Re: [Elecraft] K3 Sensitivity

Jay, As promised, I went ahead and measured my K3 sensitivity. It is really a K3S-. It doesn't have the USB I/O board but has the rest of the K3 -> K3S upgrades. There general coverage bandpass filter board is installed. Here are the results on 20-6M. The sensitivities are as expected

Re: [Elecraft] Random wire lengths for antennas

Balun Designs has a similar list of wire lengths hidden away as a link from the page for their 9:1 unun. http://www.balundesigns.com/content/Wire%20Lengths%20for%204%20and%209-1%20ununs.pdf They also make

Re: [Elecraft] Random wire lengths for antennas

I use an 84 to 86 feet (W3EDP length) of #26 AWG Wire on a plastic camping clothesline reel and it matches quite easily with the KAT2 (K2 internal tuner) or the Elecraft T1. This will match (and work reasonably well) from 80m through 10m as it is not close to a multiple of a half wave on

Re: [Elecraft] K3 - stuck at MCU LD we upgrading software

Every Astron supply I've opened has had the defect of failure to bond the green wire to the chassis. The point of failure is paint between the chassis and the mounting lug of the terminal strip where the green wire is soldered. One of those supplies, which I still own as a backup, has paint

[Elecraft] The "Kinda Random Antenna" (was: Random wire lengths for antennas)

I'd call an ad-hoc antenna that works on multiple bands with an ATU a "Kinda-Random Antenna" (KRA). (Apologies to linguistic purists.) A simplified definition might be: A. long enough to work within the maximum limits of the ATU's L-network on the lowest band used B. presents a

Re: [Elecraft] Random wire lengths for antennas

OK, How about only Two types, by definition: #1 EFHW (End Fed ½λ resonant wire) #2 NRW (Non-Resonant wire) Chas -Original Message- From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Ken Talbott Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2017 11:14 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net

[Elecraft] The "Kinda Random Antenna" (was: Random wire lengths for antennas)

I'd call an ad-hoc antenna that works on multiple bands with an ATU a "Kinda-Random Antenna" (KRA). (Apologies to linguistic purists.) A simplified definition might be: A. long enough to work within the maximum limits of the ATU's L-network on the lowest band used B. presents a

Re: [Elecraft] The "Kinda Random Antenna" (was: Random wire lengths for antennas)

Wayne, I know what you are saying and agree. In very simple terms, if you can load it, it will radiate. That was a position that a writer with the nom de plume of Kurt N Sterba too in a book he wrote. By the physical law of conservation of energy, it all has to go somewhere. And, that

Re: [Elecraft] The "Kinda Random Antenna" (was: Random wire lengths for antennas)

For general low-band operation, I use a doublet that is 75 feet long on each leg, and fed via ladder line to a BL-2 balun near the shack. The fifteen feet of coax to the balun is low-loss LMR400. The low-loss coax helps with the high SWR problem, in that the losses are minimized (for what I

Re: [Elecraft] K3 - stuck at MCU LD we upgrading software

The history of my Astron 35 metered power supply is that it has been moved around a lot because I have brought it to Field Day for multiple years. I took it apart today and found that although the connection between the power leads and the bolts was tight, the connection between the bolt and

Re: [Elecraft] K3 Sensitivity

Hi, Frankly I'd be skeptical about all those numbers. They are way better than those measured by ARRL and Sherwood and some are a physical impossibility. The thermal noise floor (kTB) at 400Hz is -148dBm so any number at or below this is physically impossible. To me it looks like all your numbers

Re: [Elecraft] The "Kinda Random Antenna" (was: Random wire lengths for antennas)

There's an unavoidable tradeoff using an end fed wire with an ATU of limited range. Since the ATU can't match the high impedance of a half wave multiple, the lower impedance of the wire will lead to larger ground/counterpoise currents. Even with a decent ground and/or counterpoise, some

Re: [Elecraft] Random wire lengths for antennas

On Sun, Jan 29, 2017 at 1:01 PM, Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT < k...@coldrockshotbrooms.com> wrote: > If the wire is near 1/2 wavelength on a band, the impedance at the end > will be very high, and the tuner may not be able to match it. > Why is that? A quick heuristic to help understand. The

Re: [Elecraft] The "Kinda Random Antenna" (was: Random wire lengths for antennas)

Hi, have a look at this one: http://pa-11019.blogspot.de/2017/01/efhw-antenna-for-40-10m-qrp.html It works as indicated in the measurements. I use it for the other bands with the ATU of the Kx3 and Kx2. 73 de Hajo dl1sdz --- Cela est bien dit, mais il faut cultiver notre jardin.

