N8LP wrote:
...Unless you live near a shortwave broadcast station, or
have a high power ham nearby on the same band, you're not likely to
need 130dB BDR anyway. Even in those cases, having 200dB BDR
probably wouldn't help unless there is a LOT of improvement in
transmitter spurious emissions,
I work 6-meter WSJT digital modes, where frequency differences measured in Hz
are significant. Working with various other stations whose technical
capabilities I trust more then my own, I've concluded that my K3 is about 96
Hz, plus or minus, on the low side of actual when the VFO is set to a
I know this has been recently discussed, but I never ran into it personally
until I brought up the K3 recently in DATA A mode running WSJT. The indicated
power output reads much lower than it actually is. I'm looking at an actual
power output in excess of 100W when the output readout says
If the people you are communicating with are on SSB, why don't you transmit
SSB too?
-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of G4LNA
Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 12:15 AM
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject:
--- On Wed, 2/25/09, Bill W5WVO w5...@cybermesa.net wrote:
This point is brought home all the time here in Albuquerque, where we have to
deal with the radiation from ten or more TV/FM analog transmitters
line-of-sight on top of Sandia Crest. While all these transmitters except
Channel 2 have
I have acquired a Spectrum Communications 10m - 2m transverter. This
transverter has a single connection to the K3 and requires about 5W drive
for maximum power. I do not have the KXV3 interface on my K3, which in any
case is not intended for this transverter.
I have set up a transverter band on
Bill W5WVO wrote:
I know this has been recently discussed, but I never ran into it
personally until I brought up the K3 recently in DATA A mode running WSJT.
The indicated power output reads much lower than it actually is. I'm
looking at an actual power output in excess of 100W when the
Bill W5WVO wrote:
I work 6-meter WSJT digital modes, where frequency differences measured in
Hz are significant. Working with various other stations whose technical
capabilities I trust more then my own, I've concluded that my K3 is about
96 Hz, plus or minus, on the low side of actual
Although my contesting this past weekend was severely interrupted by
a non-K3 related hardware failure, over the course of the contest I
did use the K3 throughout all day and night segments on various
bands.
I did not call CQ except for a very little bit and the majority was
SP on all bands
Testing my transverter on 2m FM with the K3 reading 10m frequencies
temporarily, due to the problem mentioned in my other post, I have noticed a
couple of issues.
I would have expected that the RF/SQL front panel control could be used as a
squelch control in FM mode (that's presumably what SQL
Agree, The K3 is stellar.
Never any desensing in the presence of strong signals observed with my K3.
I have found nothing that compares.
73 de KE4WY Jim
-Original Message-
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Gary Smith
Sent:
Problem solved thanks to the prompt response from Elecraft's customer
support, Gary AB7MY!
Turned out to be a defective keyer jack. The DOT line was partially
shorted(measured 50 ohms) to Gnd inside the jack causing the K1 to want to
go into Transmit mode. Going into transmit mode was causing
Jim,
Ditto here. #1129. AGC slope= 13, AGC THR =8. AGC set to fast. Never
touched the RF gain control.
I was totally amazed to be able copy weak ones under strong ones within
the passband.
Experienced none of the mushing reported here.
However, when I first got the K3, I did manage to
OK, it looks like there is a bug here. Someone wrote that they can drive a
transverter through the antenna socket with the KXV3 installed, so I tried
playing with the KXV3 option. If I set it to installed and back again, the
power control shows the high power level (withing the selected range.)
KE4WY:
Never any desensing in the presence of strong signals observed with my K3.
KA1J:
I noticed no desensing with the K3 in the presence of strong signals.
I agree. 160 is the ultimate test for dynamic range (and desense or BDR)
for any rig. Operating SOSB/160 I never experienced *any*
Lyle Johnson wrote:
The K3 currently does all transmit compression operations at IF. To add
speech compression to FM would require routines at AF.
When is this likely to be available, Lyle? At the moment, I'm getting
complaints about weak audio.
-
Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392 K3 #222.
~
N2CQ QRP CONTEST CALENDAR
March 2009
~
80 METER FOXHUNT (CW) *** QRP Contest ***
Each Tuesday to Mar 24
9 PM to 10:29 PM Eastern Time USA
Info: http://www.qrpfoxhunt.org/
I'm at the final stage of test and alignment of my new K2, sn 6687 and I
can not get the 30m band working.
