Re: [Elecraft] New Contest Transceiver [OT]
David Ferrington, M0XDF wrote: In the UK, this same action in 2003 has resulted in more newcomers (since Morse is no longer an obstacle) and in fact, more people wishing to learn Morse (myself included) since on using HF, it becomes clear just how significant CW is to making contacts, especially DX. So, by no longer forcing people to learn Morse, we have encouraged more to do so. To tell from the activity on the CW bands I would say you are wrong. Activity on the CW bands are a far cry compared to what it used to be 10 years ago, not to mention 20-30 years ago. Less and less people use CW on the ham bands! Sad but it´s a fact. 73 Jim SM2EKM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 and linear amp
Or rebuild the amp with faster relays like the Jennings RJ1A. Jim SM2EKM -- AE4CW wrote: I have the same issue with a slow switching linear and am thinking about putting a slow relay in the keying circuit which I need anyway to invert the keying signal. - Chuck, AE4CW ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Import duties on amateur radio items
Sweden has the same system as Iceland however we have 25 percent TAX instead. Iceland is not on top of the list!!! Jim SM2EKM TF3KX wrote: The import duty is not the problem, but the VAT (somewhat similar to the US sales tax), which is exceedingly high in many European countries. I wonder if anyone tops the Icelandic VAT, 24.5%, which is added on the total package value: Content price + shipping + insurance. Additionally, I may be charged for the paperwork ($10-20), and to top it all they may occasionally request a permit from the Post and Telegraph Authorities for radio components. This is what I had to go through when ordering my K2 a couple of months ago. Last week I received a notice from the customs, which had in its custody an envelope with a transistor and five ceramic capacitors from Elecraft, marked with the value of $1. I managed to convince the customs that these were replacement parts and I had already paid for the original kit earlier, but I was lucky this time. 73 - Kristinn, TF3KX ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] OT - End of the line for XP
Can´t you move this XP crap to some other list, after all this list is called Elecraft. Tnx! /SM2EKM -- Darwin, Keith wrote: I too heard XP is going to end soon. I got to use a Windows Vista machine here at work the last few days. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] The K3 in comprison to the Big Guns
Money isn´t the answer to everything!!! This I did learn many many moons ago. / SM2EKM -- Shane White wrote: That's it, I'm going to ask the silly question. How can the K3's receiver outperform that of the Icom IC-7800 and Yaesu FTDX9000? These two radios cost in excess of $11,000 and weigh in at over 25Kg (55lbs)! The K3 costs about $2000 and weighs about 4Kg (8.5lbs). Yes the K3 is deficient of a screen, internal PSU and some knobs but why on earth is there such a difference in price and weight? Given this, how can the K3's receiver outperform these other radios? These questions keep bugging me. Those glossy Yaesu and Icom brochures certainly don't help! ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] RSGB RadCom K3 review posted on RSGB Members web page
Interesting review. Considering IMDDR3 it seems like one should stay way from the 500 Hz filter, looks like the 400 Hz is the filter to get. Also the TX probably shouldn´t be cranked up to 120W but instead 100W should be maximum. 73 Jim SM2EKM -- Dave G4AON wrote: For those who are RSGB members, see: http://www.rsgb.org/membersonly/publications/reviews/index.php The K3 review by Peter Hart has just been posted. As it is copyright RSGB, so I can't quote much of it, but Peter concludes with: The K3 is an impressive radio, which has attracted much interest and orders. One of the leading radios for close-in dynamic range and with excellent features, it is an ideal radio for use at home, field day or DXpeditions 73 Dave, G4AON K3/100 #80 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] RSGB RadCom K3 review posted on RSGB Members web page
Yes something isn´t right. This was his measurements: CLOSE-IN INTERMODULATION ON 7MHz band,500Hz bandwidth, CW preamp off 2.7 kHz roofing 1.8 kHz roofing 500 Hz roofing 2kHz +19dBm 101dB+12.5dBm 96dB+2.5dBm 88dB 3kHz +19dBm 101dB+12.5dBm 96dB+2.5dBm 88dB 5kHz +22dBm 103dB+12.5dBm 96dB+8.5dBm 92dB 7kHz +22dBm 103dB+12.5dBm 96dB+13dBm95dB 10kHz +22dBm 103dB+12.5dBm 96dB+17.5dBm 98dB 15kHz +22dBm 103dB+12.5dBm 96dB+22dBm 101dB 20kHz +22dBm 103dB+12.5dBm 96dB+25dBm 103dB 30kHz +22dBm 103dB+12.5dBm 96dB+26.5dBm 104dB 40kHz +22dBm 103dB+12.5dBm 96dB+27dBm 104dB 50kHz +22dBm 103dB+12.5dBm 96dB+27dBm 104dB He also wrote this: Third order intercept and dynamic range results were excellent, but results were a little dependent on which roofing filter was in circuit (see table). With the stock 2.7kHz filter, the intermodulation limited dynamic range held at over 100dB (in 500Hz DSP bandwidth) down to 2kHz spacing, probably the highest figure I have ever measured at this spacing. However, with the 500Hz 5 pole roofing filter, a degradation was seen at close spacings and non-linear effects such as hysteresis were also observed. A step drop in performance was triggered as the spacing was reduced, which did not follow the reverse pattern as the spacing was again increased. Now if something similar did happen in the Orion case a measurement error can be suspected. It isn´t logical to think two bad filters. de SM2EKM . Bill W4ZV wrote: Jan Erik Holm wrote: Interesting review. Considering IMDDR3 it seems like one should stay way from the 500 Hz filter, looks like the 400 Hz is the filter to get. I haven't read the review but he must have had a bad 500 Hz filter from what I've heard reported (i.e. the 2.7k better than the 500 Hz). That makes no sense and is contradictory to previous measurements by both Elecraft and Sherwood: Elecraft: Filter20kHz 10kHz 5kHz 2kHz 200 Hz, 5 pole100+ 100+ 100+ 95 250 Hz, 8 pole100+ 100+ 100+ 95 400 Hz, 8 pole100+ 100+ 100+ 95 500 Hz, 5 pole100+ 100+ 100+ 94 1 kHz, 8 pole 100+ 100+ 10094 2.7 kHz, 5 pole 100+ 98 92n/a 2.8 kHz, 8 pole 100+ 100 93n/a http://www.zerobeat.net/mediawiki/index.php/K3_Roofing_Filters Sherwood: Filter - IMD @ 2 kHz 500 Hz - 95 dB 400 Hz - 96 dB 200 Hz - 101 dB* *I listed the 200 Hz because it's a 5-pole filter (just like the 500 Hz) in case some believe there is an inherent problem with 5-pole filters. http://www.sherweng.com/table.html It's odd but Peter Hart reported something similar when he did Orion's review. The 2.4k filter was much better than the 1.0k, which again makes no sense unless the 1.0k was defective. I'm sure Peter reported what he measured but common sense would dictate that one should suspect something was wrong with the filter and request another when anomalous results like this are measured. It also reminds me when ARRL once reported better IMD performance with Preamp ON versus Preamp OFF. Common sense would say TILT! 73, Bill W4ZV ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] [K3] First-time VOX test: It works!
Nice! It´s years and years since I´ve used a VOX that worked correct. Sure looking forward to receive my K3. Too bad I have to wait another while, oh well there are plenty other things to do but radio. 73 Jim SM2EKM --- Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft wrote: DSP based VOX is very cool. :-) We can do some interesting things to avoid dropped first syllables. Eric WA6HHQ Stewart Baker wrote: Yup, it's pretty good.. 73 Stewart G3RXQ On Mon, 7 Jul 2008 09:59:51 -0600, Bill W5WVO wrote: To those of you SSB ops who won't use VOX because every implementation of it you've ever used basically sucked -- Try the K3! I just set it up using my Heil Pro-Set forthe first time, and it works just as you think it should. Very smooth, no dropped syllables, no falsing -- amazing. It feels effortless, like the K3's QSK on CW. This is by far the best VOX I have ever tried. Bill W5WVO ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Hearing the effect of narrower roofing filter
Darwin, Keith wrote: each step. When I step to 500 Hz and the narrow roofing filter kicks in, I can hear a distinct change, more than just the DSP narrowing I'd heard while stepping from 1000 Hz to 550 Hz. The effect is very noticeable. - Keith N1AS - - K3 711 - Keith, Can you describe this change closer. 73 Jim SM2EKM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Switching Supplies
Mike Penkas wrote: I have 2 SEC1223's and no hash. I also have an Astron RS35 and RS50 linear supplies. Sometimes the magnetic hum from them drives me crazy. The little cork pads Astron puts in them to alleviate this does not help much. I keep them under the closed console on the floor. Mike WA8EBM Sorry to disagree but the SEC1223 is far from quiet. However it can be made much better by modifications. The DC side needs much better filtering, also some work can be done on the AC side. 73 Jim SM2EKM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 FSK power transients
I just noticed some issues like that last weekend when operating the SAC CW contest. All off a sudden when tuning up on 10m a big bang occured in my linear amplifier. Now nothing got hurt it just blew the fuses. This amp used to be driven with 200W and I never ever had any issues before. Of course it could be the amp and I haven´t measured the K3 to confirm if there are any high power spikes due to poor ALC regulation. I was tuning with fast dots from the keyer. Now I was thinking if the TXGain is set too high maybe that could do something? I guess I have to investigate but I simply haven´t had the time. Jim SM2EKM -- Dave Hachadorian wrote: I'm getting my K3's set up for the CQWW DX RTTY, and notice that there is a significant variation in power output whenever the FSK goes from mark to space or space to mark. One of these K3's is driving a high gain tetrode amp, and the amp's screen current is jumping all over the place. The power transient is only at the time of transition. The steady-state power of the mark and space are equal. I've complained about this before, but it seems to be even worse now. I'm using FW rev 3.30. This amplitude modulation has got to be producing some illegal sidebands. Dave Hachadorian, K6LL Yuma, AZ . __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ 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 bad TX
Toni, Yes you had it on 40m too. Actually on 40m the spur came right on my frequency and due to that I did notice it. I was going to let you know but forgot about it. 73 Jim SM2EKM --- Toni Lindén wrote: I was using SO2R with pair of K3s' and had similar reports with both radios, so I guess it's not the amp issue. The bands where I got reports were 20M and 15M (on 10M were no propagation and maybe 40M and 80M were too noisy to notice the 2nd sigs). All antennas are OK and no difference was noted with antennas. 73 de Toni, OH2UA Tke the amp out of the equation and see if you still have the issue. Try a different antenna and check the SWR. I would suspect one of those to be the issue. At least it will eliminate some variables. Dan AB3EN Toni Lindén wrote: Hi! I was trying K3 for first time in SAC contest a couple of weeks ago. During the contest I got multiple reports that besides of my run frequency, I also had other reasonable strong signals around the band. It cleared out that I had at least one other signal about 7kHz away from my actual freq. It was quite strong, maybe 40dBs down from my running freq. Have anyone else had similar problems and do you have any suggestion how to fix this? I was using only about 60 to 70 watts drive for the amp and amp was not pushed over. The same appears on both, CW and SSB. Radio has the most resent FWs available via K3 utility SW. I'm planning to take K3 with me to CU2 for CQWW, but after getting such a bad reports about my 2nd pileup on the same band, I'm not sure if I'm willing to make such an interference to others on CQWW... So if anyone has any advice, I'm more than pleased to hear! 73 de Toni, OH2UA __ 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] 1750Hz tone in MCU 3.41 / DSP 2.37, 10-02-2009
PLEASE if you are going to keep this silly thing with a toneburst at the start of every transmission at least make it so that i can be switched off. In Sweden this is not needed for repeater work, after repeater been activated with 1750Hz it is carrier operated. /SM2EKM --- ww2r2 wrote: Having had it tested it on a couple of UK repeaters, I found they require a tone at the start of every transmission irrrespective of the gap between transmissions; The present functionality is fine Admittedly most have been accepting PL for many years now Dave G4FRE Message: 6 Date: Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:51:47 +0200 From: dj7...@muenchen-mail.de Subject: [Elecraft] 1750Hz tone in MCU 3.41 / DSP 2.37, 10-02-2009 To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID: 20091006205147.0euhmp20owkcg...@webmail.mnet-online.de Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; DelSp=Yes; format=flowed Hi Wayne and the list, without having actually testing this: * EU REPEATER 1750 HZ PL TONE BURST: If a 1750 Hz PL TONE is selected, a 500 ms tone burst will be sent on each PTT activation. This sounds wrong. During a normal QSO the tone is only needed once. Here in DL the 1750Hz tone is used to turn a repeater on, and it stays active until it no longer detects an incoming signal for 10 seconds or so. In other words, transmitting the tone as a kind of inverse roger beep would be very irritating. vy 73 de toby __ 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 bad TX - solved