Re: [Elecraft] KXAT2: Recommended Random Wire Lengths

Hi Jim, Thanks for this. Lol, I worked for HP and spent a lot of time in Roseville in your ‘winter’ months. Our current winter weather limits outside antenna experimentation for the very ambitious or a desperate ‘wire down’ situation. I too was giving serious thought to a vertical wire on a

Re: [Elecraft] K3 - stuck at MCU LD we upgrading software

That depends upon the power supply. My Astron has over-current protection that shuts it off in the event of a short. The output stays off until I cycle the power switch on the Astron, so I don't use any additional protection. 73, Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: Elecraft

Re: [Elecraft] Random wire lengths for antennas

Not an alternate definition, but we have to recognize that just any old random length won't work. If the wire is near 1/2 wavelength on a band, the impedance at the end will be very high, and the tuner may not be able to match it. In truth, we're really talking about non-resonant antennas,

Re: [Elecraft] K3 - stuck at MCU LD we upgrading software

Are folks hooking their radios directly to the power supply without a fuse inline? I noted that the Elecraft supplied cable for my K3S did not include a fuse. 73, Tom - KQ5S On Sun, Jan 29, 2017 at 12:49 PM, George Thornton < gthorn...@thorntonmostullaw.com> wrote: > The history of my Astron

Re: [Elecraft] KXAT2: Recommended Random Wire Lengths

Well, to be honest, I’ve never tried it w/o the un-un. I hook about 25’ of RG-8x coax to the KX3, with the un-un at the bottom of the vertical pole. Here at home I use a 35’ fiberglass extendable JacKite pole. My first thought was to somehow bring it with me to the Philippines, and then I had a

Re: [Elecraft] K3 - stuck at MCU LD we upgrading software

Tom, The size of the fuse at the power supply end should be consistent with the size of the wire. For #10 wire, fuse at 30 amps, for #12 wire, fuse at 20 amps. Note that this recommendation has nothing to do with the current draw of the equipment, only with the wire size. I fuse #16 wire at

[Elecraft] KX3 internal battery problem

My KX3 has suddenly decided that it doesn't want to turn on on battery power. It has been pretty much just sitting in a bag for the last few months but when I tried to turn it on it wouldn't, so I thought that maybe the batteries needed charging so I plugged it in, turned it on, went to menu to

Re: [Elecraft] KX3 internal battery problem

I’ve seen the Bat ERR message also, but the radio still functions and after a few attempts I can get it to charge. Lee, WA8QFE Sent from Mail for Windows 10 From: Jim Rhodes Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2017 5:53 PM To:

Re: [Elecraft] The "Kinda Random Antenna"

Skip, Great idea for an antenna. I gotta try that one sometime. Kurt N. Sterba was correct. Textbook antennas aren't always possible, or even needed. If the situation is difficult, any radiator is better than none. However, hams in general are anal animals on the subject of antennas.

Re: [Elecraft] K3 - stuck at MCU LD we upgrading software

Tom, The K3 and K3S 100 watt versions have a circuit breaker - that is the round thing with the white center on the back panel of the KPA3. The lower power circuits are protected by a resettable fuse. So the K3 is capable of protecting itself from overcurrent. That being said, there is

[Elecraft] Winter Field Day (WFD)

Just finished Winter Field Day (WFD) with my KX3, PX3, and KXPA100. What a blast. Used an End Fed wire 71 feet in length. I absolutely love the KX3 Line. 73, N4TVC, Randy "..I set out to discover the inventions of God." - John Muir

Re: [Elecraft] K3 - stuck at MCU LD we upgrading software

Thanks Don. I though the K3S was protected but I did a quick search of the manual for fuse and only found a reference to fusing both positive and negative cables if using a battery. 73, Tom - KQ5S On Sun, Jan 29, 2017 at 4:47 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: > Tom, > > The K3

Re: [Elecraft] The "Kinda Random Antenna"

N6BT famously set up a "phased array" of 3 light bulbs in a V-beam configuration and achieved WAC. He called it "The Illuminator." Kurt N. Sterba [a regular in the old WorldRadio] is correct, the power will go somewhere. My home antenna is a 136' wire strung along the wood fence on electric

[Elecraft] KXAT2: Recommended Random Wire Lengths

Hi Murphy, your post comes at a good time for me. Thanks for this info. I'm preparing to take my new KX3 to the Dominican Republic next month for a QRP deployment on the beach at a resort. I'm planning to do WSPR, JT65, PSK31 and PHONE. I've not kept up my CW so I'm hoping to try some fldigi

Re: [Elecraft] KXAT2: Recommended Random Wire Lengths

Hi Brian, I’ve also got a KX3 and use it in the summer on the back patio and occasionally from the family room when it is not sitting on my shack desk, tethered to the KXPA100. When I do those “portable” operations I use an end-fed vertical that I came across at the web site of EARC - the

