Good point, Ed. Usually, though, the station is all built up by that time
and some semblance of discipline has returned. No one is holding on to the
antenna or the feed line is not disconnected or no RF test equipment is
attached during those kinds of re-boots. Wayne's latest improvement should
cut down the odds of any unpleasant surprises by an order of magnitude.
Actually, if the K3's DC power supply is connected to the same source of A.C
as everything else in the tent (like the computers) and one loses that
source of A.C., the K3 shuts down when it loses its DC. Upon restoration of
AC to the station and hence DC to the radio, one must turn the K3 back on
again which disables VOX as per Wayne's latest change. I think this fix
should cover 99% of contingencies.
However, I would be the first to agree that leaving a "hot" transmitter
unattended is bad operating practice, especially in a situation where the
public and/or untrained operators are running around. Like Field Day.
73,
Gary, VE1RGB
-----Original Message-----
From: Ed K1EP [mailto:k1ep.l...@gmail.com]
Sent: April 16, 2009 11:53 AM
To: Gary, VE1RGB; 'Elecraft Reflector'
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3s in the Field & Beta 3.10
Although a good addition for safety and I certainly appreciate the
addition, it still doesn't prevent the "computer reboot and key the
radio" problem. This could happen quite often at a FD if the
computers are not running on UPSs. Therefore, as you say, there is
no substitute for common sense and operating discipline. Common
sense being: Do not leave your K3 or any other radio unattended with
VOX/QSK enabled and connected to a computer keying circuit.
At 4/16/2009 10:36 AM, Gary, VE1RGB wrote:
>For those of you who plan on taking the K3 to Field Day or to similar
>portable station events, I highly recommend that you take advantage of one
>of Wayne's latest options in Beta 3.10 - VOX defaults to OFF upon K3 rig
>turn-on. That will eliminate the problem we encountered at the Halifax ARC
>at FD 2008 where, while one team was putting the CW station HF antenna
>together, another team was working on the radio/computer logging end of the
>RF transmission path. Someone who was unfamiliar with the K3 innocently
>booted up a computer attached to #095 which had just been turned ON with
VOX
>still on from previous use. The guys at the antenna end were not impressed
>when the K3 - with no-one touching it or the paddles - started transmitting
>pulses at full power. No-one was hurt and no equipment was damaged and we
>did not cook our MFJ antenna analyzer, but the potential was there for
sure.
>
>Anyone who has gone through a FD exercise will understand that the normal
>operating discipline that we all maintain in our own fixed stations, where
>of course none of us would ever allow this to happen (!), sometimes breaks
>down.
>
> Thanks, Elecraft, for fixing this safety issue.
> 73,
>
> Gary, VE1RGB
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