Re: [Elecraft] [KX3] Foxhunting with the KX3 2m module
The suggested attachment to the KX3 is risky because of the stress the mass presents on the SMA connector. The same risk exists for BNC antenna attached to SMA connectors on HTs. I mitigated that risk, a bit, on my HT by using an adaptor that has a male SMA connector that has a flat surface that snugs up to the HT body when the connector is attached to the HT. This same adaptor could be used on the KX3. Here is an example of such a connector on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1pce-Conversion-Adapter-BNC-female-F-to-SMA-male-M-RF-connector-for-radio-gold-/271590922716?pt=US_Radio_Comm_Coaxial_Cables_Connectorshash=item3f3c1499dc Shop around - I have no idea if this ebay seller is the right choice. Don, N0YE On 9/2/2014 6:12 AM, Matt VK2RQ wrote: I saw the following blog post about someone using the KX3 with 2m transverter for fox hunting: http://www.n4kgl.info/2014/09/the-kx3-2-meter-module-is-handy-for-fox.html This sounds like a great idea, and would work well with the adjustable attenuator mini module, if you put it in a metal box. Not too sure about the strain of mounting an antenna directly on the SMA connector though. If the KX3 had a feature where it would output a tone proportional to signal strength, then this might be a good convincer when deciding on the 2m module. 73, Matt VK2RQ __ 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 n...@comcast.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Using the K3 remote
Rick and others, I use a power strip accessible via Ethernet. This power strip has an IP address and can be accessed independently from everything else in the remote radio system. I access this power strip to reset the PC if it has gone off the rails. I use this power strip to power cycle the radio if need be. The power strip may be a way to power cycle the K3 because of its power issues (I am using another brand radio for remote use). And I use this power strip to disable the remote radio system for security reasons. Don N0YE On 12/18/2013 2:58 AM, Rick Bates wrote: I'm cheap. I don't throw things away until they are beyond any reasonable use plus I like toys. So here is how I run my K3 remotely: I have an old laptop for the shack computer. It runs HRD, has a four port USB-Serial cable and wifi to the home LAN. It takes only a little power, doesn't cost much to run (but I'll have to upgrade it to Win7 soon). Via HRD, I have full control of the K3 (the next version of HRD will even improve this). By using a SignaLink USB for radio audio, I don't ever worry about OS noises being transmitted. SLUSB=radio, OS=laptop speakers I can run the basic K3 via HRD at home or while away (remote); even from another computer in the house. BO-ring since I have the KPA500 and KAT500 as well. So; .. In the event that there is a power failure, someone has to have physical access to the station to turn the K3 power back on. I'm working on this (use an alarm or tickle the ACC line for now). That someone also makes a pass through the house to water plants, grab the papers etc. . While there are other ways to go remote, most of this was 'free' (since I owned it or it WAS free software) and it is pretty darned cool stuff; sometimes being a nerd is pretty awesome. Merry Christmas, Rick wa6nhc __ 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] Any Remote Ham Users Out there
The Boulder Amateur Radio Club has a club remote radio. Each user, who must be a HAM with HF privileges, uses the remote station with their own call sign. The station is remote and unattended and so the user is the control operator. Don N0YE On 12/15/2013 10:02 AM, Phil Hystad wrote: How does one sign their station when using RemoteHamRadio services? If I visit a friend and use his station, I would sign with his call. If I have my own personal remote station out on a farm then I sign with my call. But, a shared station -- which way applies? I think I am a little ignorant of the rules in this particular example. 73, phil, K7PEH __ 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] [KX3] Boost Buck 13.8 V Regulator
Glen, There a number of down converters from which you could choose to run the KX3 off of a higher supply voltage - and they are inexpensive. Below is the ebay listing for one such device. I have this one on order to test. I have yet to get it and can not validate it yet. Do note that the output voltage has to be 1.5 volts below the input voltage. Most important will be the RFI it may generate. Don, N0YE http://www.ebay.com/itm/LM2596-DC-DC-Power-Converter-3-2V-40V-to-1-25V-37V-Step-Down-Power-Supply-Module-/230964091763?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0hash=item35c6885b73 On 5/13/2013 12:38 AM, Glen Torr wrote: Hi All, I have a KX3 and am doing some SOTA activations. I have obtained a 4S LiPo battery which is somewhere north of 16 V with full charge. I would like to get a DC-DC regulator as a more elegany solution than series diodes. I have searched and searched but no solid outcomes. Anyone have any input on where to find such a regulator? Many Thanks, Glen __ 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 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] RemoteRig Elecraft K3 Twin
On 10/4/2011 1:34 PM, Mitch Wolfson DJØQN wrote: The product has been officially announced: http://www.remoterig.com/wp/?page_id=995 Pricing is not yet available. I understand that a cable set will be available separately. 73, Mitch DJ0QN __ 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 Mitch, Can I turn the K3 on and off remotely using this system? Don, N0YE __ 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] K3: remote control
On 7/5/2011 2:27 PM, Alan Bloom wrote: Yes, you do need a computer at the operating end. However it is really nice not to need one at the radio end. If the computer crashes you really don't want to have to drive to the mountaintop to reset it. Also having a computer running 14/7 can waste a lot of power. The computer at the operating position can be turned off when you aren't using it. Alan N1AL If you put an IP addressable power strip on the mountain top, you can remotely turn the computer/radio/etc. on and off at will. This can save power. This can give you a remote method for resetting the computer. This can be another way of turning off the radio. Don, N0YE __ 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] OT: soldering practice
Doug, There are two opportunities here. One is your goal of solder practice. The other is to find a suitable piece of electronics to take apart to get the circuit board on which the soldering practice can take place. The experience of taking something apart for the sake of understanding what is inside is worth the effort. It is more enjoyable because you know it does not have to be put back together. I recently took apart a failed laser printer. Now there is an experience even for a seasoned electronics type like me. Don, N0YE On 6/5/2011 5:10 AM, DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL wrote: Hi everyone, 1. Please reply off-list 2. I want to teach my daughter how to solder leaded components onto a circuit board (to start). 3. Where can I get a cheap (really cheap?) source of boards to play on. Obviously, they do not need to work, can be broken, etc. Thanks, Doug KR2Q __ 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 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] 14.316 help!
