Re: [Elecraft] K3 external speaker output dead
If you used s stereo plug, how is it wired? Should be tip and shield for ONE speaker. Also is SPKR + PH set to YES? If this is NO then you won't have any speaker output. If the internal spkr works this isn't a problem. ...bill nr4c Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE DROID a...@sbcglobal.net wrote: I recently purchased 2 replacement K3 speakers to make tuned port enclosures for CW audio. Plugging one of the speakers to the rear panel jack (via 3.5mm stereo plug) to test resulted in no output. Had the config SPKRS = 1 Rear jack worked fine last time I tried an external speaker. Full audio output is fine on the internal speaker. Anyone reading had this issue? Any ideas? 73, Mike AC5P __ 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 - No speaker output
Mine failed with a stereo (not a mono) plug which had been inserted prior to the K3 being powered on. The external speaker of 8 ohms was wired onto the left channel (plug tip), therefore the right channel did not have a load at the time. Don't know if this causes a problem. The fault occurred when the AF gain on my K3 was advanced to approx 12 o'clock, at which point the audio out the speaker failed. So, the fault was NOT caused by shorting either of the outputs, or plugging in the speaker with the K3 powered on. My K3 is an early Ser # 307 73 Stewart G3RXQ On Tue, 14 Jan 2014 19:10:29 -0700, Dave Hachadorian wrote: Putting a mono plug into the stereo jack is not the ONLY failure mechanism for the speaker amplifier chip. It was not the cause of failure of my two K3's. I'm not sure anyone fully understands the failure mechanisms in the speaker amplifier. The new $2.36 mod adds 1 ohm resistors in series with the audio output channels. Hopefully that will do some good. Dave Hachadorian, K6LL Yuma, AZ -Original Message- From: Don Wilhelm Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2014 5:10 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 - No speaker output Dick, If you have an early K3 *and* you plugged a mono connector into the rear speaker jack, one channel was shorted by the mono connector. That will cause failure of the audio amp for the speaker. Later K3s (I don't know the serial number) have protection for that shorting condition. The best protection is not to put a mono plug into the speaker jack. If you want mono, cut off the mono plug and connect only the tip and shell to your speaker - the ring does not connect to anything. 73, Don W3FPR On 1/14/2014 6:55 PM, Richard Solomon wrote: Can someone explain to me exactly why the chip failed, and what the Audio Protection Assembly is for ? Tnx, Dick, W1KSZ __ 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 - No speaker output
Is the improved circuit in production K3s and, if so, at what serial number did that start? Bill W2BLC __ 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 - No speaker output
The final addition to the AF amp protection circuitry was phased into production about a year ago. I'm trying to determine what the first S/N was. We'll also be making this available as a mod kit shortly. There have been a few other improvements to the AF amp circuitry, all phased into production a long time ago. These are listed on the K3 mods page. The K3 owner who posted about not having speaker output has a very old K3 (~S/N 300) which had none of the upgrades. AF amp problems are now exceedingly rare. 73, Wayne N6KR On Jan 15, 2014, at 3:21 AM, Bill W2BLC w2...@nycap.rr.com wrote: Is the improved circuit in production K3s and, if so, at what serial number did that start? Bill W2BLC __ 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 - No speaker output
The speaker amp is U1 on the DSP Board. The IC is an LM4950TS. The pins are very closely spaced, too close for me. Elecraft now has an Audio Protection Assembly circuit board, Part Number E850506 for $2.36 plus shipping. Dave Hachadorian, K6LL Yuma, AZ -Original Message- From: Stewart Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2014 9:36 AM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: [Elecraft] K3 - No speaker output My K3's speaker audio seems to have gone West. Audio out of the phones, but nothing out of the internal speaker. It happened when I was installing a new external speaker, a DSP Desktop speaker from BHI. Having read some recent posts about the audio chip blowing up because of using a mono plug instead of a stereo one, I made sure that I used a the correct one. Following guidance in the K3 users manual I connected the speaker to the LH channel as I want to use my headset in stereo. I also took the covers off and checked for the modification involving 470ohm resistors. That mod was in place OK. I switched the K3 and the speaker on and got audio from the speaker. However, when I advanced the AF gain on the K3 to about 12 o'clock there was a pop and no more speaker audio from the K3. I have checked the BHI speaker with another rig and it works fine, so my K3 has developed a fault. I can't believe how sensitive it is to damage in the audio output, particularly with the care I took to try and avoid this sort of thing happening As I am quite OK with SMD's I would appreciate advice on what to change, where to get it and how... Not a happy bunny ! 73 Stewart G3RXQ __ 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 - No speaker output
Check that the speakers have not been turned off in the menu. I leave my speakers connected and then use the PF2 key to execute a macro to toggle the speakers setting. Sent from Samsung Galaxy Note Original message From: Stewart stew...@twinwood.me Date: 14/01/2014 16:36 (GMT+00:00) To: Elecraft Reflector elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K3 - No speaker output My K3's speaker audio seems to have gone West. Audio out of the phones, but nothing out of the internal speaker. It happened when I was installing a new external speaker, a DSP Desktop speaker from BHI. Having read some recent posts about the audio chip blowing up because of using a mono plug instead of a stereo one, I made sure that I used a the correct one. Following guidance in the K3 users manual I connected the speaker to the LH channel as I want to use my headset in stereo. I also took the covers off and checked for the modification involving 470ohm resistors. That mod was in place OK. I switched the K3 and the speaker on and got audio from the speaker. However, when I advanced the AF gain on the K3 to about 12 o'clock there was a pop and no more speaker audio from the K3. I have checked the BHI speaker with another rig and it works fine, so my K3 has developed a fault. I can't believe how sensitive it is to damage in the audio output, particularly with the care I took to try and avoid this sort of thing happening As I am quite OK with SMD's I would appreciate advice on what to change, where to get it and how... Not a happy bunny ! 73 Stewart G3RXQ __ 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 - No speaker output
