[Elecraft] Any value in using a Microkeyer III with a K3S or K4?
I have a K3... the best radio I've ever owed in my 50+ year ham life. I'm currently using a US Interface Navigator with it for digital modes. This is now sold as the Time Wave Navigator and has worked really well for me for many years. My understanding is that the K3S and now the incoming K4's have sound cards built-in via the USB port. So perhaps I won't need the Navigator anymore when my K4 eventually arrives. But my question is whether there is still something to be gained using a newer transceiver interface with the K3S or K4? I've been looking at the Microkeyer III with its 24 bit audio processing. Does anyone have any hands-on experience with the Microkeyer III with Elecraft radios? I'm particularly interested if it has a lower noise floor or other features that might not be found in the stock K3S or K4. Thanks for any input or feedback! -- Courtney KD6X __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] "On second thought, I'll take the stairs."
Very well done Wayne! For what it's worth, when someone asks me why ham radio and CW in the era of cell phones and internet, I usually ask them the question "Why do people buy sailboats?". It's a great way to start the conversation, and I usually see lights go on. As you eloquently illustrated, there's a lot of charm and fun to be had by taking the old traditional paths rather than the freeway. It requires a lot of knowledge and skill to be a good CW operator or a sailor in a wind powered vessel. Cheers and 73, -- Courtney KD6X -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of elecraft-requ...@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, July 12, 2020 8:56 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Elecraft Digest, Vol 195, Issue 11 Send Elecraft mailing list submissions to elecraft@mailman.qth.net To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to elecraft-requ...@mailman.qth.net You can reach the person managing the list at elecraft-ow...@mailman.qth.net When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Elecraft digest..." __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] K3/0 mini LCD Adjust for vertical mounting -- HOW TO??
Hello All, I have a K3 and a K3/0 mini control head. They are both mounted with the front panel vertical in my shack. That's the natural way the K3 sits, but not the K3/0 mini. The K3/0 mini is designed for use primarily in a portable setting with the display at a shallow angle to the desktop. My problem is the K3/0 mini display is quite washed out in the vertical position even with the LCD Adjust Menu entry set to 100. At the minimum setting of 2 the display is virtually blank when viewed directly on at eye level. Does anyone know of a "Super LCD Adjust" menu setting that will override the design tendency of the K3/0 mini to only be used at shallow angles on a desktop rather than at eye level? Thanks much and 73! -- Courtney KD6X __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 and HRD turning AGC off
I also have been having problems where the AGC suddenly shuts off while using HRD V.5 with the K3/P3 combination. It's not caused by RF because often this happens when I'm not even in the shack. I did find what seems to be a solution for me, so I thought I'd post back and hopefully help others similarly afflicted. My ah-ha moment came when I looked at the P3 manual and realized that the RS232 path to the K3 went through the P3. (Figure on p.13 of the P3 manual.) The communication between the P3 and K3 is always fixed at 38400 baud. However, the communication between the computer and P3 can be changed. My HRD to P3 link was originally set at the default of 38400 baud. I used the RS232 menu selection on the P3 to set the speed to 9600 baud and made the same corresponding change to the connection parameters in HRD on the PC. I haven't had any problems with the AGC dropping since then, and I haven't noticed any significant differnce in the functionality of HRD's ability to control/read the K3. -- Courtney KD6X -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-and-HRD-turning-AGC-off-tp6340160p6959674.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] RE: Problem with KPA100 power output; high current
Hi All, I found my problem, and thought I repost my findings back to the reflector to help others who may have similar issues. There are a few red herrings in my troubleshooting observations, and I am deeply grateful to Tom Hammond, N0SS and Ron, ZL1TW for their time and advice to help me zero in on the problem. First of all, the problem with C224 was most likely caused during construction test when I errantly reversed the RF leads going to the KPA100. I'd conveniently forgotten about this momentary assembly error. The installation of the DSP module was also a red herring. Thanks to several who suggested I trim the leads on the newer version DSP module to make it sit closer to the control board and less likely to short to the KPA100 heatsink/shield when the cover was on. Done. It fits much better now. The real cause of my trouble was dead 1N5711 diodes in the internal SWR bridge circuit. The diodes in both the KPA100 and KAT100 were fried and seemed to look like 2 to 4 Kohm resistors. I'd been comparing resistance readings between the two circuits thinking it wasn't likely that both were dead. Wrong! The problem wasn't obvious to me because of the effect of the surrounding circuit, but closer testing with the diode feature on the DVM got me very suspicious. Once out of the circuit, they were obviously bad. With the RF detector circuit dead and measuring no output power, the K2 feedback control process just kept trying to drive the unit harder until it reached full bore and