Re: [Elecraft] K2 trouble shooting
Hi Don, OK, on that line which is pin 14 on U3, there is only a couple mv but no pulses. The state of that line never changes. The other strange thing is the ENC-A data level only being 2v p-p verses ENC-B which is a full 5v p-p signal. Shouldn't both ENC data lines be a full 5v p-p TTL signal? Worst case, does Elecraft take in repairs direct? I could send in both display boards if that is the case. I sure wish I had test boards to swap in, to verify which board is causing the issues. I received the final amp rebuilding components the other day but I will wait to install them until after this dead VFO issue is repaired. Mike WE0H Don Wilhelm wrote: Mike, Other than the wiring paths for ENC A and ENC B signals through the connectors and to CB U6 pins 8 and 16, there is nothing else for these two signals. However, for the encoder to be read, the /ENC RD signal must be at a low level and that signal is generated from FP U3 pin 14. Look for low going pulses with your scope. If they are not present, FP U3 may be at fault. 73, Don W3FPR Mike-WE0H wrote: Hi Don, Ref K2 #6698: I tried a new encoder but it did nothing different than the original encoder. Tonight I see that ENC-A is only 2v p-p while ENC-B is 5v p-p. This is measured right on the encoder terminals and on the U6 MCU chip. I don't see any resistor network pull ups on these lines. Do you think the MCU could have gotten hurt with the spike on the 14v VCC line that shorted the one final and that VCC filter cap? I see data on both ENC lines when I spin the encoder. The Encoder VCC is a solid 5.0vdc. All other functions work on this radio except anything where I need to turn the encoder to access something in a menu or change anything. The radio receives fine on whatever the display freq is and transmits fine on the same freq on all bands. I just can't change any VFO digit other than the far right digit, or if I spin the encoder shaft left right, it will slowly increase the displayed freq but not go down. Mike WE0H __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K2 trouble shooting
Hi Don, OK, I can see those signals on pin 6 16 easily. Pin 14 is dead. It stays low. I am using DC coupling. ENC-A is only going to 2v and ENC-B goes to 5v. Both those data lines show data when the encoder is spun in either direction. Both lines will either rest at zero or a high state. But, ENC-A high is 2v not 5v. ENC-B high is 5v. Something is not right with ENC-A. If I pull the jumper wire from the encoder's ENC-A line and put the scope on the encoder's ENC-A terminal, I now get the 5v p-p signal that I would expect out of the encoder. So with that said, the MCU is not letting the ENC-A data line swing from 0-5v. It only allows a 0-2v swing which is not enough. Would you agree the MCU is faulty the U3 IC? Having two IC's giving troubles is rare but this radio suffered from severe spikes on the 14v line which shorted a electrolytic cap and one final transistor. BTW, I am copying this to the Elecraft reflector so it is in the database for someone else down the road. This is definitely a strange problem with this radio. I think we are getting closer to the solution. Mike WE0H Don Wilhelm wrote: Mike, Do you have the 'scope vertical amp set to DC? This is logic level switching and the DC levels are significant, not the peak to peak variation. Yes, the levels must be above or below the switching thresholds. On the /ENC RD line, compare it to the levels at FP U3 pins 6 and/or 16 - it should be similar. To really tell the whole story, one would have to use 3 probes on the 'scope - trigger on the /ENC RD signal going low and observe the state of the ENC A and ENC B signals at that time. Elecraft does repairs, but only on complete kits. If this is the route you need to go, contact sa...@elecraft.com for further information and obtain an RSA number with instructions for packing and where to send it. 73, Don W3FPR Mike-WE0H wrote: Hi Don, OK, on that line which is pin 14 on U3, there is only a couple mv but no pulses. The state of that line never changes. The other strange thing is the ENC-A data level only being 2v p-p verses ENC-B which is a full 5v p-p signal. Shouldn't both ENC data lines be a full 5v p-p TTL signal? Worst case, does Elecraft take in repairs direct? I could send in both display boards if that is the case. I sure wish I had test boards to swap in, to verify which board is causing the issues. I received the final amp rebuilding components the other day but I will wait to install them until after this dead VFO issue is repaired. Mike WE0H Don Wilhelm wrote: Mike, Other than the wiring paths for ENC A and ENC B signals through the connectors and to CB U6 pins 8 and 16, there is nothing else for these two signals. However, for the encoder to be read, the /ENC RD signal must be at a low level and that signal is generated from FP U3 pin 14. Look for low going pulses with your scope. If they are not present, FP U3 may be at fault. 73, Don W3FPR Mike-WE0H wrote: Hi Don, Ref K2 #6698: I tried a new encoder but it did nothing different than the original encoder. Tonight I see that ENC-A is only 2v p-p while ENC-B is 5v p-p. This is measured right on the encoder terminals and on the U6 MCU chip. I don't see any resistor network pull ups on these lines. Do you think the MCU could have gotten hurt with the spike on the 14v VCC line that shorted the one final and that VCC filter cap? I see data on both ENC lines when I spin the encoder. The Encoder VCC is a solid 5.0vdc. All other functions work on this radio except anything where I need to turn the encoder to access something in a menu or change anything. The radio receives fine on whatever the display freq is and transmits fine on the same freq on all bands. I just can't change any VFO digit other than the far right digit, or if I spin the encoder shaft left right, it will slowly increase the displayed freq but not go down. Mike WE0H __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K2 trouble shooting
OK, I will contact the Elecraft Parts department and see how to order these two components. Thank you again and lets hope this is the final answer to this damaged K2. I will post when and what all was required to repair this radio on this reflector so it may help others if they run into this sort of issue. Mike WE0H Don Wilhelm wrote: Mike, Yes, it sounds like you have it adequately analyzed and I do agree with your conclusions. FP U3 has a bad pin 14 output and the MCU input for ENC A also has a problem and is dragging the signal down. 73, Don W3FPR Mike-WE0H wrote: Hi Don, OK, I can see those signals on pin 6 16 easily. Pin 14 is dead. It stays low. I am using DC coupling. ENC-A is only going to 2v and ENC-B goes to 5v. Both those data lines show data when the encoder is spun in either direction. Both lines will either rest at zero or a high state. But, ENC-A high is 2v not 5v. ENC-B high is 5v. Something is not right with ENC-A. If I pull the jumper wire from the encoder's ENC-A line and put the scope on the encoder's ENC-A terminal, I now get the 5v p-p signal that I would expect out of the encoder. So with that said, the MCU is not letting the ENC-A data line swing from 0-5v. It only allows a 0-2v swing which is not enough. Would you agree the MCU is faulty the U3 IC? Having two IC's giving troubles is rare but this radio suffered from severe spikes on the 14v line which shorted a electrolytic cap and one final transistor. BTW, I am copying this to the Elecraft reflector so it is in the database for someone else down the road. This is definitely a strange problem with this radio. I think we are getting closer to the solution. Mike WE0H Don Wilhelm wrote: Mike, Do you have the 'scope vertical amp set to DC? This is logic level switching and the DC levels are significant, not the peak to peak variation. Yes, the levels must be above or below the switching thresholds. On the /ENC RD line, compare it to the levels at FP U3 pins 6 and/or 16 - it should be similar. To really tell the whole story, one would have to use 3 probes on the 'scope - trigger on the /ENC RD signal going low and observe the state of the ENC A and ENC B signals at that time. Elecraft does repairs, but only on complete kits. If this is the route you need to go, contact sa...@elecraft.com for further information and obtain an RSA number with instructions for packing and where to send it. 73, Don W3FPR Mike-WE0H wrote: Hi Don, OK, on that line which is pin 14 on U3, there is only a couple mv but no pulses. The state of that line never changes. The other strange thing is the ENC-A data level only being 2v p-p verses ENC-B which is a full 5v p-p signal. Shouldn't both ENC data lines be a full 5v p-p TTL signal? Worst case, does Elecraft take in repairs direct? I could send in both display boards if that is the case. I sure wish I had test boards to swap in, to verify which board is causing the issues. I received the final amp rebuilding components the other day but I will wait to install them until after this dead VFO issue is repaired. Mike WE0H Don Wilhelm wrote: Mike, Other than the wiring paths for ENC A and ENC B signals through the connectors and to CB U6 pins 8 and 16, there is nothing else for these two signals. However, for the encoder to be read, the /ENC RD signal must be at a low level and that signal is generated from FP U3 pin 14. Look for low going pulses with your scope. If they are not present, FP U3 may be at fault. 73, Don W3FPR Mike-WE0H wrote: Hi Don, Ref K2 #6698: I tried a new encoder but it did nothing different than the original encoder. Tonight I see that ENC-A is only 2v p-p while ENC-B is 5v p-p. This is measured right on the encoder terminals and on the U6 MCU chip. I don't see any resistor network pull ups on these lines. Do you think the MCU could have gotten hurt with the spike on the 14v VCC line that shorted the one final and that VCC filter cap? I see data on both ENC lines when I spin the encoder. The Encoder VCC is a solid 5.0vdc. All other functions work on this radio except anything where I need to turn the encoder to access something in a menu or change anything. The radio receives fine on whatever the display freq is and transmits fine on the same freq on all bands. I just can't change any VFO digit other than the far right digit, or if I spin the encoder shaft left right, it will slowly increase the displayed freq but not go down. Mike WE0H __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K2 trouble shooting
Hi Don, Ref K2 #6698: I tried a new encoder but it did nothing different than the original encoder. Tonight I see that ENC-A is only 2v p-p while ENC-B is 5v p-p. This is measured right on the encoder terminals and on the U6 MCU chip. I don't see any resistor network pull ups on these lines. Do you think the MCU could have gotten hurt with the spike on the 14v VCC line that shorted the one final and that VCC filter cap? I see data on both ENC lines when I spin the encoder. The Encoder VCC is a solid 5.0vdc. All other functions work on this radio except anything where I need to turn the encoder to access something in a menu or change anything. The radio receives fine on whatever the display freq is and transmits fine on the same freq on all bands. I just can't change any VFO digit other than the far right digit, or if I spin the encoder shaft left right, it will slowly increase the displayed freq but not go down. Mike WE0H __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K2 Rev B PCB - Does it contain the side-tone mod?