Bob, It's not on the web site. I heard about it indirectly, sent them an email, got the part number and price, then called up and ordered two, one for each of my K3's. I haven't installed them yet. Dave Hachadorian, K6LL Yuma, AZ -Original Message- From: Bob Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2014 11:01 AM To: Dave Hachadorian Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 - No speaker output Hi Dave, I just spent about 20 minutes searching for information on this mod. I can not find it on the Elecraft site. Do you have a linkable source or any PDF , or other format, type documents. I would certainly order it for that price and have it on hand for the next time the K3 gets opened. But would like to know more before I ordered it. I've never had an audio issue but, An ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure.. 73, Bob K2TK ex KN2TKR (1956) K2TKR On 1/14/2014 12:21 PM, Dave Hachadorian wrote: The speaker amp is U1 on the DSP Board. The IC is an LM4950TS. The pins are very closely spaced, too close for me. Elecraft now has an Audio Protection Assembly circuit board, Part Number E850506 for $2.36 plus shipping. Dave Hachadorian, K6LL Yuma, AZ \ __ 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 - No speaker output
Elecraft now has an Audio Protection Assembly circuit board, Part Number E850506 for $2.36 plus shipping. The Audio Protection Assembly replaces the 470 uF output capacitors C2 and C3 on the RF board with a series combination of a 1 Ohm resistor and 470 uF capacitor. The same thing can be accomplished by replacing L13 and L16 (surface mounted beads) on the KIO3 Audio IO Board with the appropriate size 1 Ohm surface mount resistor (or potentially even a leaded part). The advantage t modifying the KIO3 Audio IO Board is that it is not necessary to disassemble the K3 (and remove sub R and/or 2M transverter) to gain access. Note - the bead to resistor modification is my own adaptation and not recommended by Elecraft. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 1/14/2014 12:21 PM, Dave Hachadorian wrote: The speaker amp is U1 on the DSP Board. The IC is an LM4950TS. The pins are very closely spaced, too close for me. Elecraft now has an Audio Protection Assembly circuit board, Part Number E850506 for $2.36 plus shipping. Dave Hachadorian, K6LL Yuma, AZ -Original Message- From: Stewart Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2014 9:36 AM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: [Elecraft] K3 - No speaker output My K3's speaker audio seems to have gone West. Audio out of the phones, but nothing out of the internal speaker. It happened when I was installing a new external speaker, a DSP Desktop speaker from BHI. Having read some recent posts about the audio chip blowing up because of using a mono plug instead of a stereo one, I made sure that I used a the correct one. Following guidance in the K3 users manual I connected the speaker to the LH channel as I want to use my headset in stereo. I also took the covers off and checked for the modification involving 470ohm resistors. That mod was in place OK. I switched the K3 and the speaker on and got audio from the speaker. However, when I advanced the AF gain on the K3 to about 12 o'clock there was a pop and no more speaker audio from the K3. I have checked the BHI speaker with another rig and it works fine, so my K3 has developed a fault. I can't believe how sensitive it is to damage in the audio output, particularly with the care I took to try and avoid this sort of thing happening As I am quite OK with SMD's I would appreciate advice on what to change, where to get it and how... Not a happy bunny ! 73 Stewart G3RXQ __ 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 - No speaker output
Can someone explain to me exactly why the chip failed, and what the Audio Protection Assembly is for ? Tnx, Dick, W1KSZ On 1/14/2014 10:21 AM, Dave Hachadorian wrote: The speaker amp is U1 on the DSP Board. The IC is an LM4950TS. The pins are very closely spaced, too close for me. Elecraft now has an Audio Protection Assembly circuit board, Part Number E850506 for $2.36 plus shipping. Dave Hachadorian, K6LL Yuma, AZ -Original Message- From: Stewart Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2014 9:36 AM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: [Elecraft] K3 - No speaker output My K3's speaker audio seems to have gone West. Audio out of the phones, but nothing out of the internal speaker. It happened when I was installing a new external speaker, a DSP Desktop speaker from BHI. Having read some recent posts about the audio chip blowing up because of using a mono plug instead of a stereo one, I made sure that I used a the correct one. Following guidance in the K3 users manual I connected the speaker to the LH channel as I want to use my headset in stereo. I also took the covers off and checked for the modification involving 470ohm resistors. That mod was in place OK. I switched the K3 and the speaker on and got audio from the speaker. However, when I advanced the AF gain on the K3 to about 12 o'clock there was a pop and no more speaker audio from the K3. I have checked the BHI speaker with another rig and it works fine, so my K3 has developed a fault. I can't believe how sensitive it is to damage in the audio output, particularly with the care I took to try and avoid this sort of thing happening As I am quite OK with SMD's I would appreciate advice on what to change, where to get it and how... Not a happy bunny ! 73 Stewart G3RXQ __ 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 - No speaker output
