Re: [Elecraft] Weird Ticking QRM
Question: what item in my household emits so much broadband QRM that my K3 is completely useless on 80 meters? Answer: the Toyota Prius in my garage. Turned "off" and not moving! Seriously! :-) 73, Steve, AI7AZ On Tue, May 15, 2012 at 7:27 AM, Bob K6UJ wrote: > Jim, > > I discovered the same thing from my Makita battery drill charger in the > garage. As you, I was very happy to discover this > annoying noise maker. > > Bob > K6UJ > > > > On May 15, 2012, at 7:07 AM, Jim Sheldon wrote: > > > Shortly after loading the latest version (4.51) I was occasionally > getting a continuous tick-tick-tick signal on the higher bands that was > very annoying. It also showed on the P3 as a very low amplitude, > approximately 2 per second swept line (on the waterfall). It disappeared > with the antenna disconnected. Thinking it was my new laptop, I shut that > off to no avail. This had been going on for several days now, and I was > almost ready to tear what's left of my hair out. The power company had > installed one of those new "smart" radio controlled meters on a neighbor's > house (I refuse to let them change mine out) and I suspected that too, but > this morning I FINALLY found it! Turns out that 4.51 firmware was not the > problem at all! > > > > I have a Black & Decker 18 volt battery drill that I use almost every > day for some sort of project and I have been working on installing a new > Yaesu 7900 2/440 rig in the wife's car. I had the spare battery sitting on > the rapid charger and it appears the charger is one of those "pulse" types. > Just a few minutes ago, it all of a sudden dawned on me to remove the > battery from the charge slot and instantly the ticking noise disappeared! > > > > Just goes to show you that sometimes it's the simplest things that > create the most complex problems - ;) Boy, I won't ever forget THAT noise > source! > > > > Jim - W0EB > > __ > > 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 > __ 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] Special Event Station - K7R - May 18/19 - Tucson/Vail Relay for Life
Hi all, A special event station (running a K3 of course!) will be operating May 18 - 19 at the American Cancer Society Relay for Life in Vail, AZ (Tucson area). Here are the particulars: Callsign: K7R Event: Vail/Tucson American Cancer Society Relay for Life Location: Empire High School, Vail AZ Operating start time: Friday, 18 May, 2200Z Operating end time: Saturday, 19 May, 1400Z Frequencies (give or take): 3.860, 7.260, 14.260, 21.260 73, Steve, AI7AZ Vail, AZ __ 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] KPA3 misbehaving
Interesting! As far as I know the power hasn't been reversed. Possibly, however, that current sensor has gone south for other reasons. Fortunately, my K3 is still under warranty, I'll be talking with Elecraft support this morning. Steve, AI7AZ On Mon, May 7, 2012 at 7:38 AM, Russell Tobolic wrote: > Steve; > > I believe you have the same problem I had a few years ago on my K3 s/n > 732. It turns out that the current sensor IC, U6 on the KPAIO3 board was > toast. When you go above 12W this sensor measures the current to the KPA3. >There is also the same sensor (U1) on the RF board which is protected > against reverse voltage on the 12V in. The sensor on the KPAIO3 board is > not protected against reverse voltage as this is connected directly to the > input connector. Please don't ask me how I found this out. Could you > have possibly reversed the 12V to the rig momentarily? I replaced U6 and > that fixed it. > > Russ, N3CO > > -- > *From:* Steve Reed > *To:* Elecraft Discussion List > *Sent:* Sunday, May 6, 2012 3:55 PM > *Subject:* Re: [Elecraft] KPA3 misbehaving > > OK, another update. > > I tried the PA alignment procedure with the K3 utility. The 5 watt > alignment goes fine. The 50 watt alignment fails with "Hi Curr". > > Removed the KPA3, checked for anything obviously loose (all looks good) and > reinstalled. Same error > > Guess this will be a call to Elecraft tomorrow, unless someone in this > forum can help. > > Steve, AI7AZ > > > On Sun, May 6, 2012 at 10:04 AM, Steve Reed wrote: > > > All, > > > > Here's the latest on my K3, now that I'm back from 7QP and can put it up > > on the bench and focus on this. > > > > When the PA setting is set to "normal", I can in fact hear the relay > click > > when I turn the power control past 12 watts. However the display keeps > > indicating "Hi Curr" and kicks it all back to 12 watts or lower. As you > > turn the power knob up, you can see the power setting increase, but "Hi > > Curr" keeps flashing in the display. This is all *without* the K3 > > transmitting. Go into transmit mode and all you get is definitely 12 > watts. > > > > The serial number is 5662. > > > > I plan on calling Elecraft about this tomorrow. In the meantime, anyone > > have some ideas? > > > > Steve, AI7AZ > > > > > > > > > __ > 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] KPA3 misbehaving
