An e-mail exchange with the engineers this morning clarified the ALC question. Let me correct my statement:
ALC to an external amplifier starts at 8 bars. ALC internal to the K3/K3S starts at 5 bars. 5 to 7 bars indicates internal ALC active; a combination of AF leveling bu the DSP and drive reduction by the MCU. So, for fully linear (DATA A) operation stay below 5 bars as Don said (5th bar barely flashing). For normal voice operation 5 to 7 bars is typical. 73, Ron AC7AC -----Original Message----- From: Ron D'Eau Claire [mailto:r...@cobi.biz] Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2016 2:40 PM To: 'Leroy Buller'; 'donw...@embarqmail.com' Cc: 'elecraft@mailman.qth.net' Subject: RE: [Elecraft] K3 power oddity Lee - that is true with many radios. The K3/K3S was designed so that ALC action starts at 8 bars. More info is in the K3S Owner's manual under "Mic Gain and Compression Settings" on page 30. 73, Ron AC7AC -----Original Message----- From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Leroy Buller Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2016 1:04 PM To: donw...@embarqmail.com Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 power oddity Don... Thanks for the information. I will check that out. I was told a long time ago by that elusive "someone" to keep the K3 linear that the ALC meter should just flicker. Obviously, that was bogus advice. I will check this out yet today. Thanks Lee On Sun, Jul 17, 2016 at 8:19 AM, Don Wilhelm <donw...@embarqmail.com> wrote: > Lee (and others) > > It is normal for the power control circuits to be reset after a band > change. That prevents overshoot if you are driving an amplifier. > Normally the power will come up to the requested power level in a > couple dot times on CW, or several syllables when operating voice. > > If the problem is on voice or data, make sure you are driving the > audio sufficiently. If you are not driving the K3 audio hard enough, > power control will be "flaky". > > For Voice: With the compression set to zero, you should produce 5 to 7 > bars on the ALC meter. After adjusting the mic gain for that > indication, increase the compression as you choose - normally I would > suggest compression of less than 10dB. > > For RTTY, if you are using FSK D mode, the power control should be > automatic, but if you are using AFSK A (or other soundcard data > modes), then do check your audio drive - of course compression should > be set to zero, but the audio drive should drive the ALC meter to 4 > bars solid with the 5th bar flashing. > > Note that the K3 controls power differently than other transceivers. > Ignore the advice on the internet to show no ALC and adjust the power > with the audio level. > With the K3 (and K3S, KX3, KX2), the "ALC" meter is a combination "VU" > meter and ALC meter. The 1st 4 bars are there to help you adjust the > audio level. The onset of ALC is indicated by the 5th bar. So 4 bars > solid and 5th bar flickering is the "no ALC" point for the K3. > In data modes, adjust the power with the Power knob, not the audio level. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > On 7/17/2016 8:38 AM, Leroy Buller wrote: > >> Operated RTTY NAQP this weekend. When changing bands, I noticed my power >> would drop to 40 watts or so. After several transmissions, it would rise >> to 100 watts. I don't think this is normal. All antennas are matched. >> Comments? >> >> >> > ______________________________________________________________ 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 list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to r...@cobi.biz ______________________________________________________________ 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 list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