high-current would ensue. As a helpful hint, I was able to remove and replace the diodes from the top side on both the KPA100 and KAT100 with minimal disassembly. I looped a very fine piece of steel wire under one diode leg, and pulled up gently while applying heat. With one end now free, it was easy to heat the other lead and remove the diode. There was just enough room to get the tip of a solder sucker in to clean out the hole, and I dropped the replacement with leads pre-trimmed and resoldered from the top. It was about a 30 minute operation for both the KPA100 and KAT100. I figured this approach was less traumatic to the hardware than the disassembly necessary to reach these diodes from the bottom. Thanks again to all who helped! -- Courtney Krehbiel KD6X From: Courtney Krehbiel Sent: Friday, March 02, 2007 8:32 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Cc: Courtney Krehbiel Subject: RE: Problem with KPA100 power output; high current Hi All, I have K2 S/N 5788 with KPA100 which I recently completed. Everything seemed to be working perfectly, including the KPA100. Over the weekend, I removed the top cover KPA100 to install the KDSP2 module. I was very gentle with the KPA100. The receiver worked fine after assembly, so I moved the unit across the room from the workbench to desk and rerouted the antenna coax. The first time I tried to light up the KPA100, the power supply folded back due to high current. I've spent the last few days dusting off my troubleshooting skills, and have come up with the following observations. I've also tried to review and follow troubleshooting hints from this reflector. My test equipment is limited to a DVM and an old external analog SWR bridge, so I'm somewhat handicapped. I'm hoping someone has some ideas or similar experience. 1. K2/KPA100 was working originally as far as I could determine during construction and alignment steps. Tested ok into dummy load and KAT100/long wire on the air. 2. Problem is not band specific. I'm using a good 50 ohm dummy load for all tests. 3. K2 works normally into a dummy load antenna with KPA100 removed. 4. C224 .047 uFat AUX RF output of K2 had an internal short. Replaced this with new part. Not sure if this could have been cause or effect. No impact on observed problem after replacing part. 5. Have repeatedly seen HI CUR on K2. Moved current limit to 425 mA from original setting of 350 since I thought the DSP module might have pushed things over the top. This makes it better with the top open. Putting the KPA100 back on the K2 causes the supply to fold back. (I expect this is due to a better ground connection between the KPA100 and K2.) All measurements made with KPA100 removed and sitting to the right side of K2. 6. Power output seems to be at or near max both 10 and 10watt setting. Relays click at the right time, and power output into a dummy load on the analog SWR bridge takes a significant jump when high power kicks in. (I used the K2 solo to calibrate the external SWR bridge.) The amp seems to be working. 7. Power control doesn't seem to affect power setting or power output. Control is very jumpy at the far CCW end of the range, but that's the extent of the adjustment ability. 8. I've carefully looked at the built in SWR bridge and components around U5 and U6. I used a jewelers loupe to check each connection during assembly. It's possible I missed something, but I was very careful
[Elecraft] RE: Problem with KPA100 power output; high current
Hi All, I have K2 S/N 5788 with KPA100 which I recently completed. Everything seemed to be working perfectly, including the KPA100. Over the weekend, I removed the top cover KPA100 to install the KDSP2 module. I was very gentle with the KPA100. The receiver worked fine after assembly, so I moved the unit across the room from the workbench to desk and rerouted the antenna coax. The first time I tried to light up the KPA100, the power supply folded back due to high current. I've spent the last few days dusting off my troubleshooting skills, and have come up with the following observations. I've also tried to review and follow troubleshooting hints from this reflector. My test equipment is limited to a DVM and an old external analog SWR bridge, so I'm somewhat handicapped. I'm hoping someone has some ideas or similar experience. 1. K2/KPA100 was working originally as far as I could determine during construction and alignment steps. Tested ok into dummy load and KAT100/long wire on the air. 2. Problem is not band specific. I'm using a good 50 ohm dummy load for all tests. 3. K2 works normally into a dummy load antenna with KPA100 removed. 4. C224 .047 uFat AUX RF output of K2 had an internal short. Replaced this with new part. Not sure if this could have been cause or effect. No impact on observed problem after replacing part. 5. Have repeatedly seen HI CUR on K2. Moved current limit to 425 mA from original setting of 350 since I thought the DSP module might have pushed things over the top. This makes it better with the top open. Putting the KPA100 back on the K2 causes the supply to fold back. (I expect this is due to a better ground connection between the KPA100 and K2.) All measurements made with KPA100 removed and sitting to the right side of K2. 6. Power output seems to be at or near max both 10 and 10watt setting. Relays click at the right time, and power output into a dummy load on the analog SWR bridge takes a significant jump when high power kicks in. (I used the K2 solo to calibrate the external SWR bridge.) The amp seems to be working. 7. Power control doesn't seem to affect power setting or power output. Control is very jumpy at the far CCW end of the range, but that's the extent of the adjustment ability. 8. I've carefully looked at the built in SWR bridge and components around U5 and U6. I used a jewelers loupe to check each connection during assembly. It's possible I missed something, but I was very careful and methodical. 9. Both R26 and R27 seem are set near middle of range. I read 26.8Kohms to ground at both U5 pins 3 and 5. 10. VRFDET seems to sit between .8v and 1.4v depending on band and whether high or low power. There is no movement in VRFDET when I adjust the Power control. (Just like no change in output power level on external analog SWR.) 11. DVM measured frequency seems to correlate to tuned frequency. I doubt the circuit is oscillating. I would be very appreciative of any ideas, recommendations, or suggestions. Thanks very much, and 73, -- Courtney Krehbiel KD6X K2 S/N 5788 ___ 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: Problem with KPA100 power output; high current
