Re: [Elecraft] AX1 works great
On 10/1/2024 2:24 PM, David Woolley wrote: Re: output impedance: Not the output impedance, but the optimum safe load impedance. The actual output impedance is generally a lot lower. The value being matched to 50 ohms is approximately, but less than, the supply rail voltage divided by the maximum safe current, for the output device, but more generally will such as to maximise the available output power subject to keeping the output stage within the safe operating area, and avoid clipping, whilst, in conjunction with any safety measures, tolerating a significant divergence from the nominal 50 ohms. Exactly right. Re: position of capacitor: A capacitor in the shack can act like an inductor, at the antenna. This is totally dependent on the match of the antenna to the transmission line, the impedance of the line, and its length. The person asking the question needs to open the ARRL Handbook and/or Antenna Book and study transmission lines. Also all of these things are only strictly true for a completely pure sine wave. I think you may be confusing modulation, which is often complex, with RF, which IS essentially sinusoidal, minus distortion components, which are quite small by the time they get through the output network to the transmission line. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] AX1 works great
On 9/30/2024 1:39 PM, Rick nk7i wrote: In the simplest sense, what a tuner does, is (attempt to) adapt the impedance of the antenna to that of the source so that the max energy is exchanged between the two (what works for TX, works for RX). Hi Rick, I disagree with this analysis and that proposed by AB7E, primarily because it ignores the match between the antenna feedpoint Z and the transmission line, which is what determines voltage and current distribution along the line, and its loss. The tuner does NOT change that. What a tuner does is transform the antenna's impedance as seen at the shack end of the line to a value that the transmitter's output stage can supply power and operate optimally. For most modern transmitters and solid state amps, that's 50 ohms resistive. Those of us long enough in the tooth to remember hollow-state amplifiers and output stages may have learned that they come equipped with variably tuned output networks to do what antenna tuners do, but usually over a much less-wide range. My Ten Tec Titan 425, 1978 vintage, could be happy with mismatches in the range of 3:1. Ten Tec sold one of the best (greater efficiency over a wider range) tuners to cover a much wider range. BTW -- I know that you know all this stuff -- this post is for those who don't. :) 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] AX1 Disappointing Performance
Matched loss of RG174 is 1 dB on 40M, 1.6 dB on 15M. That's 3X the loss of RG58 and RG142. While N6BT has famously observed that "everything works," including his example of a light bulb, that's a lot of power to waste when you're QRP. I strongly agree that QRP is a fun challenge, and have done a LOT of it. Something like 170 countries confirmed in LOTW in 3-4 years from W6, DXCC on at least three bands. I've been part of 3-person teams that have won 1A-Battery in FD a half dozen times in ten years. But QRP calls for ADDING dB, not subtracting them. 73, Jim K9YC Also don’t sweat using RG 316 or 174 for reasonably short runs. I use 316 from the KX2 to the tripod mounting the AX1 and 174 for my linked 40/20/15 dipole. The loss is negligible at short distances at HF. __ 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] Question about 120 volts vs. 240 volts house supply to KPA 500
Excellent design and execution, Bob. Everything about your logic is 100% correct. 73, Jim K9YC On 9/20/2024 9:09 AM, Bob McGraw wrote: I elected to install a 240 volt 20 amp service to my operating position. I used some 75 ft of #10-3 w/ground (4 wires) running from the breaker panel to the operation position. I split off a 120 volt service from L1, and a second 120 volt service from L2. Thus there is also a 240 volt service, L1 + L2, for the amp or any amp, past and present. Thus everything in the station shares a common Neutral and common Ground. Many issues are resolved using this approach. Besides, our house was wired with those stab on outlets, of which I have had to replace many due to poor connections. Yes I know that #10 is rated for a 30 amp service. Due to the length of the run from the breaker panel to the desk, I choose a larger gauge of wire to assure less voltage drop. Besides, crawling through the attic pulling a #10-3 is the same effort as pulling a #12-3. At the breaker panel, the service is protected by 2 individual 20 amp breakers. I did not use a ganged 2 pole breaker. No ground issues, no hum issues, no buzz issues and no RFI issues. __ 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] Question about 120 volts vs. 240 volts house supply to KPA 500
On 9/19/2024 10:43 AM, Mike Maloney wrote: Have you tried measuring the AC input voltage drop, no load versus key down max? No need to do that -- we can read DC voltage inside the amp on the built-in panel meter, and that's what matters. Yes, the Kill-A-Watt is a great tool. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] Question about 120 volts vs. 240 volts house supply to KPA 500
On 9/19/2024 9:34 AM, Bernie and Cheryl wrote: My question would be whether it would lessen the wear and tear on the amp if I switched to 240 volts? Since AC line current at 240V is half that at 120V, there would be less IR drop, so the amp would see a bit higher voltage, with a smaller difference under load. That's good for the amp, but not a big deal, and pulling in a 240V line can be expensive, depending on the layout and construction of your home. It mostly comes down how you can get wiring from the panel to the shack. An easy way to tell if there's any benefit -- set the front panel meter to show DC voltage, and watch the difference between idle and transmit. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] Soundcard choice for K3s on Linux help needed
Thanks Peter for the inxi cmd- Audio: Device-1: Intel 100 Series/C230 Series Family HD Audio driver: snd_hda_intel Device-2: Texas Instruments PCM2901 Audio Codec driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid type: USB API: ALSA v: k6.10.6-10-MANJARO status: kernel-api Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.2.3 status: active On 9/16/24 1:53 PM, Nate Bargmann wrote: * On 2024 15 Sep 08:37 -0500, Jim Bruce wrote: I am looking for any help connecting my K3s to my Linux (Manjaro 24) machine. I guess any recent version of linux. Specifically what choices for audio cards to choose in WSJT/JTDX. I get one working then it will change or disconnect. This does have Pipewire installed, so preferably I'd like to keep it and use it to maybe ? map sound devices to the radio that might include WSJT, Microphone and saved contest audio response files. I just use the built-in AC97 sound of the main board. There are likely better choices but this works for me with WSJT-X. You should be able to install the pavucontrol package which does work with PipeWire. It is a GTK program that will allow you to set which sound adapter any given program should use. These settings are remembered between sessions along with recording a playback audio levels that are set. There are other utilities that allow setting the default audio device. For example, this desktop had three possible outputs, HDMI, AC97, and a set of USB speakers. It wanted to have the HDMI be the default but I've only computer monitors with no speakers on those ports so I disabled the HDMI and set the USB speakers as default. Then I use pavucontrol to direct WSJT-X, Fldigi, the play and rec programs from Sox (for use with the Tlf logger) to the AC97 adapter which is connected to the K3. I've been running this setup since 2018 on Debian, currently running Debian 12. I can play a video/audio which is heard through the USB speakers while WSJT-X is doing its thing. HTH, 73, Nate, N0NB __ 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] Soundcard choice for K3s on Linux help needed
Thanks Bob, and your description is how I had the radio and computer set up when the computer was running Windows 10. I am now running a Linux OS (Manjaro 24) on the computer and there are lots more selections for sound/audio card in the pull down for the Soundcard Input and output. I will have a screen print of it in another post for all to see. Jim On 9/16/24 5:07 PM, Bob McGraw wrote: My K3S, s/n10163, has and I use the internal sound card. I connect the USB port on the back of the radio to a USB port on my computer. No other hardware or cables needed. Works great with WSJT-X and most other software. Details in the K3S manual for DATA Modes found on page 33 and 34. For WSJT-X modes, use Data A. My viewpoint: More equipment + more cables = more issues. 73 Bob, K4TAX On 9/16/2024 12:53 PM, elecraft-requ...@mailman.qth.net wrote: Message: 15 Date: Sun, 15 Sep 2024 09:35:50 -0400 From: Jim Bruce To:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Soundcard choice for K3s on Linux help needed Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed I am looking for any help connecting my K3s to my Linux (Manjaro 24) machine. I guess any recent version of linux. Specifically what choices for audio cards to choose in WSJT/JTDX. I get one working then it will change or disconnect. This does have Pipewire installed, so preferably I'd like to keep it and use it to maybe ? map sound devices to the radio that might include WSJT, Microphone and saved contest audio response files. Jim/W3FA __ 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
[Elecraft] Soundcard choice for K3s on Linux help needed
I am looking for any help connecting my K3s to my Linux (Manjaro 24) machine. I guess any recent version of linux. Specifically what choices for audio cards to choose in WSJT/JTDX. I get one working then it will change or disconnect. This does have Pipewire installed, so preferably I'd like to keep it and use it to maybe ? map sound devices to the radio that might include WSJT, Microphone and saved contest audio response files. Jim/W3FA __ 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] K3 Power Issues
On 9/4/2024 1:49 PM, ken.k...@gmail.com wrote: I'm not sure where the voltage displayed on the K3 is sampled, but I have found it to be consistently about a volt lower than the voltage present at the Power Pole connector on the back of the radio, There is a protection diode in series with the positive terminal. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] K3S: Need SO2R Antenna Switch Recommendations
