Re: [Elecraft] New K3S/P3 Set Up - The Essentials?

2016-07-21 Thread lstavenhagen
Ah not to worry. Elecraft rigs aren't like computers where they're shipped to you completely broken and you're wasting the better part of a week trying to get it into a usable state. All you'll really have to do is plug it all in and turn it on, and you're ready to go. They do a superb job with

Re: [Elecraft] K2s

2016-06-25 Thread lstavenhagen
Besides the parts access issues, another consideration is keeping it buildable. If the K2 were to be updated any further, it might go out of reach as a buildable-by-mortal-hams kit with discrete components. In fact, there are compromises in the rig already to keep it easy to build, I'm thinking

Re: [Elecraft] R: Re: K3S losing swr-wattmeters indications on tx - please help

2016-06-20 Thread lstavenhagen
Yeah, that's kind of how I've always thought of it, a "user is responsible for debouncing" type of thing. Especially the Dah paddle and my Kent straight key, when bouncing, may not be indistinguishable from a straight key going 100wpm as far as the rig is concerned LOL. So I never really thought

Re: [Elecraft] R: Re: K3S losing swr-wattmeters indications on tx - please help

2016-06-20 Thread lstavenhagen
I imagine it's because of the QRQ support that it doesn't have dedicated debouncing circuitry for straight keys, but I'm not sure about that. The K2 does have some small caps across the key input, but it too still gives me slight problems when I key it with my straight key. Though it's not as bad

Re: [Elecraft] K3S losing swr-wattmeters indications on tx - please help

2016-06-19 Thread lstavenhagen
Yes, both my K3 and a K3s do this when I key them with my bugs or with my straight key. Even my K2's will behave strangely, though not quite as bad as the K3 and s. It's not a problem with the rig; it's just a contact bounce issue, so you'll just need a debouncing circuit. Either an external keyer

Re: [Elecraft] KSYN3A INSTALL

2016-06-12 Thread lstavenhagen
It would be the graphic in figure 12 on page 15 of the instructions. It hooks up with just one tmp cable and the long one isn't used. It all looked like spaghetti to me too when I did the upgrade on my K3, but that's the figure that shows the hookup for no 2 meter module and no 2nd RX. 73,

Re: [Elecraft] K2

2016-06-02 Thread lstavenhagen
I've built 2 K2's; it's not too hard to build but there are difficult spots: - grounding the crystal cans (save the anti-static pads that the IC's ship on!). - installing/soldering the LCD to the front panel board (issue with spacers) - installing/soldering L33 - clearance issue between L33 and

Re: [Elecraft] KNB3 and my noise blanker issue

2016-05-15 Thread lstavenhagen
Yep, the NB icon is supposed to flash if the setting is overly aggressive. I've seen mine do this on very rare occasions on my K3 when I had it set to the very highest settings (both regular and DSP), though I've only seen it once or twice. So it's probably working. In fact, on just the right

Re: [Elecraft] Computer interface problem with KX3/KXPA100

2016-05-15 Thread lstavenhagen
If you're getting the big yellow bang by the device in "device mangler", that points more to a failure in the driver for the USB device in the machine, or a problem with the device itself inside the box. The plug could be marginal after heavy use, or the driver may be corrupt, or the USB hub could

Re: [Elecraft] New Elecraft Product for Dayton?

2016-05-06 Thread lstavenhagen
Oh it's a shack... I thought it was the new rig. I've been wondering all day how I was going to fit that into my pelican case. 73, LS W5QD -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/New-Elecraft-Product-for-Dayton-tp7617207p7617240.html Sent from the Elecraft

Re: [Elecraft] K2 LCD issue

2016-05-05 Thread lstavenhagen
It could be a bad solder joint. Because of the way the LCD is mounted, the display pins practically "float" a bit above the pads on the board and you have to kind of "bridge" them when soldering by building up a kind of blob of solder. If the pin(s) are too high or the little solder "ant hill"

Re: [Elecraft] New KX3 up & running.

2016-05-04 Thread lstavenhagen
Maybe it's more an in-the-eye-of-the-beholder sort of thing then lol. My first rule of antennas is "put up what stays up, and stays up every time". That of course, is my /P influence talking, so the rules are a little different for me: - The Buddipole may just look nicely packaged, but in

Re: [Elecraft] New KX3 up & running.