I emailed you scans of the board direct. -- Mike WE0H K2 #6698 dw wrote: Hey Gang, I read online yesterday that it may be that the K2 control PCB Rev-B might have incorporated the side-tone audio filter somewhere in advance of the LM380N chip, to produce a waveform closer to sine-wave. Does anyone know if this is true? Is there anyway of getting to look at a silk-screen pic for this board? Thanks Duane N1BBR __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] KX1 Field Day fun
Hi Wayne, Sounds like a super fun time!!! I sure wish my son or XYL would take some interest in the radio. For sure head out next year with the kids and have a blast. -- Mike WE0H K2 #6698 Wayne B wrote: I snuck in about an hour of FD operation late tonight, setting up camp in the back yard. The KX1 is perfect for this type of ad-hoc installation -- just toss a wire in a tree and plug in the attached keyer paddle. Signals were quite good, and I worked about 20 stations using 2 W (internal lithium AA battery pack). EU was pounding in on top of the FD activity. And on 30 m, FO and ZL were coming in. 30 m is a great band during FD for those who want to escape from it, at least briefly. My daughter (age 10) came out in her PJ's to investigate. She was quite exited by all the signals and the red and white glow from the KX1's LED display and logbook lamp. My wife suggested that next year I the kids camping for FD and keep the tradition going 73, Wayne N6KR __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] 500 kHz Transceive Operation With the K3
Excellent news Wayne. I will forward this to our 600 meter email reflector. Is there any way possible that you can do a similar mod for the K2 to make it transmit on 600 meters? Our new band that we should be granted will be 495kc-510kc. Of course that is a Part 5 Experimental band thus far. The ARRL will be working with the FCC down the road to see if they can turn this into a Amateur Radio Band. Many thanks, -- Mike WE0H WD2XSH/16 on 600m WD2XGI on 1750m 2200m K2 #6698 wayne burdick wrote: A few countries allow experimental amateur radio operation in the 500 kHz band (600 meters). This is a fascinating and historic band that is used for beacons and ground-wave communications. For hams, there are very specific mode and power restrictions, and an experimental license may be required. In the U.S., see http://www.500kc.com/ and http://www.arrl.org for the latest news. The K3 can be used for both receive and transmit on this band as explained below. 500 kHz Receive-Only Operation -- The K3 can receive signals in the 500-kHz band if both the KXV3 and KBPF3 modules are installed. The KXV3 (RF I/O module) is needed because it provides an RX ANT IN jack. This jack bypasses the high-pass filter in the normal receive antenna path. At 500 kHz, the high-pass filter--which protects the T/R PIN diodes--will attenuate signals by about 20 dB. There is no such attenuation at 500 kHz when using the RX ANT IN jack, and sensitivity is excellent. We measured an MDS of -133 dBm with preamp OFF and a DSP filter bandwidth of 50 Hz. The KBPF3 (general-coverage module) is needed because the normal 160-meter band-pass filter covers only about 1.7 to 2.1 MHz. The KBPF3 includes a low-pass filter that passes signals down to 500 kHz with very little attenuation. A low-noise receiving antenna is recommended for use at 500 kHz. Diversity receive should be very useful at 500 kHz. To do this, you'll need a sub receiver (KRX3) that is equipped with its own KBPF3 module. You'll also need a separate receive antenna for the sub, oriented differently from the receive antenna used with the main receiver. 500-kHz Transmit/Receive Operation -- The K3 cannot be used to directly transmit on 500 kHz at high power. The low-pass filter cutoff frequency is well above that needed for attenuation of harmonics on this band, and other components in the transmit path are optimized for 1.8 MHz and higher. However, the K3 can put out a clean 500 kHz signal of about 0.5 milliwatts at the XVTR OUT jack (on the KXV3). This can be fed to an external amplifier (this is left as an exercise for the reader). Transmit power is restricted on this band, and is usually expressed as ERP (Effective Radiated Power). This means you can use high power to make up for the use of an electrically short antenna. Since 1/4 wavelength at 500 kHz is about 468 feet, not many hams will be using a full-length vertical or dipole. As with receive, transmit at 500 kHz requires the KXV3 and KBPF3 modules. In this case, though, you'll need to use the XVTR IN and XVTR OUT jacks, with XVTR IN going to the receive antenna, and XVTR OUT going to your 500 kHz amplifier and a transmit antenna. If the same antenna is used for both transmit and receive, an external T/R switch will also be needed, controlled by the K3's KEY OUT signal. If separate transmit/receive antennas are used, it may be necessary to provide a PIN-diode switch to open or short the receive antenna during transmit. The XVTR IN jack is normally used with a transverter, so it doesn't have such protection built in. IMPORTANT: In order to transmit at 500 kHz via the XVTR OUT jack, you must set CONFIG:KXV3 to TEST. This routes all signals through XVTR IN and XVTR OUT, which is why the receive antenna must be connected to XVTR IN in this case. (You can't use XVTR OUT for transmit and RX ANT IN for receive due to switching limitations.) Be sure to set KXV3 back to NOR when using normal ham bands. If interest in the 500-kHz band is sufficient, we'll change add 160 meters as an IF band for use with transverters. This would allow you to set up a 500 kHz transverter band, so it would not be necessary to set KXV3 to TEST. Synthesizer Considerations -- Before using 500 kHz, you'll need to make sure your synthesizer is adjusted to cover this band. Tap DISP and use VFO B to locate the PLL1 display. If the voltage is less than 0.9 V when VFO A is set, contact customer support for suggestions on how to adjust it. If you plan to transmit on this band, connect an short (3') antenna to the XVTR OUT jack and listen to your signal with another 500 kHz receiver. Make sure the signal sounds clean. 73, Wayne N6KR http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] 500 kHz Transceive Operation With the K3
See if you can make it go to 495.000kc as that is the bottom end of any possible Amateur Band. If it can tune 495.000kc thru 515.000kc, that should cover any future Amateur 600m band. There are currently Experimental stations using that spectrum and Amateur Bands in other countries. The band coverage varies by country but is within that window worldwide. Mike WE0H wayne burdick wrote: The present limit is 500 kHz. I could probably move it down a little, but not to 400 -- the synth won't go that low. 73, Wayne N6KR Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: Am I missing something, or is the K3 capable of going below 500 kHz? 500 kHz is near the top of the 600 meter marine band which extends down nearly to 400 kHz (IIRC 426 kHz is a popular frequency). --- http://www.elecraft.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] New to the Forum
Same thing for working under the panel on a plane with the solder iron. Your arms are up behind the panel while you lay on your back with your head crammed into the rudder pedals. Drip solder and your gonna loose facial skin...hi hi... Mike WE0H Ron wrote: No solder blobs to get out ;-) I'm sure you're just poking some fun, Tom, but seriously, there's no reason to ever have solder fly, drip or drop off of a soldering iron. Excess is wiped off. Carpet is usually the least of my worries about loose solder bits. I'm thinking of soldering a broken connection in a ship's radar console working through the top and directly above a dozen densely-stuffed pc boards, power supplies, etc. Just like the surgeon in an operating room, that's one time you never want to have to say Oops.. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- How did you get the solder blobs out of the living room carpet Ron? 73 Tom G3OLB Ron AC7AC wrote: Not wanting to hide out in a corner, I used a 2x3' drafting board, put it on my lap in the living room with the soldering station on a TV tray, and built my K2 while chatting with the XYL, listening to music, and even watching some TV. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] 500 kHz Receive Operation With the KX1
Hi John, I use that Jackson Harbor receive converter in my 2200m thru 600m transverter. It has worked very well for many years. The buffer amp is not needed for those bands as there is plenty of received signal using a resonant antenna down there. hi hi...Lots of signal...I did have to add in back to back 1N4148 diodes on the input of the mixer so it doesn't get clobbered if I mess up with the T/R switch. I also use a 7 pole LP filter tuned for 520kc in place of the original LP filter. Info on our 600 meter Experimental Band is at www.500kc.com Mike WE0H WD2XSH/16 John H wrote: With band conditions being poor so often lately, I've been using my KX1 for receive-only on LF using a newly-built converter kit. Performance has been better than expected given the time of year and the high amount of QRN in this freq range. For $14 I've added a new receive band to any of my 30m QRP rigs and it's kinda fun to tinker and explore what's down in that range. I was unaware of the fact that several stateside stations are operating at 500 kHz. Kit description: http://www.ae5x.com/blog/ John Harper AE5X __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Compounds to retain windings in place on toroid cores
Why not use hot glue on the toroids in the K2? That link shows hot glue as a very good wire retaining compound. Does anyone have any data that suggests a K2 would not function to the manufacturer's spec's if hot glue was used on all the toroids? -- Mike WE0H K2 #6698 Jack S wrote: A common question concerning inductors wound on toroid cores is whether a retaining compound should be used to fix the windings in place. In the case of the cores used in the K2, retaining compounds are not necessary and should not be used. However, this question still comes up and there are cases where retaining compounds are necessary, or at least desirable. I've added a page to my web site showing how to make Q-Dope and presenting measurements for similar coils retained with real GC Q-Dope, my homebrew Q-Dope, beeswax and hot glue. http://www.cliftonlaboratories.com/coil_coating_compounds.htm Jack K8ZOA __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Saving K2 VFO modes