Toni Lindén wrote: Just to let you know that spurious signals while TXing are gone ;) The problem was capasitor C3 that was soldered on PA board. That capasitor should not be there and causes an oscillation in the bias circuit. Big thanks to Frank, W4NHJ for helping me finding this out. Also thanks to everyone for other solution suggestions and help! 73 de Toni, OH2UA Is this capacitor on all K3´s? / SM2EKM __ 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 Firmware 3.44
On AM this has always been, at least on my unit SNR around 1500. This K3 radio sure has a lot of artifacts. / SM2EKM Mike wrote: I noticed it in the AM broadcast band (.690), regardless of NR. There's a tiny bit of it on the low end of 160M also. I'd describe it as if the BW control had a pawl, or detent. #3539 Mike, NF4L Elliott Lawrence wrote: I installed the latest 3.44 firmware and the associated DSP firmware yesterday. The install went without a problem although I am always a bit anxious at the completion bars slowly march across the screen! I've noticed with the NR engaged and the BW control being adjusted that the audio blanks as each step occurs (a popping sound). I don't remember that being there with my previous version 3.3. The blanking does not occur with the NR off. It just smoothly changes the bandwidth. Does anyone else notice this condition? Is it a function of the changes made to eliminate the audio screech? So far everything else seems to be functioning OK. 73 Elliott WA6TLA K3 S/N 3381 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] VFO Tuning Noise, still some there after modification
David Lankshear wrote: After implementing Elecraft's VFO tuning hash modification, there was still hash to be heard on my K3, most notably in the bottom 40kHz of 10 metres. The problem was finally eased by replacement of the two silicon diodes used in the modification. Although no fault could be found with the original diodes - they were a couple from a large bandolier of 1N4148 purchased from a major retailer some time ago - their replacement with a couple of 1N4148 diodes recycled from redundant equipment reduced the hash level to below the received antenna noise level on 10m. The only difference I could find between the two pairs of diodes was that the Vf on the original diodes was higher than that of the replacement diodes. Original diode Vf 0.75v, replacement diode Vf 0.71v, all measurements taken at 5mA. If anyone is still experiencing VFO tuning hash after making the modification, it might be worth trying a swap out of the diodes. Perhaps using Schottky barrier diodes might be even better? Hats off to Gary of Elecraft support for his patience and for always being there when needed. Also to Dale, who could hear my K3's hash over 8,000 miles of landline. 73 DaveL G3TJP Has anyone tried Schottky diodes? I will myself but haven´t had time to deal with it yet, too busy with other things in life right now. Jim SM2EKM __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3: no audio out with AGC off in FW 3.63
Yes and I still do have the record. I bet it might be the only one in Sweden. Jim SM2EKM --- Brian Machesney wrote: Anyone ever listen to Cheech and Chong's Big Bambu album back in the 70s? I feel like Sister Mary Elephant responding to Lyle's correct answer: Thank you. __ 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: killing RX key clicks
Paul Christensen wrote: When I first received my Icom 756Pro (now my backup rig) several years ago I discovered that the default rise/fall times (adjustable in one of the menus) was set to 2 msec (!). That's unconscionable... It's unconscionable with some rigs, but not all. Take a look at the K3's keying envelope on a scope since the ca. 3.00 firmware release earlier this year. Compare it against the QST Product Reviews. I currently measure the rise time of about 2.5 msec and the K3 occupies minimal RF spectrum. Even at very fast CW speeds, it's the slope of the rise and fall that primarily determines occupied bandwidth. As keying speed increases, there's a point where the keying rate becomes a dominant factor but that's largely due to the fact that as the keying rate increases so must the envelope slope. The clicks heard with many transmitters occurs because the slope is discontinuous. Using a Blackman-Harris or raised-cosine window function minimizes occupied bandwidth but that function is also dependent on envelope distortion created by a transmitter's ALC circuitry. So, it's possible to set two completely different brands of transmitters to 2 msec and the bandwidth results can be radically different. Paul W9AC Are you sure about 2.5 ms? As far as I remember I measured my K3 to about 5 ms and Elecraft also stated 5 ms. This was over a year ago however, if 2.5 is correct they have changed it or my memmory is corrupted. / SM2EKM __ 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: killing RX key clicks
Paul Christensen wrote: Are you sure about 2.5 ms? Yes. As far as I remember I measured my K3 to about 5 ms and Elecraft also stated 5 ms. This was over a year ago... Measure it again. The rise time changed roughly around the F/W 3.00 revision. I went back to a 2.xx version and it measured ~ 6 msec. Paul, W9AC Ok Elecraft changed it, something I missed. It was prior to 3.00 I measured. / SM2EKM __ 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 Broken AF knob and bad service to get an replacement.
Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft wrote: Hi Tord, I personally apologize for your problems with the K3 concentric AF/RF knobs, or any delays from us sending them to you. We send out all replacements very quickly and I can only guess that they were delayed at international customs. I checked our records, and our sales department received your replacement request Thursday, June 18th, 2009. We shipped the replacements on Monday, June 22, 2009. We try to work hard to send all replacement parts quickly, as we know how important this is to our customers. (For the fastest replacement parts service, please send future parts emails to pa...@elecraft.com ) Sometimes Swedish customs are reel slow, I´m surprised SM3ALR doesn´know this. In any case, a parcel could be delayed 1-2 weeks just due to slow customs. Also mid June being prime vacation time could have been a reason. Another thing is if the parcel is airmail between lets say California and Stockholm it might not be airmail between Stockholm and SM2 (or SM3). It could take just one day to get to Stockholm but another 4-5 days from Stockholm to northern Sweden, plus the customs delay. 73 Jim SM2EKM __ 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] Noisy K3 receiver
Well something isn´t right or different from other radios. There are radios with lower MDS that sounds much quieter then the K3. Here we have proposals to turn of preamp and make MDS even higher. Not logical and state of the art to me. So again, I know there are receivers with lower MDS then the K3 that sounds much more quiet. IMO something is going on but I can´t put my fingers on it and I don´t have the time to investigate. And believe you me with the experience I do have in the performance of a multitude of different radios going back in to the 60´ties I know what I´m talking about. It´s been most interesting to read some of the comments, maybe something can come out of it and things can be fixed. merry xmas Jim SM2EKM - Don Wilhelm wrote: will return the K3 to full gain. You are correct in reducing the RF Gain to the point where the band noise is reduced. I trust you are also using the attenuator and have the preamp off because these are stages prior to the mixer and will have a greater impact on the band noise reduction than the RF Gain which operates at the IF. For those who have noisy reception, do a trial at a spot in each HF band where there are no signals present - first turn off the preamp, and then if noise is still present and bothersome, turn on the attenuator, then lastly reduce the RF Gain. __ 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] My K3's Very Quiet
Hmm, interesting, 4 dB MDS improvement and the gain of the preamp is 15-20 dB i think. Spontaneously this is a lousy preamp or I had too much too drink during Saturday dinner. Correction to W0SD: The FT-1000D DO have a preamp, about20 dB gain. Check the schematic and you will see. When you turn switch to IPO it kicks out the preamp. Then turning it further to 6 dB etc etc you switch in attenuation in 6 dB steps. IMO this was soo stupid, instead I did modify my FT-1000D NOT to turn off preamp but just use the atennuation steps. Easy to do, just look at the schematic. By using the 6 12 18 dB attenuation steps I easily can improve the IMDDR3 when needed. My modified FT-1000D has about 92 dB IMDDR3 at a MDS of about 142 dB 2 kHz spacing. Not too shabby, and I don´t have to ride the RF gain. Also I don´t get fatigued by strange pink or whatever noise. Soo here we have a radio ( K3 ) with 135 dB MDS and you guys are going to lower the gain! In my head something is totally wacky here. / Jim SM2EKM drewko wrote: Regarding the preamp: MDS measurements show a better (S+N)/N with the preamp on, approx 4 db improvement in MDS on my K3 on 40m. A similar improvement is obtained by setting the ATU to BYPASS. The macro to toggle Preamp+Bypass is SWH19;SWT24; for anyone who wants to try it. It may be useful for weak signals. You do have to remember to toggle it (the ATU) back on when you transmit though. 73, Drew AF2Z On Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:27:16 -0600, Ed W0SD wrote: It has been my experience over the years to NOT use the pre-amp on any HF radio unless you are out of audio gain. The FT-1000D did not have a pre-amp and the only place for me it was lacking was 10 meters. For me I just don't hear more at 10 meters and down with a pre-amp. For me it just brings the noise up with the signal. The only place I have seen a big benefit from a pre-amp is above 28 mhz. Obviously the K3 benefits from a pre-amp on six meters. Ed W0SD __ 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] My K3's Very Quiet
Ed, No offence but what you say below puts everything on the tilt since you say you have been using a FT-1000D, ifn´t you had it in IPO all the time you have been using the preamp. There is no two ways about it. I do agree that the reel world performance compared to lab performance is two totally different things. I´m beginning to think we have something here in conjunction with the K3. As I did say before, my gut feeling is that there is something going on but I can´t put my finger on it neither I have the time available to investigate. / Jim SM2EKM --- W0SD Ed Gray wrote: I believe the test results but the reality to me is in the real world it does not make any difference on HF below 10 meters. I don't use the ATU, all resonate antenna's here. If using the amplifier no ATU into the amplifier so that is not an issue here. The 4 db mentioned with the pre-amp I am sure is accurate but I can not hear the difference and I have a nice quiet location. IMHO you can't get a quiet rx with a pre-amp as the background is going to increase when you turn it on. It would be fine to get more back ground if the signal was better copy. However for me I can never remember a case where turning on the pre-amp made it possible to copy something better than without it other than 10 meters and up and I have a quiet location out in the country. My opinion is based on working all DXCC countries, 5Band WAZ, lots of contests, operating 160-1296 and higher with about 300,000 qso's in the log and being on several Dx-peditions. I just say this to validate I have been blessed to be able to do a good deal of operating in the real world. To me there is a limit to the improvement you can get in the real world on an antenna when you have atmospheric and man made noise. Again I have chased weak signal DX for a long time and I have never found a time the pre-amp helps below 10 meters on recent vintage radios. It may help others but it does not help me. For me it is just tiring to the ears to listen to the extra background noise with the pre-amp on. For me the key point is that you can make legitimate tests that show a difference in a test set up with test equipment but in the real world listening on an antenna even at a very quiet location it just isn't going to show up. The fact is that probably only 1% or less of hams have very quiet locations so they just amplify man made noise when they turn on the pre-amp. To get a benefit you need a very low noise floor and there is a limit on HF even at the most quiet location. I will stick to my GUNS and say the pre-amp does not help me any below 10 meters and only makes it more fatiguing to listen to ( roughly 3-S units more background on my K3 meter) and I am blessed with having a quieter location than I suspect 99% of the hams have. So the bottom line I think for most if you want less noise is to turn the pre-amp off. If it does make a difference for you(I does not for me) it will be a very small percentage of the time so why not leave it off 99.9% of the time if background noise is an issue for you. I think most of the persons having problems with listening to the K3 are because of what I will call pitch or put another way what they trouble setting it so it is what they like to listen to. Here is a real world example. Operating at TZ6EI this past summer on six meters W7XU was having trouble with the K3 noise with the six meter pre-amp. He likes to copy a low pitch 300 hz, no more than 400 hz on cw. The background noise was driving him NUTS. I had him adjust the shift to lower the pitch of the noise and he was perfectly satisfied and we are talking about hours and days of weak signal copying with headphones. Ed W0SD __ 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] My K3's Very Quiet