Dick, If you have an early K3 *and* you plugged a mono connector into the rear speaker jack, one channel was shorted by the mono connector. That will cause failure of the audio amp for the speaker. Later K3s (I don't know the serial number) have protection for that shorting condition. The best protection is not to put a mono plug into the speaker jack. If you want mono, cut off the mono plug and connect only the tip and shell to your speaker - the ring does not connect to anything. 73, Don W3FPR On 1/14/2014 6:55 PM, Richard Solomon wrote: Can someone explain to me exactly why the chip failed, and what the Audio Protection Assembly is for ? Tnx, Dick, W1KSZ __ 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 - No speaker output
I am sure there will be several responses, but when you insert a mono plug into the ext speaker receptacle while the K3 is energized the chanceof shorting out the stereo output causes an overload and the chip may fail. Mine failed as I inserted a mono plug into the stereo speaker jack. The configuration of the mono plug when inserted into a stereo jack can momentarily short the two channels causing the potential overload. I use the phone jack now for external audio use. In the simplest situation, only do configurations of external connections with the K3 turned OFF. Enf said. Mel, K6KBE On Tuesday, January 14, 2014 4:51 PM, Richard Solomon w1...@earthlink.net wrote: Can someone explain to me exactly why the chip failed, and what the Audio Protection Assembly is for ? Tnx, Dick, W1KSZ On 1/14/2014 10:21 AM, Dave Hachadorian wrote: The speaker amp is U1 on the DSP Board. The IC is an LM4950TS. The pins are very closely spaced, too close for me. Elecraft now has an Audio Protection Assembly circuit board, Part Number E850506 for $2.36 plus shipping. Dave Hachadorian, K6LL Yuma, AZ -Original Message- From: Stewart Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2014 9:36 AM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: [Elecraft] K3 - No speaker output My K3's speaker audio seems to have gone West. Audio out of the phones, but nothing out of the internal speaker. It happened when I was installing a new external speaker, a DSP Desktop speaker from BHI. Having read some recent posts about the audio chip blowing up because of using a mono plug instead of a stereo one, I made sure that I used a the correct one. Following guidance in the K3 users manual I connected the speaker to the LH channel as I want to use my headset in stereo. I also took the covers off and checked for the modification involving 470ohm resistors. That mod was in place OK. I switched the K3 and the speaker on and got audio from the speaker. However, when I advanced the AF gain on the K3 to about 12 o'clock there was a pop and no more speaker audio from the K3. I have checked the BHI speaker with another rig and it works fine, so my K3 has developed a fault. I can't believe how sensitive it is to damage in the audio output, particularly with the care I took to try and avoid this sort of thing happening As I am quite OK with SMD's I would appreciate advice on what to change, where to get it and how... Not a happy bunny ! 73 Stewart G3RXQ __ 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 __ 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 - No speaker output
Simpiliar is to not plug anything in to the K3 while it is powered on... Mel, K6KBE On Tuesday, January 14, 2014 5:07 PM, Mel Farrer farrerfo...@yahoo.com wrote: I am sure there will be several responses, but when you insert a mono plug into the ext speaker receptacle while the K3 is energized the chanceof shorting out the stereo output causes an overload and the chip may fail. Mine failed as I inserted a mono plug into the stereo speaker jack. The configuration of the mono plug when inserted into a stereo jack can momentarily short the two channels causing the potential overload. I use the phone jack now for external audio use. In the simplest situation, only do configurations of external connections with the K3 turned OFF. Enf said. Mel, K6KBE On Tuesday, January 14, 2014 4:51 PM, Richard Solomon w1...@earthlink.net wrote: Can someone explain to me exactly why the chip failed, and what the Audio Protection Assembly is for ? Tnx, Dick, W1KSZ On 1/14/2014 10:21 AM, Dave Hachadorian wrote: The speaker amp is U1 on the DSP Board. The IC is an LM4950TS. The pins are very closely spaced, too close for me. Elecraft now has an Audio Protection Assembly circuit board, Part Number E850506 for $2.36 plus shipping. Dave Hachadorian, K6LL Yuma, AZ -Original Message- From: Stewart Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2014 9:36 AM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: [Elecraft] K3 - No speaker output My K3's speaker audio seems to have gone West. Audio out of the phones, but nothing out of the internal speaker. It happened when I was installing a new external speaker, a DSP Desktop speaker from BHI. Having read some recent posts about the audio chip blowing up because of using a mono plug instead of a stereo one, I made sure that I used a the correct one. Following guidance in the K3 users manual I connected the speaker to the LH channel as I want to use my headset in stereo. I also took the covers off and checked for the modification involving 470ohm resistors. That mod was in place OK. I switched the K3 and the speaker on and got audio from the speaker. However, when I advanced the AF gain on the K3 to about 12 o'clock there was a pop and no more speaker audio from the K3. I have checked the BHI speaker with another rig and it works fine, so my K3 has developed a fault. I can't believe how sensitive it is to damage in the audio output, particularly with the care I took to try and avoid this sort of thing happening As I am quite OK with SMD's I would appreciate advice on what to change, where to get it and how... Not a happy bunny ! 73 Stewart G3RXQ __ 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 __ 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 - No speaker output
