[Elecraft] [K2] Low Output Power solved
Turned on my K2 after about 4 months of not being used. No evident output power! The rig has worked well without issues for several years since I built it. Checked with dummy load and was actually putting out about 200mW. Searching archives, found similar problem mentioned with Don suggesting to follow manual procedures to get some data. Nil RF at Q5 sollector, DC voltage fine, D1 anode RF high. Pushed on D1 with plastic tuning tool and output came back, intermittent. Reflowed solder on D1 connections, all good now. Bottom line, Don's advice spot on, manual procedures work, most problems caused by poor soldering by the builder (me). I have identifies (soldering) problems on many rigs (that I didn't build) by pushing and prodding components with a plastic tuning tool. 73, Curt KB5JO __ 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] K2 Low output Power
I have lower output on all bands except 75 meters. I get 115 watts output on 75, and about 65 to 75 watts on all the other bands. Does not matter what antenna I use the swr is about 1.2 to 1 on all bands. The serial number is 3213. Any ideas would be helpful! Thanks 73! Tomy Ivan kf7gc __ 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] K2 Low output Power
Tomy, What happens into a 50 ohm dummy load? Do you see any HI CUR messages? Has it always been this way? Or is this a new failure? Is your power supply voltage dropping significantly during transmit? If you power the K2 only through the 2.1mm coaxial power jack (remove the APP connector from the KPA100), then what is the maximum power on all bands? If it is above 10 watts (typically 12), then the base K2 is OK. But if the power is much lower than that, you have a problem with the base K2. Make those checks and we will know better where to guide you. 73, Don W3FPR On 11/8/2010 2:10 PM, Tomy wrote: I have lower output on all bands except 75 meters. I get 115 watts output on 75, and about 65 to 75 watts on all the other bands. Does not matter what antenna I use the swr is about 1.2 to 1 on all bands. The serial number is 3213. Any ideas would be helpful! Thanks 73! Tomy Ivan kf7gc __ 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] K2 - Low output power all bands
I have one the early early K2's (SN:247) that's been on the air since 1999 and so believe it or not, I just finally put it on a QRP watt meter to see what it was putting out and was surprised to see it was a pretty consistent 7-8 watts on all bands. It doesn't seem to make any difference if I raise the power control above the 10 watt level. I'm just wondering if perhaps I'm having a problem since most people seem to get around 10 watts out of their K2's and we all know having an extra watt now and then can't hurt. I started browsing through the archives but it's getting late, I'm heading off to bed and I figure there are much brighter people out there that can supply a suggestion or answer as to whether I actually have something amiss or if there is something I should check out to bring it back in spec. I plan to do an alignment on it but rather not go through the effort if it doesn't seem worthwhile at this time. Tnx es 73 de WA3ZII Michael Conte Located in Southern MD, USA Email : [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] K2 Low Output Power
OK, I confess that after building control and receiver circuits [carefully] with no problems, I wanted to believe the rig was 100% after initial transmitter alignment. I put the rig on the air and made contact immediately. THEN: a friend loaned me his OHR WM-1 wattmeter so I could actually measure the output. It was all over the map, but always low and not very repeatable. I checked the soldering. I resoldered everything that looked even a little suspect. I measured the resistance of each of the toroids and transformers. I measured dc voltages. I monotored the ALC circuit. I measured rf voltages in the transmitter with the provided probe kit. Everything seemed ok except the transmitter was low on drive and the power supply current was high. Wait, I see a patern! Time to check my dummy load. [I have been using 2w dummy loads for my other qrp rigs. For this job the only thing I have 2w is a Heath Cantenna 2Kw] The Cantenna is open! Dummy load is 100Kohm. Not good - but happy dance, the radio is fine [I was very careful with the finals! Very short test times and reasonable current limits. I check the radio with my qrpp dummy load [1 watt] and all bands put out the asked for [low] power. I repaired the Cantenna and touched up the transmitter alignment. Power is predictable and controlled on all bands. Time to open the SSB kit. The lesson once again is do not assume things - I had not used the dummy load since going qrp 10 years ago. Wayne K9NE K2 S/N 04858 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