Hi Dick, The 4O3A 2x8 switches are quite good, have excellent isolation. The more expensive one has even better isolation and probably has a band decoder. The switching inputs can be configured multiple ways with DIP switches. I don't recall details, because my band decoders are built into my 5B4AGN BPF kits. And Ranko is very good to deal with. 73, Jim K9YC On 8/31/2024 4:57 PM, RVZ via Elecraft wrote: My pair of K3S radios are in need of a 2x8 Antenna Switch for SO2R operation. I'd like the SO2R Antenna Switch to have a built-in band decoder so the Band Data output from the K3's ACC jack will do the switching. I don't want an external Band Decoding unit for multiple reasons. So far, the only SO2R Antenna Switch I know of that has a built-in Band Decoder is the FLEX 2x8 Antenna Genius. Please advise if there are any others? Thanks! __ 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
[Elecraft] K3 not making power
Just started this morning. Only 3 watts with power set at 11W, no power with power level set for the KPA3. KP3 is set to normal. Am I missing something simple or is this a major problem. 73 Jim W0UO __ 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] K3: Intermittent problem with line out
On 8/7/2024 8:15 AM, Peter Drexel wrote: Any suggestions? 99.99% of RCA cables are crap, sold to the hi-fi world. Common problems are tiny conductors, "shield" is a wire, not a shield, connectors are cheap, out of spec, dissimilar metals, etc. Center pin may be too small to make contact, etc. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] K3s "ERR PTT" upon WSJT-x transmit or PTT using Xubuntu
Thanks Ed, your reply was on the mark. This only happened when wsjt or jtdx was started up in Linux. I looked in the K3s manual to get a description of that circuit and on the way there I read again about the menu item "Rts/Dtr" and it was set to PTT/PTT or something like that. I decided to switch it to Off-Off as I was using CAT to control the radio. That solved it. I suppose I could have also set the Dtr and Rts to some type of a null or do not use value in each software and may still but I have the correct operation in Linux which in windows I guess something related to this is different. Thanks for your suggestion and lead. Jim/W3FA On Tue, Jul 30, 2024, 22:20 Ed Parish wrote: > It usually means that PTT was asserted during powerup, either through > DTR/RTS or the SEND line. You might have some settings incorrect. > > On Tue, Jul 30, 2024, 22:04 Jim Bruce wrote: > >> I have switched my computer over to the latest version of Xubuntu and >> using WSJT-x and getting the ERR PTT trying to transmit from WSJT using >> CAT. I believe I have the correct sound card chosen as there are lots >> more in the selection than there was in Windows. Plugging in the USB >> cable then reading the log using dmesg gets me the port and then also >> the sound card. I am able to receive signals and decode. USB Cable has >> not been moved. >> >> I am not sure it is the radio as it was working in windows before >> swapping the hard drive out and installing Xubuntu. Any ideas as to >> where to look or fix? >> >> >> Jim/W3FA >> >> dmesg log from plugging in K3s to USB port; >> >> [126539.561571] usb 1-4.3.1: new full-speed USB device number 19 using >> xhci_hcd >> [126539.657811] usb 1-4.3.1: New USB device found, idVendor=0451, >> idProduct=2036, bcdDevice= 1.01 >> [126539.657830] usb 1-4.3.1: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=1, >> SerialNumber=0 >> [126539.657838] usb 1-4.3.1: Product: General Purpose USB Hub >> [126539.663184] hub 1-4.3.1:1.0: USB hub found >> [126539.663360] hub 1-4.3.1:1.0: 3 ports detected >> [126539.935525] usb 1-4.3.1.1: new full-speed USB device number 20 using >> xhci_hcd >> [126540.017743] usb 1-4.3.1.1: New USB device found, idVendor=0403, >> idProduct=6001, bcdDevice= 6.00 >> [126540.017748] usb 1-4.3.1.1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, >> SerialNumber=3 >> [126540.017750] usb 1-4.3.1.1: Product: FT232R USB UART >> [126540.017752] usb 1-4.3.1.1: Manufacturer: FTDI >> [126540.017753] usb 1-4.3.1.1: SerialNumber: AK04X2R2 >> [126540.025538] ftdi_sio 1-4.3.1.1:1.0: FTDI USB Serial Device converter >> detected >> [126540.025577] usb 1-4.3.1.1: Detected FT232R >> [126540.026097] usb 1-4.3.1.1: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now >> attached to ttyUSB1 >> [126540.090513] usb 1-4.3.1.2: new full-speed USB device number 21 using >> xhci_hcd >> [126540.171416] usb 1-4.3.1.2: New USB device found, idVendor=08bb, >> idProduct=2901, bcdDevice= 1.00 >> [126540.171421] usb 1-4.3.1.2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, >> SerialNumber=0 >> [126540.171423] usb 1-4.3.1.2: Product: USB Audio CODEC >> [126540.171425] usb 1-4.3.1.2: Manufacturer: Burr-Brown from TI >> [126540.203703] input: Burr-Brown from TI USB Audio CODEC >> as >> /devices/pci:00/:00:14.0/usb1/1-4/1-4.3/1-4.3.1/1- >> 4.3.1.2/1-4.3.1.2:1.3/0003:08BB:2901.0004/input/input18 >> [126540.255615] hid-generic 0003:08BB:2901.0004: input,hidraw2: USB HID >> v1.00 Device [Burr-Brown from TI USB Audio CODEC ] on >> usb-:00:14.0-4.3.1.2/input3 >> >> __ >> 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 k1ep.l...@gmail.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] KX3 in a multi-radio environment like FD
On 8/4/2024 9:46 AM, Walter Underwood wrote: > It might be good enough, but it won’t be as good as a K3. The K3 is a > superhet, so the design is naturally more resistant to off frequency > signals when compared to a direct conversion receiver. And the K3 includes bandpass filters for each band (and I think one that covers both 12 and 10M). I think I remember that the KX3 has a bit more phase noise, but keying is equivalent to the K3. The KXPA100 is a great amp, though the whole setup with a PX3 is a lot of cables. It took me a few years to learn how to reconnect everything without looking at a diagram. I attacked that issue, first by labeling both ends of everything, and then by first hooking everything up, and then bundling them with small Ty-Wraps (cable ties). Other plusses for the KX3 -- a bit less current drain, important if you're running on batteries; and an excellent preamp, probably within a dB or so on 10M and 6M of a good GasFET. Also if on batteries, good quality batteries inside can do a lot to supplement outboard ones. I've long viewed the KX3 and its support products as one of Wayne's smartest product offerings. At the time, I described it as "a home run." 73, Jim K9YC __ 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
[Elecraft] K3s "ERR PTT" upon WSJT-x transmit or PTT using Xubuntu
I have switched my computer over to the latest version of Xubuntu and using WSJT-x and getting the ERR PTT trying to transmit from WSJT using CAT. I believe I have the correct sound card chosen as there are lots more in the selection than there was in Windows. Plugging in the USB cable then reading the log using dmesg gets me the port and then also the sound card. I am able to receive signals and decode. USB Cable has not been moved. I am not sure it is the radio as it was working in windows before swapping the hard drive out and installing Xubuntu. Any ideas as to where to look or fix? Jim/W3FA dmesg log from plugging in K3s to USB port; [126539.561571] usb 1-4.3.1: new full-speed USB device number 19 using xhci_hcd [126539.657811] usb 1-4.3.1: New USB device found, idVendor=0451, idProduct=2036, bcdDevice= 1.01 [126539.657830] usb 1-4.3.1: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=1, SerialNumber=0 [126539.657838] usb 1-4.3.1: Product: General Purpose USB Hub [126539.663184] hub 1-4.3.1:1.0: USB hub found [126539.663360] hub 1-4.3.1:1.0: 3 ports detected [126539.935525] usb 1-4.3.1.1: new full-speed USB device number 20 using xhci_hcd [126540.017743] usb 1-4.3.1.1: New USB device found, idVendor=0403, idProduct=6001, bcdDevice= 6.00 [126540.017748] usb 1-4.3.1.1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3 [126540.017750] usb 1-4.3.1.1: Product: FT232R USB UART [126540.017752] usb 1-4.3.1.1: Manufacturer: FTDI [126540.017753] usb 1-4.3.1.1: SerialNumber: AK04X2R2 [126540.025538] ftdi_sio 1-4.3.1.1:1.0: FTDI USB Serial Device converter detected [126540.025577] usb 1-4.3.1.1: Detected FT232R [126540.026097] usb 1-4.3.1.1: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB1 [126540.090513] usb 1-4.3.1.2: new full-speed USB device number 21 using xhci_hcd [126540.171416] usb 1-4.3.1.2: New USB device found, idVendor=08bb, idProduct=2901, bcdDevice= 1.00 [126540.171421] usb 1-4.3.1.2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0 [126540.171423] usb 1-4.3.1.2: Product: USB Audio CODEC [126540.171425] usb 1-4.3.1.2: Manufacturer: Burr-Brown from TI [126540.203703] input: Burr-Brown from TI USB Audio CODEC as /devices/pci:00/:00:14.0/usb1/1-4/1-4.3/1-4.3.1/1-4.3.1.2/1-4.3.1.2:1.3/0003:08BB:2901.0004/input/input18 [126540.255615] hid-generic 0003:08BB:2901.0004: input,hidraw2: USB HID v1.00 Device [Burr-Brown from TI USB Audio CODEC ] on usb-:00:14.0-4.3.1.2/input3 __ 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
[Elecraft] Insurance
Thanks to all who contacted me re insurance. Going to give HRIA a try.73,Jim/k2hn __ 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] Odd Power Control on 30M/K-3 and KPA-1500
On 7/26/2024 2:21 PM, Pete Smith N4ZR wrote: I wonder if anyone else has seen this? when I transmit on 30M, I turn my K-3's power down so as to only put out 200 watts. I think that means you need to re-do power calibration. I do the same on both 60M and 30M. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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
[Elecraft] Insurance
Hello Everyone,A bit off topic but having a few Elecraft components (expensive) I'm wondering about insuring my equipment especially for lightning strikes. My homeowners insurance stated on the phone that I am covered, BUT when reading my policy I see no mention. Would be interested how others have been handling this.Regards,JimK2HN __ 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] K4D compatibility
On 7/6/2024 2:33 PM, Augie "Gus" Hansen wrote: If you're not using the Commander component of the suite, what do you use for rig control? I only use rig control when contesting or with WSJT-X. N1MM+ does rig control for contesting, WSJT-X for those modes, both do it directly. I don't run both at the same time (because the only digital contesting I do is RTTY, and N1MM+ does that). 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] K4D compatibility
On 7/6/2024 12:28 PM, Rick Bates, NK7I wrote: It's no wonder I still prefer twisting knobs and mashing buttons, hi hi. Simple just ROCKS! The only parts of DXLab that I use (and I've used it since getting back on the air in 2003), are DXkeeper and Spot Collector. 99% of my operation is contesting. I log in N1MM+, export logs to DXKeeper, use it to interface with LOTW, eQSL, ClubLog. When DXpeditions were still using RTTY, I used WinWarbler to work them. Now it's WSJT-X, and it logs to DXKeeper through JTAlert. Random CW QSOs get logged to DXKeeper using the Capture window. DXKeeper does a great job of keeping track of awards, and is great for assembling applications, especially DXCC. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] K4D compatibility
On 7/6/2024 11:55 AM, Rick Bates, NK7I wrote: Except HRD didn't/doesn't fully support the K3, for about the last 10-12 years (the last major firmware update). I liked HRD when it was Simon Brown's. although I never used it as a logger, because I had been using DXKeeper for years and loved it. Abandoned HRD when he got too busy to support it, and sold it. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] K4D compatibility
