K7FD ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: _http://www.elecraft.com_ (http://www.elecraft.com) K3 sn0031 will be running off on as call sign K6DDO (alternate call sign of Channel Islands ARC), WA6VNN (my Call), and KF6DZP ( YL's Call ) 73 Al ** See what's new at http://www.aol.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: doing the math
In a message dated 11/16/2007 2:24:00 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: On Nov 16, 2007 9:38 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: As long as I get my K3 sometime before the sunspots get back, I'll be happy... I sincerely hope I don't have to wait *that* long! :) -- Julian, G4ILO K2 s/n: 392 K3 s/n: ??? G4ILO's Shack: www.g4ilo.com Zerobeat Ham Forums: www.zerobeat.net/smf ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com For the K3 or the sunspots to return ; ) Al WA6VNN PS SN 31 made a debut at the Santa Barbara ARC meeting last night (SIG nite) and captured the audience with her little brother by her side (K2 SN4887). Interesting that W1AW on other side of continent was 599 at 0400Z on 7049 using a 20 ft piece of hookup wire as an ant, inside a building! 100% copy using txt decode. Hint: on txt decode, use narrowest possible dsp passband, I was using 50 Hz under a std 2.7Khz xtal filter. So, Why wasn't there any other activity on 40??? Come on folks, get on the air! 73 Al ** See what's new at http://www.aol.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 options
In a message dated 11/16/2007 2:46:00 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: As others noted you can have up to 5 roofing (crystal) filters in the main receiver. I don't recall seeing a number for the Aux receiver. I don't know of any conflicting configuration options like you mention for the K2 either, but there are A/B choices to make. For example, you can choose between 8-pole or 5-pole crystal filters. You can have up to 5 of them in any mix. You can choose between a 5 ppm and a 1 ppm reference oscillator (defines the frequency stability of the K3 as the temperature varies). You only have one of those. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- Can anyone tell me which options for the K3 preclude other options? For example, on the K2 you cannot have the KPA100 option unless you do not have the internal battery installed. Also, how many filters can the K3 take? 73's de Ken KG0WX - Kadiddlehopper #11808, Flying Pigs #-1055, Grid EM17ip ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: _http://www.elecraft.com_ (http://www.elecraft.com) Aux rcvr is same as primary rcvr, 5, assuming you are referring to the KRX3 Subreceiver. Al WA6VNN ** See what's new at http://www.aol.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Band limits
The first thing I'd do is send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] (mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]) . My unqualiifed guess is a firmware version change or patch for that country. Which leads to the possibility that is already installed. TECH MD in the CONFIG mode allopws setting of country. I have not experimented with changing that to see what will happen. The rig SN is also stored there. There may be some things that are locked out from change at the mfg. I'm also curious myself if there are nay hidden programming functions, otherwise known as unpublished. Yaesu and other rigs usually have a lot that are reserved for the shop techs. Most software manufacturers love to put these in their products. Al WA6VNN ** See what's new at http://www.aol.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 wish list
And then there's the frogs! The ant tuner will shut them all up for a few minutes! Of course, there is always the possibility of using a feedline that is matched to the antenna and good grounds etc. I've been runnning a vertical made by Mosely back in the late 1950's, with 80 feet of RG-8. Unfortunately it is only a 4 band 40 - 10 no WARC, BUT it'll tune all 4 bands to under 1.5:1 and no need for tuners. The dipole is another story. Al WA6VNN ** See what's new at http://www.aol.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Re: K3 selectivity display?
