Re: [Elecraft] K3 Speaker, Season finale

I was fortunate to find a used pair of Sounds Sweet speakers for an excellent price at a recent fleamarket. I have to say they are well worth the trouble and expense if you can find them. They are not amplified so there is no interference, and they sound marvelously clear and rich.

Re: [Elecraft] Need help to justify desired purchase :=)

I don't do much shortwave listening, but I have had the opportunity to directly compare receive performance between the K3 with general coverage receiver option, the K2 and the venerable Kenwood TS-930s. I am also solely into voice. My general point is the difference between hearing and not

Re: [Elecraft] Need help to justify desired purchase :=)

Two other points. For six meters, I currently don't have a separate six meter antenna. From what I have heard what little is going on with six meters would not justify the additional expense. Plus you can add it to your K2 using a transverter. The two meter option will cost you $299 for the

[Elecraft] (phase signals RE: SDR IQ/IF Questions

IQ data is a method for describing the characteristics of a wave. IQ uses amplitude and phase angle to describe the wave, see for example http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/3013 The K3 takes an RF signal from an antenna, filters and modulates it. At some point the filtered, modulated

Re: [Elecraft] Anderson Powerpole connector

I am not an electronics expert, but I work closely with someone who spent 40 years installing custom electronic equipment in commercial and military aircraft. Approaching PowerPoles from the perspective of a novice, it has been my experience that PowerPoles take some learning to properly

Re: [Elecraft] K2 lifespan

I have owned both the K2 and K3. The K2 is a perfectly capable HF radio, near (but not at) the top in receiver performance. The most fun part of the K2 was assembling the kit, and I learned a lot from the experience. The K2 has advantages in price, small size and low power consumption. For

Re: [Elecraft] marine frequencies and k3

Thanks everyone for the excellent information. -Original Message- From: Eugene Balinski [mailto:euge...@nni.com] Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2011 5:54 AM To: George A. Thornton; Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] marine frequencies and k3 George, The ** best ** solution

[Elecraft] marine frequencies and k3

I know someone who is about to embark on an around the world sailboat cruise. She is not currently licensed on HAM frequencies but is going to have a marine operator license. She is about to acquire a marine SSB radio. Most of those radios are also capable of operation on HAM frequencies.

Re: [Elecraft] Fw: Why I won't purchase K3

I have a different opinion. I like kits. The stereo I used in college was a Heathkit I built myself. I built the K2 and learned a great deal from the experience. I had at least as much fun building the radio as using it. Building the K3 is indeed much less of a kit experience. This is

Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Mic Experimentation with Kenwood MC-60

I have a Kenwood MC-60, I bought it new about a year ago for use with an older Kenwood 930s. It has been used lightly and is in good condition. I just tried it on my K3, it works fine for me with the mic preamp off and the K3 set for FP L. I am driving it with mic gain set at about 23,

Re: [Elecraft] K3 external speakers

Amplified computer speakers have been a problem for me. They are not well screened for RF and on occasion I have had bad feedback problems. Eliminating the amplified speakers solved the feedback problem. Unamplified speakers work fine and audio is adequate without external amp with smaller

Re: [Elecraft] K3 ESD

Proper electrostatic mats are cheap and readily available. A local electronics shop in Seattle sells 3x4 foot sheets of the material for about $30, and they tend to charge higher prices since they are the only local source for electronic components. Also, Radio Shack sells a folding plastic

Re: [Elecraft] K3 ESD

I stand corrected, thanks. I have been pretty busy and did not take the time to read all the way back. -Original Message- From: David Pratt [mailto:da...@g4dmp.fsnet.co.uk] Sent: Friday, December 17, 2010 11:50 AM To: George A. Thornton Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re

Re: [Elecraft] OT: QST's review of the Yaesu FTDX5000MP

When I was in the market for my K3 someone told me that what is at the top of the heap today may be surpassed by someone else tomorrow. Supposedly the Yaesu has a better receiver, at least on CW. What would bother me about this kind of a rig is that after spending all that money on it, I may

Re: [Elecraft] Roofing Filter Usage

Go back to filter settings and set the bandwidth of the 1.8 filter a bit wider, say 2.1. Then use the hi/lo adjustments during operation. Typically I keep the low full and gradually lower the hi settings. When you get the filter narrow enough the K3 will automatically switch from the 2.7 to the

[Elecraft] Seeking external speaker recommendations

I am looking for recommendations on external speakers for the K3. I am primarily interested in voice modes. I would use these primarily in my shack. My contesting has thus far been limited to Field Day, but who knows where this might lead.

Re: [Elecraft] Re? New Kenwood TS0-590

Someone told me, when I was looking to buy my K3, that while the K3 was the top of the heap today, soon or later someone would come out with something equal or better. It's a competitive world. I am pleased that Kenwood is finally doing something decent in HF. I love my old TS-930s, a simple

Re: [Elecraft] K3 SUB AF - NOR or BALANCE?