2016-05-03 Thread lstavenhagen
Well, you get what you pay for is about all I can say there. The Buddipole is so well thought out and constructed you don't have to replace half of it with upgrades as soon as you buy it, like some of the cheaper alternatives I looked at. You're basically done with the credit card the first time

Re: [Elecraft] New KX3 up & running.

2016-05-03 Thread lstavenhagen
Congrats! And on the Buddipole, I'd suggest ordering a set of the long telescoping whips (the near-10 footers) and just getting that overwith now, if you don't have them already. The stock short whips work ok on 15 meters and up, but on 20 meters tuning gets very very sensitive and narrow-banded.

Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft Centric

2016-05-03 Thread lstavenhagen
Well I do have to say, though, that my "K3 plus" and K3s both are very respectable /p rigs, though. Both are the 10 watt versions and will actually run for a couple hours pretty well on even a 9AH AGM battery. Yeah, a solar panel or a larger batt would be required for longer than that or a lot of

Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft Centric

2016-05-02 Thread lstavenhagen
I think the 7300 could intrude against the KX3 in the "base station replacement" market, though. It's obviously an important enough market, in fact, that Elecraft developed the KXPA100 with built-in tuner to augment the KX3's attractiveness in that particular scenario. So I think the 7300 could

Re: [Elecraft] Sherwood's receiver performance table updated

2016-04-25 Thread lstavenhagen
Yes, quite true. But it is a little hilarious that the only other Icom rig above its own 7300 in the Sherwood chart costs 13 grand At least in the fairly narrow comparison domain of RX dynamic range anyway; to me that's just kind of funny that their high end rigs are outperformed by their own

Re: [Elecraft] Sherwood's receiver performance table updated

2016-04-25 Thread lstavenhagen
Wow, looks like Icom finally made a radio with performance close to the humble K3S and K3 + new synth but also looks like you really got to pay 'em for finally doing it, at nearly 13 grand for the 7851! But the 7300 looks actually pretty decent performance-wise, so interesting surprise at

Re: [Elecraft] Poor band conditions? Try the SCAN function

2016-04-24 Thread lstavenhagen
Yes, I use the scan function on both my K2's and my K3 and K3S. Next best thing to a panadapter available. One thing I have noticed about it on my K2 (and probably the K3 also), is it has two lengths of pauses - one which is just a few seconds and another about 30 secs or so. But which length of

[Elecraft] K2 freq stability

2016-04-24 Thread lstavenhagen
Agreed, though on my most recent K2, it was close enough to actually change the BFO freq slightly even after releasing the pressure of my hand on the cover, etc., when I picked it up and moved it around. Course we're talking, like, fractions of a millimeter almost lol. I think just the small warp

[Elecraft] K2 freq stability

2016-04-24 Thread lstavenhagen
Hi all, Here's an interesting finding, though I apologize if this is already in the past archives. No matter how careful you are when installing L33 on the bottom of the board, it's so close to the bottom cover that any movement of it, say when you're picking up the rig or manipulating the bale,

Re: [Elecraft] PBSK31

2016-04-24 Thread lstavenhagen
I agree with Don, the K2 should be brick-on-key at 5 watts at least. On m 12V batteries, mine are almost that way at full power, the heat sink at the bottom definitely gets warm but seems to go forever without getting hot. On a regulated PS, though, that doesn't drop into the 11v range like my

[Elecraft] K2 crystal filter alignment question

2016-04-18 Thread lstavenhagen
Hi all, Here's another teachable moment for me lol. On P54 of the K2 manual, there's an instruction to record the value written on the crystal filter package. It says that this measured freq can later be used to align the filters. I humbly admit that after a few years of being a K2 builder/owner

Re: [Elecraft] K2 working

2016-04-17 Thread lstavenhagen
Yes, like I said, I dodged a bullet on this build for sure, hi hi. Here are two pics of the completed board, the bandpass filter relays is where I did all the damage but fortunately now it's not even visible and it all seems to be working. And the toroids came out better in this build than my

[Elecraft] K2 working

2016-04-17 Thread lstavenhagen
In case anyone's interested, I just completed my erstwhile dead K2 and it appears to be in good health on all bands after the final alignment. Whew... I dodged a bullet on this one lol The transmitter came out particularly good, ranging from about 11 to 12 watts max on 10M up to around 14W

