Re: [Elecraft] K3 Transmit current drain
Yes, it's the PA kicking in; here's a small study I did earlier this year: http://w9xc.net/articles/k3-measured-power-consumption.html Other than the bump at the PA transition, the power increase per output watt seems pretty linear. The interesting implications come when running from an energy-limited source like batteries: how much power cost (operating time penalty) do you want to pay per dB increase in signal? - Les, W9XC __ 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 plans for building small baluns for using balanced feedline with a K1
Re: baluns for the K1 (and in general): WB6ZQZ's triple ratio balun (original source for the Buddipole TRB design) http://www.antennalaunchers.com/trb/index.html K6LMP's six-ratio balun design: http://www.k6lmp.us/K6LMP/Sextuple_Ratio_Balun_for_Buddipole.html Other homebrew balun design/construction notes: www.njqrp.org/balun/Balun%20Manual%20-%20final.pdf www.n0ss.net/qrp_4-1_guanella-type_balun.pdf www.qsl.net/n1lo/n1lobaln.pdf They're real easy to build. - Les, W9Xc __ 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] K1 keyer problem
2 things:
1. You can turn the K1 output power off completely ("Pwr = 0") by tapping
BAND/DISPLAY when in the Out Menu. Tapping BAND/DISPLAY a second time
turns power back on.
2. Because of paddle design, the dit and dah sides interact on some
paddles when the paddle-to-contact spacing is set extremely close.
The Begali Simplex Mono exhibits this feature, for example. So check
it with wider paddle spacing if you can.
- Les, W9XC
On 2/27/12 11:42 AM, Vic K2VCO wrote:
> You said that this started suddenly. What changed? What kind of paddle are
> you using? Is
> it the same one as before you had the problem?
>
> On 2/26/2012 9:38 AM, Ken Wezeman wrote:
>> Thanks for the suggestions for fixing my K1 keyer problem, but 1) it
>> does it in both mode B AND A and 2) I have cleaned the contacts with a
>> sheet of paper twice. So I am still looking for a reason why the dit
>> paddle occasionally sends a dah. And, as I mentioned in my original
>> post, RF is a very unlikely problem at 100 mw into a good dummy load.
>>
>> Ken, N9QIL
>> __
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Re: [Elecraft] 12 July 2012 NIGHT OF NIGHTS XIII - SAVE THE DATE
Ron, this announcement led me to the radiomarine.org site, and from there to the magnificent on-air recordings of the coastal stations and marine operations. What a fantastic historical resource - not to mention a superb trove of real-world (and often hand-keyed) CW that is great for CW practice, right in the context of the golden age of CW. For a sense of realism they definitely beat the W1AW code practice runs (which are a great service, don't get me wrong). Thanks for posting this, - Les, W9XC __ 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] K3/100 power consumption
Gus, see "Measured Power Consumption of the Elecraft K3/100"" here: http://w9xc.net/articles/articles.html - Les, W9XC Abstract: When contemplating the prospect of operating portable with batteries, it's useful to have a clear idea of power consumption choices over a range of output levels. Data on power consumption can inform the choice of what power level to use, to optimize both battery life and communication. This short note presents data taken from measurements of the total power consumption (current draw) of the Elecraft K3/100 transceiver over a range of output power levels. __ 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 AM-breakthrough (RX ISO)
If Ralf's hypothesis is correct, another approach (besides RX-shift) might be to turn on the RX ISO menu item. Doing that helps reduce the radiation of the local oscillator. - Les, W9XC > Hi Klaus, > > I tried to provoke some AM breakthrough with my active antenna in > april and used a very strong (peaked up to 0 dBm (!) on my Perseus SDR > the next day) broadcast signal on 3965 (I think). The only thing I > could provoke even with this signal was some AM on the second > harmonic, however no AM breakthrough. > > My current antenna used with my KX3 is a center fed dipole (same size > as G5RV), fed with 8 metres of ladder line and tuned by a Palstar > BT1500 true symmetric tuner. The only non-linearity I have noticed is > on 15 metres in the evening, but only when the 20 dB preamp in the KX3 > is on. I cannot tell wether this is 3rd order from 41 mtr broadcast or > second order from 9 and 11 MHz (the tuner's settings for 15 and 30 are > similar, so I believe it is the latter process). Interestingly, the > 20dB amp is in front of the attentuator, so "att" does not help. > > I made the observation that some people report strong breakthrough > while others (like me) are not experiencing AM breakthrough at all - > with similar antennas - and thought a little bit about this. > > The AM breakthrough might be a result of your AC installation. When I > started using my KX3 with an indoor antenna I noticed a hum (or buzz) > on some bands. Using my ipad with a audio spectrum analyzer app, I > found that It consisted of 100 Hz and harmonics. The hum was reduced > when the 10dB preamp was on and disappeared when I turned the 8kHz if > shift feature on my KX3 on. > > I did some internet research on this and ended up with the following > explanation: some power from the KX3's local oscillator is emitted and > caught by some nearby AC lines in my shack. This rf signal mixes with > the AC frequency in a rectifier of one of the power supplies connected > and is reradiated by the AC lines and then detected by the KX3. > > Related to this, there is what is called "Ortssenderproblem" in > german. Strong AM stations mix with the AC mains frequency and this > causes them to have a strong hum (even on a superhet receiver - I used > to have this on all receivers I ever tried with Deutsche Welle on 3995 > and 6075 kHz and the local medium wave station in Hemmingen near > Hanover). > > If you combine both things, you arrive at the following possible scenario. > > Strong AM signals are 'caught' by your AC lines as well as the local > oscillator of your KX3. These two mix and create (among others) a AM > (cross-)modulated signal on your local oscillators frequency. This > signal is then reradiaded by your AC lines and detected by your > KX3. This would look like AM breakthrough. If I am true, one should be > able to detect the AM modulated KX3 oscillator signal with a nearby > (maybe portable?) receiver. And a second test might be: putting a 10 > dB attentuator in front of the KX3 and turning on the 10 dB preamp > should result in less "breakthrough" than no attentuator and 10 dB off > (because of the improved local oscillator isolation). > > So it might be possible that you (or your neighbor) have a device > connected to the AC that mixes the AM signals and the local oscillator > of the KX3. LED lamps and small switching power supplies seem to be > good candidates for this. There is a LED "christmas light chain" > example in the german qrp forum that can be explained by this > "theory". > > greetings > > Ralf, DL6OAP > __ 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] Using RadioSport headset standard mic with KX3?
Hi all, I'm curious if anyone has an Arlan RadiosPort headset with the standard red (M102) dynamic mic element, that they have working well with the KX3. This is a great headset, but I can't seem to get enough output from this mic element to get any usable level on my KX3. Specifically, I can't find any setting of the "keyer/mic" level that gives me any ALC bars at all at any speaking volume. (The RadioSport mic has a 2-conductor T-S plug, but I do have the MIC-BTN menu item set correctly for this and I do have some sound in the monitor (headphones) when speaking.) I wonder about this because the same mic works great with my Flex 6500, and I'd imagine the KX3 could accommodate a range of mic levels as great as the Flex can. Any help appreciated. - Les Gasser, W9XC __ 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