Tests and alignments on all the other bands are OK. After successfully
completing the 20m tests which includes good reception and 10w output I
am unable to get L8 and L9 to peak on 30m.
The K3 currently does all transmit compression operations at IF. To add
speech compression to FM would require routines at AF.
When is this likely to be available, Lyle? At the moment, I'm getting
complaints about weak audio.
For now, please be sure deviation is adequate and adjust the Tx
I second Jim's enthusiasm regarding the little terminal program included
with the K3 utility software. His idea about having an immediate send
option is a good one.
Another modification that would be immensely useful for casual contest
participants would be the creation of two variables that
Would compression really sound OK on FM?? Having the compressor on using a
IC706 on FM was horrible for audio. I remember a discussion about this some
time ago and a question of if there was really 5 khz deviation. I use my K3 on
6m FM and havn't had any complaints.
Terry
-
W8ZN wrote:
Would compression really sound OK on FM?? Having the compressor on using a
IC706 on FM was horrible for audio. I remember a discussion about this
some time ago and a question of if there was really 5 khz deviation. I use
my K3 on 6m FM and havn't had any complaints.
Limiting
Julian,
The transmit equalizer may be to blame for the thin audio reports. Although the
FM audio does max at 2.8 khz, which is sufficient, the equalizer is mode
sensitive so the preferred setting for SSB is not good for FM.
The receive audio may also sound thin on FM unless the higher Eq
Those are impressive numbers, Eric. +5dBm would only be about 120dB above the
background noise level on 40m here on a typical night, though. I am located
in a relatively quiet area, but on the edge of suburban/rural. Of course, I
don't have a Yagi currently, and I'm not on the East Coast or in
Bill Feidt wrote:
I second Jim's enthusiasm regarding the little terminal program included
with the K3 utility software. His idea about having an immediate send
option is a good one.
Another modification that would be immensely useful for casual contest
participants would be the
Wayne wrote:
This works smoothly, but as you noted, you might hear a soft blip
under just the right circumstances as you cross one of the transition
points. It's a little reminder of what it takes to create a very quiet,
high-dynamic-range RX.
73,
Wayne
N6KR
Thanks Wayne. I've not noticed
Hi Julian,
In CONFIG:SQ MAIN, turn VFO A clockwise until the display says =SUB
POT. Then the front panel control will work to set the squelch level.
73
--
Joe KB8AP
On Feb 25, 2009, at 6:43 AM, Julian, G4ILO wrote:
Testing my transverter on 2m FM with the K3 reading 10m frequencies
Don Rasmussen wrote:
Julian,
The transmit equalizer may be to blame for the thin audio reports.
Although the FM audio does max at 2.8 khz, which is sufficient, the
equalizer is mode sensitive so the preferred setting for SSB is not good
for FM.
The receive audio may also sound thin
Joe Planisky wrote:
In CONFIG:SQ MAIN, turn VFO A clockwise until the display says =SUB
POT. Then the front panel control will work to set the squelch level.
Thank you, thank you! I stopped turning before I got that far.
-
Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392 K3 #222.
http://www.g4ilo.com/
Julian, G4ILO wrote:
I don't think the terminal function in the Elecraft Utility was intended for
this sort of use. It was meant for testing out command sequences. Why, may I
ask, are you using it like this? There are various other programs that can
send CW from the keyboard, with the kind of
...set the transmit EQ to all maximum,
I suggest you *not* do this.
The EQ should be use to shape, not amplify. In general, I suggest you
use the CUT side of the EQ (whether Tx or Rx) and only use the BOOST if
absolutely necessary, and even then limit yourself to 3 or 4 dB of
boost, not 10
Another issue. I can't access any 2m repeater whose output is higher than
145.700. The K3 appears to think I am trying to operate out of band. There
appear to be two errors of logic here. First of all, I'm in the two metre
band, the dial is showing 145.775, so the band limits for the 10m IF
Thanks very much Wayne for the explanation . Its not really a problem
as you say. If tuning very fast you also hear it pop as you pass those
points. Majority of the time it is covered either with band noise or
with signals.
You mentioned it being heard only if there was a moderate to strong
alsopb wrote:
Ditto here. #1129. AGC slope= 13, AGC THR =8. AGC set to fast. Never
touched the RF gain control.
I was totally amazed to be able copy weak ones under strong ones within
the passband.