I find these comments fascinating and highly appropriate for a K3 forum. The K3 with its modularity and close communication between user and manufacturer is the ideal place for adapting new technology to HAM radio. As a heavy user of technology outside of HAM radio, I think I have some opinions

[Elecraft] Sub Rx freeze

This might be something obvious I am overlooking. I have experienced a few instances of the sub RX tuning knob freezing. I spin the knob but the frequency does not change. Sometimes turning the unit off and then back on gets things moving again. I have tried linking and unlinking the

Re: [Elecraft] New K3 P3 Beta Firmware Available

I loaded the beta updates with zero problems. -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of John Buck Sent: Sunday, September 19, 2010 12:07 PM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] New K3 P3 Beta Firmware

[Elecraft] Odd audio feedback problem

I seem to have an elusive audio feedback problem. It is not always there but when it's there it's bad enough to render me unintelligible on voice Tx. I am posting this because maybe someone has seen this before and can enlighten me. I am operating with the LP-Pan and am using Power SDR for

Re: [Elecraft] Some thoughts on the K3 as an emergencycommunications station

I see the k3's complexity as an issue with emergency communication. In emergencies the K3 could be called on to deliver service with multiple operators. The K3 has a rather complex menu and control system. It takes some understanding and tweaking to get it to maximum effective performance.

Re: [Elecraft] K3 option questions

Note responses: 1. The TXCO-3 is not necessary. The basic TXCO is quite stable enough. 2. You will probably do fine with the 2.7 filter, but may have complications matching filters if you decide in the future to get the second Rx for diversity receive. 3. For other filters, you could get

[Elecraft] Power supply voltage

I am about to put together a backup power supply system. I have AGM cell batteries and will be using a West Mountain PowerGate P40s and an Astron RM35 power supply. The West Mountain literature recommends that I boost the power supply voltage to 14.5 volts in order to assure proper battery

Re: [Elecraft] Reward for P3 S/N 56

There could be a black market in fake Elecraft serial number stickers. -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Rick Prather Sent: Monday, August 02, 2010 4:47 PM To: Ken Kopp Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re:

Re: [Elecraft] My question is, Do you folks think it is really necessary to , detail-inventory the Elecraft K2 product??

I agree. The biggest risk is misidentification. I prefer to use sheets of paper and scotch tape. I group similar components together and tape them together lightly to sheets of 8x11 paper, writing the identification number on the paper next to the component(s). I try to keep the sheets flat to

Re: [Elecraft] K3 Repair

I can only give my anecdotal response. I have built both the K2 and K3 and have supplemented and upgraded both. For the most part the Elecraft equipment, particularly the K3, is well designed and pretested before leaving the factory. If you are comfortable with kit building you are probably

Re: [Elecraft] rather provocative advert from Kenwood

It is inevitable that the competitors would notice the success of the K3 and respond competitively. Kenwood used to make quality HF radios but long ago lost their way. I would be interested in seeing a review when one comes out. In my travels I think there are a number of people who object to

Re: [Elecraft] power pole pins

PowerPoles have huge advocates and huge objectors. They are very convenient for setups that are frequently changed, since connecting is simple, safe and easy and the metal contacts are shielded making an accidental short less likely. A HAM friend of mine with 40 years experience in high end

[Elecraft] Help with ideal SSB contest settings

I am relatively new to the K3 and completely green on contesting. My K3 is new this year and recently returned from the factory to correct some problems that occurred during installation of the SubRx. During Field Day we were operating voice on 20 meters using a 6 element monoband Yagi

[Elecraft] Diversity receive and isolating antennas

I am planning to use my dual receive K3 for field day and we want to try out diversity receive. This particular setup will be for 20 meters only. The primary antenna will be a 20 meter monoband Yagi mounted on a 40-60 ft. tower. We were considering using a Buddipole mounted in

Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Built in USB interface for K3

This issue has been bounced around a lot and perhaps it is now overdone. I do want to say that in my consumer experience the serial port has always been a beast to work with. You constantly have to watch port settings and the OS seems to change things all the time, causing the device to fail to

Re: [Elecraft] Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit

By crash, I assume the whole system crashes and you get the blue screen of death. According to a software engineer friend of mine at Microsoft, this is usually caused by a driver conflict with the OS. Driver conflicts are more common with the 64 bit OS. Drivers are written by the device

Re: [Elecraft] Son of K3??