On 4/24/2011 3:37 PM, Jim Wiley wrote: David - No, the problem is not the crystal. It is the _oscillator_. The oscillator is usually a more or less square-wave type, which is rich in harmonics. These harmonics are then radiated by the circuitry in the offending device, and make their way to your station. The function of the crystal is to control (stabilize) the frequency on which the oscillator operates. Color burst oscillator crystals are used so much because they are both inexpensive and easy to use. They are inexpensive because literally hundreds of missions of them are manufactured. For this reason, there have been created a large selection of IC chips that use the color burst frequency as the primary timing function for whatever device into which they are incorporated. Many of these chips are very simple to use, in most cases requiring no components other a chip (manufactured specifically for the intended function) and the crystal itself to create the desired device. - Jim, KL7CC David Guernsey wrote: I realize it is the 4th harmonic. I do not have any problems with any harmonics of 3579 KHz except the 14316 KHz (4th harmonic). Thus, I wonder if the problem is really from the color burst crystal. 73s de Dave KJ6CBS __ 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 A square wave is rich in odd harmonics and essentially no even harmonics. So if the oscillator is putting out essentially a squared wave form, the fourth harmonic is going to be either non existent or many dB down. This thread suggests to me that the 14.316 MHz signal may be from some other source. A bit off topic. I have a nasty 2304.150 MHz noise source that sounds digital. It comes and goes. What could it be coming from. Don, N0YE __ 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] Band Changing Macro
I am now learning to create macros for my K3. I want to make a macro that will take the K3 from whatever band and frequency where it is and go to the last used frequency on another band, say 10m. I have made a macro that will take the K3 to 28.400 MHz. I want a macro to take the K3 to 28.xxx where xxx is the frequency where the K3 was when it was last on 10m. As a bonus, I would like to have a frequency FIFO (first in first out) stack. I doubt that this can be done with a macro or set of macros. But it is worth asking none the less. Don, N0YE __ 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] Time-Out Timer
On 1/20/2011 4:20 AM, DL3LSM wrote: Hello, is there the possibility to set a transmission Time-Out Timer in the K3 (like in the TS-480)? As more and more people use their rigs remotely this would be nice to have - to limit the transmission to a setable time in case of a communication error or breakdown... 73 de Mario, DL3LSM A transmission time-out timer is a valuable suggestion. We have a TS-480 and a TS-2000 serving two remote radios here in Boulder, CO. Combined these radios have provide more than 4 years of remote service. In that time the transmission time-out timers have terminated transmissions more than once because the user has lost contact with the radio while transmitting. In my opinion a transmission time-out timer is not a nice feature on a radio providing remote service, it is a necessity. Don, N0YE __ 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] [OT] The Thread of all Threads
Hi all, The question of how sensitive/insensitive the K3 is on 10m or higher intrigued me enough to do a little testing. The bottom line is that I did not find a great sensitivity loss on 10m or higher . I did see a nominal sensitivity loss of maybe 3-4 dB on 10m and 6m relative to the sensitivity on lower bands. Here are some details of what I tested. I have an HP 8640 signal generator with an outstanding decade attenuator that can reduce the signal out down to nominally -130 dBm. So with this generator feeding into a Kay attenuator unit, I could attenuate the signal down by increments of 1 dB as far down as I would like. I calibrated the 8640 to 0 dBm when the 8640 attenuator was set to 0 dBm. I used a Yamaha headset and listed to the CW signal out of the 8640 with the K3 set to SSB. The internal preamp and attenuator in the K3 were turned off. The ATU was bypassed. The audio bandpass was nominally 3 Khz. NB, NR, and NTCH were turned off. I listened to the audio out of the K3 while adding attenuation until I could not hear the signal. The attenuator setting where I last heard the signal is the value in the table. The absolute signal level at -130 dBm may not be exact, but the relative values should be quite good. Freq Receive threshold 1900 -135 dBm 3800 -135 7100 -136 14100 -135 18100 -137 21200 -135 24940 -137 28400 -132 50125 -133, with internal preamp on = -138, with external preamp on = -142 For my personal interests, I also tested an FT817 which was close at hand. Freq Receive threshold 1900 -95 dBm 3800 -103 7100 -106 14100 -113 18100 -117 21200 -120 24940 -115 28400 -120 50125 -148 ( this one is very interesting ) Don, N0YE On 12/13/2010 11:24 AM, Al Lorona wrote: This morning I got up and turned on the K3. I was shocked to find RFI from my Eveready flashlight on 7040, a birdie on 7160.1850192827354637, and with the noise blanker on I could hear splatter from my nextdoor neighbor's kilowatt at the bottom of the band. So I decided to update the firmware. The K3 locked up during the update. I had to power cycle everything four times. After the update, I could swear that the AFX started acting differently than before the update. Somebody told me it was my AGC settings. I started to try to measure the AGC response when I noticed that my filters were shifted and tilted. I phoned Inrad and exchanged my filters ten or eleven times until I got one that was flat with zero frequency shift. Something was still bothering me, so I hooked up my spectrum analyzer. Aha! Audio artifacts! These were solved easily by purchasing a pair of $9.95 headphones at Pic 'n' Save. While troubleshooting this, I happened to notice that my RS232-to-USB-to-waveguide-to-banana plugs-to-RS232 adapter was acting up. A search of the archives told me that the driver and the chips used in this adapter were the wrong kind. Why in the world can't the K3 have an X-band horn in the back instead of that antiquated serial connector? When I tried to transmit, the guys on the net complained about the K3's key clicks, and its ATU wouldn't tune my 0.1 -j 4570 ohm antenna impedance properly. However, when I boosted the lower two TX EQ bands by +16 dB these problems seemed to go away. Well, that, and re-writing the K3's firmware to implement a windowing function that takes 2 GB of external memory to implement. With some of this extra memory I wrote a Yaesu receiver personality that makes my K3 distort exactly like my old FT-757. It's just like having that rig back in the shack. During this testing, I did have some trouble with FSK-D VOX without QSK in DATA-A Dual PB AFX BIN TEXT DEC NR 1-4 mode, but switching to AFSK with APF, PTT DVR N1MM through the soundcard with DTR always on and CONFIG:MON turned down seemed to help. However, I plan to ask Wayne for a high-priority firmware update to do this automatically. (By the way, it's a good thing I have this short call sign... I can say my call 15 times in one ten second DVR memory! Thank goodness for the vanity call sign system.) I *think* everything's okay now except for there's still something wrong with the receiver which I can't quite pinpoint, and I know it couldn't possibly be related to all of those years touring with The Who and standing in front of their amplifiers night after night. Happy Holidays, Al W6LX __ 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 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
Re: [Elecraft] Need for advice was; (More Thorough Documentation)