Anythin the K3 did, I meant to type. On Sat, Jul 6, 2024, 13:40 Jim Rhodes wrote: > And for software that doesn't have a setting for a K4 you can use the K3 > setting. It won't use any of the newer functions of the K4, but it will do > anything the K4 did. > > On Sat, Jul 6, 2024, 13:15 Jim Brown wrote: > >> On 7/6/2024 8:16 AM, Dave Sublette wrote: >> > I want to know if the K4D will seamlessly plug into my setup, >> > using the same cables I am now using with my K3s, P3 driving my KPA500 >> and >> > KAT500? >> >> Yes. You will need to study the manual for menu settings, interface to >> logging software if you're using that, etc. >> >> It's a super-nice radio. >> >> 73, Jim K9YC >> >> >> >> >> __ >> 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 jimk...@gmail.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K4D compatibility
And for software that doesn't have a setting for a K4 you can use the K3 setting. It won't use any of the newer functions of the K4, but it will do anything the K4 did. On Sat, Jul 6, 2024, 13:15 Jim Brown wrote: > On 7/6/2024 8:16 AM, Dave Sublette wrote: > > I want to know if the K4D will seamlessly plug into my setup, > > using the same cables I am now using with my K3s, P3 driving my KPA500 > and > > KAT500? > > Yes. You will need to study the manual for menu settings, interface to > logging software if you're using that, etc. > > It's a super-nice radio. > > 73, Jim K9YC > > > > > __ > 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 jimk...@gmail.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K4D compatibility
On 7/6/2024 8:16 AM, Dave Sublette wrote: I want to know if the K4D will seamlessly plug into my setup, using the same cables I am now using with my K3s, P3 driving my KPA500 and KAT500? Yes. You will need to study the manual for menu settings, interface to logging software if you're using that, etc. It's a super-nice radio. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] PTT-Key Settings won't save
On 7/3/2024 8:14 PM, Frank Stein via Elecraft wrote: Any thoughts on what might cause this? And how to fix it? Are you turning off the radio with the front panel button, or are you turning off the power supply? Elecraft radios save their setting when they are turned off by that switch. If not with that switch, they will boot up with the last saved settings. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] dead K2
On 6/21/2024 11:24 AM, Oscar Castillo wrote: hello everyone, , the coaxial that carries the RF from the board to the tunner was loose (the ground part of the coax was broken), in the physical inspection everything looks fine, no "pop" was heard, There was no smoke anywhere or a burning smell, so I have no idea where to start, any advice would be greatly appreciated. It's been a long time since I sold my K2s, but I have more recent experience with K3s, and I had a problem with one of those mini-coax jumpers. Elecraft can send some to you. And if it's a female connector that solders to a board, they can send you that. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] Elecraft gear in CA QSO Party 2023
On 6/19/2024 9:38 AM, Dean Wood wrote: It's fun to see where Elecraft gear is used. Since about 2010, our team, usually signing W6BX, sometimes KU6W, has always been an all Elecraft team, with two or three stations, each K3, P3/SVGA, KPA500, KAT500. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] Other: Can you run coax inside metal conduit?
On 6/12/2024 8:45 AM, Jerry Moore wrote: I have 30' run through my basement and want to eliminate potential interaction between the coax and power wires in the same area (don't ask). Is there any problem running coax for HF through metal coax? Thanks in advance. Easy answer -- under North American Electrical Codes (NEC most places, local Codes very similar to NEC in cities like Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Los Angeles), it is illegal to run anything that's not power in the same conduit with power wiring. These Codes carry the force of Law, and they are well-thought out developed by very competent Electrical engineers. If you want to run the coax in conduit, it must be in conduit with other low-voltage wiring. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] KPA500 distorts transmit signal in Bypass
On 6/11/2024 12:40 PM, qat ken brookner wrote: Any ideas? Is everything in your shack well bonded? See http://k9yc.com/GroundingAndAudio.pdf What modes? CW or SSB? Both? Are any audio accessories running from the same 12V supply as the transceiver? See this link. http://k9yc.com/PowerSupplyBondingAndAudioDistortion.pdf What specifically do you see/hear in the spectrum? If you can do a screen grab of a waterfall that's 10-20 kHz wide, it might yield clues. This reflector will reject it, but you could send it to me directly. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] K4 AM Transmit Bandwith and AM Receive
On 6/2/2024 10:41 PM, Ray wrote: The TX Bandwidth Question was Not answered ! Not my job, mon! I'm a customer. I responded with what I knew. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] K4 AM Transmit Bandwith and AM Receive
On 6/2/2024 3:27 PM, Bob Gale wrote: Also, has AM receive been activated on the K4, and if so, AM selectable sideband sync detector? I listen to the AM Broadcast band using the SSB detector. Max RX bandwidth is 5 kHz, which just about optimum for speech. I use it to evaluate performance of RX antennas, mostly to make sure they're working after storms. Stuff tends to fall on them, like branches and even entire trees. I've never cared about AM TX. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] Lightning concerns: Was: K4 Remote: My QTH vs. a friend's, many miles to the north
On 5/7/2024 4:46 PM, Al Lorona wrote: In spite of all the grounding and bonding and spark-gapping and everything else you may have done, are you confident enough that you would trust it all and let the direct hit happen? Or would you disconnect everything -- you know, just in case? I suspect every last one of us would disconnect absolutely everything that we wanted to save. It's good to be prepared, but we all know that significant risk always remains no matter what we do. A major misconception about lightning is that antennas are the primary target. Nothing could be further from the truth. Lightning comes in on telco, CATV, power lines, etc. IEEE says that 3KV can be induced on wiring inside our homes. If ALL interconnected stuff has their chassis bonded, it stays outside the box. If not, interconnected wiring takes it inside the box and fries stuff. It is ALL about grounding and bonding of ALL interconnected stuff. Example -- years ago, a professional colleague who's not a ham and had no antennas had everything in his home office Ethernet fried, because all of the gear was plugged into different outlets, all "protected" by MOV strips. Remembering that lightning is an RF event, the only bond between widely separated, but interconnected gear, was that Ethernet, the chassis of each piece of gear rose to a different potential depending on how much current the MOVs dumped into the green wire feeding it, and the difference in potential, seen only by the Ethernet stuff, fried it. Years ago, W8JI made a point of saying he never disconnects stuff. That's also my practice. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] Lightning concerns: Was: K4 Remote: My QTH vs. a friend's, many miles to the north
On 5/5/2024 6:11 AM, Mike Fatchett W0MU wrote: There is no rhyme or reason why some devices are not damaged and other are. Indeed there IS rhyme and reason, but some of us haven't learned the tune! :) 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] Lightning concerns: Was: K4 Remote: My QTH vs. a friend's, many miles to the north
On 5/4/2024 9:57 PM, Rick NK7I wrote: From your description Jorge, it sounds like you did it correctly, but missed an entry point. I don't have sufficient information to agree that what Jorge described was correct. HOW all of that is done, matters. Failure to bond all the ground rods, and to bond all of the entry points for wiring like power, telephone, satellite, ham radio, CATV, etc. Failure to bond chassis-to-chassis of everything in the station. Leave anything out and lightning will find it! 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] K4 Remote: My QTH vs. a friend's, many miles to the north
On 5/4/2024 9:21 PM, Jorge Diez - CX6VM wrote: So there is my question, if for such an expensive piece of equipment, there could be something of better quality, if not, I apologize, we will have to live with these things. The only things that Elecraft should do to prevent lightning damage are to properly terminate cable shields to the shielding enclosure at the point of entry, properly terminate power system safety ground contacts, the the shielding enclosure, and otherwise practice proper bonding within their products. The rest of it is up to us. About a week ago, I posted a link to tutorial slides for talks that I've done on the topic. EVERYTHING shown is good engineering practice to prevent lightning damage, and much of it also minimizes issues with RFI. Anything that we fail to do is an open door for lightning damage. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] (ot) noise reduction resources
On 4/5/2024 12:59 PM, Robert Strickland via Elecraft wrote: The screen shot of the noise is posted on QRZ.com. This link will get you there. https://forums.qrz.com/index.php?threads/noise-reduction-resources.908913/ The thin vertical lines look like they're coming from some piece of electronics with a stable clock. The humps of noise around 21050 and above 21060 look like two different switch-mode power supplies. A wider span and longer time waterfall are more useful for classifying the type of thing generating noise. Study the applications note in the link below. http://k9yc.com/KillingReceiveNoise.pdf 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] (ot) noise reduction resources