In a message dated 11/14/2007 3:25:19 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Craig D. Smith wrote: When you tap XFIL to rotate through the filters the discrete FLn indicator lights up for that filter and also the VFO B display says FL3 0.40, FL4 0.25, etc. So you don't really have to remember. Thanks, all, for the quick and meaningful response. The above behavior will help a lot. Guess I won't need that Sticky note pasted to the front of my K3 afterall ;) Craig, I really liked your idea of being able to quickly see the actual XFIL bandwidth in some convenient way. So I just changed the way the menu's crystal filter configuration entries work: now, they always pertain to the actual filter in use by the receiver. Before, the menu kept track of the filter number independently as you manipulated the parameters. This change allows the operator to immediately hear the effect of any filter changes, without having to make sure that the receiver and menu are set up for the same filter. If you assign a programmable switch function to the filter bandwidth menu entry, it'll show you the bandwidth for the present filter -- not the filter the menu was working with, which could have been different. I should have done it this way in the first place! Thanks for the implied suggestion :) I'll have another firmware release in a couple of days that includes a number of other updates as well. 73, Wayne N6KR --- http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: _http://www.elecraft.com_ (http://www.elecraft.com) FB Wayne! BTW is AM support up yet? Al WA6VNN ** See what's new at http://www.aol.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Re: K3 selectivity display?
In a message dated 11/14/2007 3:25:19 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Craig D. Smith wrote: When you tap XFIL to rotate through the filters the discrete FLn indicator lights up for that filter and also the VFO B display says FL3 0.40, FL4 0.25, etc. So you don't really have to remember. Thanks, all, for the quick and meaningful response. The above behavior will help a lot. Guess I won't need that Sticky note pasted to the front of my K3 afterall ;) Craig, I really liked your idea of being able to quickly see the actual XFIL bandwidth in some convenient way. So I just changed the way the menu's crystal filter configuration entries work: now, they always pertain to the actual filter in use by the receiver. Before, the menu kept track of the filter number independently as you manipulated the parameters. This change allows the operator to immediately hear the effect of any filter changes, without having to make sure that the receiver and menu are set up for the same filter. If you assign a programmable switch function to the filter bandwidth menu entry, it'll show you the bandwidth for the present filter -- not the filter the menu was working with, which could have been different. I should have done it this way in the first place! Thanks for the implied suggestion :) I'll have another firmware release in a couple of days that includes a number of other updates as well. 73, Wayne N6KR --- http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: _http://www.elecraft.com_ (http://www.elecraft.com) FB Wayne. BTW is the AM support scheduled soon? Just curious. Al WA6VNN ** See what's new at http://www.aol.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Co-ax for the K2
If you haveever tried to remove housepaint from a coax, black or whatever, you'll know that best way to match the coax to the house is to paint it with your color of choice. I have a 45 year old Moseley vertical ant that I paint with latex exterior paint and it lasts until you take it off. Pleases the neighbors too! Al WA6VNN ** See what's new at http://www.aol.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] SN0031 OTA
SN31 was placed in full operation at 0900Z 12 Nov 2007. Primary mode of operation CW on 40 a little 20 as bands improve and some 80M SSB for net time. 73 Al WA6VNN ** See what's new at http://www.aol.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KRX3 KBPF3 Question
I'm confused, the KBPF3 is a fairly large board that mounts on the RF board and operates in bypass to the ham band only BPF. Has anyone seen the KRX3 schematic or an image that tells the full story? Al WA6VNN In a message dated 11/10/2007 3:23:21 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: If you have two KBPF3s. ;) Ed Wayne Burdick wrote: Or both, if you want general-coverage receive on both. Ed Muns wrote: In the long run I plan on using the KFL3B-FM in the primary RX and the KFL3A-6K in the secondary RX for listening to broadcast stations. Afaik this would require the KBPF3 to be installed on the KRX3 board and not on the main RF board. As a clone of the main receiver this should be possible, shouldn't it? Did I overlook something? That is correct. The KBPF3 can be installed on either receiver. Wayne N6KR --- http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ** See what's new at http://www.aol.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 #36 Up and Running
I was a little concerned after installation of the Noise blanker board as it did not sit level to the RF board. I thought that the standoff I had installed was a little short. Measuring it, it was correct as per the manual. . . I added a third split ring washer to the assembly sotherre are now two on top side of the board, raising the spacer just enough to level it out. Al WA6VNN sn31 ** See what's new at http://www.aol.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft_K3] K3 Product Launch
