Joel,
The 4 bars solid with the 5th flickering still is the proper way to set
the audio drive to the K3.
Actually that is the "no ALC" point for the K3. The 1st 4 bars of the
ALC meter are similar to a "VU meter" to allow you to properly adjust
the audio drive. Failure to provide sufficient audio drive will cause
the K3 to "power hunt" and the power output will not be stable.
Set the audio correctly and control the power with the power knob.
The onset of ALC is indicated by the 5th bar on the meter, so 4 bars is
still "zero ALC".
Yes, that is different than most other transceivers and the internet
'wisdom' which typically says to set the power to maximum and control
the actual power output by adjusting the audio level.
The K3 controls power differently than most other transceivers. It will
attempt to increase the RF drive to try to develop the power requested
by the power knob. If there is not sufficient audio, that cannot be
obtained and the power will not be steady.
So there was no need to rescind your statement - the proper statement is
that the K3 is different than most others.
73,
Don W3FPR
On 10/16/2015 7:18 AM, Joel Black wrote:
I will try to do this as concisely as possible so no rabbit trails are run…
I’ll try by stating below are the conditions in question. Despite what you may
*think*, there is no reason to talk about anything other than this in this
thread.
I have owned my K3 for several years. In that time, when using data modes in
DATA A, I have been told consistently to set ALC so that the fifth bar just
flickers. In the past, when I have turned ALC all the way down, I have gotten
no output power. This has bitten me more than once.
I have read other groups / boards where folks are adamant about setting *every*
radio so that ALC is zero. My response is to state that the K3 (and KX3)
require four bars of ALC with the fifth bar just flickering. I also know there
are other radios out there (Icom comes to mind, but I’m not sure) on which you
cannot turn ALC to zero. ALC bottoms out and it still shows ALC.
Last night, such a discussion occurred on another group. I once again stated
the K3 ALC settings. Now I’ve had to go back and rescind my comments.
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