OK, another update. I tried the PA alignment procedure with the K3 utility. The 5 watt alignment goes fine. The 50 watt alignment fails with "Hi Curr". Removed the KPA3, checked for anything obviously loose (all looks good) and reinstalled. Same error Guess this will be a call to Elecraft tomorrow, unless someone in this forum can help. Steve, AI7AZ On Sun, May 6, 2012 at 10:04 AM, Steve Reed wrote: > All, > > Here's the latest on my K3, now that I'm back from 7QP and can put it up > on the bench and focus on this. > > When the PA setting is set to "normal", I can in fact hear the relay click > when I turn the power control past 12 watts. However the display keeps > indicating "Hi Curr" and kicks it all back to 12 watts or lower. As you > turn the power knob up, you can see the power setting increase, but "Hi > Curr" keeps flashing in the display. This is all *without* the K3 > transmitting. Go into transmit mode and all you get is definitely 12 watts. > > The serial number is 5662. > > I plan on calling Elecraft about this tomorrow. In the meantime, anyone > have some ideas? > > Steve, AI7AZ > > > > __ 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] KPA3 misbehaving
All, Here's the latest on my K3, now that I'm back from 7QP and can put it up on the bench and focus on this. When the PA setting is set to "normal", I can in fact hear the relay click when I turn the power control past 12 watts. However the display keeps indicating "Hi Curr" and kicks it all back to 12 watts or lower. As you turn the power knob up, you can see the power setting increase, but "Hi Curr" keeps flashing in the display. This is all *without* the K3 transmitting. Go into transmit mode and all you get is definitely 12 watts. The serial number is 5662. I plan on calling Elecraft about this tomorrow. In the meantime, anyone have some ideas? Steve, AI7AZ __ 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] KPA3 misbehaving
Thanks for the speedy replies. I should also add that the only thing I did was remove my K3 from the shack and take it with me for use at a remote location for the 7-land QSO party this weekend. I gently put it on the car seat and drove to the remote site here in Arizona. When I plugged the K3 in, the power output wouldn't go above 12 watts. It was moved around, but not roughly in any way. I took off the top cover and checked the voltage at the PA -- the 12v was present. Also, when I turned on the rig I received some strange"High Current" and 12v alerts and then those went away. RX is good and the rig otherwise operates fine, but anything about 12w is a no-go. Steve, AI7AZ __ 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] KPA3 misbehaving
Today my trusty K3 developed a strange and sudden problem -- I can't turn the power output past 12 watts -- the KPA3 isn't clicking in! It was working perfectly yesterday, but today not so well. Went through all the menus, even tried resetting the radio from scratch and re-enabling the KPA3 in the config menu. The fan test works fine, and the PA test works fine too (I can hear the relay click). But going past 12 watts with the power control no longer works. Anyone seen this before and know what the cause may be? Steve, AI7AZ __ 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] High Sierra in qst
Larry and all, I have a High Sierra HS-1800 Pro which has served me well over the years as a "HOA-Buster". I have it mounted on a pipe in a bucket of cement in my back yard, with the radials spread out. Works great. Like you, I've done the maintenance and replaced the springs a couple of times. However -- the antenna is supposed to work on 6 meters with the whip removed, and I've never been able to get that working -- the SWR is just out of sight. I contacted High Sierra by email and phone about that and a couple of other minor issues and, regrettably, I have to agree with you on the customer service side of things. The best I was ever able to get out of them was "it should work", and "you must be doing something wrong". I gave up and the matter was never resolved. However, the antenna otherwise continues to work well and still serves its purposes today. I generally give most companies the benefit of the doubt so I've never made a big deal over this. But, in retrospect and after reading your posting, I've gotta agree. Steve, AI7AZ Vail, AZ On Wed, Apr 25, 2012 at 2:13 PM, Larry Libsch wrote: > Eric, Group - > > I own a High Sierra screwdriver antenna purchased in 2001 and > used portable on the back of my RV all around the US and Canada. The > antenna has needed several new contact springs, but has provided > reliable service given regular maintenance. However, my experience with > Jim and with High Sierra customer service has been consistently poor. No > customer service by phone, emails unanswered. I have found Jim to be > arrogant, offensive and unhelpful. This is a strong statement, but it > accurately reflects my experience. My unit has served me well but I > would not consider buying another antenna from this company. > > > > K4KGG, Larry > __ > 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] High Sierra in qst
