[Elecraft] K3 Subreceiver Icom 756 Pro II comparison
I'm quite curious, just wondering if the K3 subreceiver modules are beginning to get out to all those whom ordered them? My little K3 rig is looking very pretty, now waiting for my setup of the dipole(s) I have in mind, so a completely rounded out rig will be the best toy to keep my mind focused, learn new tricks. I've been using my IC-756 Pro II rig as a comparison as I built my K2 originally, and the quality of both is incredible. The K3 is an improvement, so I'm going to have a dandy time driving my retired scientist of a sister out of her mind by having to either tell me to put on the headphones while she watches TV, or take off the headphones so she can talk to me! The next stage is to get a nice little computer set up so I can do the digital modes, been missing them. Anyone with any answers about the subreceiver? Tnx, 73's Gil WA5YKK ___ 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: K3 microphone
OM's; I'm at those last procedures of making all the settings for my K3, and just added the microphone to the package. So far, I've found that I can make the red LED light up for the PTT line indication, but there's no LCD bar graph showing that my voice is causing any modulation. I'm finding very little of anything which can steer me in the right direction for a button push to activate anything else, which leads me to two questions - (1) do I need to double check the entire mike circuit, make sure no one goofed on a connection, and (2) am I barking up the wrong tree? I seem to note that there is a need for the transmitter finals and 100 watt amplifier to be taken through a setup procedure for each band, thus I may be missing a step here someplace. This rig is exotic, a far different idea from the K2, thus the longish learning curve. Any ideas before I start getting frustrated and pull hair, cuss a little, and look for the DVM? Thanks, 73's Gil WA5YKK ___ 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: ENOUGH ALREADY
Gents 'n other OMs; I see enough childish squabbling in other reflector lists that waste my download time as is, so please grow up about who gets their K3 sooner! What I'm interested in is the really important items of carrying cases, how to tweak the K2 circuits, et all. Right now, I'm cleaning up my various operating areas, moving with arthritis that makes CW practice on the Hexkey difficult, and waiting for the weather to allow antennas to be put up. If anyone has a cure for the soft legs on the Hexkey, I could use a hint. I seem to recall solid plastic legs someplace, but that was long ago. It's going to take awhile to solve a lot of problems, get CW going again, but this return to the original mode will be worth it. I'll be looking for comments on the K3, as I contemplate ordering one. Thanks for any ideas, got a lot of work to do way down south here! 73's Gil WA5YKK ___ 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] Tuning knob revisit (Gil WA5YKK)
To those who dare - I'm in the middle of a mess, attempting to rework my whole QTH shack upstairs in the big house, and in so doing, I enjoy firing up the Icom 756 PRO I have alongside the K2 which is now doing a better job of SWL than the Icom. The only real problem I run into is that the Icom tuning knob has some weight to it, along with a spinner dimple, which makes it easier to tune, and faster than the K2. I'm wondering if it makes any sense to attempt to find an FT-900 knob, or just figure out a way to add some weight to the k2 knob? And, yes, I've already looked over the Yaesu website, no joy at this point. My prime problem is that I find it to be a little disconcerting to tune the heater (the Icom is a room heater!), faster and sometimes easier to find a frequency and/or station than the K2 does, so just regard me as spoiled at this point. If anyone has any ideas about how to find a speed demon knob, let me know, since I'd really like to have the K2 become as physically able as the Jap rig is! Presently, it's astounding that I've soldered together a rig that is at least equal to, or outperforms a commercially-made rig, with a fraction of the amperage consumption. (Eventually, I see the day when my whole ham rig situation will be dying Kachina, fading Icom, and full steam Elecraft - and probably go SK for good, with the K2 or K3 going strong, still!) Tnx, 73's, enjoy Xmas coming up! Gil WA5YKK (50 years at this game, as of Jan. '08!) ___ 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: Hexkey waiting on bench, due to warning
Thanks to Ken, K0PP, for the note about the wobbly Hexkey feet - since I've been busy with a long laundry list of things to do in the middle of hurricane season here in South Texas. I, too, noted that the Hexkey was a little difficult to adjust to, after too many years of not using a paddle, but I thought it was just my lack of experience. I'll take his hint and look for or make my own stiff feet, and find out if it cures the catch the lost dot or dash which I've attributed to an arthritic wrist! 73's Gil WA5YKK ___ 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: KAT2 not reading ATU
Don, et all; I'm now wandering around in the menu of ATU, attempting to make sure the circuits are working right in the KAT2 that I didn't prove out a few weeks ago. When the instruction told me Set the ATU parameter to AUTO and exit the menu, then Turn the power off and back on. Use the menu to verify that the ATU parameter is still set to AUTO. I found that I had to find ATU again, and noted that the parameter is set to AUTO, so I'm hoping that the system is doing OK. I'd hate to have to look at U2 on the ATU, try to sniff out yet another problem with a solder connection! Gee, this started out to be a fun project, and now I'm having to double check every tiny item that's in doubt. Does anyone have a different reading than I have? Tnx, 73's Gil WA5YKK ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] K2 not hearing