Elecraft's own list is for support of ALL their products. Some guys wanted a list dedicated to the K3, so started their own. That's the groups.io list. There's another groups.io list dedicated to the K4. Elecraft is NOT doing censorship, it's simply a text only list, because they started it 25+ years ago. I started reading it in 2003 when I bought a used K2. I'm not aware of them ever censoring anything. Indeed, the two owners of the company read their list every day and have been known to chime in to solve problems. Several times over the years, I've seen Wayne or Eric get involved to solve problems with guys on remote DXpeditions. WE6R is one of several hams who work on a service bench there. He's been reading the kK3 list for a year or two. I think Wayne and/or Eric might browse it now and then. I live about 20 miles from Elecraft, so know these guys and several others. 73, Jim K9YC On 4/5/2024 12:30 PM, Robert Strickland via Elecraft wrote: Jim... How am I to understand the inclusion [screen shot] in the message from Jim W7RY on 4/3/24 concerning a micro controller in the K2? His message involves groups.io which may explain the difference. I still don't understand the relationship between the groups.io list and the Elecraft list. Being somehow different may make it possible to start an email with screen shot on groups.io that ports to the Elecraft list without the latter's censorship. Thanks for your time helping me out. ...robert KE2WY On 4/4/2024 03:04, Jim Brown wrote: On 4/3/2024 6:44 PM, Robert Strickland via Elecraft wrote: Jim, does that include attachments? No attachments. Elecraft started this reflector at least 25 years ago. That's how reflectors were in those days, and many of the old ones still exist. There are several hosted at contesting.com that are still running, and that are plain text. They date from the '90s at least. Plain text. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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 rc...@verizon.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] (ot) noise reduction resources
On 4/3/2024 6:44 PM, Robert Strickland via Elecraft wrote: Jim, does that include attachments? No attachments. Elecraft started this reflector at least 25 years ago. That's how reflectors were in those days, and many of the old ones still exist. There are several hosted at contesting.com that are still running, and that are plain text. They date from the '90s at least. Plain text. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] (ot) noise reduction resources
On 4/2/2024 1:45 PM, Robert Strickland via Elecraft wrote: let;s try again w/ pic. This reflector is plain text only. It rejects everything else, including formatted text. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] K4D purchase
On 3/24/2024 4:15 PM, Kevin McQuiggin wrote: Comments from owners of k4D I've had mine for 18-24 months. Like it a lot. Compared to K3S, better filters, sound of the radio improved, thanks to what chips were available 16 years later. Only issue is RF feedback at rear panel 3.5mm jacks. I suspect it's because the style of switched jacks the industry has used since at least the '50s are no longer available, so they couldn't bond the shield at the point of entry and had to add circuitry to do the switching. And some features have yet to be implemented, like remote control. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] Considering purchase of K4D
Hi Allen, On 3/13/2024 12:56 PM, n...@earthlink.net wrote: Other than diversity receive, what additional benefits do I get with the 'D' version (for $1000)? Diversity RX is a biggie if you can rig decent antennas to use with it. I also use it in 160 contests when I want to listen in more than one direction, or when I want to listen with a wide antenna and a Beverage to get weak callers off-axis of the RX antenna 2. Why is the K4D down so low on the Sherwood receiver list and does it really make a difference in a somewhat noise, semi-urban environment? Remember that the Sherwood list is for a single parameter. I live in an environment that can be very quiet or very noisy, depending on time of day, what my neighbors are doing, where my RX is pointed. There are two solar systems at my 8 acre property line, a third across the road. I have Beverages pointed at all three. I'm a serious contester, and also serious on 6M. I'm quite satisfied with my K4D. In comparison to my upgraded 2008 K3, I like the filters a lot better, like the integration with computer, like the control layout, and like the sound of the radio that 15-year newer devices allow. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] Mysterious K3 Symptoms - RFI?
On 3/13/2024 9:24 AM, Victor Rosenthal wrote: I recommend replacing Ethernet cables with wifi when possible, both for noise and rfi problems, as well as reducing the chance of lightning damage. I agree, Vic. I did that 20 years ago, before I moved west from Chicago, and never looked back. I have no wired Ethernet. No problem streaming hi-res video. IMO, the only good reason for wired Ethernet is running remote control of a station and contesting. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] K4D for bargain price on eBay
On 3/12/2024 12:29 PM, John Oppenheimer wrote: Did you measure a Choke Balun, or sometimes known as Common Code Choke "The book" are in several pdf applications notes on my website. What I measured is well documented there. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] K4D for bargain price on eBay
On 3/12/2024 9:29 AM, jerry wrote: On 2024-03-12 08:56, ev...@pa2kw.com wrote: If someone could tell what manufacture/type/model these cores are, I'm sure you can get this done for $20 *** Generally, it's well known what mix is required. Here's a good article by Palomar Labs: https://palomar-engineers.com/ferrite-products/ferrite-cores/ferrite-mix-selection These people have NO CLUE about how ferrites work at HF. This piece is useless! I wrote the book on this. k9yc.com/RFI-Ham.pdf 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] Piggy back KPA 1500 onto KPA 100
The KPA1500 has a great tuner. Like all Elecraft amps and tuners, it has nearly instantaneous automatic frequency detection and band-switching. A single dit or tap on the mic is all it takes. I used it for years with nothing but the front panel controls, which consist of a switch between two outputs, Tuner In or Bypass, and Tune. There are many antenna choices that are better than the one you're using and want to "upgrade." Because it's off-center fed, it's inherently noisy on receive, and cannot be effectively choked to reduce that noise. A choke that does anything useful is going to fry. With antennas like this, we're essentially "deaf" -- because of all the noise, there are lots of stations we can't hear. 73, Jim K9YC On 3/11/2024 12:28 PM, Karl W Hubbard via Elecraft wrote: This question may have been answered in the past. I have a KX3 and a KPA100, both with ATUs. Can I power up my TX via addition of a KPA1500, assuming I upgrade my antenna (Buckmaster 300watt OCFD 8 bander) to the 3000 watt version ? If feasible without risk of blowing up anything, and assuming the KPA 1500 also has a built-in autotuner, at what stage should auto tuner control be established? __ 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] Tip: Front Panel Illumination Tip
On 3/6/2024 8:39 AM, Rick Tavan wrote: It runs on USB power (not supplied) and works a treat! Looks nice. One caution, though -- USB-powered devices sometimes have DC-DC converters that can be noisy. W6GJB alerted me to this several years ago, when he chased noise down to USB-powered speakers! 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] O.T. Increase inDigital data on 30m
Thanks for the explanation, Dave. One small correction -- today's RTTY contest the North American QSO Party, is intended as a 100W contest, and features team competition with a limit of 100W. There are people who enter at high power, but they are a very small minority. If I'm not mistaken, those running high power are considered check logs. 73, Jim K9YC On 2/24/2024 5:23 PM, Dave New, N8SBE wrote: It's not easy finding open frequencies for an exercise of this sort, especially because today was the NA RTTY QSO Party (which doesn't take place on 30M because it is a contest) that completely wiped out the digital portions of the bands that we normally use for Winlink messaging. So it was difficult to work around the KW RTTY stations, to say the least. __ 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
[Elecraft] Fw: K2 'CAL TPA' setting maxed out
Mike and David, Thanks for your replies. I transmitted into a dummy load once the radio had recovered. I switched to the antenna and worked a couple of stations without any trouble. The rig is connected to my Win 10 machine for logging (N3FJP AC log). This computer has been a real challenge since I upgraded it from Win 7 to 10. I can no longer control its desire to automatically update - it has beaten me... There have been some issues with COM port assignments after an update, but I have not seen anything else that that has affected the radio. However, I won't rule that out as a possibility. I'm leaning toward RFI as the cause. I think this was the only setting that changed - but why that one? 73, Jim KO5V __ 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
[Elecraft] K2 'CAL TPA' setting maxed out
Good Evening, As I was talking on 20M SSB tonight, my K2/100 started to get a bit twitchy when I transmitted. The power was set to just below 100W. I started seeing an intermittent 'High Current' error message, which then changed to a constant 'Hot PA' error. I have an intermittent RFI problem on 20M (which I thought I had solved), so that might have returned and caused this problem. I tried matching the antenna with the KAT100. It would not arrive at any solution - there were no relays clicking. I had to press the 'tune' button again to stop it. Toggling the power on the rig made no difference. So I searched the list's archives, and found a thread where Don mentioned the 'CAL TPA' menu. I found that it was at its maximum setting of 150C - I have set this parameter twice since building the radio 7 years ago. Resetting it to about room temp fixed the problem, and the radio now behaves normally. I also checked "CAL Cur", and it's still set to 3.50. So, it is working again, but why did the 'CAL TPA' setting go to it's max? Is there a known problem? Maybe it's a glitch from the RFI, but I thought I should ask just in case there is something else I should check. Thanks. 73, Jim KO5V 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] Old topic RE: CM500
I have two Yamaha CM500 headsets that I really like. However, both are suffering from the ear pad deterioration problem. A long time back I saw several postings suggesting replacement ear pads AND the foam inside cover. Naturally now I can't find them. I would like to rebuild at least one of them via the 'goop' (glue) method. Any recommendations for both the ear pad AND the foam inside cover? Thanks, Jim Leder ... K8CXM __ 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] K2 Grey
Terry, Sorry, I should have thought of that. K2ZA sent me the info: "The Elecraft part number is E980100The bottle says cardinalpaint.com (http://cardinalpaint.com) and the color is listed as “Granite”, at least the part I can see that doesn’t have the part number label covering it." 73, Jim KO5V __ 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] K2 Grey
Thanks to everyone who replied. I now have an Elecraft P/N, the paint manufacturer and a color name. 73, Jim KO5V __ 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
[Elecraft] K2 Grey
Good Afternoon, I managed to scratch one of the side covers on my KPA100 cabinet. Does anyone know of a ready-made paint that will match the K2 color? I know I can probably get some matching touch-up paint at an automotive paint store. Thanks & 73, Jim KO5V 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3s port isolation??
