[Elecraft] W9OY on P3
I have a flex 5000a, and think its fantastic for what I want it to do. It was up and running 10 minutes after I opened the box. It will run fine on even slow computers, but not with great performance, plus, the 3000 and the 5000 use a fire wire interface, and that is critical to how well the radio works. Even a very fast computer wont run the radio well if the fire wire port is not good. They no longer use audio cables, sound cards and so on... Lots of CW guys here, and I doubt the flex is up to snuff on CW, due to the delay in the computer. With a good fire wire port (no shared IRQ's and a good chipset), the radios work fine on slow computers, but with a lot of delay between what comes in and when you hear it, and what you send and when it goes out. There can be a LOT of delay in the monitor (on voice or the CW side tone) on a slow computer. On a fast computer, there is very little. But break in is nothing like the Elecraft stuff (yet), mostly because of the delay. On a 22 inch monitor, the display is stunning, the fidelity is/can be fantastic on receive and transmit, no grunge, etc. The antenna tuner is not anything like the Elecraft tuners, they have a long way to go there! Coming from all homebrew (tubes) and some modern stuff, the flex was easy to figure out and is fun. I think, if I had a K3, I would like the P3, if its a kit. I have strong urges to order my third K2 and build it, its so much fun. I seem to build them, sell them, build them, sell them... I really like the monster K3! Its good two American companies are at the top of the neat radio list! Brett N2DTS __ 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] K2 for sale, new lower price!
I have for sale K2 #6673 with the kpa100 and kat100 in the separate ec2 case, ksb2, k160rx, knb2, kat2, fdimp and kio2, about $2000.00 total cost. It works like a dream, is like new, with extra parts, manuals, etc. Asking $1000.00 plus shipping. Will sell separate the k2 and the kpa100/kat100 in the ec2 case. Brett N2DTS __ 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] An interested link
I don't understand why some people like to limit other peoples activity, or choices. It seems to me like there is very little important communication going on in ham radio, so why stress the narrow bandwidth? Would it block some critical or important communication? Ham radio just seems like a bunch of people who enjoy fooling with radio equipment, so why not just let them fool with it? What about operating on an empty band, the operator still must (by law) sound like a cheap cell phone? There are other modes much narrower than ssb, why not not ban ssb as wasting spectrum? People should try to get along, I dislike contests, they can take over and ruin a band, I am not fond of RTTY, or slow scan TV, or ssb, or many other things other hams do, but the last thing I would want to do is restrict something that others find enjoyable. Brett N2DTS __ 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] K3...
I have had two K2's and a K1, and liked them all very much. I just ordered a flex 5000 although I am not really fond of computers in the shack. Why? because it can do fantastic fidelity and SAM, and it has a really nice display with band buttons, band stacking registers, panadaptor, etc. The original K3 advertisement for the K3 SAID it would have SAM, variable roofing filters and other things it still does not have. Only now is the fidelity improving I ordered a K3 when it was announced, but cancelled it and have not the desire to get one at all. I would love to get a K4, bigger box, full fidelity (if you want it), less or no menus, built in band scope, band buttons with stacking registers, maybe even a real meter... If it does come out, I suspect it will be 5 years from now... Brett N2DTS __ 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] K2 for sale
I have for sale K2 #6673 with the kpa100 and kat100 in the separate ec2 case, ksb2, k160rx, knb2, kat2, fdimp and kio2, about $2000.00 total cost. It works like a dream, is like new, with extra parts, manuals, etc. Asking $1200.00 plus shipping. Brett N2DTS brett.gazdzin...@verizon.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K2 build time
It took me two and a half days to build my 2nd K2, about 30 hours total, then some time spent doing the alignment and adjustment, then I built most of the options in the next week. The first K2 took about 40 hours, but I think they improved the manual over time. The building is VERY fun and addictive, I like to finish what I start, and if single, would work 24 hours at a time. The K2 works fantastic, but is a small and low button count radio. I think Elecraft really needs to make a full size version of the K2 with lots of knobs and better displays. It would be a great rig to build and use in the shack, the k2 is just the thing for portable and mobile operation. Brett N2DTS __ 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] New Elecraft stuff (surface mount)
I could do surface mount, I would think some aspects of it is easier, but its hard to see the values on some through hole parts in the k2, and figuring out what parts go where in something like a K2 kit would NOT be fun I think I almost needed a microscope for some K2 parts as it is... Brett N2DTS __ 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] New Elecraft stuff...
I hope Elecraft continues to make new kits, not the screw it together type like the K3, but the kits you build from a big pile of parts. After all, the surface mount stuff will kill any real kit building before you know it, and I have built all the Elecraft kits, some twice. I for one would buy and build anything Elecraft would make as soon as I could afford it, the more they make, the more I would buy. My dream rig is a 100 watt, all mode, large rig version of the K2 with lots of knobs and displays, made up of lots of toroids to wind, and many transistors to mount to heat sinks! I don't know anything about the Elecraft business model, but I sure wish they would expand and put out loads of new kits of all sorts. Brett N2DTS __ 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] KPA100 diodes blown...
Don, Thanks for the info. Everything connects through the station control, antenna's, receivers, transmitters, mod monitor, etc, it also has the T/R contactors, muting relays etc in it. What I have done for the last 25 years is select the dummy load when not operating, which leaves the antenna's connected to nothing, and the homebrew receiver bridged with the 756 pro3 selected for the receiver (I only use the band scope in the icom). The K2, as a transceiver, gets connected to rx position 5. Nothing else has ever blown out when hooked up this way, and I have had many close strikes... In that setup, you have a BIG antenna switch open (going to dummy load) 1 inch spacing or more between things, plus the K2 antenna is also open (receiver switch selected to a short to ground from homebrew rx). I have the kpa100 and the kat100 in one case, remote from the actual K2, hooked up to the antenna port all the time as its out of the way behind racks of big AM transmitters. I think I will try the choke at the antenna 1 connector of the kat100. That is another odd thing, that any voltage made it through the kat100 to take out the diodes in the kpa100 Brett N2DTS - Original Message - From: Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com To: Brett Gazdzinski brett.gazdzin...@verizon.net Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Saturday, May 02, 2009 9:41 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KPA100 diodes blown... Brett, I do not know how many other radios have wattmeters directly at the antenna jack, so I really can't compare others. You can place a high value resistor (1k or greater - that is 20 times the 50 ohm impedance) across the antenna and see if that helps. An RF Choke could also be used for the same purpose. RFC10 (100 uHy) was removed from inside the KPA100 because it can couple to parts of the base K2 and cause out of band oscillations. You could add an RF choke of 100 uHy or a little greater across the antenna external to the KPA100 if you want the protection it afforded back again. I am confused because you state that you disconnect the antennas when not in use, but then you refer to the 3 turn winding in your homebrew receiver. The only certain cure for damaged diodes is to fully disconnect the antenna connection when the K2 is not in use - I certainly hope you do not operate during periods of thunderstorm activity, sine that is a dangerous situation unless you have extensive (and expensive) lightning protection (equal to that installed at a broadcast station) installed in your ham station - a simple ground will not perform that function. I have never had a diode failure in my KPA100, but I disconnect the antennas and connect a dummy load directly to the K2 when it is not in use. The 1N5711 diodes are a bit on the fragile side, but they do provide the best voltage response vs. frequency curve. If you want hardier wattmeter diodes, you could replace them with 1N4148 diodes. The accuracy of the wattmeter may suffer by 5 to 10% (and that may be band dependent), and the readings below 3 watts may not be as accurate and with the 1N5711s. Since you have to replace the diodes anyway, the choice is yours to make - just be prepared to accept the consequences I have outlined if you decide to use the 1N4148s, or if you choose the 1N5711s, understand that they are more sensitive to static discharges and the take the necessary precautions so they are not damaged. 73, Don W3FPR Brett Gazdzinski wrote: I turned my K2 on after is sat a while, and hit the tune button to tune the antenna, and got crazy indications, D16 and D17 in the KPA100 are blown. Is there nothing that can be done about these diodes blowing so easy? I need to order a set from Elecraft, but I leave all the other radios hooked up and nothing blows in them... I disconnect the antenna's, and select the dummy load, plus I usually have the homebrew receiver selected which has a 3 turn coil as an antenna input, which should look like a short to any voltage, but enough voltage must get through everything to blow the diodes in the K2... How are other radios protected against static buildup on the antenna? Brett N2DTS __ 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] KPA100 diodes blown...
I turned my K2 on after is sat a while, and hit the tune button to tune the antenna, and got crazy indications, D16 and D17 in the KPA100 are blown. Is there nothing that can be done about these diodes blowing so easy? I need to order a set from Elecraft, but I leave all the other radios hooked up and nothing blows in them... I disconnect the antenna's, and select the dummy load, plus I usually have the homebrew receiver selected which has a 3 turn coil as an antenna input, which should look like a short to any voltage, but enough voltage must get through everything to blow the diodes in the K2... How are other radios protected against static buildup on the antenna? Brett N2DTS __ 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] k2 vs k3
I find building the k2 from scratch VERY much fun, and would not want to miss out on it. It really is an amazing radio, the whole package. I enjoy building them so much I built two so far, plus a K1. It does not have all the features some operators might want, but you build it, its small, and it works fantastic. The reward you get from operating something you built from a pile of parts is priceless. I don't really desire a K3 (yet). Brett N2DTS __ 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] price of a K2
Judging from what I have seen of the average building and solder quality, I would worry about the reliability of any kit. Some of the worst solder I ever saw was from the old TV repair days. But most solder problems are easy to fix, all the Elecraft parts are new, so they solder nicely. I have an old Leader O scope in the shack, which had a problem with the display jumping horizontally. In going over the solder, all kinds of nasty old flux came out of most connections, and the overall quality of the solder joints was very bad. I got a good price for the first K2 I built... Brett N2DTS __ 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] K2 missing part
I think I was scratching my head over the same choke, the manual and updates said it could be a different color, but it was the same as other chokes, and I was not actually short a choke. Brett N2DTS __ 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] remote kpa100
I run the kpa remote, in the EC2 case with the kat100 100 watt tuner. Seems to be a real neat setup! Brett N2DTS __ 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] Elecraft ssb net
I have to try to get on this net, since I have been unable to make any ssb contacts with the K2. I did have a qso with someone I know from AM operation, he was running a weekend ssb net, and I jumped in at the end, with the qrp K2. I also did answer a CQ I heard on 80 meters, and had a short qso with someone running something vintage I think, both reports on my audio were good, but I would like a critical report. I listen around and everyone seems to be in a group. I call CQ for long times with no response. I have heard people ignore requests for help with their radios, one guy asked if a small group of guys could help him figure out what mic would work best with his KWM2, they said signals were not strong enough and then ignored him completely...rude! I like and prefer to talk to people I don't know, or have not worked in a while, but it seems most ssb operation is the usual groups on the same frequency, all the time. Its easy on AM, there are small windows (mostly) where people listen, people jumping in are welcome in most groups, except maybe some on 80 meters at night, a CQ or just a tune up of the transmitter gets a response in many cases. You can then have a nice long qso about vintage gear, homebrew, antenna's, technical stuff, motorcycles, old cars, sdr radios, almost anything. Other people may jump in, original guys leave, and the thing just rolls along sometimes. I don't ever hear this on ssb. I do hear nets where people jump in and out, which is not quite the same thing. I suspect many hams don't know what fun they are missing out on... Anyway, I will try to remember to get on the Elecraft net next time and get a report on the K2-100. And also hear other K2's and K3's! I was an hour and a half late for the last one and heard nothing I did hear the flex radio net close buy, they were loud.. Brett N2DTS __ 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] hot glue for toroids
