[Elecraft] Re: K3 AGC Adjustment Parameters
Wayne, I read your reply to this thread with great consideration. I think your observation that most field testers did not adjust the AGC parameters is a good one. However, I think that that K3--and the Elecraft product line in general--particularly appeals to people who value amateur experimentation. Perhaps the solution is to enable the AGC customization feature, and simply state explicitly in the instructions with a large caveat and explanation the fact that most people do not change the setting, and most of those who do, do so to their detriment. That statistic speaks for itself. Those who are so inclined can proceed at their own risk. I, for one, would not plan on tweaking the feature. But for someone who, after all, is planning on assembling his own K3, it's nice to know the option is there :) Adam, N1KO ___ 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] FT report on K3 subreceiver
Are there any field tester reports on subreceiver function and integration? N1KO ___ 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 manual
Will the K3 instruction manual have appropriately placed sidebars or cross references for installation of optional accessories at the time of original build, or will the assembler have to cross reference accessory manuals his or herself? N1KO ___ 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 S-meter
Does the K3's bar-graph S-meter have a function to momentarily hold a bar at the 'peak' value? N1KO ___ 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] KAT3
Listhost archives seem to be down at the moment, so apologies if the following question has already been asked: Can Wayne, Eric or anyone else comment more on the KAT3 design? Specifically, how is the matching network configured, is it balanced or unbalanced and is there any balun built-in? Thanks, Adam, N1KO ___ 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: KAT3
P.S. I just realized there's a backup listhost server. Oops. Original question still stands. N1KO ___ 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 subreceiver question
With the K3 subreceiver installed and while using binaural audio output from both receivers, is there a provision so that a switch toggles between memory VFO A/B within one receiver, and not between (physical) main- and sub-receivers? Example: If working a split DX pileup, can you set one receiver to the DX frequency, the other receiver to a frequency in the pileup and use a toggle to switch the pileup receiver between soft VFOs so that one can alternately listen to the pile with wide/narrow filters? Or, does one have to adjust the DSP/XFIL filter width on the pileup receiver? TNX, N1KO ___ 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 subreceiver questions
1) Can the sub-RX receive off the same antenna as the main RX at the same time? 2) Can the main-RX and sub-RX be used in any combination of antenna inputs, including ANT1, ANT2 and RX ANT IN? 3) Can the sub-RX provide unbroken audio using any antenna input while the K3 is transmitting? 4) Can the DVR audio recording function be slaved to the sub-RX? 5) How long is the recording buffer in the DVR for incoming and outgoing audio? 6) If the transverter option is not installed, the K3 can use ANT2 as a de facto RX ANT IN, right? TNX, Adam N1KO ___ 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 Frequency stability
Hello again and happy holidays! With regard to the K2 frequency stability... Several good points were raised and I realized that I wasn't adequately specific before. The drift I notice is primarily related to warmup and not during normal operation. I will perform the aforementioned test to confirm whether the instability is primarily in the BFO or PLL oscillator. However, the biggest drift occurs after the rig warms up. Heavy CW operating with the KPA100 brings the temperature very high and this large increase in temp is necessary to make the rig drift in frequency any more. Of course, the distinction between warmup and operating drift becomes academic if one turns on the rig from a cold start and start operating heavily right away. :) More commonly, I find that I operate outdoors or somewhere where ambient temperature is cold, run CW at 100 watts and then drift somewhat shortly after the cold start. Again, I suspect that this is due to warmup drift and not some large drift attributable to a malfunctioning temp- compensated PLL. On average, from 60 F to warmup the freq at which I zero beat WWV drifts down an extremely predictable 50 Hz. From normal operating temp to high temp (e.g. 100W CW operation sufficient to kick the KPA100 fan to high) the WWV zero beat frequency will move another 20-30 Hz, for a grand total of 80 Hz relative to a cold start. There is never any unpredictable change in zero beat frequency beyond this. Once the rig reaches full operating temperature the drift is never greater than 10 Hz. So it seems that the rig is operating within spec and I have nothing to worry about, save to calibrate things so that the radio zero beats WWV at operating temperature. I will confirm this by running the test to differentiate between PLL and BFO drift. Correct? Happy holidays! Adam, N1KO ___ 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 frequencyh stability
Hello all, I notice that on K2 #03547 rev B (with KPA100, KDSP2, KSB2, K160RX and thermistor installed at time of build) the master frequency drifts as a function of temperature. From an ambient temp of 65F to max rig temp when the KPA100 fan kicks in the receiver may drift by 800 Hz. The range is usually more narrow given the typical temp shift experienced. My solution has been to calibrate C22 against WWV such that as the rig warms up, the master frequency set by C22 drifts towards zero-beat with WWV. My question is this: how much drift is typical? Adam, N1KO ___ 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 frequency drift
Hi again, As a few people pointed out, I misspoke in my earlier email. When I calibrate C22 I immediately run CAL PLL and CAL FIL. True, the K2 does not directly reference C22 during normal operation. My calibration of C22 and then CAL PLL and CAL FIL is all by-the-book. That being said, I still do notice a temperature-dependent frequency drift during normal usage. The drift is predictable, with the zero beat on the dial I get with reference to WWV drifting by as much as 70-80 Hz if the temperature difference between ambient and the max temp the rig hits with the KPA100 under heavy use is large. The frequency at which I can zero-beat WWV does not change unpredictably. The radio consistently zero-beats low (e.g. WWV zero-beats at 10.000.07) when cold. Is this a really big deal? On SSB, certainly not. On CW I like to zero-beat dead-on with the narrow filters. Perhaps I'm just being a perfectionist. Adam, N1KO ___ 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 repair advice
Hello all, I have a question for the gurus regarding fixing my K2. Back in 2003 I built a K2 with KPA100, KDSP2, SSB, 160 mod and external ATU and used it to operate mobile in South America for a period of time. I then returned to the U.S. to begin med school and have been off the air since. I'd like to get back into radio now with my K2. Shortly before I went QRT three years ago I noticed that the front panel earphone jack broke. It provides audio to external headphones, but does not correspondingly cut audio out from the internal speaker. Very annoying. I have only a short holiday vacation and then it's back to the grind at work. I don't have the time to teach myself how to take apart the rig again, nor frankly would I trust myself to do a good job removing a part soldered onto the board at several points. In the meantime I've simply unplugged P5 from the control board. I'm worried that the front audio jack will completely break and then I'll be totally out of luck. The question is: What is the best option for getting assistance fixing my rig? Should I send it to Elecraft service? Can I send it to Elecraft service? Should I subcontract out a rig builder? I noticed that there are several hardware/firmware upgrades that have come out that are also applicable for my rig. It would be great to install these at the same time. Anyway, this is a plea for advice from someone who wants to get back into radio, desperately loves his K2 (that he built himself) and doesn't have the current ability to take the whole thing apart and put it back together again. Help! Thanks! Adam, N1KO ___ 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
