Re: [Elecraft] Digital mode power handling for KAT3

[Bill Frantz]

I have frequently used my K3 at 100 watts with FT8 and RTTY. I haven’t had 
anything which would indicate that components are getting overstressed (e.g. 
bad smells). 

Now, I don’t think I have given a full 100 watts when something isn’t connected 
in the antenna system, although the KAT3 does “match” an open antenna line. 
Since in that situation, it clicks for a long time before coming to a “match”, 
I tend to notice that there is a problem before applying full power.

73 Bill AE6JV

> On Oct 12, 2023, at 23:42, David Gilbert  wrote:
> 
> I thought I was clear, but apparently not.  It is 100% duty cycle for 13 
> seconds, and zero for 2 + 15 seconds.  "Duty cycle" is all a function of what 
> period of time you choose to integrate over.  Lots of components if heavily 
> over stressed can go south in 13 seconds. Whether that is the case with the 
> KAT3 is unspecified as far as I can tell.

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Re: [Elecraft] A Good Headset For A K3

[Bill Frantz]

When I had my radio set up about 20 feet from the kitchen, I used a foot switch 
so my replies to my wife didn’t go out over the air. When I moved to New 
Hampshire and my shack moved into an isolated room, I started using VOX, which 
works very well on my K3. 

VOX definitely eliminates one piece of clutter, but I don’t know how well is 
will work with the ambient noise from wind etc. in a POTA/SOTA environment.

73 Bill AE6JV


> On Aug 7, 2023, at 13:30, Eric Fitzgerald  wrote:
> 
> With the Kenwood MC-60 the PTT was in the base of this desk mic. I like the 
> idea of a foot switch, but maybe an inline PTT would be better in that is one 
> less item to lug around.  What's everybody using there?

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Re: [Elecraft] A dumb question about lightning

[Bill Frantz]

While you are trying to make sense of the best practices lightning protection 
documents:

  N0AX’s ARRL book “Grounding and Bonding for the Radio Amateur”

  Motorola’s STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES FOR COMMUNICATION SITES
  https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/Lands_ROW_Motorola_R56_2005_manual.pdf

  K9YC’s Power, Grounding, Bonding, and Audio for Ham Radio.
  http://k9yc.com/GroundingAndAudio.pdf

There are a few items of AC electrical behavior to keep in mind:

Lightning is produced by a giant spark-gap transmitter. It is a VERY broad RF 
signal centered at about 1 MHz.

There’s no such thing as a wire at RF, they are all transmission lines. 
Everything has both inductance and capacitance. These inductances will affect 
the way grounding lines work.

Conductors at RF exhibit what is called the surface effect, where the current 
is limited to the surface of the conductor. This is why 50cm (2 inch) wide 
copper leads, with their large surface area, are recommended. (Note that the 
surface effect is also important for AC power distribution systems at 50 or 60 
Hz.)

Proper bonding in the station can make all the equipment “float” at the same 
voltage above the local soil. If no current flows through the equipment, it 
will not be damaged.

73 Bill AE6JV


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[Elecraft] SSB 20M net for June 25, 2023

[Bill Frantz]

SSB Nets all are on Sundays, US timezones:

1800Z  14.303.5   Alternate 14.310
1900Z7.280
2000Z  Zoom meeting. Contact Carl K8NU for the link
 9:00 PM Eastern US time zone (follows US daylight savings) 3784 kHz

Everyone is welcome to join the nets
Hope to see you on one or more of the nets.

Somehow I ended up net control for the 20M SSB net. I was not able to find any 
relay stations, and many regular participants were recovering from field day, 
so attendance was “light”. Thanks to everyone who checked in.

AE6JV  NH Bill K3 6299
K8NU   IL Carl k4d 1228 kpa1500
W4DML  TN Doug k3 6433 
N7BDL  ID Terry k3s 10373
K5PD   TX Pete k4 1089
WY3T   FL Tim k3s 1165 
W1NGA  CO Al flex 6400
KK4ZWC WV Ed IC 7300
K6VWE  MI Stan k4 193
WM6P   GA Steve k4d  436

73 Bill AE6JV


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Re: [Elecraft] problem with K2, KAT100 and K2100PA combo

[Bill Frantz]

I’m with Jim on this one. I particularly like that they are hermaphroditic, so 
I can not worry about which end is providing the current. Helps with battery 
charging for example.

The only failures I have had is when the metal “pins” are not fully inserted in 
the shell. (The curve at the end of the pin needs to go completely over the 
spring in the shell.) If not fully inserted, the connectors don’t firmly 
connect and become unreliable. They also disconnect easily. 

I can imagine that if you hot plug them enough, you can erode the connectors 
from the DC arc, producing unreliability. Note that the manufacturer 
specifically says not to hot plug them.

73 Bill AE6JV


> On Jul 12, 2022, at 20:13:32, Jim Brown  wrote:
> 
> On 7/12/2022 4:44 PM, jerry wrote:
>> I personally do NOT like Anderson PowerPoles; I don't understand what people 
>> see in them.  One flat contact that slip-connects to
>> another flat contact.  I have not found them to be reliable.
> 
> I love them, use them extensively inside the shack and on all low-voltage DC. 
> I began standardizing on them with my first K2, almost 20 years ago.
> 

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Re: [Elecraft] COM port problems

[Bill Frantz]

I have not had the problem of devices “moving” on the Mac. I think the Mac uses 
the FDTI serial number to keep them straight. When I was using a RS-232 
protocol analyzer on to chase a problem, I had 4 Elecraft FTDI RS-232 <—> USB 
cables hooked up. Two for the two directions of the analyzer, one for the K3 
acting as test machine, and 1 for a KX3 acting as the other end of the RF link. 
The Mac always seemed to keep them straight, even when I plugged them into 
different USB sockets on hubs etc.

I’ve always wondered why Microsoft hasn’t fixed this problem. And I sympathize 
with my friends who use Windows.

73 Bill AE6JV

> On Jul 3, 2022, at 06:59:59, Dave B via Elecraft  
> wrote:
> 
> I have zero experience of Apple Mac's.  But they use a custom version of BSD 
> as their OS, that is more like Unix than Linux.  So it is likely some if not 
> all of the above could work on them too. If Apple let you dig that deep and 
> meddle…



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Re: [Elecraft] 20 years of the Elecraft CW Net

[Bill Frantz]

Amen. It has been a pleasure to check into the net and exchange emails with 
Kevin. His nature reports are always welcome

Thanks Kevin - 73 Bill AE6jV


> On Jun 5, 2022, at 22:47:31, Wayne Burdick  wrote:
> 
> We were reminded by Dave, W8OV, that today marks the 20th anniversary of the 
> Elecraft CW net!
> 
> Kevin, KD5ONS, has hosted it through all sorts of propagation, not to mention 
> weather, as his colorful reports attest. 
> 
> Thanks, Kevin, for your commitment to Elecraft, to CW, and to our shared 
> community. We hope you'll keep up the good work.
> 

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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 reduces power as it gets warmer?

[Bill Frantz]

It’s actually better than that. FT8 only transmits for 12.6 seconds giving a 
duty cycle of 42%. The 7.4 seconds left over are used for decode so you can 
have an answer to send in the next transmit slot.

73 Bill AE6JV


> On Jun 5, 2022, at 11:18:23, Ken K6MR  wrote:
> 
> Worst case duty cycle on FT8 is never more than 50%. This assumes that you 
> are transmitting every odd or even time slot. Very few stations are able to 
> keep that rate for very long. So I would bet the actual duty cycle is more 
> like 30% to 40% in actual use.

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Re: [Elecraft] Sherwood Receiver Tests

[Bill Frantz]

From what I’ve heard about the K4D, its advantages over the K3 are in areas 
that probably aren’t tested in Sherwood’s receiver tests. For example:

  I have heard people say the RX audio is cleaner.
  People say the UI is better.
  There are more antenna input/output connections.
  The voice compression just released gets rave reviews.
  People like the noise reduction better.

There’s more to a radio than just the RX, although if the RX isn’t good, you 
probably should look at another radio. (Or why I don’t use the Icom 706MII in 
my car very often.)

73 Bill AE6JV


> On Apr 28, 2022, at 21:41, Gary Gregory  wrote:
> 
> Reading the Sherwood tests today I noticed the K4D tested ranked below the
> K and K3s and I started to look at the data published and I am still a
> little unsure of why it scores lower having assumed it would be
> significantly better in performance over the K3 and K3s.
> 
> Perhaps somebody could point out to me if I am not seeing what is
> important.
> 
> I believe in if I can hear them, I can work them but like most folk I like
> a quiet noise floor and a comfy buffer of audio over noise.
> 
> My current thinking is hold onto my K3 until the K4 is improved as my
> upgraded #679 has served me so well and is the only transceiver I have ever
> loved and kept. It's not going anywhere soon hi hi.
> 
> Gary
> VK1ZZ/K3NHL
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> 

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Re: [Elecraft] Shipping via UPS - A Lesson Learned the Hard Way

[Bill Frantz]

> On Apr 11, 2022, at 19:23, Jim Brown  wrote:
> 
> I save bubble wrap and re-use it. The paper starts my fireplace.

Here we can recycle bubble wrap. Trex recycles plastic film to make outdoor 
furniture. 
>


> On Apr 11, 2022, at 18:29, eda...@aya.yale.edu wrote:
> 
> There's an old maxim that a happy customer tells one other person about
> their experience. An unhappy customer tells ten other people. 


Hay Ted, you’re over your quota. HIHI

73 Bill AE6JV


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Re: [Elecraft] Boom mounted Mike for a KX3

[Bill Frantz]

I recently bought a CM-500 from B Photo (a recommended vendor). They were 
advertising it as having a dynamic microphone, but that was wrong. The CM-500 
still has, as it always has had, an electret microphone, which is well 
supported by the KX3 (and many other Elecraft radios. It even comes with a 
battery operated power supply which allows it to be used with equipment which 
was designed for dynamic microphones. 

I am definitely not in charge of the product literature for this device, which 
came from Yamaha.

73 Bill AE6JV


> On Apr 3, 2022, at 22:47, Jim Brown  wrote:
> 
> On 4/3/2022 6:58 PM, John Pierce via Elecraft wrote:
>> am finding out that the KX3 does not handle a dynamic
>> microphone well.
> 
> I disagree, and I'm an audio guy. All you need is a properly wired adapter. 
> and adjustment of TXEQ to compensate for the fact that pro mics are usually 
> flat. But nowadays, nearly all the boom mics small enough to use are 
> electrets, including the CM500. And PRO electret mics won't work with ham 
> gear -- the powering method is very different.
> 
> 73, Jim K9YC

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Re: [Elecraft] K3s, KPA500, FT8 and 6 meters

[Bill Frantz]

It sounds like that signal was a harmonic of your primary signal. If it was 
1KHz off, it might have been the second harmonic of a 1KHz audio tone.

These harmonics are almost certain if you are overdriving the audio chain, so 
checking the drive is the first thing. Your drive to the radio at 4 bars with 
the 5th flickering is spot on. 

Since there are so many volume controls in the audio chain — wsjtx, one or more 
in the computer’s audio chain, the control on the radio — you get the idea. If 
one of them is too high and being compensated by having another one low, that 
could cause the harmonics. The fix is probably to try to set them all midway in 
their adjustment range.

The reason the local ham asked about CAT is the way wsjtx tries to suppress 
harmonics. It tries to set the radio’s transmit frequency (via CAT) so that the 
second harmonic of the audio tone it is sending will be suppressed by the 
output audio bandwidth filter in the transmitter.

73 Bill AE6JV


> On Mar 30, 2022, at 18:30, Bernie and Cheryl  wrote:
> 
> I'm not really a big FT8 operator, but if you want to work 6 meters, that's 
> where the action is.  Recently, a local ham sent me an email indicating that 
> I was broadcasting, in addition to my primary FT8 signal, a secondary wider 
> bandwidth signal about 1 khz above my primary frequency.  He suggested that I 
> check my ALC setting, and asked whether I am using WSJT CAT control to 
> control the transmitter (I am but don't know how that would cause me to 
> generate the extra signal).  I am using a K3s with a KPA500.
> 
> I had thought that, when using FT8, I should have the first four bars of the 
> ALC indicator lit, with the fifth one either lit or flickering.  Am I wrong 
> about this?


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Re: [Elecraft] KPA500 faults

[Bill Frantz]

I will add that 240 volt wiring frequently uses what we 120v people would think 
of as wimpy wire sizes. If you do the math, they give the same wattage as we 
get with our #12 or #14 wore at 120v.  Or at least that’s what I’ve seen when 
I’ve looked at the house wiring in 240v land.

73 Bill AE6JV


> On Mar 3, 2022, at 21:19, j...@kk9a.com wrote:
> 
> I believe St Lucia's power is 50Hz if that makes any difference to the
> KPA500.
> 
> John KK9A
> 
> Mike Fatchett w0mu wrote:
> 
> St. Lucia is 240v.  I don't know why he would run it on 120v or 110v.