Re: [Elecraft] K2/100 and KAT2

2016-04-15 Thread lstavenhagen
I researched this at one point also, and I believe you can't have them in there at the same time. There's not room for the KAT2 and the KPA100 both in the same top cover and I don't believe it'll even work electrically. So you're pretty much stuck with one or the other and an external tuner in

[Elecraft] k2 continuing on (nothing to lose)

2016-04-15 Thread lstavenhagen
Hi all, Tnx for all the encouragement and suggestions by PM and on the list on my K2 tragedy. After thinking it over after something to eat I decided I didn't have anything to lose by simply continuing on. My thinking was, ok, this is a learning experience, right? So I figured, ok, let's learn

Re: [Elecraft] K2 total loss

2016-04-14 Thread lstavenhagen
I might take another look at it this evening. I burned up yet another relay replacing the first one so I'll have to extract it too. I could rob a relay out of my KAT2 kit (which I think uses the same type) for that and just order replacements in the meanwhile. So I might be able to continue

Re: [Elecraft] New Elecraft Product: K-Pod Control Panel for K3S and K3 Transceivers

2016-04-14 Thread lstavenhagen
Very cool, I want one! As for wireless, I would share the concern that has been expressed about batteries and additional electronics everywhere. In fact, it's for that very reason that I've virtually eliminated wireless mice, keyboards and other accessories in all of my computer operations and

Re: [Elecraft] K2 total loss

2016-04-14 Thread lstavenhagen
Hi Wayne, Ah, ok, well... let me take another look, then. This is in the bandpass filter so didn't know how critical this was... Tnx es 73, LS W5QD -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K2-total-loss-tp7616355p7616361.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list

Re: [Elecraft] K2 total loss

2016-04-14 Thread lstavenhagen
Hi Wayne, Well it's totally my fault for not using the right tools for this lol. I'll take a look at the pain in the rear/loss ratio after I cheer up a bit and then think about sending it to Don. In the end that may be the more sensible thing to do, maybe after getting some sleep lol. Tnx es 73,

[Elecraft] K2 total loss

2016-04-14 Thread lstavenhagen
Just in case anyone's interested, I'm scrapping my K2 build and calling it a slightly overpriced parts collection for my first K2. My attempt to pull my burned relay failed and pulled up a couple of the pads. I also managed to burn the relay next to much worse than the one I was trying to replace.

Re: [Elecraft] K2 build from purgatory!

2016-04-12 Thread lstavenhagen
Yes, I spent a lot of good quality time with the encoder installation and it came out fine in the end. To be honest, all these "problems" have nothing to do with the kit - it's more I've made more mistakes with this one than my first K2 build. On the other hand, the mistakes I have made have

Re: [Elecraft] K2 build from purgatory!

2016-04-12 Thread lstavenhagen
Hi Don, I was actually thinking just that - just use my soldering iron and finish the job I originally started on it lol! I'm lucky that it's one of the relays in the lowpass filter and not the 40 meter filter, so there are no components around it of any real note yet That may be exactly what

Re: [Elecraft] K2 build from purgatory!

2016-04-12 Thread lstavenhagen
Ah yes, thanks for that reminder. If it comes to that, is there a good way to smush a latching relay body without dangerously ripping the pins out of the board? I worry that crushing it with say a pair of pliers could stress the through-holes in the board. Or is it just not that strong? Thanks,

Re: [Elecraft] Will the K4 look like this?

2016-04-12 Thread lstavenhagen
Interesting, but I would have the following concerns just right off the bat: - looks huge and therefore possibly fragile. Would it be able to stand up to /p and dxpedition shipping/handling? - oh lordy the bugs, the bugs An entire computer inside a rig could also be a really buggy affair, and

[Elecraft] K2 build from purgatory!