I agree what you said for a $300 million? business. I have been in management of projects that have a 5 year budget in that area. But Elecraft is far from that. I see many plusses from announcing the product when they did. Add in a little enthusiatic optimism coupled with the knowledge they have a faithful following, they have been able to divert potential business from straying - which helped me make my decision to buy since I was in the market. The down payment was no issue with me, either, you either pay now or pay later, with interest to their financier.? So, rather than place them in a takeover position, I was happy to do the $ down. A lot can be said about a bigger company having in-situ production capability, but that wasn't always the case, i.e. it is Elecraft's time to move on. They should be thankful that they didn't eat the investment over in-house capability with out-sourced PCBs coming to maturity. The painful result of having a full vertically integrated facility at this?date is the?process of dismantling it and transitioning to outsourcing is rife with conflict. What do we do if outsource causes problems we can't fix and decide to go back?? Who pays for it (duh, the customer) and so on. Anyway. . . it's done and it will be great. By taking the 'risk' I'll have my K3 on the air this evening. 73,? Al WA6VNN -Original Message- From: Phil Westover [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tue, 6 Nov 2007 8:01 am Subject: [Elecraft_K3] K3 Product Launch My profession is RD, product development and product launch with a $300 million/year company. One alternative to this entire situation would have been for Elecraft to do what we do: Not divulge anything about the product or its launch schedule until all development is finished and all production systems are ready. I've enjoyed watching Elecraft's development with the K3. It's an insight that I normally don't get (because all of our competition keeps everything very quiet and secret as well). Whenever the customer gets any wind of a new product, especially one as exciting as the K3, the risk is very high to keep everyone happy. I don't criticize Wayne and Eric (and the gang) for letting us all know what's happening. After all, they did keep things secret for 3+ years! But as I said, with the first production runs not completed at the time of the announcements, they are taking the risk. I think they knew that, and I think they are so dedicated to getting the job done right that they were willing to take that chance. I haven't ordered a K3 yet, but I will. By not being one of the early adaptors, I reduce the risk for myself as well. - Phil WA7URV Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! - http://mail.aol.com
Re: [Elecraft_K3] K3 Product Launch
That's been my rant for at least 5 months now. 73 de WA6VNN sn31 and ready for your next prod. -Original Message- From: Simon Brown [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tue, 6 Nov 2007 9:31 am Subject: Re: [Elecraft_K3] K3 Product Launch I'm taking a lot out of context here, but pity those who purchased a very expensive high-end radio a few years ago based on marketing hype. The manufacturer still has not addressed outstanding probelms, those who bought got bitten, so even buying 'off the shelf' can be a risk. Simon Brown, HB9DRV - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] By taking the 'risk' Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! - http://mail.aol.com
Re: [Elecraft_K3] Re: Re K3 delays...minor correction
In a message dated 11/5/2007 12:29:53 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: A minor correction to your minor correction. My statement was that Elecraft AS A COMPANY is inexperienced dealing with contractors. It's clear from what's happened with the K3 that even if an individual at Elecraft had SOME experience in another life with outside contractors, it wasn't enough experience to correctly handle this situation. There are thousands of ways contractors outside can mess up, cause damage and then hide the damage until it's too late. It takes lots of accumulated experience to sidestep the landmines – large companies have entire departments that do nothing but monitor suppliers' status – obviously Elecraft couldn't or didn't do this. As a company, Elecraft stepped in the landmines. Les WB6MND I know I'm just a little biased toward Elecraft, but they have done quite well for what they started with the K3. I have managed programs in what we call rocket science and high tech of the nth degree for 40 years and had just as much trouble with first run PCBs - even when there were only 2 or 3 to be made. It's a tough game and outsource is still in it's infancy. Have you ever noticed how many versions of highly popular Computer motherboards turn out to be lemons and the rate at which they are rolled up in revision? These are devices that are sold by hundreds of thousands and using standardized buses and common components. Main reason is the pressure to get them to market and the belief that firmware will fix any minor problems. I praise Elecraft for having the strength to see this through the toughest part of a new product rollout. Al WA6VNN Al WA6VNN ** See what's new at http://www.aol.com Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Elecraft_K3/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Elecraft_K3/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