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Re: [Elecraft] failed K3

[Bill Frantz]

I fully agree. When I have had a problem with my K3, mostly ones with my 
installing upgrades, I have gotten excellent support from Elecraft Support. 
They have told me how to signal trace through the radio, and I have been able 
to effect the necessary fixes my self. As I remember, the most recent one was a 
TMP cable which wasn’t correctly inserted in its socket. Signal tracing led me 
to the fix.

Now, knock on wood, I haven’t had to fix anything since Covid, so I don’t know 
how Elecraft remote support is working.

73 Bill AE6JV


> On Feb 26, 2022, at 09:37, Geert Jan de Groot  wrote:
> 
> Given that common faults are known and probably have been discussed on-list, 
> there are people here who know the radio well and there are even the odd 
> comments from techs on this list, I would have not send the radio without 
> self-investigating the fault.

> I've done repairs on most of my Elecraft kit and in many cases it is 
> something simple: connector issue, erratic encoders. Several issues are 
> published by Elecraft and you can easily do the re-work tourself. What I 
> didn't know I asked and the lists have been good. …



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Re: [Elecraft] PSK31 on KX3

[Bill Frantz]

I have run PSK31 on my KX3 using a USB sound “card” that I got for about $5 
from Amazon. I also used the standard rig to computer RS232/USB cable that came 
with the radio for controlling the radio, PTT, etc from the computer. With the 
sound card, I had to include a pad in the radio to microphone input on the 
sound card to keep from overloading it. I used cocoaModem on the Mac, although 
fldigi also works.

Using the contest logger built into RUMlogNG, you may be able to use the 
built-in encode/decode of the KX3 with PSK31. RUMlogNG-contest uses the CAT 
commands to send and receive RTTY and CW in contest mode. It may be a simple 
matter to set the radio for PSK D and have that work. (Note that you have to 
run the radio in FSK D to use this feature with RTTY.)

Note also that cocoaModem is a 32 bit program. I have not found a 64 bit 
version to run it on more modern versions of MacOS. If anyone know of 64 bit 
versions of cocoaModem and cocoaNEC please let me know. They are the things 
that are keeping me from “upgrading” my MacOS.

73 Bill AE6JV

> On Feb 17, 2022, at 17:57, Paul Huff  wrote:
> 
> I’ve had my KX3 for about 4 months now and it is a wonderful radio.  I am 
> almost exclusively a CW operator but I am a little bit curious about some of 
> the digital modes, especially PSK31. My radio flawlessly communicates with my 
> logging software (RumLogNG) using the ACC1 jack and my question is this - 
> Will the ACC1 jack also work for PSK31, or is there more needed to interface 
> the computer and radio for the digital modes?  
> 
> Also is there any recommendation for PSK31 software that runs on a Mac OS X 
> computer (Catalina 10.15.7)?
> 
> Are there any websites with useful information about using PSK31 on a KX3?
> 
> (I know that the KX3 has a limited built-in PSK31 ability, but I haven’t 
> played around with that at all, and I think that a computer display and 
> keyboard would be better for me.)


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Re: [Elecraft] KX2s

[Bill Frantz]

If the MH3 is what’s delaying your radio, the KX2 is quite usable with its 
internal microphone. You could ask them to send it now and then have the 
microphone sent when it becomes available.

73 Bill AE6JV


> On Feb 17, 2022, at 10:09, James Cizek  wrote:
> 
> But I noticed that the MH3 mic was out of stock with no estimated ship
> date.  I wondered if it was the mics holding up the "shack in a box"
> deliveries or if the radio parts are still that far behind also.

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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 wattmeter adjustment

[Bill Frantz]

Having taught in a number of ham crams, I am aware that there are many 
individual ways of learning. For me, knowing the theory is basic. I know such 
factoids as E=IR, P=EI, 1 meter is 40 inches (useful for the length of a 2M 
antenna). Others just memorize the answers. I also have to memorize the answers 
for questions about the amateur rules. However, guess which technique has a 
better pass rate.

Like Jim, I keep trying to learn more. It is good that there are people like 
K9YC and K4TAX who can still teach me things.

73 Bill AE6JV


> On Feb 6, 2022, at 15:14, Jim Brown  wrote:
> 
> Sure, as a teenager 65 years ago I studied/memorized the License Manual, but 
> have spent the rest of my life studying and learning more, and I'm still 
> doing it!


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Re: [Elecraft] RPN Calc App For Android

[Bill Frantz]

OK, you forced me to open my desk drawer all the way and find out what I had. 
After climbing over a bunch of mix 31 toroids, a set of Rapidograph pens, two 
mechanical drawing sets, ballpoint pens etc., I got to the last slide rule in 
the very back of the drawer. 

I ended up finding my old 6 inch Pickett & Eckel log-log, a 15cm rule labeled 
Hoffman Electronics Corporation made in Denmark, a 12.5 inch Dietzgen “vector 
type log log rule” made in the USA that belonged to my father-in-law, and a 
Jeppesen CR-1 Flight Computer which is a circular slide rule 4.25 inches in 
diameter which calculates fuel consumption, density altitude, distance traveled 
given speed, wind problems, etc. And no, I’m not really interested in selling 
any of them.

Note that the lengths above are total end-to-end measured lengths.

These all have the glorious attribute that the batteries never run down.

73 Bill AE6JV


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Re: [Elecraft] RPN Calc App For Android

[Bill Frantz]

I have an HP-11 bought when they were new, which is an old and reliable 
companion. I have “Retro 15C” on my iPhone which also works well. While I 
generally don’t program them — I like the self-documentation of a real 
programming language for anything complex enough to need a program — they work 
really well for quickly working a simple calculation. 

I have never been able to figure out which order the infix calculators are 
going to work my problem, so without RPN I’m up a creek.

73 Bill AE6JV


> On Jan 30, 2022, at 09:53, Joe Subich, W4TV  wrote:
> 
> I still have an HP15C on my desk that I picked up when I was working
> at the Ohio State University and taking EE/Computer Science from '79-
> ’84.


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Re: [Elecraft] SVGA Board For K3

[Bill Frantz]

If it is an FPGA, you will need to get Elecraft to program it.

73 Bill AE6JV

> On Jan 20, 2022, at 9:03 PM, Ken K6MR  wrote:
> 
> The FPGA is a Xilinx XC6SLX9 in a FTG256 1.0 mm pitch BGA package.
> 
> Ken K6MR
> 
> 
> From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net  on 
> behalf of Mark Goldberg 
> Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2022 4:18 PM
> To: j...@audiosystemsgroup.com 
> Cc: Reflector Elecraft 
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] SVGA Board For K3
> 
> What is the chip and what package is it in?
> 
> 73,
> 
> Mark
> W7MLG
> 
> On Thu, Jan 20, 2022 at 4:47 PM Jim Brown  wrote:
> 
>> The SVGA board in one of my two P3s has failed, and a friend who works
>> for Elecraft told me it's un-repairable. The reason is that its the
>> failure of a large chip that simply cannot be un-soldered. He also tells
>> me that orders for the board are still being accepted for an
>> unpredictable delivery time, but that at least a couple dozen more
>> orders are needed to make a production run.
>> 
>> The SVGA board is a wonderful tool that I find invaluable. If you want
>> one, now's the time to order it.
>> 
>> 73, Jim K9YC
>> __
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>> Message delivered to marklgoldb...@gmail.com

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Re: [Elecraft] On ground - in ground radials

[Bill Frantz]

On 1/17/22 at 10:52 AM, w3tb@gmail.com (Ted Edwards W3TB) wrote:

> Good methods for getting the wire down.
> Separate Question:  What about using an insulated wire that way?


K9YC recommends <http://k9yc.com/160MPacificon.pdf>:

Guidelines for All Radials
• Insulated wire holds up longer
• #18 minimum size for durability
–Large spools hard to buy
• #14 THHN (house wire) works well
–Mass market items often less expensive and easy to find
–Discount for 6 or more spools at big box stores (Home Depot, Lowe’s)


He says about ground screens:

Ground Screens Can Work
• Some AM broadcasters use a heavy copper mesh, typically 40 ft square
  surrounding the tower, with radials connected at perimeter of the mesh
• Provides very effective shielding between antenna and earth where
  current density and magnetic fields are strongest
  
Some Ground Screen Solutions
• Use strips of 3-ft or 5-ft wide galvanized hardware cloth
  –~ $350 for 600 sq ft, 19-gauge
• Or strips of galvanized welded wire fencing 2” x 2” or 2” x 4” grid
  –~ $ 150 for 600 sq ft, 14 gauge
• Or strips of galvanized wire mesh, 1” x 1” squares

Some Ground Screen Solutions
• If possible, lay strips out radially in four directions
• Use alternative layouts when it’s the best you can do
–A single strip, centered below the antenna if possible, or even two running
 parallel to each other
–More is better

For more details and references see the website.

73 Bill AE6JV

---
Bill Frantz| Concurrency is hard. 12   | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | out 10 programmers get it | 150 Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | wrong.  - Jeff Frantz | Peterborough, NH 03458

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Re: [Elecraft] Output power being eaten

[Bill Frantz]

After reading all the comments on this thread, I think that 
Skip, K6DWG and Bob, K4TAX have the best theory of what 
happened. Careful reading of the SPE 1.3K manual indicates that 
the power output of the amp is sampled between the amp and the 
internal tuner and that the recommended tune power is 30W.


So the idea that the tuner could have gotten into a state where 
it ate the output power is at least credible. I would expect a 
KW dissipated in the tuner to have damaged it, but fortunately 
that does not seem to have happened.


The manual strongly recommends setting the exciter radio (my K3) 
to maximum power output and trusting the ALC to set the correct 
drive power. Many here, including me, will disagree. However, as 
a result of this recommendation, the manuel doesn't really 
address the drive power issue.


Please note that the antenna is driven through coax and not open 
wire or ladder line, so theories based on those feed lines don't apply.


Thanks to everyone who replied. This list is a wonderful resource.

73 Bill AE6JV

On 12/27/21 at 2:48 PM, fra...@pwpconsult.com (Bill Frantz) wrote:


I didn't have a good night in the K1USN Slow Speed Test. I started
more-or-less on time and tried to answer CQs. None of the stations I tried
could hear me. My SPE 1.3K amp said I was putting out about a kilowatt,
although the antenna tuning on my normally low SWR 40M dipole needed to be
redone. I was receiving many stations, at normal levels.

After a few minutes, I started searching for causes, since 
operators calling CQ weren't hearing me and sending CQ again. 
Some of these operators had worked other stations, so I knew 
their radios were basically working. I tried maybe a half a 
dozen stations.


Finally, in desperation, I raised the tune power in my K3 exciter to 15W
and retuned the dipole yet again. Things started working and I managed to
check into the Elecraft 40M CW net via KD5ONS in OR at 0050z. With only 5
minutes in the contest left, I managed QSOs with W6SX and VE5MX. Thanks to
both of them.

My current theory about what was happening is that ice on the antenna was
eating transmit power, although receive seemed normal. Does ice seem a
reasonable explanation? What else could be the cause? I'd love to come up
with a believable answer. Even more so, avoid the situation in the future.

73 Bill AE6JV


---
Bill Frantz| When all else fails:  | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | Voice and CW. | 150 Rivermead 
Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com |   | Peterborough, 
NH 03458


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[Elecraft] Output power being eaten

[Bill Frantz]

I didn't have a good night in the K1USN Slow Speed Test. I started
more-or-less on time and tried to answer CQs. None of the 
stations I tried

could hear me. My SPE 1.3K amp said I was putting out about a kilowatt,
although the antenna tuning on my normally low SWR 40M dipole 
needed to be

redone. I was receiving many stations, at normal levels.

After a few minutes, I started searching for causes, since 
operators calling CQ weren't hearing me and sending CQ again. 
Some of these operators had worked other stations, so I knew 
their radios were basically working. I tried maybe a half a 
dozen stations.


Finally, in desperation, I raised the tune power in my K3 
exciter to 15W
and retuned the dipole yet again. Things started working and I 
managed to
check into the Elecraft 40M CW net via KD5ONS in OR at 0050z. 
With only 5
minutes in the contest left, I managed QSOs with W6SX and VE5MX. 
Thanks to

both of them.

My current theory about what was happening is that ice on the 
antenna was
eating transmit power, although receive seemed normal. Does ice 
seem a
reasonable explanation? What else could be the cause? I'd love 
to come up
with a believable answer. Even more so, avoid the situation in 
the future.


73 Bill AE6JV

---
Bill Frantz| There's nothing so clear| Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | as a design you haven't | 150 Rivermead 
Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | written down. - Dean Tribble| Peterborough, 
NH 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] Net times & frequencies?