Hi Peter, There are many ways in which noise enters our radios. Failure to do proper grounding and bonding both within our stations and throughout our homes is one cause. Failure to chase down and remove the dozens of noise sources in typical US homes is another. There are detailed Applications Notes on my website explaining how RFI happens, how to chase and hopefully kill it, and how to do that bonding and grounding. Your symptoms suggest that grounding and bonding is an important part of your problem, but so is killing as many of those sources as possible. While line noise is certainly a problem for many of us, trash generated by electronics in our own homes and those of our neighbors has long been an equally dominant source of that noise. k9yc.com/publish.htm k9yc.com/RFI-Ham.pdf http://k9yc.com/KillingReceiveNoise.pdf http://k9yc.com/GroundingAndAudio.pdf Don't let the title of the last link fool you -- it's mainly about grounding and bonding for lightning safety and to kill noise. 73, Jim K9YC On 2/1/2024 6:38 PM, Peter Dougherty (W2IRT) via Elecraft wrote: I have been experiencing extreme powerline noise for years (this isn't about that), so I've been looking for ways of mitigating it on my end to at least get useful signals of some kind on 80 and 160. I have a K9AY loop RX antenna and a full-size 80m Inverted Vee at 65'. Tonight, I was switching between my Inverted Vee and the K9AY loop with an external noise-canceller (WIMO "QRM Eliminator") in line. It's somewhat effective with about a 30dB improvement on the K9AY. But then something quite unexpected happened. I wanted to see how low my noise floor was with this new device inline so I figured I'd switch to an empty antenna port (ANT-2 on the K3s). As soon as I pressed the button my noise floor dropped to from about -130 to -140 on my P3, lower than it's been in years. But I was still hearing FT8 and the signal-to-noise improved considerably. This is.surprising to say the least. How am I still able to copy weak FT8 signals (and CW) with absolutely nothing connected to the ANT-2 port? I'm talking about copying stations in A7, V3, CT3, and west-coast US, not strong locals. I don't think I've ever had lowband S/N that good before to be honest. What is the port isolation supposed to be like on the K3s and is what I'm seeing normal? Just to be clear, I disconnected my AUX antenna that I use occasionally for diversity RX, and my K9AY and it was still the same. Only my Inverted Vee was connected to the K3s. When I disconnected it everything dropped to nothing. Is what I'm seeing expected behaviour? And this leads to a big question. With ANT-2 selected for RX, (remember, there's nothing connected to the ANT-2 SO-239 on the radio) is it possible to select a different TX Antenna? I'd be pleased as punch to receive in this configuration but it's not practical to manually switch from ANT-2 on receive back to ANT-1 for transmit. __ 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] Big Screen for K4
On 1/30/2024 4:46 PM, Alan Geller via Elecraft wrote: Thanks for any help. One of the most important factors in picking any monitor is whether it, or its PSU, generates noise, and how much it generates. An ideal condition is to be able to power from a 12-14V bus, so that you can drive it from the (hopefully) clean PSU that's running your radios. Probably 6-8 years ago, our contesting team discovered some 24-in Samsung monitors that met this condition, and all of us have bought them. One is running as an extension on the laptop on which I'm typing now, from from sealed lead-acid that is being float charged by a linear PSU. The one in my wife's office is also powered that way. There's detailed advice about this arrangement in applications note about finding and killing receive noise. k9yc.com/publish.htm 73, Jim K9YC __ 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
[Elecraft] KPA 500/KAT 500 Seemingly on the Fritz
Dear everyone, This morning while I was running a CW net, using a VibroPlex Lightning bug, my KPA 500 seemingly went on the Fritz. I was running it at 300 Watts, on 7.123 MHz, paired with my K3 using the smart cables, and it was working perfectly until about 10 minutes into the net. Whereupon it stopped putting out power. The antenna to which it was connected via the KAT500 tuner, was a 160m OCFD. I subsequently checked the antenna with my Rig Expert analyzer to confirm that the SWR on the antenna at that frequency is 1.5. When the KPA 500 stopped putting out power, the following were what I noted: When I went key down, I saw the little asterisk on the LCD screen of the KPA 500 appear corresponding to my key, but the green/yellow/red LED bars over to the right stayed dark. Readings on the LED screen when I pushed the appropriate buttons (with key down): PWR = 0; Temp = 23C; current = .9; HV = 68.2; keying asterisk appeared when I went key down. I checked the tightness of the smart cable connections on back of tuner, amp and K3, powered everything down and then back up, and the problem persisted. When the KPA 500 stopped putting out power, I put it in STBY as well as the KAT 500 in bypass, and continued on with the net, and I was getting out as confirmed by my 599 signal on an SDR in KY which I monitor during the net. Given that the little keying asterisk shows up when I go key down, but the colored LED bar does not light nor do I hear a signal on the KY SDR when the KPA 500 is in Operate mode, it seems like the KPA 500 knows it's receiving a key down signal from the K3, but for some reason it just isn't putting out any power. This amp is new to me, but I am unnerved somewhat because it stopped working in the middle of the net after working perfectly for about 10 minutes. Apologies if I am missing something totally obvious, but does anyone have clues as to what may be the issue, or what I might do to resolve the problem? Thank you. Jim Ewing N4TMM __ 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] KAT 500 Loses Match
On 1/13/2024 2:02 PM, email wrote: With the K4 power (drive) low enough, the amp can make 200W. Maybe not efficiently. I regularly reduce drive from K3 or K4 to big amp to run 100W in NAQP, and on 60M, and 200W on 30M. I do that because I run the K3 and K4 for two-radio contesting from a 100Ah LiFePO4 battery that is floated through a charge regulator. That allows the battery to keep up during a long contest, AND run the radios in the range of 13VDC, where the output stage runs cleaner. (yes, 200W is only 3db more than 100W) If FT8 RX level at -24, then 3db may be important ?? Depends on what you're trying to work, and conditions. I run legal limit with WSJT modes when going for DX on 160M (5,000 mile paths), and for weak signal propagation on 6M. 73, Jim K9YC steve WB3LGC On 1/12/24 7:52 PM, Ken WA8JXM wrote: Why do you have the amplifier running? 30m is as restricted power band. __ 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] KAT 500 Loses Match
On 1/12/2024 1:46 PM, Paul Ecker wrote: Does this sound like a KAT 500 problem or maybe an RFI problem. It sounds like a problem somewhere after the output of the power amp, including all interconnecting cables, the feedline, and the antenna. Common problems are loose connectors and/or adapters, junk connectors and/or adapters, connectors poorly installed, moisture somewhere in that path, some defect in the antenna. The vast majority of connectors and adapters sold to hams are junk. If it isn't stamped "Amphenol" or with a MIL-spec number, it's probably junk. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] K3+KPA500+KAT500 RFI Revisited
On 1/12/2024 12:18 PM, Jeff Wandling wrote: Seems like a while ago I was troubleshooting the RFI problem between the equipment. Is everything in your home and your station properly bonded and grounded? Is every chassis on your operating desk bonded together? Is the operating desk common point bonded to all the grounds in your home? http://k9yc.com/GroundingAndAudio.pdf Are there arrestors on all of your antennas, and are they bonded to the other grounds? Are there serious ferrite chokes at the feedpoint of every antenna? A serious ferrite choke is one of these. http://k9yc.com/2018Cookbook.pdf If you're using any form of end-fed antenna, including a vertical, does it have radials or a counterpoise? There's one other mechanism that I'm aware of, having been a beta tester for KA500 years ago. When running two radios with amps and tuners, their frequency-detecting circuitry for station #1 while in receive can get enough RF from station #2 transmitting to switch to station #2's band. This depends primarily on how close the antennas for the two stations are to each other and how much power we're running. This is very old info, from the early days of KAT500, and may have been minimized by later versions of firmware. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] My KPA-500
On 1/10/2024 3:08 PM, David Gilbert wrote: That which works fine at 100 watts might not work fine at 500. That specially applies to antenna systems, including all the cable and connectors between the amp, a tuner if there is one, and the antenna, and the antenna itself. With 500W, voltage and current are more than double what they are at 100W. Measurements will rarely help in diagnosing faults. The exception would is high SWR measured with high power, intermittent or constant, when there is low SWR at low power. And even with that, careful visual inspection is required to find the fault. Except for the antenna itself, connectors are one of the first things to suspect. Has moisture intruded? Were connectors well installed to begin with? Are any of the connectors (including adapters) JUNK? If it isn't labeled Amphenol or with a MIL-spec number, there's a good chance it's junk. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] Ham Antenna group...
