Re: [Elecraft] [K2] K2 signal tracing progress and questions arising
Don Wilhelm-4 wrote: Paul, Rather than trying to do your proposed test, I would suggest you look carefully at the T/R switch area first. Typical problems are diodes oriented wrong (check against the Parts Placement diagram in the back of the manual). A broken lead (or unsoldered, poorly tinned, etc.) of RFC3 could cause similar problems - be certain RFC3 is wound on a ferrite core (dark gray) and not one of the black cores. 73, Don W3FPR OK - have done the checks and re-soldered a few connections and I'm now happy that the attenuation in the pre-mixer stages is OK. I've progressed through the receive chain and the only obvious thing is the audio amp that is causing problems. The signal out of the amp (with or without the speaker connected) is not significantly higher than the signal in (in fact it's actually attenuated if I compare the signal across PD1 and PD2 and the output). I've replaced the LM380 and both mute FET's to no avail. There are no shorts on the output and the sidetone is healthy (same output as input measured on the bypass pin) and I'm completely flummoxed. I've checked out the AF gain control and it varies from 5k (max volume) to a few ohms (min volume) and I've confirmed this measurement right up to the chip. According to the signal tracing fault finding I should be able to get 1.6V RMS out of the audio amp but no chance - nowhere near. Help! Cheers, Paul. -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K2-signal-tracing-progress-and-questions-arising-tp3982841p4068078.html Sent from the [K2] 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] [K2] K2 signal tracing progress and questions arising
Paul, Do you have a sufficient signal level to give you 1.6 volts out of the AF amplifier? The impedance of the amplifier's input is considerably higher than the impedance connected to the output, so the AC voltages may actually be similar in and out. Can you peg the S-meter with your signal generator? Most problems with low audio are actually caused earlier in the receive chain. Check to see if you have at least 200 mV peak to peak (70 mV RMS) of BFO at RF Board U11 pin 6. The diodes (D40 and D41) across the input of the IF amplifier will clip at a level lower than the Saturated test, so that item in the Signal Tracing section is no longer possible to do. What is the input vs. output from the IF amplifier U12. If there is not a significant increase, you may have a bad IF amplifier or T7 may be mounted backwards (red winding goes closest to U12), or the AGC voltage to the IF amplifier may be too high (check U12 pin 5, it should be no higher than 3.9 volts). 73, Don W3FPR Paul Fletcher wrote: OK - have done the checks and re-soldered a few connections and I'm now happy that the attenuation in the pre-mixer stages is OK. I've progressed through the receive chain and the only obvious thing is the audio amp that is causing problems. The signal out of the amp (with or without the speaker connected) is not significantly higher than the signal in (in fact it's actually attenuated if I compare the signal across PD1 and PD2 and the output). I've replaced the LM380 and both mute FET's to no avail. There are no shorts on the output and the sidetone is healthy (same output as input measured on the bypass pin) and I'm completely flummoxed. I've checked out the AF gain control and it varies from 5k (max volume) to a few ohms (min volume) and I've confirmed this measurement right up to the chip. According to the signal tracing fault finding I should be able to get 1.6V RMS out of the audio amp but no chance - nowhere near. Help! Cheers, Paul. __ 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] K2 signal tracing progress and questions arising
Hi Don (again!) I was following the steps in the signal tracing checklist that say with 25mV in to the AF amp I should get 1.6V out with the speaker disconnected and I don't. I've checked the signal path from the audio amp to the speaker connector and there are no shorts or open circuits. The BFO is around 1V pk pk so that looks healthy as do the other oscillators. The post mixer amp is working OK as are the pre-amp and attenuator. Loss through the CW filter checks out also. That leaves the IF amp, the detector and the AF amp. I can peg the S meter with the generator. AGC voltage with no signal is set at 3.8V (this is a rev A K2 remember). Something is definitely wrong somewhere though as a 50uV signal is quiet even with AGC off. One thing I have noticed with AGC off is that if I set the RF gain so that the IF chain is just out of clipping there is still low audio (if that helps) Lots of head scratching going on here. Cheers, Paul M1PAF - Original Message - From: Don Wilhelm w3...