Hi gents, Since fall 2011 I am happy to own the basic version of the K3, with the only extras being the KXV3A transverter interface, some CW filter and the KDVR3 voice recorder. I have been using the K3 once or twice each month only as IF unit for a 2 m XVTR. So I am not using the SO-239 rear socket. The K3 worked very fine for almost 2 years but started then to exhibit intermittent drop-outs of the RX signal. The path was not completely gone, just had extra attenuation of 30-40 dB. Transmission seemed never affected. Initially it resembled a hanging contact of a T/R-relay, and could be cured by pushing the PTT once or twice.
But during the first hilltop operation after the winter the problem was permanent. Back home in the shack the problem was still there but went away by itself after some hours of warm-up. I tried to identify the failing stage but never got to the bottom of it before it disappeared. But I found the extra insertion loss is way down into the receiver, probably at the second IF level. During a second hilltop operation the problem surfaced again. Back in the shack the failure was present only for some minutes before it disappeared. While it persisted, I could not detect any effect of tapping somewhere on the chassis. I have read some earlier reports of similar malfunction in this forum, and will take a closer look at all connectors. I will also try to reproduce the problem by using freeze spray, because I suspect it could be related to low temperatures. I would appreciate to hear if anybody else has observed such behavior and was able to pinpoint the failing part or contact. 73, Stefan (LA0BY) Email la0by >at> darc.de ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [email protected]