Hi Tom, Thanks for your help and questions. I've answered them in-line below. Also thanks to several others who alerted me to the issue with the DSP connection pins being a bit too long on late models and potentially causing a short between the DSP board and the KPA heatsink and/or shield. I'll trim those for sure. However, since the shield and heatsink are ground, a DSP to ground short would be bad for the DSP, but shouldn't have impacted the KPA100. (Right??) For what it's worth, the KDSP2 seems to be working just fine. -- Courtney Krehbiel KD6X -Original Message- From: Tom Hammond [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, March 02, 2007 9:11 AM To: Courtney Krehbiel Subject: Re: [Elecraft] RE: Problem with KPA100 power output; high current Courtney: I have K2 S/N 5788 with KPA100 which I recently completed. Everything seemed to be working perfectly, including the KPA100. Over the weekend, I removed the top cover KPA100 to install the KDSP2 module. I was very gentle with the KPA100. The receiver worked fine after assembly, so I moved the unit across the room from the workbench to desk and rerouted the antenna coax. The first time I tried to light up the KPA100, the power supply folded back due to high current. When you say 'light up'... do you mean the first time you APPLIED POWER? Or the first time you APPLIED RF to the KPA100? [Courtney] The initial failure was noted the first time I applied RF to the KPA100 after the DSP module was installed. The supply immediately folded back and had to be turned off and back on to reset and restore DC. Did the power supply STAY in an overcurrent protect mode? Or did it just 'cycle' back to on-line immediately, placing the K2 back in power-up mode (as if you'd just turned it on)? [Courtney] The power supply effectively shut down. I had to restart it to restore DC. I've spent the last few days dusting off my troubleshooting skills, and have come up with the following observations. I've also tried to review and follow troubleshooting hints from this reflector. My test equipment is limited to a DVM and an old external analog SWR bridge, so I'm somewhat handicapped. I'm hoping someone has some ideas or similar experience. 1. K2/KPA100 was working originally as far as I could determine during construction and alignment steps. Tested ok into dummy load and KAT100/long wire on the air. 2. Problem is not band specific. I'm using a good 50 ohm dummy load for all tests. 3. K2 works normally into a dummy load antenna with KPA100 removed. 4. C224 .047 uF at AUX RF output of K2 had an internal short. Replaced this with new part. Not sure if this could have been cause or effect. No impact on observed problem after replacing part. I think... the only effect this might have had would have been IF (which it was shorted) you accidently MIS-plugged the +12VDC line into the AUX RF connector. Doing this WILL FRY one of the relays in the K2 and CAN cause some strange operation. [Courtney] I have never plugged the +12VDC line into the RF. The length of cable wouldn't let me do that. I also have them very clearly color coded per the suggestion in the manual. However, I did have the RF and ground reversed on the connector briefly when initially testing the KPA100. That's probably what happened to C224. 5. Have repeatedly seen HI CUR on K2. Moved current limit to 425 mA from original setting of 350 since I thought the DSP module might have pushed things over the top. This makes it better with the top open. Putting the KPA100 back on the K2 causes the supply to fold back. (I expect this is due to a better ground connection between the KPA100 and K2.) All measurements made with KPA100 removed and sitting to the right side of K2. Ummm... 'normal' CAL CUR values should be around 3.50A, not anything in mA. [Courtney] My error. Right numbers, wrong decimal point. I was writing this from memory. It is 3.50A to 4.25A. Maybe I'm sloppier than I think I am. :-) I'm beginning to suspect a possible parasitic in the amp, but this should ONLY occur if you attempt to TRANSMIT WITH the amp, and then (usually) only on 40M. [Courtney] Most of my testing has been in the 80 and 20M bands into a dummy load. 6. Power output seems to be at or near max both 10 and 10watt setting. Relays click at the right time, and power output into a dummy load on the analog SWR bridge takes a significant jump when high power kicks in. (I used the K2 solo to calibrate the external SWR bridge.) The amp seems to be working. You mean that the analog SWR bridge 'jumps' when you go from 10W TO 11W, even without KEYING anything? I think I'm lost now... [Courtney] Sorry, I'm putting the K2 into Tune mode and then increasing the power across the 10W to 11W boundary. The reading on the external SWR meter takes a big jump and goes from about 20% of scale to full scale. I calibrated the 20% point to be about 10 watts using the K2 barefoot without