@embarqmail.com To: Paul Fletcher p...@melreed.demon.co.uk Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Thursday, November 26, 2009 12:05 AM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K2] K2 signal tracing progress and questions arising Paul, Do you have a sufficient signal level to give you 1.6 volts out of the AF amplifier? The impedance of the amplifier's input is considerably higher than the impedance connected to the output, so the AC voltages may actually be similar in and out. Can you peg the S-meter with your signal generator? Most problems with low audio are actually caused earlier in the receive chain. Check to see if you have at least 200 mV peak to peak (70 mV RMS) of BFO at RF Board U11 pin 6. The diodes (D40 and D41) across the input of the IF amplifier will clip at a level lower than the Saturated test, so that item in the Signal Tracing section is no longer possible to do. What is the input vs. output from the IF amplifier U12. If there is not a significant increase, you may have a bad IF amplifier or T7 may be mounted backwards (red winding goes closest to U12), or the AGC voltage to the IF amplifier may be too high (check U12 pin 5, it should be no higher than 3.9 volts). 73, Don W3FPR Paul Fletcher wrote: OK - have done the checks and re-soldered a few connections and I'm now happy that the attenuation in the pre-mixer stages is OK. I've progressed through the receive chain and the only obvious thing is the audio amp that is causing problems. The signal out of the amp (with or without the speaker connected) is not significantly higher than the signal in (in fact it's actually attenuated if I compare the signal across PD1 and PD2 and the output). I've replaced the LM380 and both mute FET's to no avail. There are no shorts on the output and the sidetone is healthy (same output as input measured on the bypass pin) and I'm completely flummoxed. I've checked out the AF gain control and it varies from 5k (max volume) to a few ohms (min volume) and I've confirmed this measurement right up to the chip. According to the signal tracing fault finding I should be able to get 1.6V RMS out of the audio amp but no chance - nowhere near. Help! Cheers, Paul. __ 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] K2 signal tracing progress and questions arising
Don Wilhelm-4 wrote: A drop in signal at the receive output of the LPF could also be caused by a T/R switch problem. Update so far. Having terminated the LPF's in a 50 ohm resistor I can definitely confirm all of the LPF's are fine. I measured swr and monitored in / out on the scope and loss is negligible. As soon as I reinstate W1 the output of the LPF is pulled low (50% of level when terminated with 50 ohms). I guess the next step is to do the same check with the chain broken after the T/R switch and progressively work down the chain. The is no ground short on the input to the band pass filters at DC. I can't directly terminate the T/R switch at W6 because of the DC bias so what value blocking cap should I use? Any other thoughts appreciated. 73 Paul M1PAF -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K2-signal-tracing-progress-and-questions-arising-tp3982841p4045825.html Sent from the [K2] 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] [K2] K2 signal tracing progress and questions arising
Paul, Rather than trying to do your proposed test, I would suggest you look carefully at the T/R switch area first. Typical problems are diodes oriented wrong (check against the Parts Placement diagram in the back of the manual). A broken lead (or unsoldered, poorly tinned, etc.) of RFC3 could cause similar problems - be certain RFC3 is wound on a ferrite core (dark gray) and not one of the black cores. 73, Don W3FPR Paul Fletcher wrote: Don Wilhelm-4 wrote: A drop in signal at the receive output of the LPF could also be caused by a T/R switch problem. Update so far. Having terminated the LPF's in a 50 ohm resistor I can definitely confirm all of the LPF's are fine. I measured swr and monitored in / out on the scope and loss is negligible. As soon as I reinstate W1 the output of the LPF is pulled low (50% of level when terminated with 50 ohms). I guess the next step is to do the same check with the chain broken after the T/R switch and progressively work down the chain. The is no ground short on the input to the band pass filters at DC. I can't directly terminate the T/R switch at W6 because of the DC bias so what value blocking cap should I use? Any other thoughts appreciated. 73 Paul M1PAF No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.709 / Virus Database: 270.14.76/2517 - Release Date: 11/21/09 02:47:00 __ 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