I have found commercial gear that has a toroid holder, a plastic like thing the toroid sits in, the wires pass through and wrap around the form, then get soldered. The form has small pins that fit in holes in the circuit board, and the toroid is held slightly above board. I have one I got out of something, marked: pe-53933s us patent 5309130 0030-f China I don't think I ever have seen bare toroids glued to a board. There are all sorts of inductor types in pre made forms of all types, none of which anyone could wind at home, for a kit Brett N2DTS __ 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] K2 noise blanker
I have tried it on various types of noises, some which sounded like auto ignition noise, I think someone had something running without resistor wires or plugs, strong and weak signals, no change. I did have a bad street light out front of my house, the reason I got the NB, but they fixed it before I got the noise blanker. The main reason I asked was there seems to be no degradation of signals with the NB on at any setting. On most rigs, you can hear a difference, and where its adjustable, it makes things sound really bad when you turn it up. The pro 3 is like that. On the K2, I have been unable to detect it doing anything at all, any mode, any noise, although the noise level I usually have is not bad. Thanks for the replies, Brett N2DTS __ 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] K2 noise blanker
Joe, I will try this, thanks! Brett N2DTS - Original Message - From: Joe Planisky jp...@jeffnet.org To: Brett Gazdzinski brett.gazdzin...@verizon.net Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, March 01, 2009 6:03 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 noise blanker Hi Brett, Last summer, I had similar questions about the KNB2 in my K2. In my case, a neighbor had put up a new electric fence and I was getting QRM in the form of a pulse every second. The unmodified KNB2 seemed to have little to no effect on the noise. In fact, I questioned whether it was working at all. A 'scrape test' (connecting a wire to the antenna connector and scraping it on some metal surface in the shack to generate static) indicated that it was indeed working. The modification described here http://www.dl7maj.de/KNB2-Mod.pdf seemed to improve the situation. After making the mod described, the KNB2 would partially take out the electric fence noise using the LEVEL LOW threshold. Not perfect, but better than it was. You can read the original thread by searching the list archives for the topic [K2] KNB2 vs. electric fence that started on August 3, 2008. 73 -- Joe KB8AP On Mar 1, 2009, at 2:18 PM, Brett Gazdzinski wrote: I have tried it on various types of noises, some which sounded like auto ignition noise, I think someone had something running without resistor wires or plugs, strong and weak signals, no change. I did have a bad street light out front of my house, the reason I got the NB, but they fixed it before I got the noise blanker. The main reason I asked was there seems to be no degradation of signals with the NB on at any setting. On most rigs, you can hear a difference, and where its adjustable, it makes things sound really bad when you turn it up. The pro 3 is like that. On the K2, I have been unable to detect it doing anything at all, any mode, any noise, although the noise level I usually have is not bad. Thanks for the replies, Brett N2DTS __ 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] K2 volume and sensitivity
I pick up stations on my K2 without an antenna hooked up. I also get way more then enough volume. I never need or use the preamp below 20 meters. Did you check the antenna with a different receiver? I am not fond of coincidences, no ssb output, weak receiver Sounds like it might be time for signal tracing from the antenna back. Brett N2DTS __ 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] k2 noise blanker
I have the noise blanker in my K2, and I have yet to find a noise it does anything with. It seems to have no impact at all on the receiver, no matter what settings. I did remove the bypass jumper, but it does not act like it Is it supposed to be noticeable at all with it on? Brett N2DTS __ 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] K2 questions
I just got done putting the kat and the kpa in the ec2 case. It seems very nice that way, carry the k2 into the shack, hook up the antenna cable, the control cable, and power to the K2 and I am ready for 100 watt operation with the auto tuner. Disconnect the three cables and carry the K2 into the den and listen to 160 to 10 meters while the wife watches TV. No screws, no removing the top of the K2. I don't see why you would ever need to open the K2 with it set up this way. I just finished the 160 meter and noise blanker options, 160 meters seems real nice, and my alpha delta dx-lb-plus seems to work well there, despite it being very short for a 160 meter antenna. Brett N2DTS __ 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] K2, kpa100, kat100!
I just finished the kpa100, and put it in the case with the kat100. Works great, no issues now with the k2, the ssb option, both antenna tuners, the rs232, the kpa100 and the kat100, no missing parts, no issues, all built in the last few weeks. The only thing I was not happy about is setting the bias level on the kpa, the current just keeps going up, and somewhat quickly. Is there any better way to set the bias? Shouldn't things be more stable? Quite a slick setup though, the pa and tuner can be remote, and the K2 sits on the desk, disconnect a few cables and the qrp K2 with the built in tuner is ready to go anyplace The only bug me thing is the relays in the kat100 are LOUD when tuning! Only the 160 meter option and noise blanker to go. Brett N2DTS __ 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] k2-kio2 aux i/o install
I personally never do the resistance checks, or the parts counts, the only thing I ever do is check the pa finals are not shorted after working on the K2. I have built two K2's, lots of options for them, a K1, and have yet to be short a part, or have a problem other than one unsoldered joint on a K2 relay. (at 50, my vision has really gotten bad). I am really amazed that I have not had a single missing part, or even one bad part, you would think some are bound to get in the system, but no The Elecraft instruction books are so good, even though I rush through and build things really fast, (K2 in under 3 days) they work when I am done. I wont recommend NOT doing the checks, I suppose you could fry a lot of parts, but I wonder what percentage of builders do the checks... Brett N2DTS __ 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] K2, kio2,kat100
I received part of my order to combine the kat100 and the kpa100 into the ec2 box, I got the rs232 interface and the kat100, and built both, no problems, no missing parts, as usual. One thing I notice though, when I adjust the power of the k2 past 10 watts, the kat100 tuner does not change to hi power. Does it only do that if I have the kpa100? Everything else works like it should, antenna a/b, tunes my alpha delta dx-lb-plus to at least a 1.3 to 1 on all bands. Time to order the 160 meter and noise blanker options! The alpha delta does 160, and the street light out front of my house goes on and off causing a racket in my radio! I also did the ssb filter bandwidth mod, SSB sounds REAL nice! Who needs a K3! Brett N2DTS __ 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] Am bandwidth and other things
I had a very good 'ham radio' weekend, Saturday, I had a long QSO on 80 meters with the K2 on SSB, it did great at 15 watts out! I hooked up a half decent dynamic microphone and was told the K2 sounded good, not ESSB but nice. Today, I was on AM with the homebrew rig, in a large group, and was surprised to hear someone on using a K3! I don't know what microphone he was using but the K3 sounded very thin. It was the first K3 I have heard on the air on any mode. Since it was a very large group, I did not get to ask about the Microphone and so on, but almost all the modern rigs sound better on AM than the K3 did. On the positive side, I did not notice the audio getting into the alc like it does on some radios, which shows up as reducing the carrier under modulation, and the audio sounded clean. In my book, most of the modern rigs do poorly on AM receive as far as distortion, noise and frequency response go, limiting the low end response to something like 200 or 100 Hz, but listen to some good AM on an old tube receiver with push pull 6L6's, or the detector output of an R390 into a hifi amplifier, and its a whole other thing. What really surprises me is how good the K2 sounds on ssb receive, with an outboard hifi speaker, listening to the essb guys. Brett N2DTS __ 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] K2 freq calibration...
Today, I could pick up the time signal on 20 MHz and did the setup with moving the probe between tp1 and tp2 to get the readings the same. It seems spot on now, and I was in a qso on 80 meters and was right on frequency on both TX and RX. Same report as far as the audio goes, restricted but clean. Its likely to sound a bit better with a real microphone. The station I was talking to sounded VERY nice using an external speaker. I have been told the variable xtal filter looks bad on ssb with spectrogram, and assume that is normal. I am really pleased with the K2 and the ssb part of it also. Who needs a K3! Brett N2DTS - Original Message - From: Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com To: Brett Gazdzinski brett.gazdzin...@verizon.net Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2009 10:36 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 freq calibration... Brett, You ask several questions, and I will delay on all of them except the one about calibration. You are relying on too many variables when setting the 4 MHz reference oscillator. To reduce those variables, use the N6KR method that is documented at http://www.elecraft.com/Apps/K2%20C22%20Adjust%20App%20Note.pdf. If you can tune WWV accurately, all other variables are cancelled out by that method. You may also find helpful information in the K2 Dial Calibration article on my website www.w3fpr.com. For your restriceted SSB audio, consider the comments in that article about the low frequency corner of the SSB filter passband carefully - 300 Hz is the 'magic' frequency. After you get the dial calibration correct (within 20 Hz or less), ask about the other items. 73, Don W3FPR Brett Gazdzinski wrote: I am having a hard time getting the frequency calibration on my K2 closer than 80 Hz. I set the osc to exactly 4Mhz, plus or minus a Hz on the pro3 switching between usb and lsb, it also agrees with the HP spectrum analyzer, I then run the cal pll, and the bfo calibration, and when tuning in ssb signals, they sound normal 80 or more Hz higher than they should (as tuned in on the pro 3). Is this as good as it gets on ssb? I have compared CW signals between the two rigs and they are very close, within about 10 Hz on 80 meters anyway. It seems the freq counter, pll cal, and bfo all sort of interact, but if the freq counter calibration is spot on, why the 80 Hz difference? (80 Hz is as close as I have gotten it in many attempts) Also, is it normal for the non ssb filters to look SO bad on spectrogram?? I got the ssb option on Tuesday, it was done Tuesday night, the antenna tuner was done Wednesday, no problems with them, no missing parts, no issues, I made my first ssb contact yesterday on 80 meters using the hand mic from the pro 3. SSB from the K2 sounds good in the pro 3, the report I got said it sounded a bit restricted, the hand mic sounds poor on the pro 3... What would be a nice sounding microphone to use with the K2? Also, I have been thinking of taking down the home made G5RV and trying an alpha delta dx-lb plus (160 through 10), the G5RV does not seem to work as good as the 40 meter dipole on 40, and its likely worse on other bands... Anyone got anything bad to say about the dx-lb plus, I know its not as good as a full size 160 m antenna, but I have about 110 feet max between trees. I sure am enjoying the K2! Brett N2DTS ___ 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] AM and FM bandwidth
I have been doing AM as my only ham radio activity for the last 30 years, and enjoy it a lot. I use all equipment built by me, mostly my own designs, and able to run excessive power levels and bandwidths, but that is not how I run it. I restrict myself to weekend morning operation, and do limit the high frequencies to a sensible level, but there is rarely any reason to do so, the bands are almost empty. People want to ban AM, ban ESSB, and make everyone sound like they are talking on a cheap telephone. Well, I don't like contests, but when they are on, I do something else. If other people like them, then its fine in my book. If people want to get on and see how narrow they can go and still be understood, I don't have a problem with that. When the band is crowded, I would not think of getting on and being wide in any mode. I don't do DX, but since other people like to chase it, I don't want to bother them. I don't do digital modes, moon bounce, sstv, and other things, but think its great that people enjoy that stuff. There are plenty of people who just don't care about others and will operate poorly, and I suspect there are just as many that want to eliminate everything that they personally don't like/enjoy. I am glad most manufacturers are leaving the choice in the hands of the operator, I hear the flex radios are capable of very nice fidelity in every mode. I wonder why most hams I hear on 80 meters at night are SO unhappy, they hate AM, they hate the government, they hate contesters, they seem to hate everything. Brett N2DTS ___ 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 freq calibration...
Don, I just got the K2 and ssb add on in the last 2 weeks. I don't think it said anything about the bandwidth other than what is in the manual that came with the ksb2, 2.3 KHz. It sure sounds nice on receive, and it seems to sound fine in the pro3 when I monitor it. Perhaps I just need a good microphone. What caps need to be changed to what in order to get 2.6? Brett N2DTS Brett, What is the width of your OP1 filter? The initial ones were 2.1 kHz wide for best use with a QRP K2, then it was changed to 2.4 kHz for better fidelity. A 2.6 kHz width will sound even better. Elecraft offers a capacitor kit to allow you to change the width to either the 2.1, 2.4 or 2.6 kHz width. Yes, the variable filter looks a bit 'ratty' at wide widths, but if the filter passband is positioned properly (low frequency corner at 300 Hz), it provides a means of cutting out QRM while listening to SSB despite the great passband ripple. It is never used for transmitting SSB. 73, Don W3FPR ___ 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 freq calibration...