You got my vote on open source or finding someone to work on updates on occasion... -- Mike WE0H K2 #6698 Mike H wrote: Hi Mike, This request goes back years, way before the K3. K2 development has stalled with the introduction of the K3. I suspect the only way to get it moving again is to open source the firmware. Regards, Mike VP8NO From: Mike |I have the latest 2.04 firmware revision for my K2. Are there any future | firmware revisions planned that will allow different modes to be saved for | VFO A and VFO B. It would be nice to save CW in A and USB in B. | | Mike AC6JA __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Saving K2 VFO modes
Hi Wayne, Excellent to hear there is a future to the K2's software. Thank you for the update on this. C-U- @ Dayton -- Mike WE0H K2 #6698 Wayne wrote: Mike-WE0H wrote: You got my vote on open source or finding someone to work on updates on occasion... Mike (et al), The K2's present MCU is maxxed (no code space left). That's the main reason there's been no further development on it. But it's also a very mature product. Requests for changes or additions are very rare. And just to complicate things, there's no way to upgrade K2 firmware over the serial port, as on the K3. K2 firmware updates at present involve swapping in a new chip. There is, however, a newer PIC available that I believe is pin-compatible with the K2's that would double the code space and allow for a boot loader (to make it electronically upgradeable). I'm looking forward to building the code for this part and trying it out sometime. Regarding open sourcing the K2 code: It would take far more of my time to prepare for this than to just make any needed changes myself. To pack everything the K2 does into a small amount of code space required that much of it be written in assembler, which is inherently more abstruse than C (etc.). It also required the creation of a proprietary, heavily optimized real-time OS. There are a dozen or so state machines and a unique interrupt structure where every cycle is carefully counted. Even though the code is well-documented, I'd want to create theory-of-ops and maintenance documentation before I tried to hand it off to another programmer. This is often necessary for projects where you don't have the luxury of writing everything in an encapsulated, object-oriented language, such as on a PC with virtually unlimited code space. Meanwhile, I save all of the suggestions I receive (or see posted) regarding future K2 functionality. 73, Wayne N6KR --- http://www.elecraft.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] Who is going to Dayton?
I imagine there will be a bunch from this reflector attending Hamvention? I will be there Friday before noon. -- Mike WE0H K2 #6698 SKCC #5446 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3: Brush or Blow Dust?
I use a very soft long bristle brush and whisk away any dust on my radio's. -- Mike WE0H K2 #6698 SKCC #5446 Dan N wrote: I'm an old ham who has built a lot of kits over the years. I am really excited though to become an Elecraft user having just received my K3 kit. My question has to do with instructions to either brush or blow away any dust or lint from the front panel area around the encoder shaft. I have a good old standby fine bristle brush I use for my radio front panels. I also have a fairly new can of the Cleaning Duster (Office Depot), which states that it is for removing dust and dirt from audio, video and other such equipment. It contains Difluoroethane ??? Question is: What would you recommend to use safelyDan, W4EA __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft SSB Net results (4/19/09)
Who was the station that said they were running 5w output? I heard them pretty decent. -- Mike WE0H K2 #6698 SKCC #5446 Phil and Christina wrote: We had a short SSB net again today (1800Z) on 14.316 MHz. The signal levels were just OK to net control (generally under 59). We had 17 participants including net control and ran for only 18 minutes. Discussions were again on AGC settings, Visalia facts and Dayton anticipation. Here is a list of the 17 participants: Station NameQTH Rig S/N N1LQ DaveMA K3 371 K4GCJ Gerry NC K3 1597 W2RWA DickNY K3 2603 W0NTA DickCO K3 1208 W5ION DougTX K3 2659 N0TA JohnCO K3 994 K4SO MarkVA K3 2861 WZ0O BradFL K3 285 K8DJC Nelson OH K3 560 W0FM Terry MO K3 474 KA0NCRArnie NE K3 185 WE0H MikeMN K2 6698 W1USN MikeMA K2 1964 W8YMO Harry OH K3 166 AE6IC FredCA K3 2241 KC0TDJRon IA K2 4857 NS7P PhilOR K3 1826 Thanks to everybody who checked in. Have a good week. 73, Phil, NS7P __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] [K2] Fun times on 20m SSB tonight
Had some fun with my K2 running SSB on 20m. Was listening to a guy in Florida boasting how life is too short for QRP and telling a guy local to me about his beam and SB220. hi hi...So me, like a smart a$%, jump in there with the K2 set to 5w. Yep he comes right back to me saying I am light but in there decent. He asks what I am running. I cracked up laughing and said a Butternut HF6V and a K2 set to 5w output...hi hi... So the band starts to fold for that path and a guy in Tuscon AZ comes in there and says my K2 is sounding great and about S-9. I said hold on a bit and came back at him with 1w. Yep, he says the 1w is making it, but real light copy near the noise floor. I try 2.5w then 5w and he says that helped out a lot. So I let her rip at near 20w and got a almost 10/9 report out of him!!! I think fading had something to do with the different signal levels but it proved QRP would do the trick on SSB. Later on I had to get on my '930 as the band was folding. Chatted with a bit over 100w on that rig until he faded down to a S-3 and said my 73's es thanks OM. Has anyone used a MC-60 mic with a K2? The first comment I got when I went over to the '930 was more punch to the audio. The '930 was setup kind of light audio with the ALC barely moving the needle. I use a MC-60 mic on that radio. The mic preamp was on. I am using a MC-43s hand mic on the K2, and it is set to the recommended audio and compression levels. Would the MC-60 drive it a bit stronger yet not destroy the audio quality? I suspect the K2 might be running super clean audio with no compression or processing. Could it benefit from a bit more audio drive or processing? I don't know. What do you guys run for audio settings on the K2? -- Mike WE0H K2 #6698 SKCC #5446 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft SSB Net Announcement
That carrier on 14.31800mc is nuts loud in Minnesota. I tried to check in but only one station heard me and repeated my callsign. Even the DSP won't wipe that screaming carrier out. -- Mike WE0H K2 #6698 SKCC #5446 Phil and Christina wrote: Hi gang, The weekly Elecraft SSB net will meet tomorrow (Sunday, 4/12/09) at 1800Z. We will start at 14.316 MHz, and QSY if needed. The net control is in western Oregon, but we will need a good east coast or midwest station to relay a few west coast signals that may be too close to net control. See you there. 73, Phil, NS7P __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft SSB Net Announcement
Hi Jim, That makes sense. I was thinking a bit and realized most computer motherboards have a 14.318mc oscillator in them. Then as you said the color burst freq x4 and that makes a huge mess out of that freq and near by. 20m was up down and the solar conditions are terrible this weekend compounding the problem of having only 15w to work with. At least one person heard me and repeated my callsign so I hope I got checked in...hi hi... -- Mike WE0H K2 #6698 SKCC #5446 Jim W wrote: Mike et al - It might be good to check to see if you aren't doing it to yourself. 14.318 divided by 4 is 3.579 MHz, the color burst frequency used by millions of consumer devices as a reference frequency, and not just TV sets. I have heard carriers on or around that frequency with strengths up to and including S9 for literally years. Harmonics from poorly designed or shielded oscillators in TV sets, computers, clocks, DVD players, VCRs, microwave ovens, game players, fax machines, printers, telephones, toys, medical devices, and many more items have polluted this frequency for at least 20 years. Just now I checked and can hear at least 5 separate sources in a casual check of the frequency - and those are just the loud ones from a random beam heading. I am sure there are dozens more underneath the louder ones. . The sources are so ubiquitous that it is virtually impossible to escape them no matter where you live. The signals that you are hearing are probably not the same ones that another ham in the next state is hearing, but there are so many of them that it is unlikely anyone can escape them. They are part of the reason for that FCC warning about Operation this device may cause interference to nearby radio ant TV receivers . (I am paraphrasing here) that you see on so many consumer electronics devices. One reason your DSP may be having trouble eliminating the carriers is that there are usually several on slightly differing frequencies. The crystals aren't all that accurate in some devices, and by the time we get to the 4th harmonic, differences of a few tens of Hertz to several hundred Hertz are common. Most of these oscillators are not in some type of circuit that is phase locked to a master source, as is the case for some TV broadcasts. Most of them are free running in the sense that all they have to be is close enough to perform the task at hand., - Jim, KL7CC Mike-WE0H wrote: That carrier on 14.31800mc is nuts loud in Minnesota. I tried to check in but only one station heard me and repeated my callsign. Even the DSP won't wipe that screaming carrier out. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] [K2] Calibration
Copying this to the reflector in case someone else has seen the same issue. This is K2 S/N 6698. OK here is the run down on all bands: Band Displayed error 160m .98 20hz low 75m.99 10hz low 60m.99 10hz low 40m.99 10hz low 30m.00 perfect 20m.00 perfect 17m.02 20hz high 15m.09 90hz high 12m.11 110hz high 10m.11 110hz high All bands were dialed to a even number and the last two digits are what I listed above. Something is not right above 15mc. Now I know the CAL PLL is done right and verified with my DDS oven oscillator showing the exact calibration as the radio now. Something is not right somewhere. Hardware problem? I don't know. At least I have the 10mc calibration spot on. Mike WE0H __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] [K2] Secret to K2 calibration programming?