Re: [Elecraft] Random wire lengths for antennas

Hi Ken, How about EFRW (End Fed Random Wire). It shouldn't matter whether it is just a piece of wire or one with traps, loading coils, or any other lumped reactance. And it's also "simple to send". 73, Gus Hansen KB0YH On 1/29/2017 9:13 AM, Ken Talbott wrote: Indeed we do. And not just

[Elecraft] (no subject)

Hi Wayne, If we're connecting the random wire and counterpoise directly to the kx2 or Kx3 bnc via the binding post adapter is a 9:1 an improvement or is the tuner able to drive it directly just the same? Thanks and Regards, Brian ve3bwp > Message: 17 > Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2017 18:52:26 -0800 >

[Elecraft] (no subject)

Hi Wayne, If we're connecting the random wire and counterpoise directly to the kx2 or Kx3 bnc via the binding post adapter is a 9:1 an improvement or is the tuner able to drive it directly just the same? Thanks and Regards, Brian ve3bwp Message: 17 Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2017 18:52:26 -0800 From:

Re: [Elecraft] KX3 internal battery problem

Re:  << My KX3 has suddenly decided that it doesn't want to turn on on battery power...so I plugged it in, turned it on, went to menu to turn on charger and got "BAT ERR" message >> I had a similar problem several years ago, and the problem was that the battery connector that connects the cell

Re: [Elecraft] K3 - stuck at MCU LD we upgrading software

Hate to bring this up, but. Check the Power Pole connectors on K3 power cable. They should be pushed in tightly so that the contact lip curls over the spring. Sent from my iPhone ...nr4c. bill > On Jan 29, 2017, at 9:57 AM, James Walker wrote: > > I tried the

Re: [Elecraft] K3 - stuck at MCU LD we upgrading software

And don't forget to use the pin to secure the connector in place. Some people said it was not possible but I did it and it works just fine. Sent from my iPhone > On Jan 29, 2017, at 9:24 PM, Nr4c wrote: > > Hate to bring this up, but. Check the Power Pole connectors

Re: [Elecraft] Random wire lengths for antennas

Since when is an EFHW a Random wire? It's not random, it's a half wavelength on a given frequency. A Random wire is a wire of any length not resonant on the frequency desired. But it's a Half Wave on SOME frequency! Sent from my iPhone ...nr4c. bill > On Jan 29, 2017, at 12:53 PM, Charlie

Re: [Elecraft] K3 - stuck at MCU LD we upgrading software

Yes. There is an automatic resetting fuse in the main circuits and a circuit breaker for the amp that is reset with a button on the back of the K3S. 73, Ron AC7AC -Original Message- From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Tom Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2017

Re: [Elecraft] The "Kinda Random Antenna"

Ha, ha!!! But all of those photons are not getting beyond "line of sight". Most of us O.T.s (like you) have had the experience of using a 'grocery store dummy load' (ordinary incandescent light bulb) to test our rigs and had someone call us in return! Another thing to remember is that there is

Re: [Elecraft] Random wire lengths for antennas

I believe that is why Jeff, kg7hdz, provided a link to an excel chart that has lengths of NO half waves in US ham bands. Saves a bunch of math. Making the Antenna " End fed non halfwave( in the ham bands )wire" or the EFNHWW. Whew 73 all Dean K2WW

Re: [Elecraft] [KX3] The "Kinda Random Antenna" (was: Random wire lengths for antennas)

Have you tried this with a low-power balun mounted right at the antenna jack? That will often help with RFI issues. Wayne N6KR On Jan 29, 2017, at 6:03 PM, Jeff Crilly wrote: > So I tried this out... using a ~26 foot wire ...

Re: [Elecraft] K3 - stuck at MCU LD we upgrading software

Thanks Ron. 73, Tom - KQ5S On Sun, Jan 29, 2017 at 8:48 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote: > Yes. There is an automatic resetting fuse in the main circuits and a > circuit > breaker for the amp that is reset with a button on the back of the K3S. > > 73, Ron AC7AC > > -Original

Re: [Elecraft] K3 - stuck at MCU LD we upgrading software

I think you will find that all of them have over-current protection. It's been standard in all the Astrons I have messed with in Land Mobile service since the early 1980s. Yes, the K3s has an automatic resetting fuse for all but the 100 watt amp. The amp is protected by the circuit breaker that

Re: [Elecraft] Random wire lengths for antennas

The "antenna tuner" is part of the antenna more than it is the rig, even if it is inside the box! I have a L-net tuner (a circuit like in the Elecraft ATUs) consisting of a large ceramic roller inductor and a "transmitting" type variable (0.3" plate spacing) that I use with my Inverted L. It

Re: [Elecraft] [KX3] The "Kinda Random Antenna"

