Lance ,
As you know I run the K3 for eme, as well. I chose the new L-series
DEMI transverter so it was built to my spec as perfect interface with
K3. It seems most of the ham world is unfamiliar with separated Rx
and Tx (though Elecraft did a super job on the KVX3 option...but then
forgot it when they designed the K144XV). Well, probably assumed
most users would be working FM repeaters or using brick amps with
internal switching for CW/SSB. EME is just too niche.
Only suggestion is modifying the K144XV to eliminate TR switching;
not sure how easy that would be. keeping the K144XV inside the K3
cabinet is problematic with running extra cables...or add an external
coax relay (maybe the simplest solution).
I will be incorporating the 2M module in the KX3 when it is
available. It will be a standard common ANT connection so will
require external TR relay to separate Rx and Tx for preamps and
PA. I will likely only use it as 28-MHz IF for mw transverters and
built the required ckts into the mw transverters (my 3400-144 and
10368-144 transverters have common IF).
BTW my DEMI L144-28HP DRX is a dream for working adaptive pol on
2m-eme. Unfortunately, DEMI made only one. With the IQ+ as
competition, its doubtful it would be an item that DEMI will
manufacture. I hear a Tx is coming out for the IQ+.
73, Ed - KL7UW
At 03:37 PM 4/8/2013, Lance Collister, W7GJ wrote:
I wonder if anybody has any ideas about this. Prior to my trip to
TX5K, I used my K3
for receive on 2m EME by setting up the transverter port for a 28 to 144 MHz
transverter, and I just plugged my 28 MHz converter into that nicely
isolated receive
port. The receiver worked great, but I was eventually interested
in getting the
internal 2m transmitter module so I could use the more stable K3 on
XMIT too. I was
using my old IC746 as a separate transmitter on 2m EME, and - as
most of you know -
it drifts quite noticeably every sequence. And besides, I thought
for traveling it
would be convenient to have both 2m and 6m capability in one lightweight box.
So, now I have the 2m module installed in my K3 ;-) The problem is
that I can no
longer use the transverter port....it is hard wired to the 2m module. And
apparently, the only 2m connector is the new one (a BNC called
antenna jack #3) that
is used for box receive and transmit. So there seems to be no way
to use the K3
with a separate protected receive line anymore!
For 6m EME, there is no problem - I just bring my 6m preamp line
into the separate RX
ANT jack, and the 6m transmit power goes out through the UHF antenna
jack #2. For
2m EME, though, I can't figure out how to bring in a separate
receive line (either on
2m from my tower mounted preamp or after my receive converter at 28
MHz) and still be
able to transmit on 2m. The K3 does not support cross band
operation, so I cannot
use the RX ANT jack to safely receive my converter output on 28 MHz and still
transmit using the internal 10w 2m module.
Has anybody figured out a way to modify the circuitry or software to
provide a
separate receive line for 2m operation? It seems like I just made a
very expensive
mistake, and should have just bought an external transverter so I
could retain use of
the separate transverter receive jack on the rear of the K3. If
not, I guess I will
just have to go back to using the IC746 for my transmitter on 2m,
and defining a
second transverter setting for the K3 that will allow me to bring in
my 28 MHz
converter output into that receive only jack. This latter option
DOES seem to work,
but of course, the internal transmit capability of the K3 on 2m is
thrown out the window.
Of course, there is always the solution of adding more sequenced
external coaxial
relays to switch the K3's solitary new BNC antenna jack #3, between
my driver amp
input and my 2m preamp output. However, the whole point of this
expensive exercise
was to try to take advantage of the great separate receiver antenna
capabilities
offered by the K3 on all other bands, apparently EXCEPT if you add
the built-in 2m
option :-(
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Elecraft Tech
Support suggested that
I ask users for ideas, since they also are baffled on how to make
this work, and I
guess are surprised at my application. MNI TNX and VY 73, Lance
--
Lance Collister, W7GJ
(ex WA3GPL, WA1JXN, WA1JXN/C6A, ZF2OC/ZF8, E51SIX, 3D2LR, 5W0GJ, E6M)
P.O. Box 73
Frenchtown, MT 59834-0073
USA
TEL: (406) 626-5728
QTH: DN27ub
URL: http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj
Windows Messenger: [email protected]
Skype: lanceW7GJ
2m DXCC #11/6m DXCC #815
Interested in 6m EME? Ask me about subscribing to the Magic Band EME
email group, or just fill in the request box at the bottom of my web
page (above)!
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