On 12/7/2010 6:24 AM, samuel ernst-fortin wrote: Bill, FWIW: my background is EE with a minor in Industrial Psych (specifically Human Factors / Ergonomics / Usability Engineering). One book which resonated with me as an engineer is Psychology of Everyday Things. In it, the author discusses mental models, and those of the developer vs. those of the user. When those mental models fail to intersect or the mental model of the user is inaccurate (both will often be the case with a complex system) - you have the problem being described by the various users here. This is a field of study that gets a lot of attention in the Aviation community with Flight Management Systems and highly complicated flight deck automation. To be more terse and to this point: the mental model of the developers as to how the K3 rig features are designed to work and be operated for maximum performance hasn't been effectively communicated or fostered in the user community. This is not a situation specific to the K3 of course. In some respects the rig's features drives the operators actions instead of the other way around... and people are fumbling around with them till they seem to get something that works. Luckily, this situation can be cured. A K3 is no Boeing 787 Flight Management System. As to nobody reads books, while I think this is true of some segment of the population (in engineering school - I knew many people who never read their textbooks... turned in pristine books as used)... I still have mine and often refer to them at home and at work - that model doesn't accurately describe the HAM community as a whole. Personally, I like and will forever prefer books, where I can hold it or put it down, annotate and dog-ear and mark and flag pages, navigate it as I wish and see the totality of the topic subject matter, gauge it by it's physical dimensions. I don't find the massively hyper-linked, ever-changing, fragmented and presented in many silly windows means of communicating technical information nearly as effective. I prefer books. :) Sam, KJ4VPI For those in a decision making position on a product line, the thought of more sales would be most welcome. How many HAMs have not wanted to buy a K3, for example, because it is too complicated? Now there is a challenge. The K3 is complicated and those would-be buyers are correct in their assessment. Now enter a really outstanding tech writer. Some who who has the knack and a sense of what is needed in a document to compel the reader to try the product. The user manual is available to anyone who wants to download it from the web – a wise marketing tool. If the user manual was well enough done, a would-be HAM would learn how the product works, in detail, and enjoy the process of learning about that product. The current K3 user manual is more of a reference manual. It is compact and efficient in presenting information without the inefficiency of examples and explanation. A user manual would be much more than that and would have the luxury of including examples and comparisons of different settings with explanations of how and why a feature works the way it does. I can believe that at least 250 more K3s would be sold if there was a good K3 user manual and other marketing documentation (user useful material). If my calculator is correct, that would be on the order of $1,000,000 in additional sales. Now if I were in that decision making position , I surely would sit up and do more than take notice. Don, N0YE __ 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] OT: K3 vs an RFI noisy furnace
Hi all, I misspoke earlier this year when I said our new Lennox high efficiency furnace was not generating any noticeable RFI. Quite to the contrary, the new Lennox furnace is very rich in RFI energy. One observation is that the RFI has a very broad spectrum and it's presence is not noticeable by audio sound alone. However, my S meter noise floor goes up by 3 or more S units when the furnace is heating the house. The furnace we have is the Lennox G71MMP, said to be a 95% efficient furnace. The “reference” antenna that I use is a Cushcraft R7 vertical mounted on the side of the house. The magnitude of the RFI decreases as I listen on each higher band. On 40m, the RFI from the furnace is over S9 compared to baseline noise floor of S6 when the furnace is off. The receiver is a K3 with a pretty good S meter calibration. The difference from background noise is on the order of 20 dB on 40m and on 20m. The noise decreases as I listen on higher bands. What the furnace RFI is on 80m and 160m are unknown because I do not have a “reference” antenna for those bands. There are two variable speed motors in this furnace. One motor blows air throughout the house. The second motor is the “induction” motor and delivers outside air into the burn chamber. This induction motor and the drive circuit are the source of the RFI. The blower motor, when running alone does not generate noticeable RFI. I have used a clamp-on toroid with a multi-turn secondary connected to an oscilloscope to sample RF on various leads emanating from the control board inside the furnace. The four leads going to the induction motor have significant noise on each as does a ground wire going to the furnace chassis. The other leads going elsewhere are quiet. The noise I observe on the induction motor leads is characterized as fast rise time pulses. I have tried to engage Lennox in discussions on this RFI problem with limited success to date. The furnace installer has basically given up without trying pleading ignorance which is understandable. I am trying things to mitigate the RFI with limited success so far. I would very much like to hear what others have done to mitigate their furnace RFI problems. Don, N0YE __ 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] K144XV receive gain
Hi all, I know this is a nit. But the IARU state that the S9 signal level is -93 dBm for frequencies above 144 MHz. I for one did not know that the -73 dBm was only valid for lower bands until taking a look at the IARU recommendations. To me the IARU states that the -93 dBm is valid above the whole 2m band and therefore does not include the 2m band. The IARU recommendation R.1 is found at web page http://www.algonet.se/~k-jarl/ssa/IARU/smeter.html. Another reference is at http://webpages.charter.net/dig2bn/RF%20Comm-Elec%20Course%20Student%20Study%20Guides/S-Meter%20Calibration%20%20IARU%20Standards.pdf http://webpages.charter.net/dig2bn/RF%20Comm-Elec%20Course%20Student%20Study%20Guides/S-Meter%20Calibration%20%20IARU%20Standards.pdf Don, N0YE On 11/10/2010 1:58 AM, Alexandr Kobranov wrote: Keep in mind that on VHF and up S9 on S-meter is by definition as -93dBm on input (5uV) - it is 20dB difference from HF bands. I suppose it is respected for K3/P3 K144XV setup. Are there some exact valus (MDS, NF, S9 level) for old and new firmware versions? Maybe I missed them, let me know out of list in such case... 73! Lexa, OK1DST K3/100 #727 Dne 10.11.2010 4:55, N6JW napsal(a): I can certainly confirm this receive gain overcorrection problem on 2m. The cpu sleep on rx upgrade really helped cut back on the birdies. Thanks! But the overcorrection of the 2m gain compensation stands out like a sore thumb, particularly when one can actually see the relative amplitude of the signal on the P3. Of course, this is just a small matter of programming! and I'm sure we will get it right in due course. Thanks 73 John, N6JW Jeff Cochrane - VK4BOF wrote: Hi Terry, Thanks very much for posting of those figures. Although I do not have test gear that can back those numbers up I can say that from my extensive on air testing that indeed, the 2M gain reduction was overdone and to somewhere in the region your figures are showing. The local (60+Km away) 2M FM repeater was normally S9+30db on earlier firmware releases (around release 3.97 or so) on my K3 and once I got to firmware revision 4.05 it had dropped to S9+5db, now that I am at revision 4.14 it is now S5! Nothing has changed at the repeater and all other radios tried with the same antenna at my location show at least S9+20db signal strength. (And usually full scale, it is an exceptional repeater, over 1500ft high and with 50watts output to a 6+db gain antenna, it is almost full scale on my handheld in the back yard here!) Even allowing that the other radios have optomistic S meters I cannot believe that they are all out by so much and by such a consistant amount. The overdoing of the 2m gain reduction has been the subject of a few emails I have sent to Elecraft and to this reflector and to date I have not heard an answer on the subject. Jeff Cochrane - VK4BOF Innisfail, QLD, Australia Elecraft K3# 4257 - Original Message - From: w...