Hi Wayne, I liked your description of the KRA. I recently employed the principle for a KRAzy MacGuyver'ed NPOTA activation, documented here: https://proaudioeng.com/bf07-moores-creek-npota-activation-12-30-2016/ The basic principle of 'use whatever you can, just get on the air!' always

Re: [Elecraft] The "Kinda Random Antenna"

Just recently, I was testing an 80W 2M amplifier into a dummy load. I noticed that anytime I send a signal into it, it triggered the local repeater. (I changed frequencies.) However, I can work the local repeater from my living room with a HT set at 100 mW, so it doesn't take much. Now if I

[Elecraft] Random wire lengths for antennas

Emory - before you cut any wire, go to the below url and peruse all of the info - unless you desire to operate have a 1/2 wavelength antenna (not a bad thing) and have a 1/2 wavelength tuner for the band of interest, mgo to the below url for recommended wire lengths that avoid 1/2 wave antenna

Re: [Elecraft] Random wire lengths for antennas

You can download some code I wrote for this at https://github.com/timseed/rnd_Wire.git For those people who just would like “some data” this is the output of the program listed above. I have not tried this data in EzNEC etc. The Spectrum I was

Re: [Elecraft] Just bought a K3/10. What upgrades should I get?

Whilst I agree with your comments Don, I would say that perhaps a more important task would be to check the serial number, then go through all of the modifications that have been made and perform any that may matter to you. Many of the parts for mods are free from Elecraft (well done Elecraft)

Re: [Elecraft] K3 - stuck at MCU LD we upgrading software

Hi Bill, I did that. Also had to go into K3 Utility and turn off the port then turn it back on. Then things loaded fine. No idea why it happened. First time I had a problem changing firmware with either K3. All my Ham stuff is tied into a work station that has battery backup so that should not

Re: [Elecraft] K3 - stuck at MCU LD we upgrading software

I tried the direct wiring fix first. It didn’t change anything. And the voltage drop was radical. It would go down sometimes from 13 to 11 volts. The voltage drop was not indicated on the power supply volt meter. And remember, the big Astron power supply works fine with my IC-7300 and IC-746

Re: [Elecraft] Power supply voltage sag during transmit

Jimmy, I did not make any reference to any switching supply. I have the same supply, sans meters. The meter on the power supply is reading internal to the supply. Check on the outside with your DMM. The terminals on that supply are bolts with the heads on the inside. Those bolt heads

Re: [Elecraft] Tuning procedure for KX3, KXPA100 and KAT500?

Open the matching box at the base of the R9 and look around the toroids. My R8 (same box) had an arc when using high power where the wire was attached to one of the toroids. I stuck a piece of polystyrene between the wire and the toroid to fix it. You might have to unsolder the board from its

Re: [Elecraft] Just bought a K3/10. What upgrades should I get?

He said he is a CW guy, so I would recommend the new synth just for the cleaner QSK and less jitter at higher speeds. 73, Vic, 4X6GP Rehovot, Israel Formerly K2VCO http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/ On 29 Jan 2017 03:31, Bill Frantz wrote: The new synth is a definite improvement, but if you aren't

Re: [Elecraft] Just bought a K3/10. What upgrades should I get?

Dear Andy, I agree with Bill " The 400 Hz filter is popular for CW, so I would see if it is satisfactory for your operating needs. The 100W upgrade is easy to install, but do you need an internal tuner? The new synth is a definite improvement, but if you aren't working in crowded conditions (DX

[Elecraft] Elecraft] Random wire lengths for antennas

There is an Excel spreadsheet giving 1/2 wavelengths to avoid, used by AH-4 remote autotuner users on the Yahoo group site. Here is another. http://www.w4atx.com/e107/download.php?view.1 73 Jim Allen W6OGC Sent from my iPad __

Re: [Elecraft] Power supply voltage sag during transmit

I understand. My mention of a switching supply was simply to point out that smaller switching power supply solved my problem. I’m not arguing for a conclusion as to a defect in the K3. I’m simply sharing information. The same connection to my big supply using the Power Pole strip works fine

Re: [Elecraft] Random wire lengths for antennas

I guess we need an alternate definition of "random" ;-) Tom wb2qdg __ 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

Re: [Elecraft] Random wire lengths for antennas

Indeed we do. And not just "random" but all flavors of end-fed antennae. I get chastised for calling my end-fed-tuned-multi-band-trapped-wire-an tenna (actually it is an LNR MTR) an EFHW. EFHW is simple to send. Should I send EFTMBTWA? Perhaps some smart people on the list will recommend a

Re: [Elecraft] Just bought a K3/10. What upgrades should I get?

Depends on what you want end up with. I wanted everything. So I prioritized all the mods by price (high to low) and joined the "Mod of the month club". Bought something every payday. Took a while but I ended up with a great radio and had fun building it. Also got to learn each new feature