[Bill Frantz]

It should be noted that the SSB 80M net has had some issues 
fitting in. We share a frequency with a net that's been active 
for over 35 years which runs on local (daylight savings) time. 
So we are at 0100z during the summer and 0200z during the 
winter. Yesterday, we had a lot of interference from stations on 
3.774 and moved to 3.783 which was open. If you want to check 
into that gabfest, look around. Or let any of the net controls 
know you are planning to checkin by Sunday morning and we will 
try to find you, either on-air or on-line, to get you to the net.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 12/19/21 at 11:17 PM, kev...@coho.net (kevin) wrote:


Elecraft SSB Nets

...

 3.775   MHz  0100Z  ( 6 PM PDT Sunday)

...


---
Bill Frantz| "I wish there was a knob on the TV to turn 
up the
408-348-7900   | intelligence.  There's a knob called 
"brightness", but

www.pwpconsult.com | it doesn't work. -- Gallagher

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Re: [Elecraft] Net times & frequencies?

[Bill Frantz]

On 12/20/21 at 10:28 PM, w5sv.d...@gmail.com (David F. Reed) wrote:


Could someone please remind me of the Elecraft nets, times and frequencies?


SSB nets:

  20M 14303.5 1800z Sunday (1 PM EST)
  40M  7280   1900z Sunday (2 PM EST)
  80M  at or around 3775 (today was 3783) 0200z Monday (9 PM 
EST Sunday evening)


CW nets:

  14050 kHz at 2300z Sunday  (6 PM EST Sunday)
   7047 kHz at 0030z Monday  (7:30 PM EST Sunday)

Note that Kevin changes the times of the CW nets depending on 
propagation. Check his announcement on the Elecraft email list.


73 Bill AE6JV

---
Bill Frantz|"Web security is like medicine - trying to 
do good for

408-348-7900   |an evolved body of kludges" - Mark Miller
www.pwpconsult.com |

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Re: [Elecraft] Best Portable Wire

[Bill Frantz]

I like the Wireman silky wire too 
<https://thewireman.com/product/antenna-wire-26-awg-copper-clad-steel-stranded-jacketed/>. 
I had a 20M two wire beam made from the stuff that survived a 
small ice storm. (I've now replaced it with the QRO version, #14 wire.)


73 Bill AE6JV

-
Bill Frantz| Government is not reason, it is not 
eloquence, it is force; like
408-348-7900   | a fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful 
master. Never for a
www.pwpconsult.com | moment should it be left to irresponsible 
action. Geo Washington


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[Elecraft] Elecraft 80M SSB net for Monday, December 13, 2021

[Bill Frantz]

Note that this net is on December 12 in north america.

I was a bit confused, misreading the clock on my computer, so I 
started the net at 0115z, when the previous net, which has been 
running for 35 years ended, instead of 0200z. Thanks to Jan K1ND 
who acted as a relay station.


Note that the numbers of K3s and K4s were tied.

k1nd   Jan   mi k4 kpa500
kn3y   Bob   va ft450d
wm6p   Steve ga k4
ve7edz Ron   bc ft1000
wb8hro Tim   mi k3 kpa500
n8sbe  Dave  mi k4
ae6jv  Bill  nh k3

73 Bill AE6JV

---
Bill Frantz| "I wish there was a knob on the TV to turn 
up the
408-348-7900   | intelligence.  There's a knob called 
"brightness", but

www.pwpconsult.com | it doesn't work. -- Gallagher

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[Elecraft] 80M SSB net 3.775 0200z

[Bill Frantz]

A small number of die-hard operators showed up for the net. 
Thanks to all who put out a call for more checkins.


wm6p   Steve ga k3s 11453
k8nu   Carl  oh ftdx101d
n8sbe  Dave  mi k3s 11361
ae6jv  Bill  nh k3 6299 Net Control
ko4moh Mike  fl ft450

73 Bill AE6JV

---
Bill Frantz| When all else fails:  | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | Voice and CW. | 150 Rivermead 
Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com |   | Peterborough, 
NH 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] Need K3 Board

[Bill Frantz]

Or why I bought a binocular microscope at the electronics flea 
market and ordered a hot air rework station from Sparkfun. The 
rework station is perfect for shrink-wrap tubing


73 Bill AE6JV

On 11/27/21 at 9:05 AM, jasimm...@pinewooddata.com (John 
Simmons) wrote:


Back in the thermionic emission days it was common. Today you 
need magnification and sometimes a hot-air solder station but 
it can still be done.


---
Bill Frantz|"After all, if the conventional wisdom was 
working, the
408-348-7900   | rate of systems being compromised would be 
going down,

www.pwpconsult.com | wouldn't it?" -- Marcus Ranum

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Re: [Elecraft] Using KX3 Utility to decode CW, RTTY

[Bill Frantz]

My experience with the K3 may have some application here. When 
using the K3 to decode CW/RTTY, the decoded text can be 
displayed on the K3, on the P3, or have it sent to a computer. 
If you try to display it on the P3 and send it to the computer, 
both locations drop characters. If you want the computer to get 
the complete decode, turn off the display on the P3.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 11/26/21 at 8:34 PM, dhai...@bates.edu (David Haines) wrote:

Good observation, which I should have known.  Only the KX3 
decodes. The KX3 Utility displays only part of what is on the 
KX3 text display and must be losing something along the way.  
The PX3 seems to display what is on the KX3 text display, but 
often adds a lot of characters.  Has anybody had success using 
the KX3 Utility Terminal?  Fred Cady recommends it.


---
Bill Frantz| Truth and love must prevail  | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | over lies and hate.  | 150 
Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com |   - Vaclav Havel | 
Peterborough, NH 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] Background Noise with Mike Plugged in to Rear Mike Jack

[Bill Frantz]

The failure that lead me to a new CM-500 was a broken microphone 
attachment to the headphone. If I was CW/digital only, no 
microphone might be an improvement. :-)


BTW, I got the replacement from B sales who listed it as a 
dynamic microphone. It isn't dynamic. It is electret and 
requires a "bias" voltage either from the radio or using the 
supplied battery holder.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 11/21/21 at 1:33 AM, j...@audiosystemsgroup.com (Jim Brown) wrote:

Like you, I've passed along the recommendation many times, and 
like you, I've had to buy several replacements. I've never had 
a problem with the ear pads. My failures are all broken cables, 
primarily because I've always been a real klutz.

----
Bill Frantz|"Insofar as the propositions of mathematics 
refer to
408-348-7900   | reality, they are not certain; and insofar 
they are
www.pwpconsult.com | certain, they do not refer to reality.” 
-- Einstein


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Re: [Elecraft] Forty Meter SSB

[Bill Frantz]

I found when I built a single wire dipole for 40M it didn't have 
a low enough SWR across the band for my preferences at the time. 
I fixed the problem by using two wires, spaced about 10cm, 4" 
apart for the elements. They join in the middle at the common 
mode choke and just loop back at the ends. This lowers the Q of 
the antenna enough so it satisfied my SWR goals.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 11/22/21 at 1:45 PM, j...@audiosystemsgroup.com (Jim Brown) wrote:


On 11/21/21 at 1:49 PM, flat...@comcast.net (Richard) wrote:

Is there any area within the 40-meter SSB segment where DX 
tends to congregate or appear? I ask this for antenna tuning purposes.


Cheers,

Richard — W4KBX


A half-wave dipole tuned to resonate in the middle of the band 
will have very manageable VSWR over the entire band.


-
Bill Frantz| Airline peanut bag: "Produced  | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | in a facility that processes   | 150 
Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | peanuts and other nuts." - Duh | 
Peterborough, NH 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] Nets?

[Bill Frantz]

The CW nets move around a bit. Tonight they are:

14050 kHz at 2300z Sunday  (3 PM PST Sunday)
  7047 kHz at 0030z Monday  (4:30 PM PST Sunday)

The SSB nets are:

1800z (1 PM EST) on 14303.5
1900z (2 PM EST) on 7280
0100z (8 PM EST) on 3775 (subject to change due to frequency conflicts)

73 Bill AE6JV

On 11/14/21 at 7:14 AM, gordon.lapo...@gmail.com (Gordon LaPoint) wrote:

> When and what frequency are the Elecraft nets on?

-----
Bill Frantz| The first thing you need when  | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | using a perimeter defense is a | 150 Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | perimeter. | Peterborough, NH 03458

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Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft CW Net preliminary propagation results

[Bill Frantz]

These times should play well with the SSB nets which are:

1800z  14303.5
1900z   7180
0200z   3775

The 80M net details are in flux because the net before us on the 
frequency observes daylight savings time. Either we will be on 
an hour later, or we will find a new frequency at 0100z. (Watch 
this reflector.)


I wonder if anyone has "Worked all Elecraft Nets" on a single 
Sunday. I have worked 4 of the 5, but the 20M CW net interferes 
with the dinner I'm in charge of cooking, so I haven't been able 
to checkin to that net.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 11/11/21 at 8:06 PM, kev...@coho.net (kevin) wrote:


 14050 kHz at 2300z Sunday  (3 PM PST Sunday)
  7047 kHz at 0030z Monday  (4:30 PM PST Sunday) with me on by 0015z


---
Bill Frantz| "The only thing we have to   | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | fear is fear itself." - FDR  | 150 
Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | Inaugural address, 3/4/1933  | 
Peterborough, NH 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] Configuring DXLabs Suite, Win4K3 and K3 for FT8 etc.

[Bill Frantz]

I've been quite happy letting wsjt-x operate in split mode with 
my K3. The only downside I've found is having to manually turn 
split off to make some changes when operating in other modes. I 
hope Jim wil explain his recommendation.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 11/10/21 at 3:26 PM, j...@audiosystemsgroup.com (Jim Brown) wrote:

Don't tell WSJT-X to configure your operating mode, do that 
manually. Set Split to Fake It. All you need rig control to do 
is set and read TX frequency.


---
Bill Frantz| Since the IBM Selectric, keyboards have gotten
408-348-7900   | steadily worse. Now we have touchscreen keyboards.
www.pwpconsult.com | Can we make something even worse?

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Re: [Elecraft] what soundcard for K3 and Mac

[Bill Frantz]

On 10/30/21 at 10:49 PM, radio...@mchsi.com (David Christ) wrote:

So can any one recommend a tried and true sound card interface 
for use between an K3 (without a sound card) and a MacBook Pro 
(which has no mike or line in jack)?  I would like to hear from 
people who have actually the unit, not just speculation.


I have been quite successful with both a SignaLink and with a 
no-name "sound card" that I got for $5 from Amazon. We're not 
talking about serious HiFi here. Almost anything with reasonably 
low distortion should work fine.


73 Bill AE6JV

----
Bill Frantz|"Insofar as the propositions of mathematics 
refer to
408-348-7900   | reality, they are not certain; and insofar 
they are
www.pwpconsult.com | certain, they do not refer to reality.” 
-- Einstein


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Re: [Elecraft] K3 and Expert 1.3

[Bill Frantz]

I have used an Expert 1.3K amp for several years with my 
upgraded K3. The short form is it works well. I got it when my 
wife won a $1000 off certificate. I knew this amp was a popular 
choice of many DXpeditions, and so worked well with the K3s they 
used and was reasonably reliable. When I got my amp, I also 
ordered a custom cable for the K3 which was delivered in the 
same shipment as the amp.


I am careful to not depend on the ALC to control exciter power, 
but instead set the output power on the K3 to the right level to 
get the output power I want from the amp. I believe this 
procedure will result in a cleaner signal.


I am thinking about replacing it with an Elecraft amp for two reasons:

  Full break in CW produces a lot of relay clicking. The 
Elecraft amps use

  PIN diodes.

  The level of integration between the exciter (K3) and the amp 
is much
  better. I can have my K3 operate at 100W when the amp is 
offline and at
  whatever drives the amp to the right power level when the amp 
is online

  with automatic switching.

Cheers - Bill, AE6jV


On 10/4/21 at 9:06 AM, mikek...@gmail.com (Mike March) wrote:


Considering pairing an Expert 1.3 amp with my K3.
Any experience with this amp?  Cabling issues, band tracking, etc.?
Thanks in advance.

Mike  K4QU

---
Bill Frantz|"We used to quip that "password" is the most common
408-348-7900   | password. Now it's 'password1.' Who said 
users haven't

www.pwpconsult.com | learned anything about security?" -- Bruce Schneier

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Re: [Elecraft] PX3 kit tips?

[Bill Frantz]

Remember to take it slow and easy. Read each instruction and 
make sure you understand it. Then do it, check it off on the 
assembly manual, and go to the next one.


It is generally a good idea to inventory the parts so you 
understand which screw goes where. The small parts can be 
organized in an egg carton or a ice cube tray.


Try to get into the zen of it.

GL & 73 - Bill AE6JV

On 9/30/21 at 3:34 PM, ju...@juliatuttle.net (Julia Tuttle) wrote:


Hi folks,

I got jealous of the waterfall display on my girlfriend's IC-7300, so I got
myself a PX3, and since the kit but not the factory version was in stock, I
got the kit. (Normally I'd be *more* than happy to pay Elecraft the $20 to
build it perfectly, but I'm impatient.)

I've got the assembly instructions, and an anti-static wrist strap, and the
aftermarket SideKX panels and cover, and the kit itself is arriving
tomorrow.