I am having a hard time getting the frequency calibration on my K2 closer than 80 Hz. I set the osc to exactly 4Mhz, plus or minus a Hz on the pro3 switching between usb and lsb, it also agrees with the HP spectrum analyzer, I then run the cal pll, and the bfo calibration, and when tuning in ssb signals, they sound normal 80 or more Hz higher than they should (as tuned in on the pro 3). Is this as good as it gets on ssb? I have compared CW signals between the two rigs and they are very close, within about 10 Hz on 80 meters anyway. It seems the freq counter, pll cal, and bfo all sort of interact, but if the freq counter calibration is spot on, why the 80 Hz difference? (80 Hz is as close as I have gotten it in many attempts) Also, is it normal for the non ssb filters to look SO bad on spectrogram?? I got the ssb option on Tuesday, it was done Tuesday night, the antenna tuner was done Wednesday, no problems with them, no missing parts, no issues, I made my first ssb contact yesterday on 80 meters using the hand mic from the pro 3. SSB from the K2 sounds good in the pro 3, the report I got said it sounded a bit restricted, the hand mic sounds poor on the pro 3... What would be a nice sounding microphone to use with the K2? Also, I have been thinking of taking down the home made G5RV and trying an alpha delta dx-lb plus (160 through 10), the G5RV does not seem to work as good as the 40 meter dipole on 40, and its likely worse on other bands... Anyone got anything bad to say about the dx-lb plus, I know its not as good as a full size 160 m antenna, but I have about 110 feet max between trees. I sure am enjoying the K2! Brett N2DTS ___ 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 high current on 15 meters
Don, Thanks for the tips. I did check the parts, they were/are correct. I am ashamed to admit (as a former quality control inspector of circuit boards) that I missed an unsoldered relay pin, on the 40 meter low pass filter relay I think it was, one pin on the end was not soldered. 15 meters now does full power at just under 3 amps. When I had the problem and was testing, I had put the current limit up to 3.5 amps, and the rig would trip the self resetting fuse inside, I thought it was rated for 3 amps??? Not sure if it was the fuse or something else, but the rig would do a quick reset... Anyway, the rig now seems to work fine in every respect, the receive seems better than 6065 was, no missing parts, a very nice kit indeed! I just ordered the antenna tuner and ssb option, the high power tuner and 100 watt amp comes later. Brett N2DTS Original Message - From: Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com To: Brett Gazdzinski brett.gazdzin...@verizon.net Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 1:01 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 high current on 15 meters Brett, Check the components in the 15/17 m Low Pass Filter carefully. Examine C218, C219, C220, C221 and C222 for correct values. Then count the number of turns on L23 and L24. Count the number of times the wire passes through the center of the core rather than the turns around the outside. Go ahead and set the CAL CUR to 3.50 amps. If you add the KPA100, you must increase the setting to 3.50, and with the higher gain using the new transistor at Q6 it is often necessary to increase the CAL CUR limit - it does no harm to increase it. 73, Don W3FPR Brett Gazdzinski wrote: I built K2 #6673 last week, and everything works well, except for a high current warning on 15 meters. The current is set at 3 amps. Things seem fine up to about 10 watts, above that, the current goes up and the power out stays the same. In doing the initial receiver alignment, 15 and 17 meters did not have a peak like the other bands did when adjusting the band pass filters, 17 meter power out seems fine. I checked that the correct components are in the correct places, and have the correct values, and that the solder is good, could I have a bad relay? The adjustments for 15 and 17 meters do peak the power output, and not at the end of their adjustments... Not a big issue, but I don't remember 6065 acting that way, I don't think I ever got the high current warning on that K2. Brett N2DTS ___ 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 - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.10/1906 - Release Date: 1/21/2009 7:07 AM ___ 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 high current on 15 meters
I built K2 #6673 last week, and everything works well, except for a high current warning on 15 meters. The current is set at 3 amps. Things seem fine up to about 10 watts, above that, the current goes up and the power out stays the same. In doing the initial receiver alignment, 15 and 17 meters did not have a peak like the other bands did when adjusting the band pass filters, 17 meter power out seems fine. I checked that the correct components are in the correct places, and have the correct values, and that the solder is good, could I have a bad relay? The adjustments for 15 and 17 meters do peak the power output, and not at the end of their adjustments... Not a big issue, but I don't remember 6065 acting that way, I don't think I ever got the high current warning on that K2. Brett N2DTS ___ 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] Amplifier Vacuum Tubes
I would like to point out that there are loads of good tubes around, many places have a lot of old US tubes, I use some 100TH tubes made in the 1950's, and also have a pile of 811a, 812a, 813,s, 4-125, 4-400,etc. No I dont want to sell any, but there are loads of good tubes around. Unless overloaded, most tubes seem to keep working for a long time. I would not get any tubes from China, Russian tubes are sometimes ok, and the ones from Eastern Europe seem good, but best is old US tubes. Brett ___ 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] PRO II vs K2
Some of the 'features' I like are the cw pitch knob, the button for each band, with triple stacking registers, the pass band tuning knobs (like the K3 has), and I like the analog meter. The scope is very handy, I like it. The K2 is better with close strong signals, and if I was back packing, I would rather have the K2! But as a rig that stays in the shack, I would rather have the pro3 over the K2 for every day use. I got my pro3 for $2500.00 new, they go for about $2200.00 used, a pro2 (I never had one of those) is about $1500.00. If one compares price, you have to order every option on the K2, the only option on the pro3 is the voice recorder I think. In my book, they trade off low noise and distortion for convenience on these new rigs, you get very stable accurate easy frequency control, with whatever tuning speed you want, at the expense of digital hash and distortion. Brett N2DTS - Original Message - From: R. Kevin Stover [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Brett Gazdzinski [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Friday, March 14, 2008 9:14 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] PRO II vs K2 -BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE- Hash: SHA1 This isn't aimed at Brett. When I built my K2/100 2 years ago I spent right at $1800. This included EVERY module made for the rig except the 60m/transverter and noise blanker. It also included a KAT100-1. Including the cost of ones time in the price of a kit is ridiculous. Yes, the Pro III has the pretty band scope and a bunch of features. Anybody who's really honest about it would admit they use 25% of those features on a daily basis and probably don't know what the other 75% really do or how to use them. But hey, they're in the rig. Ridiculous! There seems to be two trains of thought when it it comes to rig design. Lot of pretty lights, lots of wee small knobs and buttons, That rig sure does LOOK like it's worth the price, versus competent simplicity. In the case of the K3 more than just competent. There is no argument that the K2's receiver is better than the ProII/III So, we have a rig which costs 40% less than a ProIII with better performance, sans the pretty lights (I wonder how we got by without them for 75 years), and it gets talked about like it's a sows ear instead of a silk purse? Come on. Brett Gazdzinski wrote: | I got a new pro 3 at HRO for $2500.00 no tax and no shipping. | The pro2 is going for about $1500.00 or less, the K2 would be | over $1700.00 I think. | Different radios though, the K2 is a field day rig, the Icom | is a boat anchor power hog, with lots of great features. | | Brett | N2DTS - -- R. Kevin Stover, ACØH -BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE- Version: GnuPG v1.4.7 (MingW32) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFH2nol11jxjloa2wsRAlssAKDTJSYA5uWNZjoQqqCNx+LQv/R8nACffUBo hQD5Fb/ZwRz+ChD3F7akvPc= =8YCb -END PGP SIGNATURE- ___ 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] PRO II vs K2
I got a new pro 3 at HRO for $2500.00 no tax and no shipping. The pro2 is going for about $1500.00 or less, the K2 would be over $1700.00 I think. Different radios though, the K2 is a field day rig, the Icom is a boat anchor power hog, with lots of great features. Brett N2DTS ___ 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] PRO II vs K2
I would say the K2 is better than the pro2, not quite as good as the pro3. The pro 3 was improved quite a bit, the noise reduction really works well, as do the filters, its not as bothered by close in signals as the older units, and its got less noise, but still quite a bit compared to the corsair I have. The functionality of the pro3 is VERY good, triple band stacking registers, just push the 80 meter button three times and go through 3 different settings, cw, ssb and am, the rig remembers all the settings, which antenna, and tunes it, the filters, frequencies, etc, and it does that for every band. Another thing I really like about the pro3 is tuning in an ssb qso, very often the frequency is spot on, like within 1 cycle! I find that the other stations are also right on frequency, no guesswork... Another thing I was surprised about was the auto notch. It will follow a signal around and notch it out, and an ssb qso is 100%, and does not even sound bad! Does the K3 do that? AM reception is quite good, although the high end rolls off early no matter what filter you use. I never tried it on FM. The K2 is ham band only, the pro series does general coverage and 6 meters, and gives 100 watts out on all bands and frequencies ,and does 160 meters. On CW, changing the pitch is turning a knob, it does everything, and is its own knob, in the K2, changing the pitch requires redoing all the filters With the band scope, the pro3 is a lot for the money. It does have the usual 70mhz 1st IF problems, but much less then the older ones, and the usual noise and poor audio output, but that is also much better than the old ones. You cant build an Icom though Brett N2DTS The pro 3 is now about $2500.00 new. ___ 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] Big trade for a Loaded K3
You are crazy! Brett N2DTS Call me crazy, but for you folks who may have purchased one too many K3's(is that possible?) I would offer up a like-new (less than 60 hours) Icom 756-Pro-III along with a museum quality Collins S-Line Station used aboard the U.S.S. Saratoga which includes a Collins 32S-1 Excellent + Collins 75S-1 Excellent + Collins 30L-1 Excellent + Collins 312B-4 Excellent + Collins S-Line Matching speaker! If that combination doesn't work I can mix match a gorgeous 75A-4 receiver a Red 1994 Olds'98 with 72,000 miles (for the Chicago area folks) - it's very pretty! a.. Previous message: [Elecraft] FS: KX1 and accessories b.. Next message: [Elecraft] Open to Offers for K3/100 #77 c.. Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ] More information about the Elecraft mailing list ___ 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] K1...
Don, Thanks for the K1 info. Is there ay reason you cant make the K1 tune higher in freq by tuning the knob clockwise? I think the manual said it tunes the other way... No one makes a 15 turn 10K pot? That would make it tune nice I suppose.. A properly operating K2 does not have the problems you suggest - the tuning 'pops' are the result of an open RFC15, and it covers all bands. The K2 receiver is more sensitive than the K1, so you may want to reconsider your choice.] I was talking about the reported little tics as the rig is tuned, something switches in the circuit that generates the LO frequency, I read it in the K2 manual. I never noticed it till I read about it here, and I cant say it bothered me, but it is there..(or was on my K2)... I dont think you can get rid of the slight frequency changes as you change filters, or am I wrong about that? 73, Don W3FPR Thanks for the info, I cant wait to get the K1 to play with but its back orderd Brett N2DTS ___ 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] K1...
While waiting for the bugs to be worked out of the K3, I ordered a K1 for 80 and 40 meters. The 80 meter parts are backordered for a week or so, but I have some questions about the rig. Is it not possable to get a 4 band one with 80,40,20,and 15 meters on it? If not, what is the reason? My main reason for getting the K1 is so I can use it in the den to rx some cw for practice, without running off to the ham shack and ignoring my wife. She can watch TV while I copy code with walkman style headphones. I read all the reviews, and they are very good. If I make the tuning range 100kc, will the tuning rate be too fast? The K1 seems very analog (with computer control), and I wonder if it works better in some respects then the K2? I would guess the K1 is free from the odd noise the K2 made at times when tuning, and frequency shifts between filter settings, and maybe the vfo is cleaner then DDS stuff? Brett N2DTS ___ 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] Re: build rate?
They are working 7 days a week, and getting 15- 20 K3's built a week, thats 2-3 radios a day? Hard to see them making money that way! I bought a ten tec Triton 2 off ebay today to use for CW, anyone know if they are any good at all? $150.00 is not much for a radio and power supply! If anyone has any info about the Triton, please email me off list about it. Eham does not even list it!! Thanks, Brett If you want to know the numbers, Elecraft is currently shipping 15 to 20 K3s per week, and if the shipping date for current orders is mid-April, then there is somewhere between 255 and 340 K3s on order right now - simple calculation reveals that result - what more information do some folks need? 73, Don W3FPR ___ 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] Delays, etc.
