Re: [Elecraft] QRP from the bottom of the Grand Canyon
Mike, Although conditions can be rough here at the bottom of the solar cycle, you'll almost always be able to work someone, even from deep canyons such as Bright Angel Canyon at the campground. And often you'll find that the horizon is actually that high, from places like the Tonto Plateau and the other terraces that trails and routes tend to follow. Since it sounds like you're hiking the Kaibab-Bright Angel Trails or some variation, you could try operating at lunchtime or another time during the hiking day when you're more in the open than at night camp. (If you care to tell me your plans I can be more specific.) Most of the South Kaibab Trail is on a ridge where you would have low horizons in all directions except south. At Indian Gardens on the Bright Angel, you have a fairly low horizon to the northwest through northeast. And on the North Kaibab south of Cottonwood Camp you would have a low horizon to the south and southwest. Since the Canyon is to large and complex, it's more like hiking in big mountains than in a single, deep canyon. Although there are places... 72 and have fun on your trip, Bruce N7CEE ___ 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 got their KXB3080?
Hi Ron, I agree... and I don't really care about the radiation pattern because my goal is a super simple antenna that requires only one support, and that I'm willing to put up after a long, hard day of backpacking- or quickly for a lunch break on a day hike or paddle. 72, Bruce N7CEE ___ 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] Field Day at Home
I used to do FD with a local club but the CW operation was dominated by several ops who didn't want anyone to operate who might run at a slower rate.. About the time I rediscovered QRP I also discovered how much fun FD can be with just one other CW op. We take turns logging and operating and have a great time. And our setup (K2 with KAT2 and 270-foot horizontal loop) is simple and fast. Unfortunately, no Field Day here this year because the national forest is closed to all entry due to extreme fire danger. 72, Bruce N7CEE ___ 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 got their KXB3080?
Jay, I'm currently using a 58-foot end fed wire with 50-foot counterpoise. The SWR came out at 1.4 on 80m, 1.8 on 40m, and 1.0 on 30 and 20m. That's the best I've been able to do with an end-fed wire so far. 72, Bruce N7CEE ___ 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] KX1 on 80 meters from KL7CW
Hi Rick, I've been usinga 52 ft wire with 50 ft counterpoise on 80. I forget the SWR now but the KXAT1 tunes it on all four bands. I grew up in AK- the last four year on Annette Island near Ketchikan. 72, Bruce N7CEE ___ 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] Excellent Elecraft service
I ordered a replacement part for my KX1 last Friday, and it came today- snail mail! Elecraft's most excellent service continues... 73, Bruce N7CEE ___ 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] KX1 RX deaf after KB3080 installation
> > If you can see the 1 ohm or so difference that represents the resistance of > L6 when measuring from each end of it to ground, you can tell which side the > short is on without lifting one lead: it'll be on the end with the lower > resistance to ground. That will tell you whether to look in the direction of > T2 or toward Q7. > > The other possibility to a shorted Q7 is that Q7 is somehow locked "on". > There should be no bias to ground on the base of it to leave it off. If > there's about 0.6 VDC at the base then it's being held on by a current > through R2 that should not be there in receive mode. If that seems to be > case, grounding R2 at the end connected to the base of Q7 will turn it "off" > and make the short go away. > > Ron AC7AC Looks like it's Q7. I pulled T2-2 and still had the short. So I pulled Q7. The short went away at L6 and the RX works. Q7 is shorted- only 3 ohms collector to emitter. I don't think it's not a random failure. The original problem with the KXB3080 was a hot Q6 but very low output power. That problem was caused by a solder bridge between B and A on the KXB3080 so I'll bet too much TX RF got into Q7 and fried it. If I'd caught the problem during RX testing I would have avoided this. At least I can play with the receiver while I wait for a new Q7. The sensitivity does seem improved, at least on 20 m, by the KXB3080. Thanks Ron, Don, and Alexandra, for all the help! 73, Bruce N7CEE ___ 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] KX1 RX deaf after KB3080 installation
On Friday 21 April 2006 04:47 am, Don Wilhelm wrote: > Bruce, > > Check the end of L6 closest to the wire you added at trimmer cap CC - L6 > should not connect to the trimmer pad, but it is close, so a slight solder > splash will cause a short there. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > No short there- thanks, Don. It looks like it's in the T2 side of L6, so Ron's probably right, it involves T2. 73, Bruce N7CEE ___ 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] KX1 RX deaf after KB3080 installation
> -- > > If you can lift one end of L6, you can then tell which side of it the short > is on. Since part of the mod was to install T2, I'd suspect it's somewhere > there. Maybe a short between the turns of the two windings since both the > primary and secondary of T2 have one end at DC ground. > > Ron AC7AC > > > I can't see anything wrong with L6 or the circuitry around CA and C26. I'll lift one end of L6 tomorrow- but now I'm starting to wonder if Q7 might be shorted. Bruce N7CEE ___ 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] KX1 RX deaf after KB3080 installation