2016-04-12 Thread lstavenhagen
Well, more kudos to Elecraft support are in order, so just want to give credit where exceptional credit is due. My second K2 build is going nowhere as smoothly as my first one: I somehow managed to lose D36, the SMT PIN diode and didn't discover that it was actually gone from my table until I got

Re: [Elecraft] K3 Codecs and Remote Desktop

2016-04-09 Thread lstavenhagen
Most likely, the software device for the K3 sound card doesn't support Remote Desktop. It looks like doing things like remote rendering of sound requires specific support in the application on the server side via RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) and using the Remote Desktop API. Apparently this

Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Setting RF gain & AGC correctly

2016-04-09 Thread lstavenhagen
Agree, even I figured out how to twiddle the AGC settings once I found them. They're not hard to find, just scroll until you see something that starts with "AGC..." hi hi. If I can do it, anyone can. As for the defaults, IMO, the K3/K3S AGC is plenty good enough to live with them for quite a

Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Setting RF gain & AGC correctly

2016-04-09 Thread lstavenhagen
So... Elecraft almost completely rewrites the AGC support in their firmware... and that's a lack of follow-through? lots of hi hi's and smileys here.. but seriously, I totally agree that the wrong AGC settings can make the APF almost unusable. I personally have found that it works the best with

Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft Utilities

2016-04-08 Thread lstavenhagen
Yes, my question was partly rhetorical - I don't recall seeing any requests for access to any of Elecraft's proprietary code, or the ability to modify it. So I was also a bit mystified by Ken's post. I think you make a good point but, like you said, Elecraft is primarily a hardware company, not a

Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft Utilities

2016-04-08 Thread lstavenhagen
Might I ask what you're referring to? Thanks, LS W5QD -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Elecraft-Utilities-tp7616074p7616076.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __

Re: [Elecraft] S: Re: KX3/PX3 Linux Utilities for Raspberry Pi?

2016-04-07 Thread lstavenhagen
Ah, never mind, my mistake. I've never used the Linux version at all, so I know even less about that one lol. But yes there's much less of an excuse there, since 64bit support has been in the Intel-based gcc tools forever 73, LS W5QD -- View this message in context:

Re: [Elecraft] S: Re: KX3/PX3 Linux Utilities for Raspberry Pi?

2016-04-07 Thread lstavenhagen
is an interesting device... 73, LS W5QD Nate Bargmann wrote > * On 2016 07 Apr 11:19 -0500, lstavenhagen wrote: >> Maybe after it settles down a bit more Elecraft might look at supporting >> it? >> I wish I had the spare brain cycles to play with one of these, looks like >

Re: [Elecraft] S: Re: KX3/PX3 Linux Utilities for Raspberry Pi?

2016-04-07 Thread lstavenhagen
Maybe after it settles down a bit more Elecraft might look at supporting it? I wish I had the spare brain cycles to play with one of these, looks like a lot of bang/buck Do the linux distros for it come with the dev. toolchains like GCC in them (I would imagine it's now matured past having to

Re: [Elecraft] [k3] Isotropic Antenna

2016-04-06 Thread lstavenhagen
Bruce makes a good point, which I overlooked also. Yes, the isotropic antenna is just an ideal and where the term "dbi" comes from - the gain in DB over the theoretical isotropic 0db-gain antenna. I too intend to try a mag loop antenna at some point in time, probably the next time I get tired of

Re: [Elecraft] [k3] Isotropic Antenna

2016-04-06 Thread lstavenhagen
I have decades of experience with trying to operate out of 2nd story or higher apartments. My findings are the biggest difficulties are: - grounding - getting the antenna outside. To sum it up, the interiors of most apartments are essentially RF anechoic chambers. This is due to the structures

Re: [Elecraft] Stripping toroid leads

2016-04-05 Thread lstavenhagen
Glad I use the sandpaper method on my toroid leads lol. In fact, funny this should come up, because I just started winding my new K2's toroids this evening. But the solder blob method fails on this kit in exactly the same way as it did on my first K2 some years ago. It's possible that the tip in

Re: [Elecraft] K1 (still) a classic!

2016-04-04 Thread lstavenhagen
Ah, ok, thanks. I'll not worry about it then. I did locate a flat blade jewelers screwdriver in my parts box that fits and rotates them, so I think I'll be OK. Support said to be sure to obey the orientation with the flat side, which I'll certainly do. Sure hope this doesn't deep six the kit

Re: [Elecraft] K1 (still) a classic!

2016-04-04 Thread lstavenhagen
Ok thanks for the info, Don. I've actually been having success with a slightly different method for the ones on the tops of the cans. What I do now is form the lead and put it in place through the grounding hole (a spare anti-stat foam pad under the RF board for them to stick into helps). Then,

Re: [Elecraft] K1 (still) a classic!