@comcast.net To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2010 11:18 AM Subject: [Elecraft] K144XV receive gain After seeing several postings about the K144xv gain and experiencing issues myself, I did some testing. Comparing a K3/K144XV on 2m vs 6m. On version 3.97 firmware, on 6m -87dbm yielded a S9 signal with the PR6 preamp in but the internal preamp off - best setting. On 2m, this yielded a S9+5 signal with the internal preamp still off. After loading 4.12 or higher, the same -87dbm gave the same S9 on 6m but now only S5 on 2m and still only S7 with the internal preamp on. To achieve the same S9 reading, I had to increase the signal level to -72dbm with the internal preamp off. The release notes for 4.12 reference a gain change on the K144xv and by the results of the 3.97 test I agree, there was too much gain but instead of dropping 6 db or so, it appears that they dropped 15db. Hopefully this will be rectified in the near future. Terry Price - W8ZN ex K8ISK __ 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 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] Need K3 dB Measurements on new 160M Antenna
Geoff, To do good antenna testing you need an anechoic chamber or better operate in deep space. My primary interest in radio are the microwave bands. I do set up antenna ranges for 10 GHz (3cm), In doing so, I find the wind blowing tree leaves will have a non trivial affect on the observed signal even though the trees are out of the way. I find that I need to place the reference antenna and the antenna under test in exactly the same place (x y and z position) to get true A/B comparisons. This is demonstrated by taking two known antenna and see how repeatable the observations can be. Scaling these realizations up to HF antenna causes me to throw up my hands. Yes we do the best we can testing antenna, but we have to be realistic about the data we collect. When anyone makes claims about their antenna I listen carefully for the details on how the antenna was tested. Maybe we should ask ARRL to fund a synchronous satellite over the US with a beacon on each of the HF bands so that we can point our antenna up and make more valid comparisons. Don, N0YE On 8/29/2010 5:22 AM, Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy wrote: David, The question remains IMHO whether the data taken from short term on-air tests over distances which involve ionospheric propagation is useful in the first place. Unless the vertical patterns of the A and B antennas are very similar in shape and lobe take off angle, it can be seen that changes in the angle of arrival of the test signal would introduce errors to the results of on-air tests. I have no experience with 160m, but on 40m for example the change in the angle of arrival of short path signals from the East Coast and Midwest can be large, and can change rapidly. Sometimes my dipole 70ft AGL which is end-on to the States, a cloud`warmer in that direction, will outperform a 40m beam pointed at the States - a disturbing result if taken to be the true performance of the beam. IMHO on air antenna tests need to be repeated many times over a fairly long period, preferably with the same stations. 73, Geoff GM4ESD David Cutter wrote on Sunday, August 29, 2010 6:36 AM I would try a chart recorder in this arrangement; there's no mistaking which channel is which. Of course use a modern version using pc sound card then you can squash up or expand the results for examination. David G3UNA Alas, after years of doing A/B manual coax switch tests, I have given up on that exposing anything better than 10 db differences on anything other than stable local signals. And that is suspect because it is often ground wave, which bears no resemblance to sky wave. __ 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 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] LDG
On 6/17/2010 8:40 PM, R. Kevin Stover wrote: Exactly. I'd believe $100M in the amateur (HF and VHF/UHF), commercial, maritime, and aviation markets combined. I'd love to know how many HF rigs they sell per year. On 6/17/2010 4:04 PM, Brett Howard wrote: Actually the K3 can sell a LOT less than 100Million and be on par with the number of IKY's sold. While Elecraft is a Ham Radio only organization IKY make a lot of money selling communications products to completely unrelated sectors. ~Brett No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.437 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2944 - Release Date: 06/17/10 11:33:00 Hi all, For those inquiring minds who really want to know and would be willing to do a little bit of work to find out, a web site could be set up where anyone with an IKY radio purchased new could enter the radio model, date of purchase and serial number. Accumulating enough of these data points would give a trend of how many radios were sold per unit time. Because the HROs and AESs would probably buy quantities of radios at one time and not sell them in serial number order, the data would have to be analyzed over longer periods of time. Having the origin of the purchase may be informative as well. The name and call sign is something said data base should NOT have for many reasons. If I were a buyer, I would love to know how many units of a given radio had been sold. It might influence my purchase decision. If I were looking for a used unit, I would have a sense for the likelihood of finding a used radio of a given model. My goodness this sounds like something a company in the HAM radio market might find useful for deciding what products might make sense and where there may be opportunities. If someone like ARRL or eham were to collect this data, it would be valuable public information for everyone in the HAM radio market, buyer and seller. Don, N0YE __ 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] OT: RFI from Modern Furnaces
Hi all, There was a discussion some time ago about RFI emanating from front loading washers. This note is about the possibility of RFI emanating from microprocessor controlled house furnaces. We had to have our house furnace replaced last week because of a failure. Yes we winter camped for a over a day as a result. We now have a 95 percent efficient microprocessor controlled furnace installed. I did not think about possible RFI that it might emit at the time of choosing that furnace. The good news is that I have not found any RFI on the HF bands as yet while the furnace is active or not active. My question to the group is: was I lucky? The furnace control has a very nontrivial computer control and could cause plenty of noise. It would be nice to think that the designers of furnace control systems are sensitive to RFI radiation issues. The furnace is a Lennox model G71MPP. Don, N0YE -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/OT-RFI-from-Modern-Furnaces-tp4675513p4675513.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
Re: [Elecraft] Need to select a dummy load for K3 TX calibration...(advice?)