Ed, Now I do agree on ALL counts, well almost. Sounds fishy you had to have AF gain wide open to be able to RX on 10m. Well since this is the K3 list we better concentrate on the K3, after all K3 is more state of the art then the stone age FT-1000D. / Jim SM2EKM -- W0SD Ed Gray wrote: Thanks for the correction. I was happy with the FT-1000D other than on 10M I often had the AF cranked wide open. It was worse with head phones than with the speaker. I could of used more gain there. Other than that I was satisfied with the gain. For me the K3 has been a huge step forward for lots of reasons such as: 1. So much lighter 2. Two CW keying ports 3. Better IMD 4. Lines in and Line out 5. Better set up for RX antenna 6. RX diversity is easier for me to use 7. The radio keeps getting better with better firmware. 8. etc. etc, I am a ham radio operator and not a radio technician but I do have a lot of operating experience and I know what works for me and what does not and I get no benefit with the K3 using the pre-amp below 10 meters. On the other hand it does not mess me up that much as in reality most of the time I am listening to a signal so the pre-amp gain does not hurt as I am hearing it and not background noise. For me it only comes into play on very weak signals where I prefer the pre-amp off or when seriously tuning around. Ed W0SD __ 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 on 10
Even with a 6/6/6 stack on 10 and a RX with MDS of 135 dB (I think it is) you will benefit with a low NF preamp. However, antenna gain is NOT everything on 10m, we are getting close to VHF and I rather would be interested in antenna noise temperature but maybe you just will tell us that your antennas are optimized for just that. / Jim SM2EKM - Bill W4ZV wrote: Barry N1EU wrote: WA9VEE wrote: It seems to me the K3 receive could use more punch on 10M. Yes, I've similarly found that overall rf/if gain seems a bit low on 10M. I'd hope that this could be addressed with dsp gain rather than external hardware. But external 10m hardware is more fun! :-) http://users.vnet.net/btippett/images/W4zv1.jpg Now we wait for the sunspots to make 10 fun again. 73, Bill __ 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 spurious
There sure are a lot of workarounds with the K3, the list is quite long by now. Jim - Zoli Pitman HA1AG wrote: This is not a solution. It is a workaround. :) 73, zoli ha1ag - Original Message Yes, a well known issue for a LONG time...with a SUPER EASY solution. It is indeed due to the internal speaker. A year or so ago, I got a call from a local (a couple miles away) that he had a spurious on his K3 (I helped him build it). I listened, yes it was there. When he switched from the internal speaker to headphones, it was gone. I think he ended up using an external speaker which also solved the problem (some guys like speakers!). 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] K3 spurious
Yes Tuning pulses, diod and resistor fix Lots of spurs here and there, FW workaround fix IMO that is serious design flaws and and the fixes are sort of workarounds on the design, I would not call the fixes enhancements. Those two just from the top of my head. On the internal speaker: I never use it when I operate, I always use a headset or if CW well headphones then. So for me this thing doesn´t matter since I never use the speaker. But there are always things wrong with new radios, flaws in the design, we just need to be objective about the but my feeling is that most on this list are far from that. All in all I´m still happy with the K3 and wouldn´t like to be without it. 73 Jim SM2EKM Don Wilhelm wrote: Jim, Can you be specific about your perception that there are a lot of workarounds. I consider this to be the only one. There are enhancements being worked on - ideas that have mainly come from requests on this reflector, but those are not hardware related like this one seems to be. I wonder why this has not been seen before - surely many have used the internal speaker over the past 3 years, but then again, perhaps not often, I use external speakers, and many use headphones. 73, Don W3FPR Jan Erik Holm wrote: There sure are a lot of workarounds with the K3, the list is quite long by now. Jim __ 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 needs survey -- firmware and application software
This is what I like to see: 1. Pritty much no more features just refine and work on what´s already there, refine the design. 2. Better S-meter resolution, 5 dB not good enough. 3. Possibility to adjust CW keyed envelope rise and fall time. Think it´s 5 ms now so lets say 5 - 8 ms adjustable. IMO keying is too hard and the result is mild key clicks. 4. I like to see a Service Manual. 73 and merry xmas to the whole Elecraft gang / Jim SM2EKM __ 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 needs survey
Well I never found the FT1000D peak filter that great, decent yes, all subjective of cource. I remember when I had a Drake 2B with 2BQ Q-mult, that was nice, you sure could peak signals up out of nowhere. But sure a peak filter could be nice to try. Happy New Year / Jim SM2EKM --- Mike K2MK wrote: I am also very interested in an audio peak filter for CW. I really found it extremely beneficial on my FT1000D. The RX EQ has potential in this area but it is turned off at narrow bandwidths. 73, Mike K2MK from n4cc Wayne -- I would like to see an audio peaking filter for cw work...perhaps it could be an alternate function for the pitch control?? __ 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: honest question re Audio Peak Filter
Indeed!, Doug got this right. In a previous msg I did say why not but thinking more about it, after reading this, I will agree that it´s not needed. Too many darn functions to fiddle with anyway, enough is enough. As I stated in a previous message, fix the flaws and get done with it, the K3 is a very nice product as is but a few bits and pieces needs fixing. Anyway,..happy new year / Jim SM2EKM DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL wrote: RE: Audio Peak Filter requests A number of folks have asked for this, including some who have not commented here. Many of these guys obviously used a audio peak filter before, found it useful, and now miss it. As before, I have no issues with any requests, as long as they are user-selectable as OPTIONS and not mandatory. But I have to ask why for this one. It has been my experience that one uses an audio peak filter when the IF filtering is inadequate...it is another layer of support (rejecting unwanted signals). But hey guys...the stock K3 goes down to a 50hz bandwidth...at IF and AF (if I understand the DSP correctly). Fifty HERTZ! I think that is a just as narrow (if not much narrower) and with as steep skirts (if not steeper) than you will ever find on the Audio Peak Filtering on any past or current radio. Not only can you narrow down the DSPs to 50hz, but you can also set the pitch to whatever you like. Doesn't that do the same thing (only better)? QUESTIONS: Are you sure that you actually need this? Have you tried the method cited above? Why/how would an audio peak filter be better or a further enhancement? Thanks and Happy New Year! de Doug KR2Q PS...recently I posed another such comment on a different topic and I got some very good answers which taught me at least one new trick...so this is definitely not a sarcastic question. __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] K3 New DSP board installed
How about the TX side. AFAI understand it should do things to TX audio. / Jim SM2EKM - Wes Stewart wrote: Is the spur at 3.9 KHz gone? --- On Sat, 1/9/10, Steve Ellington n...@carolina.rr.com wrote: From: Steve Ellington n...@carolina.rr.com Subject: [Elecraft] K3 New DSP board installed To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Date: Saturday, January 9, 2010, 9:41 AM The installation of the Rev D DSP board went smoothly. I updated the firmware and all is well. The first thing I noticed was how much louder the headphones (Bose 32 ohm) are. I use the FP jack. The difference is huge. Before the upgrade, I ran the CW sidetone at 38. Now it's at 14! I'm not sure about the speaker volume but I don't believe there was much if any change. I don't hear any change in the low frequency audio. It had already been improved earlier with one of the FW updates. Headphone impedance can affect this too. Using MixW, I can see a well defined null in audio level below 50 Hz. The 3rd harmonic is still present in the low level audio output. This has bugged me from day one on the K3. It's weak but visible on the waterfall. See the photo at http://n4lq.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=65288758 Don't bother telling me it's my sound card or my level is too high. I've already been trough that routine. As for audio quality and listener fatigue, time will tell. This radio is such an improvement over my IC-7800 that anything I say is just nit picking. Was the upgrade worth the money? I guess it depends on how you feel about money and your K3. __ 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] K3 Band Data
Is the K3 band data compatible with Yaesu (ex:FT1000D) BCD band data. Looks to me that it is, or? 73 Jim SM2EKM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Band Data
Thanks to AD5X and W4TV. I know exactly now. 73 Jim SM2EKM -- Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: The BCD encoding is the same as the FT-1000D/FT-2000. Interfacing to a microHAM or TopTen Band Decoder requires no internal modification (both products include pull-up resistors on their BCD inputs). The Elecraft KRC-2 and W9XT Band Decoders do not have pull-up resistors and will require the addition of 2.2 - 10K resistors in the decoder or on the KIO3 board as documented in the Negative ALC Mod bulletin. 73, ... Joe, W4TV -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jan Erik Holm Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 4:00 AM To: Elecraft Reflector Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Band Data Is the K3 band data compatible with Yaesu (ex:FT1000D) BCD band data. Looks to me that it is, or? 73 Jim SM2EKM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Monitor
Monitor does not sound good. It never has and it doesn´t now with the latest FW. The only way is to listen to yourself in another RX. / Jim SM2EKM --- Ed Gray W0SD wrote: It is my understanding that the monitor audio in the K3 was not so good early on but that this has been taken care of and has been OK for quite awhile. The past two days I have gotten extensive on the air checks on 10 meters in preparation for the 10M contest coming up this week end as the monitor does not sound right to me. It sounds like there is a echo. However I have run checks with locals at S-9+ and with stations 200 miles away at S-0 to S-7 with QSB and I am getting great audio reports. The real clincher is I listen on my other K3 with the attenuator on and RF gain backed off and it sounds good. Something does not seem correct with my monitor audio, ie it is not a true representation of what the transmitter sounds like. Does anyone have any ideas? Ed W0SD ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Power out
After measuring the TX IMD on SSB I stopped putting the radio above 100W. IMO the K3 should be limited to 100W, it is sad to see it isn´t. My advice would be, on SSB never go above 199W, on CW it doesn´t matter. Please Elecraft, make a FW change and limit the radio to 100W, thanks! / Jim SM2EKM --- Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: Hello Gary, and congratulations! Opening up the K3 again is not nearly as traumatic as you might think. The POWER control will *ask* for more than the rig can deliver. It's spec'd at 100 watts, and that's what is guaranteed. The K3 can make a bit more than 100 watts on most bands, but that's all it's spec'd to do. When you set the POWER control for a specific output, it tries to adjust the transmitter circuits for that output, but can't do it if it's out of their range. That's what is happening to you at 120 watts. The absolute maximum power will vary by band and to some extent from rig to rig. But since 120 watts is a whole 0.8 dB more than 100 watts, it's not significant on the air. You're probably crowding that 20 amp supply at 100 watts on some bands. The efficiency (and so the current required for a given output power) varies from band to band. I'm running a K3 with a 20 amp supply, but I'm near the limit on some bands at right on 20 amps for 100 watts out, if the SWR is quite low. (Higher SWR's reduce the efficiency so the current goes up!) I don't know whether your supply has a crowbar circuit in it, but my Astron does. It lets me know if I push too hard by simply shutting down. I have to cycle the power supply mains switch to reset it, then turn the K3 on again. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Gary Smith Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2008 9:04 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Power out Firstly Got the K3 assembled. The transverter board was back ordered and so is the subreceiver so I will be re entering the K3 and adding to it at least twice over the next few months. I'm not looking forward to the disassembly re-assembly but doing the kit sure gave me a great appreciation for the detail and function this marvelous radio has. Absolutely amazing. Kudos Wane Eric, you surely have an amazing way of looking at things. Most effective and clear. With that there are a few questions but in the spirit of one at a time; The power supply I have been using in the setup is a Heathkit Power supply which was made for one of their last Transceivers. It's a HP- 1144 and offers 20 Amps out. After calibrating the K3 I tried getting 120 watts out to the dummy load but after the 50 watt calibration, when I held tune down to see how it read. I only got 102-105W out, not 120, though I set he power out at 120W. I'm wondering if the Heath power supply is lacking and that's the reason for the lower maximum output? It seemed to work well as a backup for the Omni V corsair. Idears? Thanks Gary (One year older as of yesterday...) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Power out