Putting a mono plug into the stereo jack is not the ONLY failure mechanism for the speaker amplifier chip. It was not the cause of failure of my two K3's. I'm not sure anyone fully understands the failure mechanisms in the speaker amplifier. The new $2.36 mod adds 1 ohm resistors in series with the audio output channels. Hopefully that will do some good. Dave Hachadorian, K6LL Yuma, AZ -Original Message- From: Don Wilhelm Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2014 5:10 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 - No speaker output Dick, If you have an early K3 *and* you plugged a mono connector into the rear speaker jack, one channel was shorted by the mono connector. That will cause failure of the audio amp for the speaker. Later K3s (I don't know the serial number) have protection for that shorting condition. The best protection is not to put a mono plug into the speaker jack. If you want mono, cut off the mono plug and connect only the tip and shell to your speaker - the ring does not connect to anything. 73, Don W3FPR On 1/14/2014 6:55 PM, Richard Solomon wrote: Can someone explain to me exactly why the chip failed, and what the Audio Protection Assembly is for ? Tnx, Dick, W1KSZ __ 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 - No speaker output
Sorry, but the only solution to keep the two outputs isolated is to provide two audio output jacks, one for left and one for right. AND have a appropriate limiting coupling cap or series limiting regulator for the amp. IMHO. Mel, K6KBE On Tuesday, January 14, 2014 6:13 PM, Dave Hachadorian k6ll.d...@gmail.com wrote: Putting a mono plug into the stereo jack is not the ONLY failure mechanism for the speaker amplifier chip. It was not the cause of failure of my two K3's. I'm not sure anyone fully understands the failure mechanisms in the speaker amplifier. The new $2.36 mod adds 1 ohm resistors in series with the audio output channels. Hopefully that will do some good. Dave Hachadorian, K6LL Yuma, AZ -Original Message- From: Don Wilhelm Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2014 5:10 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 - No speaker output Dick, If you have an early K3 *and* you plugged a mono connector into the rear speaker jack, one channel was shorted by the mono connector. That will cause failure of the audio amp for the speaker. Later K3s (I don't know the serial number) have protection for that shorting condition. The best protection is not to put a mono plug into the speaker jack. If you want mono, cut off the mono plug and connect only the tip and shell to your speaker - the ring does not connect to anything. 73, Don W3FPR On 1/14/2014 6:55 PM, Richard Solomon wrote: Can someone explain to me exactly why the chip failed, and what the Audio Protection Assembly is for ? Tnx, Dick, W1KSZ __ 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: Low speaker output problem
I have a pair of Radio Shack Minimus-7 speakers which I've had for 20 or 30 years. They have wonderful fidelity for speakers of that size. For a long time I used a 30 watt stereo amp to drive them. What the Minimus-7 does NOT have is any degree of efficiency. They are, in a word, spectacularly NON-efficient. I'm not going to throw them away by any means, but I will keep a amp in front of them. The amp I had was a very 1960's design driving an output transformer matching the 8 ohm impedance with a rating of 30 watts per channel. I was not able to get adequate volume out of the Minimus-7 when I put them behind the K3. Replacing them with Radio Shack Optimus XTS-25, I can raise the K3 volume to intolerable levels. There is nothing WRONG with the Minimus-7, they simply require power to drive them, and were designed to go behind forty watt amplifiers. The point is that speakers have WILD variation in efficiency, that is to say the voltage required on the speaker terminals to produce a fixed sound pressure in front of the speaker. In some cases inefficiency is DELIBERATELY used to smooth response, sometimes having sound-absorbing, (therefore efficiency reducing) insulation inside the case to dampen case resonances, and deal with other issues that work against smooth frequency response. It is for sure that there are some speakers which the K3 will not drive adequately. Before tearing apart your K3 looking for burned resistors, etc., see if the speaker is one of those with deliberately engineered, on-purpose low efficiency rated for higher wattage. If you have a small speaker with multiple internal cones, a crossover, and rated at 50 watts, you most likely will not be able to drive it with your K3. 73, Guy. On Wed, Sep 8, 2010 at 12:07 AM, Tim Tucker ae...@worldwidedx.com wrote: Because of this thread I decided to do a quick comparison of my K3 to another rig. I have the W2IHY iPlus hooked up to both the K3 and 746 Pro using the Icom SP-21 speaker. For those that aren't familiar with the iPlus, it allows you (among other things) to switch your audio stack and output speaker between two rigs. I switched both rigs back and forth on some strong 75m stations tonight with both rigs' NB and NR turned off and RF gain turned to max on each. Both rigs AGC were set to slow for posterity's sake. I'm using the proper speaker cables on both rigs running to the iPlus switch and then from the iPlus to the SP-21. I tested the entire AF range of both rigs which switching back and forth on the same RX stations. The results of this test show me that the Icom 746 Pro audio output is significantly greater than the K3. I don't have any test equipment to measure this, but I could probably make an audio recording if desired. The K3's audio wasn't too low and was generally very comfortable, but the 746 Pro did have more output potential if desired. I could see how the greater volume potential would be desired by those who are hard of hearing. Keep in mind that this test is using a MONO speaker. I could do the test again using some stereo headphones output from the iPlus if there is any interest. Tim AE6LX On Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 8:35 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV li...@subich.com wrote: Dave, Check to confirm that you are using a 3.5mm plug on your speaker cable and not a 1/8 plug. The difference is slight *BUT* it can cause the sloppy fit behavior you are seeing. