Re: [Elecraft] KX3: ALC on digital issue

2016-02-07 Thread David Anderson 
In reply to Jim et al

Using Digital modes like WSJT JT65b and FSK441 here with my KX3 and let me 
explain what I see and how I interpret it. I am curious to know if you see 
something different.

Using Mode DATA A (Important because it turns off any transmit equalisation and 
compassion you may have set on SSB mode).

Initially turn Power down to 0  while setting up. To prevent any accidental 
QRM, or use a dummy load.

While sending data from the digital software, adjust mic gain and or level from 
sound card interface to get just over 4 bars on the "ALC" bargraph. This is not 
really ALC but rather audio level that the bargraph is displaying. It is not 
until 5 bars that ALC is actually produced, so try to keep it just below 5 
bars. The transmit audio level is now set correctly and should need to be 
touched again.

Still while transmitting data you can now adjust POWER with the control and you 
will not see any change in the ALC level, however the power that you have set 
will be shown in numerals on the display. If you have an external RF power 
meter you can confirm that indeed the power level is adjusted in realtime as 
you vary the POWER control while transmitting in DATA A. [It is this part that 
you seem to have a different result? Are you saying the POWER control does not 
adjust the power out while transmitting ? - It most certainly does on my KX3]

It is important to not try and adjust power by varying the audio level from the 
sound card interface or the mic gain control, as that will lead to an unstable 
power level. 

Ignore any online instructions that tell you to adjust power and ALC by audio 
level adjustment, they refer to non Elecraft radios which work in an entirely 
different manner.


73 from David GM4JJJ

> On 5 Feb 2016, at 16:37, Thorpe, Jeffrey  wrote:
> 
> I actually noticed the same thing too...the only difference was that I was 
> transmitting Contestia 4/250.
> 
> Jeff - kg7hdz
> 
>> On Feb 5, 2016, at 08:36, Jim Rodenkirch  wrote:
>> 
>> Hey, guess what I found out.I saw the same thing while operating JT9/65.
>> 
>> BUT, every time I rotated the pwr control knob, the ALC was exactly where I
>> had adjusted it to, SO, I experimented a little and varied
>> the pwr out prior to transmitting.guess what The power level bars
>> indicate exactly where I set the pwr atlooks to me like the KX3 will
>> display then set pwr when you start transmitting in JY9/65 and, if you touch
>> the pwr knob after you start transmitting the KX3 display your ALC
>> setting.just sayin'!!!
>> 
>> I don't do any other digital/rtty mode so don't know how the KX3 works wid
>> 'dem!!!
>> 
>> 72 de Jim R. K9JWV 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> --
>> View this message in context: 
>> http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KX3-ALC-on-digital-issue-tp7613593p7613602.html
>> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
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Re: [Elecraft] KX3: ALC on digital issue

2016-02-07 Thread Edward R Cole 
Hmm!  That would explain what happened in 2m digital mode eme the 
other day.  I tried changing drive level to my 8877 by raising the K3 
PWR level and the amplifier stopped outputting (anode went from 780ma 
to 80ma (quiescent load)).  Checking drive level on my bird power 
meter showed it dropped from 55w to 5w??  K3 PWR level had dropped to 
0.10mw (running transverter mode).  So I reset it to 0.39mw and 
re-keyed into transmit and I again had 55w drive and 1300w output; 
never repeated the fault.


I wondered what had caused this.  This was using the K3 and not a KX3 
but perhaps the firmware does strange things if you try readjusting 
RF PWR while in xmit mode (PTT keyed)?


If the display switches to ALC then one could be adjusting AF drive 
instead of RF power (but how? since Line-in is adjusted by the 
SPEED/MIC knob and not CMP/PWR.  (could I have grabbed the wrong knob?).


Hasn't repeated so may be just one of those "things".

73, Ed - KL7UW
sorry this is old e-mail; catching up reading the digest today.

Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2016 09:32:00 -0700 (MST)
From: Jim Rodenkirch <rodenkirch_...@msn.com>
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3: ALC on digital issue
Message-ID: <1454689920921-7613607.p...@n2.nabble.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

meant to type, "...looks to me like the set power when you start
transmitting in JY9/65 and, if you touch the pwr control knob after you
start transmitting, the KX3 switches into a "display your ALC
setting.just sayin'



73, Ed - KL7UW
http://www.kl7uw.com
"Kits made by KL7UW"
Dubus Mag business:
dubus...@gmail.com

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Re: [Elecraft] KX3: ALC on digital issue

2016-02-05 Thread Thorpe, Jeffrey 
I actually noticed the same thing too...the only difference was that I was 
transmitting Contestia 4/250.