Sorry made a typo. 199W should be 100W. Jan Erik Holm wrote: After measuring the TX IMD on SSB I stopped putting the radio above 100W. IMO the K3 should be limited to 100W, it is sad to see it isn´t. My advice would be, on SSB never go above 199W, on CW it doesn´t matter. Please Elecraft, make a FW change and limit the radio to 100W, thanks! / Jim SM2EKM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Power out
OK that could be done, I will experiment further when I do get some time. I know I have checked the PS voltage but dont remember what it was, have to go down into the basement and check. Now checked, it´s 13.88 at 100W and 13.84V at 120W. IMD comes up 8dB at 120W compared with 100W. Stays pritty much flat betwen 10-100W. At 100W K3 is about 10 dB worse then a FT-1000D at full 200W. And for kicks a Collins KWM-2 is 10 dB better then the FT-1000D. What I measure is the fully modulated envelope and scan 10 kHz up/dwn from center frequency. That is, what interests me is how the radios looks 5 kHz up/down from center frequency, i e adjacent channel IMD if I call it that. If I would have been the designer I would never have allowed above 100W PEP SSB, CW of course is OK. Merry Christmas / Jim Bill W4ZV wrote: Jan Erik Holm wrote: After measuring the TX IMD on SSB I stopped putting the radio above 100W. Jim try setting your power supply so you have 13.8-14.0V key down at maximum power and see if that helps the IMD some. 73, Bill ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] RE: Any Amplifier News
Checking product information I can see it is advertised as a 1000W PEP amplifier. What happens with IMD at over 1300W? / SM2EKM --- Mitch Wolfson DJØQN wrote: Eric, The thing that makes the KPA-1500 most attractive from my perspective, and surely others, is it's supposed SO2R ability. What other amps on the market offer similar capability other than the SPE Expert 1K-FA (which is only 1kW)? A KPA-1500 is domestic, so eliminates the extra steps involved in importing, et.al. compared to an SPE. You don't have to worry about import and support on the SPE Expert, it is taken care of by Bill at BB Tech http://www.spe-na.com/ Bill offers excellent support, so I wouldn't think twice. Note also that I get significantly more than 1KW out on mine, even more than 1300 watts. 73, Mitch DJØQN ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] happy holidays
I beg to differ. Christmas eve is Dec 24 / SM2EKM --- DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL wrote: In chronological sequence: HanukkahMonday December 22, 2008 for 7 days, ongoing now Christmas Thursday December 25, 2008 Kwanzaa Friday December 26, 2008 Shakyamuni Buddha Day Saturday December 27, 2008 Muharram/Al-Hijira Monday Dec 29, 2008 New Year Thursday Jan 1, 2009 de Doug KR2Q An eye for an eye...will make us all blind Ghandi PS https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/xx.html Christians 33.32% (of which Roman Catholics 16.99%, Protestants 5.78%, Orthodox 3.53%, Anglicans 1.25%), Muslims 21.01%, Hindus 13.26%, Buddhists 5.84%, Sikhs 0.35%, Jews 0.23%, Baha'is 0.12%, other religions 11.78%, non-religious 11.77%, atheists 2.32% (2007 est.) ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] K3 KPA3 bias adjust
I find nothing about it in any manual. R11 on KPA3 I guess. What are the specifications for the bias adjust? 73 Jim SM2EKM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 KPA3 bias adjust
Thanks Ron but I knew this already. Probably have to write to K3support and ask, however I´m very surprised nobody could answer on the reflector. Jim SM2EKM -- Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: Hello Jim: That pot, along with all the other trimmers in the K3, is adjusted at the factory. There are specific cautions against touching any of them in the field; all field adjustments are done in firmware. If you have a problem with the KPA3, suggest you post a message to k3supp...@elecraft.com. If an adjustment is needed that can be done in the field, one of the fellows there can give you specifics. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Jan Erik Holm Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2009 6:55 AM To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] K3 KPA3 bias adjust I find nothing about it in any manual. R11 on KPA3 I guess. What are the specifications for the bias adjust? 73 Jim SM2EKM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] OT Tuner Basics
Tom, N5GE wrote: This indicates that the SB200 input is not 50 ohms. You may have some troubles with the SB200 input, but you should be able to adjust that. Look at the SB200 manual and see if it has input matching adjustments. Yes it has. Take amp out from the green cover, tune the input coils from behind, it´s easy. 73 Jim SM2EKM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] New K3
I´ve always wondered about this, I wouldn´t even call it interaction, it´s like more then interaction. Mic gain should NEVER have any influence on Vox gain. Please Elecraft fix this as soon as possible. IMO this is a very big design flaw. 73 Jim SM2EKM - Bruce McLaughlin wrote: There is some interaction between the mic gain and vox settings. You should be sure you have the mic gain properly set (not too low). Then with the vox gain brought up on the menu, slowly advance the gain until the vox reliably triggers. Of course, be sure you have enabled the bias. If you haven't, neither the vox nor the mike will work, assuming you have the Pro set with the IC element. Of course voice volume varies, but for what it is worth, I get very reliable vox triggering with the vox gain at about 9 or so. Bruce-W8FU ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] New K3
Thanks for the explanation, I understand how it´s done, however I see it in a different way, sorry. 73 Jim SM2EKM -- Lyle Johnson wrote: Mic gain should NEVER have any influence on Vox gain. Mic Gain should always be adjusted to provide 4+ bars of ALC indication on the K3. This indicates sufficient audio level for proper operation of the transmitter, including VOX, CMP, AM modulation and FM deviation among other things. The VOX system gets its audio signal after the Mic amplifier, so this setting also normalizes the VOX system. Thus, one VOX setting is all that is required no matter which audio source (FP MIC, RP MIC, LINE IN) or microphone you are using. If VOX Gain was not taken after applying Mic Gain, you'd have to adjust Mic Gain *and* VOX gain every time you used a different microphone or other transmit audio source. We have many users who routinely use different microphones on their K3s, so normalizing the VOX system gain was a deliberate system design decision. 73, Lyle KK7P ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] FT9000 vs the K3?
There is a lot more to a radio but RX IMDDR3, seems to me people tend to forget that. A radio, at least the kind we talk about here, also has a transmitter, don´t forget that! / Jim SM2EKM - Koppendorfer Klaus wrote: see: http://www.remeeus.eu/hamradio/pa1hr/productreview.htm FTdx-9000 2kHz 3rd order Dynamic Range 78 dB K3 2 kHz 3rd order Dynamic Range 103 dB by the Way FT-2000 69 dB 73 Klaus OE6KYG KX1 244 K2 1331 K3 115 -Ursprüngliche Nachricht- Von: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft- boun...@mailman.qth.net] Im Auftrag von Lance Collister Gesendet: Freitag, 23. Jänner 2009 05:01 An: 'Elecraft Group' Betreff: [Elecraft] FT9000 vs the K3? Hello! I have a friend who is thinking about getting a rig to use at a portable/remote mountaintop operating location and he is considering an FT9000. He asked me to inquire whether anyone had any first hand comparisons between the two of these. Any comments or insights would be appreciated. MNI TNX and VY 73, Lance -- Lance Collister, W7GJ (ex: WN3GPL, WA3GPL, WA1JXN, WA1JXN/C6A, ZF2OC/ZF8) P.O. Box 73 Frenchtown, MT 59834 USA QTH: DN27UB TEL: (406) 626-5728 URL: http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj 2m DXCC #11, 6m DXCC #815 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft QSO party.
Yes 7052 is not a good spot in EU for CW. Good idea instead going below 7040, 7025-7033 segment would be just fine. / Jim SM2EKM - Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy wrote: Hi Wayne, Look forward to that! One suggestion, the 40m frequency 7040 kHz is used by Eu RTTY stations (S9 ++ here at times) which makes copy of US CW signals on 7040 +- quite difficult if not impossible here. Ty W1TF suggested 7052 kHz, but that is in the 'bottom' of the Eu 'phone band which is at most times 'busy'. So would you consider changing the suggested 40m frequency for the next EQP to be at or close to 7030 kHz, but not above 7033 kHz? 73, Geoff GM4ESD Wayne N6KR wrote: Hi All, We were too busy in 2008 to hold EQP, but we'd like to bring it back this year. If you're interested, please review the rules from 2007: http://www.elecraft.com/Awards/eqp_2007.htm Suggestions welcome. Please send them directly to me (n6kr at elecraft dot com). 73, Wayne N6KR ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] FS Elecraft K3
Don´t say that. I´m still very comfortable using my old FT-1000D. Since the TX IMD performance of the K3 is much inferior to the FT-1000D I´m glad I kept it. I feel very reluctant using my K3 on SSB. 73 Jim SM2EKM - Robert C.Abell wrote: Hunter, You will be very sorry if you dispose of your K3. I too am no computer expert but I perservered and finally am comfortable using the K3. Now my Drake C line and even the Drake TR-7 and Collins KWM-2A seem too dificult to use comfortably. Suggest you rethink your decision to sell. 73, Bob VE3XM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Pumping with K3
So we are going to ride the RF gain just like we did 50 years ago, to me that´s a step in the wrong direction. IMO the K3 is a good enough radio and has enough things built in that riding RF gain isn´t needed. / Jim SM2EKM Dave Hachadorian wrote: - Original Message - From: Gary Smith g...@doctorgary.net To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2009 10:20 PM Subject: [Elecraft] Pumping with K3 I'm working the 160 contest and am wondering if there's some hint to help me overcome pumping from nearby stations. I am using the 8 pole 2.8K, 1K 250Hz filters on CW. I'm mostly tuned down to 50Hz as that's what I need to do to find the DX that's being covered by the local stations calling CQ. -- Here's what I like: config agc slp = 0 config agc thr = 008 config agc - f = 120 agc = fast preamp = off atten = on rf gain - reduce to just above noise threshold Dave Hachadorian, K6LL Yuma, AZ ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] 6 Meters and TX IMD