2016-04-04 Thread lstavenhagen
Interesting... the bandpass filter trimmers in my latest K2 have changed, IMO, for the slightly worse in terms of quality. My first K2 (#6882 ) has nice well made looking trimmer caps in it, but 4 of the ones in the new kit are these barrel shaped ones that are kind of blah in terms of quality,

Re: [Elecraft] T1 Miniature ATU

2016-04-04 Thread lstavenhagen
I have one that I bought fully built and it's an excellent tuner. I only stopped using it because I have all built-in tuners now and wanted to reduce the extra cabling. You'll really like it, works great. I'm not sure I'd want to actually build one tho. My K2's already have enough super tiny

Re: [Elecraft] K1 (still) a classic!

2016-04-03 Thread lstavenhagen
Now all you have to do is build a K2 hi hi... BTW, do we know the reason the 4 band module was discontinued on the K1? That was the only reason I didn't get one and went with another K2 in my current build. 2 bands was just slightly too few for me... 73, LS W5QD -- View this message in

Re: [Elecraft] K2 PLL click educational opportunity

2016-04-03 Thread lstavenhagen
PS: re-tweaked the 4mhz osc with my K3 and reran CAL PLL and CAL FIL - I'm about where I was, within 20 or 30 hz of WWV on 10mhz, well down in the noise of overall drift and well good enough for me. I'll see if the ticks are mitigated out in the mountains where the bands are super quiet later

Re: [Elecraft] K2 PLL click educational opportunity

2016-04-03 Thread lstavenhagen
Hi Don, Ah, ok, thanks for the info. Interesting on the 4.000mhz osc, just curious what it's actual function was in the circuit. Oh and as for calibrating the osc, I tried the N6KR procedure, but it turned out that after several different iterations though the different methods, I ended up with

[Elecraft] K2 PLL click educational opportunity

2016-04-03 Thread lstavenhagen
Hi all, Sorry if these are dumb circuit-detail questions, but my K2s (the one in use as well as the one on the bench being built) are sort of my self-education laboratories. Yesterday while out /p in the mountains, I discovered the 5khz PLL "click" in my #1 K2, which led to researching it in the

Re: [Elecraft] K2 thermistor board check

2016-04-01 Thread lstavenhagen
Hi Don, No problem, in fact going through those calcs would probably do me some good. Part of why I'm building K2 #2 is to learn something along the way. Especially when I have a problem or question I stop building and start reading, and am having a great time lol. All kinds of things I didn't pay

Re: [Elecraft] K2 thermistor board check

2016-04-01 Thread lstavenhagen
Hi Don, Ok, thanks for the info. Would a resistance check according to the schematic be reliable at this point (just finished the varactor diode installation steps)? I dont know if I want to try to power anything up in the half built state lol. I'm pretty confident in the daughter board since I

Re: [Elecraft] Incredible Receiver

2016-04-01 Thread lstavenhagen
Yep, I was going to sell my K3 to help pay for my K3S, but after putting the new synthesizer upgrade in it, it seems to refuse to go up for sale hi hi. Now I need to come up with a Ponzi scheme of some kind so I can keep both rigs. The only thing better than a K3 + new synth that you can buy

Re: [Elecraft] K2 thermistor board check

2016-04-01 Thread lstavenhagen
PS: I've looked at the schematic but I've gone as far as putting the varactor diodes in, so I'm unsure if there's enough circuitry installed to mess up just going by the schematic for it... Help Me, Obiwan! Tnx es 73, LS W5QD -- View this message in context:

[Elecraft] K2 thermistor board check

2016-04-01 Thread lstavenhagen
Hi all, Is there a procedure where I could check the K2 thermistor board for proper operation once soldered in? I just passed that step in my second K2 build, and I'm uncertain about one of the pins - it rocked out of place while I was soldering it to the RF board, but of course it's now soldered

Re: [Elecraft] OT: Decoding high speed CW

2016-03-30 Thread lstavenhagen
Oops, my apologies: one of those was me, my excuse will have to be that it was in 1973 and I guess those memories are no longer what they used to be! I probably mixed that up with my code practice tapes, which definitely did have 4 letter code group parts 73, LS W5QD Mike Morrow-3 wrote >>

Re: [Elecraft] OT: Decoding high speed CW

2016-03-29 Thread lstavenhagen
I took 3 FCC code exams: the 5wpm for my novice in 1973, and years later, the 13wpm for the Advanced and the 20wpm for the Extra. But ironically, I think the FCC removing the code requirement was a good thing for CW in amateur radio. Now that people aren't forced to learn it and have to use it,