On 2/24/2010 9:41 AM, Brett Howard wrote: If you're in a hurry you've already bought the MFJ from HRO. If you want to be a little more frugal you can get an adequate one here for 12 bucks! I know it says its a 75watt load but it will do 100 for long enough to get the job done and the K3 only calibrates at 50 any way... https://www.ridgeequipment.com/store/dummyloads.html ~Brett On Tue, 2010-02-23 at 10:13 -0800, Jeff Hall, W6EZY wrote: Hello all, I need help picking out a proper dummy load to use for calibrating my new K3. HRO is just up the road and they carry some of the less expensive MFJ dummy loads -- would these be sufficient? Not looking to spend a lot of money, but don't want to buy junk either. What factors should I consider? I'm assuming oil-cooled dummy loads are more robust, while air-cooled loads are more compact, but you have to be more careful when operating or they can burn up more easily. The K3 manual says this is just a 5W test and I need a load with low VSWR from 160 to 6. What is considered low SWR? Anything under 1:5? If I can get by with the MFJ-260 for just $40, that sounds reasonable to me. 73 de Jeff, W6EZY __ 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 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 No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.435 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2707 - Release Date: 02/24/10 07:34:00 The same seller is selling this dummy load for less on ebay and the shipping is less via ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/50-Ohm-Dummy-Load-75-Watts-VERY-NICE-1973_W0QQitemZ250584212024QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3a57fba238 Don, N0YE __ 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] Signal / RF generator
On 1/31/2010 1:55 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: Since the question was about what signal generators we have, I thought I would add the list of what I have here - some have specific purposes while others are general purpose. I have several signal generators. The two most important properties of a signal generator (for me) are frequency stability and clean sine-wave output. If one has attenuators, then control of the output level is not a requirement as long as the generator level is steady. Generators that I have available - A homebrew generator with about 10 dBm output (variable in steps down to about -20 dBm - the design is the dual range generator shown in Experimental Methods for RF Design. This was built in an ARC-5 transmitter frame so it has mechanical stability lots of bandspread with the geared tuning capacitor(s) drive. and covers from about 3 MHz to 50 MHz. - A DDS vfo that is controlled by the parallel port on the workshop computer 100 Hz to 30 MHz in 1 Hz steps. Very stable and no warm-up drift. No level adjustment on the output, uses the AmQRP DDS kit as its basis. - A high level generator as shown in the K1 and K2 manuals (Troubleshooting section). I used a plug-in crystal so I can change input frequencies easily. - The Elecraft XG2 for calibrating S-meters and doing MDS related measurements. - An HP8640B - this is my main workhorse generator, it has very low phase noise, and is quite stable after a 2 hour warmup period plus it has AM and FM modulation and provisions for sweeping it if required. It goes down to 500 kHz and up to 512 MHz. It is very well shielded so there is no leakage and the output level can be adjusted from a high of +23 dBm to -140 dBm with its internal attenuator. - In addition, I have my K2 and a few QRP transmitters which can also serve as a high level signal generator within the ham bands, and yes, I can use the output from my MFJ259B or my Micro908 antenna analyzers as a useful signal source in many cases. The generator I choose depends on what I am trying to accomplish. Get a copy of Experimental Methods in RF Design and turn to the Measurements chapter if you have a mind to build a generator, several are detailed there. I might also mention that I have a LOT of 28.322 MHz oscillators if anyone wants to use one as a base for a signal generator (think about a divider followed by a Low Pass Filter. I can mail one to you for $3. 73, Don W3FPR SO figure I would query the group to see what everyone else is using. IF your using a signal / RF generator, what brand, model and options are you using ??? __ 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 No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.432 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2659 - Release Date: 01/31/10 06:39:00 Don, Thank you for the description of the signal generators that you use. The book Experimental Methods in RF Design you reference for one generator design is an ARRL publication and is available from ARRL for $49.95. The ARRL web page is http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?words=Experimental+Methods+in+RF+Design. Do be wary of Amazon for they are offering the same book for from $500 to $1100 as can be seen here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0872598799/ref=dp_olp_0?ie=UTF8condition=all. I was unable to figure out how to let Amazon know of their mistake. Don, N0YE __ 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 KAT3 Antenna Tuner Tutorial
The K3 KAT3 antenna tuner is a puzzle to me. The user manual says that there are up to 30 ATU settings stored for each antenna on each band by the antenna tuner. There is no further discussion as to when a setting is saved or how a setting is chosen from those saved. Is the frequency tracked as the VFO changes and a new setting put into the antenna tuner when the VFO has been changed enough? Does a setting get changed if the VFO has changed enough and the K3 instructed to transmit? My antenna tuner seems to me to retune too often. Again my expectations may not match how the tuner works. I would appreciate a tuner tutorial for the KAT3. Some topics for said tutorial would include: (1) frequency spacing for tuning settings on each band, (2) does the tuner remember settings for an antenna from one time when the radio was on to the next time the radio was on, (3) does the tuner remember previous tuned setting from a previous visit to a band, (4) how far the SWR must be off for the tuner to retune, (5) how does the tuner indicate a failure to tune, (6) does it make sense to tune ahead so to speak where you may want to have the antenna tuned up ahead of an event? Don, N0YE -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-KAT3-Antenna-Tuner-Tutorial-tp3868991p3868991.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
Re: [Elecraft] IF Output Buffer Gain Mod
Ken K3IU wrote: G'morning: Tomorrow I am going to make this mod on the K3 of a friend. To try to see what difference it makes, I though I'd look at the IF signal on a scope before and after. I have looked at the output on a modified K3 (mine) and it looks like about 2.5 mV (P-P). Does that look about the right order of magnitude??? Thanks... Ken K3IU __ 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 Ken, I have already made this modification to my K3. But I have not tested it. So your email triggered a curiosity to check it. Since the test gear is in the basement and the K3 is here in the shack, I thought of connecting my FT817 and listening to the IF output. The IF center frequency is 8.215 MHz more or less and so you can listen above the IF and below the IF to what stations are transmitting. The FT817 was chosen because it is highly portable and tunes to 8.215 MHz easily. You could do an A/B test on signal level. There were a lot of signals on 20m and so I had a lot to hear. If you put the K3 on say 14.350 MHz, for example, then a signal at 14.325 MHz is going to be 25 KHz above the 8.215 MHz IF or 8.240 MHz out of the IF output. This is because the IF signal is inverted and goes up in frequency as you go down, in this case down from14.350 MHz. The signals are going to be LSB for the same reason. You could tune for WWV at 10 MHz to have a stable signal for the before/after test. By the way, this is an odd and awkward way to add a sub receiver to the K3. Don, N0YE __ 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] QRP at VHF