I cancelled my order as I could not take it anymore, there are still no full specs on the radio, things that were supposed to work still dont, or have just started working. FM does not work, AM sync does not work, I dont now what the audio passband is (how low does it go?). The 2nd receiver is delayed, what about the variable filters? All this stuff was in the advertisements, nothing about it was not done yet, or would not be done before the first 500 radios slowly shipped. I think Elecraft is a great company making great radios, but I think they blew the release of this one. They should have been up front with saying its a CW radio for now, and we hope to get the other stuff working in a year or so. I cant think of any other manufacturer who could get away with selling so many radios so late, without major modes, options and features working, and without any communication about it except after the fact. I will want one, likely in a year or two after its done... Brett N2DTS Issue 1: The K3 and selected accessories are not available as promised. Yes, bumps in the road happen. Understood. Issue 2: Elecraft has consistently and apparently with forethought knowingly kept their customers (both perspective and paying) in the dark about the status of the K3. Additionally, it appears that they've misrepresented the actual development status of the K3, the KRX3 and the KDVR3. The details have been discussed many times before, and it should be obvious to anyone. ___ 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 AM mode
Don, Elecraft is not talking about the AM or FM modes, I had asked if any K3 had ever actualy operated AM or FM and did not get an answer. They seem to be fine tuning the noise reduction, but are not worried about the modes Brett N2DTS It's been suggested in the past here that AM mode for K3 transmit would be functional in the firmware using the KFL3B-FM FM b/w, 8-pole roofing filter leaving the operator responsible for proper setup if they don't have the 5khz filter. Is that the way it's coded? ;-) ___ 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..
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? Brett N2DTS ___ 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..
Well, I am primarly an AM operator, and a new K3 would not even receive AM, and NOT A THING was said about all the stuff that does not work yet, why it is not working, has it ever worked, and how long is it going to be before everything the web page says the K3 will do, it can actualy do? I cant say I am interested in FM, and since the filters are not avalable, I can understand why the FM would not work, but what has that got to do with AM and the other things? Dont people have a right to know about the missing features/modes and when they might actualy work? I directly asked how the AM reception was, and I got an answer it sounds great even on SSB, which may be the only way anyone ever listened to AM on the K3 for all I know. If I KNEW there were going to be so many features that dont work, there would have been no reason to sell my K2 and put a dpeosit down to get an early K3. There WAS a lot of talk about Elecraft not wanting to ship the K3 before it was ready, well, it dont seem like its ready I cancelled my K3 order on 11-26-2007 and got a response from Lisa, but got an invoice today, and not a word about getting my deposit back. I still plan on getting a K3, when all the basic features are working and I can get one real time. I have received plenty of mail off list, some nasty, some people were disapointed with the missing features, some complaining about my spelling (sorry). Brett N2DTS - Original Message - From: Don Wilhelm [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Brett Gazdzinski [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007 6:15 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 issues.. Brett, The only item in your list that is hardware related is the variable bandwidth filters, and it has been known from the start that these would be a delayed option. FM mode is waiting on the wider FM filter to be available. As far as modulation modes, that is all done in DSP which is firmware driven, and the K3 firmware is evolving - adding new modes and function is simply a matter of downloading new firmware, and as soon as that new function is ready, all K3 owners can take advantage of it by simply downloading the new firmware. There have been many notes on the reflector stating how painless it is to obtain new firmware. So, just like in the pasta sauce commercial - 'it' in there', it only needs the code to make it active - and that code will be coming along as soon as Lyle has opportunity to put the final touches on it and does the testing. I believe I can promise that you will not be disappointed. In the meantime, the K3 can be enjoyed for the functions and modes that it is currently programmed to handle. 73, Don W3FPR Brett Gazdzinski wrote: 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. ___ 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?
I have decided to cancel my order for the K3, I think I will wait till its stable and shipping right away. It was no rush for me, only I like to get something when I want it, as everyone does I suppose... I will look and see how things are going in the spring, and maybe get one then, if the dust has settled. I am much more of an analog guy, and prefer rigs I can work on and modify, play around with, etc. So I think I will get an old FT102, looks like a good radio if you dont mind tube finals, its got an 8 mhz and 455 khz IF, with adjustable passband in both, filters in both, all mode 160 through 10 meters, and 3 6146 output tubes with a lot of neg feedback that is supposed to make it REAL clean in output. Should be fun to play with, and its 1/4 the price of the K3 or less. So, everyone gets to move one up in the que, I ordered (with deposit) on May 2nd. I figure it might have shipped in two or three weeks...maybe... Brett N2DTS ___ 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: prod run #1 size
I think you may be wrong in expecting it before the December holidays, I am in the first run and figure I might get mine just before that. Ordered May 2nd and paid the deposit, and so far I have heard nothing. After the email arrives, its 5 to 10 business days or something before it ships, then there is the wait while its in transit. That could be 15 business days after I get a mail from Elecraft. That could be Dec 15th for me, if I get the Email this Monday. Must have been something selling 200 (or more) radios in the first 2 or 3 days! I got to wonder what the timeframe is when they will get out of battle mode at Elecraft, first there was the anouncement of the K3 (rush of orders), then some details come out, and the 'thinkers' order a bunch, then the reviews come out, another rush of orders, then maybe the US dollar will fall some more making a full K3 cost about 20 euros or something and another rush Brett N2DTS Right now, I'll be content knowing that Im somewhere in run #2 and I sure hope that I'll get my K3 before the December holidays. Having the last two weeks of the year off will give me lots of time to assemble and enjoy. But sooner is better! LOL So I agree (based on my own opinion only) that if the published shipping schedule is adhered to, that probably another 100 radios have to go out before the week of November 30 ends. 20 a day (M-F) should do the trick. Add in a Saturday or two, and YMMV. de Doug KR2Q ___ 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
Re: [Elecraft] Important K3 News
Will the K3's shipping out in the future have the latest firmware? Brett N2DTS Hi All, Now that a number of K3s are on the air, we're getting a lot of feedback about the manuals and firmware. We're incorporating important changes as quickly as possible. Regarding firmware, a number of issues have come up. Most are minor, and all have either already been corrected or will be soon. We hope to have another major firmware release early next week. The K3 firmware loader (K3Utility) is also being updated, and you'll need to obtain this before you do the next firmware upgrade. We'll be posting instructions to the reflector about this once the new loader and new firmware are available. I wanted to cover a few specific firmware issues. All have been corrected in the upcoming release: ___ 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] Important K3 News
Thanks for the reply! Well, the computer is in one part of the house, the shack and its power supplies in another. No big deal really, I think I got quite a while to go before mine ships, it was ordered on May 2nd. Being a casual operator, I doubt I would use most of the 'features', at least not for a while, so I was hoping to not have to upload new firmware as soon as it arrived. I know its supposed to be easy, but I have this picture in my mind that I upload it and the rig dies and has to be sent back before I even use it. I got to tell you, I REALLY hate software... Brett N2DTS Will the K3's shipping out in the future have the latest firmware? Probably but I'm sure the guys won't make it a redo effort for those units that are boxed or even those that are on the line. One of the first steps after getting a new K3 is to download and update your firmware. That was a topic on the reflector a while back. I can't imagine anyone that cannot do this, and also does not have a friend with an internet connected PC that would help. But I'm sure the guys would step up and provide assistance in that unusual case. [Elecraft] Important K3 News Brett Gazdzinski brett.gazdzinski at verizon.net Sat Nov 17 21:17:38 EST 2007 Will the K3's shipping out in the future have the latest firmware? Brett N2DTS ___ 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
10 a day? Hard to see how they could stay in business making 10 a day. Brett N2DTS That would be about 10 a day (M-F). Sounds not unreasonable. That will represent quite a leap in production over the previous month. Here's hoping that it happens. ___ 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: KAT100 with Ladder Line
I use #12 insulated wire (scrap from work) and plastic spreaders made from cut cable supports for wires/cables to be wire tied to in telco racks, (also scrap) and to hold the wire to the spreaders I just use plastic wire ties (also scrap). You dont need many, one every foot or more is fine, everything is insulated as its plastic covered wire. My current setup has been up about a year and looks new so far. My cost was totaly zero for vurtualy zero loss on the feedline. I use a G5RV type setup as I have not made a balanced tuner yet, and have about 15 feet of RG214 modified (UV proof) between the tuner and the open wire line. It seems to work 80 to 10 meters ok, at least it tunes up ok and even with full bore AM I have no problems on 80 or 40, I have not tried it on other bands on AM. The AM crowd seems to prefer open wire line, balanced tuners, and as much wire in the air, and as high up as they can get it. Brett N2DTS - Original Message - From: Dave Van Wallaghen [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: 'Robert 'RC' Conley' [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 5:41 PM Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Re: KAT100 with Ladder Line No problem RC. You're right, you can probably use just about anything non-conductive for the ladder line spacing. I've been toying with the idea of using polycarbonate tubing for something really durable. I use Lexan, a polycarbonate, to build enclosures for some of the Elecraft mini-modules. (In fact, I've been prototyping an enclosure for my HexKey all afternoon). I get the Lexan from Home Depot, but all the other plastic supplies from a place called Tap Plastics ( http://www.tapplastics.com/ ). They sell polycarbonate tubing which I think would make great spacers for open wire feedline. I would like to build a long doublet with open wire feedline from insulated 14 of 12g wire. I think that using this polycarbonate tubing with a spacing of around 6 would be ideal and very durable (and certainly usable for more than QRP purposes). I just haven't yet figured out how to secure the wire to the tubing yet. The plasti dip would probably be ok, but I need to explore some other methods I think. Good luck 73, Dave W8FGU ___ 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: Elecraft K3
I ordered mine May 2 and have not got anything yet, so the first few days must have been hundreds of radios. I figure on the end of the month , or by xmas? Brett N2DTS - Original Message - From: Don Rasmussen [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Elecraft List elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Friday, November 09, 2007 2:31 PM Subject: [Elecraft] RE: Elecraft K3 Hmmm... Sounds promising. ! At the least I will find out what constitutes a lot with Eric and at the most I'll get an actual date estimate of when mine is to come. In between there should be many reports from those who receive a new radio. 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
Re: [Elecraft] Anyone know this info about switching supplies?