I was going along fine on all my preliminary checks on my K2 revival, got the sidetone going OK, then started in on the secondary checks. To my dismay, I can't hear anything on any band, and I'm now wondering if I let the smoke out of something in the receive. Not being very good at tracing the schematic, I can't tell if the sidetone uses the same circuit to the headphone plug that the receiver does or not. Could I have fried a diode someplace, with that one problem of getting the KIO2 wires backward when I wasn't paying attention, in the course of setting up for the KAT100 addition? This is beginning to get old - I'm using dummy load more often than anything, and the SWL isn't a good result from all the hours. Any ideas, out there? Tnx, 73's Gil WA5YKK ___ 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] Reversed connections from KIO2 to KAT100
I've hit a wall with one of the strangest situations, having simply not taken time to recheck all my connections on the DB9 connector from the KIO2 to the KAT100. I had the KIO2 pins reversed in color order, from 6 to 9, plugged it in to smoke test the circuit to the KAT100, and got zero results. When I checked with Gary, I was informed that some seven parts, on three boards, have to be replaced, and I'm wondering if anyone else has had this same miscue, can give me hints about what other problems have been caused by the miswiring? I have to do a lot of major surgery on the boards, and might have to realign the Control Board. Any hints and kinks beyond the missives I've already gotten will be appreciated. Murphy's Law strikes again, right at a critical time!! 73's Gil WA5YKK ___ 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: Elecraft Digest, Vol 36, Issue 38
K3 -?- Where did I miss the ad? Jeepers, I just got the feel of my K2, am adding items to it, it's at least equal to my IC 756 PROII! If a K3 can outdo a Kachina, I'll have to use up the gear I have, or just add to two separate stations, one at my inland house! There goes the RF budget for this year... Gil WA5YKK ___ 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] Off topic microphone
OMs; I've been giving my old Alinco mike a jaundiced look lately, the remaining part of a HTX-212 rig I got from Rad Shacque many years ago. The prime question: does anyone have a short answer for me, if this little electret mike, with up/dwn buttons, keyboard, PTT switch, will work with my K2? I'm going to take a dare and see if that outfit will even provide a schematic for the aged little thing, find out what might or might not work, but I can also use some input from others who might be a tad more experienced with hybrid parts that seem to look viable. Thanks for any input, and I'm relearning a lot that went foggy on me with all my projects! 73's Gil WA5YKK ___ 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: Hexkey
Gents; I'm in the process of relearning how to use a paddle, having only gotten the feel of a Vibroplex keyer three decades back from an old pal. I'm now stumbling around with a Bencher paddle, the first of the line that's of the fall apart design, and thus I have to be careful about how I handle it, which distracts me from training myself to use thumb for dashes, finger for dits, and my brain isn't as young as it used to be to do multitasking. Thus the question - does the Elecraft/Bencher Hexkey actually perform better than the original, and thus make the price worth adding to my gear? I'd really like to have more versatility in sending, not worrying about knocking the contact points off their mounts, which are conical points for hinges, and the darn things are an annoyance to have to remount. Any input will be appreciated, many hours to go before I can become fluent with my old favorite CW again, having been too lazy to get away from voice until now! Tnx, 73's Gil WA5YKK ___ 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: Sidetone not working
Has anyone had the experience of getting most things going OK, then gotten disgusted when the sidetone wouldn't work? My PRE/ATTN option works OK, but when I push the same button for more than two seconds, I don't get the sidetone anymore. I was using it for a little paddle key code practice over two weeks ago, before the flu hit me, and now it's MIA! Any ideas, aside from replacing U2? That Front Panel board is a little complex to take apart regularly, and I'd like to use my K2 on the air someday. Thanks, 73's Gil WA5YKK ___ 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: BFO Alignment P. 63
Hello all... I'm in the BFO Alignment stage of a K2, on P. 63, having been referred to P. 89. My problem is that, after I pushed the PRE/ATT button, I had little, intermittent, or no audio output from the headphones, and when anything did come through, it was a background hiss. That caused me to take a long look at the headphone jack, which revealed one connection that wasn't soldered - so I corrected that little problem. The next try, I got a solid, clear connection to hear a tone when I hit the PRE/ATT button again, but I was most disappointed when I followed the instructions on P. 88, and the tone disappeared with the CAL FIL options. At the bottom left of that page, there's a note about hearing the 'shape' of the noise change with the VFO knob. I don't hear anything but a change in the background noise level, and it's a very slight change at that. Thus, my question - is this a normal set of circumstances, no tone that changes as I vary the VFO, or should I look for a sour crystal someplace, perhaps a transistor gone out or anything else that might be awry? I'm almost at the third stage of my build on this rig, and I'd appreciate some input about what's going on with the circuit, since some of the instructions in the manual text are a bit ambiguous. All suggestions will be appreciated. 73's Gil WA5YKK ___ 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