OK, here the deal. My K2 S/N 6698 doesn't have the same freq offset on all the bands. How can I program that so it is dead nuts on every band? Here's the freq measurement spots and what the radio is showing as a center freq using Spectrogram. Signal freq then radio's displayed freq... 1.9 1.90003 3.9 3.90003 5.5 5.50003 7.2 7.20003 10.1000 10.1004 14.2000 14.2005 18.5000 18.5005 21.2000 21.2000 24.9000 24.9001 28.2000 28.2001 See how it is not the same offset across the bands? Something funny is going on here... Thanks for the help. -- Mike WE0H K2 #6698 SKCC #5446 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] I need your help...Spammer
This is similar to a message I got yesterday. It came from some non-US email address. It was someone saying they wanted to buy my K2 and to tell them how much where to send the funds. I just deleted the message. -- Mike WE0H K2 #6698 SKCC #5446 Paul Gates wrote: Please I need your assistance,I made an emergency trip to England and am having a little problem. Please Assist me with Two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) to enable me conclude my program here. I will pay you back as soon as I return home. Send it via western union money transfer with this info. Receiver: Paul Gates Location: West Norwood London SE27 9DW United Kingdom. Remain blessed, Pau. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] FS: K2 #5723
Wow that's a killer deal. -- Mike WE0H K2 #6698 SKKC #5446 KU4YP wrote: Before I put it on the auction site, I'd like this to go to someone on the list if they want it. $550.00 shipped to lower 48. Unbuilt 160meter and noise blanker option. Contact me off list if interested. 73 mike ku4yp bpd...@wildblue.net __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] UK Elecraft net report for Sunday 5th April
I just ordered the components to build a KR5L CW Tuning Indicator for my K2. Waiting on the IC from overseas. Have to layout a board and etch it yet. Bought a neat orange super bright LED for the Lock button cap. That should look interesting in that color. Mike WE0H K2 6698 Dave G4AON wrote: Many of the regular net stations were attending the Blackpool Rally, only myself, Brendan (EI6IZ), Richard (G4CGG) and Tim (G4ARI) were around today on 3627 KHz. Items of interest were the K6XX CW tuning indicator for the K2, the Amtor activity evenings recently included in the RSGB news (Tuesday evenings, 80m band) and microphone insert choices. 73 until next week Dave, G4AON K3/100, Acom 1000, dipole antenna __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] [K2] Aligning CW SSB filters...Crystal heaters running perfect
OK I found Spectrogram 5.0 runs perfect in Wine within Linux. I aligned my CW filters per the N0SS document. All went real easy. Question though, how to align the SSB filters? What should the filter shapes look like? Is there an online document showing me what I should be tuning them for? I kind of guessed and tuned so the left skirt just went down to the low freq side of the display. I would prefer to see what they should look like when tuned properly...hi hi... BTW, I have three crystal heaters heating the PLL both BFO crystals to 40C. So far so good, the radio is dead nuts stable now. Many thanks, Mike WE0H K2 6698 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K-1 For Sale
That's the long path email getting to the server this morning...The short path signal (email) made it a few days ago already. Mike WE0H Roger S wrote: I don't know how this got posted again but yesterday I reposted it with the price at $350 as it still remains. 73, Roger, NJ2R I have a very nice 4 band Elecraft K-1 for sale. It is an early one, SN 0069 and is equipped with the 4 band module for 40, 30, 20 and 15 meters, internal battery pack, tilt base with both short and long arms as well as the original spiral bound assembly manual and a Revision E manual. The firmware is 1.09. I am asking $375 including shipping to US addresses. Overseas shipping at cost. I can accept PayPal though I prefer a USPS money order. If interested please respond off list to n...@verizon.net. 73, Roger, NJ2R __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft's fish fry, barbeque, potato salad
Don't forget eating the Wisconsin cheese...hi hi... Mike WE0H Bill Johnson wrote: This could be nicely accomplished up here in Fish Creek, WI where there is a good supply of white fish, then it could be a great marketing opportunity for Elecraft in the mid-West rather than the right and left coasts. WE could eat healthy, and drink some beer as well. 73, Bill K9YEQ K2 #35; KX1 #35; K3 #1744; mini mods ATS-3B __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K2: Diry RF Gain pot?
Give it a shot of Color TV Tuner spray or LPS-1 spray. It should make it good as new, no promises though...hi hi... Mike WE0H Steve K wrote: The adjustment action on my RF gain control is erratic. The gain level always settles down almost immediately once I quit rotating the knob, but still too erratic for easy adjustment. Is this a case of spraying some cleaner on the pot or replacing it? 73, Steve N6VL K2 #2289 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 RX below 500 kc/s
Might be a good idea for down the road to include 2200 meters (135.7-137.8kc), 1750 meters (160-190kc) 600 meters (495-515kc) as some countries already have those bands as Amateur bands. There are groups in the US working to get all three bands as Amateur Bands. The ARRL is one of them. Frequency stability is extremely important for operating on those LF MF bands. Mike WE0H WD2XGI on 2200 1750m WD2XSH/16 on 600m __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] [K2] Crystal heater for better stability???
Has anyone added a crystal heater to their K2? If I would add a heater to my K2, what oscillator would be the best one to do it to or should I heat both the 4mc the 12.xx mc crystals? The radio is decent as is but I am used to zero drift when I work the Part 5 Experimental bands with my other radio's. I want to make my K2 very stable as it will be used on those bands. Many thanks, Mike WE0H K2 6698 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K2] Crystal heater for better stability???
Thank you all who replied direct with many different ideas options...hi hi...I have found a solution. 73, Mike WE0H Mike-WE0H wrote: Has anyone added a crystal heater to their K2? If I would add a heater to my K2, what oscillator would be the best one to do it to or should I heat both the 4mc the 12.xx mc crystals? The radio is decent as is but I am used to zero drift when I work the Part 5 Experimental bands with my other radio's. I want to make my K2 very stable as it will be used on those bands. Many thanks, Mike WE0H K2 6698 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K2 standard mic input = kenwood circuit - - what mic doyou recommend?