James Duffey wrote: Bill is a good friend of mine and he has given me lots of points in VHF/UHF contests, for which I am very grateful. I think his views on QRP at VHF are overly harsh though. QRP does not fit into Bill's six meter goals and operating style, and I accept that, but that does not mean QRP is unsuitable for everyone. QRP certainly requires patience and hard work, as well as relying on CW and accepting that you will not be the loudest station on the band. It is not for those who can't stand hearing a rare station and not working it. There is a QRP Portable category in the ARRL contests and a Hilltopper category in the July CQ contest, both of which are limited to 10 Watts or less. In either of these contests, if you go to a hilltop, or even a high spot in a sparsely populated grid square with an FT-817, 15 or 20 ft of TV mast or EMT, a homebrew Moxon like N2MH has on his web page, and the longest WA5VJB cheap yagis for 2M and 70 cm, again home brew, you can have a lot of fun, and if there is reasonable activity work a lot of stuff. In the January contest you will likely do better than if you had 100 Watts on 6M only. The QRP combination is good for contacts out to 150-200 miles on CW perhaps half that on SSB. The QRP Portable category is under represented in the contests and there is some low lying fruit to be picked there in terms of section and division certificates. QRP will work from a fixed site as well. The key is good antennas, up high and low loss feed line. On the other hand, if you put up a loop in the attic, drive it with the FT-817, you will only get a small taste of what VHF operating is about. In my experience many, but not all, VHF ops on SSB will come back to you if you call them on CW. Cross mode contacts are fairly common, and if you are in a grid they need, they will work hard to put you in the log. That said, you will quickly note the lack of power on VHF, even more so than on HF. There is lots of stuff at or near the noise level, particularly when the band is opening and closing that you will miss with QRP. You will hear the big stations far away, but they will not hear you, even when you call on CW. You will quickly learn that the key to success in VHF contesting is to be loud on two. If you are satisfied with the QRP experience, you can meet this objective by putting up more antenna. If you long for more than QRP can give you, brick amplifiers are readily available and will put you in the 150 Watt class pretty easily without a big investment. Going from 5 or 10 Watts on 2M to 150 Watts opens whole new worlds. And in contesting, that means on 6M and 70 cm as well. QRP is fun on VHF and you can work a lot of stuff, but it only gives a taste of what VHF is good for. But for some a taste is enough. Get on with what you have, even if it is QRP and see if you like it. If you do you can go QRO later. And then you will want to add 222 MHz, or the microwaves, or go roving, or try meteor scatter, or moonbounce. There is lots of adventure up on VHF and UHF, all of it pretty accessible these days to the average ham who is willing to work a bit. There is a VHF contest this weekend, so if you have SSB/CW capability on VHF or UHF, give it a try. It is a lot of fun. I am roving along the 100th parallel south from Nebraska tomorrow, so I need to get up early and finish getting the rover read. Listen for the weak ones. - Dr. Megacycle KK6MC/5 -- KK6MC James Duffey Cedar Crest NM __ 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 At any point in time there is what you could call a cutting edge. I think of the cutting edge as the highest frequency HAM band you can work. Your cutting edge and the cutting edge of the next HAM may differ based on abilities to build equipment and amount of funds available and amount of time available. I enjoy hearing about the cutting edge 10 years ago, 20 years ago and further back. There is a common challenge in the dealing with the cutting edge whether today or yesterday. And as time passes, technology improves and equipment available at a given frequency improves. So those working 6 meters in the 1950s may have struggled to get 1 watt where today 1500 watts is quite doable. There was enjoyment in the 1950s in seeing what you can do with 1 watt on 6 meters. That challenge is still there today and is what James is talking about. I work on the microwave bands, 10 GHz more than others. I started on 10 GHz with 10 dBm using a Gunnplexer (wideband FM). That system required line of sight paths between the
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Power Amp Shut Down Problem
Don Wilhelm wrote: David and all, There already is a message for HI REFL which appears in the VFO B area when the SWR exceeds 2.0. It is transient and could possibly be overlooked. If a log of errors could be made available, that might be helpful when troubleshooting. 73, Don W3FPR David Cutter wrote: That would be of great benefit if you had an intermittent fault, such as a fault in the antenna, particularly in a contest. Antenna faults are probably the most common and an ERR message for high SWR sounds like a really good idea. David G3UNA __ 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 No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.37/2129 - Release Date: 05/22/09 17:56:00 Don, Interesting that you have a message reporting high SWR. I have never seen it and I have had MANY chances to see if it indeed does get displayed when a high SWR causes the power amp to be shut down. Let's suppose for a moment that the mechanism that would display it did not get executed. What other mechanism in the firmware would shut down the power amp when I had the suspect cable connected and when the suspect cable is replaced with a presumed better cable, I have no power amp shut down? Am I to believe that there may be another problem? Any suggestions? Don, N0YE Here is a copy of my original post: Hi all, My K3 appears to be working just fine once the power amp shut down problem was fixed. For months after I had assembled the K3, I would occasionally to frequently experience power amp shut down failures. The power amp shut down failures would occur while transmitting. The power amp shut down would occur sometime after I had been transmitting for a while and sometimes when I has been transmitting only for a very short time. This problem appeared to occur mostly on the 10m band. The problem appears to have been an intermittent BNC connector on the coax cable that I was using. This cable worked fine on other radios but not the K3. When I changed the cable to the K3, the power amp shut down problem went away. I have been trouble free for about 6 weeks now. Lessons learned: (a) use good cables with good connectors, (b) be aware that the K3 has hair trigger protection logic that shuts down the PA, (c.) the K3 needs to have messages displayed on the front panel when it decides to shut down the power amp giving a cause for that action, (d) the K3 documentation needs to enumerate the actions the firmware may take to change the state of the radio, in particular when the PA power is shut down. Had I been able to read about the protection logic built into the firmware to protect the power amplifier, I would have saved months of frustration trying to figure out what was going on. It would be greatly appreciated by me and surely many others if the user manual would discuss the protection logic in the firmware and where and when power down actions will be taken. Had the firmware reported protective action taken to shut down the power amp, this too would have hastened my taking corrective action. It would be so easy for the firmware to display, say on the VFOB display, that high SWR caused the power amp to be shut down. Don Nelson, N0YE __ 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 Power Amp Shut Down Problem
