Re: [Elecraft] KX3: Intermittent loss of RX sensitivity
Scott, Do you have an antenna(s) for 30 and 40 meters? Those antenna systems may have a bad connection somewhere in the the feedline or the radiator itself. It is quite common for hams to think their antennas are perfect and the trouble lies in the radio. Look at the entire system and pick out the elements that are common to the affected bands. 73, Don W3FPR On 9/16/2018 2:55 PM, Scott Manthe wrote: I appreciate the comments and that good RF connectors are important, but how would a bad connector cause the KX3 to only lose sensitivity on 30/40 meters? 73, Scott N9AA __ 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: Intermittent loss of RX sensitivity
I appreciate the comments and that good RF connectors are important, but how would a bad connector cause the KX3 to only lose sensitivity on 30/40 meters? 73, Scott N9AA On 9/16/18 2:34 PM, Jim Brown wrote: On 9/16/2018 9:08 AM, Dick Dievendorff wrote: I have had this with other radios. It turned out to be a coax connection that cleared up temporarily with application of a bit of power, but then generally got worse. Yes. This is also a symptom of dirty or failing relay contacts, and of junk coax connectors and adapters. And of poorly installed connectors, and of connectors that are not wrench tight. Definition of junk coax connectors and adapters -- they don't have Amphenol or a MIL-spec number stamped into them. If you bought new connectors or adapters at a hamfest or flea market, they're almost certainly junk. All connectors are not created equal -- if, for example, the female center is larger than the male center, they may not make good contact. This is a common problem with junk connectors of all sorts, not only coax. F-type are an exception to that branding -- Snap N Seal is one of the good brands. 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] KX3: Intermittent loss of RX sensitivity
On 9/16/2018 9:08 AM, Dick Dievendorff wrote: I have had this with other radios. It turned out to be a coax connection that cleared up temporarily with application of a bit of power, but then generally got worse. Yes. This is also a symptom of dirty or failing relay contacts, and of junk coax connectors and adapters. And of poorly installed connectors, and of connectors that are not wrench tight. Definition of junk coax connectors and adapters -- they don't have Amphenol or a MIL-spec number stamped into them. If you bought new connectors or adapters at a hamfest or flea market, they're almost certainly junk. All connectors are not created equal -- if, for example, the female center is larger than the male center, they may not make good contact. This is a common problem with junk connectors of all sorts, not only coax. F-type are an exception to that branding -- Snap N Seal is one of the good brands. 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] KX3: Intermittent loss of RX sensitivity
I have had this with other radios. It turned out to be a coax connection that cleared up temporarily with application of a bit of power, but then generally got worse. One was up the tower... 73 de Dick, K6KR > On Sep 16, 2018, at 07:53, Scott Manthe wrote: > > I've noticed that my KX3 occasionally exhibits a loss of RX sensitivity. It > seems to occur most often on 30 meters and possibly 40 meters, and it's > temporarily cured by sending a dit or two. I picked the KX3 up used, and it > needed the VFO B encoder replaced, which I did myself with the help of some > advice from Lyle, Roman and Elecraft support (Thanks!!!). This obviously > required the disassembly of the KX3. I'm not sure if the sensitivity problem > is related to this or not. The encoder works fine. This seems like a "sticky > relay" issue. Has anyone experienced this issue and have any suggestions on > the cause and a cure? > > 73, > Scott N9AA > __ > 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 d...@elecraft.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] KX3: Intermittent loss of RX sensitivity
I've noticed that my KX3 occasionally exhibits a loss of RX sensitivity. It seems to occur most often on 30 meters and possibly 40 meters, and it's temporarily cured by sending a dit or two. I picked the KX3 up used, and it needed the VFO B encoder replaced, which I did myself with the help of some advice from Lyle, Roman and Elecraft support (Thanks!!!). This obviously required the disassembly of the KX3. I'm not sure if the sensitivity problem is related to this or not. The encoder works fine. This seems like a "sticky relay" issue. Has anyone experienced this issue and have any suggestions on the cause and a cure? 73, Scott N9AA __ 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