Elecraft K3 is sold as a High Performance Radio, this is in print clearly stated on the web page. The 6m RX in K3 can not be called high performance. With a NF of above 10 and MDS as it is. The transmitter on SSB has so poor IMD that it can not be called high performance. ARRL and many others has measured poor TX IMD. I hear K3´s on the air every day with poor SSB TX IMD. People do have problems with PSK and other digital modes due to poor TX performance. IMO 6m is fixed with the preamp, no big issue anymore. However it should be stated in advertisement that for high performance on 6m K3 needs a preamp. Then we have the transmitter, what to do?? The problem has been swept under the carpet and it doesn´t go away by itself, it is stil there, under the carpet. 73 Jim SM2EKM -- Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: I can't speak for the engineering or product decisions that went into offering 6 meters with the K3, but for an excellent low-noise 6 meter capability Elecraft does offer the XV50 transverter which is well integrated into the K3 and K2 rigs offering direct frequency readout, all of the capabilities of the base K3 (or K2), and the 6 meter band becomes part of the band selection just like the HF bands. The XV144, 222 and 432 round out the same capability, letting you cycle through bands using the K2 or K3 bandswitch from 160 through 70 cm with one rig, and each of the VHF/UHF transverters has a low-noise high-performance receive front end designed specifically for that band. As Wayne's often mentioned here, the advanced up-conversion design of the K3 is superior for HF but makes incorporating VHF a real challenge. Using an XV transverter specifically designed for each VHF band keeps the K3 (or K2) operating as a tunable I.F. in the HF (28 MHz) range. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- On Sun, 25 Jan 2009 12:34:03 -0500 Phil LaMarche plama...@verizon.net wrote: I purchased a used FT 100 just to monitor 6 while using the other bands with the K3. Today there is a great opening. Signals are screaming from the FT 100 and hardly heard on the K3 using an antenna switch. Guess I better get a Preamp in line quickly. Phil Philip LaMarche LaMarche Enterprises, Inc. http://www.instantgourmetspices.com/ www.instantgourmetspices.com www.w9dvm.com http://www.w9dvm.com/ 800-395-7795 pin 02 727-944-3226 FAX 727-937-8834 NASFT 30210 W9DVM * Phil, You're right about the 6mtr. band being practically deaf in the K3!!! I did order the 6m. preamp because of that short-coming! But you would have thought that the BOYZ @ Elecraft would'nt have short-changed 6m sensitivity as ALL THE OTHER BANDS HEAR WELL!!! Why build a quality rig if one-band is only added as a after-thought??? Jim/nn6ee S/N 2406 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] TX IMD
I did change subject to TX IMD only. People has measured down to -24 dB. As I recall ARRL first had a lower figure but somehow it got revised. My own measurements show that it´s not usable above 100W. I would keep it at 80W or lower, something seems to happen above 80W. No artifacts, I can hear IMD on the air and also others can. This is the story. At an early stage I heard a friend down in Belgium and I got puzzled since he seemed so wide, lots of trash outside his passband. Then when a friend in Sweden got his K3 we did some testing and the picture was the same. After this I have heard others and it´s following suit. Then, first time I use my K3 on 20m SSB I started to get splatter reports, also get an email from a friend telling me I had a lot of trash outside my passband due to poor TX IMD, at that point I ran K3 at 120W. As you say, it´s getting rare these days with radios in the -30 to -40 dB bracket. And we are just going to be content with it? No not IMO. Listen on the bands, the situation has become terrible and it´s the same on CW where we have key clix all over the place. Even the K3 has key clix, 5 ms rise/fall time is not enough, I wish it could be set to higher figure. Anyway I will rest my case. I have written about this before and I can clearly see that Elecraft ain´t interested so why should I waist my time. 73 Jim SM2EKM - Jay Bromley wrote: Hi Jan, I don't think the K3/100's -29 dB for TX IMD is all that far out of line with today's 100 watt class rig. In fact most 100 watt 13.8 volt rigs are a dB or two from this. I think the K3 QRP rig wasn't this good on bands above 17m @ higher power, but still measured -27 dB. Although it would be nice to have it much better (mid 30s or even in the 40s), even my Icom 7700 is was only measured @ -28dB with MRF150 final with 48 volts on them. Seems very rare for a current rig to be in the high -30s and -40s. So I am not sure what the bench mark would be on TX IMD these days or if we could afford it? Question, can you hear IMD off the air or just the artifacts? As Wayne said earlier everything is a trade off. 73 de jay/w5jay.. - Original Message - From: Jan Erik Holm sm2...@telia.com Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 11:53 PM Subject: [Elecraft] 6 Meters and TX IMD Elecraft K3 is sold as a High Performance Radio, this is in print clearly stated on the web page. The 6m RX in K3 can not be called high performance. With a NF of above 10 and MDS as it is. The transmitter on SSB has so poor IMD that it can not be called high performance. ARRL and many others has measured poor TX IMD. I hear K3´s on the air every day with poor SSB TX IMD. People do have problems with PSK and other digital modes due to poor TX performance. IMO 6m is fixed with the preamp, no big issue anymore. However it should be stated in advertisement that for high performance on 6m K3 needs a preamp. Then we have the transmitter, what to do?? The problem has been swept under the carpet and it doesn´t go away by itself, it is stil there, under the carpet. 73 Jim SM2EKM -- Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: I can't speak for the engineering or product decisions that went into offering 6 meters with the K3, but for an excellent low-noise 6 meter capability Elecraft does offer the XV50 transverter which is well integrated into the K3 and K2 rigs offering direct frequency readout, all of the capabilities of the base K3 (or K2), and the 6 meter band becomes part of the band selection just like the HF bands. The XV144, 222 and 432 round out the same capability, letting you cycle through bands using the K2 or K3 bandswitch from 160 through 70 cm with one rig, and each of the VHF/UHF transverters has a low-noise high-performance receive front end designed specifically for that band. As Wayne's often mentioned here, the advanced up-conversion design of the K3 is superior for HF but makes incorporating VHF a real challenge. Using an XV transverter specifically designed for each VHF band keeps the K3 (or K2) operating as a tunable I.F. in the HF (28 MHz) range. Ron AC7AC -Original Message- On Sun, 25 Jan 2009 12:34:03 -0500 Phil LaMarche plama...@verizon.net wrote: I purchased a used FT 100 just to monitor 6 while using the other bands with the K3. Today there is a great opening. Signals are screaming from the FT 100 and hardly heard on the K3 using an antenna switch. Guess I better get a Preamp in line quickly. Phil Philip LaMarche LaMarche Enterprises, Inc. http://www.instantgourmetspices.com/ www.instantgourmetspices.com www.w9dvm.com http://www.w9dvm.com/ 800-395-7795 pin 02 727-944-3226 FAX 727-937-8834 NASFT 30210 W9DVM * Phil, You're right about the 6mtr. band being practically deaf
Re: [Elecraft] New Eham.net K3 review by QRPNEW
Bill and others, hold on and think about these figures. -35 to -38 dB IM3 !! We are dealing with 2SC2782 transistors operating at around 12V DC. I say no more, the knowledge and intelligent individual will understand. / Jim SM2EKM - Bill W4ZV wrote: I measured around -35 to -38 dB SSB transmitter IM3, better than my other radios. The transmitter is flawlessly clean on CW also. (Aug. 25, 2008) Who do I tend to believe? W8JI or QRPNEW? I'll let you decide. 73, Bill ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] TX IMD
Yes of course, however this cable is supplied by Elecraft and is part of the high performance kit. My own PS has a 0.06V drop RX TX and that is good enough! / SM2EKM --- Alan Bloom wrote: One factor that affects IMD is power supply voltage variation under load. The standard PS cable that comes with the K3 drops several tenths of a volt at max power. Add that to power supply regulation and internal voltage drop in the K. On my unit, the voltage reading on the K3 display goes from 13.5V to 12.4V when I press the key on CW. (100W, 14 MHz) I could easily see that being the limiting factor in transmit IMD performance on SSB. Al N1AL On Mon, 2009-01-26 at 10:19, Julian, G4ILO wrote: Gregory Fischer wrote: Not doubting your TX IMD report in PSK. But I typically see ~-32dB IMD when checking PSK at 50W. You are probably right to doubt it. Such a difference made me try a test again, on a different band. I got a different set of results. Probably it is better to use a dummy load when testing the TX. The IMD Meter is designed to be used off-air (hence when TXing into an antenna) but it would appear that other factors can affect the readings. This needs further investigation. - Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392 K3 #222. http://www.g4ilo.com/ G4ILO's Shack http://www.ham-directory.com/ Ham Directoryhttp://www.g4ilo.com/kcomm.html KComm for Elecraft K2 and K3 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] SSB IMD
Yes I´ve seen those figures, there are are lot of data from component manufactures however by the time we see the finished product data doesn´t even come close. I tried to look for the data on the FT-990 that K6LL informed about but couldn´t find it. I was thinking what reference level they used, I think I remember ARRL changed their procedure, the -38 prity well could be -32 in real life. However, something struck me, why is it we see this big variation in data on the IMD3? We have a spread between -38 to -24 dB. A number of people has measured below -30 dB and as far as I know only one around -38 dB. Who is right and who is wrong? Is there something critical in the radio that gives this outcome? Critical adjustment perhaps? Is it very sensitive what PS we use (ala W4ZV)? As I said before, here I am first time on 20m SSB and people report trash around my signal, i e bad IMD. However at that time I had K3 at 120W, aftter I´ve made measurements and it looks like something slowly starts to happen at 80W. Also I have myself heard K3´s on SSB with trash around the signal however I have also heard K3´s that did NOT have that. So what´s going on here, I´m getting reel puzzled and frankly quite tired of this. I wish there would be a service manual available, like there is for any Japanese rice box. I mean a manual that contains all data for all adjustments. Why not?? / Jim SM2EKM --- Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: Jan Erik Holm wrote: Bill and others, hold on and think about these figures. -35 to -38 dB IM3 !! We are dealing with 2SC2782 transistors operating at around 12V DC. I say no more, the knowledge and intelligent individual will understand. I would be careful here ... the Toshiba 2SC2879 data sheet clearly does -38dB IMD at 60 watts with VCC=12.5V. There are certainly devices capable of that level of performance means that there are devices capable of that level just as there are devices capable of similar levels of performance at 120-140 watts per device with Vcc=28V. I would expect the 2SC2879 to also be capable of this level of performance ... if not, I would have expected the design of the KPA3 to have been based on another device. 73, ... Joe, W4TV ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3/100 and the PSU
Yes I´m beginning to think that K3 is more sensitive to PS then other radios, right now it looks that way. Then this should be in the manual!!! What happens is if I have a bad signal on the bands I will together with Elecraft get a bad reputation. I will of course tell everyone what I´m running and do have it operating exactly according to the manual. If this PS deal is the case with the K3 I quite understand and it´s no problem to me what so ever but it should be in the operating manual. Every user of a K3 should not need to be a super engineer and have to figure out things like this them self. This morning I increased PS voltage to 14.6V (14.2) under load, I was at 13.9V (13.5 load) before, I could see a slight improvement in IMD (1-2 dB). I am using the supplied high performance cable from Elecraft and IMO it does not have enough Cu area. Next But if Elecraft supplies it and it´s not good enough, what can I say? / Jim SM2EKM -- AD6XY wrote: Everyone knows it is important for the K3/100 to receive a solid DC supply. If the supply drops significantly when high current is drawn several effects may occur: 1 - The Transmitted signal becomes wider than it should be 2 - The power control loop is upset leading to unstable output power 3 - In severe cases the radio might shut down, or engage sulk mode. Of course this does not apply to us, we are all experienced constructors and never make mistakes when wiring up our shacks. Like many people I run my K3 from a 13.8V DC supply that also supplies other items, in my case XV transverters, an LP100, an LDG ATU etc. This supply is very good (tnx BNOS, 1980s) and only varies by a few 10s of mV between no and full load. Originally when installing my K3/10 I used the supplied DC cable via a powerpole distribution board with an appropriate fuse. In fact this particular board had two fuses, one 30A one at the input and one at the output plus around 1 metre of thick cable to the supply. This worked fine. Later I upgraded to the 100W KPA3, and of course changed the fuse in the distribution board. The DC voltage drop according to the K3 at 20A was over a volt, much no doubt due to the fuses and extra connections through the distribution board. A 1 volt drop is not a problem for the K3 but will cause more IMDs on SSB. I now connect the K3 directly to the PSU with as short a DC cable as is practical. It would be even better to use voltage sensing so the supply is regulated at the K3 end of the cable. Mike ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3/100 and the PSU