Kenwood once made great HF radios. I have an old TS-930s that is quite a performer for its age. I found in side by side comparisons I was able to copy more weak signals with the 930s than with my K2. If I could copy on both, I would prefer the K2 because with dsp I was able to filter out all

Re: [Elecraft] K3: Driving Data Modes Using Dell Dimension 8400

I recently went through all this. A Signalink is not necessary since the K3 already does internally what the Singalink does other than the sound card. They run about $100. I was warned away from the cheapest USB sound card dongles and I ended up spending about $30 for something with a

Re: [Elecraft] 12 volt PA

My understanding is that lower volt systems are preferred by electrical safety codes because they pose less danger to human life. From what I understand, the only way you could cause death from a 12 volt circuit is if the short circuited path goes through the human heart. That is why electrical

[Elecraft] PSK31 setup

Last night I started setting up PSK31 using HRD and DM780. I am using an older Lenovo T60p computer in a port replicator, running Windows 7. I made direct connections using 1/8 stereo audio plugs between the line in-out connectors on the K3. The line out goes to the microphone input in the

Re: [Elecraft] PSK31 setup

To: George A. Thornton Cc: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] PSK31 setup George, I trust you meant QSO instead of QSL - the cards come after the contact. :-) Check the menu for MIC SEL when the K3 is in DATA A mode. If it is set to anything other than LINE IN, it will not work

Re: [Elecraft] Using Buddi Pole Deluxe Antenna with K3

I assume you have properly installed and activated the ATU. To operate the ATU you tune the radio to the band and frequency you intend to use and then press ATU tune to operate the tuner. Make sure you have the antenna attached and selected first. The ATU must also be turned on. The ATU is

[Elecraft] K3, sound cards and PSK31

I have a question about PSK31, sound cards and the K3. I am currently set up to use my K3 with the LP-Pan for a pandapter spectrum display on computer. I am currently using a separate USB sound card (E-Mu 0202) as the sound card for this interface. Someone told me that using the same

Re: [Elecraft] K3, sound cards and PSK31

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I have decided to purchase a less expensive sound card for dedicated use with PSK31. While I could do this through the other sound card or the computer, it is easier to set things up this way. -Original Message- From:

Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Firmware Update via K3 USB Utility

It is a trivially simple and painless process as long as the connection between the K3 and your computer is working fine. Just leave things alone during the upgrade and don't disconnect or power anything down. -Original Message- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net

Re: [Elecraft] K3 dumb Q about PPM, less dumb one about NB

I too want to express my strong irritation with Elecraft that I am not able to create problems with my K3. I really want to blame them. But every time I think I have something on them it turns out I did not follow directions properly or I have something installed wrong. And they are so

Re: [Elecraft] K3: Mike input no longer works.

If I recall correctly that microphone is an electret. You have to set the bias on the mic setting for it to work. Go to Main:Mic Sel setting. While in that setting hit 2 to turn bias on or off. You may also want to play with sensitivity setting (hi or lo) by hitting 1. See manual p.20.

Re: [Elecraft] K2 for sale

looking to add the second receiver and a couple filters to my K3. Price is negotiable. Respond direct to my address and I will provide you with further contact information. George Thornton AE7G __ Elecraft mailing

Re: [Elecraft] K3 - Purchase Recommendations??

I am relatively new to the K3 and I am not a contester. I did want to give my reactions to the 1.8 filter as a second SSB filter. I have one and I have been listening through it. The way the filters work, the K3 does not kick in the filter until you narrow the bandwidth to that filter's

[Elecraft] K3 #3934 live and running

the K3 already provides? George Thornton AE7G __ 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

[Elecraft] Rig recption comparison

I have begun running my personal comparison test between three receivers. The tests have been on SSB reception. My newly constructed K-2 (with DSP) Kenwood TS 2000 Older TS930s that I recently had professionally tuned up. The bottom line is that there is no comparison. I live

[Elecraft] Question about SB transmission issues

I have completed #4554, which consists of the K-2, noise blanker, DSP2 unit, 160 meter, 60 meter and SSB modules. I bought a used Bird wattmeter through Ebay, which was finally delivered yesterday. Last night I went thoroughly through all of the alignment and test procedures. I did not have

[Elecraft] Status report

Pleased to report that #04554 is going well. I now have installed four options: KNB2, KDSP2, K160RX AND KSB2. Everything went pretty smoothly. With the exception of the KSB2, everything worked according to hoyle right off the bat. The KSB2 unit would not communicate with the main

[Elecraft] new subcription

This is a test to see if I am correctly connected. I have been receiving posts to this reflector but my messages in have been rejected. I have multiple email accounts and I suspect that is the reason. I changed things and hopefully this works. Anyway, I have just completed the

[Elecraft] Lessons I have learned from my first K-2

I thought I would share some comments concerning my personal experiences in building my first K-2. Perhaps this will help someone starting out. I am not a skilled electronics technician, and I am a bit of a klutz with mechanical stuff. Many years ago I built a Heathkit hi-fi stereo amp. I