Does anyone have any assembly tips besides what's in the manual?


---
Bill Frantz| I like the farmers' market   | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | because I can get fruits and | 150 
Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | vegetables without stickers. | 
Peterborough, NH 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] KPA1500 Power Level

[Bill Frantz]

My wife won $1000 off an Expert amplifier at Visalia maybe 5 
years ago. I ended up getting a 1.3K because I had noticed many 
DXpeditions using it. Mine is still working well, knock on wood. 
I run in on 120V at theMedium power setting. I get 700-800 watts 
out. I'm always thinking of selling it and getting an Elecraft 
Amp, but so far no action.


My latest station dream has the antennas 150-200 feet from the 
operating area. I could put the amp in the barn to shorten the 
feed lines.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 9/18/21 at 9:46 PM, jkb...@usa.net (Jerry Kirshenbaum) wrote:


re: it'd pay to review the SPE

In May 2021 I bought a SPE 1.5K-FA 2nd generator new from the 
distributor in Texas. I’ve been using a SunSDR2 DX 100W 
transceiver while I wait to receive my K4D. The 1st time the 
finals blew may have been operator error. Subsequently, I 
discovered that the software allows one to limit the power on 
each band. So I set the SPE to mid power (it has low, mid, high 
settings) and determined the correct output for 700-800W. That 
left at least 20% head room.  Despite this seem lying failsafe 
procedure, the finals blew again. The distributor would not 
cover this under warranty on the grounds that my radio has 
spurious spikes which blew the finals. In fact, if you run the 
“wrong” radio with this amp, you don’t have any warranty 
because the radio is indicted as the cause of failure sight unseen.


The amp when it works is wonderful. One case, 24 lbs, very 
quiet. I had everything linked together with my SteppIR DB18E 
through DxLab.
Two times back to the distributor for repair in 3 months was 
enough. I sold it and now have a KPA1500 which is working great.


BTW, the distributor also says the IC-7300 (my backup) has 
spurious spikes as well and presumably is another transceiver 
not covered under their warranty.


---
Bill Frantz| "I wish there was a knob on the TV to turn 
up the
408-348-7900   | intelligence.  There's a knob called 
"brightness", but

www.pwpconsult.com | it doesn't work. -- Gallagher

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Re: [Elecraft] MH3 mic case

[Bill Frantz]

I like to mix in some short lengths of fiberglass with the 
epoxy. It provides the strength while the epoxy provides the 
"glue" holding everything together. An example is repairing the 
ashtray cover on my 1993 Mazda Miata (with 300,000+ miles). I 
repaired it at least two years ago, and it is still holding up.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 9/3/21 at 8:55 AM, l...@ka7ftp.com wrote:


I put a dap of epoxy on the studs and the base.  I put a little
inside the actual stud where it meets the base.  Next I put the two shell
pieces together and held it in place with a rubber band.  After 24 hours I
removed the screws and added more epoxy around the studs for additional
strength.  I also epoxied in the broken cable retainer.  Just make sure you
don't put epoxy where it might interfere with the electrical parts of the
cord.

---
Bill Frantz| If the site is supported by  | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | ads, you are the product.| 150 
Rivermead Road #235
www.pwpconsult.com |  | 
Peterborough, NY 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] Ground Wire & Coax

[Bill Frantz]

I don't think it's out yet. Here's what's on the ARRL Store site:

Also available:
Grounding and Bonding for the Radio Amateur. Kindle Edition.

Product Details
Softcover: 176 pages
Publisher: The American Radio Relay League, Inc.
Copyright: First Edition, Fourth Printing (2017-2019)
Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-62595-065-9
Product Dimensions: 7 1/4 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: .70 pounds

On 8/23/21 at 1:35 AM, j...@audiosystemsgroup.com (Jim Brown) wrote:

> I don't know if the second edition is out -- we finished over the winter.

73 Bill AE6JV

---
Bill Frantz| Concurrency is hard. 12   | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | out 10 programmers get it | 150 Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | wrong.  - Jeff Frantz | Peterborough, NH 03458

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Re: [Elecraft] K3S audio quality issue

[Bill Frantz]

Swapping side bands can happen behind your back. I was part of a 
multi-multi activating Kings County in the California QSO Party. 
My assignment was 10M SSB. The first contact suggested I would 
be more successful if I switched from LSB to USB. I have no idea 
how I swapped the sideband. I guess holding the wrong button. Or 
maybe I held ALT instead of pressing MODE-DOWN.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 8/19/21 at 8:17 PM, kl...@mtaonline.net (Frederick Dwight) wrote:

Make sure you use USB for 20 meters and LSB for 40.  SSB sounds 
awful if you use the “wrong” sideband.

Also make sure the PBT has not shifted, it should be normally very close to 
centered.
14 MHz and higher typically use USB, and lower frequencies typically use LSB.
Sorry if this sounds too basic, however we all have made simple 
mistakes.  I have made more than my share !


---
Bill Frantz| Since the IBM Selectric, keyboards have gotten
408-348-7900   | steadily worse. Now we have touchscreen keyboards.
www.pwpconsult.com | Can we make something even worse?

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Re: [Elecraft] T1 Tuner Question ?

[Bill Frantz]

On 8/16/21 at 2:15 PM, ecke...@gmail.com (Paul Ecker) wrote:

> Thanks to all that responded to my T1 Tuner question. Turns out the one I
> was asking about, that I bought thru QRZ Swapmeet would not tune, but the
> seller immediately refunded my money via PayPal. The second offer of a T1
> also via QRZ turned out to be a scam. So enough, just ordered a brand new
> T1 in kit form. If it doesn't work, we'll know why.

It's a fun build, and a rugged little box to have when you finish.

73 Bill AE6JV

-------
Bill Frantz| Ham radio contesting is a | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | contact sport.| 150 Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | --Ken Widelitz K6LA/VY2TT | Peterborough, NH 03458

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Re: [Elecraft] Off topic - musical composition

[Bill Frantz]

OK, OK. I'll join in.

I describe myself as a mediocre musician who has been playing 
the guitar for about 65 years. I also play the Autoharp. I 
discovered after playing for about 5 years that I play for 
myself. If you want to listen, you're more than welcome. 
Otherwise go somewhere else.


I play mostly folk style and say to people that I don't know any 
song that you do. I have written a number of songs over the 
years. I play only acoustic instruments. My XYL is scared of me 
having an amp.


73 Bill AE6JV


---
Bill Frantz| My subscription to Life  | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | expired, but I still have a  | 150 
Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | subscription to Mad. - WA1LOU| 
Peterborough, NH 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] In Line Power Pole Fuses

[Bill Frantz]

I'm in general agreement with Bob, but there are some details.

(1) You don't want to melt you power supply wires. If you trust 
the power supply device to properly current limit, then you 
don't need a fuse. If you are using something like my old 
solar/deep cycle battery supply, you definitely need a fuse.


(2) The important thing about voltage drop is getting enough 
voltage to the final amp in the radio to avoid producing all 
kinds of distortion in the output signal. This distortion 
results in a bad signal that causes interference with neighbors 
on the band. If you are running 14.5 volts receive load, you can 
afford a bigger voltage drop than if you are running off of 
batteries at 12 volts receive load.


In this latter case, you probably can't afford any voltage drop 
at all and should throttle back to a maximum of 50 watts or so 
to clean up your signal.


Our real-life experience was one Field Day with our QRP digital 
K3 station. The deep cycle lead/acid battery was getting tired. 
The people in the CW tent were complaining of interference from 
the digital station. A fresh battery fixed the problem.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 7/22/21 at 6:27 AM, rmcg...@benlomand.net (Bob McGraw) wrote:

With that power supply, which has both good over voltage 
protection and current limiting, adding fuses in the DC line 
will add resistance to the line.  Even being a small amount, 
it will affect voltage regulation from no load to rated load at 
the radio.    For this reason I do not recommend adding 
fuses to the DC power cables.


I agree that all 100 watt transceivers should have their DC 
power leads connected direct to the power supply terminals and 
not through any DC distribution device.    As a rule, 
receive load to 100 watt CW/key closed transmit load, the 
voltage drop at the radio should be less than 0.5 volts.


Bill Frantz| Art is how we decorate space,
408-348-7900   | music is how we decorate time.
www.pwpconsult.com |  -Jean-Michel Basquiat

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[Elecraft] Li-ion vs. LiFePO4 was Re: K2 alive again, yay!

[Bill Frantz]

LiFePO4 has several other advantages, besides not swelling 
during charge. (Swelling is what caused fires in early devices 
in places like airplanes. They contained the battery with no 
room for expansion resulting in burst cases and exposed 
lithium.) The other ones that come to my mind are:


Cold weather performance. (My winter FD LiFePO4 was reliable at 
-15C (5F), unlike my Li-ion laptop.)


Low self-discharge.

Voltage compatibility with "12V" systems.

There are probably others.

73 Bill AE6JV

On 7/21/21 at 9:31 AM, elecraft@mailman.qth.net (Louandzip via 
Elecraft) wrote:


Agree, but the consequences of mismanagement can be more, uh, 
consequential.  If not for their easier management and fewer 
hazards, what's the point of much lower energy density LiFePO4 batteries?

---
Bill Frantz|Security, like correctness, is| Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  |not an add-on feature. - Attr-| 150 
Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com |ibuted to Andrew Tanenbaum| 
Peterborough, NH 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] K4 Kit

[Bill Frantz]

I will add to Jim's description of the current situation that 
they will also need to debug the assembly manual. Historically 
they have debugged that manual by honing their factory assembly process.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 7/18/21 at 8:01 PM, j...@audiosystemsgroup.com (Jim Brown) wrote:


On 7/18/2021 3:59 PM, William Carpenter wrote:

I am curious as to if/when a K4 kit will be available.


They will have to work their way through a lot of orders first, 
many of which are prepaid. Thanks to major disruptions both of 
their operation and of the supply chains

---
Bill Frantz|"Web security is like medicine - trying to 
do good for

408-348-7900   |an evolved body of kludges" - Mark Miller
www.pwpconsult.com |

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Re: [Elecraft] Connectors

[Bill Frantz]

I was told that all the compounds produced when silver is 
tarnished are conductive. So, when I built a single-lever 
paddle, I used two short pieced of silver wire, obtained from a 
jeweler friend, at right angles for the contacts. I haven't had 
any contact problems with that paddle.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 7/12/21 at 3:35 PM, wes_n...@triconet.org (Wes) wrote:


On 7/12/2021 11:47 AM, Paul Dluehosh wrote:
...They may look ugly with a black patina, but that may be 
because they have real silver plating.


That's what TARN-X is for.


---
Bill Frantz| Privacy is dead, get over | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | it.   | 150 Rivermead 
Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com |- Scott McNealy (1999) | Peterborough, 
NH 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] KPA-1500 issue (power surge?)

[Bill Frantz]

There was a post to this maillist over a year ago which said 
that the most frequent casualty of lightning strikes in the K3S 
was the USB chip and associated circuitry. The recommended "fix" 
was to unplug the USB cable from the back of the radio when it 
was not in use.


Applying this fix to a remote station is an interesting 
exersize. I think a 4 poll relay that grounds the connections to 
the radio while letting the bus float might be the best 
solution. It could be activated by the 12V output from the radio.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 7/10/21 at 6:55 AM, jimlc...@gmail.com (Jim Cary) wrote:

I posted a note yesterday that I took a power surge which 
knocked out my PC and couldn’t connect to my K3S.  Thanks to 
all the input for you guys, it would appear that the IO board 
on the K3S got fried.  Still to be confirmed, but strongly 
suspect true.


---
Bill Frantz|"Web security is like medicine - trying to 
do good for

408-348-7900   |an evolved body of kludges" - Mark Miller
www.pwpconsult.com |

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Re: [Elecraft] K3 on wsjt-x

[Bill Frantz]

It sounds like your audio is not getting to the K3. There are 
many places it can get lost, including wsjt-x, the selection of 
output devices in wsjt-x, the OS audio chain (seen frequently in 
Windows, but also other OSes), and in the K3 -- are you sure 
your computer is connected to the transmit audio.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 7/3/21 at 5:35 PM, doug49...@gmail.com (doug dietz) wrote:

I have k3 with all the options available except finals. I have 
installed the ftdi driver. The receiver sends frequency and 
decodes wsjt signals correctly.   In the wsjt program the cat 
test turns green and the ptt  works ok. When I call cq the 
transmitter is keyed but no power is sent out. I think I’m in 
the wrong mode. Any  suggestions. I cannot get it to “data 
a”?  HELP


---
Bill Frantz| When an old person dies, a   | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | library burns. - Joe McGawon | 150 
Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | Irish Ethnographer   | 
Peterborough, NH 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] FTDI driver on Win10

[Bill Frantz]

I strongly suggest that with any OS, try it first. If it works, 
then you're done. If not then perhaps install a driver or take 
some other action.