Hi all, My K3 appears to be working just fine once the power amp shut down problem was fixed. For months after I had assembled the K3, I would occasionally to frequently experience power amp shut down failures. The power amp shut down failures would occur while transmitting. The power amp shut down would occur sometime after I had been transmitting for a while and sometimes when I has been transmitting only for a very short time. This problem appeared to occur mostly on the 10m band. The problem appears to have been an intermittent BNC connector on the coax cable that I was using. This cable worked fine on other radios but not the K3. When I changed the cable to the K3, the power amp shut down problem went away. I have been trouble free for about 6 weeks now. Lessons learned: (a) use good cables with good connectors, (b) be aware that the K3 has hair trigger protection logic that shuts down the PA, (c.) the K3 needs to have messages displayed on the front panel when it decides to shut down the power amp giving a cause for that action, (d) the K3 documentation needs to enumerate the actions the firmware may take to change the state of the radio, in particular when the PA power is shut down. Had I been able to read about the protection logic built into the firmware to protect the power amplifier, I would have saved months of frustration trying to figure out what was going on. It would be greatly appreciated by me and surely many others if the user manual would discuss the protection logic in the firmware and where and when power down actions will be taken. Had the firmware reported protective action taken to shut down the power amp, this too would have hastened my taking corrective action. It would be so easy for the firmware to display, say on the VFOB display, that high SWR caused the power amp to be shut down. Don Nelson, N0YE -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-Power-Amp-Shut-Down-Problem-tp2959862p2959862.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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Power Amp Shut Down Problem
wayne burdick (via Nabble) wrote: Don Nelson wrote: My K3 appears to be working just fine once the power amp shut down problem was fixedThe problem appears to have been an intermittent BNC connector on the coax cable that I was using (d) the K3 documentation needs to enumerate the actions the firmware may take to change the state of the radio, in particular when the PA power is shut down Hi Don, Sorry to hear about the connector and/or K3 PA issues. Regarding documentation, the K3 owner's manual has an extensive troubleshooting section. Starts on page 61. The first item on page 61 (in the General troubleshooting section) mentions ERR messages that you might see on the K3's display. This refers you to page 64 where there's a full list of possible error codes. More likely your K3 shut power down because the intermittent connector presented a sudden change in SWR or PA current drain. In this case you should have seen a HI CUR or HI SWR warning on the VFO B display. These are described at the bottom of page 61 in the Transmit troubleshooting section. Remedial actions include check load Z (impedance). These warnings persist for a few seconds, and repeat until the K3 has dropped power or gone into QRP mode. Of course you could have missed the messages if you were looking somewhere else. I'd like to improve the firmware or documentation where possible; please send me any suggestions. 73, Wayne N6KR Wayne, Thank you for your response. I do believe that the K3 cut power because the SWR on the antenna port went too high. No I never saw any error message at any time. And that is my point and basis for the request to have an error message for this condition. Scanning the list of error messages on page 64 of the user manual dated January 2009, I do not see any error message that states that the SWR was detected to be too high. Please let me know if you do implement such an error message. Thanks. Don Nelson, N0YE -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-Power-Amp-Shut-Down-Problem-tp2959862p2960423.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] [OT] K3 IF Output Port
Hi all, I am wanting to use the IF output on the K3 with the installed KVX3 board. My problem is knowing what I need to administer to activate the IF output port. With the K3 as is, I put a 14.270 MHz RF signal into the ANT1 port on the K3. The 14 MHz signal is from an HP 8640 at -120 dBm. The K3 is set to use ANT1. I connect the IF output from the K3 into an HP spectrum analyzer and see no signal at 8.215 MHz. The K3 is tuned to 14.270 MHz USB. So I put Mini Circuits amplifiers with 50 dB total gain between the K3 IF output and the spectrum analyzer. With the amplifiers in the path, I see a signal at – 85 dBm which suggests a signal out of the K3 on the IF output of -135 dBm. If I increase the 14.270 MHz signal by 10 dB I see a 10 dB increase in signal out of the IF output port. Is this right? I would expect a signal out of the IF output with much greater signal strength. In essence, there is a 15 dB loss in the signal path from the antenna jack to the IF output port in my K3 as configured. Is this correct? Is there something I need to administer? Where is this documented? Thank you for your help. Don, N0YE -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-IF-Output-Port-tp2571810p2571810.html Sent from the [OT] 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
Re: [Elecraft] Calibrate Solder Station
Walter V. Gilles wrote: Greetings, I'm going to purchase a solder station, probably one of the popular Weller or Hakko units, with additional tips. Both manufacturers sell accessories to calibrate the stations. Some recommend performing a temp calibration whenever you replace the tip or the iron. All well and good until you see the cost of these calibration (test) units. Would it be prudent to forego the calibrations altogether, and just swap tips as needed, and rely on the initial cal to keep it in the ballpark? I'm guessing after getting used to the station, you will have a sense of proper temp for a particular job, and could just tweak the temp setting up or down as needed without really getting into the calibration arena. Just wanted to see what folks thought about calibration and if it was worth it. Thanks. 73 Walter, WB2IDK (ex-N0DZJ) __ 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 No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.238 / Virus Database: 270.11.35/2033 - Release Date: 03/31/09 13:05:00 Walter, Your question prompted me to try my Raytek Minitemp remote thermometer on my Weller soldering station. I get some high temperature readings. I suppose that this kind of thermometer should be sufficient to monitor the how the soldering station is performing. Why not use a general purpose remote sensor instead of buying a specialized tool? Don, N0YE __ 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] Remot control of K3