As a good engineer I should have stated what I measure with, sorry. Normal 2-tone test, and a HP 8591E spectrum analyzer. Normally I like to do it with speech, i e fully modulate the radio and look at the sample 5 kHz on each side. That is IMO better then a 2-tone test since it will tell you more. And by the way, I did NOT say 2 dB, read below. As an anecdote you can look at this: http://sk3w.se/sm2ekm/view_photo.php?set_albumName=SM2EKM-picturesid=FT_1000D http://sk3w.se/sm2ekm/view_photo.php?set_albumName=SM2EKM-picturesid=KWM_2 We can see that the Collins KWM-2 is ca 10 dB better on adjacent channel compared to Yaesu FT-1000D. The FT-1000D is one of the best modern things around when it´s up to TX IMD. Anything else I have measured is worse then the FT-1000D. Receivers has been getting better but not transmitters that is the bottom line. / Jim SM2EKM - m.j.wil...@rl.ac.uk wrote: I am sure PSU regulation affects all other 12V radios in exactly the same way. The only reason Elecraft users will see it more is because they are more discerning. How do you measure IMDs? 2dB is a worthwhile improvement. It would be interesting to try a better supply cable and also to see if the 20A cutout has any effect. Mike Jan Erik Holm wrote: Yes I´m beginning to think that K3 is more sensitive to PS then other radios, right now it looks that way. Then this should be in the manual!!! What happens is if I have a bad signal on the bands I will together with Elecraft get a bad reputation. I will of course tell everyone what I´m running and do have it operating exactly according to the manual. If this PS deal is the case with the K3 I quite understand and it´s no problem to me what so ever but it should be in the operating manual. Every user of a K3 should not need to be a super engineer and have to figure out things like this them self. This morning I increased PS voltage to 14.6V (14.2) under load, I was at 13.9V (13.5 load) before, I could see a slight improvement in IMD (1-2 dB). I am using the supplied high performance cable from Elecraft and IMO it does not have enough Cu area. Next But if Elecraft supplies it and it´s not good enough, what can I say? / Jim SM2EKM -- AD6XY wrote: Everyone knows it is important for the K3/100 to receive a solid DC supply. If the supply drops significantly when high current is drawn several effects may occur: 1 - The Transmitted signal becomes wider than it should be 2 - The power control loop is upset leading to unstable output power 3 - In severe cases the radio might shut down, or engage sulk mode. Of course this does not apply to us, we are all experienced constructors and never make mistakes when wiring up our shacks. Like many people I run my K3 from a 13.8V DC supply that also supplies other items, in my case XV transverters, an LP100, an LDG ATU etc. This supply is very good (tnx BNOS, 1980s) and only varies by a few 10s of mV between no and full load. Originally when installing my K3/10 I used the supplied DC cable via a powerpole distribution board with an appropriate fuse. In fact this particular board had two fuses, one 30A one at the input and one at the output plus around 1 metre of thick cable to the supply. This worked fine. Later I upgraded to the 100W KPA3, and of course changed the fuse in the distribution board. The DC voltage drop according to the K3 at 20A was over a volt, much no doubt due to the fuses and extra connections through the distribution board. A 1 volt drop is not a problem for the K3 but will cause more IMDs on SSB. I now connect the K3 directly to the PSU with as short a DC cable as is practical. It would be even better to use voltage sensing so the supply is regulated at the K3 end of the cable. Mike ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3/100 input voltage and TX IMD
Rick, and others Just to clarify things a bit. First of all when I did get the bad IMD report on the air I was at a different QTH and used a another PS, in this case I do not know exactly what voltage K3 got or voltage drop. Then I did bring K3 home to a PS that had 13.9V RX and 13.5V at TX, didn´t reflect much about this. I then started to measure IMD on the K3 and it didn´t look all that bad up to 80W but at 120W it was much worse. After that I started to rant about different things here on the reflector, did get more or less zilch help from Elecraft sorry to say. Received some good ideas from some nice people here on the reflector. That together with some studies of my own led to bias adjustment on the KPA100 and also I did turn up PS voltage to 14.9V at RX. Also made area of cable between PS and K3 much much larger, at TX I now have 14.6V at the K3 display. My IMD measurements now looks very good up to 100W and at 120W only slightly slightly worse. Since I didn´t get much help from Elecraft I don´t feel I owe them anything but still to be fair to Elecraft it actually looks slightly better now compared to the known good FT-1000D. You can look at these analyzer pictures, Ft-1000D at 200W and K3 at 100W. It actually looks very good. http://sk3w.se/sm2ekm/view_photo.php?set_albumName=SM2EKM-picturesid=FT_1000D http://sk3w.se/sm2ekm/view_photo.php?set_albumName=SM2EKM-picturesid=P1010014 Sorry but it´s difficult to hold the camera still. Now I have to test it on the air. Thanks a lot to the individuals that gave a helping hand, I appreciate it. I hope this is the end of the story. 73 Jim SM2EKM Rick Shindley wrote: A solid state linear RF PA will generate more IMD if the supply voltage sags on current peaks. How much distortion vs voltage change depends on the amplifier design and components used. Someone reported here that he increased the supply voltage a bit and noted a 1 to 2 dB reduction in TX IMD. He also reported a 400 mV drop in the supply at the back of his K3/100 during Tx. Increasing the supply voltage but still having a 400mV “droop” and yet seeing a slight reduction in TX IMD hints at the sensitivity of the relationship between supply voltage and TX IMD. I measured the voltage drop at the Power Pole connector at the back of my K3/100 while transmitting 100W CW out on 14.350 MHz into a dummy load. I found a 270mV drop due to the standard length power cable from Elecraft (IR loss) and 20mV due to the supply (Astron RM-35) load regulation capability for a total “droop” of 290mV. So on SSB voice peaks or CW at 100W there is at least a 290 mV (and some say 400mV) drop in the supply voltage to the radio. It may even be a bit more inside the rig at the PA due to connector contact resistance and trace routing on the PCB. The slight drop in voltage will contribute to the amount of distortion in the output. Could this be the cause of the reported variations in measured TX IMD among rigs? Rick KC0OV ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Beta firmware rev. 2.82
Conclusion must be, never ever use 5.0W or 50W except when calibration is needed. Why cant power calibration be turned off? Then we would not have this source for trouble. / SM2EKM Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: So, if I'm tuning up through, say, a Z-Match into a doublet and power output is set to around 5 or 50W and press Tune in order to tweak the Z-Match, the initial (off-tune) complex impedance the K3 may see could very well cause the K3's output power to change to 5 or 50W and because of that, power Not quite ... If you set the power level to exactly 5.0 or 50 watts and press the Tune button the K3 will recalibrate. If you set the power to 4.9, 5.1, 49 or 51 watts it will not recalibrate. __ 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] How long until K3 is declared the greatest rig...?
Darwin, Keith wrote: Yes, but this isn't about the best performing rig. The KWM-2 certainly had limits and deficiencies (cost being one of them), yet it left a mark on ham radio that continues to this day. This might be true if you think the world is the USA. Speaking for the rest of the world I would say the KWM-2 left no mark at all, it was far too expensive and be course of that not very common. / Jim SM2EKM __ 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] Off Topic question about shortwave broadcasting
Info about this: http://www.itu.int/itunews/issue/2003/06/solutions.html 7000-7200 kHz will be exclusive amateur radio and will take place 29 Mar 2009. / Jim SM2EKM --- Tom, N5GE wrote: On Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:18:07 +, you wrote: sometime in March - not vacate I think, but we switch - Amateur Radio becomes primary user and Broadcast secondary. Which means the broadcasters won't honor the change... ;o) Actually I hope I'm absolutely wrong! I think anyway. 73 de M0XDF, K3 #174 73, Tom, N5GE __ 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: cw xmiting 2 signals 600hz apart: HELP
My findings are be sure to run as high voltage to K3 as possible. Per the manual 15V is the stipulated maximum, run K3 at 14.9V and make sure you have no voltage drop in the cable between K3 and PS. This will give you the best TX performance in respect to IMD. / Jim SM2EKM -- Steve Ellington wrote: Ive seen this several times on other rigs, not the K3. In a couple of instances it turned out to be low DC supply voltage. Be sure it's 13.8V. Good luck. 73 Steve Ellington n...@carolina.rr.com - Original Message - From: DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL doug...@gmail.com To: Elecraft Reflector elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 4:58 PM Subject: [Elecraft] K3: cw xmiting 2 signals 600hz apart: HELP Hi everybody... I local K3 owner received this memo and forwarded it to me this morning for my opinion: When you were working HA5JI, you had a side band about s6 up about 600 Hz. I did not check the down side. Your main signal was s9+20. I was at work so I said I would listen when I got home (we live about 3 miles apart). On 160m (where he got the notice), his signal sounded fine barefoot, but with the amp on, I could hear it also. So I asked him to qsy to 40m where he is about 25db over 9 on my K3. And as I tuned off of him, I could hear the second signal as described above. The 2nd signal tunes in the same direction as the real signal (it is not blow by). Any comments or even better, any suggestions for him? Thanks, 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] New K3 Firmware: Pileup-inspired AGC changes
Don Rasmussen wrote: Anyone care to take a guess as to how long an anomoly like this would live in any other mass produced HF transceiver? My guess - the life of the radio. Maybe the Flex guys would get to it. With Elecraft, the issue was identified on the weekend, and here it is Wednesday of the same week, the engineers understand the effect and offer test software for it. Kudos! Indeed! Just one example. As I understand this problem the Yaesu FT-1000MP suffers from the same (lets call it) AGC IMD. On the MP I have noticed it myself and others too but it is not widely written about. Very glad to see that it possibly can be fixed on the K3. 73 Jim SM2EKM __ 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] Weird EMI issue... part deux
I have the same. Also on a number of other places between 0.5 - 30 MHz. Was there any response from Elecraft on this? / SM2EKM N2TK wrote: James, I am getting a much lower level of noise than you. With no antenna and the preamp off, the first bar on the S-meter barely flickers. When I spin the dial quickly I can get as high as S3 noise. The noise disappears below 4.930 and above 5.110. I only hear the noise in the main receiver. I can spin the dial on the sub-receiver, if turned on and also hear the noise in the main receiver. There is never noise in the sub-receiver. With a dummy load on ANT 1, ANT 2, AUX and RCV inputs there is noise in the main receiver when spinning the dial with any antenna port selected. Once I have an antenna hooked up and the background noise is at least S3 on that antenna port I can't hear the noise when spinning the dial. Yes, you can forward this info to whomever you want. 73, N2TK/NP2, Tony -Original Message- From: James Sarte [mailto:kc2...@gmail.com] Sent: Sunday, March 01, 2009 10:06 PM To: 'N2TK' Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Weird EMI issue... part deux Hi Tony, Thanks for taking the time to do that test for me. I do hear the noise with an antenna connected, but the antenna is not tuned for 5MHz so the noise floor is pretty low. I do not hear this noise through the sub receiver if I use the AUX BNC connector, but I will hear it through the sub receiver if it's using the same antenna as the main receiver. Otherwise, everything else you've described is what I'm experiencing. This noise is around an S5 to maybe S7 on the meter when I move the VFO knob. As you also discovered, turning the preamp on raises the noise floor masking most of the EMI. It's not very noticeable when the preamp is on. Would it be OK to forward this email to Elecraft tech support? I've been maintaining a running dialogue with them regarding this issue, and your findings may help them to develop a solution. Thanks again and 73, James KC2UEE -Original Message- From: N2TK [mailto:tony@verizon.net] Sent: Sunday, March 01, 2009 8:32 PM To: 'amstel78' Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Weird EMI issue... part deux I was using SSB settings and had an antenna hooked up. I did not hear any noise I put a dummy load on the antenna jack and used AM mode. I can hear noise as I turn the dial. I can just barely hear the noise when I turn on the preamp. And with any antenna hooked up I do not hear any noise at all as I turn the dial. Jim, do you hear this noise with an antenna hooked up? I do not, so as far as I am concerned it does not exist. However if you hear this noise when you have an antenna hooked up you need to talk some more to Elecraft support. 73, N2TK/NP2, Tony __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] EQP Where's the Buzz?