We use nothing but switching supplies in my industry, and I have NEVER had one fail and take out what it powers. Talking about 10,000 or so supplies. I dont know much about the ham type stuff, except to stay away from anything made by mfj... Brett N2DTS - Original Message - From: Tom Hammond [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2007 10:35 AM Subject: [Elecraft] Anyone know this info about switching supplies? Folks: A local discussion has 'erupted' regarding switching poser supplies and whether they can fail in an UNregulated (e.g. high) output voltage condition, or if when they fail will they (almost) always fail in a NO OUTPUT mode? I think this discussion may have been started as a result of a subject here on the reflector about overvoltage protection (OVP), but it's managed to take on a life of its own with respect to the MODES in which a switching P/S can/will fail. Anyone have enough real experience to express their thoughts on this subject. Must admit... I have no clue myself. I've 'heard' that most switchers fail in the NO OUTPUT mode, but this is strictly hearsay. Let's try to get several responses and the let the subject drop before IT takes on a life of its own on the reflector and Eric has to step in... he's busy enough right now. G 73, Tom N0SS ___ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Missing serial numbers
I ordered my K3 on the 2nd day after it was anounced, and have not heard anything, or much worse, have not received a box at my doorstep yet! There must have been a huge surge that first day! It should be fun to see how many K3's get sold in the initial runs, and when the test results and the general word gets out... I sort of wonder why the amount of units in each run is a secret, not sure I see any real advantage to thatand no info about what happens after the 3rd run Its November 5thI would sure hate to be in a later group! Brett N2DTS ___ 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 and the CW SS
I wonder, could a computer just run the thing while you are out raking leaves. Most rigs can be software controlled, computers can beat people at chess, why not just have the computer do the contest? SSB is no problem, thiose robot voice response things are getting quite good, and its hard to tell on ssb anyway... Or has all this been done already? Brett N2DTS - Original Message - From: Wolfgang, Larry, WR1B [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 2:21 PM Subject: [Elecraft] K2 and the CW SS There were several interesting posts about operating in the Sweepstakes contest this past weekend. Like many of those who commented, I consider myself a casual contester. It's been a number of years since I put in as much time at SS as I did this weekend. I usually need some help to copy the 30+ wpm contest exchanges. I often spend several minutes trying to copy a station's exchange before sending my call in answer to their CQs. This year I tried a few different ideas. In the past I've sometimes used a program called CW Get to copy the CW. With a cable from the speaker output to the soundcard input, this program does a good job of copying the perfect machine sent code, and even does a reasonable job on the good CW from a keyer and paddle. I also downloaded a logging program (N1MM Logger) on Saturday morning and installed that on my computer. After a bit of time trying to learn how to use the logger, I had it mostly configured, and even talking to my K2. This was pretty neat! I positioned various logger windows around my display so I could also see the copy window on CW Get. Maybe a similar arrangement would be helpful to others who like to Search and Pounce. I even ventured to answer quite a few stations that were calling CQ before I copied their exchange. I also noticed something that surprised me quite a bit. I narrowed my K2 filters to 400 and 200 Hz. Most of the time I just tuned up the band, one station at a time, and seldom had interference from another station to contend with. (No, that didn't surprise me!) What did surprise me was the number of stations answering a CQ way off frequency. I'd barely hear them over the speaker, and would see a spike on the CW Get frequency display that was 100 Hz or more off the CQing station. Maybe it was just the heat of the competition, but I thought most CW operators would be better able to tune to zero beat. It would be interesting to know what rigs the other operators were using. I wonder if many of those who were tuned to zero beat were Elecrafters. 73, Larry Wolfgang, WR1B ___ 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
RE: [Elecraft] K3 KFL3B-FM Change?
Personally, I cant hear anything above about 4000 Hz, that would be 8Kc bandwidth on AM. The R390a had 4Kc (slightly too narrow) to 8Kc then 16Kc. 4, 6 and 8 Kc are the most useful for me, as that gives 2, 3, and 4Kc audio output if tuned dead on carrier. In the telephone world, equipment allows out to 4Kc. That was considered optimal for intelligibility vs bandwidth. For swl use, 16Kc is not unreasonable for people with good ears, that gives 8Kc audio out.. I hope the K3 can be got to 4Kc in the AM mode tuned dead on the carrier. others might like it even higher, but I can hear it. Brett N2DTS ___ 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] proposal: why not design a monoband CW/SSB QRP TRX
What about a sierra with a 40 meter plug in? The only thing I don't like about the sierra maybe is the limited vfo range. Sometimes the slow CW guys hang out in the old novice portion of the band, and CW IS allowed anywhere in the band... I have very fond memories of the novice segments! I have not had one, but the basic design of the sierra looks good to me, all it needs is a wide range accurate vfo maybe. I must say, I really like analog, I sure hope the K3 acts like an analog radio. Brett N2DTS ___ 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] Why a K3?
I would say for better performance in every mode, the K3 does AM, FM, 160 and 6 meters, RTTY is built in, AM sync detector, a better display, more knobs. With the K2, I think ssb was really an afterthought, as was dsp, and they are not as user friendly in the K2 as is likely to be the case with the K3. I think the K2 is best as a CW qrp rig with the auto antenna tuner built in. Its very good in that config. As a full feature radio for the shack, the K2 lacks a few features maybe, and its small. I want the K3 mostly for the AM part, as that is what I operate mostly, and I plan on using the transmitter as a driver (RF carrier) for the big homebrew rigs, and the receiver. I am sure I will check out rtty copy with it, and might love to do some CW if I ever get my speed up some. Who knows, I might even do some ssb with it if I hear anything interesting on that mode. It also might be great as a mobile rig in the car, there are lots of guys running AM mobile on 80 and 40 meters, and 10 meters when its open. The noise reduction stuff in the K3 should be great for that, as will the auto antenna tuner. I plan on getting another K2 and building it in the future, when I get the funds, as it is a very slick package as a CW qrp rig that you build. For the serious contester or DX hound, the K3 has many features and the performance those guys need and love. Brett N2DTS ___ 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 on fire?
Are the big fires in California going to disrupt K3 production? What next, a plague of locusts? Floods? Giant earthquake? Something is likely to delay my K3, I just know it... While dropping stuff off at ups today, they wont take packages to many places in California... Brett N2DTS ___ 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 on fire?
Glad the fire is not close. Hope there are no hams living in the area but I am sure there are with that many people involved Maybe the factory that makes the boards, or the metal bits is in the fire? The printers of the manuals? Looking at Aptos on mapquest, I hope it does not move north a few feet suddenly, I think its overdue to... Brett ___ 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 Option Manuals up on Web Page
Wow, enough ESD warnings to scare anyone! Maybe we should assemble it under water Brett N2DTS -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 7:45 PM To: Elecraft List Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Option Manuals up on Web Page We have just uploaded the following K3 option manuals to the K3 web page: KPA3 100W Option KAT3 100W Autotuner KBPF3 General Coverage RX Option K3 Crystal Filter Options KXV3 Transverter, IF output See: http://www.elecraft.com/news.htm 73, Eric WA6HHQ ___ 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
[Elecraft] K3 15khz 2nd IF?
Just wondering if anyone can clue me in on the 15 KHz second IF frequency used on the K3. I was wondering why 15KHz, instead of 10, or 50 KHz? I know it gets harder to sample the higher you go, but what are the advantages of 15 KHz over audio frequencies, and is not 20 or 50 KHz possible? What about 10KHz? Just what drives the choice of 15 KHz? Brett N2DTS ___ 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] AM signals in SSB mode w/6 kHz filte
Wayne, I have been told you could use the FM filter in any mode, RX and/or TX. I hope that is so. The problem with using ssb for AM receive is lots of AM guys are using old rigs that not only drift, but modulate the VFO somewhat, or they jump around like crazy (heathkits a lot), so a real AM detector works much better then SSB would! You don't even notice the problems, which is a good and a bad thing, many guys drift off 3kc or more and no one knows it. I use a freq counter to monitor my TX, have a professional mod monitor, and a scope on the RX IF so I can see everything TX and RX, but many guys just have a dx100 with a d104, or a homebrew, with no monitoring equipment. Part of the fun working some guy with a Millen rig from the 1930's along with a guy running a flex radio, a homebrew class e rig, etc That gives a lot to talk about! Brett N2DTS -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of wayne burdick Sent: Friday, October 12, 2007 12:35 PM To: Julian G4ILO Cc: elecraft Subject: [Elecraft] AM signals in SSB mode w/6 kHz filte Julian G4ILO wrote: Since the K3 AM roofing filter is 6KHz, I guess it won't be so hi-fi. I've been listening to AM using SSB and the 6 kHz filter. It sounds great with voice or music. The K3 is rock-stable so the carrier is not a problem. 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 ___ 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: Fw: [Elecraft] What is this stuff??
The way I remove most parts, is to use a solder sucker to get most of the solder out of the joint, then I wiggle the pin till its loose and then remove it. If that does not work, I heat it and pry/pull from the top side. I removed all my toroids to unwind a turn (worked better before I removed a turn) without the slightest damage to anything. I have taken some big IC chips out this way, but its really slow... I think almost everyone has to remove a part at some point or anotherand I don't see a problem with regular solder, the last thing I would want is a higher melting temp. Brett N2DTS ___ 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] K3s Start Shipping!
I assume the people who were sent their K3's got an email and payment info before the K3's were sent, so there is no reason for me to camp out by the mail box till I get some sort of communication... Not that I would not mind it just showing up tomorrow... Brett N2DTS ___ 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] Comparison: K3 and SDR 5000A
The flex radio is making big strides into the AM community, because it allows better then broadcast quality audio on TX, or communications quality , or anything in-between, and also allows tricks with the modulation, negative clipping, compression, EQ, very good fidelity reception, and of course the band scope feature. I am not fond of computers in the shack, don't contest or DX, but the flex stuff is starting to look very interesting to me. The 5000D? will have true diversity reception and 300 watts pep output, computer built in, auto antenna tuner, built in power supply, and all sorts of other new things they will think up in the software... Not sure what it will cost, but it looks like it will do whatever you want to do in radio. It sure would be an odd mix in my shack, with all the homebrew vacuum tube stuff! Brett N2DTS ___ 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 IF amplifier output fault
It is a quiet receiver. The only thing quieter I have run into, that still hears weak signals, is my homebrew single conversion receiver, and that is likely not as sensitive as the K2. On both receivers, I have made the mistake in thinking the antenna fell down, and gone outside to look. Now I mostly hang out on 80 and 40 meters, and when its quiet, it has fooled me more than once into checking the antenna. Its sort of like the old days before all that noisy high gain IC chips came out, when you had simple tube type receivers without preamps, when it was quiet, it was quiet. Nowadays, when its quiet, its not as noisy... Brett N2DTS So, the receiver isn't deaf. However, it still sounds very quiet to me. 7mV of audio hiss at full volume (yes, within spec) is just not loud at all. Sorry to have wasted everyone's time, although I do think the manual either misprints minimum RF gain when it means maximum, or they really do expect you to pump much more than 3V (+23dBm) into the poor thing! 73, Alan G3XAQ ___ 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] Departing list ......
From what I have heard, the 7000 will be very poor compared to the K3. The 756 pro was much worse than the K2, and all the 756 pro series are at least twice the price of the 7000! 1.6 MHz to 440 in a very small box, how good could it really be? As a mobile rig, it would likely be neat, but has no antenna tuner, you have to add that... Just like those really little handhelds that do 500 KHz to UHF, they do it allpoorly Brett N2DTS -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Dohn Sent: Friday, October 05, 2007 5:23 AM To: 'Fred (FL)'; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Departing list .. Without having seen the K3 in action, has anyone got any idea what the differences would be if you stood an IC-7000 next to a K3 and compared their performances? Dohn N8EWY K2 5815 K1 Fists 12820 -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Fred (FL) Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 9:00 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Departing list .. I've decided to not order the K3, and am leaving this list today. Being a 1-rig ham, I really need to be practical and go with a 1-rig HF/60/VHF/UHF rig, ala IC-7000. Perhaps in late 2008 spring, when K3 dust settles - I'll be back. But the 1-rig, HF/VHF/UHF and mobile rig - will have to suit me for a while. And I don't know what mobiling with a K3 would mean. I'm a snowbird, in cars, 2 residences, boat in summer, golf cart in winter. Lots of shacks. I will not miss the Reflector. I stopped doing email administration back in 89. My K3 order was a 2nd Production Run order. So long. 73's Fred, de N3CSY 3 Oct 07 __ __ Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your pocket: mail, news, photos more. http://mobile.yahoo.com/go?refer=1GNXIC ___ 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 ___ 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] Departing list ......