Re: [Elecraft] OT: Decoding high speed CW

2016-03-29 Thread lstavenhagen
So... this may be too far OT and forgive me for being ignorant, but I'm genuinely curious. Is Morse used at all anymore in any commercial or military enterprises? Or is amateur radio "it" for CW these days? I honestly don't know if we're the only ones left using it on planet Earth or not LS

Re: [Elecraft] Battery requirements for NPOTA activation with KX3/KXPA100

2016-03-29 Thread lstavenhagen
I've looked at this too, given that I'm /P almost 100% of the time now and have considered various QRO options. Unfortunately, I've yet to find a QRO solution that doesn't involve something semi-permanently mounted in my truck. Either a deep-cycle AGM or a high capacity LiFEPO4 in the spare

Re: [Elecraft] IC-7300 video - things to come

2016-03-29 Thread lstavenhagen
For me, even if touch-screen UI's were written for old people like myself, hi hi, I still think its a technology in its infancy. The infantile part of it being primarily in its application, not so much just the mere fact that TS technology itself new and still in "1.x" revisions. When Garmin

Re: [Elecraft] OT: Decoding high speed CW

2016-03-29 Thread lstavenhagen
Excellent points, IMO. I took both types of code tests. For my novice in 1973 when I was 10 years old, it was the random groups at 5WPM format. IIRC, I achieved the 1-min-solid-copy requirement by some miraculously slim margin. It was something like 2 or 3 characters and I remember being extremely

Re: [Elecraft] IC-7300 video - things to come

2016-03-29 Thread lstavenhagen
yep, I totally agree. This would be a TBD item for a UI designer, IMO: to what degree do we actually replace the tuning knob with touch-screen QSY? Do we make it capable of just getting into the neighborhood and then the user has to fine tune with the tuning knob? I.e. a kind of dual-capability

Re: [Elecraft] Things to Come

2016-03-29 Thread lstavenhagen
Great post, IMO. One of the takeaways we could have from aviation is the notion of cockpit resource management (CRM), part of which is the idea that technology should reduce the workload of the pilot rather than increase it. Or, if there is an increase, it involves a reduction somewhere else (that

Re: [Elecraft] IC-7300 video - things to come

2016-03-29 Thread lstavenhagen
Wayne and Eric are probably already aware of the competition and working on their own responses, but to me the UI advances I personally like are: - visual representations of the band: panadapters with spectrum displays, waterfalls and the like - being able to easily QSY to items of interest on

Re: [Elecraft] OT: Decoding high speed CW

2016-03-28 Thread lstavenhagen
Just a quick point of clarification (since I did my graduate work in a similar field). I would say it's more like a "pidgin" language in contesting exchanges, yes, but in a regular QSO, CW is still basically just an encoding system for the underlying language the QSO is in. The only difference

Re: [Elecraft] OT: Decoding high speed CW

2016-03-28 Thread lstavenhagen
Well, to take the other side for a moment, I promise I'm not a curmudgeon hi hi. I'm a software engineer in my day job and am accustomed to embracing new technologies when required; I have a lot of admiration for things like MorseRunner and CW Skimmer & reversebeacon.net and so forth. All that

Re: [Elecraft] OT: Decoding high speed CW

2016-03-28 Thread lstavenhagen
Don't feel too bad, I kind of have the inverse problem: I can copy at a much greater rate than I can send lol. Also, I never learned to translate CW into keyboard keystrokes, mainly because I just refuse to get a computer anywhere near my rigs lol. I prefer to just pound brass, so I think I'm

Re: [Elecraft] K3, KX-1 Inductors

2016-03-26 Thread lstavenhagen
For what it's worth, just my personal observations: I drag my K2, K3 and just recently my K3S all over the place on my /p outings all the time with no troubles. Now, one thing I did do was invest in a good Pelican case for that purpose - yes, it was pricey at about $200 but still a fraction of

Re: [Elecraft] New synth board and birdies

2016-03-24 Thread lstavenhagen
I have a birdie in my K3 at about 21.022 mhz that I believe accompanied my synthesizer upgrade. It's about S1 with no ant and the preamp on - I tried moving the cabling around inside the rig and it had no effect at all. Apart from that, I just have the "zipper" sound when tuning on certain bands

Re: [Elecraft] Too much of a good thing is just fine

2016-03-24 Thread lstavenhagen
sorry, gents, I'm not going to be any help to you at _all_ LOL. The only effective treatment available is probably a 2nd job or a rich XYL hi hi. Other than that, I think we're just screwed... 73, LS W5QD -- View this message in context:

Re: [Elecraft] [KX3] Re: Strong recommendation: MFJ 18xx-series single-band whips for KX3, etc.