Experienced none of the mushing reported here.
The mushing requires 10-15+
That looks like that would affect all UK licencees :-(
73 de M0XDF, K3 #174
--
Everything secret degenerates, even the administration of justice;
nothing
is safe that does not show how it can bear discussion and publicity.
-Lord Acton, historian (1834-1902)
On 25 Feb 2009, at 17:00, Julian,
FWIW the audio sounds fine when I monitored it on another radio and I have
got good reports after upping the deviation. Mic is a Heil HC-10 dual
element with the normal element selected.
-
Julian, G4ILO. K2 #392 K3 #222.
http://www.g4ilo.com/ G4ILO's Shack http://www.g4ilo.com/blog.html
We have now received permission to post the unprotected (non-ARRL
member) version of the January K3 QST review on our web site. We have
updated the links on the Elecraft web page.
The direct link for the review is:
http://www.elecraft.com/K3/k3_arrl_review_jan09.pdf
73, Eric WA6HHQ
Interesting information.
I guess I did not hear it on 160 as I did not have loud signals close to the
pll frequency.
I really don't understand the motivation of the so called non invested ($$$)
experts on the list. The K3 won't get better if we do not provide feedback
on our own experiences.
There's been a lot of discussion recently about what happens to
multiple closely spaced signals with AGC turned on. We have a new
field-test firmware revision available that offers a significant
improvement in such situations by reducing the IMD caused by
conventional AGC. If you'd like to try
((I have K2 s/n 06660 with: KAT100-1, KDSP2, KNB2-R, KPA100-R, KSB2-R, KUSB.
Completed assembly of all and installed all modules. Confirmed power output
on all bands per K2 and KPA100 procedures.))
Two problems:
1) Holding [VOX] 1 sec to select between normal PTT, SPCH 0.2, SPCH 0.4, or
Wed Feb 25 13:45:20 EST 2009 wayne burdick n6kr wrote ...
... We have a new field-test firmware revision available that offers a
significant improvement in such situations by reducing the IMD caused by
conventional AGC.
--
Wayne,
I just received #2724 yesterday and am still inventorying
wayne burdick wrote:
Hi Paul,
I'm sorry to report that only a few modes are presently allowed for
cross-mode split (CW/SSB, LSB/USB, CW/CW REV). Our goal is to add other
modes back in if there's enough interest. Each requires considerable
firmware modification and re-testing.
This sounds very much like the problem I had with a defective U3
(SSM2165 compressor chip) on the KSB2 board.
One check is to look at U3's voltage at Pin 4. It should be about 1.5 to
1.7V. Mine measured 4.7V. A defective U3 causes the TX to lock on in
VOX mode, which is exactly what you
We now have plenty of volunteers to try this experimental AGC firmware.
Thanks!
73,
Wayne
N6KR
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Post:
Just dropped a single call to K5D on 17m SSB at 10w. and got him first
time! Also got him first call on 30m CW. This K3 mojo is fine stuff!!
Of course I also called dozens of times on 40m CW, 20m CW and 17m CW
with no results at all :-(
73,
Randy, KS4L
To those of you who are testing this: Remember that AGC HLD only
affects slow AGC (AGC-S). So, once you have a long AGC HLD time set up
(0.3 to 1 sec, let's say), you can go back and forth between fast AGC
(with no hold), and slow AGC (with a long hold) just by tapping the AGC
switch.
I have a camping trip planned and will likely be in a few places where
there are no trees where I will easily get a vertical wire up. What
does everyone else do when the surroundings are not ideal for a wire in
a tree? I have seen other antennas referenced such as the buddystick
and the PAC-12.
I reset the EEPROM on my K2 SN#4454 because it stopped responding to COM PORT
1 commands from Ham Radio Deluxe. This cured this problem but now when I
turn the radio dial the frequency readout changes but the frequency is not
changing only on the 40 meter band. I am attempting to run CAL PLL but
Russ
I camp with my KX-1 (and the family!) in Europe every summer. I have tried
the buddipole, buddistick and the MP-1, but there is one antenna I've tried
which surpasses them all, in my experience and opinion.
I have a DK9SQ 10 metre long 'fishing pole'. I connect a 12m or so length
of wire
Bill,
It sounds like the 40 meter frequency is incorrect - the K2 detects that
during a CAL PLL attempt.