-- > > > No. You have it right. Those marks on the KX1 PCB are correct for the KXB30 > and incorrect for the KXB3080. > > I suspect L6 is open. Have you ohmmed it? > > You moved L6 to the underside of the KX1 PCB as part of the KXB3080 install. > Is it in the right holes on the bottom? > > You should see about 1 k ohm from L6 to ground with the RF gain at minimum > on either end of the inductor. > > With the RF gain at maximum, it should show about 1 to 2 ohms to ground. The > inductor itself has a DC resistance of about 1 ohm so it'll be about 1 ohm > higher from one end than the other. > > Ron AC7AC > > L6 is good, it measures 1 ohm. But I'm seeing only 1 to 4 ohms from min to max RF gain. That tallies with what I'm hearing- the RF gain has almost no effect on received sigs. So I'll look for whatever is pulling R1 down. Thanks again- it always helps to have a second set of "eyes". 73 Bruce N7CEE ___ 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] KX1 RX deaf after KB3080 installation
On Thursday 20 April 2006 06:05 pm, you wrote: > Do you have the jumper installed in the jack next to the BNC? > Yes, the jumper is in place. That's not where I looe the RX signal. It's at L6. Also, the TX puts out normal power into a dummy load, so it looks like the low pass filter part pf the KXB3080 is OK. > The markings on the BACK of the board are wrong. The ones shown in > the manual on page 9 are okay. > That's strange, becaue I had the KXB30 option, and its manual doesn't mention that the markings on the back of the KX1 board are wrong. A goes to A and B to B, when installing the KXB30. Thanks, Randy. Back to troubleshooting... 73, Bruce N7CEE ___ 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] KX1 RX deaf after KB3080 installation
I thought I found _all_ the problems with my KX3080, but I guess not. THe receiver is now very insensitive on all bands. It works, but I don't hear an increase in noise on any band when I connect an antenna. Tracing from the antenna jack toward the mixer, I get a good increase in noise when I touch the antenna to the junction of L6 and the RF gain pot. On the antenna side of L6, there's no increase in noise. Rereading the assembly instructions, the manual says to connect A on the KXB3080 to B on the KX1, and B on the KXB3080 to A on the KX1, because the markings for A and B on the KX1 are incorrect. But if this is the case, why was the KXB30 connected A to A and B to B? I'm wondering if this is my problem... 73, Bruce N7CEE ___ 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] Field antennas for 80 meter KX1 and KXAT1
I've been using a 42-foot end-fedwire with two 16 ft counterpoises with the KX1 and KXAT1 on 40, 30, and 20 m. I haven't yet had time to experiment with a length that will also tune on 80 m. Has anyone worked out a length that the ATU can handle on all four bands? 73, Bruce N7CEE ___ 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] KX1 low transmit power with KXB3080
I found the problem- a solder bridge between pads A and B on the KXB3080 board. Thanks for all the suggestions. 73, Bruce N7CEE ___ 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] KX1 low transmit power with KXB3080
I finished the KXB3080 adapter today. Receive seems OK, but transmit power into a dummy load is only about 0.2 watts on all bands. (It was about 3 watts with the KXB30.) I suspect a short somewhere because Q6 gets hot and TX current drain is above normal at 850 mA, but I'll be darned if I can find it. The voltages at Q1, Q4, Q4, Q5, and Q are normal. I;ve also done the mod to increase the L3 windings. I'll have a fresh look in the morning, but meanwhile, has anybody else seen this problem? Thanks es 73, Bruce N7CEE ___ 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] Neurotic about Toroids
Lee, After you've installed a toroid, check the resistance across the toroid leads (all pairs if it's a transformer) at the solder pads. If it's zero, you can be assured you stripped the leads properly and got a good solder joint on the board. Since I started doing that, I've never had a bad toroid installation. Take your time and enjoy building your K2. Elecraft and this excellent list are always there to back you up, so you CAN'T fail. 72, Bruce N7CEE K2 #244 ___ 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 or KX1? Looking mainly at receiver
I've owned both a K1 and KX1 and I find the receiver performance to be about the same. For backpacking, the KX1 wins hands down. 72, Bruce N7CEE ___ 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] Using the KX1 on Solar Power
I've used a 1.4 watt panel with a ten NiMH AA cell pack with the K1 with great success. On the other hand, with the KX1 on a backpack trip of a week or more where weight is critcal, I run it on a set of AA lithium throwaways, and carry a spare set. Both sets together weigh the same as a single set of NiMH, and will run the rig for several weeks- in fact I've never run the first set down on a trip. And I don't need to carry a solar panel. For a non-wilderness situation, car camping or the like, I use the above NiMH pack and solar panel to save the expense of the lithium cells. 72, Bruce N7CEE ___ 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] Headphone police
On Sunday 29 May 2005 06:04 am, john wrote: > > I hope we all remember that it is illegal to drive with headsets of > > any kind covering BOTH ears, or did I dream that? > > Most certainly up to state by state ordinances. > > Not that it makes much difference. It's still legal to drive with a stereo > blasting to levels of isolation similar to those found w/headphones. > > John > Some cities have made that illegal too- Tucson, Arizona, for one. Not that the PD has much time to enforce it. 72, Bruce N7CEE ___ 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] AZ Scorpions CW Paddles ..es ...Club Website
Andy, They're at www.azqrp.org/azqrp/ 72, Bruce N7CEE Flagstaff, Arizona ___ 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] Thanks everybody
Roland, Elecraft kit building time definitely qualifies as theraputic sick leave! Have fun. 72, Bruce N7CEE K2, KX1 ___ 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] Bumblebee Navy, Bee 27
In keeping with my rediscovered interest in flat water kayaking, I plan to paddle to my operating site on a hill overlooking Blue Ridge Reservoir for Flight of the Bumblebees tomorrow. Look for Bee 27 on 40, 20, 15, and 10 as conditions warrant. I'll be running a K2 and 170 foot end feed wire. GL and 72, Bruce N7CEE ___ 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