From the rules: Please limit power to 100W maximum. Since I don´t operate at the 100W power level (or lower) does it mean I can´t take part in it? Just let me know and I will not bother. / Jim SM2EKM --- The Elecraft QSO Party is coming up this Saturday, 14 March. http://www.elecraft.com/ Click on EQP 2009 on the left. Where's the Buzz? Let's get on for this one. __ 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] K3 Tuning encoder pulses and birdie problem
When 10m opens up this will be a serious problem. On 28005 KHz a quite strong birdie carrier, on each side of this carrier there are tuning pulses generated from the encoder in the segment 28000 to 28010 KHz. All this gets stronger with Preamp ON. Is it only my K3? Or is this on all of them? Any solution? This internal carrier might be removed with the new FW but any solution for this tuning puls problem. 73 Jim SM2EKM __ 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 Tuning encoder pulses and birdie problem
Thanks for the info Dave. First, I have no sub RX so can´t comment on that. When checking this I had 50 ohm terminator right at the SO239 antenna connector. The birdie indicates 2 bars on the S-meter with preamp ON and no indication with it OFF. This is subjective of course but with preamp ON those tuning pulses are quite loud, IMO clearly would be a problem. Of course with preamp OFF they do get quite weak however on a frequency like 28 MHz the preamp will be very much needed. Now when 10m opens up and we do get some atmospheric noise this tuning pulse deal might not be a problem. Here in town with antenna connected the tuning pulses cant be heard due to the high noise floor. However at my real radio station I have very very low noise floor. Maybe I am just to picky about things. Now as I did say before this birdie might be removable with the 3.03 FW, since 3.03 had some flaws I´m waiting for an update. Oh I see in your case it didn´t do anything the the 28005 thing. Yes same pitch change here when tuning across it, well lets call it a internal created carrier then. More exactly this 28005 thing is more like 28.0055 MHz in CW REV with normal pitch. Funny thing is, I put radio in config and in the ACC REF this carrier gets weaker. Guess some ACC REF oscillator, says it´s at 5.00. Maybe something can be done to it. I have to read the manual and see what it is. / Jim SM2EKM - David Gilbert wrote: With my K3 terminated in a dummy load and the preamp off, I can just barely hear the decoder pulses. I checked it in both CW and SSB, and I set both modes to 1 KHz bandwidth and adjusted the shift for the same center frequency of 600 Hz. With the preamp on they are more noticeable, making the S-meter briefly tick up to about S2 if I tune quickly. When I stop tuning, of course, the pulses disappear so I'm not sure they would ever actually hinder me from making a QSO. Here's an interesting quirk ... possibly just my imagination but I don't think so. I have the subreceiver installed, and if I engage it so that I can simultaneously hear the main receiver in my left ear and the subreceiver in my right ear, tuning the subreceiver across 28005 creates louder decoder pulses in the main receiver than it does in the subreceiver. Then again, I have never found as many birdies in the subreceiver as I have found in the main receiver, and those I've found in the subreceiver are at least ten db weaker than their main receiver counterparts. I do not hear any birdie at that frequency, though. If I listen very, very hard with the preamp on, I can hear a tone just under the background noise, but I have to tune the VFO to hear the changing pitch in order to detect it. Without the preamp on, it is impossible to hear it at all. It isn't a birdie, though ... the pitch changes smoothly and slowly as I tune across it. I have found (and removed via SIG RMV) a few other birdies on 10m, on my rig 28005 isn't one of them. I do believe that tuning artifacts vary quite a bit from K3 to K3, though, so you may be experiencing a much greater problem than I am. If so, you may want to consider making an audio recording of it so that the rest of us can hear it. 73, Dave AB7E Jan Erik Holm wrote: When 10m opens up this will be a serious problem. On 28005 KHz a quite strong birdie carrier, on each side of this carrier there are tuning pulses generated from the encoder in the segment 28000 to 28010 KHz. All this gets stronger with Preamp ON. Is it only my K3? Or is this on all of them? Any solution? This internal carrier might be removed with the new FW but any solution for this tuning puls problem. 73 Jim SM2EKM __ 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] K3 RX below 500 kc/s
This was on the agenda a while ago. Any progress on it? 73 Jim SM2EKM __ 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
Mike-WE0H wrote: Frequency stability is extremely important for operating on those LF MF bands. Can´t see why it´s more important on LF then on HF/VHF/UHF however frequency stability is always good. Jim SM2EKM __ 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] AM RX bandwith
This might be a stupid question since I think this has been on the list before. Just upgraded from 2.76 to 3.06. I´m using 13 KHz FM filter for AM RX´ing. Before I could see 10 KHz DSP bandwith but now 5.00 KHz. Something has changed. What bandwith do I get? Did I get 10 KHz before and now it is changed to 5 KHz or is it just one sideband I´m seeing? I´m just puzzled. This is how I like to have it. Would like to be able to widen the DSP all the way out to the filter (13 KHz) but it seems to me it´s not possible, maybe it never was. Sorry if this has been on the agenda before. 73 Jim SM2EKM PS: When I think about it maybe I saw 9 KHz before and not 10, well one or the other. __ 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] AM RX bandwith
OK thanks info. / Jim SM2EKM -- Don Wilhelm wrote: Jim, The change is only in the displayed width. Before it was the IF __ 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 Power supply
Sorry but this is totally wrong. In this case your FT-1000D was either broken or not aligned properly. If you still have it align it per the service manual and you will see something totally different. 73 Jim SM2EKM -- Erik N Basilier wrote: Merv, My experience with the FT-1000D was that the S-meter didn't start to move until the actual signal strength reached S-5 or so. But yes, I believe you when you say that the switching power supply creates a lot of noise, and the one in the FT-1000D doesn't. 73, Erik K7TV __ 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 Power supply
And this is not the point!!! Read what K7TV wrote first and then what I commented on. Then K7TV started to rant about things beside the point. / SM2EKM -- Bill W4ZV wrote: Here's the FT-1000 meter...8 dB total difference from S5 to S1: http://www.n6rk.com/FT1000_S_meter.doc 73, Bill Bill W4ZV wrote: Erik you're correct. The table below shows the FT-1000MP (not D but I bet very similar) has a nonlinear response in the low range of the meter. Most rigs (other than the K3 and Flex 5000) have the identical problem. http://www.seed-solutions.com/gregordy/Amateur%20Radio/Experimentation/SMeterBlues.htm 73, Bill K7TV wrote: Jim, I take it you were commenting on the S-meter. I don't have the rig anymore; I sold it to buy the K3. It was generally working very well, and it behaved this way from day one (I bought it new around 1992) and I never saw a need to align it. The buyer has not complained. My statement was based on starting at S-9 and applying attenuation 6 dB at a time. My memory may be slightly off, but generally I saw the same behavior in the 1000D as in my old IC-735. The meters would be quite good above S-7. Starting at S-7 and attenuating another 6 dB they would indicate about S-5, and after another 6 dB the needle would be at 0. I remember memorizing this and using it to give reports. Because it seemed so consistent between the two rigs, I formed the opinion that it was the consensus of the manufacturers, and again saw no reason to question the 1000D's alignment. Of course, with preamplification on, the meter would start moving at a lower level, maybe S3. Over the years I have seen comments in articles that have seemed to avoid generalizations and instead said things like S-meter calibrations vary a lot from receiver to receiver. I wouldn't be surprised if Yaesu had changed the AGC parameters sometime during the long production run. 73, Erik K7TV - Original Message - From: Jan Erik Holm sm2...@telia.com Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Monday, May 11, 2009 8:25 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Power supply Sorry but this is totally wrong. In this case your FT-1000D was either broken or not aligned properly. If you still have it align it per the service manual and you will see something totally different. 73 Jim SM2EKM -- Erik N Basilier wrote: Merv, My experience with the FT-1000D was that the S-meter didn't start to move until the actual signal strength reached S-5 or so. But yes, I believe you when you say that the switching power supply creates a lot of noise, and the one in the FT-1000D doesn't. 73, Erik K7TV __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Elecraft] Sneak Preview: New Elecraft products
Jan Erik Holm wrote: This was nice! Thanks. 73 Jim SM2EKM -- wayne burdick wrote: See you at Dayton :) 73, Wayne N6KR http://www.elecraft.com/manual/K144XV%20Data%20Sheet%20rev%204sm.pdf --- __ 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] Commercial CW for SWLers and Hams
Back in the days when they where QRV 24/7 I used them frequently to check for long path 3.5 MHz openings to California/west coast. To me they where very good propagation beacons, I also used KFS. As I recall KPH was stronger then KFS. Those where fun days/years, it sure isn´t the same anymore. /Jim SM2EKM -- Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: KPH and KSM are on the California coast at Bolinas and Point Reyes, just north of San Francisco. Ron AC7AC __ 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 FIRMWARE, Rev. 3.25: Improved NR, 10-Hz SHIFT steps, Received CW WPM display, VFO noise reduction, etc.
Good but any hope for 1 dB S-meter resolution? / SM2EKM wayne burdick wrote: * RF GAIN CALIBRATION: The K3’s hardware AGC circuitry can now be calibrated. This may improve both S-meter and RF GAIN control accuracy. __ 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] Sidetone Monitor Preference Opinions
n4lq wrote: CW sidetone should follow the AF gain control and be adjustable so they are about the same level. IMO absolutely not. Sidetone level should have a separate level adjust. 73 Jim SM2EKM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Re: K3 6m pre-amp
Or BF981 would work nicely. However don´t know how hard to get they are these days. A preamp with NF below 1 can easily be built with a BF981, forexample the YU1AW cavity design with BF981. 73 Jim SM2EKM - Jack Colson wrote: I personally would use a MGF-1302. 73 Jack, W3TMZ - Original Message - From: Jack Smith [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 6:48 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Re: K3 6m pre-amp Don: The U310's are not too easy to find these days. Vishay seems to be the most common (only?) new production supplier and the one-off price is about $14 from Mouser or Arrow. Digikey, Allied and Newark only stock the SOT23 plastic surface mount version. TO-92 plastic case parts, the J310, are around 25 cents each. The U310 and J310 are supposed to have the same die, so differences should be attributed to the case, but who knows what goes inside the package these days, particularly if it is from China. If I were building a pre-amp based upon a U310, I would start with a J310 and get it thoroughly debugged before experimenting with U310's at $14 a pop. It's something like the 40673 dual gate FET - once ubiquitous and now difficult to find and expensive when found. Jack K8ZOA Don Wilhelm wrote: Bob, While I cannot speak from my own measurements, but in EMRFD, Wes Hayward recommends the U310s for VHF/UHF rather than the J310. The case of the U310 is connected to the gate, and when used in a grounded gate configuration, the case can be mounted (upside down) into a hole in the PC board, and I believe that alone should provide better input to output isolation. The Vishay data sheet indicates a slightly lower noise figure for the U310. I would suggest that you try the J310s. If you find them lacking, it should be easy to change to U310s, I would guess that at 50 MHz, it may be a 'toss-up' decision. 73, Don W3FPR Bob Tellefsen wrote: Hi John I've been looking at this circuit for some time. I have a number of J310s, but no U310s. Do you know whether they are the same animal, just in different casings? 73, Bob N6WG ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Re: K3 6m pre-amp
Oh well a cavity design might not be the way to go on 6m, it might get a bit too big when I think about it. A very low NF isn´t needed in the first place. There are a ton of transistors that can be used, after all it´s only 50 MHz. /SM2EKM -- Jan Erik Holm wrote: Or BF981 would work nicely. However don´t know how hard to get they are these days. A preamp with NF below 1 can easily be built with a BF981, forexample the YU1AW cavity design with BF981. 73 Jim SM2EKM - ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Re: K3 6m pre-amp
MGF1302 is a GaSFet transistor. Used to be popular in preams on 144/432 MHz amongst EME´ers. A device like that is far from needed on 50 MHz also since the MGF1302 is designed for a much higher frequency it actually might not be a good deal to use it on 50 MHz. I would stay away from GaSFet´s and Dual Gate MosFet´s on 50 MHz, not needed. A 2N5109 might be a good deal. / de SM2EKM Bob Tellefsen wrote: Don't think I've seen that kind of model number before, Jack. What is it and who makes it? Thanks and 73 Bob N6WG - Original Message - From: Jack Colson [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Jack Smith [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 4:37 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Re: K3 6m pre-amp I personally would use a MGF-1302. 73 Jack, W3TMZ ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] little OT: sweating the details
Charles, I couldn´t agree with you more. This is why I sometimes think about giving up ham radio. It is becoming more and more silly for every day that goes by. 73 Jim SM2EKM -- Charles Harpole wrote: Every now and then, I read every message placed on several ham radio reflectors. I am astonished at 1. the high level of detail that some hams worry about and 2. the low level of basic knowledge that the ham test should have caught and finally 3. the seeming unwillingness to just go ahead and try something instead of asking permission from those who know more (see the quote marks?). HAM radio: in the golden days of the 1956 sunspot peak, hams threw wires in trees, loaded up metal drain downspouts, ran something until it smoked and then wired in something of higher capacity and ran it again. In those days, I never hrd anyone asking if something will work perfectly (after extensive computer modeling, etc.-- yes, I know there were no home computers then) or if some hot shot op already had the thing under discussion. Then, hams just did it. I long for those days, so lacking a time machine, I will just again use the delete function more often. 73 Charles Harpole [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Beta Firmware, Revision 2.33 (CW passband correction)