I use that same mic with my K2. It sounds excellent. Mike WE0H Mike H wrote: Thank goodness, an Elecraft related posting. Unless you plan to let the dog eat this mic. I use a Kenwood MC-43S hand mic with both K2 and K3. Inexpensive and always complimentary audio reports. I use those computer motherboard jumpers to link across the header in the K2. Regards, Mike VP8NO From: dw |I understand that the K2s default mic input is designed for a Kenwood | type mic. | | If ever some day I do decide to *speak* into my K2 ( not that I will | have anything coherant to say) what type of mic is recommended? | | Thanks | Duane | N1BBR __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft CW Net Report for March 22nd 23rd, 2009
What operating system are you running on that computer? hi hi... Mike WE0H K2 6698 Linux user of course...hi hi Kevin R wrote: Good Morning, Sorry about the late report but just as I was going to send it out last night it went away. I do not know how or why, it simply disappeared in front of my eyes; strange. snipped... __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] [K2] Birdie's in K2 VFO???
Anyone else notice a birdie when the display is tuned upward from xx.11 to xx.12mc??? It is the transition from any megahertz dot 11 to dot 12. It throws out a loud birdie every time at any MC interval. Does that make sense? I am on 30 meters right now. The display shows 10114.11 then I tune to 10114.12 and I hear the birdie on that transition. It also happens at 10115.11 to 10115.12 and so forth on up the bands. Mike WE0H K2 6698 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K2] Birdie's in K2 VFO???..Click sound...
Yes a click is a better description. It is very consistent. The soldering is excellent on this radio. Flowed through both sides on everything. I used good equipment and a grounded blue mat bench top. No static issues. I will do that CAL PLL again. The VFO cal is real close to WWV on 10mc and also matches my 3mc oven oscillator and DDS VFO also. I'll do that report back...hi hi... Thanks much, Mike WE0H Don Wilhelm wrote: Mike, If you can describe that more as a click rather than a birdie, I can offer a solution - run CAL PLL again - be certain the 4 MHz oscillator is set first and the bottom cover is in place. You also may want to re-flow the soldering on RF Board U4 before doing the CAL PLL. With the repetitive frequencies involved, it sounds like more of a PLL problem than a birdie. 73, Don W3FPR Mike-WE0H wrote: Anyone else notice a birdie when the display is tuned upward from xx.11 to xx.12mc??? It is the transition from any megahertz dot 11 to dot 12. It throws out a loud birdie every time at any MC interval. Does that make sense? I am on 30 meters right now. The display shows 10114.11 then I tune to 10114.12 and I hear the birdie on that transition. It also happens at 10115.11 to 10115.12 and so forth on up the bands. Mike WE0H K2 6698 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] [K2] C6 4.7pf cap K60XV option?
Was I supposed to remove the C6 (4.7p) cap when I added the K60XV option? I have it soldered on the bottom of the RF board from pin1 to pin 3 of J15. Thanks, Mike WE0H K2 6698 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K2] C6 4.7pf cap K60XV option?
Hi Don, OK I will do that. Couldn't figure out one way or the other so I put the cap on the bottom side of the header after I installed the header. Guess it was shunting some signal from where it was supposed to be going...hi hi... Thanks much, Mike WE0H Don W wrote: Mike, Yes, remove C6 from the RF board and after that, re-peak the 40 and 60 meter bandpass filter. 73, Don W3FPR Mike-WE0H wrote: Was I supposed to remove the C6 (4.7p) cap when I added the K60XV option? I have it soldered on the bottom of the RF board from pin1 to pin 3 of J15. Thanks, Mike WE0H K2 6698 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] Fast shipping again!!!
I ordered a KAT2 on Wednesday night, it shipped Thursday US mail First Class, the box arrives today on Saturday!!! Crazy fast shipping and dirt cheep too. Thank you guys so much. If all companies could only be like Elecraft...Amazing!!! Mike WE0H K2 6698 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Fast shipping again!!!
Hmmm, that doesn't sound nice. I believe the USPS guarantees a 2-3 day shipping time on their Priority. I would ask for your money back. I have always gotten my Priority shipments in 2 or 3 days max with USPS. Same for shipping from here, always arrives at it's destination in 2-3 days. Mike WE0H Merv S wrote: Sold a FT-1000 to buy a new K3, shipped it priority mail to FL, took 8 weeks to finally arrive, real service for sure, almost any package priority mail to here takes over 5 days, you can track and it arrives in Honolulu in one day from the mainland and sits there for 4 to 5 days before they look to see who its for. So my problem is more local so to speak, glad to hear someone is getting what I pay for. Merv KH7C Also this week I ordered parts for a K2. 3 days coast to coast, order to delivery. Elecraft is to be commended for their part but so should the US Postal Service. For normal service 1st class and Priority Mail beat the pants off the other carriers. 73, Bob K2TK Mike-WE0H wrote: I ordered a KAT2 on Wednesday night, it shipped Thursday US mail First Class, the box arrives today on Saturday!!! Crazy fast shipping and dirt cheep too. Thank you guys so much. If all companies could only be like Elecraft...Amazing!!! Mike WE0H K2 6698 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Building a KX1
What was your question now that you stirred up the interest...hi hi... I seen your blank post yesterday but we were seeing strange posts from somewhere else. Oh well... Mike WE0H K2 S/N 6698 Ron B wrote: I posted a question yesterday but it did not seem to go through - the message was blank in the digest list. I believe I have found my answer but wanted to post again just as a test to see if I can actually post when/if I need help. Thanks and 73, Ron, AC2C Ellicott City, Maryland __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] [K2] Current setting?
What should I have my Current setting set at? I see it occasionally showing high current when running SSB on the bench into a 50 ohm load. Is this some sort of current limiting setting for the power amp? It was set at 2.x amps and I set it to ~3.5a tonight and noticed the 160m power shot up to 10w on the Bird meter after that. Before moving the current setting up, it would show maybe 2-5w output just talking into the mic. I run the compression at 2:1 and the other setting at 3. I think I am saying that right but I am a newbie to this rig so...hi hi... Also using a Kenwood MC-43S mic. The audio sounds clean listening on a TS-440 on all bands 160 thru 10m, skipping 30m of course... Thanks much, Mike WE0H K2 S/N 6698 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] [K2] KAT2 mods or not?
OK just ordered the KAT2 auto tuner for my K2. Is there anything special that I should do with it when I build it or just build it stock? Thanks, Mike WE0H __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K2] Current setting?
Hi Don, OK on the KAT2. On the current question, I am seeing 14.36v supplied to the radio on receive and 14.21v on transmit. A little bit of a drop with the long wires to my assembly bench where I have been testing the K2 at. Power output using the TUNE button and running through a Bird 43 meter into a 50 ohm Decibel load, varies from 10w at 1.8mc, 15-18w from 3.5mc thru 24.9mc and back down to 10w at 28.5mc. The power setting is at 10.0w on the radio. I did not see any high current indicator when I tested it a few minutes ago. I seen the high current message last night with the current setting as it was factory default. It is now set to 3.5a. I noticed the radio will put out 20w on any band from 75m thru 17m but as you said keep it at 10w. Voltage measurements are with a Fluke 77 DVM measured at the radio's power cable. Mike WE0H Don Wilhelm wrote: Mike, What is the voltage of your power supply? If it is 13.8 volts or higher, there should be no HI CUR messages during normal operation with CAL CUR set to 3.50. If the PS voltage is low (or you have a bad power cable connection), you may see those messages at higher power settings. The K2 maintains power level, and for any given power, it will take more current if the voltage is low. If you power supply voltage is good, but your power output is low, Hi Curr warnings are an indication of a problem. I assume the power outputs that you site are average readings on SSB - if so, that is probably OK. What do you get when you use TUNE is the real question. You may leave the CAL CUR setting at 3.50 Amps or even higher. You might see some HI CURR messages on particular bands if you run the power control all the way to max - but don't do that, just set the power to 12 watts or less and you should not see any. Yes, the CAL CUR setting will limit the power output if that current is exceeded. That is really a helpful indicator if one is running from a battery - the message tells you that the battery voltage has dropped and a re-charge may be necessary. If used in that manner, you can set the CAL CUR to any point you desire, but with an AC power source, you can run CAL CUR up to 4 amps with no problem. 73, Don W3FPR Mike-WE0H wrote: What should I have my Current setting set at? I see it occasionally showing high current when running SSB on the bench into a 50 ohm load. Is this some sort of current limiting setting for the power amp? It was set at 2.x amps and I set it to ~3.5a tonight and noticed the 160m power shot up to 10w on the Bird meter after that. Before moving the current setting up, it would show maybe 2-5w output just talking into the mic. I run the compression at 2:1 and the other setting at 3. I think I am saying that right but I am a newbie to this rig so...hi hi... Also using a Kenwood MC-43S mic. The audio sounds clean listening on a TS-440 on all bands 160 thru 10m, skipping 30m of course... Thanks much, Mike WE0H K2 S/N 6698 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] accurate time
Linux adjusts the computer's clock automatically for the user. Nothing to click or figure out...hi hi... Mike WE0H __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] [K2] 160m sensitivity below 1.9mc?