After a MacOS upgrade, I lost contact between my computer and 
K3. The cause turned out to be a driver I had installed. The new 
system had a FTDI driver, but it was overridden by my obsolete 
driver. Deleting the old driver fixed things.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 7/3/21 at 7:53 AM, cajo...@gmail.com (C.A. Jones) wrote:


FWIW, I plugged KXUSB into my Win10 Pro PC, and as reported by Dave WO2X,
it operated as intended (communicating with KX3) w/o having to install
drivers.

Quite generally, my modus operandi with stuff like this is to just plug it
in and try it before investigating possible additional required actions.


-
Bill Frantz| The first thing you need when  | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | using a perimeter defense is a | 150 
Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | perimeter. | 
Peterborough, NH 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] Case-maker Rose's OM K0PP, SK

[Bill Frantz]

Let me add my message of condolence to Rose. I have one of her 
cases and it is a gem. I hope she will be able to continue 
making them in the future.


I didn't know Ken well. My log doesn't show his call. I think 
the only time I met him was at the 2012 Visalia DX Convention 
that N6TV photographed*. I just read through his posts to the 
Elecraft list in my archive and recognize the large amount of 
old radio lore and wisdom he contributed over the years.


73 Bill AE6JV

* N6TV's photo: 
<https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMsLkXAMwqR4hNDLbkgZGzsWgVeg0v4-WCWl5wQAYuduF4AZH8Ch3q8BO0WXaeAkw/photo/AF1QipNlr5vWtuf8ibE-G7gK_DQIZfFhr22K0zbpo2UZ?key=YzRkTHdCTnRLeVBwdzVkYzFxSDI5QkJVQm95bkZn>

-
Bill Frantz| When it comes to the world | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | around us, is there any choice | 150 
Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | but to explore? - Lisa Randall | 
Peterborough, NH 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] HOA Crap

[Bill Frantz]

OK. I have a DXCC award on my wall. It is from Los Gatos, CW. 
It's showing 185 mixed confirmed in my logbook. I moved to NH in 
2019. My NH log shows 106 mixed confirmed. (I keep separate logs 
for NH and CA contacts.) It's a bit hard to get the union of the 
two logs, but the results will be higher than 185 due to the 
ease of EU contacts. (I think, if I've done my uploads to 
Clublog correctly, they have the correct count.) My only answer 
to all the questions about the situation is to fall back on the 
DXCC rules which say that all these contacts count.


I really don't think the amateur radio community has wrapped its 
mind around the fact that many of us move around the country a lot.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 6/29/21 at 5:03 PM, rick.n...@gmail.com (Rick NK7I) wrote:

Jim, I agree, rental hopping for the purposes of DXCC or 
similar, is equally immoral and as such, should be banned from 
such awards.  Use your own, a club or a friends station WHILE 
physically there if your morality reaches that far.  Mine 
doesn't; I've used other stations and entered into THEIR log, 
not mine (the station is not mine, simple).


---
Bill Frantz|The nice thing about standards| Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  |is there are so many to choose| 150 
Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com |from.   - Andrew Tanenbaum| 
Peterborough, NH 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] HOA Crap

[Bill Frantz]

On 6/28/21 at 12:45 AM, rick.n...@gmail.com (Rick Bates, NK7I) wrote:

Ditto using remote receivers to augment your own; your station 
can or cannot; it's THAT simple.


[With apologies to N4ZR. I'll try to tie my comment to germain topics.]

I generally disagree with NK7I's comments because I think ham 
radio is a huge tent, and the point is having fun.


However, this comment tickled the thought that setting up remote 
receivers could be something hams do regularly. I can imagine a 
remote receiver at one son's house in Colorado, and another at 
the other son's house in California.


These receivers might be useful for activities like the Elecraft 
net, where frequently the QRO stations, which are the backbone 
of the net, can't hear the QRP stations who try to check in. It 
would be a fun project in station building.


73 Bill AE6JV

---
Bill Frantz| Re: Computer reliability, performance, and security:
408-348-7900   | The guy who *is* wearing a parachute is 
*not* the

www.pwpconsult.com | first to reach the ground.  - Terence Kelly

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Re: [Elecraft] 80 Meter Net Sunday Night

[Bill Frantz]

It'a a SSB net.

73 Bill AE6JV

On 6/27/21 at 4:25 PM, je...@tr2.com (jerry) wrote:

> Is this CW or SSB?  At this time, my K2 is CW only...
> 
>  - Jerry KF6VB
> 
> 
> 
> On 2021-06-27 12:08, Paul Van Dyke wrote:
> >Hey  ... was in the Field Day and ducking storms and forgot to 
> >post to the
> >List
> >Tonight .. Tonight .. Tonight
> >Please go to 3.775 at 01:00 UTC on Sunday Night/Monday Morning in your
> >world.
> >Don't forget all the other Elecraft Nets.. whether it is CW, SSB
> >Come Join the Fun
> >73
> >Paul Van Dyke - KB9AVO
> >   80 Meter Net
> >
---
Bill Frantz| There's nothing so clear| Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | as a design you haven't | 150 Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | written down. - Dean Tribble| Peterborough, NH 03458

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Re: [Elecraft] Gurus

[Bill Frantz]

On 6/10/21 at 1:29 PM, rmcg...@benlomand.net (Bob McGraw) wrote:

> The acronym for that is RTFM.

Which a tech writer I worked with insisted expanded to Read The Fine Manual.

73 Bill AE6JV

---
Bill Frantz| When all else fails:  | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | Voice and CW. | 150 Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com |   | Peterborough, NH 03458

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Re: [Elecraft] Giving Up

[Bill Frantz]

On 6/9/21 at 3:01 AM, n...@arrl.net (Bob Wilson, N6TV) commented:


The narrow DSP filters (down to 50 Hz) also seem to work so much better in
the K4 than the narrow 250 or 200 Hz crystal filters in the K3 -- no
ringing.


I frequently run my K3 with a 250 Hz crystal filter and the DSP 
at 50 or 100 on a weak CW signal in crowded conditions. While 
the K4 audio may be significantly better, the K3 is no slouch in 
this configuration and most of the time it beats the audio 
peaking filter.


[Still waiting for the kit. :-)]

73 Bill AE6JV

-
Bill Frantz| Airline peanut bag: "Produced  | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | in a facility that processes   | 150 
Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | peanuts and other nuts." - Duh | 
Peterborough, NH 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] P3 freezes

[Bill Frantz]

I travel with my computer and connect it to my K3 (upgraded) 
every time I go on the air. The last time I started operating, I 
noticed that my P3 did not know the frequency the K3 was using. 
I then noticed that I hadn't plugged the USB connection between 
the K3 and the computer into the computer. I plugged it in and 
everything worked again.


I think this may have been because the K3 needs to be polled in 
order to send the frequency data. (There is a menu option to 
automatically send the frequency data. I am away from the radio 
so I can't check how it is set on my K3.) Hooking the radio to 
my computer let the logging program provide the polling.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 6/8/21 at 10:15 PM, gthorn...@thorntonmostullaw.com (George 
Thornton) wrote:


I have a more or less fully loaded K3 with the synthesizer 
upgrades.  The K3 was gone through at the factory and appears 
to be running well.


I have a P3 that also has the SVGA card and the transmit monitor add on.

On a number of occasions my P3 seems to freeze and fails to 
move with tuning as I turn the tuning knob.


Before I call Elecraft for guidance I wonder if anyone has any suggestions.
THANKS.


---
Bill Frantz| "The only thing we have to   | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | fear is fear itself." - FDR  | 150 
Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | Inaugural address, 3/4/1933  | 
Peterborough, NH 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] K4 Lore

[Bill Frantz]

On 6/4/21 at 7:16 AM, elecraft@mailman.qth.net (rydodd--- via 
Elecraft) wrote:


Elecraft tuners are optional.  But they also work phenomenally 
well and are worth every penny you pay for them.


I had a long journey with my Elecraft tuners. I started with a 
K3/10. I then added a T1 tuner so I could use the tuner with 
other QRP radios. This setup worked quite well, if not a 
conveniently as an internal tuner in a K3.


Then my wife, after watching me work QRP in CQP with marginal 
antennas said, "Oh go out and get the 100W amp." The order went 
out very quickly, before she could change her mind. I had some 
matched antennas and they worked well at 100W and I reduced 
power for the bands which needed the T1.


After hitting the T1 with 100W a couple of times -- it survived 
and still works well -- I got the internal tuner in the K3. I'm 
a happy camper.


73 Bill AE6JV

----
Bill Frantz|"Insofar as the propositions of mathematics 
refer to
408-348-7900   | reality, they are not certain; and insofar 
they are
www.pwpconsult.com | certain, they do not refer to reality.” 
-- Einstein


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Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft K4 now in Rob Sherwood's RX performance table

[Bill Frantz]

For me, the big draw is remote operation with a panadapter. 
Currently I live a mile from my radio, which makes getting on 
the air a small expedition, so I need to coordinate with my 
wife. She feels better if I'm handy to help with whatever comes up.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 5/28/21 at 2:16 PM, n...@elecraft.com (Wayne Burdick) wrote:

While the decision is of course highly individual, there are 
many good reasons to upgrade to the K4.

---
Bill Frantz| Since the IBM Selectric, keyboards have gotten
408-348-7900   | steadily worse. Now we have touchscreen keyboards.
www.pwpconsult.com | Can we make something even worse?

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Re: [Elecraft] Advice on K3 versus KX3

[Bill Frantz]

On 5/23/21 at 7:01 PM, jh3...@sumaq.jp (Keith Onishi) wrote:


Listening CW in crowded situation like contesting.  K3 is much better than KX3.
Operating in digital mode, you can neither listen to receiving 
signals nor monitor your own transmitting audio with KX3.


(No operating session is really complete without at least one 
SSB, digital, and CW QSO.)


I like digital modes and run both radios, the KX3 for portable 
operations and the K3 for "in the shack". Switching between 
digital and SSB on the KX3 is a PITA compared with the K3. On 
the KX3 I have to:


  Unplug the microphone and plug in the computer sound card.
  Turn off the mic bias.
  Re-adjust the mic level.
  Turn on the VOX.

On the K3 I just have to turn on the VOX. All the cables stay in place.

On the KX3, I monitor the RX audio with a spliter cable feeding 
headphones and my computer. (I don't generally monitor TX audio 
with headphones on either radio.) I do tune RTTY via the 
monitored audio.


73 Bill AE6JV

---
Bill Frantz| Since the IBM Selectric, keyboards have gotten
408-348-7900   | steadily worse. Now we have touchscreen keyboards.
www.pwpconsult.com | Can we make something even worse?

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Re: [Elecraft] Funny K4 Story

[Bill Frantz]

On 5/16/21 at 7:40 PM, n...@sonic.net (Alan Bloom) wrote:

I believe the SWR meter in the transceiver is at the input of 
the internal tuner, not the output.  Since it always reads 
close to 1:1 when the tuner is engaged you may not notice if 
the antenna has a high SWR.


On the assumption that the K4 antenna tuner has similar 
capabilities to the one in the K3/K3S, it can tune anything. An 
antenna lying on the ground is child's play for these tuners. 
Tom said that he hooked up his spiffy new K4 and tuned the 
antenna. No wonder he didn't see a bad SWR. :-)


73 Bill AE6JV

---
Bill Frantz| Security is like Government  | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | services. The market doesn't | 150 
Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | want to pay for them.| 
Peterborough, NH 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] K3 s/n 2274 update to new synthesizer board

[Bill Frantz]

When I upgraded my synths, the big problem was getting the TMP 
connectors correctly replugged. The manual said where to run 
them, but getting them reliably plugged in was my problem. You 
need to get the center conductor to slip smoothly into the 
socket. Then the rest of the connector will go in easily.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 5/10/21 at 10:54 AM, elecraft@mailman.qth.net (JOHN LAWRENCE 
via Elecraft) wrote:



Hi 
any hands on experiences detail that might be useful if I do 
it myself when the kit arrives.  Thanks

John, W1QS


---
Bill Frantz|"We used to quip that "password" is the most common
408-348-7900   | password. Now it's 'password1.' Who said 
users haven't

www.pwpconsult.com | learned anything about security?" -- Bruce Schneier

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Re: [Elecraft] OT: High school drafting class, ~1975

[Bill Frantz]

OK, I can't resist any longer.

On 4/26/21 at 11:33 AM, lawr...@woh.rr.com (SteveL) wrote:


Who carried around a CRC book of tables of various calculations in lieu of an 
unaffordable scientific calculator?

Yup.


Or programming FORTRAN on punch cards?
Yup. At first on a IBM 650 with a 4 pass compiler, intermediate 
storage on punch cards.