I use the High Sierra HS1800 Pro antenna with my K3 at the QTH (I live in a restricted neighborhood). It works flawlessly, can't be seen by the neighborhood HOA cops, and has low SWR across all bands. Not sure if the HS1800 is made anymore, but from my experience High Sierra is a good company. Steve, AI7AZ On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 11:40 AM, Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft < e...@elecraft.com> wrote: > I use the High Sierra Sidekick screwdriver antenna for my HF mobile. It > is very reliable and works great. Excellent service from Jim at High > Sierra too. > > 73, > > Eric WA6HHQ > --- > www.elecraft.com > > > On 4/24/2012 10:54 AM, David Cutter wrote: > > Haven't seen it in QST yet, but I've used mine a few times without > mishap. > > They are a bit noisy when tuning: the mast amplifies the sound quite a > bit - > > shouldn't be fitted to a wall or chimney joining to your neighbour's. > What > > is your experience? > > > > 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 > __ 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] HAM GATHERING SIGNATURES ON PETITION TO VOID ANTENNA PROHIBITIONS
The CC&Rs that are effectively shutting down Amateur Radio in many residential areas desperately need to be superseded by the FCC. I would also add that although towers and beams are nice, they really aren't necessary for effective communication and in some situations aren't advisable. In my neighborhood, for example, high winds and the proximity of other homes are enough to keep a tower off my my wish list -- the liability alone would keep me up at night. What the CC&Rs lack is "reasonable accommodation" -- for example, I could easily string up a multiband wire antenna across the back of my house and it wouldn't even remotely be an eyesore. Or I could use a ground-mounted vertical. Or both. But under the present set of circumstances, I have to hide the fact that I'm a ham in order to keep from being severely penalized by the HOA nannies. I really hope the FCC finally mans up and does something about the CC&R problem. There have been efforts to fix this at the state level, and most of those fail. A federal mandate is what is needed! Steve, AI7AZ Vail, AZ On Mon, Apr 23, 2012 at 12:59 PM, Grant Youngman wrote: > > On Apr 23, 2012, at 2:31 PM, David Christ wrote: > > > Once in place no Association is willing to > > change them for fear of reducing values. Since they are so prevalent > > in new developments and have been for many years it has the effect of > > red lining for hams. > > My experience with these things, is that it ends up having virtually > nothing to do with home values. The typical "no radio transmitters > allowed" clauses would ban garage door openers, cell phones, and Wifi, but > they don't of course. HA's bring out the worst in the power hungry > individuals and control freaks who typically populate them, and who would > be happy to foreclose on your house because the color of your awnings > offend them personally. > > I'd love to see the FeeCee tell these groups to pound sand. As much as we > scream about "freedom", we seem to be willing to give it up anytime time > abrogation is offered. I suspect the NRA would be willing to go broke > supporting any homeowner who wanted to put a 16" gun turret on his roof as > a 2nd Amendment right, but of course an antenna of any kind is a problem :) > > (I suspect this is going to hit "end of thread" any minute):) > __ > 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
[Elecraft] KPA100 is taken. Thanks!
73, Steve, AI7AZ __ 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] KPA100 - new in box
I have a KPA100 kit, brand new in the box and never opened except for a brief inspection. Since I now own a K3 this kit needs a new home! Elecraft's list price is $399.95 plus shipping and tax, I'll sell this for $350 (or best reasonable offer), and that includes shipping to your door. 73, Steve, AI7AZ __ 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