Is it normal for the sensitivity to drop off starting at 1.9mc on 160 meters? The power output is 10w across the whole band but tuning from 2mc on down, there is a real apparent sensitivity degrade starting at 1.9mc. I have the VCO tuned so it stops receiving at 1.36mc. It tunes well above 2.0mc on the other end. Is there a mod or tweak I can do to keep the hot receive sensitivity down to 1.80mc? The BC band is not important but I want all of 160 meters performing the same. Many thanks, Mike WE0H __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K2 vs K3 ?
Here's my perspective from not owning any Elecraft radio until ~ a month ago. I have read about the K2 for many years and always wanted one. I heard them on the air and heard others comments about owning one. I have never owned a new rig, only bought repair-ables and repaired them to use. So along comes the opportunity to buy a Elecraft radio at the Orlando hamfest. The XYL asks me which one do I want to order. I was thinking, get a decent radio, yet keep the costs reasonable. My decision was to order the K2 with some nice features. I couldn't justify ordering the K3, just because it costs so much more than the K2. That's my only reason, economics. I'm retired and the XYL still works so I hate to spend the funds she earns. My next Elecraft radio will be a loaded K1 for portable operating. The K2 is too nice to bring outside in my opinion. Mike WE0H K2 S/N 6698 John said: Hi I looked through the Archives and FAQ's and see the K3 is a All in one rig with top of line features. The K2 was the former one. With a little less features and not all in one processor. It uses pic 18C452 instead of 18F452 etc so you can't flash upgrade it as easily. (I program Linux systems and PIC systems.) But I can make a qrp rig for $770 K2 kit instead of $1400 K3 semi-kit and I am an electrical engineer. Is there any good reason to go to the K3? VE3GYV John P.S. K1's sell for more assembled on Ebay than Kits So the issues of losing money on the rig appear to not be true. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K2 vs K3 ?
My opinion, keep the K3 the K2. You may later on regret selling anything and then the money might not be there to build another one. Just put it on the shelf for now. Other options are the AN762 amp that FAR circuits sells a board for and eBay has 2SC2879 transistor's for it and they are dirt cheep. That'd be well over 100w output just idling. Communications Concepts sells the complete kit for it with the more expensive MRF transistors if you don't have a stash of components for it already. Mike WE0H Randy M wrote: Well, this is interesting! I'm agonizing over this very issue. I have K2 #337, built in late 1999, that has served me extremely well. I have always watched this reflector, so I was one of the first non-field test people to notice Wayne's announcement of the K3. Then I read every word about it, including the manuals, and saved my pennies (and quarters and dollars!) until I was able to order one last year, taking delivery of K3/10 #2006 in late October. I have been delighted with it, both performance wise and operationally. I've downloaded all the beta firmware releases and never had any issue with them that wasn't taken care of within about 24 hours of the beta release. I operated SSCW and then ARRL DX CW with the K3 and that's when I began to have some doubts about whether the K3 is for me or not. Running QRP during these contests with simple wire antennas, I found that I couldn't usually be heard through all the QRM by anybody who wasn't S8-9 at my QTH. That means that the outstanding features of the K3 receiver weren't doing me much good in those circumstances. In a more normal situation of working a weak station with little or no QRM, I believe the K2 does just as well as the K3 for me. So I've about decided that the K3 is just not a cost effective solution for my style of operating. I really love it, but I just can't justify keeping both it and my venerable K2! I'm seriously bonded with the K2, so I'm on the verge of offering my K3 for sale. But it hurts to even consider it :-( 73, Randy, KS4L __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Price of a K2
Exactly my thoughts, the #1 reason I built mine myself. I don't remember what all options some have had, but I did see at least one that was with the options I have and it would be a easy $1000.00 kit yet they sold the radio for 6-7 hundred. Might be the economy and a guy needing quick cash? Learned my lesson on selling off radio's many years ago, never gonna sell my rigs!!! hi hi... Support? Yea there surely isn't a shortage of support for these radio's. I had a question about the 8v regulator having a bit low voltage out and that surely got a fast response on the fix and a whole lotta response at that!!! hi hi...Awesome group, you guys have here. Mike WE0H Julian, G4ILO wrote: Perhaps people are wary of buying something that was built by somebody of unknown expertise? I've bought the odd bit of home-built gear (and commercial rigs that had been modified by previous owners) and have seen some absolute stinkers. - Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392 K3 #222. http://www.g4ilo.com/ G4ILO's Shack http://www.g4ilo.com/blog.html G4ILO's Bloghttp://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html KComm for Elecraft K2 and K3 Dave wrote: Mike and All, You may be right--I haven't watched all that closely--but what I think I have noticed is that ones selling for the price range you mention typically are light on add-ons. Typically I see the lower priced ones without internal ATU's or DSP. Also, lower priced ones tend to be earlier versions. There were substantial changes to the ones that start with serial numbers above 3000. I can tell you though, that early versions work very well, and if they have been updated, you can't tell much, if any, difference. I have #72, and another one in the 4000 range. Both sound pretty similar to me. The great think about a K2 is the fabulous support you can get for it right here on this reflector, not to mention Elecraft's superb support team. If you have a problem with a K2, 99 times out of 100 the solution is only a few keyclicks away. Dave W7AQK WE0H wrote: I have seen them with various options going for $600.00 thru $700 something. That seems surprisingly low to me when you take a kit add in the options and come up right around a grand then the guys are selling them in the 6-7 hundred range, built... Silly. Mike WE0H K2 S/N 6698 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] OT: best way to learn CW
Kind'a short video...hi hi... Mike WE0H DOUG wrote: You will enjoy this (maybe) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8Pq6cosm2A de Doug KR2Q __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Price of a K2
I have seen them with various options going for $600.00 thru $700 something. That seems surprisingly low to me when you take a kit add in the options and come up right around a grand then the guys are selling them in the 6-7 hundred range, built... Silly. Mike WE0H K2 S/N 6698 Paul G wrote: Anyone have a ball park figure what used K2's are going for these days? Paul Gates, KD3JF __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Whaddayaknow... passed the Extra
I'll throw this comment out before I get to reading all the replies...my method 20+ years ago was to get on the air every day no matter what. Practice makes perfect in anything you do. CW is no different. Get on the air no matter how slow or fast or crappy or perfect you send or receive. Someone out there will respond back to your CQ eventually and there is no looking back from that day forward. You'll miss letters, words, ask for repeats, miss tons of info but don't give up or get pissed off. Keep at it and you will see by the end of the summer that you will be hauling bootie with smokin fast CW. I went from 0 to 31 WPM in the first year that I was licensed (1987). I was on the air practically every day night. You can do it and this group and others can help...hi hi... Mike WE0H James S wrote: Yes I'm only 30. I got my first ticket last November. I still have a lot to learn; CW being one of them. Thankfully, there are a lot of helpful people out there that have been more than willing to point me in the right direction. I'm truly grateful. 73, James KC2UEE __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] [K2] Power output pot tight on CCW end
My power output pot on my K2 is tight turning the last 1/4th until full CCW. Is this the way it is supposed to be or? It was that way before I installed it. It works but is tight turning at the low 1w range. Thanks, Mike WE0H K2 S/N 6698 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Whaddayaknow... passed the Extra
Good deal James!!! Always worth getting the Extra class for a bit more space on HF. Mike WE0H James S wrote: Hello fellow Elecrafters, Sorry for the OT post here guys, but I just wanted to share with you that I passed my element 4 exam today with flying colors. Hope to have my license info updated on the ULS within a few days! 73, James KC2UEE (soon to be K3JPS) __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K2 : C22 question
Use the 2.7pf. It says in the parts list this is a substitute value. I seen that also when I got to that point and said to myself, where the %...@! is the 3.3p cap??? Mike WE0H K2 S/N 6698 Fred N9TA wrote: I can't find C22, which is supposed to be a 3.3pf. However, I have a 2.7 pf cap leftover. I notice that in the parts list for C22 it reads: 2R7, 3, 3.3, 3R3. I suspect I am supposed to substitute the 2.7pf for the 3.3pfis this correct??? Fred N9TAK2# 6705 under construction __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] [K2] Long term reliability with leaving radio on 24/7???