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 9/7/2010 7:50 PM, David Lankshear wrote: I've had several bouts of no output and a couple of low output from my K3 #1122. It's been down to the speakers jack socket seemingly being a very sloppy fit with every one of several changes of jack plug. I thought I'd tamed it by taping the speaker wires to another firmly secured cable in the hope that would keep all well and truly together, but on switching on after a few weeks of lack of use, my outboard speakers were at it again, and a good wiggling of the jack plug was required to alleviate the problem. I don't know if this is a common problem or a unique one, but it is a minor irritant, especially if one speaker goes out and then comes back on as the other goes off. I kind of wobble on my chair when that happens HI! 73 all. Dave G3TJP __ 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: Low speaker output problem
It is for sure that there are some speakers which the K3 will not drive adequately. 73, Guy. I have had what some would call low audio out of serial number 26XX since new, to suit my tastes I drove a set of computer speakers that are amplified, and they worked fair, I have since changed to a set of Motorola speakers and an outboard solid state stereo amp about 10 watts, works great and the speakers have good communications audio. Compared to several other brands of radios the K3 has much less audio power than any of them, not sure it there is a difference in K3s in the audio department or if its just my old ears, but I do not have enough audio to drive a set of speakers off the radio to decent volume without an external amp. Headphone output is the same, I have to crank up the audio and if using a narrow filter and or DSP I do not have enough audio with the gain full open, thats with Heil cans, Yamaha cans, and several others tested. I plug the headphones into the external amps output and switch between cans and speakers. I guess there could be a problem with my K3, but have run into several others who have similar results. So I assume there are differences in the audio the same as there is in the IF/RF gain between units. Nothing that bothers me with the external amp in line. 73 Merv K9FD __ 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: Low speaker output problem
Being curious I checked my K3 (4043) which I run with an external speaker (an old National 1950's era 10-inch speaker -probably 4 or 8-ohm). Comfortable audio with volume set at 9-oclock. Turning on NB does not affect the level. NR lowers volume which requires adjusting volume to 11-oclock to bring it back to the same level without NR (setting is F2-2). I wear hearing aids in both ears for compensation of 30-dB loss in my hearing. I find the level at 12-oclock plenty loud for any signal (really too loud). My wife can hear the radio anywhere in the house with it at 11-oclock. BTW my Sony stereo headset hears at the same level as the speaker. I believe they are typically 32-ohm (Sony MDR-V600). I will be getting one of the Yamaha CM500 one of these days for the convenience of the boom mike/headset. But I guess this varies with what you connect to the radio. Ed - KL7UW PS: checked into the Alaska-Pacific Net this morning with 12w on 14.292. Amazing what can be done with very few watts. -- Message: 6 Date: Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:35:08 -0400 From: Joe Subich, W4TV li...@subich.com Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3: Low speaker output problem To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID: 4c87046c.9040...@subich.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Dave, Check to confirm that you are using a 3.5mm plug on your speaker cable and not a 1/8 plug. The difference is slight *BUT* it can cause the sloppy fit behavior you are seeing. 73, ... Joe, W4TV 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 == BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com EME: 144-QRT*, 432-100w, 1296-QRT*, 3400-fall 2010 DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubus...@hotmail.com == *temp __ 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: Low speaker output problem
It appears you have something defective in the K3 as 9 to 10 oclock on the volume control is loud here, I couldnt stand 3 oclock. Have you talked to Elecraft support and what did they say? Jim K4JAF - Original Message - From: Ralph Parker ve...@dccnet.com To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2010 1:16 AM Subject: [Elecraft] K3: Low speaker output problem Hi gang: Here's the situation - Headset audio level is OK, AF gain at 11 o'clock with my Sony MDR-V6es. I get barely enough audio output from the speaker with the gain at 3 o'clock. I have to set it full CW to hear the audio while I work around the shack. Audio is not distorted at his setting. Same problem with the built-in or separate speakers. AF GAIN is set to HI. I just did the DSP UPG to ol' 1823, and uploaded the newest firmware. It made no difference in audio output. This situation has existed since I first got the radio. Here's the question - Anybody else notice this? Did I miss a mod or upgrade? Should I get out the schematic and make my own mod? Suggestions gratefully received. VE7XF __ 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: Low speaker output problem
This can also be due to the efficiency of some low impedance speakers. All speakers are NOT alike, and some require quite a bit of power to produce the same audio level as other speakers. Try it on other speakers and then if still no joy, talk to Elecraft. 73, Guy. On Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 8:14 AM, Jim Cox jcox...@bellsouth.net wrote: It appears you have something defective in the K3 as 9 to 10 oclock on the volume control is loud here, I couldnt stand 3 oclock. Have you talked to Elecraft support and what did they say? Jim K4JAF - Original Message - From: Ralph Parker ve...@dccnet.com To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2010 1:16 AM Subject: [Elecraft] K3: Low speaker output problem Hi gang: Here's the situation - Headset audio level is OK, AF gain at 11 o'clock with my Sony MDR-V6es. I get barely enough audio output from the speaker with the gain at 3 o'clock. I have to set it full CW to hear the audio while I work around the shack. Audio is not distorted at his setting. Same problem with the built-in or separate speakers. AF GAIN is set to HI. I just did the DSP UPG to ol' 1823, and uploaded the newest firmware. It made no difference in audio output. This situation has existed since I first got the radio. Here's the question - Anybody else notice this? Did I miss a mod or upgrade? Should I get out the schematic and make my own mod? Suggestions gratefully received. VE7XF __ 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: Low speaker output problem