Or PDP-8 on paper tape after toggling in the boot loader through the front 
panel switches?
Sorry, mine was a Varian 620/i (8K of 16 bit words) used for 
nodes in a circuit switched data network (Tymnet). :-)


73 Bill AE6JV

---
Bill Frantz| Re IOT: "How many access control systems 
does it take

www.pwpconsult.com | to change a light bulb?" - Dean Tribble

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Re: [Elecraft] RUMlog controls K4

[Bill Frantz]

On 3/30/21 at 7:33 PM, r...@tavan.com (Rick Tavan) wrote:


FWIW, I have very little experience with RUMlog (or Skookum Logger which
may be a predecessor) but if you use RUMlog on your Mac you may be
encouraged by this tidbit: I have it running on MacOS Catalina doing rig
control of the K4 via the USB B port, calling it a K3. I'm keying CW
through the CAT interface which probably means CAT1ASC commands although
the documentation doesn't say. I've used both the general interface and the
contest window, both just enough to believe they work.


I have run RUMlogNG for several years, including using it for CW 
and RTTY contests. I have even hooked a protocol analyser up on 
the RS-232 link between it and the radio to try to chase down a 
problem. It has a very interesting approach to sending and 
receiving CW and RTTY through the K3. It does both through the 
CAT interface. To transmit, it uses KY and TB commands to keep 
the radio from buffering more than 2 or 3 characters so the ESC 
key will stop transmission promptly.


For example, to send AE6JV with the K3's response in [brackets]:

KY A;[KY0;]TB;[TB000;]
KY E6;[KY0;]TB;[TB200;]
KY J;[KY0;]TB;[TB200;]
KY V;[KY0;]TB;[TB300;]TB;[TB200;]
KY  ;[KY0;]TB;[TB300;]TB;[TB200;]
KY 
<04>;[KY0;]TB;[TB300;]TB;[TB200;]TB;[TB100;]TB;[TB000;]TB;TB000; etc.


I have not carefully traced the receive path.

The problem I was trying to track down is the failure to 
correctly chain transmissions in RTTY mode. CW works fine. If, 
for example, I press F4 twice to send my call sign twice, the 
radio will transmit AE6JV E6JV, dropping the first character 
from the second press of F4. I used my KX3 to monitor what was 
actually being transmitted. I got lots of useful advice from 
N6TV in running these tests.




If you're a RUMlog expert waiting for your K4 and want to discuss, feel
free to contact me directly.


I won't say I'm a RUMlog expert, and I'm waiting for the K4 kit, 
but if I can help, please let me know.


73 Bill AE6JV


---
Bill Frantz| The race is not always to the swift, nor 
the |
(408)348-7900  | battle to the strong, but that's the way to 
bet. |
www.pwpconsult.com |   - Damon 
Runyon |


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Re: [Elecraft] WSJTX settings

[Bill Frantz]

Welcome to the list and to the K3.

I had similar problems yesterday and it was something I am have 
experienced before. I had a logging program running that uses 
the CAT interface, and WSJT does not share well. Quitting the 
logging program made things work again. My only problem is 
soreness from kicking myself in the butt.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 3/22/21 at 11:20 AM, ka4...@gmail.com (Steve Fox) wrote:


First post from a new K3 owner.
Trying to get the CAT portion of WSJT working.  I’ll worry 
with the audio later. Have communicated with K3 via Utility on 
Com 4.


On my PC I have WSJT set for K3, correct port, 38400, 8-1-none, 
CAT, Data/Pkt, split none. Is there a menu item somewhere on 
the K3 that I need to check and alter?  Mode is set to DATA.

---
Bill Frantz| Privacy is dead, get over | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | it.   | 150 Rivermead 
Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com |- Scott McNealy (1999) | Peterborough, 
NH 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] PSK31 with a KX2

[Bill Frantz]

On 3/9/21 at 8:11 PM, wb0...@gmail.com (Bob Liesen) wrote:


I am using DATA A mode, I have the BW at 4kHz and center freq of 1.5  AGC
is off, RF gain is 0dB.  NB and NR is off.  I suspected I might have
screwed up the USB/LSB setting somehow, but HamScope has a "reverse"
function which does not help.


One of the joys of PSK31 is that the signals are symmetric, that 
is both USB and LSB will be able to decode the signal.


I'm not sure I can help further since I haven't tried to work 
PSK31 on a KX2 and I don't think I have any of the software you 
are using. (It probably won't run on my Mac.)


Can you decode signals using the internal PSK31 on the KX2? If 
that works, then you have decodable audio being sent to your computer.


73 Bill AE6JV

---
Bill Frantz| Ham radio contesting is a | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | contact sport.| 150 Rivermead 
Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | --Ken Widelitz K6LA/VY2TT | Peterborough, 
NH 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] KAT-500 Unreliable Tuning

[Bill Frantz]

I had a similar problem during last weekend's ARRL DX SSB 
contest. I would press tune on my K3 and the K3 would come to a 
good solution using about 5W. Then I tried to transmit at 100W 
and the SWR went wonky and the power folded back. I traced it to 
a bad connection between the two sections of coax feeding the 
antenna. Testing with a dummy load can help narrow the problem 
down to antenna or other.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 3/8/21 at 10:42 AM, davein...@comcast.net wrote:

Over the past six months my KAT500 autotune function has 
deteriorated to the point where I am getting frustrated. The 
KAT tuner is connected to a G5RV via 75' of  RG-8 coax and is 
fed from a KPA-500 which is fed from a Kenwood TS480. I switch 
between between barefoot and amplified transmissions. Upon 
application of a  40 watt tune, the tuner appears to find a 
suitable solution but when the power is raised to over 100W, 
the amplifier faults to a high SWR, some bands, but not always 
repeatable. The antenna and feedline have been inspected and 
all OK. If I change bands sometimes it works at higher powers 
and sometimes not. Other times it cannot find a solution on 
some bands and other bands are OK, low power or amplified. If I 
cycle the power to the KAT500, it is OK for a while and then it 
has trouble again. The problem appears intermittent. Wondering 
if anyone has had this same problem. Thanks de dave WB7ELY

---
Bill Frantz| Privacy is dead, get over | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | it.   | 150 Rivermead 
Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com |- Scott McNealy (1999) | Peterborough, 
NH 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] [KX3] Digital modes: proper ALC for full output power?

[Bill Frantz]

Hi Julia -

Running the Transmit Gain procedure (page 33 in my manual) is 
the usual first thing to do when the power output seems "wanky".


The general recommendation for drive level from the computer is 
4 bars with the 5th flashing. If the drive level is too low, the 
output power will start off low and then build to the power 
output setting on the radio. If the drive level is 4 bars with 
the 5th flashing, the radio will start close to the power output setting.


If the drive level is too high, you will drive the radio into 
using automatic level control which will produce a distorted 
signal on the air.


If the output power is stablising at levels lower than the 
setting, try the Transmit Gain calibration procedure.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 3/4/21 at 2:35 PM, ju...@juliatuttle.net (Julia Tuttle) wrote:


I'm trying to get my KX3 set up for FT8 and JS8call and all those fun
modes, and I'm running into a bit of trouble with setting the audio
interface volume and mic gain.

The KX3 manual suggests aiming for no more than 3-4 bars of ALC indication
to prevent distortion, but if I do this, I don't always get full output
power.

Initially I chalked this up to the firmware reducing output power from
heat, but it's proportional: if I ask for 10 W, I get 7; if I ask for 5, I
get 3, and so on.

It also doesn't always happen!

Any ideas?

73s,

Julie

-
Bill Frantz| Airline peanut bag: "Produced  | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | in a facility that processes   | 150 
Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | peanuts and other nuts." - Duh | 
Peterborough, NH 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] K4 Shipping update?

[Bill Frantz]

I know one person who has a production K4. He doesn't want his 
name publicized because he doesn't want to be flooded with 
questions. I suspect most of the other lucky ones feel the same way.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 3/1/21 at 4:27 PM, w...@bellsouth.net (Joseph Trombino, Jr) wrote:


Have I missed any K4 shipping updates or have there just not been any lately?

---
Bill Frantz| Concurrency is hard. 12   | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | out 10 programmers get it | 150 Rivermead 
Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | wrong.  - Jeff Frantz | Peterborough, 
NH 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] status of bugs on existing Elecraft models?

[Bill Frantz]

One hack to avoid damage to the radio from transmitting when 
there is no antenna attached is to run with power settings by 
band and set the power for that HF band to zero.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 3/1/21 at 1:55 PM, pe1...@xs4all.nl (Geert Jan de Groot) wrote:


Enabling any HF band makes
this problem go away, but this allows accidental transmitting on antenna
ports that are not connected.


---
Bill Frantz| My subscription to Life  | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | expired, but I still have a  | 150 
Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | subscription to Mad. - WA1LOU| 
Peterborough, NH 03458


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[Elecraft] Fwd: [wsjt-devel] Elecraft K4

[Bill Frantz]

This request appeared on the wsjt-x developers list. Michael is 
the HamLib developer for wsjt-x. If you can help him, please 
contact him directly.


73 Bill AE6JV

== Forwarded Message ==
Date: 2/27/21 5:25 AM
Received: 2/27/21 12:30 AM -0500
From: wsjt-de...@lists.sourceforge.net (Black Michael via wsjt-devel)
To: wsjt-de...@lists.sourceforge.net (WSJT Software Development)
CC: mdblac...@yahoo.com (Black Michael)

Any Elecraft K4 users out there willing to do some testing with 
hamlib/wsjt-x?Trying to ensure it's covered correctly.

Mike W9MDB


== End Forwarded Message ==


Bill Frantz|"Insofar as the propositions of mathematics 
refer to
408-348-7900   | reality, they are not certain; and insofar 
they are
www.pwpconsult.com | certain, they do not refer to reality.” 
-- Einstein
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Re: [Elecraft] K4 Bluetooth audio?

[Bill Frantz]

For low latency, look at devices designed for gamers. They need low latency too.

73 Bill AE6JV

On 2/25/21 at 6:25 AM, g...@gmx.net wrote:

> The latency is ok with BT aptX. You should look for the BT adapter
> supporting it plus the headphones. Sometimes they just say "lower
> latency" but this is not aptX. See here for more info:
> https://www.aptx.com/aptx-low-latency

-------
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(408)348-7900  | library burns. - Joe McGawon | 150 Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | Irish Ethnographer   | Peterborough, NH 03458

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Re: [Elecraft] K3-FT8

[Bill Frantz]

When I get a bunch of decodes, I look at the time column. If the 
values are mostly less than 0.5 things are OK. If they are over 
1, then you probably won't make many QSOs.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 2/24/21 at 12:35 PM, ea...@comcast.net (Eugene Oliva) wrote:

I reset the time on my computer and made a contact.  It seems 
the time was off. Thanks to all that responded.


---
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do good for

408-348-7900   |an evolved body of kludges" - Mark Miller
www.pwpconsult.com |

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Re: [Elecraft] An FT8 Radio- just dreaming

[Bill Frantz]

One of my favorite radios was a Small Wonders Labs PSK20. This 
was a radio designed to only send and receive on the 20M PSK 
subband (14.070-14.074). Coupled with a computer to run PSK 
software it made a very effective travel radio, and I made many 
QSOs with it.


In the modern age, a KX2 is about the same size, but covers 
80M-10M and is basically a HF HT. Many of the JS8Call people are 
using modern Raspberry Pis to run the software, and JS8Call uses 
the same encode/decode/modulation as FT8. (It allows rag chewing.)


For myself, I could probably change the frequency on my PSK20 to 
work on the 20M FT8 band, but it's not a high personal priority.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 2/22/21 at 10:36 PM, elecraft@mailman.qth.net (Doug Millar 
via Elecraft) wrote:


I have been wondering for some time- How will FT8 change ham 
radio equipment?  Right off I imagine a radio and computer in 
one box maybe with the display. (FT8 should vastly simplify the 
first interface with the radio, with menus reaching deeper into 
its control. Most of today's designs are not well enough 
integrated and I think are hampered by preconceptions. Nor do 
they take advantage of graphic user interfaces that are common 
in say cell phones.  I think it could be one box with voice 
and touch control with keyboard and mouse optional. How about 
an internal projector so that the screen can be projected onto 
another surface making monitors optional? If it is going to be 
worth it, It has to be not different but do things differently. 
    Has anyone else had any thoughts?    Doug K6JEY


---
Bill Frantz| Can't fix stupid, but   | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | duct tape can muffle the| 150 Rivermead 
Road #235

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Re: [Elecraft] Reminder of the 80 Meter net tonight at 0100 UTC on 3.815

[Bill Frantz]

We had a lovely rump net on 3.825. Here are the calls and signal 
strengths in New Hampshire


k2vjk s9+5
wb9jnz s9 - s7 with 100w radio
k8nu s7
wm6p s7
n9cpd s7
wy3t s6
wd8paj s7 dink
wk4odl s7

73 Bill AE6JV

On 2/21/21 at 6:09 PM, pvandyke1...@gmail.com (Paul Van Dyke) wrote:


We will see if they let us have it...
73
Paul KB9AVO


---
Bill Frantz|"We used to quip that "password" is the most common
408-348-7900   | password. Now it's 'password1.' Who said 
users haven't

www.pwpconsult.com | learned anything about security?" -- Bruce Schneier

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Re: [Elecraft] K3 assembly issue

[Bill Frantz]

When I have had issues like this, I have gotten excellent support from 
.