dbe...@datacheck.com wrote: I have a 150 mile drive each way from my home to my QTH and I need a full remote control solution. Operate mostly CW, serious DX primarily 160M, and some contests. Only have POTS phone lines so no brodband connection yet. Does anyone out there know of someone successfully doing this? I'm not a computer geek so keep it simple. __ 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 No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.238 / Virus Database: 270.11.26/2020 - Release Date: 03/24/09 09:19:00 D. B. Evan, We have an amateur radio club here in Boulder, Colorado that has a remote antenna in the county that is our remote radio site. We do not have any high speed Internet service to the site, and so we have put our own WiFi link to the site. It has been in operation now for over a year. Contact me privately if you would like to discuss what we have done. Don, N0YE __ 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] K3 power loss on 10 meter USB
Hi, I am not out of the woods with respect to the K3 reducing power while transmitting as I experienced during the 2008 December 10m contest. But I am standing on the edge of the forest. The K3 has built-in protection for the 100w power amplifier and automatically reduces power when some sensor is triggered. I had been operating the K3 on a “long” extension cord from my Astron RS-35A power supply. The voltage drop at the end of this extension cord was over a volt when transmitting 100w as seen by the built-in volt meter in the K3. The power supply voltage observed when in receive mode by the K3 is 13.6 volts. On the extension cord, the K3 reports a power supply voltage of 12.5 volts when transmitting 100w. This change in voltage sometimes causes my K3 to reduce the transmit power out to something much less than 100w. The transient power supply voltage as seen by the K3 may well have been less than what voltage the K3 display indicated. This behavior was very frequent while operating on 10m and much less frequent while operating on lower bands. I now have the K3 connected to the power supply using only the cable that came with the K3. The K3 now observes 13.4 volts when transmitting 100w. The percentage of transmissions that I now experience loss in power has dropped by more than one order of magnitude. The K3 firmware was the 2.58/1.94 vintage. There still are times when my K3 fails to transmit 100w. Today for example, I was on a QSO on 17m and transmitting 100w where I observed loss in transmitted power maybe once in every 20 transmissions. i.e. out of 20 transmissions I would transmit 19 times and and observe 100w output and once I would experience much less than 100w output. I have tested the K3 on 10m, in particular, with 100w output on every transmission. Bottom line: keep the supply voltage to the K3 as constant as possible. To accomplish this, keep the IR drop in the power cord to a minimum and use a power supply that can handle the current demand of the K3. There is something else going on to cause an occasional loss of full power. Any suggestions? Don, N0YE -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-power-loss-on-10-meter-USB-tp1660124p1803141.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Automated Transmitter Gain Calibration - accolade
Hi, I have tried and like the automatic transmitter calibration test. The reporting of the SWR for each test provides useful information. Thank you for adding it to the utility package. The trouble/benefit of us human beings is that we will ALWAYS want more. I ran the test with a poor quality coax (I did not know it at the time) and saw the SWR increase with frequency such that during the 12m test on 5w, the SWR exceeded the threshold and the test stopped. At first I thought it was my instrument grade dummy load. I replaced the coax and the test went to completion. My request is to be able to run just one test, say the 10m test only. If I had had this capability, I would be able to see if the SWR failure was on 12m only. As the test sequencer works now, I know where a test failed and I do not know anything beyond that failure point. By the way, you have provided us with a tool to test the quality of coax (and dummy loads) over the frequency range of 1.9 MHz to 50 MHz. Now I suppose we will want to be able to change the frequency of each test and to move the report to the printer or a file. And if you would consider .. Don, N0YE -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/Automated-Transmitter-Gain-Calibration---accolade-tp1803184p1803184.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] K3 power loss on 10 meter USB
During the 2008 10 meter contest this past weekend I experienced some power loss during USB transmissions. The K3 was set to 100 watts, more or less. The K3 firmware is the 2.58/1.94 vintage. In responding to another party calling CQ I would send my call sign, N0YE. The N0 would be transmitted at the full 100 watts. The YE would be transmitted at about 10 watts. The power level observations were made on the built in power indicator in the K3. This behavior was highly repeatable. The K3 would transmit about 4 syllables of speech at full power and drop to a low power there after. This behavior occurred with whatever I spoke while transmitting. I used more than one antenna during the contest. Each antenna had it's own tuner and so the K3 antenna tuner was bypassed. I can not say for certain that the SWR to the rig was always better than 2:1. I do not know what I can do to get the K3 into this abnormal operational state. And I am not totally sure how I got the K3 into a “normal” operating state. I think changing power levels is one trigger to get into this abnormal state. I think going into the TUNE mode for a while is a way to get in the normal state. I also think changing bands say from 10m to 12m and back to 10m without transmitting is another way to get to the normal state. Power cycling the K3 may be another way to get to the normal state. Once in the normal mode, the K3 would function normally for a long time. After I built the K3 kit, I experienced power fluctuations while transmitting. These fluctuations were cured by grounding pins 7 and 8 onto the MIC connector shell. The K3 has functioned normally on 40m, 20m, 17m and 15m bands since that fix. The modified MIC connector was used during this contest. This other problem and fix are mentioned in the off chance there may be a connection to this 10m transmit power problem. So my questions to the group are: Is this a problem observed by others? Is this a solved problem? If this is not a solved problem, are there things I could do to mitigate the problem? Don, N0YE -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-power-loss-on-10-meter-USB-tp1660124p1660124.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] easy source of static dissipating work mat?
Gary Smith wrote: My new K3 is on it's way. I have anti-static material that my motherboard came in but that's not enough to work on be static free. Where can I easily quickly get an anti-static mat and grounded wrist strap? Thanks1 Gary KA1J ___ 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 Gary, The K3 kit has two sub assemblies that come in large conducting plastic bags. I used these bags for an antistatic mat. I put these bags down on the work bench overlapping to provide a good conducting surface. If you want you can cut open two sides of each bag and fold open the bag to double the covered surface. Don -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/easy-source-of-static-dissipating-work-mat--tp1646635p1647637.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