I've found that if you're working weak signals, and you have your NR on, and perhaps your NB on, with a tight Width setting it's almost necessary to run the AF audio pot at 3 o'clock to all the way up. This is normal as far as I can tell. If an S9 signal attacks though, you best watch out, you will find the it's going to be MUCH louder than the rest of the band noise and signals. For this you can set the AGC threshold and Slope to try and compensate some. But the answer to your question is, There's nothing wrong with your rig.. All 3 of the K3's that I've used exhibit this same operation. A little more speaker gain on the external speaker would be a nice thing. From: jcox...@bellsouth.net To: ve...@dccnet.com; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Tue, 7 Sep 2010 07:14:00 -0500 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3: Low speaker output problem It appears you have something defective in the K3 as 9 to 10 oclock on the volume control is loud here, I couldnt stand 3 oclock. Have you talked to Elecraft support and what did they say? Jim K4JAF - Original Message - From: Ralph Parker ve...@dccnet.com To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2010 1:16 AM Subject: [Elecraft] K3: Low speaker output problem Hi gang: Here's the situation - Headset audio level is OK, AF gain at 11 o'clock with my Sony MDR-V6es. I get barely enough audio output from the speaker with the gain at 3 o'clock. I have to set it full CW to hear the audio while I work around the shack. Audio is not distorted at his setting. Same problem with the built-in or separate speakers. AF GAIN is set to HI. I just did the DSP UPG to ol' 1823, and uploaded the newest firmware. It made no difference in audio output. This situation has existed since I first got the radio. Here's the question - Anybody else notice this? Did I miss a mod or upgrade? Should I get out the schematic and make my own mod? Suggestions gratefully received. VE7XF __ 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: Low speaker output problem
For what it's worth, I usually run af gain up to about 12 o'clock when using the built in speaker. Sometimes more or less depending on signal strength. James K2QI Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile -Original Message- From: The Smiths notforc...@hotmail.com Sender: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net Date: Tue, 7 Sep 2010 19:05:48 To: jcox...@bellsouth.net; ve...@dccnet.com; Elecraft Reflectorelecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3: Low speaker output problem I've found that if you're working weak signals, and you have your NR on, and perhaps your NB on, with a tight Width setting it's almost necessary to run the AF audio pot at 3 o'clock to all the way up. This is normal as far as I can tell. If an S9 signal attacks though, you best watch out, you will find the it's going to be MUCH louder than the rest of the band noise and signals. For this you can set the AGC threshold and Slope to try and compensate some. But the answer to your question is, There's nothing wrong with your rig.. All 3 of the K3's that I've used exhibit this same operation. A little more speaker gain on the external speaker would be a nice thing. From: jcox...@bellsouth.net To: ve...@dccnet.com; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Tue, 7 Sep 2010 07:14:00 -0500 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3: Low speaker output problem It appears you have something defective in the K3 as 9 to 10 oclock on the volume control is loud here, I couldnt stand 3 oclock. Have you talked to Elecraft support and what did they say? Jim K4JAF - Original Message - From: Ralph Parker ve...@dccnet.com To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2010 1:16 AM Subject: [Elecraft] K3: Low speaker output problem Hi gang: Here's the situation - Headset audio level is OK, AF gain at 11 o'clock with my Sony MDR-V6es. I get barely enough audio output from the speaker with the gain at 3 o'clock. I have to set it full CW to hear the audio while I work around the shack. Audio is not distorted at his setting. Same problem with the built-in or separate speakers. AF GAIN is set to HI. I just did the DSP UPG to ol' 1823, and uploaded the newest firmware. It made no difference in audio output. This situation has existed since I first got the radio. Here's the question - Anybody else notice this? Did I miss a mod or upgrade? Should I get out the schematic and make my own mod? Suggestions gratefully received. VE7XF __ 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 __ 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: Low speaker output problem