73 Bill AE6JV

On 2/14/21 at 4:32 PM, kj7...@gmail.com (KJ7SOY) wrote:

> I have the rev B RF board and I’m doing the manual’s resistance tests. 
> Voltage regulators U12 and U13 
> are both supposed to test at > 150 ohms. U12 passes but U13 tests at 87 ohms. 
> This unit has never been 
> powered up so I suspect it has to be a bad regulator. I can solder a board 
> just fine and assemble 
> PCB’s but I’m not overly comfortable with hardware debugging. I’ve removed 
> the side cover and checked 
> for loose boards, bad connections, etc. with no success. Anyone have any 
> ideas how I should proceed? 
> Do I just replace the regulator? Do some other debugging?

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Re: [Elecraft] K3 - Maximum CW speed from manual key

[Bill Frantz]

To try to make sense of this experiment, I immediately assumed 
that Kurt wouldn't be using a hand key, but rather a device that 
interfaced to the radio through the KEY jack. Obviously an 
electronic switch could switch the key jack that fast, but I'm 
not sure about a relay.


The other question that occurs to me is, "How wide will the 
resulting signal be?"


73 Bill AE6JV

On 2/6/21 at 12:02 PM, dpbu...@gmail.com (David Bunte) wrote:


Kurt -

300 wpm is so far beyond any speed I am aware of a human copying that I
never gave that issue any thought... and few folks I know can send good CW
above 40 ish wpm with a hand key, so I doubt if many folks have given that
any thought. I will be interested to see what answers you get...  and am
curious as to why you want to know? Just curious or do you have a need to
do that kind of speed with a hand key?

Dave - K9FN

On Sat, Feb 6, 2021 at 10:04 AM Kurt Theis  wrote:


Greetings list!

I searched the archives and other sources, but haven't found an answer, so
I'll try here.
I'm looking to find the maximum cw speed on my K3 (with new oscillators,
serial 8xxx)
when using a manual cw key plugged into the KEY jack on the back of the
radio.

I don't mean the internal keyer, or memories. I'm not using QSK, so that
won't be an issue. The K3 is put into TX mode via an external TX switch,
and keyed via the KEY jack.

I'm hoping for speeds in excess of 300 WPM. Possible?

--
theis.k...@gmail.com

-
Bill Frantz| When it comes to the world | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | around us, is there any choice | 150 
Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | but to explore? - Lisa Randall | 
Peterborough, NH 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] Can I rent a K4?

[Bill Frantz]

Sure sounds like the service Remote Ham Radio 
<https://www.remotehamradio.com/> is already offering with Flex 
equipment. I seem to remember there also a service that offers 
Elecraft equipment.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 2/3/21 at 2:20 PM, ab7e...@gmail.com (David Gilbert) wrote:

I suppose, given the purported remote capability of the K4 
using a free app (as opposed to a piece of dedicated hardware), 
somebody might be willing to offer remote access to a K4 in 
exchange for a modest fee.  In my opinion, if the K4 is as 
remotable as claimed then it should be mostly possible to 
evaluate it that way.   Even then I suspect that Elecraft 
wouldn't want the hassle of offering that ... maybe somebody 
else would.


---
Bill Frantz| Security is like Government  | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | services. The market doesn't | 150 
Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | want to pay for them.| 
Peterborough, NH 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] K2 w/ KAT100 PC control

[Bill Frantz]

Digi-Key has high quality connectors. I would guess Mouser does also.

73 Bill AE6JV

On 1/30/21 at 7:29 PM, donw...@embarqmail.com (Don Wilhelm) wrote:

Spend the $$$ to buy Amphenol or other name brand connectors, 
and you will not be sorry.  If you are willing to take your 
chances on "penny pinching",then you can buy any connector that 
is advertised, but be prepared to accept connection failures.


73,
Don W3FPR

On 1/30/2021 6:48 PM, Chuck Chandler wrote:

I’m looking to build the cable shown on page 25 of the KAT100 manual to
allow me to use a PC for logging while also using the KAT100 with the K2
aboard the USS Slater.

Anyone recall any pitfalls or DB9 connectors to avoid?  Amazon has some
cheap ones but reviews are that they are, well, cheap.

---
Bill Frantz|"We used to quip that "password" is the most common
408-348-7900   | password. Now it's 'password1.' Who said 
users haven't

www.pwpconsult.com | learned anything about security?" -- Bruce Schneier

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Re: [Elecraft] Signals wild...signals caged

[Bill Frantz]

If you want to relive the "good old days", get on the air on 
Straight Key Night. It's a much better way to spend New Years 
Eve than drinking.


People bring out all kinds of old equipment and put it on the 
air. I have an entry in my log for a QSO with AE6C with the 
note, "SKN: running conar 1 tube to kpa500 + collins rx". And he 
sent me a old QSL to match, with a much younger photo of 
himself. The Conar was not not worth the 578 I gave him for 
tone, but charity is a virtue.


I was running my K3 with a J-38 straight key. Maybe I should 
have used my RockMite.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 1/28/21 at 1:11 PM, n...@elecraft.com (Wayne Burdick) wrote:

In fact -- trust me on this one -- RST reports haven't always 
ended with a dependable "9." I once gave out an RST of 332. 
I'll never forget that poor soul's chaotic whoop, best 
described as a singular blend of yodel and kazoo.


-------
Bill Frantz| Truth and love must prevail  | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | over lies and hate.  | 150 
Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com |   - Vaclav Havel | 
Peterborough, NH 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] K3S/USB Cable/Mac mini/WSJT-X

[Bill Frantz]

I had similar symptoms with both CAT PTT and VOX on. Turning VOX 
off fixed the problem.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 1/26/21 at 10:02 AM, flat...@comcast.net (Richard) wrote:


Doug,

Thought I was home free last night (Jan 24). My final recipe was this:

RADIO Panel:
Rig: K3s
Poll Interval: 1 s
CAT Control
Serial Port: /dev/tty.usbserial-A60092F3
Serial Port Parameters
Baud Rate: 38400
Data Bits - Eight
Stop Bits - One
Handshake - None
Force Control Lines - both blank
PTT Method - CAT
Mode - Data/Pkt
Split Operation - None

AUDIO Panel: USB Audio CODEC at computer and WSJT-X

The PWR slider is set to produce ALC of 4 solid bars and 5th bar fluttering.

I spent four or five hours working DX with it on 30-meter FT8 
last night, and that setup worked PERFECTLY every time: 
Transmit start and Transmit stop times right on the money. I 
mean, it was PERFECT!


I thought I was home free. I took screen shots of every 
Preference panel, the Mac Sound thing, even the Audio MIDI 
Setup panel in the Mac mini.


BUT! When I fired it up this morning (Jan 25), it was right 
back to starting Transmit late and not coming out of 
Transmit… at all. I have to tap the XMIT button to stop it. 
What the hell??? What could change overnight? I didn’t touch 
anything when I shut down last night or when I fired up this morning.


HOWEVER, as the afternoon and evening arrived, those symptoms 
went away and the setup was perfect again!


MORE HOWEVER, This morning, Jan 26, the symptoms were back 
again. I’ll take another look this afternoon, but this is 
getting spooky.


ANY and ALL ideas and suggestions will be MOST welcome, up to 
and including (if absolutely necessary), replacing the driver.


---
Bill Frantz|"Web security is like medicine - trying to 
do good for

408-348-7900   |an evolved body of kludges" - Mark Miller
www.pwpconsult.com |

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Re: [Elecraft] Difference between a K3 and a K3S

[Bill Frantz]

When I ordered the 100W card for my K3, the one delivered was 
the one for the K3S with the bypass relay.


As you got closer to the K3S radios, a K3 you ordered would have 
the more modern cards. Kinda of a gradual upgrade.


If you hava a late serial K3, it might be worth popping the 
cover to see what is in your radio.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 1/25/21 at 8:05 PM, hullspee...@gmail.com (Warren Merkel) wrote:


Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2021 11:33:35 -0500
From: To: Henry Pollock - K4TMC
Cc: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Difference between a K3 and a K3S



Was the KSYN3A synthesizer ever built into the K3 as a standard item?  If so, 
beginning at what

serial number?


Thanks,
Mike NJ2OM



Yes.  The K3 radios built right before the K3s was announced 
started coming with the KSYN3A.  Mine is #8903 and came with 
two of the new synths. (sub RX)   It also has the HPA from the 
K3s.  Kinda a Premi-K3s


Warren Merkel, KD4Z


---
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Rd #235
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Re: [Elecraft] Replacement Manuals

[Bill Frantz]

I guess they've run out of printed copies. When I entered K3S in 
the search box on the Elecraft web site, one of the options was 
"Manuals" which offered both the User's Manual and the Assembly 
Manual for between $35 and $40.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 1/25/21 at 10:09 AM, flat...@comcast.net (Richard) wrote:


I loaned my K3s user’s manual to a friend and it got lost in the mail on the 
way back to me.

Can I get a replacement from The Company?


-
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eloquence, it is force; like
408-348-7900   | a fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful 
master. Never for a
www.pwpconsult.com | moment should it be left to irresponsible 
action. Geo Washington


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Re: [Elecraft] Different focus

[Bill Frantz]

IEEE Binary Floating Point assumes (except in case of a very 
small, de-normalized number), that the high order bit of the 
mantissa is a one. With this assumption, it doesn't need to 
actually represent the one in memory. So, it has 8 bits of 
exponent, 1 bit of sign, and 24 bits of mantissa crammed into 32 
bits. It should be able to handle the full precision of a 24 bit 
AtoD converter.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 1/25/21 at 8:15 AM, aa...@arrl.net (Bill Coleman) wrote:




On Jan 24, 2021, at 1:33 PM, Wayne Burdick  wrote:


(Or did we have some other definition of “higher-performance”?)


Yes: More bits than 16, more monotonicity in the LSBs, general improvement in 
SFDR, or lower

internal noise.


Adding more ADC bits does not require more DSP horsepower. The DSP is 32 bit 
floating point.


Well, that works up to 23-bits! (FP numbers have a 23-bit mantissa)


---
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Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | written down. - Dean Tribble| Peterborough, 
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Re: [Elecraft] Mac vs K3s - Again

[Bill Frantz]

On 1/23/21 at 12:32 PM, fra...@pwpconsult.com (Bill Frantz) wrote:


I had similar problems to yours until I purged my system of all non-Apple 
drivers.


Digging deeper into Richard's issue, I found this note I wrote 
myself when I had a problem very similar to his:


FTDI Driver Issues on MacOX

I upgraded my computer to MacOS High Sierra and found it could
not contact the K3. The K3 utility failed, RUMlogNG failed, and
wsjt-x failed. I found the following by robertklep on the web:

What seems to have worked for me is actually removing the FTDI
driver (/Library/Extensions/FTDIUSBSerialDriver.kext), after
finding that Apple ships an FTDI driver with the OS itself 
(/System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBFTDI.kext).

I moved the driver out of
/Library/Extensions/FTDIUSBSerialDriver.kext and things started
working again.


I hope this note may help someone else.

73 Bill AE6JV

---
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There you're
408-348-7900   | fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. 
The only

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Re: [Elecraft] Mac vs K3s - Again

[Bill Frantz]

You should use the standard Apple FTDI driver. It works.

I had similar problems to yours until I purged my system of all 
non-Apple drivers.


BTW, I am now running Mojave 10.14.6. I'm back here so I can run 
my 32 bit applications like cocoaModem and cocoaNEC.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 1/23/21 at 11:50 AM, flat...@comcast.net (Richard) wrote:

I’m going to try replacing the probably out of date FTDI 
driver with a new driver from SciLabs. Do I need to remove the 
old FTDI driver before installing the new SciLabs driver?


---
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(408)348-7900  | see me again.  - Donald   | 150 Rivermead 
Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | Trump, September 19, 2020 | Peterborough, 
NH 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] Was the Jan 22 K4 demo recorded?

[Bill Frantz]

I believe it was. I seem to remember seeing the record light on in the Zoom 
window.

73 Bill AE6JV

On 1/23/21 at 10:36 AM, thedusty...@imaginarian.org (Rich NE1EE) wrote:

> 
> ~R~
> 72/73 de Rich NE1EE
> The Dusty Key
> On the banks of the Piscataqua

-------
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Re: [Elecraft] K4 Receive Filter question

[Bill Frantz]

Not to pick on Bruce, but there have been many posts to this 
thread with essentially the same thought.


However, none of them talk about what I see as one of the most 
important performance characteristics, which is the user 
interface (UI). How easy it the radio to use?


For me, I do a lot of digital modes. Here I want to monitor all 
of the power output, SWR, and ALC. On my K3, I have to switch 
between them. On the K4 I can have them all on the screen.


How easy is it to tune to a signal I see on the panadapter? On 
the P3, I need to move the cursor (via a knob) to be on top of 
the signal and press a button. Honestly, it's easier to turn the 
big knob. On the K4 I touch the touch screen. (I hope this 
screen is better at detecting my touch than my iPhone.)