Do you have the K60XV installed or the rework eliminator for the K60XV
option?
If so, enter the secondary menu and once again set D19 = y - your
master reset would have wiped out that
Ron,
You must adjust the bandpass inductors for 30 meters before attempting
to set the trimmers for 20 meters - the band order is important (as you
discovered). In all cases, the inductors for the band pair must be
tuned first and then the capacitors.
Do you have the correct inductors
Randy, it just keeps getting better and better. Even this lousy
sunspot season can't keep the K3 down.
Was unable to sleep after about 2 AM this morning. Decided to see
what early-morning activity was up. Tuned around 3523 and there's
K5D! QSX up with the KRX3, and there's all his callers!
You've shown again that when it comes to an antenna, size does matter.
Especially when the physical length is less than 1/2 wavelength, every
little bit of additional length helps a lot!
It's pretty easy to achieve resonance with a short antenna using loading
coils but until we have
Aux input. It appears that I can share my 4sq receive array with the aux
input as I have the KXV3, by running a bnc cable from the KXV3 out to the
Aux input.
It appears that you can choose to share the main antenna or the rcv antenna
or split the receive ant to the aux input.
Is this correct?
I have a quick question concerning the 12 VDC connection between the Quadra and
the K3. I want to use the RF isolated ground of the K3 for the 12 volt
connection. My plan is to connect the RCA plug without a ground connection on
the plug and use pin 5 on the accessory plug as the 12 volt
Hi Ron
Well, as you imply, it's no surprise. Size does matter, and as has often
been said, you cannot defeat the laws of physics! Which, as a teacher of
the subject gives me some pleasure!
73 Stephen G4SJP
On 25/02/2009 22:24, Ron D'Eau Claire r...@cobi.biz wrote:
You've shown again that
On Feb 25, 2009, at 2:39 PM, W0MU Mike Fatchett wrote:
Aux input. It appears that I can share my 4sq receive array with
the aux
input as I have the KXV3, by running a bnc cable from the KXV3 out to
the
Aux input.
Correct.
If you're using the RX antenna for both receivers at the same
I'm a dyed-in-the-wool CW Op and have been trying to work K5D for the past
week on QRP CW to no availwith a CF Zepp up only 20 feet I am not
surprised (grin).
After looking around the bands for them I heard them on 18.165 SSB of all
things listening on 18.155 and I worked them on the 3rd
Hi,
I currently have my KRX configured as Ant=Atu and when using the dual
receive feature, all works as I expect it would EXCEPT for 75/80M On
75/80 meters with the SUB selected, I only hear static out of the right
speaker where as on all the other bands (to my knowledge) I will hear the
Out here I often operate in the desert, with no trees at all for
antennas or shade! I use a 32 foot telescoping fiberglass pole
(sometimes 2) from The Mast Company to get wire in the air nice and
high, either as horizontal doublets, vees, or slopers.
On Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:50:18 -0700, Bill W5WVO wrote:
While all these transmitters except
Channel 2 have fundamentals well above 54 MHz (I run a DCI bandpass filter to
keep it out of my preamp), the accumulated grunge from the transmitters'
perfectly legal low-level spurious emissions and
At ZM1A (multi-two) during the ARRL DX CW contest we received some reports of
choppy CW when CT was keying via the 'Key' socket.
Monitoring the signal with a K2 (dummy load in antenna socket) confirmed the
reports. CW sent using the paddle was normal.
Both 'station one' K3 and 'station two' K3
Set the TX DLY menu item to a lower settingI found that anything below 10
worked OK.
-
73,
Greg - AB7R
Whidbey Island WA
NA-065
On Wed Feb 25 15:41 , Robert Mccormack sent:
At ZM1A (multi-two) during the ARRL DX CW contest we received some reports
of choppy CW
On Thu, 26 Feb 2009 10:41:43 +1100 (EST), Robert Mccormack wrote:
So the problem is specific to our K3s
I suggest that you try the K9YC serial cable.
http://audiosystemsgroup.com/HamInterfacing.pdf
http://audiosystemsgroup.com/RFI-Ham.pdf
The first reference consists of Power Point slides,
On Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:26:58 +, Stephen Prior wrote:
I have a DK9SQ 10 metre long 'fishing pole'.
Yes. This is a winner! Tape a wire to it, and run some radials to
act as a counterpoise. I have a zip-lock bag filled with lengths of
#22 for exactly this purpose. Works great!