My K3 does not act like you describe. I can blow my ears off with the external speaker set to 3:00. Regardless of the NR/NB settings and I've played with the settings for each. This with extremely weak sigs from mid east on 80 and with width settings down to 200 cps. 9:00 with cans and 11:00 max with speaker, usually less. Perhaps there's two groups of K3s out there having different characteristics. Mine is #4495. I have not changed the factory settings for AGC at all. I have played with the NR/NB settings. I've found that although the NR does attenuate the background noise, it improves the SNR such that my speaker/headset controls remain pretty much the same as w/o NR or a tad higher. The gain adjustment on the narrow filters is positive of course. Good luck es 73, Gary W2CS -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft- boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of The Smiths Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2010 3:06 PM To: jcox...@bellsouth.net; ve...@dccnet.com; Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3: Low speaker output problem I've found that if you're working weak signals, and you have your NR on, and perhaps your NB on, with a tight Width setting it's almost necessary to run the AF audio pot at 3 o'clock to all the way up. This is normal as far as I can tell. If an S9 signal attacks though, you best watch out, you will find the it's going to be MUCH louder than the rest of the band noise and signals. For this you can set the AGC threshold and Slope to try and compensate some. But the answer to your question is, There's nothing wrong with your rig.. All 3 of the K3's that I've used exhibit this same operation. A little more speaker gain on the external speaker would be a nice thing. From: jcox...@bellsouth.net To: ve...@dccnet.com; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Tue, 7 Sep 2010 07:14:00 -0500 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3: Low speaker output problem It appears you have something defective in the K3 as 9 to 10 oclock on the volume control is loud here, I couldnt stand 3 oclock. Have you talked to Elecraft support and what did they say? Jim K4JAF - Original Message - From: Ralph Parker ve...@dccnet.com To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2010 1:16 AM Subject: [Elecraft] K3: Low speaker output problem Hi gang: Here's the situation - Headset audio level is OK, AF gain at 11 o'clock with my Sony MDR- V6es. I get barely enough audio output from the speaker with the gain at 3 o'clock. I have to set it full CW to hear the audio while I work around the shack. Audio is not distorted at his setting. Same problem with the built-in or separate speakers. AF GAIN is set to HI. I just did the DSP UPG to ol' 1823, and uploaded the newest firmware. It made no difference in audio output. This situation has existed since I first got the radio. Here's the question - Anybody else notice this? Did I miss a mod or upgrade? Should I get out the schematic and make my own mod? Suggestions gratefully received. VE7XF __ 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 __ 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: Low speaker output problem
Same here-- mostly 3 o'clock on the AF gain with the external speaker; occasionally up to 11 o'clock. And it's a fairly noisy environment here, especially in summertime with window A/C unit grinding away nearby or windows open and dogs barking, jets flying over, cicadas buzzing ,etc. My K3 is an older one at 2+ years. I have attached a speaker baffle inside the case but still used the same volume levels without it. I am a CW op but also listen to AM broadcast on SW or MW, same volume. Three o'clock on the AF gain control would be extreme for me, but does not blow my ears off. I DO think the taper on the the K3 AF gain control is a little weird in that I would expect the 3 o'clock position to be much louder than it actually is. But I never set it there and haven't fooled around with the AGC or noise parameters to see what difference they make. 73, Drew AF2Z On Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:15:00 -0400, you wrote: My K3 does not act like you describe. I can blow my ears off with the external speaker set to 3:00. Regardless of the NR/NB settings and I've played with the settings for each. This with extremely weak sigs from mid east on 80 and with width settings down to 200 cps. 9:00 with cans and 11:00 max with speaker, usually less. Perhaps there's two groups of K3s out there having different characteristics. Mine is #4495. I have not changed the factory settings for AGC at all. I have played with the NR/NB settings. I've found that although the NR does attenuate the background noise, it improves the SNR such that my speaker/headset controls remain pretty much the same as w/o NR or a tad higher. The gain adjustment on the narrow filters is positive of course. Good luck es 73, Gary W2CS __ 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: Low speaker output problem
Gary, Perhaps you are correct, but my serial number is not much younger than yours, only 200 or so, the only way I can get adequate volume from my K3 when the shack is noisy is to shut of the AGC, but that can be a two edged sword. I can turn the volume all the way up and the depending on what I am listening to it most often isn't too loud. (I'm not hard of hearing) My K3 is factory assembled, so I know it wasn't my fault :-) 73 George, WA1NTA -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Gary Ferdinand Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2010 4:15 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3: Low speaker output problem My K3 does not act like you describe. I can blow my ears off with the external speaker set to 3:00. Regardless of the NR/NB settings and I've played with the settings for each. This with extremely weak sigs from mid east on 80 and with width settings down to 200 cps. 9:00 with cans and 11:00 max with speaker, usually less. Perhaps there's two groups of K3s out there having different characteristics. Mine is #4495. I have not changed the factory settings for AGC at all. I have played with the NR/NB settings. I've found that although the NR does attenuate the background noise, it improves the SNR such that my speaker/headset controls remain pretty much the same as w/o NR or a tad higher. The gain adjustment on the narrow filters is positive of course. Good luck es 73, Gary W2CS -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft- boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of The Smiths Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2010 3:06 PM To: jcox...@bellsouth.net; ve...@dccnet.com; Elecraft Reflector Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3: Low speaker output problem I've found that if you're working weak signals, and you have your NR on, and perhaps your NB on, with a tight Width setting it's almost necessary to run the AF audio pot at 3 o'clock to all the way up. This is normal as far as I can tell. If an S9 signal attacks though, you best watch out, you will find the it's going to be MUCH louder than the rest of the band noise and signals. For this you can set the AGC threshold and Slope to try and compensate some. But the answer to your question is, There's nothing wrong with your rig.. All 3 of the K3's that I've used exhibit this same operation. A little more speaker gain on the external speaker would be a nice thing. From: jcox...