Has anyone left their K2 on 24/7 for freq stability reason's? Or ran QRSS and can say how well it stayed put? Previously when I was running 1750 meters, I used to leave my TS-440 on 24/7 for a couple years. It still worked after all that time running...hi hi...But what I would like to know is, would the K2 be expected to run say for a year straight without any issues? Of course no antenna would be connected when it shouldn't be...I have had it running for about 9 hours today and did the calibration a couple hours ago and the radio is dead nuts stable within 1hz of what the reference oscillators here are which are calibrated to WWV. I haven't had the chance yet to let it come down to room temp and be turned back on and see where the calibration would be at. Anyone with experience in this stuff? Many thanks, Mike WE0H K2 S/N 6698 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K2] Control board U4 8v regulator issueSolved problem
Oh mine was working excellent last night for it's first time listening on the air 40m. Heard South Africa and some South Pacific islands on 40m after I peaked the 40m bandpass filter. The only issue I had was that regulator that was a piece of cake to troubleshoot repair. So far I am totally impressed with this kit it's design, well worth the money spent. Mike WE0H David Woolley (E.L) wrote: Mike-WE0H wrote: shame the regulator manufacturer sells a 8v regulator that is barely at the minimum end of it's spec's, but it is good that the K2 can be modified to work with the lower voltage regulator if need be. It's a shame that the K2 doesn't work when its components are all in tolerance! There should be no need for a fix. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K2 : Is this ok for AGC threshold??
Hi Fred, I ran into that regulator issue a couple nights ago. I changed the 8v regulator with a used one I had here which brought the 8v line up to 8.30v. The original 8v regulator put out 7.61v. My AGC pot is a half scale right now with the 3.80v level as the manual states. The resistor mod takes care of the issue if you don't have a spare regulator laying around. Mike WE0H Fred N9TA wrote: Thanks for the quick reply Don !!! I guess I will continue then.I'd decided to stop further construction until I had an answer. Just in case it was something to be concerned about. Goshseems like these components just get smaller and smallerHI HI 73...de...Fred N9TA __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K2 missing part
Mine was the same as the others also. Mike WE0H Brett Gazdzinski wrote: I think I was scratching my head over the same choke, the manual and updates said it could be a different color, but it was the same as other chokes, and I was not actually short a choke. Brett N2DTS __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] [K2] S/N 6698 is alive now!!!
Just got done testing the TX RX on K2 S/N 6698 and all is working per the manual. Now onto the options... Mike WE0H __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Your Opinion: The realities of QRP vs. QRO
He had a wink after his 'QRP RULES!' statement. Winks, as in just joking, giving you guys some crap, ha ha ha , hi hi hi...that sort of thing. I seriously doubt anyone here is bashing or calling anyone out, it's all fun, to each their own, don't push this or that upon someone unless they ask, you know, be happy. Text emails don't show emotion, and feelings don't get understood because of this. Tongue in cheek, smile, it's Friday!!! Yea!!! hi hi... 73, Mike WE0H Building my K2...almost done... Bill W4ZV wrote: Gary D Krause wrote: Just as long as we all keep it in perspective and realize that QRP RULES! ;-) But QRP simply does NOT rule everywhere... ...for DXing on the low bands (80/160), ...for EME or meteor scatter on VHF, ...when propagation is marginal or atmospheric QRN is high, ...in emergency communications when a life depends on it. Sure QRP works well on the HF bands when conditions are good...it's a heck of a lot of fun to work across the world with a 2 Watt rig in an Altoids tin and a piece of wire...but please don't make blanket statements about QRP ruling for many activities...it simply doesn't. If QRPers want a REAL challenge, try working DXCC on 160m with 5 Watts. 73, Bill W4ZV (who loves both) __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] [K2] Progress on my K2 assembly S/N 6698
Just completed the 40m alignment and all is working perfect. Now onto stuffing the rest of the RF board components...Hope to have the radio complete this weekend. I have to assemble the DSP kit yet, then install all the options after alignment of the other band stages. I have the NB, SSB 60m/XVTR kits built already, plus all the headers installed. Took a bit to figure out I needed to jumper this that pin on the headers since I installed the headers instead of the W jumpers as I built the RF board up through the 40m stage. This is the 10w version. I picked up the AN762 linear amp board from FAR at the Orlando hamfest to build an external amp for those occasions where I want to run more than 10w. Building a 14mc IF LF/MF transverter once the radio is complete. This radio will see lots of use on 600, 1750 2200 meters. I have to say this is one super easy radio to build. The enamel wire is a breeze to strip/tin with some rosin and a 80w iron. Piece of cake winding the toroids with those procedures and pictures in the manual. More info later...back to the bench I go!!! This is tons of fun. Mike WE0H __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] [K2] Control board U4 8v regulator issue
Has anyone else had a 8v regulator (U4) on their control board show a lower voltage than it should? Mine shows 7.61v with the board in the radio or on the bench with a 14v supply connected to the input of that regulator. All components and soldering look correct. The 5v regulator is at 5.00v. All functions in the test procedure work as they should except the AGC voltage couldn't be set to 3.80v because of the 8v buss being at 7.61v, the AGC voltage changed as it should but was lower than the 3.80v suggested for setting R1 to. Nothing runs hot or smells hot. What do you guys think? Bad regulator or??? Many thanks, Mike WE0H __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K2] Control board U4 8v regulator issueSolved problem
I replaced the regulator and now have 8.30v output from U4. The original regulator only put out 7.61v. Thankfully I had a used regulator on a parts board from a security system!!! hi hi... Mike Mike-WE0H wrote: Has anyone else had a 8v regulator (U4) on their control board show a lower voltage than it should? Mine shows 7.61v with the board in the radio or on the bench with a 14v supply connected to the input of that regulator. All components and soldering look correct. The 5v regulator is at 5.00v. All functions in the test procedure work as they should except the AGC voltage couldn't be set to 3.80v because of the 8v buss being at 7.61v, the AGC voltage changed as it should but was lower than the 3.80v suggested for setting R1 to. Nothing runs hot or smells hot. What do you guys think? Bad regulator or??? Many thanks, Mike WE0H __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K2] Control board U4 8v regulator issueSolved problem
I want to thank all you people for the tips, mods suggestions that you emailed direct. Much appreciated. The radio is testing 100% now with the new used regulator which puts out 8.30v. I saved the original 7.61v regulator along with the mod procedure to make it work if I need to. A shame the regulator manufacturer sells a 8v regulator that is barely at the minimum end of it's spec's, but it is good that the K2 can be modified to work with the lower voltage regulator if need be. Now onto stuffing the other components into the RF board... Mike WE0H __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] [K2] Initial power up testing
Got my K2 to the very first power on test stage. Talk about scare the crap out of me when I turned it on and wasn't ready to hear all those relays clicking for the first time. Just about said oh crap!!! hi hi...All is fine though. Whew...Just the normal relay clicking on sequence when the power button is pressed on. Mike WE0H __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] [K2]...Hot glue toroids to PCB??? No is the answer...
Wow, quite a response. The consensus is do NOT glue the toroids and I won't. One guy said he has a radio that traveled 500k miles in a big truck and I surely know what that kind of environment is like. Says a lot for the radio's durability right there. Thank you all for the help. Mike WE0H __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] To: Elecraft- Suggestions
Eventually there will be a 600 meter Amateur band, so covering 495kc to 510kc would be a nice feature for the K3. It would be the first commercial radio to cover 600 meters then. If there was a way to add a option kit for the K2 to do this, I would be #1 on the list to buy it...hi hi... 73 Mike WE0H WD2XSH/16 on 600m __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] hot glue K2 toroids?
Let's get a list together of safe RTV products for electronics use. Mike WE0H w...@comcast.net wrote: I believe there is lots of non out-gasing RTV's out there. I use it for power dividers all the time. Just smell it, it's pretty easy to tell the difference. Terry __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] VLF/LF Converters
I'll copy this to the reflector...I don't have that answer Phil. Just got into the Elecraft rigs at the Orlando Hamcation when I ordered my K2. I am sure someone on the reflector will have an answer. You should hear Pat XSH/6 real well down there on 600m as he is 4 blocks from the Gulf Coast in Mississippi. He normally sits on 506.35kc running CW or 505.266kc running QRSS-3. Mike WE0H Phil LaMarche wrote: I have general coverage in my K3, what and how would I enter this frequency? Phil Philip LaMarche LaMarche Enterprises, Inc. www.instantgourmetspices.com www.w9dvm.com 800-395-7795 pin 02 727-944-3226 FAX 727-937-8834 NASFT 30210 K3 #1605 W9DVM From: WE0H I am one of those 600m stations, WD2XSH/16. Currently building my K2 and after that, a new 7mc IF transverter to get the K2 down on 600 meters. I currently run a 3mc IF transverter and my TS-930. CW coverage for my station is pretty much the whole lower 48 states into Canada. I have been on the air for a year or so now. The band is 505-510kc but most hang out in the 505-508kc area to avoid the NDB's on 510kc. Mike WE0H Jack Smith-6 wrote: Geoff: There are a dozen or so experimental stations in the 500 KHz range operated by a group of hams. http://www.500kc.com/ has more detail. It seems that not too many are actually radiating as of this time however. There are also quite a few lowfer Part 15 (unlicensed, but permitted) beacons in the 186 KHz range. The Longwave Club of America is a good starting point for these Part 15 operations. http://www.lwca.org/ No 136 KHz amateur operations here in the US, unfortunately. Jack K8ZOA __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] [K2]...Hot glue toroids to PCB???