73,
Jim
I have a couple of used 40' fiberglass hot sticks that a guy was selling
locally some time ago. They're not backpacking light and even as stout as they
look, they're pretty limber and need some guying. The other downside: they're
bright yellow except the top section which is day-glow green.
This K3 mojo is awesome!
I worked K5D on 15, 17, 20, 40 and 80! All in the last three days and
all but 17 were first call contacts! Conditions were about 75w into
inverted G5RV, nothing special at all (except the K3) 73
In His service,
Jim Cundiff KB3GFC
K3 1264
Another K3 is born to match s/n1149 I built. 6 hours including the sub rx. All
pretty much uneventful. K5D on a dummy load. Well maybe I was on the Steppir. ;)
Randy
K8RDD
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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
Price change should be $1100 shipped.
Mike Pierce
KD8DVV
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There is an RF choke between K3 chassis ground
and pin 5 and 12, thus isolating that ground connection. I
don't think that will be a problem. Does anyone have another
view?
The RF choke in the ground return line is an invitation for
a pin 1 problem as documented in several
Way to go Jim. I got them on 30, 20, 17 and 15 with my K3/10 running 5 watts
to a G5RV also. I hope to bag them on 40 o 80 late tonight before they shut
down. Great bunch of operators.
73,72
Mike, W9QS
EX: KN6TBP (1956), K1DGQ, DL4KM, K5LJN, W9FRR, W9KVF
K3, K2, OHR500, Norcal 20, SP1
N1MM users have had similar issues. I don't know if AB7R's fix works but
many have just gone to a Winkey keyer as a solution. I have one built into
my SO2R MK2R+ Microham devices so I have never seen this issue.
A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may
never
My K3 is shutting off on high power. CW and SSB. It seems to be drawing too
many amps and I am checking this on an external power supply (DAIWA PS-304).
I get the same results when I am on the dummy load and when I am on the
antenna. I didn't check six meters but here is the data. What's going
Thanks to all that responded. The general consensus is that using the
buddistick, pac-12 or some other version of coil and shorter vertical is
not as effective as simply getting up as high as possible with a
vertical wire antenna and radial/counterpoise. Other than the tree,
most have suggested
Hi Greg,
Many thanks indeed - setting the TX DLY to 10 restored the CW to normal
operation.
I had set TX DLY to 20 to protect the amp antenna relays (open-frame), of which
we have lost three in two amps during 2008.
I'll install vacuum relays before ARRL SSB.
Thanks again.
73, Ken ZL1AIH
I just shut the radio and power supply off and turned it back on. Now on all
the bands it is drawing around 25 amps and not cutting out but the CW still
cuts out and shuts off the radio. I wonder if there is a setting in the menu
that I knocked out of whack by accident. I do have a good ground
Gee I wish this had been available last week - we just got back from a week
in Nicaragua.
We used a K3 in the ARRL DX CW test for about 4700 QSOs. Well over half of
them were under medium to heavy pileup conditions with AGC-F. I found at
times turning on the attenuator helped probably not
Hi Group,
As I await the arrival of my hand crafted K3 carrying case from Rose Kopp, I
feel compelled to share a thing or two about my experience so far.
Yes, I've seen the comments here on the Reflector about the quality of her
workmanship, but I don't recall seeing anything about what a total
On Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:39:16 -0500, garyhviz...@cfl.rr.com wrote:
Does this new firmware eliminate the need for really narrow roofing
filters? Does it make them even more useful? Does it not have any
bearing?
The benefit of all of this software tweaking and the roofing filters and
the
The radio is drawing too much current. What is the key down supply
voltage at the radio?
Bob
On Wed, Feb 25, 2009 at 6:53 PM, -.-. --.-N3TU -.-. --.-
connectme...@hotmail.com wrote:
I just shut the radio and power supply off and turned it back on. Now on all
the bands it is drawing around
Built to the 100w stage. 2nd receiver will be installed in the morning. The
2nd time around is much easier.
Mike W0MU
A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may
never get over. Ben Franklin
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Elecraft
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
At ZM1A (multi-two) during the ARRL DX CW contest we received some reports
of choppy CW when CT was keying via the 'Key' socket...
During the same contest, I used NA under DOS in an older computer, with NA
sending via a W9XT contest card.
I could have sworn (actually, I did) that my weighting was
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