On 1/7/2024 5:40 AM, Dave (NK7Z) wrote: Thanks for vote of confidence sir! I have a question for you... Have you been following the discussion on CMCs and if they are coax, or two wire, vs., constructed, and the results of impinged RFI on the cables feeding a rig I don't know about the group, and none of the discussion hasfound its way to me. I suspect that the discussion is based upon a lack of understanding of transmission lines by those who are concerned about it. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] Origin of Signal-Fine Structures in SSB Pass Band Waterfall, mainly 80/40m
On 1/6/2024 4:05 PM, Dave (NK7Z) wrote: I have some articles on this subject at: Dave's stuff is excellent. I'm also an EMC professional, long time Vice-Chair of the EMC WG of the Standards Committee of the Audio Engineering Society, principal author of most of our EMC Standards. And I've published a lot of research on the topic. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] Origin of Signal-Fine Structures in SSB Pass Band Waterfall, mainly 80/40m
On 1/6/2024 9:54 AM, Chris wrote: Digital signals (square waves, waveforms with sharp edges) have very high spectral content (_many_ harmonics), so you may see many lines at constant frequency spacing all over the HF spectrum and beyond. Switching power supplies (inside electronic devices, wall-warts, etc), and digital signals from monitors, computers, routers, coffee makers, washing machines, (seems everything that plugs in these days has microprocessors), LED lighting, etc. can all cause interference like this. You are entirely correct about this being the primary cause of all of us being varying degrees of deaf. See my tutorial on chasing noise to build contest scores at k9yc.com/publish.htm 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] Beware of junk mail: "four pictures to you from Elecraft List"
On 1/2/2024 6:10 PM, Pete Smith N4ZR wrote: Tbird is what I have used for years. Same here. It's very well designed software. That ability to see the raw code in an email can be helpful with issues like this. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] KAT-500 + KPA-500 / SWR Thresholds
On 1/1/2024 8:33 PM, Jeff Wandling wrote: TL;DR; Situation is resolved. Bad RF due to crap elbow connector and lack of diligence in ferrite application on AUX serial cabling. Thanks for posting. Two points. First, NEVER use JUNK connectors, defined as anything that isn't stamped Amphenol, or with MIL-spec numbers. All that stuff sold at ham flea markets is designed for CBers. When I got back on the air in 2003 after 25 years, I didn't realize that all this junk had come on the scene, so stocked up with all sorts of adapters, Tees, elbows, barrels. Over the next five years, they caused me all sorts of problems that were difficult to find. Those elbows have nothing but a tiny spring inside, that melts with power. I've had Tees and adapters fall apart. Second, needing ferrites on interconnect cables is often the result of failure to do proper bonding in the shack, and/or omitting a serious transmitting choke at the feedpoint of every antenna, and/or omitting radials for end fed antennas that need them. Guidelines for transmitting chokes and for grounding and bonding are on my website, k9yc.com/publish.htm 73, Jim K9YC __ 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
[Elecraft] For Sale K-POD $350 plus shipping. New in box. Selling due to QTH relocation. Contact off list for questions, photos, shipping, pickup/delivery, phone call, etc. Thank you. 73, Jim WI6X
For Sale K-POD $350 plus shipping. New in box. Selling due to QTH relocation. Contact off list for questions, photos, shipping, pickup/delivery, phone call, etc. Thank you. 73, Jim WI6X __ 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
[Elecraft] For Sale K4D with KAT4 ATU asking $5, 700 plus shipping. For Sale K4D with KAT4 Auto-Tuner asking $5, 700 plus shipping. Excellent condition. Original owner. Original shipping boxes. Sellin
For Sale K4D with KAT4 Auto-Tuner asking $5,700 plus shipping. Excellent condition. Original owner. Original shipping boxes. Selling due to QTH relocation. Contact off list for questions, photos, shipping, pickup/delivery, phone call, etc. Thank you. 73, Jim WI6X __ 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] P3
On 12/17/2023 1:12 PM, Brian Hunt wrote: I’ve discovered that it’s easier to see a very weak signal on the waterfall than in the amplitude plot. Setting the SVGA screen for 25% spectrum and 75% waterfall gives lots of space to see dim traces. You may have to adjust the threshold a bit. YES! The settings I've described will optimize that visibility in the waterfall. Increasing the time in the waterfall to the max, especially with the SVGA (about 2 minutes), is great help in finding empty spots to call CQ in a contest, and to find running (CQing) stations to work. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] P3
On 12/17/2023 12:05 PM, Jim Murray via Elecraft wrote: My thought is at this point the P3 is not doing me much good looking for a weak dx signal. I have to think I have something not set up right etc.. What is required is careful (and ongoing) adjustment of P3 controls. For everyday operation, I set the display range to 32 dB, set Averaging to max (20), and adjust the noise floor to the bottom of the display. The first two adjustments are more or less set and forget; the noise floor will change from day to day and from band to band. On CW and RTTY, I typically use display widths of 50 to 100 kHz, or whatever covers the activity; on SSB, I usually set it to the 200 kHz max. In both cases, setting the center so that I'm seeing that activity. What Averaging does is cause random noise to cancel, but causing signals to be reinforced. Averaging is the power tool that lets us see weak signals. Averaging also emphasizes electronic noise, that's acting like miniature radio transmitters. It's also important to set the P3 so that the frequency limits of the display remain fixed as we tune the band; if we set it to always be centered, averaging will re-start as we tune, rendering it useless. If I'm going for very weak signals on a quiet band, I'll change that 32 dB display range to 24 dB; in a contest, with lots of big signals, to 42 dB. I do NOT recommend averaging of the waterfall itself. These applications notes on different topics include P3 and P3/SVGA screen grabs. The first two are "on-the-air;" the third was done in my shack, looking at the bandwidth of various rigs and amps. If you know what you're doing, the P3 and P3/SVGA are very good test instruments, that are with respect to frequency resolution, far superior to HP spectrum analyzers! http://k9yc.com/K6XXAmpTalk.pdf http://k9yc.com/KillingReceiveNoise.pdf http://k9yc.com/P3_Spectrum_Measurements.pdf 73, Jim K9YC __ 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
[Elecraft] P3
Hello all, Having acquired a fully loaded K3s fairly recently I am behind the curve of those fortunate enough to have a K4. Its taken several weeks to get a decent handle on the K3s and now on to the P3. I have all the manuals including Fred Cadys K3s and P3. I find the K3s to be excellent and pretty remarkable compared to the many other transceivers I've owned over nearly 50 years. The P3 has the vga board and is connected up. All is well Except; weak signals do not show up on the P3. I can hear a rather weak signal but nothing at that point on the P3. My thought is at this point the P3 is not doing me much good looking for a weak dx signal. I have to think I have something not set up right etc.. Any help on what I'm missing would be appreciated.Thanks,Jimk2hn __ 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] User's Dilemma
On 12/15/2023 12:41 PM, KJ7SOY wrote: and the primary industry (about 80% of the business in the area) is agriculture. People won’t move to small/medium sized agricultural communities because there isn’t a lot there for them, so importing skilled staff isn’t feasible. That's a pretty limited description of the Monterey Bay area, which Watsonville roughly centers. Since 2006, I've lived about 20 miles north in the Santa Cruz Mountains. There's a LOT of technical talent around here. Watsonville is 40-50 miles from Silicon Valley, and people from this area commute to, or work remotely for companies based there. The real issues are 1) cost of living -- it ain't cheap to live here, and 2) there's a lot of competition for talent. It's a great place to live, it's also popular with tourists. When I raised the manpower issue with Wayne in direct email several years ago, his response was something like, "have you tried hiring technical talent recently?" > With the current global labor shortage it’s close to impossible to > hire people in ANY industry, and electronics fabrication and repair is > no exception. Yep! 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] User's Dilemma
On 12/14/2023 10:57 AM, Pete Smith N4ZR wrote: If they were starting from scratch, I'd agree, but there are currently-operating independent technicians out here who could be up and running relatively easily. I supervised a service department many years ago, having previously worked on a service bench, and driving around Chicago doing field service. And as it happens, I visited Elecraft yesterday with my KPA1500 (45 minutes each way with traffic). There is considerable benefit from experience on specific equipment, and to the interchange between techs working on the same products on the basis of "come over and look at what I'm seeing." That happened with my KPA1500. There's also the matter of stocking repair parts. Yes, shipping time is a factor of a few days, at least within North America, but not having enough techs working on a bench is multiple weeks, even more than a month. If I were Elecraft, I'd devote resources to hiring another tech or two. And with either location, there's the matter of training and developing experience on specific equipment. The mentoring to do that is far easier to do with a tech working on the bench next to you. That is happening at Elecraft. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] K3S Receiver Spurious
On 12/5/2023 9:33 AM, Michael Tope wrote: I did move the Astron RS-35 that powers the K3S off my UPS a few weeks ago. See this note on a manufacturing issue that I found in several of my Astron supplies that can cause instability. The bond between the AC green wire, V-, is insulated from the chassis by paint at the mounting leg of the old-style terminal strip next to the V- terminal. The defect can be confirmed by an ohmmeter measurement between the green wire at the plug and the chassis. http://k9yc.com/PowerSupplyBondingAndAudioDistortion.pdf 73, Jim K9YC __ 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
[Elecraft] Elecraft SP-3 Speaker
Just a quick note asking if anyone has an SP-3 Elecraft Speaker to part with. Have been looking for one for quite a while. Thanks73,JimK2hn __ 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] Noise from KAT500?