The eham reviews look quite good! For a mobile rig it seems the trick, you could work 10 meters, 2 meters, listen (tx?) on CB for hiway conditions, all with one remotely mounted radio. I cant believe it works as good as they say though, and a 150MHz 1st if??? Surely there is no filter at 150 MHz I hope to try the K3 mobile, and I suppose I can listen to channel 19 on CB as well. Any day now I suppose! Brett N2DTS _ From: johnny [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, October 05, 2007 9:49 AM To: Brett gazdzinski; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Departing list .. I think we have to compare an apple with an apple. IC7000 is capable when you see it as a mobile rig from 500k to UHF. It can no way be compared with a contest rig like K2 and K3. When coming to IC756pro3, its DSP manual notch within AGC loop is very useful when operating the rig under strong QRM condition. The DSP NR is better than KDSP2 in SSB mode. When I operate in SSB mode, I like 756pro3 but K2 works better in CW mode where you don't even need IF shift. K3 should be the all round station rig to combat against the big players. I am in the early batch and waiting for it now. 73, Johnny Siu VR2XMC ___ 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 - Heath CW Twins
The eham reviews are mixed. I don't think they were great rigs, but likely a lot of fun. I did a Google search, usually anything heathkit brings up loads of mods and such, but nothing on these rigs... Old stuff is fun to play with, but often not real fun to actually use, although the solid state stuff (no tune?) might be better. I have really been spoiled by modern transceivers, even the old KWM2-a was a chore to hop around the band with. They might be more fun to play with then any amount of money you might get for them. I had a few HW101's, extra clean they go for about $100.00 with power supply, ebay sometimes a bit more... Surely the old stuff is more fun to play with then its worth to sell... Brett N2DTS ___ 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] Switching vs Linear Power Supplies
One more thing that might come into play, some of the old non switching power supplies were very robust, in that they could take a lightning hit and laugh at it, while switching supplies would fry. The big transformer protects things somewhat... I have some fero resonant power supplies that are very simple, transformer, rectifier, a few caps, that have been in service for 20 years without failure. Fero resonant supplies are very noisy though, and not in the RF way... Brett N2DTS ___ 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] icom 7700...
Got my AES catalog today and was looking at the new icom 7700. No price yet, but I see its got relay switched bandpass filters, 3 relay switched roofing filters, 48 volt 200 watt output stage, 2 dsp units, a bandscope built in, and a built in power supply. Are they taking some of the Elecraft ideas? What is to stop them from coping the basic K3 design? No price yet Brett N2DTS ___ 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] icom 7700...
I think it's a nice looking radio, maybe not as nice as the 756 pro, but the display looks great. As for cost, its not so much more than a fully tricked out K3 without second receiver, if you count the built in power supply, the 200 watt output power, that a mic is included, and a band scope. Elecraft may come up with a band scope option at some point, and what will that cost? They are still stuck on the 65MHz IF though I would/could never pay $6000.00 for a radio, if that's what it will cost, even used at half price is $3000.00! Brett N2DTS -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Scott Manthe Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 7:56 PM To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] icom 7700... It's going to be over $6000, possibly much more than that, and not have second receiver. My first reaction was incredulity, followed by laughter. I can't imagine anyone but the most unfortunate,status-driven putz would even consider buying a rig for that price that doesn't have dual receive capability. I doubt that they're stealing ideas from Elecraft, because if they were the IC-7700 would be modular and half the price. ;) 73, Scot, N9AA Brett gazdzinski wrote: Got my AES catalog today and was looking at the new icom 7700. No price yet, but I see its got relay switched bandpass filters, 3 relay switched roofing filters, 48 volt 200 watt output stage, 2 dsp units, a bandscope built in, and a built in power supply. Are they taking some of the Elecraft ideas? What is to stop them from coping the basic K3 design? No price yet Brett N2DTS ___ 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
RE: [Elecraft] Today's HW-101?
Sure, imagine a K2 with knobs and switches and without computer control. Then mass produce it, and away you go. Just your basic CW/SSB 80 to 10 meter rig without an antenna tuner, keyer, precise frequency readout, passband tuning, filters, maybe some vfo drift, etc. Part of the key is the mass production part, heathkit sold a lot of gear, and a lot of it was the same, the DX100/DX100b ran a while, as the HW100, HW101, and the (almost the same) SB101. Just what was the audio output tube in the HW101? I remember it being so rare, heathkit was the only place I could find one back then... I was never fond of the DX100 'built out' mod transformer designed to clip audio at 90% modulation by generating distortion (and sometimes blowing the transformer) from an incorrect ratio, or the low voltage tap off the center of two 450 volt electrolytic filter caps running at 850 volts, and other cost saving tricks heathkit did. I guess I just come from a homebrewers standpoint, where I don't need to make so many compromises to cost. I guess that is why I got rid of all that old stuff and went all home brew, too much cost cutting I don't think the rig you describe (hw101 specs) would sell at all, unless it was a kit maybe. You can buy a good used rig for much less. A good used icom 756 pro with fancy screen can be got for about $1000.00, an old FT101 or an old kenwood (with tube finals) can be got very cheap... Brett N2DTS Do you guys think it is feasible to design / build a basic 100 watt HF transceiver kit that would sell for $600? Something that would give basic SSB / CW / Data modes, 10-80, with good (not great) performance. And would such a kit sell, or have people moved past that sort of rig? I think the closest thing we have to that today is the $1000 rigs from Ikensu or maybe the Argonaut from TT. - Keith N1AS - - K2 5411.ssb.100 - - K3 Wave 3 - ___ 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
RE: [Elecraft] Today's HW-101?
I think a no frills K2 would fit the bill, its the only kit that does 80 to 10 and 100 watts that I know about. If elecraft sold zillions of them, the price could likely get to $600.00. Brett -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Darwin, Keith Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 12:55 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Today's HW-101? -Original Message- I don't think the rig you describe (hw101 specs) would sell at all, unless it was a kit maybe. Sorry, I wasn't clear. I'm not suggesting HW-101 specs, but a rig that would occupy the same market segment that the old hot-water did. Low cost, good (not great) performance. I'd expect that both cost and performance would be measured by today's standards, not those from 30 yrs ago. The rig I'm thinking of is probably the IC-718, but I want it as a kit and would like to have a bit better performance and am willing to give up flash features. - Keith N1AS - - K2 5411.ssb.100 - - K3 Wave 3 - ___ 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
RE: [Elecraft] 6 meters - need info (OT?)
I also don't know anything about 6 meters, but heard the broadcast engineers over in Philadelphia used it and had a repeater on it. Maybe it can work like CB over short range? The 756 pro had 6 meters I think, but I never tried it, I don't have any short antenna's for 10, 11, or 6 meters, and never hear anything up there when I listen on the long antenna's. There is also a LOT of bandwidth to tune to listen for any signals... Even 15 seems dead, I remember making a lot of contacts on 15 with my hw7, I even put up a 3 element 15 meter beam, what fun working NJ to Wyoming solid copy on 3 watts. Its all the sunspot cycle I supposeor will people forget those bands and they will be empty even if open? Brett N2DTS -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Darwin, Keith Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 8:15 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] 6 meters - need info (OT?) This relates to my consideration of purchasing a K3. I know NOTHING about 6 meters. I'm an HF op who does CW and some SSB. What I believe about 6 meters comes from my (limited) experience on 10 meters. I'm expecting that 6 is mostly closed but has occasional openings, provided you're not at a sunspot low. I'm assuming the successful 6 meter operator has to be watching propagation and has to pick their operating time. I assume it is a hit or miss band and that you don't have any fun up there unless you put in the time and happen to catch it when it is open. I'm assuming the same effort put into to 10 meters would produce more QSOs. Like I say, I know NOTHING. Someone please educate me. If you're reply is long, e-mail me off-list since this topic is mostly OT. keith.darwin (dit-dah dah) goodrich.com 73! - Keith N1AS - - K2 5411.ssb.100 - ___ 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
RE: [Elecraft] selling other radios in favor of a K2
I did not sell anything to get my K2, but sold the 756 pro after I got the K2, since the performance was so much better on the K2. I did not sell the K2 to get the K3, but sold it because I ran into a bunch of car bills, and the K3 will get here whenever. I would not hesitate to sell almost any old rig to get a K2 if you are into CW. The receiver of the K2 is better than all but a very few radios like the Orion. There is no comparison to old rigs like the IC735 or TS440, although I thought the 735 was a neat little rig. Now some might like the big knobs, nice displays, multi mode and more features then the K2 has, but those radios likely don't work as well as the K2. Brett N2DTS -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of John Shadle Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 4:24 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] selling other radios in favor of a K2 Hi all, I know that some of you have sold (or are planning to sell) your K2 in favor of the new K3, but I was wondering if you have sold other radios in favor of a K2 in the past. I have an IC-735 (1980s 100w HF radio), a FT-817 (QRP HF radio), and a few VHF/UHF rigs. I want to pick up a K2, but I'm not sure if I will be really missing out on something if I get rid of my other rigs. Do any of you have thoughts on the subject? Thanks in advance for all your input! -john W4PAH ___ 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 me buy a DMM
I got a wavetek meterman about 5 years ago, under $100.00 and it does the usual readings, inductance and capacitance from very small values to very large values, frequency to 15 Mhz, transistor tests, temp with a probe. Not lab equipment but very usefull if you are going to be doing any building or home brewing, plus it comes in handy for non ham uses. There are plenty of cheaper meters that do quite a bit, do most people need lab equipment, or a meter you can drop from 50 feet? I never broke a meter, the rugedized ones are for techs that throw them into a work van. I have a fluke 87V in my work van, a well made expensive basic meter. Radio shack is generally poor quality at a high price, you can get great buys on line, or even ebay, or at a hamfest. Brett N2DTS ___ 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: FW: [Elecraft] K2 sn 6065 and Yaesu VX-7R for sale
Although I ordered the rework eliminators, I built most of the K2 before they arrived. I have reduced the price to $500.00, and I also have a Yaesu VX-7R (in black) with car charger for $200.00. The Yaesu does 6 and 2 meters, plus 220 and 440. Its got general coverage receive from 500Khz to 1000 Mhz. Brett N2DTS I thought it was because you did not install the rework eliminator kit. I really enjoyed getting to add all of my extra pieces (everything except the 60m/transverter board) and did not have to do anything (from the soldering perspective) but unplug and plug. David Wilburn [EMAIL PROTECTED] K4DGW K2 #5982 FP#-1751 Brett gazdzinski wrote: Is the price to high, or is there just a glut on the market with the K3 due out soon? I have had one nibble so I guess the price is high? Brett N2DTS -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Brett gazdzinski Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 7:59 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K2 sn 6065 for sale I have my K2 sn6065 (a nice number) for sale. It has the KAT2 built in it. The rig seems to work real well, has no scratches, original boxes, manuals, spare (extra) parts, and a rework eliminator kit (not installed). It was built by me, with no problems during or after the build. The price is $600.00 Brett N2DTS ___ 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 ___ 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
FW: [Elecraft] K2 sn 6065 for sale
Is the price to high, or is there just a glut on the market with the K3 due out soon? I have had one nibble so I guess the price is high? Brett N2DTS -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Brett gazdzinski Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 7:59 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K2 sn 6065 for sale I have my K2 sn6065 (a nice number) for sale. It has the KAT2 built in it. The rig seems to work real well, has no scratches, original boxes, manuals, spare (extra) parts, and a rework eliminator kit (not installed). It was built by me, with no problems during or after the build. The price is $600.00 Brett N2DTS ___ 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
[Elecraft] K2 sn 6065 for sale
I have my K2 sn6065 (a nice number) for sale. It has the KAT2 built in it. The rig seems to work real well, has no scratches, original boxes, manuals, spare (extra) parts, and a rework eliminator kit (not installed). It was built by me, with no problems during or after the build. The price is $600.00 Brett N2DTS ___ 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 where's the parts?