There are probably a bunch of other examples too.

And, since I'm interested in remote operation, I think that will 
be a lot easier with a K4.


And I haven't even mentioned TX or RX performance. But it's an 
Elecraft, so I'm not worried.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 1/19/21 at 1:40 PM, wa8...@gmail.com (BRUCE WW8II) wrote:


If and when I spend my
cash I am not looking for the pretty blinkie colored lights and a fancy
screen, I want performance.


---
Bill Frantz| Truth and love must prevail  | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | over lies and hate.  | 150 
Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com |   - Vaclav Havel | 
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Re: [Elecraft] Automatic lightning protection for radios, an off the wall idea

[Bill Frantz]

I also received a link to:

<https://dl4zao.de/projekte/index.html#a1642> which is also an 
antenna disconnect. Note that the web page is in German, but you 
can download an English version of the manual.


A device that only disconnects the antenna fixes only part of 
the problem. What I would really like is a box that covers all 
the radio's connections.


It may not be necessary to cover all the connections. Elecraft 
support probably has a good idea of what in the radio survives 
nearby lightning strikes and what dies.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 1/19/21 at 10:35 AM, joe_a...@yahoo.com (Joe Pugliano) wrote:


Check out this Paradan antenna disconnect.
Paradan Radio Antenna Disconnect Actuators P-ADA-1


---
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408-348-7900   |an evolved body of kludges" - Mark Miller
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Re: [Elecraft] Waaay OT: A new kind of QRM to be aware of ... warning issued by FCC today

[Bill Frantz]

After a quick read through your K4 pedestrian mobile exercise, 
it occurs to me you would get a lighter rig with a longer "on" 
time using a LiFePO4 battery. :-)


But what fun!

73 Bill AE6JV

On 1/18/21 at 11:54 AM, n...@elecraft.com (Wayne Burdick) wrote:

(Seriously, as fun distractions go, I vote for our newsletter 
article about using the K4 pedestrian mobile.)


---
Bill Frantz| Truth and love must prevail  | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | over lies and hate.  | 150 
Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com |   - Vaclav Havel | 
Peterborough, NH 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] Automatic lightning protection for radios, .... an off the wall idea

[Bill Frantz]

To add to what I just posted, Wayne just posted a link to a K4 
manual that states:


ESD and Lightning Protection: Even though the the K4 has 
extensive internal protective circuitry, external protection 
against lightning strikes is strongly recommended, especially in 
lightning-prone areas. During storms and when the station is not 
in use for an extended period, disconnect ALL equipment from the 
radio, including antennas, the power supply, routers or hubs, 
and computers. Ethernet, USB, and RS232 cables are a frequent 
source of damaging surge voltages.


73 Bill AE6JV

---
Bill Frantz| gets() remains as a monument | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | to C's continuing support of | 150 
Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | buffer overruns. | 
Peterborough, NH 03458



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Re: [Elecraft] Automatic lightning protection for radios, .... an off the wall idea

[Bill Frantz]

While serious lightning protection for structures and other 
robust things must be done outside the building, I have heard 
reports of K3S USB chips being fried from currents induced in 
the USB cable attached to the radio, with the suggestion of 
disconnecting the cable to protect the chip. I don't see how to 
do this disconnect outside the building.


When I consider a direct strike on my shack's lighting rods, I 
see massive currents flowing down the thick aluminum cables from 
the rods to the grounding system. I see these currents inducing 
currents in any wires in the house, including the USB cable. The 
lightning rods are the first level of protection, but may not be 
enough to protect sensitive electronic equipment. Remember, when 
we work on these radios, we have a grounding wrist strap and a 
conductive mat on the work surface etc.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 1/18/21 at 11:38 AM, rmcg...@blomand.net (Bob McGraw) wrote:

Just remember that ALL lightning protection must be 
accomplished outside of the house or structure.  Do not think 
for one minute that one can provide lightning protection inside 
the equipment or structure.


---
Bill Frantz| gets() remains as a monument | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | to C's continuing support of | 150 
Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | buffer overruns. | 
Peterborough, NH 03458


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[Elecraft] Automatic lightning protection for radios, an off the wall idea

[Bill Frantz]

I've been thinking about some kind of automatic lightning 
protection for radios, specifically ones like the K3 and K4. The 
idea is that when you turn the radio off, all the things that 
are subject to damage are protected by disconnecting them from 
the external world and shorting their inputs to ground.


This approach probably wouldn't protect against a direct hit to 
one of the wires coming into the radio, which are most likely on 
the antenna input and the power from a solar system. But I 
understand that the most significant part of the problem is 
voltage spikes introduced when the external wires act as 
antennas and pick up nearby lightning strikes.


I'm not a hardware engineer, so I'm going to assume that relays 
are used in this device. Some of the things I see this device 
doing are:


USB connection: Elecraft tells us that blown USB chips are one 
of the more common forms of lightning damage in the K3. There 
are 4 wires in the USB interface, two of which carry power from 
the external world. The relay(s) would float the USB wires and 
ground the connections to the internal USB chip. Since power 
from the external world is present when the radio is off, we 
can't ground the power leads, although we can ground the power 
input to the radio's USB chip.


Note that currently a computer attached to the K3 can see its 
USB chip, even when the radio is turned off. This change would 
mean that the computer would no longer see the radio over USB, 
which might have annoying software effects.


A similar thing could happen to the antenna inputs.

Key/Paddle, microphone, headphones, RS232, etc. would be treated 
the same way.


The AUXbus would be treated similarly, but anything that can be 
turned on via the AUXbus would need special handling.


The 12V power input is needed to turn the radio on with the 
power button. I don't know how often radios are damaged through 
their 12V power input. This input may not need protection. 
Otherwise, the relay that protects power and the switch to the 
radio could be the only things powered when the radio is off. If 
it can't be protected, it could be made easily field replaceable.


It would be neat if there's enough room inside a K4 to put this 
kind of protection "under the covers".


73 Bill AE6JV

---
Bill Frantz| The race is not always to the swift, nor 
the |
(408)348-7900  | battle to the strong, but that's the way to 
bet. |
www.pwpconsult.com |   - Damon 
Runyon |


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Re: [Elecraft] How to download firmware into K4

[Bill Frantz]

It sounds like I might be in trouble since the only Internet 
access in my shack is via Wifi on my phone. Guess why I'm always 
contesting as unassisted.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 1/13/21 at 2:37 AM, n...@arrl.net (Bob Wilson, N6TV) wrote:


Yes, you connect the K4 Ethernet port to your Router or Ethernet switch,
then software updates may be downloaded on demand direct from the Internet
by tapping Fn > UPDATE and following the prompts.

---
Bill Frantz| If you want total security, go to prison. 
There you're
408-348-7900   | fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. 
The only

www.pwpconsult.com | thing lacking is freedom. - Dwight D. Eisenhower

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Re: [Elecraft] Head Phones

[Bill Frantz]

I have had some Sennheiser noise canceling headphones for 
perhaps 10 years. They are still going strong with no 
significant signs of wear.


They work well for public service events involving parades 
because they make it possible to hear while a high school band 
is playing in your ear. (You also need a noise canceling mic so 
others can hear you over the band.)


I've never found them to be uncomfortable, even on extended 
airplane trip, where they reduce the cabin noise level. I use 
them even if I'm not listening to anything just to reduce the 
noise level.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 1/13/21 at 4:17 PM, ecke...@gmail.com (Paul Ecker) wrote:


Know this is a well worn out subject. But looking for a reasonably priced,
but comfortable set of headphones. Just the headphones, don't need a mic. A
set that is lightweight enough to wear for a few hours but reasonable
performance. Any recommendations?

73 Paul w2eck


---
Bill Frantz| Re: Computer reliability, performance, and security:
408-348-7900   | The guy who *is* wearing a parachute is 
*not* the

www.pwpconsult.com | first to reach the ground.  - Terence Kelly

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Re: [Elecraft] 80 meter net

[Bill Frantz]

On 1/12/21 at 10:15 AM, k2...@k2vjk.com (K2VJK) wrote:


Is the 80 meter net CW or Voice?  73  Vern


The 80M net is SSB (voice) at 0100z Monday in the UK, Sunday 
night in USA. There are also SSB nets on 14.3035 (1800z) and 
2.280 (1900z) on Sunday.


Kevin. KD5ONS runs CW nets which are currently:

14050 kHz at 2200z Sunday  (2 PM PST Sunday)
 7047 kHz at 0030z Monday  (4:30 PM PST Sunday)

He will change the time and frequency to try to optimize 
propagation and QRM. He announces the current schedule every 
week on the Elecraft email list.


73 Bill AE6JV

---
Bill Frantz| Re: Computer reliability, performance, and security:
408-348-7900   | The guy who *is* wearing a parachute is 
*not* the

www.pwpconsult.com | first to reach the ground.  - Terence Kelly

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Re: [Elecraft] Does a K4 need an external sound card for FT8?

[Bill Frantz]

In an ideal world, we would not have any analog audio in use for 
digital modes. Analog RF to the ADC in the front end of the 
radio. Digital through the "radio" to the digital path to the 
computer to the digital processing for digital modes.


The K3S actually goes through a DtoA conversion and then a AtoD 
again within the radio. Does the K4 also do this?


For audio, of course, somewhere we need to do DtoA conversion.

73 Bill AE6JV

On 1/4/21 at 8:36 PM, n...@elecraft.com (Wayne Burdick) wrote:

The sound card is built into the K4 (stereo line out for RX, 
line in for TX). Adjustment is simple. There is no advantage 
whatsoever to using an external sound card.


The K4 also has analog line in/out for backwards compatibility, 
and supports digital audio streaming over Ethernet as well.


---
Bill Frantz| Security is like Government  | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | services. The market doesn't | 150 
Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com | want to pay for them.| 
Peterborough, NH 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] External sound card advice needed to attach to, K3

[Bill Frantz]

I helped teach a number of ham crams for the our local 
ARES/RACES group. We always included information about Ohm's 
law, how to cut a 1/2 wave dipole, and operating procedures. 
They're all on the tech test, and for many students it's a lot 
easier to learn how to figure out the answer than it is to 
remember which multiple-guess is correct.


Quick example: There is a question about how long a 1/4 wave 
antenna is for 2M. We tell them that 40" is a good enough 
conversion for a meter, so 2M is 80" and 1/4 or 80" is 20". The 
correct answer on the test is 19" but the other 3 answers are 
way wrong, so picking the closest answer works. We even get to 
mention that the velocity of light in a wire is slower than it 
is in free space, so 19" is the right answer.


What I find with students is that many are completely at sea 
about how ham radio works in the practical sense of picking up a 
microphone and making a contact. There's nothing like just doing it.


We would run a 2nd class a month after the ham cram and license 
test. We would tell the students to bring their new radios and 
we would get the local repeaters programmed into them. We would 
then coach them in making some contacts with each other.


As weeks went by, we would encourage them to act as net control 
for our weekly net, and then to act as net control for the 
county net when it was our group's turn.


Again, like any student, spoon feed them at a rate such that 
they can learn. It takes a lot of Elmering to make a ham.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 1/1/21 at 10:58 PM, rmcg...@blomand.net (Bob McGraw) wrote:

I was asked by a club to teach a new hams class in preparation 
for the license exam.   I inquired as to what I would be 
teaching. The answer came back "the test!". No thank 
you, if I can't teach Ohms law, how to cut a 1/2 wave dipole, 
and operating procedure, I'll just stay under my rock.   I've 
been licensed for 60 years and had my First Class Radio 
Telephone license before I obtained my ham license, that was 
while in high school in 1960.  I guess that makes me an old 
f**t as well.

---
Bill Frantz| If the site is supported by  | Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  | ads, you are the product.| 150 
Rivermead Road #235
www.pwpconsult.com |  | 
Peterborough, NY 03458


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Re: [Elecraft] External sound card advice needed to attach to K3

[Bill Frantz]

I know the public service/emcom people have pushed on this 
issue, because a fair number of public service events involve 
providing communication support for parades, and parades have 
bands, and bands are quite loud and overcome even a noise 
canceling microphone. I think there has even been an official 
ruling that these incidental sounds, that come along for the 
ride with legal communication, won't get you a notice from the FCC.


Now transmitting voice in the CW bands is a different story. For 
starts, it's not incidental to legal communication.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 1/1/21 at 1:22 PM, rick.n...@gmail.com (Rick Bates, NK7I) wrote:

Defined in the simplest of terms, any sound transmitted other 
than for the purposes of communication (voice, tones for 
digital) is illegal.


This includes background music in the same room as the 
microphone (though generally ignored as part of the 
environment, in the US; same as telephone 'hold' music in an 
autopatch; traffic noise etc.) and certainly includes the 
'musical' sounds from most OS (they offer no communication).


---
Bill Frantz|The nice thing about standards| Periwinkle
(408)348-7900  |is there are so many to choose| 150 
Rivermead Rd #235
www.pwpconsult.com |from.   - Andrew Tanenbaum| 
Peterborough, NH 03458


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