Re: [Elecraft] [K3] K3 Power Output
hb9ari wrote: I work essentially with JT65A mode; as this mode is a single tone mode, i've set the modulation level just before full ALC and power to 50W (for DX only...). At the beginning of a JT65A transmit sequence, the power start at ~ 25W and go up to ~ 48W in 3 to 5 sec. I'm active in WSPR mode, which is a single tone as well. Mode = DATA A, ALC = 4 bars, PWR = 5W. An external wattmeter shows an absolutely steady power throughout the entire 2-minute TX cycle. The bottom cover just underneath the LPA gets pretty hot, but at 5W the KPA3 is bypassed. Will run a test at higher power to see whether or not it makes a difference. 73, Markus HB9BRJ -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-Power-Output-tp3563445p3565519.html Sent from the [K3] mailing list archive at Nabble.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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] K3 Power Output
hb9ari wrote: Hi Trev, Since the beginning, i always get the same behavior with my K3 #1212 (factory build). I work essentially with JT65A mode; as this mode is a single tone mode, i've set the modulation level just before full ALC and power to 50W (for DX only...). At the beginning of a JT65A transmit sequence, the power start at ~ 25W and go up to ~ 48W in 3 to 5 sec. If the PA temperature is at ~ 40 to 46°C, the power variation is lower and power output start at ~40W; i'm certainly wrong, but i've always thought that this was related to PA temp and, as i never get an output power higher then selected, this was not a problem in my case. What is a problem for me is the transmit audio response; i've tried to adjust XTAL filter without success; TX EQU compensation too. As my VFO working frequency is always set to the JT65A preferred frequency, it's the audio frequency who defines the actual output spectrum; for some audio values, i get well over 3dB output power variations between some JT65A instantaneous frequencies; for example, with a 45W max power, for somes frequencies, level go under 20W; i work with this since more then one year and i'm always hoping that the AGC of my correspondent can handle a little ~3dB RF input variation (the QSB is generally higher...) Sorry for this time and bandwidth consuming message. 73 QRO de Rudolf, hb9ari Are you not using DATA A for this, Rudolph? If so, you can set the audio drive for a steady 4 bars in the ALC scale and the K3 will adjust the power for the value selected across the whole range of the audio spectrum (that you might reasonably want to use.) It didn't always work like this, but it has for many months now. Using PSK31 I can click on a signal anywhere from about 300Hz to 2700Hz, call them and get exactly the power requested (within reason, of course.) - Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392 K3 #222. * G4ILO's Shack - http://www.g4ilo.com * KComm - http://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html * KTune - http://www.g4ilo.com/ktune.html -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-Power-Output-tp3563445p3565662.html Sent from the [K3] mailing list archive at Nabble.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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] K3 Power Output
hb9brj wrote: I'm active in WSPR mode, which is a single tone as well. Mode = DATA A, ALC = 4 bars, PWR = 5W. An external wattmeter shows an absolutely steady power throughout the entire 2-minute TX cycle. The bottom cover just underneath the LPA gets pretty hot, but at 5W the KPA3 is bypassed. Will run a test at higher power to see whether or not it makes a difference. It would be nice to have the option to leave the KPA3 in at low power. I avoid using QRP for high duty cycle modes because I'm afraid it stresses the radio more than using 12W does. - Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392 K3 #222. * G4ILO's Shack - http://www.g4ilo.com * KComm - http://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html * KTune - http://www.g4ilo.com/ktune.html -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-Power-Output-tp3563445p3565678.html Sent from the [K3] mailing list archive at Nabble.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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] K3 Power Output
Hi Markus, you prabably know but maybe good for the others trying WSJT/WSPR: You can try very simply power levels per tone by using WSJT menu Setup - Generate messages for test tones. Then you have @A - @D and @1000 and @2000 in TX1 - TX6 windows You can test each tone separately and try to adjust level of TX EQ to obtain the best distribution. Yes, there are differencies, very big sometimes. Maybe later when TX EQ will be -per mode- saved and (if any chance) user selected frq of setting point possible there will be better game with it. Good luck, 73! Lexa, ok1dst K3/10 #727 hb9brj napsal(a): hb9ari wrote: I work essentially with JT65A mode; as this mode is a single tone mode, i've set the modulation level just before full ALC and power to 50W (for DX only...). At the beginning of a JT65A transmit sequence, the power start at ~ 25W and go up to ~ 48W in 3 to 5 sec. I'm active in WSPR mode, which is a single tone as well. Mode = DATA A, ALC = 4 bars, PWR = 5W. An external wattmeter shows an absolutely steady power throughout the entire 2-minute TX cycle. The bottom cover just underneath the LPA gets pretty hot, but at 5W the KPA3 is bypassed. Will run a test at higher power to see whether or not it makes a difference. 73, Markus HB9BRJ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] K3 Power Output