I don't think the K3 is an overly complex radio. The computer control is likely complex, but looking at the block diagram, its not a highly complex basic radio. That is partly what makes Elecraft stuff so good maybe, good simple basic designs with clever control through software. The KX1 is an example, the receiver is a mixer, a product detector and an AF amp with agc built in. The Sierra was more complex with an IF amp and agc amp, and it's a simple radio... In the K3, it looks like a lot of the receiver stuff is done in the DSP, not many stages to the RX, 2 mixers, an IF amp, the noise blanker and preamp/attenuator, crystal filters. With surface mount, the stages get small, the IF amp is mostly one small chip? The AF amp looks to be a small section on the dsp board. The actual I/O of jacks and so on looks to be larger than the working parts But I bet there is lots going on with the front panel... Brett N2DTS On Tue, Sep 11, 2007 at 08:02:30PM -0700, David Fleming wrote: I was just noticing how few components are on the rf board (the other boards as well). The result of surface-mount I suppose. Seems like those boards could be made a whole lot smaller. I'm envisioning a mobile rig the size of a 7000 with the specs of a loaded K3. Wouldn't that be something? You would need to see the other side first. :-) When I opened the cover - the comments I got were like where's the radio?. It's there - you just can't see it without removing the bottom covers. -David W4SMT ___ 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 manual
Looking at the manual, it looks like building the K3 is going to be really fun! I think you get the really fun part of building, without the endless soldering in of .01 caps and so on I always liked the winding and mounting of toroids, mounting of the chips and transistors and other parts, only the (seemingly) endless installation of caps and resistors got old after an hour or two... The only thing that bugs me is it looks from the pictures like the K3 uses the same (no fidelity) speaker as the K2. Wonderful, like old heathkits, that you can take the entire radio apart to fix a problem easy, any problem, and have instructions on how to do so. It looks like there is a lot of extra room inside the K3, unlike any of the other brand rigs. Brett N2DTS ___ 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] Resistance checks - check your meter too!
I think I saved myself a lot of trouble by NOT doing the parts inventory or any of the resistance checks except the final output transistor short to ground checks. Not sure if that is smart for other folks, but I have no patience to count parts, and I would rather trouble shoot something that I know has a problem, rather then check stuff that may be ok. You can slip with a probe, get mixed readings, or introduce damaging voltages to sensitive parts. Maybe I was lucky in that everything worked fine, and the kits had no missing parts. For people with limited soldering skills, its likely a REAL good idea to do the checks, it's a lot harder to remove bad chips from a board then it is putting them in... Brett N2DTS -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Bill Coleman N2BC Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 8:23 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Resistance checks - check your meter too! Just did a quick scan of the K3 assembly manual - wonder how many downloads so far..?? !! The following will likely apply to the K3 also - I'll find out next year for sure. I'm at the end of day one of assembling my second K2, just finished the Control Board. Used my trusty (old) auto ranging Fluke DMM to perform the resistance checks and went down the tubes on the 8V regulator output, measures 500 ohms - should the 3 to 4 Kohms. To make a long story short be careful. I did a simple test with the Fluke connected across a 3K resistor - my handheld DMM says the Fluke is applying almost 0.5V. Flipping the meters, the handheld DMM only applies about 60mV - and the 8V bus resistance check is fine measured on the handheld DMM. Clearly the Fluke's 1/2V is on the hairy edge of some of the active devices on the 8V bus. It's interesting that the lead polarity makes no difference in the resistance measurement at all. Now I'll carefully read the K3 assembly manual, then start the K2 front panel. Hmmm... I wonder. Nah, I'll still end up with a K2. 73 all, Bill N2BC ___ 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
[Elecraft] K3 control questions
I was looking at the K3 pix and have a few questions while I wait the 7 daysmaybe a field tester can clue me in... What displays do you get when you press and/or hold the disp/meter button? What does that button do? What is the cvp control? What happens with the NB and NR buttons? I assume a push turns them on/off, what does hold do, what display changes do you get, options? The other basic buttons I think I can guess what they do.. On a side note, the heat sink for the finals looks like it could be made a lot bigger and still fit inside the K3 space...at least from the pictures Brett N2DTS ___ 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] Iambic Keying - Debunking the Myth
Never having a bug, or a paddle, or any sort of keyer, only a straight key (about 500 contacts with it), can someone explain what does what? I thought a bug did dits one way and dahs the other, and would do so as long as it was held, using a bouncing weight against a spring. I thought an electronic keyer was the same, without the weights. I cant guess what you would 'squeeze', or what iambic is, or what a and b are. Maybe someday I will try these new gizmo's. Brett ___ 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] Iambic Keying - Debunking the Myth
Thanks everyone for the replies (on and off list). I should try this stuff, and I would think the system where you push the thing one way and get dits, the other way you get dahs would be best for me, I might be able to pick it up that way. I used to be able to send nice code at 25 wpm with the straight key when I was in practice. Of course, everyone thinks their code is very good I suppose, how else does one explain all the people with NO space between letters or people with the same length dits and dahs? MINE was very good though...really! Brett N2DTS ___ 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 Elecraft rigs...
If you ever used one of the 756 series rigs, you know just how nice the display is, and its nice having it all in one box and not having to move/carry a screen along if you move things. You can put a lot of information on a screen like that, and icom was smart enough to also use a real mechanical meter along with the very nice display. The band scope is a very nice feature, although you might not think so till you use one, but its only part of the nice display. You can turn it off and copy rtty, access all kinds of options, show loads of very detailed info at the same time, etc. Its not a big box, but it is quite heavy. The 756 pro series is a very nice radio, except for its abysmal performance on receive. At about $1200.00 it's a good buy for a used rig if you don't mind the wide front end... Brett N2DTS Perhaps the solution is to think outside the box. Literally. I mean, there is no need for a bandscope to be part of the radio main display, just because Icom does it that way. All that is needed is a plug-in module that can be added with a coaxial socket on it, that can be plugged in to an external display. You could even use a portable LCD TV for the display, as some IC-7000 users do because the built in one is too small. For quick access to control functions something like a TV remote control could be used. You would need an infra red module in the K3. Perhaps an actual TV remote could be used to save costs. Some of these are highly programmable with a touch screen. Or you could use dedicated software on a PDA. -- Julian, G4ILO K2 s/n: 392 K3 s/n: ??? G4ILO's Shack: www.g4ilo.com Ham-Directory: www.ham-directory.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] Optimized mic ?
I do wonder what Elecraft could come up with if size, weight, and power consumption were not an issue. It would likely be a rig I would really like, as there are plenty of small rigs out there. They dont need to go head to head with the major manufacturers if they dont want to, they can sell what they sell and how they want to sell it, and be as big or as little as they want. My guess is they want to sell zillions of K3's though, with all the jetting around to hamfests. If the K4 was twice the size of the K3, and had four times the knobs and buttons on it, and had the K3 performance, I bet they would sell even more of them then K3's, at a higher price. I dont see why Elecraft could not get very large in short order, as no one has the range and performance they do, kits, small rigs, top end performing rigs, medium size rigs, backpack rigs, antenna tuners, amplifiers, and with the K4, big deluxe rigs. I hope they will expand and bring out more products faster, while reducing the individual workload so they dont burn out. Brett N2DTS -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Charles Harpole Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2007 11:50 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Optimized mic ? Much as I want to like the little company that could, Elecraft folks need to recognize that despite their existing rabidly pro customer base, they are now reaching another type of customer with the advanced K3. This new customer will be much less forgiving than the folks of the QRP and toy rigs niche who are clearly predisposed to love anything Elecraft. Me, I am a new type customer, not interested in QRP (I'm too old), back packing (same), and tiny rigs (same agn). I assemble to save money, not much for the fun. I like operating, not tinkering. I purchase based on outstanding specs, not other marketing ploys. Message then to Elecraft, provided free here altho a marketing consultant would cost plenty, is to wake up to their new added customer base and understand that forgiveness in timely notices of shipment advance manual availability clear specs on rig (that are stated in the same terms as good ole Sherwood and that do not have the or the mark) and clear info on the full range of products, such as the Heil K2 mic/headphones, can be expected to be met with only a polite patience that can be exhausted soon. It is a new and exciting ...and challenging day for Elecraft. They have entered the big leagues and clearly challenge ICOM and Yaesu (and ORION). Marketing info will need to measure up too. PS... keep my order for a K3 active, please. 73 Charles Harpole, HS0ZCW [EMAIL PROTECTED] _ Test your celebrity IQ. Play Red Carpet Reveal and earn great prizes! http://club.live.com/red_carpet_reveal.aspx?icid=redcarpet_hot mailtextlink2 ___ 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
RE: [Elecraft] New Elecraft rigs...
So you want a revised K1, not a K4. K3 performance in a K1 size box using surface mount. That seems like a nitch radio, not a mainstream radio. You need: Backpack rig and/or handheld, Small portable or field day rig, Mobile rig (portable and field day also) designed with the car in mind.., Base rig, Deluxe base rig, Computer rig, Amplifier, Remote (auto?) antenna tuners/antenna switch, Kits and various power level versions of the above. I don't know about vhf and uhf rigs... The reason I would like a rig twice the size of the K3 is to get a band scope and individual knobs for main features. While Elecraft does wonders with limited controls, there is no need for that on a big radio. I think they would sell many more bigger rigs to the general ham population then they would sell revised K1's. Brett N2DTS -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Matt Palmer Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2007 9:49 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Optimized mic ? I would rather see them expanding into a surface mount miniaturized version of the k2 with improved performance for a k4. Matt KD8DAO On 9/6/07, Brett gazdzinski [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I do wonder what Elecraft could come up with if size, weight, and power consumption were not an issue. It would likely be a rig I would really like, as there are plenty of small rigs out there. They don't need to go head to head with the major manufacturers if they don't want to, they can sell what they sell and how they want to sell it, and be as big or as little as they want. My guess is they want to sell zillions of K3's though, with all the jetting around to hamfests. If the K4 was twice the size of the K3, and had four times the knobs and buttons on it, and had the K3 performance, I bet they would sell even more of them then K3's, at a higher price. I don't see why Elecraft could not get very large in short order, as no one has the range and performance they do, kits, small rigs, top end performing rigs, medium size rigs, backpack rigs, antenna tuners, amplifiers, and with the K4, big deluxe rigs. I hope they will expand and bring out more products faster, while reducing the individual workload so they don't burn out. Brett N2DTS -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Charles Harpole Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2007 11:50 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Optimized mic ? Much as I want to like the little company that could, Elecraft folks need to recognize that despite their existing rabidly pro customer base, they are now reaching another type of customer with the advanced K3. This new customer will be much less forgiving than the folks of the QRP and toy rigs niche who are clearly predisposed to love anything Elecraft. Me, I am a new type customer, not interested in QRP (I'm too old), back packing (same), and tiny rigs (same agn). I assemble to save money, not much for the fun. I like operating, not tinkering. I purchase based on outstanding specs, not other marketing ploys. Message then to Elecraft, provided free here altho a marketing consultant would cost plenty, is to wake up to their new added customer base and understand that forgiveness in timely notices of shipment advance manual availability clear specs on rig (that are stated in the same terms as good ole Sherwood and that do not have the or the mark) and clear info on the full range of products, such as the Heil K2 mic/headphones, can be expected to be met with only a polite patience that can be exhausted soon. It is a new and exciting ...and challenging day for Elecraft. They have entered the big leagues and clearly challenge ICOM and Yaesu (and ORION). Marketing info will need to measure up too. PS... keep my order for a K3 active, please. 73 Charles Harpole, HS0ZCW [EMAIL PROTECTED] _ Test your celebrity IQ. Play Red Carpet Reveal and earn great prizes! http://club.live.com/red_carpet_reveal.aspx?icid=redcarpet_hot mailtextlink2 ___ 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
RE: [Elecraft] Optimized mic ?
I said twice the size, with 4 times the knobs/buttons. Four times would be HUGE! Brett I personally don't have the space for the four times larger K3 proposed by Brett, but as there seems to be quite a lot of space inside the K3 already I don't really see the point in any case. If it is a question of operating ergonomics, perhaps the answer is a software front panel, e.g. HRD. -- Julian, G4ILO K2 s/n: 392 K3 s/n: ??? G4ILO's Shack: www.g4ilo.com Ham-Directory: www.ham-directory.com On 9/6/07, Matt Palmer [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I would rather see them expanding into a surface mount miniaturized version of the k2 with improved performance for a k4. ___ 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
RE: [Elecraft] Optimized mic ?