Clarifying a typo, "antenna tuners" like the KAT500 are networks that transform the impedance presented by the transmission line to 50 ohms, allowing the output stage to provide power to the line. This has NO effect on loss in the line, which is determined solely by the match between the antenna and the line, as Bob correctly states. That said, line loss due to SWR is often wildly overestimated. For 60M, I'm using an 80M dipole fed with about 160 ft of a good RG11, which looks like 5:1 VSWR at the transmitter. Taking line loss into account, VSWR at the antenna is around 7:1. A good transmission line calculator shows the excess loss in the line due to VSWR to be about 1 dB, which is a small fraction of an S-unit. Using FT8, I've confirmed more than 70 countries on that band with 100W, and can work EU almost any night from my QTH near San Francisco. 73, Jim K9YC On 12/4/2023 7:16 AM, Bob McGraw wrote: The KPA500 at the station only matches the transmitter to the transmission line and likewise for the receiver. It does not change the match between the antenna and transmission line, thus the SWR and related loss from SWR remains. __ 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] K3S VFO B doesn't change sub-RX frequency
Hi George. Thanks for the reply. It’s not in diversity receive because I do get different frequencies on VFO A and VFO B. Turning VFO A tunes the main RX as expected but turning the VFO B knob does nothing. The VFO B knob itself does work because it correctly changes things in the config menu. Holding SUB allows me to tune the sub RX. I just can’t tune the sub RX with the VFO B knob. It used to work as expected but now doesn’t. That’s why I thought a setting may have been changed inadvertently. 73 Jim KY2D From: George Danner Sent: Monday, December 4, 2023 09:06 To: Jim Kutsch KY2D Cc: Elecraft List Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3S VFO B doesn't change sub-RX frequency Are you "Holding" Sub to turn on sub? If so you might be going into Diversity and VFO A controls both receivers. Can't ask how I know that! 73 George AI4VZ On Sun, Dec 3, 2023 at 4:45 PM Jim Kutsch KY2D mailto:jim.kut...@ky2d.com> > wrote: Hi Ed, Thanks for the reply. Yes, that was one of the first things I tried. No joy. 73 Jim KY2D From: Ed Parish mailto:k1ep.l...@gmail.com> > Sent: Sunday, December 3, 2023 12:08 To: Jim Kutsch KY2D mailto:jim.kut...@ky2d.com> > Cc: Elecraft List mailto:elecraft@mailman.qth.net> > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3S VFO B doesn't change sub-RX frequency Did you try B.SET and then unlock? On Sun, Dec 3, 2023, 12:06 Jim Kutsch KY2D mailto:jim.kut...@ky2d.com> <mailto:jim.kut...@ky2d.com <mailto:jim.kut...@ky2d.com> > > wrote: When the K3S sub-RX is turned on, VFO B does nothing. It's as if it's locked but unlock doesn't change the situation. Might there be a config setting that was accidentally changed? I think I've gone through everything and haven't found a solution. Thank. 73 Jim KY2D __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net <mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net> <mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net <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 k1ep.l...@gmail.com <mailto:k1ep.l...@gmail.com> <mailto:k1ep.l...@gmail.com <mailto:k1ep.l...@gmail.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 <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 gdanne...@gmail.com <mailto:gdanne...@gmail.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] Noise from KAT500?
On 12/3/2023 4:20 PM, David Woolley wrote: small, ferrite toroid. Using a higher frequency allows a less bulky transformer. Yes. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] Elecraft Digest, Vol 236, Issue 2
On 12/3/2023 9:23 AM, Bob McGraw wrote: Jim, K9YC, has very strong merits in that each and every piece of equipment MUST be bonded to a single common point. I use the station power supply for my single common bonding point. I DO NOT use an external dedicated ground as it would be 35 ft in length and serve as an antenna to pick up noise. After all, that is 1/4 wavelength on 40M. Yes, but that's a VERY oversimplistic description. Study N0AX's ARRL book on the topic, to which I contributed, and/or this pdf of slides for a talk I've done at Visalia, Pacificon, and to various large clubs. http://k9yc.com/GroundingAndAudio.pdf The VERY short answer is that everything that's connected to the rig must be bonded together by short fat copper AT the operating desk. That common point must be bonded to every other ground in our home, also by the shortest practical fat copper. In the shack, I mostly use #10 stranded; outside, I use #6 stranded. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] K3S VFO B doesn't change sub-RX frequency
Hi Ed, Thanks for the reply. Yes, that was one of the first things I tried. No joy. 73 Jim KY2D From: Ed Parish Sent: Sunday, December 3, 2023 12:08 To: Jim Kutsch KY2D Cc: Elecraft List Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3S VFO B doesn't change sub-RX frequency Did you try B.SET and then unlock? On Sun, Dec 3, 2023, 12:06 Jim Kutsch KY2D mailto:jim.kut...@ky2d.com> > wrote: When the K3S sub-RX is turned on, VFO B does nothing. It's as if it's locked but unlock doesn't change the situation. Might there be a config setting that was accidentally changed? I think I've gone through everything and haven't found a solution. Thank. 73 Jim KY2D __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net <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 k1ep.l...@gmail.com <mailto:k1ep.l...@gmail.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] K3S VFO B doesn't change sub-RX frequency
When the K3S sub-RX is turned on, VFO B does nothing. It's as if it's locked but unlock doesn't change the situation. Might there be a config setting that was accidentally changed? I think I've gone through everything and haven't found a solution. Thank. 73 Jim KY2D __ 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] Noise from KAT500?
On 12/2/2023 7:33 PM, David Gilbert wrote: Most of them have almost no reliable voltage regulation either. They are typically designed for a certain load, and if they don't see that load the voltage is much higher than rated. I've tested dozens of these things (I tend not to throw anything away) and it's fairly typical that a 12 volt rated wall wart power supply presents 16 to 18 volts (or higher) no load. That can be death to a piece of 12 volt gear that doesn't draw much current. Exactly right, Dave! I discussed in detail in the tutorial. Nearly all of the warts, lumps, and the equipment they power are labeled with voltage and current. My advice in the tutorial, with pictures, is break the DC cable, add Power Poles, and use one of the inline volt-ammeters to confirm that the PSU is within the safe operating range of the unit being powered. In the 20 years I've been making these replacements, I've yet to blow anything up! 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] Noise from KAT500?
On 12/2/2023 5:48 PM, W2HX wrote: I then replaced the wall-wart power supply with a 12V battery. And this is what I saw for BOTH bypass and inline. Clearly the problem. https://w2hx.com/x/Elecraft/KAT500/Noise-Issue/KAT500-battery.png using a battery, the noise is about -80 dBm. Using the wall-wart, in some cases the noise is as high as -60 dBm My task now is to either leave it on battery or preferably, find a low noise PS. 99.9% of stuff that plugs into the wall has a Switch-mode power supply, most of which are varying degrees of noisy. They were mandated to save energy about 20 years ago, but thanks to small government, the FCC has no money to enforce their Rules that they be quiet. So they aren't. A typical home has several dozen of them, either in the form of wall warts and line lumps or built into equipment and appliances. Rather than buying bigger and better anything for our station, our time and money is far better spent identifying and replacing as many as possible of these nasty noise sources. There's a tutorial on my website, k9yc.com/publish.htm about how to find and replace them. All of the 12V gear in my shack runs on two big batteries that are float charged by re-purposed Thinkpad power supplies using Genasun charge regulators. A 100Ah LiFePO4 runs the rigs, a 100Ah Sealed Lead Acid runs the rest of the stuff. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] USB/3.5mm Extension?