Building my K2. Does anyone see any issues with using hot glue to glue the toroids down to the boards? I've never had issues gluing toroids down in my 600 meter projects. Inductance values have never changed from no glue to glued down. But with the K2, it just doesn't seem right to leave the toroids loose without gluing them to the boards. So what do you guys think, glue or no glue? Many thanks, Mike WE0H __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Elecraft] K2 transverter question
Building my K2 next week. I run 600 meters and use a homebrew transverter right now with my Kenwood HF rig. Going to build a new transverter for my K2 when it is finished. I ordered the transverter option. I need the K2 to function from 3.135mc to 3.510mc as I use a 3.0mc oven oscillator as my reference mixed with the HF radio's signal to get me on 2200, 1750 600 meters. I am licensed as a Part 5 station on those 3 bands. Will the K2 operate in that band at below 80 meters? I only need the transverter ports to function, not the HF power amp. Many thanks, Mike WE0H __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K2 transverter question
Thank you Ken. Looks like it will be just fine then. Just built a FCC-2 MK-II a few weeks ago. It is a very nice DDS VFO. 73 Mike WE0H Ken K3IU wrote: Hi Mike: I got out a l'il FCC-2 freq counter/vfo that I built, hooked it up to the K2 and was able to hear a signal on the K2 to down just below 2740kc. The VCO unlocked just below that. At 3000kc the output power was about 10 watts. I don't know what kind of sensitivity is available in the K2 that far out of its specified band, but my guess is that it should be OK for what you intend. Good luck with the project. 73, Ken K3IU K2 #5413 K3 #202 Mike-WE0H wrote: Building my K2 next week. I run 600 meters and use a homebrew transverter right now with my Kenwood HF rig. Going to build a new transverter for my K2 when it is finished. I ordered the transverter option. I need the K2 to function from 3.135mc to 3.510mc as I use a 3.0mc oven oscillator as my reference mixed with the HF radio's signal to get me on 2200, 1750 600 meters. I am licensed as a Part 5 station on those 3 bands. Will the K2 operate in that band at below 80 meters? I only need the transverter ports to function, not the HF power amp. Many thanks, Mike WE0H __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K2 transverter question
Hi Don, Wow that does present an issue now. I will see if I can find a suitable reference oscillator at one of those 4 freq's. Seems kind of odd IF freq's not having one at 10.0mc. Does anyone has a suggestion on what oscillator I could brew up that would stay on freq within 1 cycle for over 24 hours after warm up? That is the reason why I now run a oven oscillator because it never changes freq month after month and has zero drift. I run digital modes down there that won't tolerate even a 1 cycle drift. My oscillator's are a commercial assembly from old analog cell sites. Got a deal on them years ago and built my LF MF station around them. Thanks much, Mike WE0H Don wrote: Mike, The K60XV will not provide any advantage for you with that IF frequency band. The available IF frequencies for the K2 transverter bands are limited to 7 MHz, 14 MHz, 21 MHz and 28 MHz. These are 'bottom of the band' frequencies and tuning will be upward from there. You can use the normal K2 BNC output (SO-239 if you have the KPA100 installed) and translate the actual transverter input frequency in your head. You may be doing that already with your Kenwood. If you really need to use the K60XV output, you will need to modify your transverter to use one of the available IF frequencies. You will also not be able to have the K2 directly readout the frequency in that input band, but if you do change your transverter to use the K60XV, you might want to 'fool' the K2 by entering 50 MHz as the RF band and ignore the first digit on the display to obtain the proper frequency. In other words, you could use the K60XV if you changed the transverter oscillator to 7 MHz instead of your current 3 MHz and reworked the IF bandpass for 7000 to 7510 kHz, the K2 would tune from 7000 kHz to 7510 kHz to cover the input frequencies from DC to 510 kHz. If you selected 50 MHz as the RF band, you would see 5.00 to 50550.00 on the K2 display. 73, Don W3FPR Mike-WE0H wrote: Building my K2 next week. I run 600 meters and use a homebrew transverter right now with my Kenwood HF rig. Going to build a new transverter for my K2 when it is finished. I ordered the transverter option. I need the K2 to function from 3.135mc to 3.510mc as I use a 3.0mc oven oscillator as my reference mixed with the HF radio's signal to get me on 2200, 1750 600 meters. I am licensed as a Part 5 station on those 3 bands. Will the K2 operate in that band at below 80 meters? I only need the transverter ports to function, not the HF power amp. Many thanks, Mike WE0H __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K2 transverter question
Hi Don, I can drop the level down and divide as you said. That would be easy enough. I wonder if the software of the K2 could be changed to allow any HF band to be used as an IF with that K60XV board? Who would I speak with about changing the software? Otherwise I'll continue to look for a oven oscillator at those 4 baseband freq's. If I can't find one then I will have to use your method to generate some harmonics and pick the 7.0mc signal and buffer/filter it for the mixer. One way or the other it'll get done...hi hi... Thanks, Mike Don Wilhelm wrote: Mike, It is a matter of firmware, not hardware limitations. I would guess that when the K60XV was released, no one thought it would ever be used for down-converting, so only the normal VHF IF frequencies were made available. Since your current oscillator is super-stable, have you considered using it as a standard. Use a digital counter to divide by 3 - that will produce a square wave which is rich in odd order harmonics - a tuned circuit could then pick off the 7th harmonic of the 1 kHz frequency. I don't know if it would work easily for you, but I think it would be viable enough to experiment with. 73, Don W3FPR Mike-WE0H wrote: Hi Don, Wow that does present an issue now. I will see if I can find a suitable reference oscillator at one of those 4 freq's. Seems kind of odd IF freq's not having one at 10.0mc. Does anyone has a suggestion on what oscillator I could brew up that would stay on freq within 1 cycle for over 24 hours after warm up? That is the reason why I now run a oven oscillator because it never changes freq month after month and has zero drift. I run digital modes down there that won't tolerate even a 1 cycle drift. My oscillator's are a commercial assembly from old analog cell sites. Got a deal on them years ago and built my LF MF station around them. Thanks much, Mike WE0H Don wrote: Mike, The K60XV will not provide any advantage for you with that IF frequency band. The available IF frequencies for the K2 transverter bands are limited to 7 MHz, 14 MHz, 21 MHz and 28 MHz. These are 'bottom of the band' frequencies and tuning will be upward from there. You can use the normal K2 BNC output (SO-239 if you have the KPA100 installed) and translate the actual transverter input frequency in your head. You may be doing that already with your Kenwood. If you really need to use the K60XV output, you will need to modify your transverter to use one of the available IF frequencies. You will also not be able to have the K2 directly readout the frequency in that input band, but if you do change your transverter to use the K60XV, you might want to 'fool' the K2 by entering 50 MHz as the RF band and ignore the first digit on the display to obtain the proper frequency. In other words, you could use the K60XV if you changed the transverter oscillator to 7 MHz instead of your current 3 MHz and reworked the IF bandpass for 7000 to 7510 kHz, the K2 would tune from 7000 kHz to 7510 kHz to cover the input frequencies from DC to 510 kHz. If you selected 50 MHz as the RF band, you would see 5.00 to 50550.00 on the K2 display. 73, Don W3FPR Mike-WE0H wrote: Building my K2 next week. I run 600 meters and use a homebrew transverter right now with my Kenwood HF rig. Going to build a new transverter for my K2 when it is finished. I ordered the transverter option. I need the K2 to function from 3.135mc to 3.510mc as I use a 3.0mc oven oscillator as my reference mixed with the HF radio's signal to get me on 2200, 1750 600 meters. I am licensed as a Part 5 station on those 3 bands. Will the K2 operate in that band at below 80 meters? I only need the transverter ports to function, not the HF power amp. Many thanks, Mike WE0H __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K2 transverter question
I wonder if that was Wayne whom I spoke with at the Orlando Hamcation a couple weekends ago? There was a guy and a lady there at the Elecraft booth and both were extremely helpful and willing to sit down and answer tons of questions. That was the best customer service experience I have seen in a long time. I'll ask Wayne and cross my fingers that it can be done easily...hi hi... Mike Don Wilhelm wrote: Mike, The only person that would change the firmware would be Wayne Burdick himself. In the K2 it would require replacement of the firmware chip because K2 firmware is not downloadable like the K3. You would likely have to pry Wayne away from his K3 MCU firmware efforts to get his attention, but you certainly could ask. 73, Don W3FPR __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