2016-03-24 Thread lstavenhagen
Hi Wayne, Yes, I do that too especially on the low bands like 30 on down. I have found, though, that with the long 9' whips, the bandwidth and SWR is low enough on 20 and up that I don't even need to use my tuners, especially since I'm normally down in the CW portions. On 15 and below the overall

Re: [Elecraft] Just Received my New KX3

2016-03-24 Thread lstavenhagen
g at and reading about the K3S. I better get a hold of myself - at >> least until I get back from Dayton in May. >> >> 73=Tom >> W1PDI >> >> >> -Original Message- >> From: lstavenhagen [via Elecraft] > ml-node+s365791n7615490h

Re: [Elecraft] [KX3] Re: Strong recommendation: MFJ 18xx-series single-band whips for KX3, etc.

2016-03-24 Thread lstavenhagen
You can, but the better compromise if you can do it is the longest possible radiating element with the least amount of added inductance in the coil. Reason being, a very short radiating element, even when tuned to resonance with a lot of coil will have, among other things, a very low radiation

Re: [Elecraft] Just Received my New KX3

2016-03-23 Thread lstavenhagen
Yes, and Elecraft's tend to multiply once you get your first one. I started off with my first K2, which I built and still have. And now there have appeared a K3 a K3S and now my second K2 which I'm currently building... Be sure and do let that happen to you too! 73, LS W5QD -- View this

Re: [Elecraft] Pileup Mush (was:audio board)

2016-03-23 Thread lstavenhagen
Yes, my first RX when I was a child in the 70's was a Realistic from Radio Shack. I can't remember the model but it was as wide as the Red Sea, especially with the built-in speaker. At one point I got a set of comm headphones with a hefty peak in 400hz or so range and it really worked well as a

Re: [Elecraft] K2 encoder kit 4 pin connector

2016-03-23 Thread lstavenhagen
Well I think Rick's idea of cork is the way to go, though maybe it wont be as glamorous as fish paper! hi hi. And it'll stay put sandwiched between the boards too, I imagine... Onwards to the RF board portion starting tonight. This part I remember well on my first K2, the parts inventory alone

Re: [Elecraft] K2 encoder kit 4 pin connector

2016-03-23 Thread lstavenhagen
Ah yes, cork is a much better idea thanks a million! 73, LS W5QD -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K2-encoder-kit-4-pin-connector-tp7615471p7615487.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.

Re: [Elecraft] K2 encoder kit 4 pin connector

2016-03-23 Thread lstavenhagen
Actually, I just checked mine after finishing the flush cutting and the boards are going to touch when they're screwed together. In the archives it was suggested to use electrical tape, but I'm thinking a more durable solution might be a thin layer of resin on the daughterboard as a more

Re: [Elecraft] K2 encoder kit 4 pin connector

2016-03-23 Thread lstavenhagen
Hi Don, Ok thanks for the info. Whew, that's good because I managed to ruin it anyway having made a mistake with it that I'm too ashamed to admit to on the reflector hi hi. And thanks for the warning about flush-cutting the daughter board. In fact, I did find some discussion of this in the

Re: [Elecraft] Pileup Mush (was:audio board)

2016-03-23 Thread lstavenhagen
Regarding headphones/speakers, the way I learnt it many years ago was that hi-fidelity transducers were generally a no-no in communications, primarily because frequency response and other distortions (if done correctly) aided in hearing desired signals. Of course, back then our receivers weren't

[Elecraft] K2 encoder kit 4 pin connector

2016-03-23 Thread lstavenhagen
Hi all, Just finished the front panel on my 2nd K2 last night and in the process of building the encoder daughter board, I noticed there was an unused 4pin connecter supplied in the kit. Long story short, I ended up ruining the connector, but I don't see that it's actually used for anything. I

Re: [Elecraft] K3S audio board for K3 upgrade?

