Things are tough. And I want a Macro to turn the radio ON!
Sent from my iPhone ...nr4c. bill > On Jan 7, 2017, at 7:47 PM, George Kidder <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hi all, > > I initially started using data modes by the "set the power to maximum ...." > method, and experienced the same problems that others have seen, although > with care the transmissions were proper. I like to run digital at 50 W max, > to lessen the strain on the equipment. The advantage of this method was that > the power on the band in use was not reduced, so that when going back to SW > or SSB, the full power was still set. The "K3 recommended " method does a > fine job, but requires reducing the power to 50 W. Then, when one returns to > CW or SSB, you are still at 50W, since power is not saved "per mode". > > Would a software change which saves power "per mode" as well as "per band" be > possible? If so, I respectfully request it. > > George, W3HBM > > >> On 1/7/2017 5:35 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: >> All, >> >> Guy is quite correct. The K3 controls power very well, so if you have set >> the power knob to some particular power, that will be very close to the >> power you actually get. There is normally no need to monitor it - as long >> as other conditions are followed. >> >> The most common error for soundcard data modes is for hams who choose to >> follow the common internet advice to "set the power to maximum and control >> the power with the audio drive" - that does not work well with the K3, K3S, >> KX2 or KX3 (or the K2 for that matter). Drive the Elecraft ALC meter as >> indicated in the manual - 5 to 7 bars for SSB and 4 bars solid with the 5th >> bar flickering for soundcard data modes. >> >> Elecraft radios do not control power in the same way as other transceivers, >> so follow the instructions given for your Elecraft transceiver and first set >> the audio drive properly and control the power output with the power knob. >> Failure to do that will result in what I call "power hunting" where the >> power output will vary significantly. >> > Hi all, > > I initially started using data modes by the "set the power to maximum ..." > method, and experienced the same problems that others have seen, although > with care the transmissions were proper. I like to run digital at 50 W max, > to lessen the strain on the equipment. The advantage of this method was that > the power on the band in use was not reduced, so that when going back to SW > or SSB, the full power was still set. The "K3 recommended " method does a > fine job, but requires reducing the power to 50 W. Then, when one returns to > CW or SSB, you are still at 50W, since power is not saved "per mode". > > Would a software change which saves power "per mode" as well as "per band" be > possible? If so, I respectfully request it. > > George, W3HBM > > >> On 1/7/2017 5:35 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: >> All, >> >> Guy is quite correct. The K3 controls power very well, so if you have set >> the power knob to some particular power, that will be very close to the >> power you actually get. There is normally no need to monitor it - as long >> as other conditions are followed. >> >> The most common error for soundcard data modes is for hams who choose to >> follow the common internet advice to "set the power to maximum and control >> the power with the audio drive" - that does not work well with the K3, K3S, >> KX2 or KX3 (or the K2 for that matter). Drive the Elecraft ALC meter as >> indicated in the manual - 5 to 7 bars for SSB and 4 bars solid with the 5th >> bar flickering for soundcard data modes. >> >> Elecraft radios do not control power in the same way as other transceivers, >> so follow the instructions given for your Elecraft transceiver and first set >> the audio drive properly and control the power output with the power knob. >> Failure to do that will result in what I call "power hunting" where the >> power output will vary significantly. >> >> If I must elaborate on the "why" of all this, Elecraft radios control the >> power output in a closed loop - other amateur transceivers use an open loop >> "drive" control, commercial transceivers may use a closed loop system >> similar to Elecraft. The power output is measured and the MCU compares that >> output with the power requested by the power knob. If the actual power is >> less than requested, the drive will be increased to make the output equal to >> that requested. So if the audio drive is not sufficient, yes power will be >> lower than the requested value and the transceiver will go to full possible >> drive (and excess power will be produced when the audio output is increased). >> >> For those who are concerned about the ALC meter indication, the onset of ALC >> is at the 5th bar on the meter - the 4th bar is the "NO ALC" point for the >> K3 (KX3, KX2 and K3S). >> >> For the K2, increase the audio until you have ALC indicated, and then back >> off the audio just enough that no bars are displayed. >> >> The real key is to set the audio as instructed in the manual, and then >> control the power with the power knob. That goes for voice modes as well as >> soundcard data modes. >> >> 73, >> Don W3FPR >> >> >>> On 1/7/2017 1:51 PM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote: >>> Hi Richard, >>> >>> The issue with your request is that there is only **one** line of display >>> "dots" on the display. The single line of dots is interpreted with the >>> upper graticule in RX, and with the two lower graticules on TX. >>> >>> For what you want, there would need to be two rows of dots driven >>> independently. Or there would need to be a front panel button to switch the >>> meaning of the single row of dots. Ah, but we already have the button. >>> >>> Also, the change would require *both* firmware *and* changing out the >>> display to create the **two** lines of dots on the display. Note that the >>> graticules do not change. The display is not driven pixels like a >>> smartphone display. Therefore it could not just be a new CONFIG: option in >>> firmware. The request would almost certainly need to be implemented with a >>> new transceiver. >>> >>> As it is, on voice if CMP and ALC is properly set, on a K3/K3S the power >>> out is very predictable for a given PWR setting, more so for a K3/K3S than >>> most. In any event, TX SSB with an amp, various stand-alone power meters >>> deal more substantially with power out aspects. >>> >>> 73, Guy K2AV >> ______________________________________________________________ >> 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] > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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] ______________________________________________________________ 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]