Hi Julian, I don't remember the reason(...) but i work in USB mode. I will try to work in DATA A mode this week-end and at the same time, recover the reason for the USB mode choice! (i read that somewhere!) For the ALC, i set the level just before the end of variation (if i'm correct, as i'm not in my shack, it should be 4 steady bars and the 5th flashing?) ele Thank you for the info. 73 QRO de Rudolf, HB9ARI Julian, G4ILO wrote: hb9ari wrote: Hi Trev, Since the beginning, i always get the same behavior with my K3 #1212 (factory build). I work essentially with JT65A mode; as this mode is a single tone mode, i've set the modulation level just before full ALC and power to 50W (for DX only...). At the beginning of a JT65A transmit sequence, the power start at ~ 25W and go up to ~ 48W in 3 to 5 sec. If the PA temperature is at ~ 40 to 46°C, the power variation is lower and power output start at ~40W; i'm certainly wrong, but i've always thought that this was related to PA temp and, as i never get an output power higher then selected, this was not a problem in my case. What is a problem for me is the transmit audio response; i've tried to adjust XTAL filter without success; TX EQU compensation too. As my VFO working frequency is always set to the JT65A preferred frequency, it's the audio frequency who defines the actual output spectrum; for some audio values, i get well over 3dB output power variations between some JT65A instantaneous frequencies; for example, with a 45W max power, for somes frequencies, level go under 20W; i work with this since more then one year and i'm always hoping that the AGC of my correspondent can handle a little ~3dB RF input variation (the QSB is generally higher...) Sorry for this time and bandwidth consuming message. 73 QRO de Rudolf, hb9ari Are you not using DATA A for this, Rudolph? If so, you can set the audio drive for a steady 4 bars in the ALC scale and the K3 will adjust the power for the value selected across the whole range of the audio spectrum (that you might reasonably want to use.) It didn't always work like this, but it has for many months now. Using PSK31 I can click on a signal anywhere from about 300Hz to 2700Hz, call them and get exactly the power requested (within reason, of course.) - Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392 K3 #222. * G4ILO's Shack - http://www.g4ilo.com * KComm - http://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html * KTune - http://www.g4ilo.com/ktune.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] K3 Power Output
Hi Lexa, Very good info, i will do some tests this week-end. At the same time, a verification of the audio level response (WSJT/Sound card) should be a good precaution... 73 QRO de Rudolf, HB9ARI Alexandr Kobranov wrote: Hi Markus, you prabably know but maybe good for the others trying WSJT/WSPR: You can try very simply power levels per tone by using WSJT menu Setup - Generate messages for test tones. Then you have @A - @D and @1000 and @2000 in TX1 - TX6 windows You can test each tone separately and try to adjust level of TX EQ to obtain the best distribution. Yes, there are differencies, very big sometimes. Maybe later when TX EQ will be -per mode- saved and (if any chance) user selected frq of setting point possible there will be better game with it. Good luck, 73! Lexa, ok1dst K3/10 #727 hb9brj napsal(a): hb9ari wrote: I work essentially with JT65A mode; as this mode is a single tone mode, i've set the modulation level just before full ALC and power to 50W (for DX only...). At the beginning of a JT65A transmit sequence, the power start at ~ 25W and go up to ~ 48W in 3 to 5 sec. I'm active in WSPR mode, which is a single tone as well. Mode = DATA A, ALC = 4 bars, PWR = 5W. An external wattmeter shows an absolutely steady power throughout the entire 2-minute TX cycle. The bottom cover just underneath the LPA gets pretty hot, but at 5W the KPA3 is bypassed. Will run a test at higher power to see whether or not it makes a difference. 73, Markus HB9BRJ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] K3 Power Output
Julian, G4ILO wrote: It would be nice to have the option to leave the KPA3 in at low power. I avoid using QRP for high duty cycle modes because I'm afraid it stresses the radio more than using 12W does. Julian, you can force the KPA3 to stay on by means of a workaround: Set PWR = 15W, then define actual TX power using MIC gain. 73, Markus HB9BRJ -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-Power-Output-tp3563445p3566192.html Sent from the [K3] mailing list archive at Nabble.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
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] K3 Power Output
Ok! It's in the to do list! 73, Rudolf Alexandr Kobranov wrote: Absolutely! One thing is to have uniformity of power out (this is what we need as a final), the other is to know levels of AF out per tone from the sound card and then characteristic of the rest of line. Let me know your results, my setting was very fast and without any remarks so no table of tone/af level/power out level per WSJTx mode done yet. Will try in some spare time and we can compare :-) 73! L. -dst- hb9ari napsal(a): Hi Lexa, Very good info, i will do some tests this week-end. At the same time, a verification of the audio level response (WSJT/Sound card) should be a good precaution... 73 QRO de Rudolf, HB9ARI Alexandr Kobranov wrote: Hi Markus, you prabably know but maybe good for the others trying WSJT/WSPR: You can try very simply power levels per tone by using WSJT menu Setup - Generate messages for test tones. Then you have @A - @D and @1000 and @2000 in TX1 - TX6 windows You can test each tone separately and try to adjust level of TX EQ to obtain the best distribution. Yes, there are differencies, very big sometimes. Maybe later when TX EQ will be -per mode- saved and (if any chance) user selected frq of setting point possible there will be better game with it. Good luck, 73! Lexa, ok1dst K3/10 #727 hb9brj napsal(a): hb9ari wrote: I work essentially with JT65A mode; as this mode is a single tone mode, i've set the modulation level just before full ALC and power to 50W (for DX only...). At the beginning of a JT65A transmit sequence, the power start at ~ 25W and go up to ~ 48W in 3 to 5 sec. I'm active in WSPR mode, which is a single tone as well. Mode = DATA A, ALC = 4 bars, PWR = 5W. An external wattmeter shows an absolutely steady power throughout the entire 2-minute TX cycle. The bottom cover just underneath the LPA gets pretty hot, but at 5W the KPA3 is bypassed. Will run a test at higher power to see whether or not it makes a difference. 73, Markus HB9BRJ __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] K3 Power Output
...you can force the KPA3 to stay on by means of a workaround: Set PWR = 15W, then define actual TX power using MIC gain. This will most likely result in the radio's long term ALC gradually increasing gain in the transmit path until it either (a) runs out of gain or (b) hits it internal limits. Not recommended. 73, Lyle KK7P __ 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