On 11/29/2023 7:47 AM, Andy Durbin wrote: The MAX3232 terminates the input with 5k which is almost identical to the KAT500 transmitter source impedance. The impedance that must be matched to preserve waveshape is that of the transmission line. The RS232 protocol does not do that. Most other protocols do. Zo of practical cables is in the range of 50-100 ohms. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] USB/3.5mm Extension?
On 11/28/2023 6:46 AM, Andy Durbin wrote: Isn't it true that the KAT500 USB cable uses RS-232 protocol but TTL signal levels? T RS-232 is NOT a matched transmission line -- it's a low-Z source and high-Z input. The limitation on line length is not signal strength, but rounding of the pulses by cable capacitance. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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
[Elecraft] Holiday Wishes
To All Elecrafters everywhere, Since this is the beginning of the holiday season for those of many different religious beliefs, I'd like to wish everyone, regardless of their faith or religion, a very Happy Holiday Season from me and my family. Jim, W0EB Park City, Kansas __ 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] Power oscillation problem (KPA500+KAT500)
On 11/21/2023 9:03 AM, Andy Durbin wrote: I should be able to fix the problem with better decoupling and/or choking of the breakout box connections. That suggests bonding and grounding may not be sufficient. Every chassis that is part of the station must be bonded together, and that bonded to all other grounds in our home. The root cause is probably a Pin One Problem in one or more pieces of equipment, and bonding is a solution. Some cables may be carrying noise and radiating it, so it can help to choke them. For example, I choke video and power cables to external monitors. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] Power oscillation problem (KPA500+KAT500)
On 11/20/2023 8:00 PM, Rick NK7I wrote: In that search, high on the list of suspects (right up there with failure of any antenna elements) is damage from tiny livestock (mice, rats, birds that may have gotten into the attic or bugs like mud wasps); chewed wires, cables and insulators. More possibilities. Back in Chicago, I traced an intermittent in an antenna to a junk connector adapter. After getting back on the air in 2003 after 20+ years off, I made the mistake of restocking my parts stash with junk adapters from a Chicago flea market. Over the next five years, I traced a half dozen failures to them as a cause. My definition of a junk connector is one that isn't stamped "Belden," or with a MIL part number, or one of the types made for hard line. Perhaps a ferrite choke that is poorly designed, under-rated for the specific use, or used with a badly imbalanced antenna has failed. They do that. :) And, of course, loose connectors. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] K3 Resistor Values
Schematics are on their website. 73, Jim K9YC On 11/15/2023 5:20 AM, sem...@semaos.plus.com wrote: Can anyone tell me where I can get the values of Resistor R81 on the K3S RF Board please? __ 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] KPA 500 Question
I have cables that control the amplifier for each radio. By default, the KPA500, KPA1500, and KAT500 all have near-instantaneous frequency-detection. They switch very quickly to the right band, and the tuners will recall previous antenna tunings for the detected frequency. All it takes is a dit or a tap on the mic. That's in addition to the front panel band switches. I own all three, and have never used an AUX cable with any of them. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] Duty Cycle of FT8 #Elecraft
On 11/10/2023 6:27 AM, Pete Smith N4ZR wrote: I started operating FT8 while my KPA-1500amp was out for repair. Now it's back and raising a question: Operating with just my K-3, set at 100 watts, I would see 100 watts indicated on its meter through the whole 15-second FT8 transmission.. When I drive my amp, it only needs 30 watts for full CW power (on 24 MHz), but the amp indicates 1200 watts input for the whole FT8 transmit cycle. I'm wondering if I should back off to protect the amp,considering the duty cycle is so high - on the other hand, the temperature reading profile of the amp seems to be pretty much the same as on CW. I've been told by someone who knows that 1) it is normal for MOSFet devices to lose efficiency as they heat; 2) the KPA1500 can run WSJT modes at rated power except on 6M, where it's best to not run much more than 1 kW for long TX sessions, like meteor scatter. It's an issue un-related to the the MOSFets; and 3) to use default fan settings and let the amp adjust upward as needed. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] HI CUR warning on K3
On 11/8/2023 8:21 AM, Pete Smith N4ZR wrote: I've fairly well established that the problem is not at the antenna, but arising somewhere in the grounding/RFI protection in my station, since it occurs only on one band and (more importantly) because it stopped totally after I re-tightened all the connections in my grounding system yesterday That can certainly be a major cause of problems with RF in the shack. The Carolina Windom incorporates a line isolator 22 feet down from the feedpoint, but technical questions have been raised about exactly what you describe, and I'm not technical enough either to question the analysis or to experimentally measure the common mode current on the feedline. ALL off-center-fed antennas are a train wreck for RF in the shack, and for blowing "line isolators" and chokes. This is because their strong imbalance puts huge common mode current on the feedline. They are a very bad idea, especially if running high power. Anything done to try to "fix" them is putting lipstick on a pig. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] K3S Split Operation
On 11/6/2023 10:37 AM, Wes wrote: I've been licensed 65 years and I've never owned a transceiver with two receivers. I am one away (drat) from top of the DXCC Honor Roll, am on both the Mixed and Phone HR, am a few short on CW and have DXCC on nine bands. A person's needs/desires depends on goals and resources (like real estate). In the 15 years I've had the 2nd RX in the K3, I've found diversity RX to be quite helpful on 40M and below during contests and for DXpeditions over difficult paths. I strongly agree that a spectrum display is quite useful, especially with good frequency resolution and a long waterfall, and I find the display in the P3/SVGA much more useful than what's in the K4. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] K3 and KAT connections without a KPA500
The Aux i/o is the one with phono type plug on the end, correct? > On Nov 4, 2023, at 3:50 PM, Jack Brindle wrote: > > This is pretty simple, Jim. The AuxIO cable goes from the K3 to the KAT500. > Then one of the Antenna outputs of the K3 goes to the RF input of the KAT500. > Of course the antennas connect to the KAT500 then (as they did before). > That is pretty much it. > > 73, > Jack, W6FB > > >> On Nov 4, 2023, at 3:03 PM, Jim Cary wrote: >> >> I’ve had to take my KPA500 out of service and want to operate just with the >> K3 and KAT. I’ve tired different cabling configurations but can’t seem to >> get the k3 to communicate. The manuals show all sorts of connections with >> amps, but not without an amp. >> >> I know it has to be simple, but sure is beating me! >> >> Jim >> >> W2SM >> >> __ >> 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 jackbrin...@me.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Elecraft] K3 and KAT connections without a KPA500
I’ve had to take my KPA500 out of service and want to operate just with the K3 and KAT. I’ve tired different cabling configurations but can’t seem to get the k3 to communicate. The manuals show all sorts of connections with amps, but not without an amp. I know it has to be simple, but sure is beating me! Jim W2SM __ 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] KX3 - CWT, no ALC in Data Mode
On 10/28/2023 2:29 PM, John Overbaugh wrote: Messing around with PSK today and I'm stumped... I am sure I just switched a setting somewhere but I can't figure out where. When I am in DATA A mode for PSK, I see the CWT meter, not the ALC meter. ALC shows only in TX mode. For digital modes, the manual says to set audio drive from the computer to the rig so that ALC reads 4 bars flashing 5 when transmitting. Digital modes should use the LINE Input. The correct audio drive setting is a combination of computer output gain and Line Input gain. When in Digital modes, the Mic Gain knob becomes Line Input gain. In general, computer output should set at least 6 dB below 100%. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] List guidelines, please review.
Blank email. This reflector is plain text only, and is known to reject posts with HTML-formatting. 73, Jim K9YC On 10/27/2023 2:52 PM, Rich WC3T wrote: __ 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 j...@audiosystemsgroup.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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] XV 144 trasnverter for sale
On 10/26/2023 10:20 AM, Clay Autery wrote: 1) It ain't Elecraft. That could be a plus -- that 20 year old series of transverters had serious stability problems, thanks at least in part to seriously flawed construction. RF I/O was on BNCs that were isolated from the chassis! I bought a set of three used around that time, still have the 2M unit. I sold the 6M unit after the band started showing up on HF rigs, donated the 220 MHz unit to the N6RO contest station. Their positive features are 1) RX had a pretty good front end; and 2) great flexibility with respect to RF drive on TX. I think I'd heard that frequency stability wasn't great, but don't take that for certain. 2) The XV-144 is out of production as you well know. $600.00 is well within the realm of reasonable for the right buyer. Not in light of the above. 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] TS-890 vs K4D performance?
On 10/23/2023 2:24 PM, Linda M wrote: Blank email. This reflector is plain text, rejects HTML 73, Jim K9YC __ 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] K3 Filters
Dave, Open the K3 Utility and click on Calibration. Scroll down to Configure Crystal Filters. The top line shows the various bandwidths of the installed filters. You can see the big picture there with the checked boxes. Jim W6YA __ 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