2016-03-21 Thread lstavenhagen
Well... that may solve the audio problems - Kenwoods do sound great - but then you end up with everything else in the rig inferior with that solution hi hi But seriously, Eric's suggestion of shifting the passband downward is one that I've used on my K3 in the past to help calm down my beat

Re: [Elecraft] KPA100 tools

2016-03-21 Thread lstavenhagen
Ah, gotcha, thanks Don. I'll see if I can borrow an accurate one for that part... Thank you, LS W5QD -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KPA100-tools-tp7615415p7615436.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.

Re: [Elecraft] K3S audio board for K3 upgrade?

2016-03-21 Thread lstavenhagen
Another BTW, I'm definitely not asserting any _distortion_ of the signals or tones in either radio. Both my K3 and K3S are giving pure clean tones and voices. My complaints are only centering around (what I believe to be only) the equalization in the audio, particularly the mid/high frequency

Re: [Elecraft] KPA100 tools

2016-03-21 Thread lstavenhagen
Ok thanks Don. That reminds me, my dummy load is eons old, so I should check and see if it's still 50 ohms. And I believe my DMM has a 10amp setting that may work for the bias setting, but I'll check. Also I have a very old MFJ manual ant. tuner with an analogue wattmeter in it (assuming it still

[Elecraft] KPA100 tools

2016-03-21 Thread lstavenhagen
Hi all, And speaking of the K2... I can't recall if I asked this several years ago on my first K2 build when I was contemplating this exact same question the first time, :), and I couldn't find this specifically in the reflector archives either. Are there any specific tools for

Re: [Elecraft] latest K2 serial #?

2016-03-21 Thread lstavenhagen
Yep, I like my current K2 (#6882) so much and enjoyed building it so much that I just decided I had to build another one lol... I guess you can't have too many Elecrafts Speaking of that, I got the switch from the mailman and just soldered it in. So onwards with the build... 73, LS W5QD

Re: [Elecraft] K3S audio board for K3 upgrade?

2016-03-21 Thread lstavenhagen
All excellent points. My personal fix is to use my K2 at home where the band noise is bad (I refuse to mix computers and ham radio at the same time, so this may not be the fix you have in mind :) ), but when I'm /p, it's a non-issue. I use all 3 of my rigs when portable with no audio issues. 73,

Re: [Elecraft] K3S audio board for K3 upgrade?

2016-03-21 Thread lstavenhagen
Ok thanks for the suggestions, Don. I should also mention that the other posters are quite right to call for objective, independent measurements to verify impressionistic judgments like my earlier ones. I stand by "shrill and fatiguing", :), but I concede that's just a personal judgment based on

Re: [Elecraft] latest K2 serial #?

2016-03-21 Thread lstavenhagen
Funny you should post this - I was just about to send out a Kudos to Elecraft support for my second K2 which I'm in the process of building right now. It was missing a front panel switch in the FP board kit; I sent an email to pa...@elecraft.com on Friday about it. Richard, AD7FZ at Elecraft

Re: [Elecraft] K3S audio board for K3 upgrade?

2016-03-21 Thread lstavenhagen
My apologies fellers, I didn't mean to turn this into a let's-bash-the-K3S-audio thread LOL. Probably what I should have said is something less absolute. Perhaps something like I personally don't notice much of a difference between my K3 and K3S but that doesn't mean there isn't a difference

Re: [Elecraft] K3S audio board for K3 upgrade?

2016-03-21 Thread lstavenhagen
I use both the internal speaker and a set of Sony headphones (not comm. style, but basic hi-fi, can't remember the model number offhand) on primarily CW but on very rare occasions I'll go up to the SSB bands from time to time for listening/entertainment purposes. I do own a microphone, but I'm not

Re: [Elecraft] K3S audio board for K3 upgrade?

2016-03-21 Thread lstavenhagen
Well I don't want to complain _real_ loud either lol. The audio on the K3S really is better. But only slightly - not better enough to spend money on an upgrade for the K3, imo, which is kind of what I was responding to. Basically, save the money for filters, etc A good set of hi-fi headphones

Re: [Elecraft] K3S audio board for K3 upgrade?

2016-03-21 Thread lstavenhagen
I dunno, the K3S audio actually isn't much better to my ears. Yes, it's a little better on my K3S compared to my K3, but still kind of shrill and fatiguing to listen to for long periods of time. I'm not sure it'd be worth spending a ton of money on to upgrade if there was an upgrade path. Don't

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