Jeff - kg7hdz

> On Feb 5, 2016, at 08:36, Jim Rodenkirch  wrote:
> 
> Hey, guess what I found out.I saw the same thing while operating JT9/65.
> 
> BUT, every time I rotated the pwr control knob, the ALC was exactly where I
> had adjusted it to, SO, I experimented a little and varied
> the pwr out prior to transmitting.guess what The power level bars
> indicate exactly where I set the pwr atlooks to me like the KX3 will
> display then set pwr when you start transmitting in JY9/65 and, if you touch
> the pwr knob after you start transmitting the KX3 display your ALC
> setting.just sayin'!!!
> 
> I don't do any other digital/rtty mode so don't know how the KX3 works wid
> 'dem!!!
> 
> 72 de Jim R. K9JWV 
> 
> 
> 
> --
> View this message in context: 
> http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KX3-ALC-on-digital-issue-tp7613593p7613602.html
> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> __
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to jtho...@liberty.edu
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Re: [Elecraft] KX3: ALC on digital issue

2016-02-05 Thread Jim Rodenkirch 
Hey, guess what I found out.I saw the same thing while operating JT9/65.

BUT, every time I rotated the pwr control knob, the ALC was exactly where I
had adjusted it to, SO, I experimented a little and varied
the pwr out prior to transmitting.guess what The power level bars
indicate exactly where I set the pwr atlooks to me like the KX3 will
display then set pwr when you start transmitting in JY9/65 and, if you touch
the pwr knob after you start transmitting the KX3 display your ALC
setting.just sayin'!!!

I don't do any other digital/rtty mode so don't know how the KX3 works wid
'dem!!!

72 de Jim R. K9JWV 



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Re: [Elecraft] KX3: ALC on digital issue

2016-02-05 Thread Jim Rodenkirch 
meant to type, "...looks to me like the set power when you start
transmitting in JY9/65 and, if you touch the pwr control knob after you
start transmitting, the KX3 switches into a "display your ALC
setting.just sayin'



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[Elecraft] KX3: ALC on digital issue

2016-02-05 Thread Thorpe, Jeffrey 
I've followed the directions in Fred Cady's book and the steps in the fldigi 
manual for setting receive and transmit levels. (Use the 'tune' button in 
fldigi, adjust computer output to 4 bars on ALC  meter, keep mic setting where 
I use for voice - 5) and all seems ok to this point. When I go to transmit 
however, all bars on the ALC meter come on.
The only thing different is when using 'tune' I have output set to 0 watts. 
When transmitting it's set to 10 watts. Any ideas?

Jeff kg7hdz
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Re: [Elecraft] KX3: ALC on digital issue

2016-02-05 Thread Don Wilhelm 

Jeff,

Connect a dummy load rather than the antenna and try it at 10 watts.  If 
the problem is not present, you can blame it on RF-in-the-shack being 
picked up by the audio input or your computer.
If you do have an RF problem, the cure is in the antenna field. Better 
common mode chokes to keep the common mode current at bay.


73,,
Don W3FPR

On 2/5/2016 9:04 AM, Thorpe, Jeffrey wrote:

I've followed the directions in Fred Cady's book and the steps in the fldigi 
manual for setting receive and transmit levels. (Use the 'tune' button in 
fldigi, adjust computer output to 4 bars on ALC  meter, keep mic setting where 
I use for voice - 5) and all seems ok to this point. When I go to transmit 
however, all bars on the ALC meter come on.
The only thing different is when using 'tune' I have output set to 0 watts. 
When transmitting it's set to 10 watts. Any ideas?



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Re: [Elecraft] KX3: ALC on digital issue

2016-02-05 Thread Thorpe, Jeffrey 
Will do. Thanks Don.

Jeff kg7hdz

> On Feb 5, 2016, at 7:25 AM, Don Wilhelm  wrote:
> 
> Jeff,
> 
> Connect a dummy load rather than the antenna and try it at 10 watts.  If the 
> problem is not present, you can blame it on RF-in-the-shack being picked up 
> by the audio input or your computer.
> If you do have an RF problem, the cure is in the antenna field. Better common 
> mode chokes to keep the common mode current at bay.
> 
> 73,,
> Don W3FPR
> 
>> On 2/5/2016 9:04 AM, Thorpe, Jeffrey wrote:
>> I've followed the directions in Fred Cady's book and the steps in the fldigi 
>> manual for setting receive and transmit levels. (Use the 'tune' button in 
>> fldigi, adjust computer output to 4 bars on ALC  meter, keep mic setting 
>> where I use for voice - 5) and all seems ok to this point. When I go to 
>> transmit however, all bars on the ALC meter come on.
>> The only thing different is when using 'tune' I have output set to 0 watts. 
>> When transmitting it's set to 10 watts. Any ideas?
>> 
> 
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