Also seems to have corrected a chirpy or plopping sounding CW signal. I have done some testing with N3JT and N3AM and I must say today the CW from their K3´s sounded pritty good, just a very mild key click on the break side but not objectional. I´m looking forward to receive mu K3. 73 Jim SM2EKM --- wayne burdick wrote: Hi all, Thanks for all the quick reports on beta versions 2.31 and 2.32. You've caught a couple of things we missed, and we're making corrections and retesting as quickly as possible. 2.33 corrects a DSP IF centering error that may occur in CW mode. For full release notes and instructions on how to load beta firmware, please see: http://www.elecraft.com/K3/k3_software.htm 73, Wayne N6KR --- http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] K3 Snr 1594
For those who keeps track. Ordered 2008 May 9 Katiegram 2008 Aug 28 Delivered 2008 Sep 2 Now back to putting it together 73 Jim SM2EKM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Keying
Not on my K3 (1594) using internal keyer and FW 02.34 Exactly same in QSK, semi BK or PTT. 73 gl Jim SM2EKM Bill W5WVO wrote: By George, you're right! No, I never noticed it, but now that you point it out and I'm testing it -- sure enough. The difference is detectable to the ear, at 25 WPM anyway. A 'scope would tell you exactly what the difference is. Should be an easy bug to track down and fix (he said glibly, knowing nothing). :-) Put it on the list! Bill W5WVO - Original Message - From: Barry Simpson [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: 'Elecraft' elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2008 9:46 PM Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Keying Has anyone else noticed that there is a substantial difference in the mark space ratio of the keying dependent on whether you operate QSK/semi break in compared with manual transmit, eg push the transmit button on the front panel or use a foot switch to enter transmit. The QSK/semi break in are similar but they are much lighter than in the constant transmit mode. I did notice when I first got the K3 that the QSK/semi break in was light and I had to compensate for that in my keyer. Likewise the built in keyer seems to have a default setting to cater for the light keying. No great drama - just an observation. Just for general information I have just wired up my K3 to my FL7000 linear for auto band change as per the directions from W4TV back on 23 May. It works great but the tx inhibit is unusable in other than QSK. However I don't need it for proper operation and have turned it back off in the Config setting. 73 Barry VK2BJ ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Re: K3: AB two-step (was illogical coding)
My vote is for a single tap however what you say below also makes sens. However if it´s possible to have a choice it sounds like the best solution. In a situation when you have no 2:nd RX IMO one tap would be prefered however when you also have a 2:nd RX I can see the point with 2 taps. 73 Jim SM2EKM -- wayne burdick wrote: Doug, There was plenty of logic behind it, but in hindsight it might not sense for all users. (It did meet with the approval of our 20 field testers.) The change was motivated by the sub receiver. Here's one example: Suppose you're using SPLIT, listening to a weak DX station on the main RX (in a very narrow bandwidth with preamp on), while tuning for a clear spot with the sub RX (using a wider bandwidth and preamp off). With one tap of AB you can move VFO B back to the starting point and work your way up again. If this also copied VFO A's filter and preamp settings (etc.) to VFO B, you'd have to set them up all over again. But I'll be happy to sit back and listen to arguments pro and con. If it looks like a lot of operators would prefer to copy everything with one tap, I could add a menu entry. If no one argues in favor of two-tap (including the field testers), I could change it outright. I'm easy :) Thanks for your input. Wayne N6KR ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Beta firmware rev. 2.58: FASTER BAND SWITCHING; BAND MAPPING
Yes would like to see that too. 73 SM2EKM --- Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: Yes, it would be nice if the K3 would spawn a General Coverage band when tuning outside the amateur bands and leave the adjacent ham band alone. I think both Icom and Yaesu (in recent radios - FT-2000/FT-950/FT-450) do that. The general coverage band is reset each time the user tunes out of the ham band and at least with the Yaesu the General coverage band can be included or excluded in the band up/band down steps. 73, ... Joe, W4TV ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Bigger K3 S-meter
Can this be changed? / SM2EKM - Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: No. The SM; (and BG;) reports from the K3 are one S-unit increments from S0 to S9 and 5 dB steps above S9. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Bigger K3 S-meter
Yes dBm, I would like that. / Jim SM2EKM - Julian, G4ILO wrote: Jan Erik Holm wrote: Can this be changed? It would break all existing software if it was. As the K3 is capable of displaying a signal strength reading in dBm it would seem feasible to add a new command that would allow software to access this value. But there are probably still higher priority things on the firmware to do list. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 Northwest Workshop!!!
Gee this would have been fun and interesting, too bad I´m far away. By the way, just remember that I once did buy a car in Mt Vernon, a lng time ago. 73 Jim SM2EKM --- Lyle Johnson wrote: Who: K3 Owners Those seriously interested in the K3 When: Saturday, November 22, 2008 Starts at 10:00 AM sharp. Best to arrive 10 or 15 minutes early. Where: KK7P's Lab 18345 Osprey Ct Mt Vernon WA 98274 (You can get directions from URL:http://maps.google.com with the above address) What: K3 Workshop The goals are: a) help anyone with a K3 to become more familiar with it; b) allow non-owners a chance to get a good, hard, hands-on look at the radio; c) provide a forum to allow owners to share their tips or experiences; d) assist with mods/updates. Schedule: 10:00 Welcome 10:05 KK7P Presentation: Distributed Engineering and the K3 10:45 Questions (and perhaps answers) and Tips 11:00 Demo of K3 Basic Modes of Operation 11:20 Demo of K3 Utility including Regular and Beta Firmware Updating 11:30 Demo of Diversity Reception 11:40 Demo of DVR! 11:50 Demo of 3rd Party Panadaptor(s) 12:00 Light Lunch and just hanging out 13:00 Prize Drawing (for K3 Owners only) 13:05 Help Folks with Mods on their K3s Cost: Free! But please RSVP. My lab is not infinite in size :-) I can easily handle 15 people. 20 gets a little tight... Further Information: The intent is to be interactive, open, and participatory. If you need a hardware mod on your K3, it is up to you to have the mod kit in hand and to bring your K3 to the workshop. I'll provide microscope, solder, tools, workspace and assistance. The prize is TBD but but will likely be something like a 5-pole roofing filter, or perhaps a KBPF3 or a DVR. Hope to see you on the 22nd! 73, Lyle KK7P ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] S-meter and other things
Yes indeed. IMO there are two things that are pure junk on the K3, S-meter and the 12V DC power connectors. Too bad it can´t get fixed. Also I don´t like that the VOX gain changes with mic gain level, IMO they should be independent. Like anything in life nothing is perfect. / Jim SM2EKM - K7TV wrote: between full S-units - with only full S-units shown you have no idea if you are 6 dB or 1 dB from the next step. If you don't see a small decrease when approaching the null, you are likely to turn the knob too fast and miss the null altogether. My workaround was to turn off AGC and listen for the volume ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Questions from a Liberal Arts Major
Lee Buller wrote: Alsowhy is one person calling the S-Meter and the power connector junk that cannot be fixed? Maybe I should explain my point. S-meter, too coars since it can only show a 6 dB change. It´s been reported on this reflector that it was impossible to rectify/change that, i e to get better resolution more data points has to be produced by the radio. So bottom line, an S-meter that coarse IMO is junk, sorry but it´s my opinion. 12V power connector, does not have a positive lock, i e can come loose if radio is moved. Again IMO this is junk. This probably could be fixed, i e modify it for another type connector. And yes the K3 has a few other issues also but as I did say before nothing in life is perfect, I still love my K3 and would not like to be without it. 73 Jim SM2EKM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Questions from a Liberal Arts Major
Thanks David, yes I believe so, I do get the click. It´s no big issue, I can live with it however IMO as stated before this is a bad type of connector. 73 Jim SM2EKM David Pratt wrote: In a recent message, Jan Erik Holm [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote ... 12V power connector, does not have a positive lock, i e can come loose if radio is moved. Again IMO this is junk. Have you assembled the connector correctly, Jim? Both my K3 and my XV144 Anderson power connectors go in with a definite 'click' and neither of them have come apart unintentionally even when the equipment is moved. Being digital, the S-meter has incremental steps of one S-point which is accurate enough for most practical purposes. In any case, everyone is 599 or 59 in contests ;-) 73 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: S meter
Don´t you ever like to compare two antennas? Or someone you have a QSO with likes to compare antennas or something else, amplifiers or what ever. If everybody is using K3´s and the difference is smaller then 5 dB you can´t see it on the S-meter and since the AGC is so darn good you can´t hear it either. Oooh, I forgot, then we have to buy test equipment!!! 73 Jim SM2EKM DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL wrote: I am so blessed to be a contester. Everybody is S9. Of course, if the guy is really, really weak and I need several repeats, then he only gets a 599. :-) de Doug KR2Q ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: dBV meter
S Sacco wrote: For testing, the K3 has the very excellent feature whereby it can measure the receive voltage. That would be an FB way to compare signals. No it would not.The dBV meter is only useful on a constant and steady carrier. / Jim SM2EKM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 AF Upgrade Kit (for speaker amplifier and LINE OUTs)
wayne burdick wrote: SPEAKER AMP: The mod kit includes a very low-resistance RF choke for use at RFC47 73, Wayne N6KR What is the value? / SM2EKM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: dBV meter
I think the S-meter issue has been muted, we better give it a rest for a while. / Jim SM2EKM -- S Sacco wrote: The same could be said for an S-meter reading, no? On Fri, Nov 14, 2008 at 12:12 AM, Jan Erik Holm [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: S Sacco wrote: For testing, the K3 has the very excellent feature whereby it can measure the receive voltage. That would be an FB way to compare signals. No it would not.The dBV meter is only useful on a constant and steady carrier. / Jim SM2EKM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3 S-meters, db and noise
Oh I hope I can get a S9 from you also if my signals makes it all the way to the USA. Look for me in the CQWW, if good propagation I might be single band 80m otherwise I´ll be moving around the bands, then you will work another K3. 73 Jim SM2EKM Jeff Wandling W7BRS wrote: I can't take it anymore, I'm putting a strip of electrical tape over the upper left patch of the LCD. I can no longer bear to look. Everyone gets S9! -jeff ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] K3: Keying SB-200
Forexample: A very simple fix is to use a OptoMOS relay. The LCA110 from CLARE can key 350V 120 mA, cost seems to be a little over 2 USD. / Jim SM2EKM David Yarnes wrote: And the answer is?? I've been led to believe this isn't such a good idea, and that you should use one of those amp keying kits that the Heathkit Shop sells. I've got an old SB-200 sitting around here, but I've been afraid to try it! Dave W7AQK - Original Message - From: Ralph Parker [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Saturday, November 22, 2008 5:26 PM Subject: [Elecraft] K3: Keying SB-200 I'm just about to connect the KEY OUT to the SB-200 relay. I hope the little transistor in the K3 can take it! VE7XF ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] K3 TX problem
Power can not be set, jumping up and down and all over the place, also at some power levels I do get a oscillation sound from the radio. So I tried to do TX GAIN calibration but no change. Then I continued with Wattmeter calibration. Both at 5W and 50W wattmeter can not be calibrated. I adjust the menu parameter all the way up to 180 and power is still too high, about 7W (5W) and 60W (50W). Seems to me something is wrong with the wattmeter. Help please. CQWW is soon. 73 Jim SM2EKM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Re: K3 TX problem
Did some measuring, it looks like one of the diodes in the SWR bridge is faulty. Will replace tomorrow. Thanks to K5ESW 73 Jim SM2EKM Jan Erik Holm wrote: Power can not be set, jumping up and down and all over the place, also at some power levels I do get a oscillation sound from the radio. So I tried to do TX GAIN calibration but no change. Then I continued with Wattmeter calibration. Both at 5W and 50W wattmeter can not be calibrated. I adjust the menu parameter all the way up to 180 and power is still too high, about 7W (5W) and 60W (50W). Seems to me something is wrong with the wattmeter. Help please. CQWW is soon. 73 Jim SM2EKM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] First K3 in Sweden
Look here: http://sk3w.se/ 73 Jim SM2EKM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] 9V info
Yes or look here: http://www.qsl.net/oh2mcn/license.htm Doesn´t look too bright. They say you have to stay minimum 3 months to be able to operate. 73 Jim SM2EKM --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Ralph, Take a look at the 9V radio club www.sarts.org.sg and the IARU site at iaru.org for info plus contact emails for the club officers. Surely they will be able to give you some guidance. The SARTS boys seem to be very active socially. May be over there myself later next year. 73 Tom CX7TT -- Message: 42 Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2007 21:31:24 -0800 From: R Webb [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Elecraft] OT; operating in Singapore To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain;charset=us-ascii I have an opportunity to do a two month work assignment in 9V, Singapore, and was wondering about taking my trusty KX1, collapsible mast and some wire with me. Does any one know what the requirements are for foreign nationals to get operating privileges there? Thanks, Ralph Webb; VE7OM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