That is one of the great things about our hobby, there is surely something for everyone. As long as others don't object about someone else's favorite thing, its great. I don't get into contests, but I don't mind the guys that do taking over the bands from time to time. I hope they don't mind me getting on AM once and a while on uncrowded bands, using my home brew tube stations. Sure is a lot to do on ham radio though, all the modes, all the frequencies, computer stuff, satellite, fm repeater, cw, home brew, vintage, contests, dx, rag chewing, nets, qrp, kit building, really, what other hobby has so much... Brett N2DTS -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Julian G4ILO Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2007 3:52 AM To: elecraft Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Optimized mic ? Living in a densely populated area like I do and with indoor antennas - no chance! If my 10 watts can't make a particular contact then it's no big deal to me. It's only a hobby, a pastime, not life or death communications, not worth causing interference to the neighbours. I don't understand why people have to get so competitive about radio. The ordinary business of making a living in the real world is competitive enough for me. Getting my web pages on to the first page of Google search results is a more worthwhile challenge than trying to work a bunch of guys perched on a piece of rock in the Pacific Ocean. What I want from a hobby is relaxation. The thrill I get from making contacts with low power more than makes up for the ones I don't make, many of which 100W might not have made either. I envy those who can put up towers and beams and run high power, but it's just like I envy those who run luxury cars, or own a yacht or a villa in the south of France. It would be nice to have those things, but I don't need them, and don't imagine I will ever be able to afford them, so I don't lose any sleep over not having them. -- Julian, G4ILO K2 s/n: 392 K3 s/n: ??? G4ILO's Shack: www.g4ilo.com Ham-Directory: www.ham-directory.com On 9/6/07, Simon Brown (HB9DRV) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Just wait until you see the Elecraft 1500w power amp - I bet you'll have your order sent off within 48 hours. ___ 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
RE: [Elecraft] XFIL
Sounds like the PO did no get the bfo and filter alignment correct. No wonder they sold the rig. You should do a complete alignment, if just to familiarize yourself with it. Its in the manual, and get the spectrogram software also, makes it easy to align things. Enjoy! Brett N2DTS -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of William Denny Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2007 1:15 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] XFIL Hello all, I recently bought an Elecraft K2 from ebay. It will very well with one exception. The first two XFIL setting work well but the third and fourth XFIL settings require an adjustment in the receive frequency to copy the signal. Where should I start to discover the nature of this problem. Respectfully, Marshall Denny AI4CM ___ 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
RE: [Elecraft] New Elecraft rigs...
On the assumption that people wanting little radios could get or already have a K1, K2, etc. And from looking at ads in QST and the AES catalog, the big rigs get the attention, along with anything 'new'. Sure, there are loads of people who would like an expensive radio, like me, but I don't have $10,000.00 to plunk down for the really good ones. I got an icom 756 pro cheap used, while a poor performer compared to the Elecraft rigs on RX, it was a slick package with lots of features, knobs, buttons, great displays, real S meter, auto antenna tuner, 6 meters, in a bigger box. It even came with a microphone! It seems to me like there are LOADS of guys that have to have the latest and greatest, as well as plenty of people who will get whatever they can for the lowest cost. I don't think Elecraft could compete with really cheap rigs or used rigs, but they do real well with the great performing rigs. From a business standpoint, you want a bigger box and more features that dazzle, like the multi color band scope, lots of knobs, some gold trim highlights, and some heft to it. That is what the usual suspects have been doing, add the Elecraft high performance and it would sell like hotcakes! Brett N2DTS On 9/6/07, Brett gazdzinski [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I think they would sell many more bigger rigs to the general ham population then they would sell revised K1's. On what evidence do you base this assertion? I haven't done a survey, but on the basis of the rigs people say they are using when I contact them, I would say the small / medium size radios are in the majority. A lot of people are even using mobile rigs (IC-706, IC-7000, FT-897 etc.) as their main radios. That may be more to do with pricing than size, of course. -- Julian, G4ILO K2 s/n: 392 K3 s/n: ??? G4ILO's Shack: www.g4ilo.com Ham-Directory: www.ham-directory.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 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 Elecraft rigs...
I don't know if people want it smaller, or they push smaller stuff to the people, or if it's a young thing, or what. I do NOT want things smaller, my cell phone/camera is already so small its very hard to use, look at aftermarket car radios, the buttons and displays are so small you have to stop and put your glasses on to read/change anything, handhelds have gotten so small they cant fit enough buttons and have menus and multi function things that make them almost imposable to use or figure out. I got a VX-7r I hate, as you cant use it without the (thick) instruction book, you cant even hold it without things getting in the way, and it gets REAL hot. No thanks, I want things bigger. Now if I was back packing, I would like it to be small and light, for the rest of it, I want it big and easy to use. But maybe I am odd, my transmitters are 6 foot tall Brett N2DTS -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of JT Croteau Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2007 12:07 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] New Elecraft rigs... People today seem to want everything to be smaller (except for their big screen TV's). Everything is becoming smaller, not bigger. -- JT Croteau, N1ESE - Manchester, NH ___ 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
RE: [Elecraft] K2, KAT2 and displaced choke balun feed
I have been thinking of doing the same thing, but good for 600 watts of AM carrier plus modulation. I would wind the coils out of copper tubing, and make the coils tapped with a switch, only the best roller inductors hold up over time. The coils would have a link input from the rig side. http://www.cebik.com/link/link.html Sort of like the old Johnson matchboxes. They also had a switch instead of a roller inductor, the roller allows too wide a range, its sometimes hard to repeat settings as there are to many variables. I have a heathkit tuner now with the roller inductor, and its a real pain, a switch for the band would be better, even though the match might be slightly off. Brett N2DTS -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Don Ehrlich Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2007 6:05 PM To: Lamb, Dick Judy; Roelof Bakker Cc: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2, KAT2 and displaced choke balun feed I had to design and build my own because I wanted to run up to a KW through it. If I had to buy new matched roller inductors they alone would cost over 400 dollars. I found most of what I needed in my junkbox or on Ebay but even so the parts and materials alone were well over 300 dollars ... and I laid out and built my own circuit board, bent my own aluminum, and made many component compromises. Any commercially built balanced autotuner for a KW would be *very* expensive. Many hundreds of man-hours later for construction and software programming have finally got me what I wanted and I am very happy with it. But I don't ever expect to see one on the market that is easily affordable for most hams. Don K7FJ - However, it would be so nice to have a wide-range balanced autotuner. I couldn't find one on the amateur market. Though this works for me at the moment, it should be nice if someone (Elecraft?) could come up with a stand alone truely balanced automatic antenna tuner. 73, Roelof Bakker, pa0rdt Middelburg, Netherlands JO11tm ___ 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
RE: [Elecraft] I can't take it any more . . .
I held out a total of 2 days! I was kind of worried the 2nd batch would get theirs first as the first run gets pushed back. Or maybe the first and second batch will merge? Brett N2DTS I tried and tried, but I finally had to give in. I ordered my K3 today. Delivery will be late November or early December. Those of us on the list for the first production run are starting to think we may be looking at the same date. :-) Craig NZ0R ___ 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
RE: [Elecraft] K2 with internal battery?
The battery in my cell phone is a lithium ion, and is VERY small, VERY light, and rated for VERY high amp hours. They have a much longer lifetime, lots more charge/discharge cycles, and you don't really see a lot of cell phones bursting into flames. I don't think I would try cheap RC type batteries as they likely are peak output short lifespan type batteries. I did have a gel cell (camcorder) radio shack battery in the emtech rig, with a built in trickle charger, and I had the rig for 5 years with no battery problems, and that was a radio shack battery! NiCad's are a total waste of time, the worst batteries ever made, and I wont buy anything that uses NiCad's. I think most batteries are safe if you limit the charge rate. The sony laptop batteries had a short problem, not an actual battery problem I think... Bad wiring inside the battery package. (made in china?) Brett N2DTS ___ 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 receiver experience
Being a mostly tube guy, I have not read much about phase noise. Do tube circuits have phase noise? Do discrete components (solid state, transistors) in coil and cap VFO circuits have phase noise? What is the worst source of phase noise? What circuits have little or no phase noise? My ears are shot, but I always thought some of the old analog stuff sounded much cleaner than digital stuff. I was listening to a stronger SSB signal on the K2 not that long ago, and it had strong artifacts up and down the band that caused hard copy on some CW signals. Was that phase noise? Thanks for any info, Brett N2DTS -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of DickandSandy Sent: Monday, September 03, 2007 9:20 AM To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Elecraft receiver experience After this weekend's hamfest I was reading my new ARRL 2007 handbook to see what might be NEW in ARRL testing of receivers, I came across this sentence that I thought pretty well summed up my experience with my K2 receiver. On page 10.7 3rd column When using a good receiver with a linear front end and a clean LO, amateurs accustomed to receivers with poor phase-noise performance report the impression of a seemingly emptier band with gaps between signals -- and then they begin to find readable signals in some of the gaps. This whole section in the handbook reveals the science behind the efforts engineers put into receiver design and why phase noise is so important for both the receive and transmit performance. Dick WB7OND hanging around for shipment 2 ___ 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
RE: [Elecraft] Elecraft receiver experience
Lyle, Thanks for the info. Would I be right in assuming the more conversions, the higher the phase noise, even if crystal oscillators are used? In the homebrew receivers, I used B+W coil stock, which I think has very high Q... Brett N2DTS Oscillators have phase noise. Properly designed -- with attention to this -- the phase noise can be managed and made small. Crystal oscillators are usually the cleanest, but they also have it to varying degrees. The worst are oscillators with improper gain using low Q components in the frequency determining section. This is also a description of many voltage controlled oscillators (VCOs) used in frequency synthesizers. Early synthesizers used in Amateur radio products were often truly awful in this regard. The higher in frequency one goes, the harder it is to have low phase noise close to the carrier being generated. Thus, it is generally easier to have a certain amount of phase noise 500 Hz from the carrier at 1 MHz than it is at 1 GHz. This is part of the reason that many radios that feature up conversion (for general coverage) have poorer phase noise than most radios that do not. 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
RE: [Elecraft] M0XDF: Re: What difference?
I sold the 756 pro when the K3 was announced, and ordered one right away. I suspect many others sold their rig, or one of their better rigs to pay for the K3. I think some even sold their K2 to get a K3! I also thought the communication was very light, but put it down to the small company bringing out a new and complex product. Maybe they should have said nothing about the K3 till it was ready to ship, and perhaps they were doing the people here a favor in offering it, as I don't think they put ads in QST and so on to the general public. The shipping date was always listed as a TARGET date... Being a small company, they get a boost from the deposits, in exchange for the early shipping, that's fair. I don't look at the deposit as a contract, but more like helping them get the product out quicker than they might otherwise, and to help them out in general, because they seem like real nice people who make real nice stuff. With people working 7 days a week and jetting around the US and the world, it don't sound like they are goofing off. I can imagine the amount of communications they must be dealing with, vendors, assemblers, beta testers, friends, etc, and guess I would rather they get on with it and maybe have some sort of life, before they spend lots of time updating the web page and posting stuff here. Maybe some forget that Elecraft is a SMALL bunch of hams and not a big corporation? It is only going to take 1 missing or wrong (or sub standard) part from any vendor to delay the current ship date. I notice how hard it has been for Elecraft to get the same parts for the K2 runs, available parts change faster than the manual can be updated. Cap values change, inductor sizes and colors change, etc. I ordered a K3 kit, and being the type of person I am, would like it if Elecraft sent the parts to me as they became available, so I could start playing with them, but that is a bit silly! I say damn the impatient people, they should have fun and take the time to enjoy what they are doing, its going to do nobody any good if they ruin their health... Brett N2DTS Let's turn the question around: How many people who have put down a deposit have done so if they knew that they radios would be shipped at least two months later than they originally thought? Maybe some, maybe most, but I'm fairly certain, not all. It's very important to understand the distinction in what I'm saying: I'm NOT advocating an accelerated, anything-less-than-100%-thorough testing and development schedule. I AM insisting on open and timely communications with their customers/bankers. It seems the least that Elecraft can do. Regards, and 73, Steve NN4X Saint Cloud, Florida, USA ___ 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 Accessory Connector
Kind of silly, I have regular normal D connectors that have worked fine after many thousands or connects and disconnects. I cant say I ever had a problem with the old stuff, it's the new stuff that lasts a month, like cell phone charger hookups. Brett N2DTS ___ 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