@bellsouth.net To: ve...@dccnet.com; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Tue, 7 Sep 2010 07:14:00 -0500 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3: Low speaker output problem It appears you have something defective in the K3 as 9 to 10 oclock on the volume control is loud here, I couldnt stand 3 oclock. Have you talked to Elecraft support and what did they say? Jim K4JAF - Original Message - From: Ralph Parker ve...@dccnet.com To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2010 1:16 AM Subject: [Elecraft] K3: Low speaker output problem Hi gang: Here's the situation - Headset audio level is OK, AF gain at 11 o'clock with my Sony MDR- V6es. I get barely enough audio output from the speaker with the gain at 3 o'clock. I have to set it full CW to hear the audio while I work around the shack. Audio is not distorted at his setting. Same problem with the built-in or separate speakers. AF GAIN is set to HI. I just did the DSP UPG to ol' 1823, and uploaded the newest firmware. It made no difference in audio output. This situation has existed since I first got the radio. Here's the question - Anybody else notice this? Did I miss a mod or upgrade? Should I get out the schematic and make my own mod? Suggestions gratefully received. VE7XF __ 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 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http
Re: [Elecraft] K3: Low speaker output problem
I've had several bouts of no output and a couple of low output from my K3 #1122. It's been down to the speakers jack socket seemingly being a very sloppy fit with every one of several changes of jack plug. I thought I'd tamed it by taping the speaker wires to another firmly secured cable in the hope that would keep all well and truly together, but on switching on after a few weeks of lack of use, my outboard speakers were at it again, and a good wiggling of the jack plug was required to alleviate the problem. I don't know if this is a common problem or a unique one, but it is a minor irritant, especially if one speaker goes out and then comes back on as the other goes off. I kind of wobble on my chair when that happens HI! 73 all. Dave G3TJP __ 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: Low speaker output problem
Dave, Check to confirm that you are using a 3.5mm plug on your speaker cable and not a 1/8 plug. The difference is slight *BUT* it can cause the sloppy fit behavior you are seeing. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 9/7/2010 7:50 PM, David Lankshear wrote: I've had several bouts of no output and a couple of low output from my K3 #1122. It's been down to the speakers jack socket seemingly being a very sloppy fit with every one of several changes of jack plug. I thought I'd tamed it by taping the speaker wires to another firmly secured cable in the hope that would keep all well and truly together, but on switching on after a few weeks of lack of use, my outboard speakers were at it again, and a good wiggling of the jack plug was required to alleviate the problem. I don't know if this is a common problem or a unique one, but it is a minor irritant, especially if one speaker goes out and then comes back on as the other goes off. I kind of wobble on my chair when that happens HI! 73 all. Dave G3TJP __ 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: Low speaker output problem
Because of this thread I decided to do a quick comparison of my K3 to another rig. I have the W2IHY iPlus hooked up to both the K3 and 746 Pro using the Icom SP-21 speaker. For those that aren't familiar with the iPlus, it allows you (among other things) to switch your audio stack and output speaker between two rigs. I switched both rigs back and forth on some strong 75m stations tonight with both rigs' NB and NR turned off and RF gain turned to max on each. Both rigs AGC were set to slow for posterity's sake. I'm using the proper speaker cables on both rigs running to the iPlus switch and then from the iPlus to the SP-21. I tested the entire AF range of both rigs which switching back and forth on the same RX stations. The results of this test show me that the Icom 746 Pro audio output is significantly greater than the K3. I don't have any test equipment to measure this, but I could probably make an audio recording if desired. The K3's audio wasn't too low and was generally very comfortable, but the 746 Pro did have more output potential if desired. I could see how the greater volume potential would be desired by those who are hard of hearing. Keep in mind that this test is using a MONO speaker. I could do the test again using some stereo headphones output from the iPlus if there is any interest. Tim AE6LX On Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 8:35 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV li...@subich.com wrote: Dave, Check to confirm that you are using a 3.5mm plug on your speaker cable and not a 1/8 plug. The difference is slight *BUT* it can cause the sloppy fit behavior you are seeing. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 9/7/2010 7:50 PM, David Lankshear wrote: I've had several bouts of no output and a couple of low output from my K3 #1122. It's been down to the speakers jack socket seemingly being a very sloppy fit with every one of several changes of jack plug. I thought I'd tamed it by taping the speaker wires to another firmly secured cable in the hope that would keep all well and truly together, but on switching on after a few weeks of lack of use, my outboard speakers were at it again, and a good wiggling of the jack plug was required to alleviate the problem. I don't know if this is a common problem or a unique one, but it is a minor irritant, especially if one speaker goes out and then comes back on as the other goes off. I kind of wobble on my chair when that happens HI! 73 all. Dave G3TJP __ 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
